BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Bangladesh post historic Test win INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 4-11, 29, 30 COMMENT 28 Ezdan Holding posts REGION 12 BUSINESS 1-7, 14-16 against 18,098.00 10,142.17 48.70 ARAB WORLD 13 CLASSIFIED 8-13 6% gain in 9-month +16.00 -229.00 -1.02 INTERNATIONAL 14-27 SPORTS SECTION 1-12 +0.09% -2.21% -2.05% England Latest Figures net profi t to QR1.29bn published in QATAR since 1978

MONDAY Vol. XXXVII No. 10258 October 31, 2016 Muharram 30, 1438 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Emir and Belarus president hold talks Call to boost In brief private

QATAR | Event 235 exhibitors sector’s role for Milipol show A number of international, regional and local firms and institutions, specialising in key areas of the homeland security, will participate in economy in the Milipol Qatar 2016 starting at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC) today. The three-day Local and foreign investment He stressed the need to expedite event, under the patronage of HH should be encouraged through the work on raising the competency of the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad the development of an integrated government performance to keep pace al-Thani, will be formally inaugurated legislative framework and bridging with the changes and updates in the by HE the Prime Minister and Interior some legal gaps, says HE the Prime country. Accordingly, the e-govern- Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Minister and Interior Minister ment projects should be accomplished bin Khalifa al-Thani. This is the 11th Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin quickly, and the largest possible edition of the Milipol, which was held Khalifa al-Thani number of services transferred into the for the first time in 1996. “No less than HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani with visiting Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko in Doha yesterday. They electronic system to help accomplish 235 exhibitors from 35 countries have held a round of off icial talks at the Emiri Diwan. Relations between Qatar and Belarus and ways to enhance them in all fields, transactions quickly. confirmed their participation in this particularly economy and investment, were featured in the talks. Also discussed were a number of regional and international he second National Develop- He pointed out that it is important to year’s event,” Milipol Qatar chairman issues of mutual concern, including developments in the Middle East. After the meeting, HH the Emir and President Lukashenko ment Strategy (NDS) 2017-2022, benefi t from the experiences of other Brigadier Sheikh Nasser bin Fahad attended the signing of a number of agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between the two countries. The Tcurrently under preparation, countries that have prepared similar al-Thani told a press conference talks and the MoU signing ceremonies were attended by HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin should take into account ways to de- strategies, and review the solutions yesterday. Page 8 Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani. Page 4 velop the business environment in devised by them to overcome the chal- order to stimulate the participation of lenges and hurdles throughout the var- REGION | Security the private sector and direct it towards ious phases of implementation. high-effi ciency sectors, HE the Prime The Prime Minister concluded his Saudi foils plot to Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh address to the participating ministers to bomb stadium Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al- and offi cials by affi rming the impor- Saudi authorities said yesterday they Thani said yesterday. tance of devising a clear and compre- had foiled a plot to bomb a football Sheikha Moza attends health Addressing a ministerial meeting hensive national framework for the stadium during a World Cup qualifying on a draft of the NDS 2017-2022, he follow-up of the process of the NDS match and dismantled two “terrorist” stressed the need for ensuring coher- 2017-2022 implementation. cells linked to the Islamic State ence and compatibility between the “This should include a uninterrupt- group. The interior ministry said in a programme celebration event proposed programmes and projects ed chain of regular reporting on all su- statement that four suspects from each on the one hand and the general plans pervisory levels in the country, aiming cell had been arrested. One of the cells for government projects on the other, at attaining an eff ective implementa- had planned to park a bomb-laden By Joseph Varghese pointing to the need for focusing all ef- tion of the strategy, and fi nding quick vehicle outside Al-Jawhara stadium in Staff Reporter forts to support sustainability projects solutions for hurdles as they arise. This the Red Sea city of during an and realise Qatar National Vision 2030. also involves a clear specifi cation of the October 11 World Cup 2018 qualifying “Local and foreign investment role and responsibilities and the basis football match between eill Cornell Medicine-Qa- should be encouraged through the de- of accountability in case of any short- and the United Arab Emirates, the tar (WCM-Q) yesterday velopment of an integrated legislative coming. ministry said. Its members were two Wlaunched the second phase framework and bridging some legal HE the Minister of Development Pakistanis, a Syrian, and a Sudanese, of its Sahtak Awalan: Your Health First gaps, in addition to the development Planning and Statistics Dr Saleh Mo- the ministry said. Page 12 programme in the presence of Qatar of a clear legislative framework for the hamed Salem al-Nabit gave a presen- Foundation for Education, Science and private sector’s participation in devel- tation during the meeting on the main THE UAE | Aviation Community Development (QF) chair- opment projects, including the law on steps taken by his ministry recently to person HH Sheikha . build-operate-transfer contracts,” HE evaluate the fi rst NDS, how to build on Drone halts traffi c The occasion marked celebrations of Sheikh Abdullah urged. its achievements, and avoid shortcom- at Dubai airport the fi rst fi ve years’ achievements of the He instructed to expedite the devel- ings. He also reviewed the phases of the A drone forced Dubai international programme. opment of infrastructure in the indus- preparation of NSD 2017-2022 in co- airport, one of the world’s busiest, to “Today is the culmination of a whole trial and logistics zones to support the operation with various entities in the halt air traff ic for an hour and a half lot of eff orts of multiple groups and in- diversifi cation of the economic activity country. on Saturday evening, the third such dividuals to bring a lasting change in of small and medium enterprises and HE the economic adviser at the incident in less than five months. Air the behaviour of our younger genera- support the transition to a knowledge- Emiri Diwan, Dr Ibrahim Ibrahim, space around the airport was closed tion,” WCM-Q dean Dr Javaid Sheikh based economy by focusing on the de- made a presentation on the challenges from 7:25pm to 8:49pm local time told Gulf Times. velopment of education and training and trends for the NDS 2017-2022 and “due to unauthorised drone activity “Our objective is nothing less than HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani, Dr Javaid to increase the effi ciency and skills of the implementation mechanisms. He resulting in flight diversions”, said transforming the health of the whole Sheikh and other dignitaries at the celebration of the fifth anniversary of the health Qatari nationals. elaborated on the appropriate means operator Dubai Airports. The General nation within one generation. Today is campaign Sahtak Awalan: Your Health First. PICTURE: AR Al-Baker/HHOPL The Prime Minister directed that the to address the current economic and Civil Aviation Authority said the airport the culmination of the fi rst phase and draft of the NDS 2017-2022 be made fi nancial situation of the state in light at Sharjah, about 15 kilometres (nine the second phase starts today. You will HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al- together to reverse their rising trend.” available for community dialogue by of the low oil prices. He also addressed miles) away, was closed for a similar see the real transformation in the third Thani, vice chairperson and CEO of Qa- The sporting activities of Sahtak involving the private sector and civil the issue of demographics, workforce, period of time as a precaution because phase,” he explained. tar Foundation, said in message: “The Awalan include The Color Run and society organisations and citizens with labour productivity and issues related of the same drone. Page 12 The audience at the event included health of our young people is paramount The Challenge. While The Color Run, special expertise. to expat labourers and how to address prominent Qatari entrepreneur HE to the future of our nation. They will one brought to Qatar for the fi rst time, has He stressed the need to focus on the them. EUROPE | Tremors Sheikh Fasial bin Qassim al-Thani, day help lead Qatar and we ought to en- seen 13,000 people run the 5km , effi ciency of public spending and the World Bank experts presented their other dignitaries from various stake- sure they are healthy and able to live up the indoor inter-school sporting chal- application of the principle of cost- views and proposals about the draft New quake holders of the programme as well as to their full potential. Qatar is a nation lenge has seen more than 1,000 chil- eff ectiveness in all programmes and strategy and a review of the experienc- rocks more than 1,000 school students who that is a vanguard for productive change dren take part. projects included in the NDS 2017- es of some countries which prepared A powerful earthquake struck Italy have been part of the campaign. The and with the support of Qatar Founda- Among Sahtak Awalan’s most suc- 2022. similar strategies. yesterday in the same central regions event highlighted the campaign’s tion, that is exactly what Your Health cessful and innovative initiatives are HE Sheikh Abdullah also gave direc- The meeting aimed at learning about that have been rocked by repeated achievements with fi gures and facts First is doing – helping children and the Project Greenhouse, the School tives that all ministries and other gov- the progress made in the preparation tremors over the past two months, as well as its future fi ve year strategic families make a positive change.” Canteens, Yalla Natural, Your Healthy ernment departments should prepare of the second NDS 2017-2022 and dis- with more homes and churches plans to build up on the success. HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Choice, and the smoothie bikes. their medium-term strategic plans and cussing and defi ning the national de- brought down but no deaths reported. Launched in association with the Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari, noted: The programme has erected green- annual outcome plans that work to- velopment priorities and challenges as The quake, which measured 6.6 Ministry of Public Health, Sahtak Awa- “The Ministry of Public Health is com- houses at 82 independent elementary wards the implementation of the out- well as identifying the fi nal objectives according to the US Geological Survey, lan’s strategic partners include QF, the mitted to working closely with Sahtak schools and aims to cover all the 193 comes and targets of the NDS. of the strategy. Page 11 was bigger than one on August 24 Ministry of Education and Higher Edu- Awalan so that together we can educate schools under the ministry soon. that killed almost 300 people. With cation, Occidental Petroleum, Exxon- people about healthy living, exercise Your Health First’s social me- thousands already made homeless, a Mobil, and Qatar Olympic Committee. and nutrition and enable them to make dia campaign has reached more than leading seismologist warned that the Offi cials from the partnering organi- informed choices about their health. 125,000 followers on Facebook, 4,000 earthquakes could go on for weeks sations received a memento from HH We recognise that the lifestyle diseases on Twitter and 1,500 on Instagram and in a domino eff ect along the central Sheikha Moza during the event for their within Qatar’s population threaten to over 500,000 views on its YouTube Apennine fault system. Page 21 support for the programme. reduce our quality of life unless we work channel. Page 5 Petrol price to rise by Dh10 a litre in November fter dropping for two months, now) and Super QR1.45 (QR1.35 now) in Every month, a special committee months of price drop by Dh5 a litre for petrol prices in Qatar will go November. comprising representatives from vari- both Premium and Super gasoline. Aup by Dh10 a litre next month The current price for this month ous government bodies, would review Since September, oil prices in the while there will not be any change in QR1.25 (Premium) and QR1.35 (Super) fuel prices (gasoline and diesel) and global market have been buoyed by a the diesel price in November, accord- will be in eff ect until today. make recommendations on proposed tentative deal by the Opec to cut pro- ing to the Ministry of Energy and In- Diesel, however, will remain un- prices for the local market accordingly. duction and pull prices out of a two- dustry. changed at QR1.4/litre in November. The monthly revision in local fuel year slump. The Ministry of Energy and Industry Fuel prices in Qatar were allowed to prices followed the government’s deci- But rising uncertainty over the ex- yesterday said the 91-octane Premium fl uctuate in response to changes in the sion on fuel subsidy reforms in Qatar. ecution of the plan has, however, seen HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa gasoline will cost QR1.35/litre (QR1.25 global market from May 1. The November increase follows two oil prices fall 2% so far this week. al-Thani addressing the ministerial meeting on a draft of the NDS 2017-2022 yesterday.

Gulf Times 4 Monday, October 31, 2016 QATAR Qatar, Belarus sign pacts to boost bilateral ties

QNA nancial aff airs between the Min- Thani and several ministers. Doha istry of Finance of the State of On the Belarusian side, the Qatar and the Finance Ministry talks were attended by members of the Republic of Belarus. of the offi cial delegation accom- atar and Belarus signed 2. An MoU in the fi eld of panying President Lukashenko. several agreements and health between the Ministry of Earlier on arrival at the Emiri Qmemoranda of under- Public Health of the State of Qa- Diwan, the Belarusian president standing following a round of tar and the Ministry of Health of was accorded an offi cial recep- offi cial talks chaired by HH the Belarus. tion ceremony. Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Following the agreement al-Thani and visiting President of Talks during the meeting signing ceremony, HH the Emir Belarus Alexander Lukashenko at dealt with bilateral Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al- the Emiri Diwan yesterday. relations between Qatar Thani hosted a luncheon ban- Talks during the meeting dealt and Belarus and means quet in honour of President Lu- with bilateral relations between of enhancing them in kashenko and the accompanying Qatar and Belarus and means all fi elds, particularly delegation at the Emiri Diwan. of enhancing them in all fi elds, economy and investment The banquet was attended by particularly economy and in- HE the Prime Minister and Min- vestment. 3. An MoU on scientifi c and ister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah The meeting also discussed a academic co-operation between bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani number of regional and interna- Qatar University and the Gov- and a number of ministers. tional issues of mutual concern, ernmental University of Medi- Later in the evening, Presi- including developments in the cine of Belarus. dent Lukashenko left Doha con- Middle East. 4. An MoU between Qatar De- cluding an offi cial visit to Qatar. Following the meeting, HH velopment Bank (QDB) and the The Belarusian president and the Emir and Belarus president Company Development Bank of the accompanying delegation witnessed the signing of the fol- Belarus were signed. were seen off at the Hamad In- lowing agreements and Memo- The talks and the agreement ternational Airport, by HE the randa of Understanding between signing ceremony were attended Minister of Finance Ali Sherif al- the two countries. by HE the Prime Minister and Emadi and Qatar’s ambassador 1. A Memorandum of Under- Minister of Interior Sheikh Ab- to Belarus, Saud bin Abdullah al- HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko holding talks at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. HE the standing (MoU) in the fi eld of fi - dullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al- Mahmoud. Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani attended the talks.

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and President Lukashenko witness the signing of agreements at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. Gulf Times Monday, October 31, 2016 5 QATAR

Sheikha Moza attends health campaign event

Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) chairperson HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser attending the celebration of the fifth anniversary of the health campaign Sahtak Awalan: Your Health First at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar yesterday. PICTURE: AR Al-Baker / HHOPL

20 Innovation Showcases winners to exhibit projects at WISH summit

he World Innovation strate their (AIDR). In collaboration man intelligence with ma- Summit for Health projects with Unicef, the system chine learning techniques, T(WISH), a global ini- – rang- fi lters and classifi es social to solve many real-world tiative of Qatar Foundation ing from media messages related to challenges during mass for Education, Science and practical emergencies, disasters, and emergencies and health is- Community Development, devices and humanitarian crises. sues,” he said. has selected the 20 winners business Imran stated that the Egbert Schillings, chief of its Innovation Showcases models, increased use of mobile executive offi cer of WISH, competition who will take to design- Mohamed technologies and the pro- said: “At WISH, we rec- part in the upcoming WISH based solu- Imran liferation of social media ognise that innovation in summit to be held in Doha tions – to sites generate a huge infl ux healthcare can take many on November 29 and 30. over 1,000 global experts at of big user-generated data. forms, from meshing big The Innovation Show- the summit. “At Qatar Computing Re- data and design thinking to cases at WISH provides a Artifi cial intelligence en- search Institute, my team reducing infections to per- platform for young entre- gines to 3D printing tech- and I have developed novel sonalising medicine based preneurs to exhibit their nologies are just some of computational techniques on a patient’s genomic pro- innovations in the pres- the winners of this year’s and technologies, which fi le. What connects all of ence of some of the world’s WISH Innovation Showcas- can help gain insightful our Innovation Showcases leading health experts and es competition. Among the and actionable informa- though is that they create policy makers.The aspiring competitors, Mohamed Im- tion from online sources value for patients because healthcare leaders, who are ran will be displaying a sys- to enable rapid decision- of their potential to improve all under the age of 30, will tem called Artifi cial Intel- making. We have developed quality while reducing costs be given a chance to demon- ligence for Digital Response AIDR, which combines hu- at the same time.” Gulf Times 6 Monday, October 31, 2016 QATAR 18 jewellery outlets fi ned for violating discount norms he Ministry of Economy plexes) with obligations stipu- No.(5) for the year 1984 on The ministry has called upon and Commerce (MEC) has lated by law No.(8) of 2008 on selling via cutting down prices all shops who were guaranteed Twithdrawn the discounts consumer protection and their (discounts). a discounts’ licence to urgently licence issued to 18 jewellery commitment to the application The MEC has urged all con- comply with laws and regula- outlets and fi ned them QR5,000 of the laws and regulations of sumers to check the price of tions when issuing real discounts each due to their non-compli- discounts’ licences. the goods before and after dis- and avoid any false discounts or ance with the payroll selling The inspections come as part counts. In addition, consum- any similar practices that can prices before and during dis- of the MEC campaign to monitor ers have the right to access the harm the consumer. counts. and control the local market and statement of all the existing The MEC stressed it will not The action was the result of commercial activities in order goods in the shop which shows tolerate any violations of the An off icial from the MEC pasting a violation notice on the door of a jewellery outlet. surprise inspection campaigns to crack down on price manipu- the price before and after dis- Consumer Protection Law and on a number of retailer com- lation and expose violations to counts and the approved dis- its regulations, and will inten- decrees to competent authori- The MEC has urged all cus- ing channels: Hotline: 16001, plexes that included shops who protect consumers. count rate. Consumers should sify its inspection campaigns to ties, who will in turn take appro- tomers to report any violations e-mail: [email protected], Twit- were guaranteed a discounts’ li- The MEC action is for viola- not forget to take a detailed in- crack down on violations. The priate action against perpetra- to its Consumer Protection and ter: @MEC_Qatar, Instagram: cence to monitor the compliance tion of the provisions of Arti- voice that shows the price be- ministry said it will refer those tors in order to protect consumer Anti-Commercial Fraud De- MEC_Qatar, MEC mobile app for of suppliers (the retailer com- cle 3 of the Ministerial Decree fore and after discounts. who violate laws and ministerial rights. partment through the follow- Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar Commercial Bank hosts Career Day with ministry

ommercial Bank has als is a business priority for line with QNV 2030. “Com- hosted a Career Day Commercial Bank and of- mercial Bank strives to be an Cwith the Ministry of fers several career develop- outstanding corporate citizen Administrative Develop- ment programmes to launch by supporting local and in- ment Labour & Social Aff airs young Qataris’ careers,” the ternational socio-economic to promote the bank’s Qatari statement noted, adding that initiatives that benefi t Qatari employment opportunities. participation in the ministry society as a whole, includ- Commercial Bank, through Career Day confi rmed Com- ing humanitarian projects its National Development mercial Bank’s commitment and charitable work for the Programme, supports Qatar to employ, guide and train disadvantaged, educational, National Vision (QNV) 2030 young Qataris to become the training and personal devel- by developing human capital next generation of highly opment programmes for Qa- and works closely with the skilled banking leaders in tari youth, sports and health ministry to provide advanced Qatar. initiatives, support for Qa- careers opportunities for Qa- Further, the statement tari arts and culture, and the taris, the bank has said in a points out that Commercial bank’s Qatar National Day statement. Bank regards CSR as integral programmes that celebrate “The recruitment and to its business in support and preserve Qatar’s cultural The Career Day in progress. training of Qatari nation- of Qatar’s development - in heritage.” Participants of the initiative.

Gulf Times 8 Monday, October 31, 2016 QATAR Milipol Qatar expo to have 235 exhibitors from 35 countries number of internation- will be one of the main attrac- al, regional and local tions. A firms and institutions, The press conference was specialising in key areas of the also attended by Ministry of homeland security will partici- Interior’s Financial Affairs di- pate in the Milipol Qatar 2016 rector and Milipol Commit- starting at the Doha Exhibition tee member Brigadier Ahmad and Convention Centre (DECC) Abdulla Ahmad, General Di- today. rectorate of Logistics assist- The 3-day event, under the ant director general Brigadier patronage of HH the Emir Sheikh Saud Rashid al-Shafi, Milipol Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani will Qatar Committee member be formally inaugurated by HE Major Hussain Aman al-Ali the Prime Minister and Inte- and Comexposium Security’s rior Minister Sheikh Abdullah security department director bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani. Michael Weatherseed. This is the 11th edition of the The exhibition will be held be- Milipol, which was held for the tween 10am and 6pm on all three fi rst time in 1996. Milipol Qatar chairman Brigadier Sheikh Nasser bin Fahad al-Thani (third left) and other off icials at the press conference yesterday about the 11th Milipol Exhibition, which opens days. ‘’No less than 235 exhibitors today. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam. The event’s main offi cial from 35 countries have con- sponsor is Adbullah Abdulghani fi rmed their participation in this embourg, Pakistan, and Uganda and the sharing of knowledge tar for their remarkable support. pants have come for the expo,” vilions to be present are China, &Bros. Co, while the diamond year’s event, which is being held are making their debut at the amongst international peers,” This year the event will feature said Milipol Qatar & Germany, North America and sponsors are Qatar Petroleum, for the fi rst time at the DECC,” exhibition, he said while add- the offi cial explained. new seminars and an enhanced exhibition director Muriel Ka- the UK. Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Co and Milipol Qatar chairman Briga- ing the expo would be held over “As I express my deepest international presence with fantaris. A new addition this year is a Qatar Diar. dier Sheikh Nasser bin Fahad 7,700sqm of space at the DECC. gratitude to HH the Emir Sheikh representatives from eight more The Qatar contingent repre- dedicated zone for the Civil De- The platinum sponsor is Qa- al-Thani told a press conference “We are returning with re- Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and countries participating,” he said. sents a large section at the ex- fence. The introduction will see tar Tourism Authority, the sil- yesterday. newed vigour and new features the Ministry of Interior for their “The latest edition marks 20 hibition with 47 local fi rms con- 17 global and regional exhibitors ver sponsors include Qatar Rail, As many as eight new coun- to further drive growth and in- patronage of the event, I am also years since Qatar hosted the fi rst fi rming their presence. As many showcasing products and devel- Ineo Homeland Security, and tries namely Algeria, Belize, novation in the industry. It will sincerely thanking all the par- edition of the event. We are hap- as 27 from France are partici- opments within the sector. Qa- Nafco, and the bronze sponsor is Cyprus, Jordan, Lithuania, Lux- also encourage collaboration ticipants and sponsors from Qa- py that a number of new partici- pating. Other international pa- tar’s Ministry of Interior stand Nexter.

Qatar’s eff orts in support of IAEA mission hailed

QNA nian nuclear dimensions.” Yukiya Amano, Director General of IAEA, delivering a lecture at Qatar University. Doha Amano said: “IAEA is the world’s central intergovern- mental forum for scientifi c ukiya Amano, Direc- and technical co-operation tor General of the in the nuclear fi eld. It works YInternational Atom- for the safe, secure and ic Energy Agency (IAEA), peaceful uses of nuclear sci- has hailed Qatar’s eff orts in ence and technology, con- support of the IAEA and its tributing to international mission for world peace. peace and security.” The IAEA director gen- He also stressed on the eral, who gave a lecture importance of “nuclear yesterday at Qatar Univer- medicine technologies” – a sity (QU), said that Qatar cutting-edge-technology to has been an IAEA member solve various contemporary since 1970s and has been issues related to medicine, supporting the eff orts of agriculture and climate by the agency and its mission using nuclear technology. for international peace. He said: “Nuclear tech- Organised in collabora- niques play a pivotal role tion between QU and the in addressing needs related National Committee for to the prevention, diagno- the Prohibition of Weap- sis and treatment of health ons (NCPW), the lecture conditions, in particular focused on four key ar- non-communicable dis- eas: Iranian nuclear pro- eases such as cancer and gramme, main points of cardiovascular diseases. the deal, points of concern, They can also help moni- and impact of the deal on tor and address malnutri- the region and the world. tion in all its forms, from Amano gave an overview undernutrition to obesity. of IAEA’s role and strategy, Many countries have start- and outlined details of the ed to use nuclear medicine Agency’s nuclear technol- technology to cure cancer ogy and applications. and other fatal diseases.” The IAEA director gen- QU Chief Strategy and eral highlighted the agen- Development Offi cer Dr cy’s ongoing eff orts since Darwish al-Emadi said: 2003 to ensure that is “This event comes as a committed to fulfi l its ob- result of a memorandum ligations as an NPT state of understanding signed party. He added that a in 2015 between QU and movement started in 2013. NCPW to increase stu- “This was concluded by dents’ awareness on issues the P5+1 Nuclear Agree- relating to international ment (Deal) with Iran. This conventions on the prohi- agreement assures the bition of weapons of mass peaceful nature of Iran nu- destruction through or- clear programme. Last year ganising training sessions the IAEA signed a roadmap and awareness workshops with Iran to draw the Ira- on relevant key issues.” Four expatriates jailed for robbery

Doha Criminal full of cash from the em- Court has sen- ployee and ran away. Atenced four expatri- Later, investigations ate men to 10 years in jail revealed that the defend- and ordered their subse- ants used a stolen plate quent deportation for rob- number on the car for the bery, local daily Ar- crime. When the car was rayah reported yesterday. tracked down, it led to one The four defendants of the defendants. He was were accused of stealing arrested at the airport try- QR1.5mn from the vehicle ing to exit the country with of an employee of a local some of the stolen money. exchange company. When arrested, he con- According to the charge- fessed to the police about sheet, the convicts crashed the other three accomplices. their vehicle into the vehi- They ultimately admit- cle of the victim in Indus- ted their guilt, and told the trial Area. police where they had kept Then, they grabbed a bag the rest of the stolen money.

Gulf Times 10 Monday, October 31, 2016 QATAR Al Meera opens National Paints off icials announce the launch of the two new brands. National Paints company to launch two new brands Bu Sidra branch l Meera Consumer population boom Qatar ational Paints Fac- Abootha and John Abra- in 2008, followed by the Goods Company is witnessing in line with tories Company, were present on the accreditation of ISO 14001 Ahas announced the the Qatar National Vision Nwhich has com- occasion. in 2004 and OSHAS ISO opening of its latest branch 2030.” pleted three decades of “Being a local manufac- 18000 in 2007. in Bu Sidra. The new Al Meera shop- service in Qatar, is launch- turer with immense ex- In addition to the fi rst Bu Sidra, according to Al ping centre in Bu Sidra is lo- ing two new brands, Rob- perience and trust for our facility at Street Number Meera, is the fi rst shopping cated along the street parallel son Paints and Oryx Paints. products, we have been 41, presently the company centre to open its doors to to Al Furousiya Street in the “While Robson Paints is approved on government has established a new fac- consumers as part of the Al Rayyan area, landing on the superior in quality, Oryx departments, Ashghal, tory at the New Industrial company’s ‘14 shopping intersection of the Al Ishraq Paints has the same qual- Kahramaa, Ministry of In- Area to produce all indus- centres’ expansion plan, Street and Al Ikhaa Street. ity as National Paints, with terior, Qatar Armed Forces, trial and protective coat- and part of its mission to The 4,250sqm branch low and competitive prices Hamad Medical Corpora- ings. A separate warehouse provide consumers in every entails 2,100sqm of super- in the market,” it was an- tion, and Qatar Steel along has been constructed. region of the country “a market area, in addition to Al Meera deputy CEO Dr Mohamed Nasser al-Qahtani inaugurates the new Bu Sidra branch. nounced at a conference. with the local architectural “The new brands are the great shopping experience 10 other shops and a National Paints Facto- consultant fi rms,” it was fruits of extensive work that provides true value for court, which will begin pro- a supermarket equipped presence of Mohamed Ha- the area and serve the sur- ries general manager and explained. conducted by the research money.” viding its services to the with world-class technolo- mad al-Marri, a member rounding communities. managing partner Saleh National Paints was ac- and development section Al Meera said the opening shopping centre’s visitors gies and facilities, a huge of the 13th District Central Al Meera’s Bu Sidra Ahmed al-Khulaifi and of- credited by ISO 9001:2000 of National Paints,” it was of the new shopping centre “at the soonest.” parking space, and a variety Municipal Council, and Al branch is the fi rst commu- fi cials Manar Abdulhamid, in 1998 which was updated added. comes in the framework Al Meera said the shop- of shops and restaurants, Meera representatives. nity shopping centre out of the company’s corpo- ping centre was built in ac- “further fulfi lling the com- Al Meera said community of the 14 other branches rate social responsibility, cordance with the highest pany’s vision of becom- shopping centres represent planned to be completed “in terms of providing the international standards and ing consumers’ ‘Favourite an important element in the and opened in succession, highest quality products is equipped with modern Neighbourhood Retailer’.” growth and development “in order to meet the needs at aff ordable prices to the interior designs and light- The new branch was strategy that the company of consumers and provide a communities in which it ing systems that ensure “a inaugurated by Al Meera is pursuing. Its new store convenient and integrated operates, as well as keep distinctive shopping expe- deputy CEO Dr Mohamed will meet the needs and re- shopping experience under pace with the urban and rience.” The centre features Nasser al-Qahtani in the quirements of residents in one roof.” MEC issues tips for consumers on purchasing car MME and Ashghal off icials during a meeting. he Ministry of Economy ing the existence of advanced and Commerce (MEC) safety systems. Thas issued several tips for In addition, the MEC has consumers in order to educate emphasised the importance of Ashghal, MME discuss them about purchasing new ve- the signed written acknowl- hicles. edgement issued by the min- This is in line with the eff orts istry, which proves the buyer’s rain preparedness plan made by the MEC to “educate full acknowledgement of the the community on diff erent life status of a car and clarifi es he Public Works Authority Ashghal has also set up an opera- aspects and help its members that any defects or repairs have (Ashghal) and the Ministry of tions management centre to manage make appropriate decisions”, the been carried out before it was TMunicipality and Environ- and control rain emergencies. ministry has stressed in a press sold. ment (MME) have charted out a joint The plan also entails increasing the statement. Statistics have shown the en- action plan to take precautions in the capacity of call centres and customer The MEC has advised con- try of 67,000 newly manufac- event of rains. zones to respond to the emergencies sumers to take into considera- tured private vehicles into the Ashghal called for enhancement of round-the-clock in addition to pre- tion a number of important fac- Qatari market in 2015, compared collaboration and co-ordination be- paring equipment including pumps tors before purchasing a new to 30,807 newly manufactured tween the entities concerned, most and electricity generators and check vehicle, as refl ected in the tips private vehicles through June importantly MME, the National their readiness. off ered by the ministry. this year, the MEC statement Control Centre and Qatar Meteorol- The meeting called for regular The key issues include decid- notes. ogy Department. cleaning more than 45,000 man- ing on the purpose of the ve- Further, the statement says According to the plan, 395 em- holes in addition to maintenance and hicle, deciding on a brand and global statistics show that ployees from Ashghal and the MME cleaning of the pumping stations. model that suits the budget, 48% of consumers require 1-3 will be notifi ed through SMS about Also maintenance works of me- comparing the specifi cations months to decide on the type of the possibility of rainfall and the chanical and electrical equipment of more than one vehicle, tak- vehicle they wish to purchase. change of alert levels, after approv- and the rainwater drainage and its ing advantage of off ers by dis- While more than 72mn vehicles ing a unifi ed mechanism of escalat- extension were also held. The sup- tributors, car showrooms and were sold in 2015 worldwide, the ing and decreasing the alert level be- ply of power generators to the main dealers, conducting a test drive number is expected to exceed tween Ashghal and MME. pumping stations has been ensured. before buying a car, and ensur- 74mn in 2016.

Two hundred golfers competed in the 15th IHG Qatar Mixed Open. Mitsubishi Motors sponsors golf tournament

top class amateur at the Doha Golf Club. fi eld of 200 golfers Mitsubishi Motors A from the Gulf re- sponsored the tourna- gion competed in the 15th ment for the fourth year in IHG Qatar Mixed Open, a row. Qatar Automobiles represented by InterCon- Company general man- tinental Doha, InterCon- ager Ihab El Feky said: tinental Doha The City “Like IHG we also share and Crowne Plaza Doha the same values of corpo- The Business Park, in as- rate social responsibility, sociation with Mitsubishi promoting sports and a Motors. healthy lifestyle, and giv- The two-day golfi ng ing back to the society.” agenda included a com- The prizes included the plimentary practice round top fi ve couples and special followed by one tourna- prizes such as the most ex- ment round played in ercised couples, the long- “Greensomes” format over est drive, and nearest to the Championship Course the pin. Gulf Times Monday, October 31, 2016 11 QATAR PM holds ministerial meeting on National Development Strategy Jumbo launches mega promotion

umbo Electronics has There is no scratch & win launched its Mega Promo- and no lucky draw, the state- Jtion under the theme ‘You ment has clarifi ed. Buyers can Shop, We Gift’, off ering cus- shop for the above-mentioned tomers assured gifts. amounts and take away these Customers have to buy any assured gifts. product above QR1,000 to be Besides, Jumbo has said eligible for a free gift, Jumbo customers can buy products has said in a press statement. “priced very competitively” Those shopping for items from among brands such as LG, worth QR1,000 to QR2,000 JBL, Harman Kardon, Brother, can choose between a Philips Forbes, Indesit, Ariston, Vide- Steam iron, a Philips hair dryer ocon, Onida, Maytag, Nikai, or a Skullcandy headset. Other Oscar and Philips. HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani held a ministerial meeting on a draft national development strategy gifts include a Thrumm smart The Mega Promotion runs (2017-2022) at the Four Seasons Hotel yesterday evening. The ministerial meeting was attended by ministers. During the meeting, the Prime Minister stressed the need watch for purchases worth until November 19 and off ers for ensuring coherence and compatibility between the proposed programmes and projects in the national development strategy on the one hand and the general plans QR2,001 to QR4,000, a JBL are valid till stocks last across for government projects during the coming period on the other hand, pointing to the need for focusing all eff orts to support sustainability projects and realise Qatar Flip 3 for purchases of QR4,001 Jumbo Electronics showrooms. National Vision 2030. to QR6,000, a Zed Air laptop In addition, customers can for purchases worth QR6,001 earn and redeem Jumbo Digits, to QR8,000 and an LG Sty- Air Miles & Nojoom points and lus 2 mobile for purchases of get up to 12 months’ free ex- QR8,001 to QR10,000. Those tended warranty on purchase shopping for goods worth of extended warranty. Also, 0% QR10,001 and above will get a fi nance is available from lead- Barwa Bank LG 43” TV. ing banks. 70,000 kids given clarifi cation arwa Bank has issued a statement correcting its Bearlier press release, which quoted its acting GCEO Khalid Yousef al-Subeai. MMR shots so far “With regards to Barwa Bank’s press release, which was pub- bout 70,000 children have lished in your esteemed news- been administered the Mea- paper (30.10.2016) titled ‘New Asles, Mumps and Rubella Barwa Bank deposit scheme lets (MMR) vaccination so far across clients collect profi ts upfront’, schools, primary healthcare centres, Barwa Bank would like to clarify Qatar Petroleum health facilities, that the quote of the bank men- Sidra Medical and Research Center tioned the following inaccurate and several private health facilities. expression- ‘assured returns’. The total number of schools covered The correct expression instead is to date is 131 with 101 government and ‘expected returns’ as the profi ts Independent schools and 30 private are subject to the Shariah terms,” schools. the statement clarifi ed. One of the winners of the promotion. The National vaccination campaign has already entered the third week of the campaign and it will get over by November 14. Teams from the Ministry of Public Health, Primary Health Care Corporation and Hamad Medical Cor- Emirates A380 for Doha fl ight poration are continuing their activities in cooperation with the Ministry of mirates announced yester- 9.50am arriving in Dubai at noon. Emirates currently has 85 A380s Education and Higher Education. day it will upgrade one of its “The timing of the A380 serv- in service and 57 pending deliv- The campaign has been receiving Some of the children who have been administered the vaccination. Enine daily fl ights between ice will provide business and ery, more than any other airline great attention and interest from the Dubai and Doha to an Airbus leisure travellers with an A380 globally. leaders and offi cials of the Ministry A380 from December 1 this year. experience to Dubai as well as Customers can take advan- of Public Health. Dr Sheikh Moham- Emirates recently boosted its connections of under four hours tage of special A380 Economy ed bin Hamad al-Thani, director of services to Doha with two addi- to some of the most popular on- Class fares from Doha for QR385; Public Health at the ministry visited tional fl ights, taking its total op- wards destinations serviced by Bangkok from QR1,915; London one of the private schools yesterday erations to nine daily services and the A380 including; , Heathrow from QR2,085; and Los to assess the activities of the cam- making it the most served desti- London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Angeles from QR3,415. Free Wi- paign. He appreciated the progress of nation in the airline’s network. Manchester, Dusseldorf, Milan, Fi is available on board all A380 the campaign and praised the com- Demand has been stead- Paris, Rome and Amsterdam,” fl ights. mitment of the medical teams in the ily increasing between Dubai and Emirate said in a statement. “The upgrade to the A380 will vaccine administration as there was Doha, with over 700,000 passen- The Emirates A380 that will be provide Emirates the increased no signifi cant adverse events so far gers carried since January of this deployed to Doha will be set in a ability to serve growing demand among the vaccinated children. year alone. Once launched, Doha three-class confi guration, with for travel out of Doha. The de- The American Communicable Dis- will be Emirates’ 45th A380 desti- 429 seats in Economy Class on ployment of the Emirates A380 ease Centre has been providing tech- nation to be served by the fl agship the main deck, 76 fl at-bed seats in operation was made possible nical support to the ministry through aircraft. Business Class and 14 First Class through the support of the Qatari their experts who are in Qatar just Doha will also become the Private Suites on the upper deck, Authorities,” the airline said. for the campaign. They have been world’s shortest scheduled A380 enabling Emirates to serve in- The increase in capacity be- providing support and assistance to fl ight fl ying a distance of 379km creased premium demand to and tween Dubai and Doha will help the ministry’s experts and the vac- each way. The Emirates A380 will from Doha. to grow trade inroads between cinating teams daily through visits to be deployed as EK 841, which will Once the A380 reaches cruis- the UAE and Qatar. The UAE is various schools and medical facilities depart Dubai at 7.45am arriving ing altitude, passengers in First Qatar’s fi fth largest trading part- sharing their expertise to ensure the Dr Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad al-Thani, director of Public Health at one of the schools administering in Doha at 8.05am. The return and Business Class can enjoy the ner with bilateral trade volumes success of the campaign. MMR vaccination. fl ight, EK 842 will depart Doha at facilities of the Onboard Lounge. reaching over $7bn in 2015.

HMC asks people to be aware of signs of stroke

amad Medical Corporation chances of recovery. To ensure we are able (HMC) marked this year’s World to treat stroke patients quickly, it is vital HStroke Day on Saturday, with the that the public know the signs and symp- healthcare provider’s stroke experts re- toms of stroke so they can identify the is- inforcing the importance of knowing the sue and immediately call 999 for help.” major warning signs and risk factors for In 2015, HMC ran a high-profi le na- stroke. tional campaign to raise awareness of Stroke is one of the leading causes of the signs and symptoms of stroke and mortality and the number one cause of the correct action to take if you suspect chronic disability in the world. Due to a stroke. The awareness campaign used the high prevalence in Qatar’s population the internationally-established F.A.S.T. of many risk factors for stroke including message to highlight the major signs diabetes, smoking, obesity, high choles- of stroke and reinforce the need to act F -Face drooping: Has your face terol, hypertension and inactivity, the in- quickly. suddenly drooped on one side or cidence of stroke is high. In addition to reinforcing the signs and do you have diff iculty smiling? Prof Ashfaq Shuaib, director of HMC’s symptoms, HMC’s stroke team is advising A - Arm weakness: Are you un- Neurosciences Institute, stressed the im- the public to be aware of the risk factors able to raise both arms? portance of knowing the signs of stroke: for stroke. “Certain medical conditions S - Speech problems: Do you “Fast and specialised medical interven- and lifestyle habits can raise your risk of have diff iculty speaking or being tion is the key to successful treatment for having a stroke,” explained Dr Naveed understood by other people? stroke patients. The faster treatment can Akhtar, head doctor in Hamad General T - Time is ticking: Call 999 im- be given following a stroke, the better the Hospital’s Stroke Ward. mediately

Road closure in Bani Hajer area

A closure on both directions of Al-Kassarat Road in Bani Hajer (Area 51) will be made for two months starting from today. Ashghal said in a statement that besides closing the above road, the road connecting Al-Kassarat Road with Al-Rufaa Street will also remain closed during the period. During the closure the traff ic from Doha on Dukhan Highway towards the north will be diverted to Al-Rufaa Street and traff ic heading to Doha from the north will be diverted to Al-Rufaa Street to make a U-turn on Dukhan Highway back to Doha (as shown on the attached map). The closure is required to implement the construction works of the infrastructure as part of rebuilding the roads and other infrastructure of the Bani Hajer North – Rawdat Egdeem project. Gulf Times 12 Monday, October 31, 2016 REGION/ARAB WORLD Saudi foils plot to bomb World Cup qualifi er

Agencies viding further details of the plot ist” acts in the eastern provinc- or arrests. es of Qatif and . The other group had been The suspects were allegedly plotting attacks against security involved in attacks against civil- audi authorities said yes- forces and its members had re- ians and members of the security terday they had foiled a ceived orders from an IS leader forces, the statement said. Splot to bomb a football sta- in Syria, the ministry said. It urged the suspects to surren- dium during a World Cup quali- Its alleged members were der and off ered fi nancial rewards People gather at a detention centre struck by Arab coalition warplanes in Zaidia district of the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, yesterday. fying match and dismantled two based in Shaqra, northwest of for those who could provide in- “terrorist” cells linked to the Is- Riyadh, and are all Saudis, the formation leading to their arrests. lamic State group. ministry statement said, adding In July authorities arrested 19 The interior ministry said in that the suspects had all con- people, including 12 Pakistanis, a statement that four suspects fessed. in connection with three suicide from each cell had been arrested. Six other Saudis were detained bombings on July 4 including one Coalition hit ‘command One of the cells had planned to and were being questioned over near the Prophet’s Mosque in Me- park a bomb-laden vehicle out- alleged links to the cell, it said. dina in which four people died. side Al-Jawhara stadium in the Since late 2014, IS has claimed A Saudi security offi cer was Red Sea city of Jeddah during an a series of bombings and shoot- killed and a second was wounded October 11 World Cup 2018 qual- ings against Shias in the kingdom, yesterday in a drive-by shooting centre used by Houthis’ ifying football match between as well against security forces. in the Eastern Province city of Saudi Arabia and the United In another statement, the in- Qatif, state-owned Al Arabiya Arab Emirates, the ministry said. terior ministry published a list television reported. Agencies coalition statement said, refer- in Hodeidah, which the rebels a ceasefi re and revive a stalled Its members were two Paki- of nine suspects – eight Saudis The shooting occurred while Aden ring to former head of state Ali have controlled since late 2014, political process. stanis, a Syrian, and a Sudanese, and a Bahraini, wanted for their the security men were on patrol, Abdullah Saleh, a Houthi ally. coalition warplanes hit a rebel- The rebels said the plan by the ministry said, without pro- alleged involvement in “terror- Al Arabiya said. “The coalition forces’ lead- held security compound in the UN envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh audi-led coalition air ership stresses that targeting town of Zaidia. Ahmed did not include a “total, strikes on rebel-held se- protocols and procedures were “Sixty people in total were permanent ceasefi re” or foresee Morocco protest Scurity buildings in west- followed fully.” killed and dozens were wound- lifting the blockade against ar- ern Yemen have killed at least The Shia Houthi rebels yes- ed,” a health offi cial said. eas they control. after fishmonger 60 people, many of them in- terday said a new UN peace Most of the victims were The contents of the roadmap, Drone halts traffi c crushed to death mates buried under the rubble plan aimed at ending the coun- anti-rebel detainees who were which Hadi rejected on Satur- of a detention centre. try’s 19-month-old war was a being held among 100 inmates day, have not been made public. Thousands of outraged The strikes late Saturday “basis for discussion” despite in two cells at the detention But informed sources say it at Dubai airport Moroccans held protests in came just hours after other co- “fundamental fl aws”. centre, he said. calls for agreement on naming several cities yesterday after a alition raids hit three buildings Yemen’s President Abd- It remains unclear why the a new vice president after the fishmonger in the northern town in the southwest. Rabbu Mansour Hadi on Sat- coalition would hit a detention rebels withdraw from Sanaa AFP activity resulting in fl ight di- of Al-Hoceima was crushed to The coalition said yesterday urday, however, rejected the centre holding anti-rebel in- and other cities and hand over Dubai versions”, said operator Dubai death inside a garbage truck in its fi rst comment on the at- proposal aimed at ending fi ght- mates. heavy weapons to a third party. Airports. as he tried to retrieve fish tack that the security build- ing between forces loyal to his International aid groups Hadi would then transfer The General Civil Aviation confiscated by police. ing in Hodeidah was used by government and the rebels and have repeatedly voiced con- power to the vice president who drone forced Dubai in- Authority said the airport at The death on Friday prompted Houthi forces as a command their allies. cern over the rising need for would appoint a new prime ternational airport, one Sharjah, about 15km away, was a frenzy of angry postings on centre. The war escalated in March aid in Yemen, where malnutri- minister to form a government Aof the world’s busiest, closed for a similar period of social media against “Hogra”, a “Coalition aircraft this 2015 when the coalition tion has increased in the past in which the north and south of to halt air traffi c for an hour time as a precaution because Maghreb term referring to off icial morning targeted the central launched a military campaign few months. Yemen would have equal repre- and a half on Saturday evening, of the same drone. abuse and injustice. security building in Hodeidah. to push back the rebels, after The confl ict has killed nearly sentation. the third such incident in less Dubai Airports stressed in In an effort to calm tensions, This building is used by they seized the capital in 2014 7,000 people, mostly civilians, The president has slammed than fi ve months. a tweet that safety was its top King Mohamed, currently on Houthi militia and the forces and then advanced on other since March 2015, according to the UN proposal as one that Air space around the air- priority and reminded drone a tour of Africa, ordered the of the deposed president as a parts of Yemen including the the United Nations, which has “rewards the putschists while port was closed from 7:25pm operators that it is forbidden interior minister to visit the command and control centre province of Hodeidah. been struggling to convince the punishing the Yemeni people to 8:49pm (1525-1649 GMT) to fl y them within 5km of any victim’s family and present royal for their military operations,” a In the latest deadly strikes warring parties to implement and legitimacy”. “due to unauthorised drone airport. condolences. At least 22 killed in Egypt fl oods

AFP Cairo

t least 22 people were killed and 72 injured in fl ooding in parts Aof Egypt caused by torrential rains, authorities said yesterday, up- dating an earlier toll of 18 dead. Health ministry spokesman Kha- led Megahed said the death toll could rise as some families may not have re- ported the loss of relatives who have Heavy flooding in Ras Gharib, near the mouth of the Gulf of Suez in the Red Sea already been buried since the fl ooding governorate. At least 22 people were killed and 72 injured in flooding in parts of began on Thursday. Egypt caused by torrential rains. The government on Saturday an- nounced the provision of 50mn response to the fl oods on Saturday ter were six people killed when a bus pounds ($5.6mn) for fl ood-hit areas, blocked a convoy transporting Prime overturned on a fl ooded road in Sohag which include Sohag, South Sinai and Minister Sharif Ismail. province. along the Red Sea coast. Ras Gharib, near the mouth of the Rains in the autumn and winter The Al-Masry Al-Youm and Al- Gulf of Suez, was the worst hit area cause fl ooding in parts of Egypt, espe- Watan newspapers said residents in with nine people killed in the fl ooding. cially those with poor infrastructure, Ras Gharib angry over the government Also among those lost in the disas- almost every year. Gulf Times Monday, October 31, 2016 13 ARAB WORLD Algeria forces hunt militants after policeman assassinated

Reuters victim as he was eating and shot Algiers him and then took his service weapon,” another security offi cial told El Watan, a daily French- lgerian counter-terrorism language newspaper. forces yesterday searched Authorities have made no of- Aaround the eastern city of fi cial statement. Constantine after a policeman In March, police shot dead a was killed in a rare urban attack would-be suicide bomber in a by gunmen believed to be from a small town east of the capital, local Islamic State affi liate, a se- Algiers. curity source said. The last suicide attack in Alge- Bombings and attacks are rare ria was in 2011 in the same town, Fighters from the Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) launches missiles on the village of Salmani, south of Mosul, yesterday during the ongoing battle against Islamic since Algeria ended its 1990s when a militant tried to drive a State group militants to liberate the city of Mosul. Iraqi paramilitary forces said they had captured several villages southwest of Mosul from the Islamic State group yesterday, civil war with Islamists that killed bomb-packed truck into a police the second day of an operation to cut the militants’ supply lines. 200,000 people. station, injuring 29 people. But Al Qaeda in the Islamic Al Qaeda in the Islamic Magh- Maghreb and small brigades of reb in March also claimed a rocket Islamic State affi liates are still ac- attack on an Algerian gas plant, tive, mostly in mountainous ar- operated by BP and Statoil with eas or the remote south near the state-owned Sonatrach, though country’s borders with and it caused no casualties or notable Libya. damage. Three gunmen shot the offi cer In August, Algerian forces Iraq forces say gaining in a restaurant in a northern dis- said they had cleared out Islamic trict of Constantine late on Fri- State-affi liated militants, known day, the security source said. as Jund al-Khilafa or Soldiers of Witnesses have been shown the Caliphate, from the moun- images of potential suspects in tains east of Algiers, two years af- the attack, the source said. ter they kidnapped and beheaded “According to witnesses, these a French tourist in the former Al ground around Mosul individuals went straight to the Qaeda stronghold.

AFP ering of militant supply lines litias in the Mosul operation and destruction of property. In Bartalla, a Christian town Qayyarah, Iraq between Mosul and Syria. has been a source of contention, Tal Afar was a Shia-majority just east of Mosul, army and In a series of statements yes- though the Hashed’s top com- town of mostly ethnic Turk- counter-terrorism forces were terday, the Hashed’s media of- manders insist they do not plan mens before the Sunni extrem- consolidating their positions, raqi forces said yesterday fi ce announced it had retaken to enter the largely Sunni city. ists of IS overran it in 2014, and unloading cases of weapons Anti-graft activist that they recaptured a se- at least four villages southwest Iraqi Kurds and Sunni Arab its recapture is a main goal of from trucks and organising am- Iries of villages surround- of Mosul. politicians have opposed their Shia militia forces. munition stocks. ing Mosul as the operation to Al-Imraini, one of the recap- involvement, as has Turkey Yesterday’s fi ghting came a More than 17,600 people retake the city from the Islam- tured villages, is 45km from Tal which has a military presence day after Iraq announced the have fl ed their homes toward among four dead ic State group neared its third Afar, according to the media of- east of Mosul despite repeated recapture of Al-Shura, an area government-held areas since week. fi ce. demands by Baghdad for the south of Mosul with a long his- the Mosul operation began, the Tens of thousands of Iraqi The drive toward Tal Afar forces to be withdrawn. tory as a militant bastion that International Organisation for troops and Kurdish peshmerga could bring the fi ghting peril- Relations between the has been the target of fi ghting Migration said yesterday. in Libya explosion fighters have been advancing ously close to the ancient city of Hashed and the US-led coali- for more than a week. Numbers are expected to on Mosul from the north, east Hatra, a Unesco world heritage tion fi ghting IS are also tense, Iraq’s Joint Operations soar as Iraqi forces close in on and south after the launch on site, and the ruins of Nimrud but the paramilitaries enjoy Command announced “the the city, which is home to more AFP was unknown, said the source. October 17 of a vast offensive – two archaeological sites that widespread support among complete liberation of Al- than a million people. Benghazi, Libya Bugaighis was known for his to retake IS’s last stronghold have previously been vandal- members of Iraq’s Shia major- Shura”, saying that security The UN says there have been support of the idea that Haftar in the country. ised by IS. ity. forces advancing from four credible reports of IS carrying be made commander of the Lib- After standing largely on Forces from Iraq’s autono- The Hashed has been a key different sides had linked up out mass executions in the city prominent anti-corrup- yan national army, as well as his the sidelines in the first days mous Kurdish region also an- force in Iraq’s campaign to re- in the area, which is north of and seizing tens of thousands tion activist was one of opposition to Islamists. of the assault, forces from nounced gains yesterday, say- take areas seized by IS in mid- Qayyarah base, the main hub of people for use as human Afour people killed in an For two and a half years, Beng- the Hashed al-Shaabi – a ing that they had recaptured 2014, when the militants took for the southern front. shields. explosion in Libya’s second city hazi has seen bloody battles paramilitary umbrella organi- six villages north and east of control of large parts of Syria The US-led coalition – which It cited reports indicating IS of Benghazi, in the east of the between loyalist forces led by sation dominated by Iran- Mosul. and Iraq and declared a cross- has been assisting federal forces has forcibly taken civilians into strife-torn country, offi cials said Haftar and armed groups includ- backed Shia militias – began a Kurdish units are eff ectively border “caliphate”. and Kurdish peshmerga with air Mosul, killing those who resist yesterday. ing militants from the Islamic push on Saturday towards the operating on the opposite side But the paramilitaries have strikes, training and advisers or who were previously mem- “An explosion caused by a State group and Ansar al-Sharia, west of Mosul. of Mosul from the Shia militia- been repeatedly accused of hu- for two years – said on Friday bers of Iraqi security forces. mortar shell occurred in the Al- which is close to Al Qaeda. The ultimate aim is the re- men, with whom relations are man rights violations during that Iraqi forces were observing It said more than 250 people Kish neighbourhood” of Beng- Haftar’s forces have taken over capture of Tal Afar, a town tense. the war against IS, including a pause in the two-week-old were executed in just two days hazi, said Mohamad al-Azumi, a much of Benghazi but have been west of the city, and the sev- The involvement of Shia mi- summary killings, kidnappings off ensive. earlier this week. spokesman for forces allied with unable to impose their control controversial Field Marshal Kha- over the whole city where they lifa Haftar. still face pockets of resistance He said the shell hit a group of from dissident groups. cars, sparking the blast. Libya has been mired in vio- A medical offi cial said the ex- lence and political chaos since plosion on Saturday night killed the 2011 uprising that toppled Dozens die four people and wounded 23 and killed longtime dictator others, all of them civilians in- Muammar Gaddafi . cluding “the well-known anti- The UN special envoy to Lib- corruption activist Mohamad ya, Martin Kobler, condemned Bugaighis”. the attack on his offi cial Twitter in battle to Another source in the forces account. loyal to Haftar said the shell The German diplomat wrote stuck near the headquarters of that Bugaighis was among two a brigade located in an area also anti-corruption activists killed known for its cafes and shops. in the blast, and called for the break siege The origin of the mortar round culprits to be brought to justice. of Aleppo Four Egyptian soldiers

AFP Syria’s second city, Aleppo Aleppo, Syria has been ravaged by some of the killed in Sinai attack heaviest fi ghting of the country’s fi ve-year war which has killed A Syrian youngster pushes his belongings on a scooter yesterday as people leave Aleppo’s yria’s regime and rebels more than 300,000 people. southwestern frontline neighbourhood of Dahiyet al-Assad, on the third day of a rebel off ensive to AFP Egypt’s army has been bat- were locked in fi erce fi ght- Intense fi ghting yesterday break a three-month regime siege on the opposition-held east of Syria’s second city. Cairo tling an Islamist insurgency in Sing yesterday on Aleppo’s rocked western districts, bat- the northern Sinai since the western edges, where 41 civil- tered by hundreds of rebel rock- offi ce said in a statement. Dahiyet al-Assad yesterday. Much of the once-bustling military overthrow of Islamist ians have been killed in an oppo- ets and artillery fi re, according to Fighting lasted all night and They brought belongings economic hub has been reduced our Egyptian soldiers have president Mohamed Mursi in sition off ensive to break a devas- Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the into yesterday, with air strikes stuff ed into plastic bags, hoist- to rubble by artillery and air been killed in the Sinai 2013. tating government siege. Syrian Observatory for Human and artillery fi re along the ing them on top of their heads bombardment, including bar- FPeninsula, where the lo- The government says hun- Rebels have unleashed car Rights. western battlefronts heard even or dragging them along the rel bombs – crude unguided cal branch of the Islamic State dreds of police and soldiers have bombs and salvos of rockets Two days of heavy rebel bom- in the eastern districts, an AFP dusty road. explosive devices that also kill group regularly attacks security died in the attacks, which have and shells to break through bardment have killed 41 civil- correspondent there said. A pro-regime military source indiscriminately. forces, the army said yesterday. also hit Cairo and the Nile Delta. government lines and reach the ians, including 16 children, and Plumes of smoke could be said that the rebel assault was In late September, govern- The troops were killed dur- Most of the attacks have been 250,000 people living in the wounded 250, according to the seen rising from the city. “massive and co-ordinated” ment troops launched an as- ing operations around El-Arish, claimed by the Egyptian branch city’s east. Britain-based Observatory. About 1,500 rebels have but insisted it was unable to sault to recapture all of the close to the border with the of the Islamic State group. Syrian state media yesterday In a new toll yesterday, it said massed on a 15km front along break into any neighbourhoods eastern rebel-controlled terri- Gaza Strip, army spokesman The militant group also said it accused them of fi ring shells fi ghting had also killed 55 regime the western edges of Aleppo beyond Dahiyet al-Assad. tory, backed by air strikes from Brigadier General Mohamed was responsible for the bomb- containing toxic gas into gov- and allied fi ghters, as well as 64 since Friday, scoring quick “They’re using Grad missiles Russia, which began an air war Samir said on Facebook. ing of a Russian plane over Sinai ernment-controlled districts. Syrian rebels. gains in the Dahiyet al-Assad and car bombs and are support- in 2015 to support President Six militants were killed dur- in October 2015 which killed all State news agency SANA re- The civilian toll was slammed district but struggling to push ed by foreign fi ghters in their Bashar al-Assad’s forces. ing the same operation and oth- 224 people on board, most of ported that 35 people were suf- by UN peace envoy to Syria east since then. ranks,” he said. That onslaught spurred mas- ers were arrested, he said. them holidaymakers. fering from shortness of breath, Staff an de Mistura, whose of- “The advance will be from Those engaged in the assault sive international criticism of numbness, and muscle spasms fi ce said he was “appalled and Dahiyet al-Assad towards include Aleppo rebels and rein- both Moscow and Damascus. 16 migrant bodies washed up in Libya after “toxic gases” hit the front- shocked by the high number of Hamdaniyeh,” said Yasser al- forcements from Idlib province Last week, Russia imple- line district of Dahiyet al-Assad rockets” fi red by rebels. Youssef of the Noureddin al- to the west, among them the mented a three-day “humani- The bodies of 16 migrants have Saharan Africa. “The bodies are and regime-held Hamdaniyeh. “Those who argue that this is Zinki rebel faction. militant Fateh al-Sham Front, tarian pause” intended to allow washed up on shore at the decomposed and we have no The head of Aleppo Universi- meant to relieve the siege of east- Hamdaniyeh is a regime- which changed its name from civilians and surrendering rebels western Libyan city of Zuwara, idea when they drowned,” he ty Hospital, Ibrahim Hadid, told ern Aleppo should be reminded held district directly adjacent Al Nusra Front after breaking to leave Aleppo’s east, but few a Red Crescent spokesman said said. state television that “36 people, that nothing justifi es the use of to opposition-controlled east- ties with Al Qaeda. did so. yesterday. Libya is a common departure including civilians and combat- disproportionate and indiscrim- ern neighbourhoods. Aleppo’s front line runs Moscow says it will contin- Al-Khamis al-Bosaifi said the point for migrants trying to cross ants, were wounded after inhal- inate weapons, including heavy An AFP correspondent saw through the heart of the city, ue a halt on its air strikes over bodies, which were recovered the Mediterranean to Europe. ing toxic chlorine gas released by ones, on civilian areas and it about a dozen civilians, includ- dividing rebels in the east from Aleppo, in place since October on Saturday, were all men who They travel in ill-equipped boats terrorists”. could amount to war crimes,” his ing women and children, fl eeing government forces in the west. 18. appeared to be from sub- that often break down or sink. Gulf Times 14 Monday, October 31, 2016 AFRICA

Zimbabwe worried of Scuffl es mar Ivory Coast ‘bond notes’

AFP Harare vote on divisive charter imbabweans know the risks of worthless money all too AFP Zwell after hyperinfl ation Abidjan between 2007 and 2009 gave them the Z$100tn banknote that barely bought a loaf of . vorians were voting yesterday to Now they fear that the govern- determine the fate of constitutional ment is about to create another Ichanges the president says will help devastating crisis by printing its end years of unrest, with scuffl es erupt- own “bond notes” that will of- ing at several polling stations. fi cially be worth the same as the The package put to the country’s US dollar. 6.3mn voters has alarmed the opposi- Many Zimbabweans who lost tion, which is boycotting the polls, and all their savings in the hyper- left much of the electorate confused, infl ation years dread President analysts say. Robert Mugabe’s government is- Commentators say turnout for the suing so-called “surrogate mon- referendum is the main question, ey”, set for next month. as there seems to be little doubt the “My fear is that we will have a changes will be approved. repeat of 2009,” Petros Chirenje, President Alassane Ouattara’s re- 43, an electrician based in the vised constitution would create the post capital, Harare, told AFP. of a vice president, and set up a Senate, “I had Z$17tn in my bank ac- a third of whom would be nominated by count and I lost everything when the head of state. the government switched to for- It would also suppress a contested eign currency. I worry that the clause on national identity — the so- US dollars in my account will be called “Ivorian-ness” clause which took converted to bond notes.” eff ect in 2000 and stipulates that both The country has used the US parents of a presidential candidate must dollar since 2009 after issuing so be born on Ivorian soil and not have many dollars that hy- sought nationality in another country. perinfl ation peaked at 500bn% The issue of identity has contributed and the national currency was to years of unrest in the West African abandoned. country, which suff ered a coup in 1999, But a shortage of US ban- a civil war in 2002 that split the coun- knotes has added to Zimbabwe’s try between its north and south and a accumulating economic woes. bloody post-election crisis in 2010. Banks are scarcely able to dis- The electoral crisis led to months of pense cash, the few remaining post-poll bloodshed with then-pres- businesses are grinding to a halt, ident Laurent Gbagbo refusing to step and the government repeat- down. edly fails to pay soldiers and civil Some 3,000 people died and Gbagbo servants on time. is now on trial in The Hague for crimes Chirenje buys imported electri- against humanity. cal supplies because few goods are Shortly after the polls opened at 0800 A woman casts her vote at a polling station in Abidjan yesterday. made in Zimbabwe — but bond GMT, trouble broke out in the economic notes are unlikely to have much capital Abidjan and elsewhere, with Coast but his father was born in neigh- Critics have speculated that Ouattara his successors so it stays in the fam- mechanic in a working class district of value to international producers. groups of youths storming several vot- bouring Burkina Faso and the issue of is trying to line up a successor for when ily.” Abidjan. “The government says the ing stations and damaging equipment, “Ivorian-ness” raised a hurdle in his bid his term ends in 2020. Some voters welcomed the chance to “There is little engagement,” said bond notes will be equivalent to Interior Minister Hamed Bakayoko said. for the presidency. The opposition sees the change as a have their voices heard. researcher Meite Mamoudou who, like the US dollar, but my question is But overall, he said, the referendum The proposed new constitution, “monarchistic tactic”. “I am voting for the sake of my chil- many observers, expects that many ‘how?’,” he said. was “going well”. which parliament has overwhelmingly Ouattara “is treating Ivory Coast as dren,” 61-year-old TV repairs man Soro simply wouldn’t bother to vote. The new notes, starting with Casting his ballot at an Abidjan approved, would see the creation of if it were his personal property,” said Seydou told AFP in the nation’s second US-based Human Rights Watch has small denominations of $2 and school, Ouattara appeared confi dent. the post of vice president, who would Pascal Affi Nguessan, head of the Ivo- city Bouake. warned that despite the campaigning, $5, were meant to be introduced “It is essential for our nation’s future appear on the ballot with presidential rian Popular Front, the opposition party Others, however, vowed to stay away. many Ivorians are still none the wiser this month, and are now due out to turn the page on the crisis created by candidates. founded by Gbagbo. “What we care about is the high cost about what they are voting for. in November but no confi rmed the constitution of the year 2000,” he The government claims the idea is to “What he is offering is less than a of living, and escaping poverty. The An electoral commission source said date has yet been announced. said. ensure continuity if the head of state constitution. It is a will and testament constitution won’t change anything. I the counting should be fi nished “by the In response, Zimbabweans Ouattara hails from central Ivory dies or is incapacitated. designed to distribute his country to won’t go to vote,” said Bamory Kone, a end of Monday, Tuesday at the latest”. have been lining up outside banks to try to get hold of the few remaining US dollars. With- Shebaab seizes another town drawals are sometimes limited to just $50 per person a day. he Islamist group 250km northwest of Mavis Chapo, a housewife, Shebaab yester- Mogadishu, the capital. French premier rules out slavery reparations said she was withdrawing all her Tday seized a town Shebaab’s military money “before it is eaten up.” northwest of Somalia’s operations spokesman, “I would rather take my mon- capital from government Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Mus- AFP Africa’s history is solely defi ned by ey out and buy things I did not forces, the latest small ab, confi rmed the group Accra slavery. plan to buy,” 54-year-old Chapo centre taken by the mili- had captured the settle- “Memory should not divide. said outside the Central Afri- tant group trying to topple ment. He said seven So- It should, on the contrary, close can Building Society bank in the the country’s Western- soldiers were killed. rench Prime Minister fractures and bring people togeth- capital, adding she would not backed government. Shebaab’s casualty fi g- Manuel Valls yesterday is- er, if only we do not give in to the give up despite waiting for fi ve Shebaab, which once ures and those announced Fsued an appeal to overcome awfulness of competing memo- hours in the hot summer sun. ruled much of Somalia, by offi cials often diff er. the legacy of slavery, dismissing ries, hierarchies and comparing “I cried when I lost all the mon- has been fi ghting for years In a separate incident, claims for fi nancial compensation the suff ering of some with the ey in my account in 2009 and was to impose its strict inter- Somali forces in the semi- while acknowledging the “horror” misfortune of others. later told it was worth only US$5. pretation of Islam on So- autonomous Galmudug of the slave trade. “I also know that the history of I am wiser after that experience. I malia. region north of Mogadishu Valls was yesterday visiting Africa is so much more than the don’t want to cry again.” African Union and So- freed a Kenyan woman, Franklin House, a former slave hub history of slavery, to which it is too The state-run Herald news- mali troops have driven it Loise Njoki Weru, who of- in the Ghanaian capital Accra, on often reduced,” he said, adding: “I paper said last week that “the from major urban strong- fi cials said was held by pi- the second leg of a three-country know that Africa has the strength introduction of bond notes early holds and ports, but they rates since 2015. tour of West Africa. to free itself from that past.” next month is on course, with have often struggled to Galmudug Vice Presi- “We cannot repair slavery but French President Francois massive educational campaigns defend smaller, more re- dent Mohamed Hashi said we can prepare the future” he Hollande on a May 2015 trip to expected to start on October 31.” mote areas from attacks. she was now in safe hands said in an article published by the the Caribbean spoke of the debt Reserve Bank governor John “Many Shebaab fi ght- after security forces res- French daily Le Monde and the France owed to Haiti, but his of- Mangudya last week sought to ers attacked us this morn- cued her and had spoken English magazine The Africa Re- fi ce later said he was referring to a allay fears that authorities were ing and after brief fi ghting to her family, but he did port. “moral debt” rather than fi nancial using bond notes to covertly re- we left the town for tacti- not say when she would be Valls rejected the idea of com- French Prime Minister Manuel Valls plays football with pupils during the compensation. introduce the Zimbabwe dollar. cal reasons,” Somali army repatriated. pensation, instead advocating for inauguration of a sports field at the Lycee Francaise d’Accra in Accra. France abolished slavery in all “These are just short-term Major Hussein Edin told Earlier this month, 26 strengthened trade relations be- its colonies in 1848 but only rec- measures,” he told a meeting Reuters from the nearby Asian sailors were freed tween Africa and Europe. our two continents on either side mered home,” he said, “the many ognised slavery as a crime against of local business executives in town of Baidoa. after more than four years “It is not so much about liv- of the Mediterranean,” he said. atrocities, rapes and murders. It humanity since 2001. Harare. One Somali soldier was of captivity in a small fi sh- ing for the idea of reparation...as “The slave trade was a disaster was a crime against humanity.” Valls, who arrived in Ghana on “The long-term measures are killed, he said. ing village in Somalia after about looking to tomorrow, about on a large scale. That reality must But Valls argued against calls for Saturday from Togo, was headed to ensure that the economy is Goofgaduud lies about being held by pirates. strengthening the ties between be remembered, taught and ham- reparations, rejecting the idea that later in the day to the Ivory Coast. investor-friendly.” Central African militias gather as French troops leave

AFP Thursday, highlighting the pres- country, leaving dozens dead. One of the world’s poorest ing killings, sexual violence, and the reconstitution of the state, a triggered concern among Central Bangui ence of more than 10,000 UN On Thursday and Friday alone, countries, the Central African destruction of private, public presidential election, and legis- African civilians over the immi- peacekeepers from the MINUS- at least 25 people were killed, Republic has scarcely emerged and religious properties, causing lative elections,” he said during a nent pullout. CA mission. among them six members of the from the chaos of civil war which mass displacement. debate. “I think there is a sense of un- rench Defence Minister But many Central Africans are security forces following clashes erupted in 2013 following the French troops backed by a UN “Even if stability has not been fi nished business which risks Jean-Yves Le Drian was worried about the departure of in the central town of Bambari overthrow of then president mandate arrived in December entirely restored, it is important plunging the country back into Fheading yesterday to the the French troops, who were ur- and the surrounding area, MI- Francoise Bozize, a Christian, by 2013. now...that this role be handed a much worse situation,” said a Central African Republic to for- gently deployed following a wave NUSCA said. Muslim rebels from the Seleka A month later, the Seleka pres- over to the Central African forces teacher called Edgar Ngbaba. mally end Operation Sangaris, of bloodshed in December 2013. Armed groups have fl ourished coalition who installed their own ident was forced to step down and the UN mission.” “I don’t believe in this with- begun three years ago to halt “Armed groups are getting over the years given the weakness leader. following massive international Around 350 French troops, drawal at all,” said Marie Ndoin- mass killings there but which ready. And I’m afraid they will of the state. Christians who comprise pressure over his failure to end equipped with observation am, a trader. failed to disarm militias terroris- start an all-out off ensive when Among the main culprits are about 80% of the population the violence. drones, will remain present, And the worry of Bangui resi- ing the population. the French have left,” a senior po- factions from the mostly-Mus- then organised vigilante units Despite this explosive cocktail, around 100 of whom will be de- dents is only fuelled by news fi l- The formal end to the French litical fi gure told AFP, requesting lim former Seleka rebel force, and — dubbed “anti-Balaka” in ref- France, the former colonial pow- ployed with the UN, the French tering through from the interior mission comes as a fresh wave anonymity due to the sensitivity the Christian anti-Balaka mili- erence to the machetes used by er, decided earlier this year to end government says. of the country. of bloodshed shook the trou- of the subject. tias. the rebels — which then began its mission in the country with The French operation has not According to several Central bled nation, spearheaded by ri- “The militias fear the French But there are also vigilante to target Muslims, plunging the Le Drian telling parliament ear- been entirely smooth, with its African sources contacted by val Muslim and Christian militia troops but not the UN force.” groups made up of nomadic Fu- country into a crisis. lier this month that the operation troops coming under intense AFP, several hundreds of heavily- groups. In recent weeks, people have lani herders, who are predomi- According to Human Rights had been “a success”. pressure since July 2014 over al- armed Seleka gunmen from rival “France is not giving up on been living in fear as armed nantly Muslim as well as others Watch, the Seleka and anti-Bala- “We stopped the mass kill- legations of child rape. factions have begun gathering in Central Africa,” Foreign Minister groups have resumed their acts which specialise in highway rob- ka groups committed widespread ings...allowed a process of in- Despite the troubling claims, Batangafo, some 350km north of Jean-Marc Ayrault had said on of violence in the interior of the bery. abuses against civilians, includ- tercommunal reconciliation, fears of a return to violence have Bangui. Gulf Times Monday, October 31, 2016 15 AMERICA

The other election battle: could Senate Clinton grapples with tilt to Democrats?

By Michael Mathes, AFP Washington latest e-mail fallout s Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump duke it out for the White House, a heated political battle is also on for US AFP FBI boss James Comey wrote to ACongress, with the Senate on the verge of shifting into Miami lawmakers on Friday, announcing Democratic hands. that his agents are reviewing a new- Who runs the two chambers — and the legislation intro- ly discovered trove of emails, res- duced there — is crucial, as bills can easily get stuck, particu- olls showed the US election urrecting an issue that the Clinton larly if the leadership does not belong to the same party as tightening yesterday as Hil- campaign thought was behind it. the president. Plary Clinton campaigned in “It was long on innuendo, short Both the Senate and the House of Representatives are cur- the crucial state of Florida, grap- on facts, so we’re calling on Mr rently under Republican control. pling with the fallout from the FBI Comey to come forward and ex- But with Democrat Clinton leading nationally in nearly director disclosing more of her e- plain what’s at issue here,” Clin- all presidential polls, and with key Senate races contested in mails were under review. ton’s campaign chairman John battleground states where she is ahead, the odds are slightly With the US elections now just Podesta told CNN Sunday, refer- better than 50-50 that Democrats will reclaim the Senate, nine days away, an ABC News/ ring to Comey’s announcement. several experts say. Washington Post poll put the “It’s unprecedented and it is Republicans enjoy a strong 59-seat majority in the former secretary of state just deeply troubling because voters 435-member House, and most analysts say it would take one point ahead of her bombas- deserve to get full and complete a startling sea change election for Democrats to fl ip the 30 tic Republican challenger, Donald facts,” Clinton said in Florida on seats needed to retake control. Trump, at 46%-45 % of likely vot- Saturday. The most attention is falling therefore on the 100-mem- ers in a four-way race. “So we’ve called on Director ber Senate, where Democrats would need to gain four seats In Florida, which is a must-win Comey to explain everything right for a majority in the event Clinton wins the White House, as if Trump is to have any hope of vic- away, put it all out on the table, ties in the Senate are broken by the vice president. tory, the tycoon overcame a one- right?” she declared, to rapturous The million-dollar question is how much could an alle- point defi cit to lead, according to cheers. giance to Trump — or a Republican’s repudiation of the con- a New York Times Upshot/Siena Leading Democratic senators troversial nominee — impact their chances at the ballot box? College Research Institute poll. have also written to Comey and “In isolated cases, it may allow some Republicans in close The poll gave Trump 46% of his boss, Attorney General Loretta races to win re-election by distancing from Trump,” George likely voters compared to Clinton’s Lynch, urging them to make clear Washington University professor of applied politics Gary 42 %, with former governor Gary by tonight whether the new emails Nordlinger told AFP. Johnson dropping to 4% and Green are pertinent to the investigation “But it’s a real double-edged sword. Trump is wildly pop- Party candidate Jill Stein on 2%. into Clinton’s handling of classifi ed Jennifer Lopez ‘Gets Loud for Hillary Clinton’ at the Get Out The Vote concert in Miami on Saturday night. ular among his base, so you risk alienating that base when While the 69-year-old former material that the FBI closed in July. you try to distance yourself.” fi rst lady looking to make history as But the Trump campaign — itself sailing her for going after Comey. Weiner, a disgraced former con- much progress will be made in the The consensus view is that Republicans are in trouble. America’s fi rst female command- reeling from scandal over alleged “She just has to call her friend gressman who resigned in 2011 investigation before polling day The FiveThirtyEight blog, featuring highly respected elec- er-in-chief is still overwhelmingly sexual misconduct accusations and confi dante, Huma Abedin and after sending explicit online mes- and few observers expect Clinton tion forecaster Nate Silver, puts the chances of Democrats expected to win the November 8 against the tycoon from at least 12 say tell us what’s in the emails, tell sages, is under investigation over to face criminal charges. winning the Senate at 65%. ballot, Trump was quick to crow women — has been eager to exploit us what’s on the devices that you allegations he sent sexual overtures Media reports citing FBI insid- The Cook Political Report projects Democrats will pick up yesterday. the FBI’s decision. shared with your paedophile hus- to a 15-year-old girl. ers suggest agents do not yet know fi ve to seven seats. “We are now leading in many “You see the polls closing in band,” she told Fox News. “This is the biggest political whether the latest batch contains It is a tough year all around for Senate Republicans. polls, and many of these were taken states around the country,” his “I think it’s a terrible strategy but scandal since Watergate, and it’s any new emails or classifi ed infor- Of the chamber’s 34 seats contested in 2016, 24 are held before the criminal investigation running mate Mike Pence told it’s very much the strategy of Hil- everybody’s deepest hope that jus- mation. by Republicans. announcement on Friday — great NBC’s “Meet the Press” yesterday. lary Clinton throughout her career tice at last will be beautifully deliv- In July, Comey criticised Clin- Of the nine closest Senate races, only one, in Nevada, is in states!” the 70-year-old real “The American people are fo- which is to shoot the messenger, ered,” Trump told a rally in Arizona ton’s handling of sensitive in- held by a Democrat. estate tycoon tweeted to his fol- cusing on the big issues in this attack the person who’s calling into on Saturday. formation but recommended no Illinois and Wisconsin seats are likely to fl ip Democrat. lowers. country. question your fi tness for offi ce.” Clinton’s campaign has been charges be brought. Other vulnerable Republicans are in New Hampshire, Clinton was in Florida a sec- “Frankly, I think they have come According to the New York overshadowed from the start by al- Clinton appeared to be in clear. North Carolina and Pennsylvania, with tougher but still vi- ond day yesterday after address- to the conclusion that Hillary Clin- Times, the probe was renewed af- legations she put US secrets at risk The latest poll of polls by tracker able battles in Florida and Indiana. ing thousands of supporters at a ton is a risky choice to be the next ter agents seized a laptop used by by using a private server based in site RealClearPolitics put Clinton Even red-leaning Missouri is in play. Jennifer Lopez concert in Miami president of the .” Clinton’s close aide, Huma Abedin, her home for all email correspond- on average 3.4 percentage points Republican Senator Roy Blunt risks losing his seat to Jason and calling the FBI director’s move Campaign manager Kellyanne and her now estranged husband, ence as secretary of state. ahead of the Republican nation- Kander, a charismatic Democratic military veteran whose “deeply troubling” on Saturday. Conway lashed out at Clinton, as- Anthony Weiner. In reality, it seems unlikely that wide. campaign video of himself assembling an AR-15 rifl e while blindfolded has gone viral. With Republicans suddenly in a mad scramble to preserve the Senate, a conservative superPAC, or political action committee, is pouring $25 mn into a half-dozen Senate races. Halloween hunter “We know that it will be a tough challenge to keep the Sen- Charleston ‘on eggshells’ on eve of ate in this environment, but if Democrats want the majority they are going to have a hell of a fi ght on their hands,” said Ian Prior, spokesman for the Senate Leadership Fund. two racially-charged trials Clinton welcomes that fi ght, and is happy to drape Trump around Republicans’ necks like an albatross. Her campaign and support groups are focusing heavily on Reuters calm that prevailed after the with murder or manslaughter battleground races like North Carolina, where Democrat De- Charleston shootings and could trigger un- after an on-duty fatal shoot- borah Ross is challenging incumbent Senator Richard Burr. rest if those angry about the kill- ing were convicted, according to “She will help break through the gridlock in Washington,” ings feel justice is not served. Philip Stinson, a Bowling Green Clinton said Thursday in North Carolina. wo South Carolina shoot- “The community is, for lack of State University associate pro- “And unlike her opponent, Deborah Ross has never been ings that rocked the coun- better words, on eggshells,” said fessor who tracks such cases. afraid to stand up to Donald Trump.” Ttry last year and raised Justin Bamberg, a state legisla- Twenty-nine of those criminal The House is the Republican fi rewall. questions about race in America tor and lawyer who represents cases ended with no conviction, Speaker Paul Ryan has had a tempestuous relationship are now headed for trial, putting Scott’s family. while cases for 21 of those offi cers, with the nominee, and after Trump’s lewd comments about the historic city of Charleston on Both trials are expected to last including Slager, are pending. women emerged this month, Ryan said he could no longer edge as the community awaits the several weeks and draw national “Our confi dence level in the defend or campaign with the candidate. testimony and juries’ decisions. attention to the port city of about justice process working is like sit- Instead he is focusing on maintaining his House majority. Jury selection begins today 133,000 people that is known for ting on pins and needles,” said Still, most of the vulnerable House seats are held by Re- in the case of Michael Slager, a its and well-preserved 18th Edward Bryant III, president of publicans, and Democrats are confi dent they can cut deeply white former policeman in North and 19th century architecture. the National Association for the into the GOP’s majority, perhaps regaining as many as 10 or Charleston charged with murder But Bamberg said the cases Advancement of Colored People 20 seats. in state court after he fatally shot have important distinctions. (NAACP) branch in North Char- The Center for Politics, the closely-followed University unarmed black motorist Walter Roof’s trial is less about his leston, where black residents have of Virginia election projector, forecasts a Democratic gain of Scott in April 2015. guilt or innocence than whether long complained of racial profi ling 10-15 seats. One week later on November 7, a he will be sentenced to life in by the largely white police force. A confi dent Clinton camp is also making forays into House federal death penalty trial is slated prison or death, Bamberg said. Slager was arrested and charged races, seeking to pick off seats where Republican incumbents to start for avowed white suprema- Roof’s lawyers have said he with murder after investigators are in jeopardy. cist Dylann Roof, who is accused would plead guilty to 33 counts watched a bystander’s cell phone One pro-Clinton group released a 30-second ad in Iowa, of killing nine black parishioners of hate crimes, obstruction of video that showed him fi ring where Clinton herself campaigned Friday, tying freshman during Bible study at Charleston’s religion and fi rearms charges if eight times at 50-year-old Scott’s congressman Rod Blum to Trump. Emanuel African Methodist Epis- prosecutors agreed not to seek back as he fl ed from the offi cer. It shows footage of Blum at a campaign rally saying “Send copal Church in June 2015. the death penalty. Defense lawyers say the video me back to Congress, and you send Donald Trump to the The nearly simultaneous pro- Slager’s case, on the other does not show the whole story of White House.” ceedings will take place at court- hand, could produce a rare result: what happened after Scott was Gaining enough seats to reclaim the House would be a houses across the street from a guilty verdict against a US po- pulled over for a broken brake light. huge challenge, even Democrats admit. each other in the heart of Charle- lice offi cer charged with murder They will argue that Slager, who In the Senate, it’s a diff erent story, but the tables will turn ston’s downtown district. or manslaughter. has pleaded not guilty, felt threat- A person in a dinosaur costume walks along M Street NW in two years from now. Black community activists Since 2005, 27 of the 77 offi c- ened by Scott as the men struggled Georgetown for Halloween celebrations in Washington on Saturday. In 2018, Democrats will defend 25 seats, compared to just said the outcomes will test the ers charged across the country over the offi cer’s stun gun. eight for the GOP, a startling advantage for Republicans. Tribe vows to fi ght on in winter to block pipeline

Reuters At least 10 shelters were being readied Archambault said his tribe may pur- ter promising to appear in court, she said. Mandan, North Dakota on tribal land against temperatures that sue a class action over police tactics on Preskey said the protest site was quiet can fall below -35 Fahrenheit (-37 Cel- Thursday. on Saturday. sius) for days at time, he said. Offi cers in riot gear swept through The US government in September halt- ative American leaders vowed on “Let’s reroute the pipeline. It doesn’t a protester camp on private land using ed construction on part of the pipeline. Saturday to protest through the have to put our water at risk,” said Ar- pepper spray, bean bag rounds and an The aff ected area includes land under Nwinter against a North Dakota chambault, who was fl anked by Cheyenne audio cannon against demonstrators who Lake Oahe, a reservoir on the Missouri oil pipeline they say threatens water re- River Sioux Chairman Harold Frazier. refused to leave. River where the line was supposed to sources and sacred lands and are weigh- Opponents of the pipeline scheduled At least 142 people were arrested on cross. ing lawsuits over police treatment of ar- an afternoon rally at the state capitol in Thursday and Friday. The US Army Corps of Engineers is rested protesters. Bismarck against the 1,885km pipeline The Morton County Sheriff ’s Depart- deciding whether to grant the pipeline Standing Rock Sioux chairman Dave being built by companies led by Energy ment has said some protesters set fi re to company an easement to build under the Archambault II said he and other tribal Transfer Partners LP. roadblocks and threw rocks, bottles and lake. leaders were working on providing food, It would off er the fastest route to bring homemade gasoline bombs at offi cers. Two-thirds of tribal members at the heat and shelter for protesters opposed to Bakken shale oil from North Dakota to US Frazier said elderly women had been Standing Rock Reservation are jobless the $3.8bn Dakota Access Pipeline. Gulf Coast refi neries. pepper-sprayed and some detainees had and average yearly income is $4,421, ac- “We’re just working through some The project has drawn opposition from been held in dog kennels. cording to North Plains Reservation Aid, technical details as far as where the land the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, as well Sheriff ’s spokeswoman Donnell Pres- a charity. is, and the type of land that can be used as environmental activists, who say it key said the state Department of Cor- Opposition to the pipeline has been for some permanent structures,” Ar- threatens water supplies as well as sacred rections had inspected and approved the backed by celebrities and actors, includ- Two men walk past a charred vehicle in front of a law enforcement chambault, who was fl anked by Cheyenne tribal sites. holding area for those arrested. ing Mark Ruff alo, Shailene Woodley, Su- barricade near the Dakota Access Pipeline construction site north of River Sioux chairman Harold Frazier, told More than 400 protesters have been Detainees had been sent to jails around san Sarandon, Chris Hemsworth and Ri- Cannon Ball, North Dakota. reporters in Mandan, North Dakota. arrested since August 10. the state, and many had been released af- ley Keough. Gulf Times 16 Monday, October 31, 2016 ASEAN Vietnam reports fi rst microcephaly case likely linked to Zika

The case, a four-month of the nation’s health ministry, old baby whose mother said in a statement posted on its was diagnosed with Zika offi cial website. when she was pregnant, Vietnam so far has reported a was found in the central total nine cases of Zika infection, province of Dak Lak with more cases expected to be confi rmed in the next few days, Reuters the department’s director Tran Hanoi Dac Phu told Reuters yesterday. If the microcephaly case is confi rmed to be linked to Zika, ietnam’s health minis- Vietnam would become the sec- try yesterday reported a ond Southeast Asian country af- Vmicrocephaly case that it ter Thailand to report such a case. says is likely to be the country’s Vietnam earlier this month fi rst linked to the mosquito- raised the threat level for Zika borne Zika virus. and stepped up monitoring of The case, a four-month old pregnant women in the country baby whose mother was diag- after detecting more cases and nosed with Zika when she was amid growing outbreaks in the pregnant, was found in the cen- region. tral province of Dak Lak. Zika infections in pregnant “This is a microcephaly case women have been shown to Cambodian seafarers released after being held hostage by Somali pirates are surrounded by media after arriving at Phnom Penh International Airport yesterday. with a high probability of being cause microcephaly — a severe related to the Zika virus and also birth defect in which the head the fi rst such case in Vietnam,” and brain are undersized — the General Department of Pre- as well as other brain abnormali- ventive Medicine, a department ties. Cambodian fi shermen return after pirate ordeal

PROPOSAL AFP The men, wearing Cambodian cheq- tled into the van one man, who did not vessel died during the hijacking and two Online solution sought to regulate mourners Phnom Penh uered scarves, were fl anked by police as want to give his name, told reporters he other crew members passed away due to they arrived and were whisked away in a was “very happy...so glad” to be free. sickness during the hostage drama. A proposal has been presented to the government’s situation monitor- van through the waiting press pack. The men are expected to be reunited Other captives who returned to their ing command centre to introduce an online registration system to our Cambodian fi sherman freed They are among 26 hostages freed from with their families on Monday. countries last week described an ordeal manage arrivals of mourners from all over the country travelling to after a near fi ve year ordeal as hos- the crew of Naham 3 seized south of the The Naham 3’s crew, which also in- of beatings, threats and deprivation of Bangkok to pay their respects to King Bhumibol at the Dusit Maha Ftages at the hands of Somali pirates Seychelles in March 2012, the second long- cluded seafarers from China, , food and medicine, leaving hostages to Prasat Throne Hall in the Grand Palace. The idea was suggested by the returned to Phnom Penh yesterday to be est hostage-taking ever by Somali pirates. Vietnam, the Philippines and Taiwan. scavenge for mice, scorpions and centi- joint Peace and Order Administration Centre (POAC). reunited with their families. In brief comments before he was hus- The captain of their Omani-fl agged pedes.

Thailand unrest

ONE SMOKER. TWO PATIENTS. The body of a suspected separatist militant is taken away after a gunfight with Thai rangers in the Rueso district of Thailand’s restive southern province of Narathiwat yesterday. More than 6,600 people — mostly civilians— have died in the conflict.

TOBACCO KILLS Indonesia to resume some coal shipments to Philippines

Reuters Jakarta

ndonesia will resume some shipments of coal to the Philippines, a government offi cial said yesterday, after a Imonths-long halt due to concerns about piracy in seas between the two archipelagos. Indonesia earlier this year slapped a moratorium on coal shipments to its neighbour after a string of hijackings by militants based in the southern Philippines, in which several Indonesian sailors were taken hostage. Only ships with a capacity of over 500 tonnes will be al- lowed to resume sailing while smaller vessels and tugboats are still banned. “For safety and security reasons...all ships must sail in the recommended corridors and avoid confl ict areas or wa- ters (around) the southern Philippines and east Malaysia,” Transportation Ministry offi cial Tonny Budiono said. File photo shows a tug boat pull a coal barge along the In a statement, Budiono added that the decision to resume Mahakam River in Samarinda, Indonesia. some shipments had been taken because the moratorium had been deemed to be “damaging Indonesian interests”. Many of the Indonesians have since been released but the Indonesia supplies 70% of the Philippines’ coal imports group is still holding other foreign nationals for ransom. but stopped shipments over concerns that piracy in the Sulu In June, Abu Sayyaf beheaded a Canadian national after a Sea area could reach levels previously seen in Somalia. ransom deadline passed. Several Indonesian sailors were taken hostage earlier this Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia have agreed to Issued in Public Interest by year by suspected members of militant group Abu Sayyaf, a undertake co-ordinated patrols in the Sulu Sea, but these GULF TIMES group known for piracy and kidnappings. have yet to begin. Gulf Times Monday, October 31, 2016 17 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA

Japan to conduct first major survey on racism: report Japan’s justice ministry will conduct its first large scale survey into racism in the country, a report said yesterday, Australia govt moves to as discrimination becomes a growing social concern. The survey will cover 18,500 foreign residents aged 18 or older, the Asahi newspaper said, adding that the survey results would be released by the end of March and will be reflected in policy making. ban boatpeople for life The poll will be in 13 languages ranging from Japanese and AFP/DPA Canberra currently sends all generous humanitarian pro- the programme and the success English to Chinese, Korean, Sydney boatpeople to off shore process- grammes in the world,” he said. we’ve had,” he said. Vietnamese, and Portuguese, the ing camps on the Pacifi c islands “But the only reason we can Turnbull said the move was in national daily said. of Nauru and Papua New Guin- do it, the only reason it has the line with his party’s long-term The questions will include ustralia moved yester- ea’s Manus. public acceptance that it does, policy and expects the opposi- whether the respondents have day to bar any refugee or They are already blocked from is because we are in command of tion Labor party to give “un- experienced or seen racial Aasylum-seeker who ar- being resettled in Australia even our borders.” equivocal support.” discrimination in everyday life or rives in the country illegally by if found to be genuine refugees. Australia has boosted its an- However, Tanya Plibersek, the workplace, and what action they boat from ever being able to ap- They can either return home, nual humanitarian refugee in- deputy leader of Labor, said that want the government to take ply for a visa, even as tourists or make a life on Manus or Nauru, take in recent years from 13,750 the government’s plans were a to eliminate discrimination, the for business. or go to a third country. to 18,750, and has also agreed to distraction from their “hopeless newspaper added. The lifetime ban will be put The new legislation would take 12,000 displaced in Syria mismanagement” and it was too The number of foreign residents to parliament when it next sits, aff ect those sent to Nauru and and Iraq. Turnbull speaking at the news conference on the government’s plan. soon to determine if her party in Japan has increased in recent with Prime Minister Malcolm Manus from July 19, 2013, in- Refugee advocates said the With him is Dutton. would support the bill. years but their ratio to the total Turnbull saying that it was nec- cluding those who have returned plan was unacceptable, with “It is extraordinary that, population is still low, standing at essary to send an “absolutely, home, and anyone who arrives in Save the Children fearing that it Refugee advocate Daniel “Nowhere else in the world is three years on, the government below 2.0%, according to justice unfl inching, unequivocal mes- the future. will further exacerbate the men- Webb of the Human Rights Law the fact that desperate people has not found third countries ministry data. sage” that boatpeople will never But children will be exempt tal anguish of those held in the Centre said the proposed chang- seeking protection from torture to resettle those people who are No comment on the report was be allowed in Australia. and the immigration minister Pacifi c camps. es would permanently split fam- and persecution by boarding a in limbo on Manus Island and available from the ministry “This is a battle of will be- would have the power to make “We have grave concerns ilies and condemn thousands to boat, as opposed to a plane, used Nauru,” Plibersek told reporters yesterday. tween the Australian people, exceptions. that this kind of announcement limbo. as a basis to deny them protec- on the Gold Coast. A number of incidents of hate represented by its govern- The Nauru facility holds just will push people over the edge,” “I was on Manus recently and tion,” Barns said. Lawmaker Brendan speech against specific ethnic ment, and the criminal gangs over 400 men, women and chil- said the organisation’s director met one man, Nayser Ahmed, Since the start of “Operation O’Connor, a former immigra- groups on the streets or online of people-smugglers,” he said. dren. of policy and public advocacy who arrived here on a diff erent Sovereign Borders” in Septem- tion minister for Labor, said have been reported in recent “You should not underestimate Some 800 men are detained in Australia Mat Tinkler. “The date to his wife and kids. While ber 2013, the conservative gov- that his party should consider years. the scale of the threat. These on Manus, which Australia in government must act urgently his family are now rebuilding ernment has managed to halt “whether there are unintended These are most commonly people-smugglers are the worst August agreed to close after a to give hope to these people, not their lives in Sydney, Nayser the fl ood of boat arrivals, and consequences of the legislation, directed at Koreans who came to criminals imaginable. They have Papua New Guinea court ruling continue to take it away.” has been stuck on Manus for drownings, that characterised whether it’s too harsh, whether Japan when the Korean peninsula a multibillion-dollar business. that holding people there was Refugee and Immigration Le- the last three years,” said Webb. previous Labor administrations. it’s in breach of our own interna- was under Japanese colonial rule We have to be very determined unconstitutional and illegal. gal Centre lawyer David Manne “If Turnbull’s legal changes go Immigration Minister Pe- tional obligations”. between 1910 and 1945, and to to say no to their criminal plans.” Rights group have alleged agreed that the proposal pun- ahead, this man may never see ter Dutton, speaking alongside Greens Party immigration their off spring. Amendments to the migration there is widespread abuse and ished genuine refugees. his kids again.” Turnbull, said that the new laws spokesman Nick McKim ac- In a rare court ruling against act would be backdated to mid- self-harm in the camps. “This does nothing to ad- Greg Barns, a spokesperson were partly designed to prevent cused the government of pun- racial discrimination, a vocal 2013, when former Labor prime Turnbull said the move would dress that fundamental question for Australian Lawyers Alliance, refugee advocates from marry- ishing asylum-seekers. anti-Korean group was ordered minister Kevin Rudd declared: reinforce to refugee advocates about where they are going to be said that the “cruel” plan could ing asylum-seekers and bringing “The government’s policy in in 2013 to stop a “hate speech” “As of today, asylum-seekers still hoping Australia will ac- taken so that they can rebuild be declared “unconstitutional” them to Australia on a spouse so many ways, in terms of its campaign against a Pyongyang- who come here by boat without cept some of those on Nauru or their lives in safety and with and it is “a further blow” to the visa. inhumanity, in terms of its ille- linked school and pay some a visa will never be settled in Manus that it will never happen. dignity,” he told the Australian country’s human rights reputa- “We are not going to allow ar- gality, is in absolute disarray,” he ¥12mn ($120,000) in damages. Australia.” “We have one of the most Broadcasting Corporation. tion. rangements that would subvert told reporters in Hobart.

‘Foreign forces’ row over Terracotta Warriors South Korea’s ‘female

By Benjamin Carlson, AFP of soldiers, jostling for space to Rasputin’ fl ies home Xian, China snap selfi es against their serious, stony facades as guides briskly narrated the story of their dis- AFP/Reuters sational media reports regard- ilent and enigmatic, Chi- covery by farmers in the 1970s. Seoul ing Choi, the 60-year-old na’s emblematic Terracotta Several visitors were incredu- daughter of a shadowy reli- SWarriors are at the centre lous at theories of foreign infl u- gious leader and one-time Park of a bitter row, with patriots and ence. he woman at the heart mentor. scholars dismissing as impossi- Dong Shenghua of Beijing said of a lurid political scan- Invoking a lurid back-story ble theories they could have been this was “impossible”, pointing Tdal engulfi ng South Ko- of religious cults, shamanist inspired by Greek sculpture. to the Asian features of the stat- rean President Park Geun-hye rituals and corruption, the re- The 8,000-man clay army, ues and the sophistication of the returned to the country yes- ports have portrayed Choi as crafted around 250 BC for the craftsmanship, which is “so good terday to face accusations of a Rasputin-like fi gure whose tomb of China’s fi rst emperor we can’t even make them today”. infl uence-peddling and med- infl uence extended to vetting Qin Shihuang, is a Unesco world “We have 5,000 years of his- dling in state aff airs. presidential speeches and ad- heritage site, a major tourist draw tory, how many does England With just over a year left vising on key appointments and a symbol of ancient Chinese have?” he asked. to run, Park’s presidency has and policy issues. artistic and military sophistica- Ma Dongling, from Guangxi, unravelled over shocking rev- “As her attorney, I think the tion in a country that proclaims said inspiration could not have elations that she discussed and case must be thoroughly inves- itself a 5,000-year-old civilisa- come from abroad as China was sought advice on government tigated and the truth be told to tion. “very innovative” at the time. policy from Choi Soon-sil, a prevent any further eruption of Questioning their origins “The emperor was the fi rst in the close personal friend with no speculation that goes beyond touches on deep sensitivities, as world to do this.” offi cial position and no secu- fantasy,” Lee said. many take pride in China’s early The museum’s lead archaeolo- rity clearance. Yesterday the South Korean discovery of world-changing in- gist Zhang Weixing was similarly Choi, who has been holed up leader carried out a partial ventions, from gunpowder to the dismissive, saying that the ma- in Germany since early Sep- reshuffl e of her key aides af- compass and movable type. terials, technology, and ceramics tember fl ew into Seoul yester- ter ordering her secretariat to At the same time its history techniques used for the warriors day morning on a fl ight from hand in their resignations ear- with the West is fraught with were all Chinese. This photo taken on October 21 shows visitors taking photos of sculptures of the terracotta army at the London, her lawyer Lee Ky- lier this week. a sense of humiliation over the “To say that the Qin tombs and Terracotta Warrior Museum in Xian, in north China’s Shaanxi province. ung-jae told reporters. Park accepted the resig- colonies and concessions estab- ancient Greece had contact has Choi left Europe on a fl ight nations submitted by her lished in the 19th century. no substantial evidence at all,” he Further research could show “This is an argument that el, acknowledging the sensitivity from London to avoid media chief-of-staff and four senior But theories put forward by told AFP. “It merely exists in the that foreign empires may have works mainly in Europe and of his assertions. “Saying there camped out in Germany, he presidential secretaries, presi- art historian Lukas Nickel of scholar’s conjecture.” provided a model for the Qin America,” Nickel says. is such a link, it always brings said. dential spokesperson Jung the University of Vienna – and As emperor, he added, Qin state itself, he told AFP. In China, researchers rely more up memories of colonialism, of “Choi told me she will co- Youn-Kuk said in a statement. trumpeted in a recent documen- Shihuang “not only innovated “I think it’s perfectly possible on textual evidence for proof, he Western domination of East Asia, operate with the investigation A public apology by Park, tary by National Geographic and the terracotta warriors, he also that there’s much more infl u- said, and so were “very hesitant which is totally understandable.” and expressed her deep apol- in which she acknowledged the BBC – claim that Greek in- created a series of innovations”, ence in thought about statecraft, to believe there were interactions Zhang insisted the disagree- ogy to the people for letting seeking limited advice from novations in artistic naturalism, including standardised weights in how to run an empire, than before the mid-2nd century BC, ment was based on academic them down and causing them Choi, has done nothing to as- and perhaps even Greek artisans and measures, national roads, people have been so far willing to when the Chinese emperor of rigour. frustration,” Lee said. suage public outrage over the themselves, directly infl uenced and a unifi ed currency. admit.” the Han sent an envoy to “If he was an archaeologist we As well as a public uproar president’s behaviour or halt a the sculptures. “Who infl uenced whom, it’s He points to the rise of empires central Asia”. could discuss this issue,” he said. over her relationship with, and plunge in her approval ratings After the documentary aired tough to say. Ancient Greek in central Asia before the Qin dy- And the idea of early Sino- “Archaeologists put more impor- apparent control over Park, she to record lows. earlier this month, netizens sculpture had already also been nasty, with the Achaemenids in Western exchanges threatens to tance on historical documents faces charges of using her links More than 10,000 people blasted the BBC and questioned infl uenced by Egypt.” Persia followed by Alexander the undermine a cornerstone of Chi- and unearthed objects.” with the president to strong- took to the streets of Seoul on how the Greeks could have im- For evidence Nickel points to Great and the Seleucids. “When I nese identity: the Qin dynasty, Li Xiuzhen, a fellow scholar at arm major companies like Saturday evening, calling on pacted ancient China. historical records suggesting the look at the map of Eurasia, what while brutal in many respects, the museum, told AFP that while Samsung into donating large Park to resign and for Choi to “Couldn’t it be that Chinese fi rst Qin emperor made casts the Chinese do fi ts perfectly in with book burnings and execu- there may have been cultural sums to two non-profi t foun- be prosecuted. people went fi rst to Greece and of huge bronze statues seen in the big picture.” tions of literati, laid the founda- contact, that did not imply infl u- dations she set up. Analysts say the scandal infl uenced their sculpture?” one China’s far west, realistic detail- But basing theories about tion for China as a unifi ed nation ence and the warriors were com- Choi has spoken with pros- could paralyse Park’s admin- wrote. ing of muscle and bone on some transmission of cultural ideas on state that has persisted for two pletely Chinese. ecutors to schedule her ques- istration, underling her lame- At the tomb tourists from fi gures, and the absence of an ex- stylistic similarities in objects millennia. “The terracotta army is unique tioning, Lee said. duck status ahead of presiden- across China crammed observa- tensive prior sculptural tradition fails to convince some Chinese “That is the moment when in the world,” she said, and the The past week has a seen a tial elections in December next tion platforms to view the ranks in China. scholars, he acknowledged. China is being made,” said Nick- “creation of the Qin people”. daily diet of increasingly sen- year. Critics say China trying to ‘divide and rule’ Taiwan

By JR Wu,Reuters gressive Party (DPP) to come up during an annual party-to-party Hsiao Bi-khim, a DPP lawmaker force if necessary, and ties have but held by Taiwan, told Chinese trols via state-run Chinese travel Taipei with moves of its own to counter gathering about economic and for Hualien, on Taiwan’s east become strained since Tsai took offi cials that he wanted more agencies, fell 71% year-on-year a decline in mainland tourists. cultural relations. coast. offi ce in May. Chinese to visit Taiwan’s small- from October 1-18, Taiwan data Eight Taiwanese local gov- In contrast, Beijing has with- Hsiao and the Hualien county The previous Nationalist ad- est county. showed, coinciding with China’s hina is embarking on a ernment offi cials, mainly repre- held offi cial communication with chief, an ex-Nationalist who ministration agreed to recognise “I said I hoped Chinese tour- National Day holiday, a Golden divide-and-rule cam- senting counties controlled by the government of DPP leader went to Beijing last month, do the “1992 consensus”, which ists can increase to 40% of the Week for travel for Chinese. Cpaign on self-ruled Tai- the China-friendly opposition and President Tsai Ing-wen, until not see eye to eye. states that there is only one total,” Liu told Reuters. The sector was also hit by a bus wan, off ering to boost tourism to Nationalist Party (KMT), were it agrees to recognise the “one- “We have to condemn this China, with each side having its China’s Taiwan Aff airs Offi ce fi re in Taiwan in July that killed pro-Beijing towns and counties promised greater tourism and China” policy. divide-and-conquer strategy own interpretation of what that head Zhang Zhijun agreed to ex- 24 mainland tourists. while giving the new pro-inde- agricultural ties when they met “The Chinese government and also individual politicians means. pand trade and travel specifi cally The severity of the decline pendence government the cold China’s top Taiwan policymaker has put political conditions rel- who seek to play into the Chinese The eight offi cials who went to between China’s Fujian province in tourism led to a major dem- shoulder, government offi cials in Beijing last month. evant to Taiwan surrendering divide-and-conquer strategy,” Beijing came home to a storm of and Matsu and Kinmen. onstration in September and and politicians say. And this week, Communist our sovereignty and our right to Hsiao said. criticism for being lackeys to Bei- Both Taiwan-controlled is- prompted the government to Whether Beijing’s promises Party Chief and Chinese Presi- determine our own future on the China says Taiwan is part of jing’s one-China policy. lands lie closer to China than pledge T$30bn ($960mn) in materialise remains to be seen, dent Xi Jinping is scheduled to outfl ow of tourists to Taiwan and one China, ruled by Beijing. One of them, Liu Tseng-ying, Taiwan. loans to the industry and work but the political rift is pressing meet KMT chairwoman Hung that’s what makes this a very po- It regards the island as a ren- chief of Matsu, a group of small Tourism from mainland China, on attracting tourists from other Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Pro- Hsiu-chu when she visits Beijing litically complicated issue,” said egade province, to be united by islets off China’s Fujian province which Beijing eff ectively con- Asian countries. Gulf Times 18 Monday, October 31, 2016 BRITAIN/IRELAND Anger at cut in disability grant for boy with heart condition

Guardian News and Media the past fi ve years. He will need a after judging that the eight-year- He told the Coventry Telegraph: Linda Burnip, co-founder of Someone always needs to be and housing benefi t support. For London heart transplant if he is to make it old could walk 50 metres at a “It was ridiculous. Happy birth- campaign group Disabled People on hand to make sure the child families like Ben’s, she said, once to adulthood. normal pace. The unexpected cut day, you’re not disabled any more Against the Cuts, said the deci- doesn’t overdo things, to make the allowance is cut, their access Until he turned eight, Ben’s means that the family is no longer and you have a perfect heart. All sion to cut Ben’s DLA “seems to sure they rest,” she told the to other support packages is re- charity has hit out at gov- condition was deemed suffi ciently eligible for a raft of support meas- I could think was: ‘How can they be a way of trying to reduce ex- Guardian. moved. ernment cuts that have serious by assessors at the depart- ures from their council, and will come to the conclusion he’s fully penditure without making sure Burnip said the family now The family’s appeal will be Aresulted in an eight-year- ment for work and pensions to see their income reduced by £700 functioning?’ It was like a bomb the person is getting the help and face fi nancial hardship because heard at Coventry magistrates old boy with a congenital heart warrant access to disability living a month. went off in my head.” support they need to contribute DLA is a “passport” benefi t. court on November 15, and their condition being stripped of fi - allowance (DLA). However, after Ben’s father, Paul, is his full- The boy’s condition means he to society”. Claiming higher rates entitles case is backed by Coventry city nancial support. Ben Gamble was his latest assessment in the sum- time carer and learned of the deci- struggles to get through the school “You need constant monitor- families to apply to their lo- council’s cabinet member for born with half a heart and has mer, DWP offi cers axed the nan- fi sion in a letter that arrived on the day and is left exhausted by the ing with a heart condition – it cal authorities for carer allow- children and young people, Ed undergone fi ve heart operations in cial assistance given to his family day of his son’s eighth birthday. 500-metre walk from his home. is more or less a 24-hour job. ances, council tax reductions Ruane.

Changes Peace award for Kerry to charity Pressured BoE rules could cost RNLI chief’s decision £36mn

London Evening Standard London on future ‘likely lifeboat helmsman has urged the public to donate Amoney to help crews save lives on the Thames as the char- ity prepares to radically change its fundraising methods. this Thursday’ Tower Lifeboat helmsman Keith Cima warned that the Royal Na- Guardian News and Media the Downing Street after she Ming, whose “person was held to tional Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) London criticised the impact of quanti- be inviolable and without imper- could lose £36mn over fi ve years tative easing in her Conservative fections” and whose critics were after it becomes the fi rst major party conference speech, say- fl ayed alive. UK charity to follow new “opt- ark Carney could an- ing “people with assets had got Two former members of the in” rules on how it communicates nounce a decision about richer, people without them had Bank of England monetary policy with the public. Mwhether to step down as suff ered”. Both sides have played committee have rallied to Car- Since May, the European Un- governor of the Bank of England down any suggestion of divisions ney’s defence. Andrew Sentance, ion’s general data protection regu- in 2018 as soon as Thursday, amid since then, with the pair recently who served from 2006 to 2011, lation has been adopted by mem- a barrage of criticism from Euro- talking on the phone. told the Guardian that the story ber states to govern how charities sceptic MPs about his approach Greg Clark, the business sec- had been “hyped up following contact existing or new donors. to Brexit. retary, told BBC1’s Andrew Marr Theresa May’s comments and It means from next year chari- It is understood the governor Show yesterday Carney has done articles by William Hague and ties will not be able to cold-call is considering making an an- a “tremendous job” for the UK Michael Gove”. potential donors unless they opt nouncement on Thursday at a economy. “If the question is whether to hear from the organisation and press conference for the bank’s However, there has also been a Carney is going to stay beyond consent is unambiguous. third-quarter infl ation report, mounting campaign against the 2018, when he was appointed he The RNLI will adopt the new given the speculation about his governor by leading Tory Euro- wasn’t going to stay beyond 2018. policy on January 1 with other future. sceptics who were annoyed by If he makes a clear decision then charities set to follow suit over the However, sources said Car- his pre-referendum predictions it gives the government plenty of next two years. ney was equally likely to delay about the possible impact of time to appoint a successor. Cima, 65, said: “Without dona- the announcement until later in Brexit on the UK economy, which “I think he has been targeted tions or bequests from the public November and would take the they claim have not come to pass. a bit unfairly by the pro-leave the RNLI could not provide a life- decision based on his personal Those calling for him to go early Brexit campaign. The conse- saving service. The RNLI is the circumstances. George Osborne, include Lord Lawson, the former quences of Brexit are going to fi rst major charity to do this and the former chancellor, played a chancellor; Bernard Jenkin, the play out over a number of years we made that decision because we key role in recruiting Carney for chair of the public administration and to say the economy hasn’t thought it was the right thing to do the move from Canada to the UK committee; Jacob Rees-Mogg, a collapsed after Brexit means Car- by our supporters. for the job in 2013. member of the Treasury commit- ney got it badly wrong is unfair. “We have about 2mn in our do- The governor said last week he tee; and Daniel Hannan, a leading “He made it clear that he nor database and we expect to take would decide by the end of this MEP. thought leaving the EU would a hit with around 500,000 donors year about whether to stay on for Before the vote, Carney sug- be negative for the UK and the dropping out. his full eight-year term or take gested campaigners in favour of timescale over which that plays “We respect and trust our sup- advantage of terms allowing him leaving the EU were “in denial” out depends on how that unfolds, porters and we want them to do to leave after fi ve years. about some of the economic but to jump to the conclusion that to us because it’s a two-way “To be clear, it’s an entirely risks, although he has sounded within a few months when noth- street. There will be a fi nancial hit personal decision and no one more positive about the UK’s ing has greatly changed – we are which we believe will be around should read anything into that prospects since the referendum. still in the EU – I think some of £36mn over fi ve years. We need decision in terms of government The former foreign secretary, the criticisms of him from Brex- to work hard to overcome that by policy. It is a privilege for me to William Hague, warned earlier iteers, as you might call them, fundraising and looking at how we have this role,” he told a parlia- this month that central bankers have been unfair.” spend our money. mentary committee last week. could lose their independ- David Blanchfl ower, “The bottom line is we need the “Like everyone, I have person- ence if they ignored pub- who was on the commit- trust and respect of our support- al circumstances that I have to lic anger over low interest tee from 2006 to 2009, ers.” manage. This role demands total rates, while Michael Gove, said on Twitter that it was Under the new legislation, vol- attention and I intend to give it as the leading pro-leave cam- “ludicrous for Brexiters to untary sector groups would have a US Secretary of State John Kerry accepts the Tipperary International Peace Award in long as I can.” paigner and former cabi- force Carney” as two-year grace period to comply Tipperary, Ireland, yesterday. Kerry was given the award for his eff orts to end conflicts Theresa May prompted ques- net minister, com- it would only with the revised data protection around the world. tions about whether there has pared Carney to the hurt the UK law. been a rift between Carney and Chinese emperor economy. Police launch appeal as MPs condemn mobile phone coverage

40 accordions stolen Guardian News and Media amendment to the govern- London ment’s digital economy bill to allow Ofcom to fine mobile op- Guardian New and Media items on the black market in man they would like to speak to erators that did not meet the London mainland Europe, where the in- in connection with the robbery. inisters must act to targets of a 2014 agreement. strument is more widely played Investigating officer Andrew end mobile signal “not That deal gave the four large than in the UK. “They left all Corbett said: “I am appealing Mspots” that mean some network operators (MNOs) family-run music shop the cheaper accordions here,” for the man pictured in these overseas visitors have better another chance to fix mobile has been targeted by he said. “They knew what they images, or anyone who knows phone reception than people us- “not spots” after they said they A thieves, who stole 40 were doing.” him, to please contact Thames ing UK networks, a cross-party would pump £5bn into improv- Italian-made accordions worth Lovell said that Italian-made Valley police immediately as group of almost 90 MPs said. ing coverage across the UK by £130,000 in what police believe instruments were particularly we believe he might have vital The British Infrastructure December 2017 in return for the was a planned raid. The Ac- sought after in eastern and information about the bur- Group (BIG), led by former Con- government not pursuing a sys- cordion Shop in Sunningdale, southern Europe, where the in- glary. servative chairman and minister tem of national roaming. Berkshire, is one of a handful strument remains popular with “We believe the man might Grant Shapps, said the time for BIG said it found little evi- of dedicated accordion shops in folk musicians and is still taught have links to Port Talbot, so I excuses from the mobile network dence to suggest that the mobile the UK. On the night of August in schools. “In this country, ac- would encourage communi- providers was over. sector would meet the targets 7, a gang broke into the store cordions aren’t recognised as a ties in that area of south Wales In a report, the MPs said it was of this agreement to provide and made off with about a third musical instrument in schools, to share our appeal and these “unacceptable that areas in Brit- coverage to 90% of the UK’s of the business’s stock. but in mainland Europe, they pictures. If you know this man ain continue to have such poor geographic area, and called for a The thieves deliberately se- are. The demand for these items or have any other information mobile connectivity, and that progress update to be published lected high-end, Italian-made will certainly be higher in those about this burglary, please call overseas visitors can expect bet- by the end of 2016.“Essentially, if accordions, ignoring all the countries.” Thames Valley police.” ter mobile coverage than Britons you have a foreign SIM card and cheaper instruments made by Within the industry, Italian- Although Lovell believes the stuck with a single provider”. you are using it in the UK you will less well-known producers. The made accordions were regarded instruments were shipped out They wrote: “The time for ex- get better coverage than if you looted accordions were worth as the best. “Bear in mind that of the country soon after the cuses from the mobile sector is were using one of the companies thousands of pounds each, with at one stage, accordions were crime, he is urging accordion over. The government must make here. It’s amazing,” said Shapps. one, an Exclesior, retailing for Italy’s biggest export,” Lovell players to be on the lookout for a better call for Britain and bring The MPs also called for cus- £6,995. said. suspicious sellers on the black national mobile coverage policy tomers to be able to terminate Bev Lovell, whose grandfa- Lovell has not been contacted market. He has uploaded a list into the 21st century.” They said their mobile agreements with- ther founded the shop in 1927, by Thames Valley police inves- of the items stolen to the shop’s many overseas visitors had better out penalty if their operator is believes the raid was planned tigating the case since the raid website in the hope that some- coverage because their networks not giving them a good enough and carried out by criminals in- in August, but officers have one might spot one of the valu- allowed national roaming. standard of coverage in their tent on selling the highly prized now released CCTV images of a able items. Grant Shapps: time for excuses ‘over’. The group proposed an area. Gulf Times Monday, October 31, 2016 19 BRITAIN Charles joins clean soil project to combat climate change

Guardian News and Media The “4 per 1000” project is a At a ceremony this week to cele- The 4 per 1000 initiative does the planet and to addressing cli- be the usual procrastination, and forestry alone could be huge London pledge to reduce the amount of brate the initiative, the prince said not require farmers to adopt or- mate change”. He said: “It is clear argument and denial that have contributors to the reductions in carbon leaked from soils by 0.4% that the preservation of farmland, ganic methods, but does encour- that doing the right thing by our so bedevilled any meaningful greenhouse gases necessary to a year, which would be enough forests and soils were of “absolute- age more attention to farming soils, our forests and our peat- progress in addressing ever more halt climate change, and small rince Charles urged gov- to halt the rise of carbon dioxide ly critical importance – for, in my techniques, which are currently lands would make a remarkable dangerous climate change?” changes to farming methods – ernments, individuals and levels in the air. Nearly 180 coun- experience, the fertility and health contributing to the erosion of contribution to the fulfi lment of The French agriculture min- such as covering slurry pits, col- Pbusinesses to take greater tries have signed up to the initia- of the soil is at the heart of every- soils around the world. the Paris agreement.” ister, Stéphane Le Foll, said the lecting or fl aring methane emis- care of the world’s soils as part tive that was set up by the French thing”. Drawing on his own work The prince said this project But he challenged govern- prince’s involvement was im- sions from slurry, more precise of an initiative aimed at keeping government as part of its eff orts as an organic farmer, he contrasted could “make a remarkable con- ments and businesses to espouse portant because “at the end of use of fertiliser, and working the carbon locked in soil, rather than to make the Paris agreement on organic methods with the “previ- tribution to the well-being, live- the goals: “At the end of the day, the day, ministers change but the soil less intensively – could save escaping into the atmosphere climate change, signed last year, ously conventional” farming sys- lihoods, food security and resil- will we be able to take the neces- prince always remains”. tens of millions of tonnes of car- and causing global warming. a success. tems which he called “toxic”. ience of farmers, to the health of sary urgent steps – or will there Le Foll added that farming bon dioxide.

Hammond visits Eastern Docks Vote for me to fi ght Heathrow runway plan, says Goldsmith

London Evening Standard ex-PM David Cameron to stop him London backing a third runway at the end of last year. z Believes Heathrow expansion ac Goldsmith has urged will be blocked, most likely in the voters to send a message to courts. ZTheresa May and help him Goldsmith resigned as Rich- fi ght a third runway at Heathrow mond Park MP within hours of – as the fi rst poll in the Rich- the government supporting a big- mond Park by-election showed ger Heathrow on Tuesday and the him clear favourite to win. snapshot poll showed he remains The former Tory MP would popular in the constituency, de- be re-elected with a majority of spite being strongly at odds with more than 10,000 if the vote were many people for his pro-Brexit held now, according to the exclu- stance. sive BMG Research survey for the He would gain nearly 56% of the Standard. vote if the by-election had been Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond talks with James Cooper, CEO of Associated British Ports (right) and Alastair Welch, Associated British Ports director, during In his fi rst interview since his held in the past couple of days a visit to Eastern Docks in Southampton, Britain. failed mayoral bid, he revealed his rather than on its actual date of plans for a street-by-street battle December 1, way ahead of Sarah to return him to Westminster. “I Olney – the Liberal Democrat can- hope it’s a really big mandate be- didate – in second place on slightly cause I do not want a diluted mes- less than 29%. sage for Heathrow,” he said. If the turnout were 50%, Gold- “I want the government and smith’s majority of just over Heathrow to be under no illusion 23,000 in 2015 would be cut to that people really feel very strong- slightly under 10,500, with an es- ly about this.” timated swing to the LibDems of Speaking far more candidly 6%. Security gaps ‘could let than in his mayoral campaign, “I hope people can see from my Goldsmith – who quit as an MP record I get stuff done, I’m true to over the Heathrow decision and my word and I guess I’m asking for sparked the by-election – also told a mandate to continue to fi ght that how he: fi ght,” he said. z May have abandoned a re- There is some hope, though, election bid if his local party had for Tim Farron’s party that Gold- terrorists bring in arms’ not backed him as an independent smith’s majority could drop to candidate. within reach as Brexit is the domi- Guardian News and Media the chances of violent militants 1,000 cases in 2015 by the police ris says: “In July and August the get a gun from crime contacts as z Had “walked away” from the nant issue, with 25% of voters say- London striking, and to deal with the af- and others through the Prevent Metropolitan police recorded 202 they planned to attack targets in Conservative Party but did not ing it is the most important, fol- termath of a catastrophic attack. scheme. fi rearms discharges, compared London. That plot was disrupted, rule out a return after the end of lowed by the local MP’s record and The report came as police re- Basu’s comments emphasised with 87 in the same months last but the fear of a multiple gun and this Parliament. views, at 22%, and then Heathrow eaknesses in Britain’s vealed the scale of the terrorist the concerns about the scale of year. bomb attack was stoked after z Took the blame for failings in on 21%. border security may threat facing Britain from violent the threat, while the review by “In 2015, the National Crime the November 2015 Islamic State his mayoral campaign, which was But the LibDems would have to Wallow terrorists to get extremists. Harris tried to boost London’s Agency intercepted a boat travel- strike against Paris which left 130 criticised even by his sister Jemima build up Brexit hugely as the key the guns they need to attack Deputy assistant commission- defences, with offi cials believing ling from France containing fi re- people dead. Khan. factor, the poll suggests, or fi nd London, a report has warned. er Neil Basu said police were deal- the capital is the target most cov- arms obtained by a UK-based or- The Home Offi ce said: “Our z Denied the campaign was another game-changer to defeat The report, for London mayor ing with “550 live cases at any one eted by terrorists. ganised crime group. Our borders Border Force offi cers use ad- “unprincipled”, adding: “I know Goldsmith. Sadiq Khan, warns of rising fi re- time” and had successfully foiled In his report, Lord Harris, a are not as secure as they should be vanced technology to stop the I’m not racist”. Michael Turner, of BMG Re- arms use in the capital over the at least 10 attacks in the last two Labour peer and former chair of and much greater eff orts should smuggling of weapons into the z He is to become a father again, search, said: “Although the Lib- summer, with the potential for years. The Guardian understands the body that oversaw the Met- be made to prevent the illegal UK and act on intelligence from with his wife due to give birth to Dems are within reach, they may weapons smuggled in by organ- that three of those have been in ropolitan police, says more can transportation of weapons and a range of domestic and inter- their third child in the spring. rue the day they passed an oppor- ised criminals being acquired by recent months, involving arrests be done to make it harder for people into the country. national sources to stop people z Will sit on the Opposition tunity to run a ‘big- hitting’ per- terrorists. in London, Birmingham and Car- terrorists. “It would be naive in the ex- abusing the border. benches as a “critical friend” of sonality like Vince Cable.” The study by Lord Toby Har- diff . Firearms laws are tight in Brit- treme to assume that would-be “This government is also in- the government if re-elected. BMG Research surveyed 543 ris says that a major terrorist at- Basu, the senior national co- ain, but there has been mounting terrorists will not attempt to ex- vesting £130mn over the next four z Would “love” Boris Johnson adults living in the Richmond Park tack could infl ict a severe casu- ordinator for counter-terrorism, concern among counter-ter- ploit any such weaknesses.” years in new technology to help to join him on the campaign trail. constituency by telephone on Oc- alty toll on London, and makes said that vulnerability to radicali- rorism offi cials about increased Police and MI5 have already take on the ever-changing threat z Put “maximum pressure” on tober 26-27. 127 recommendations to limit sation had been reduced in nearly smuggling of weapons. Har- seen a plot that saw terrorists to our borders.” Clarkson admits to nerves New grammars will before new show’s debut harm schools: Ofsted Guardian News and Media ex-head of a successful inner-city London comprehensive school, an acad- Guardian News and Media So he and co-presenters Rich- turned up with a bag full of Artex emy, in Hackney. I needed those London ard Hammond and James May and some trowels. Hammond top 20% to lift everyone up.” are doing a studio recording at a was fi rst in the chair and after ritish schools deserve to He said the UK system had a different place each week from half an hour emerged looking like score only 6.5 out of 10 com- long way to go before it could eremy Clarkson has said he inside a huge tent, which will he’d just arrived from Easter Is- Bpared with education sys- match the achievements of South and his two fellow former be packed up and relocated for land. It simply wasn’t him.” tems in other countries and would Korea, Shanghai, and some Eu- JTop Gear presenters have each of the £4.5mn episodes in With all the makeup on, be further set back if new grammar ropean countries. “It’s six-and- been challenged by legal re- the 12-show series. “speech was impossible be- schools were allowed, the chief in- a-half out of 10,” Wilshaw said. strictions, nerves and the ef- Clarkson said he had that “eu- cause we couldn’t move our spector of schools has said. “Mediocre, but getting better.” forts of over-zealous makeup reka” moment while watching mouths. James had breathing Sir Michael Wilshaw, head of He said he would not have been artists before the launch of the an episode of True Detective in difficulties. I couldn’t get my Ofsted, said the UK education able to turn around his academy trio’s new multi-million pound which a Baptist minister preach- head off the floor because it system was getting better since school in east London if there television show. es in a tent. “Yes,” he exclaimed to weighed so much. Some chisels it had been in “special measures, had been a nearby grammar. Three weeks before The Grand colleagues the next day, “We’d be were found and soon we began in intensive care, in the 70s, 80s “I wouldn’t have been able to Tour hits Amazon Prime, Clark- rootless, peripatetic, like music to emerge from our tombs, like and much of the 90s”, but an do it if those top, those most able son said BBC restrictions on in- teachers in the 70s. Or gypsies.” skeletons unearthed at an ar- expansion of grammar schools youngsters went to the gram- tellectual property rights had left He, Hammond and May chose chaeological dig.” planned by Theresa May would mar school, because it was their him worried about the format of South Africa for their fi rst lo- The trio departed the BBC’s stall progress. ambition, their excellence that the new motoring show. cation as it has “far and away Top Gear in March last year fol- Wilshaw has spoken out sev- aff ected the rest of the school “The Star is a Reasonably the best audiences in the world. lowing Clarkson’s sacking after eral times against new grammars community,” he said. “And we Priced car, the Cool Wall, the Crack a gag at a Friday night an altercation with a producer. since the policy was announced need now more youngsters – in Stig – all that had been left be- event in London and you get a Clarkson said he had watched by the prime minister. May wants the sort of economy that we’ve hind … and replaced with other chuckle ... But crack it in South only two episodes of the re- schools to be able to select on ac- got, the service, digital economy stuff,” he wrote in the Sunday Africa and they laugh for about vamped Top Gear, which was ademic achievement if they meet – to do well academically.” Times magazine. “Would that a year,” he wrote, adding: “As the co-presented by Chris Evans, conditions about helping chil- Lucy Powell, the former shad- be like the Rolling Stones sud- fi lming day dawned, we were all adding one observation: “It was dren from poorer backgrounds. ow education secretary, said denly appearing on stage in nervous.” a television programme about The Ofsted chief told BBC1’s Wilshaw was right that educa- tweed suits and doing Abba There were other problems, cars.” Andrew Marr Show on Sunday: tion had vastly improved over songs?” not least the fact the show is re- On the BBC, his former em- “If you have grammar schools, the past 20 years, but added that Filming in a static location corded in 4K ultra-high defi ni- ployer, he wrote: “It is a 1920s you take away the most able chil- grammars would harm – not help would also present legal prob- tion. “Our biggest worry, how- operation trying to operate in dren from the all-ability compre- – when there is a “long-tail of lems with the BBC, he claimed. ever, was the makeup girl … who the 2020s, which is tricky.” Jeremy Clarkson: top fears. hensive set-up. And I speak as an underachievement”. Gulf Times 20 Monday, October 31, 2016 EUROPE Turkey sacks another 10,000 Reuters Council of Europe warns over plans to reestablish the death penalty Istanbul The Council of Europe has warned Turkey against rees- “The death penalty is a cruel and inhumane form of tablishing the death penalty as Ankara stepped up its punishment, which has to be abolished worldwide and urkey said it had dismissed crackdown over the failed July coup by firing 10,000 stands in clear contradiction to the European values,” a further 10,000 civil serv- more civil servants. Kurz told the Austrian Press Agency. Tants and closed 15 more “Executing the death penalty is incompatible with Ankara formally launched its EU membership bid in media outlets over suspected membership of the Council of Europe,” the 47-member 2005. links with terrorist organisations organisation, which includes Turkey, tweeted a day Since then, the bloc has opened 15 negotiating chap- and US-based cleric Fethullah after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his govern- ters out of 35 required to join, but to date only one has Gulen, blamed by Ankara for or- ment would ask parliament to consider reintroduction. successfully been completed. chestrating a failed coup in July. “Soon, soon, don’t worry. It’s happening soon, God will- The issue has been back on the agenda following the More than 100,000 people had ing,” Erdogan told supporters in Ankara on Saturday as coup, since when Ankara has fired thousands of civil already been sacked or suspend- crowds chanted: “We want the death penalty!” servants and made some 35,000 arrests of presumed ed and 37,000 arrested since the Erdogan, who did not specify a timetable, said his coup sympathisers. failed coup, in an unprecedented government would take the proposal to parliament, Council of Europe secretary general Thorbjorn Jagland crackdown the government says which said he was sure would approve it, allowing him had already warned Ankara off capital punishment in is necessary to root out all sup- to ratify the proposal. August, noting that the European Convention on Hu- porters of Gulen from the state Turkey abolished capital punishment in 2004 as the man Rights clearly excluded it. apparatus. nation sought accession to the European Union. The Convention, signed in 1983, excludes capital Thousands more academics, Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz added to punishment except in time of war or imminent threat teachers, health workers, prison the Council’s warning, saying the Turkish move would of war and a 2002 protocol ended the time-of-war guards and forensics experts “slam the door shut to the European Union”. proviso. were among the latest to be re- moved from their posts through two new executive decrees pub- Erdogan will from now on di- ter the coup attempt for three ception marking the Republic lished on the Offi cial Gazette late rectly appoint the rectors from months until mid-January. Day on Saturday, Erdogan said on Saturday. the candidates nominated by the Erdogan said the authorities the nation wanted the reinstate- Opposition parties crticised High Educational Board (YOK). needed more time to wipe out the ment of the death penalty, a de- the move. The government says that the threat posed by Gulen’s network bate which has emerged follow- The decrees have ordered the actions are justifi ed following as well as Kurdish militants who ing the coup attempt, and added closure of 15 more newspapers, the coup attempt on July 15, when have waged a 32-year insurgency. that delaying it would not be newswires and magazines, which more than 240 people died. Ankara wants the United States right. report from the largely Kurd- Lale Karabiyik, a CHP law- to detain and extradite Gulen so “I believe this issue will come ish southeast, bringing the total maker claimed that the move was that he can be prosecuted in Tur- to the parliament,” he said, and number of media organisations a misuse of the emergency rule key on a charge that he master- repeated that he would approve Turkish anti-riot police off icers stand in front of the municipality headquarters in Diyarbakir, southeastern closed since the emergency rule decrees. minded the attempt to overthrow it, a move that would sink Tur- Turkey, during a pro-Kurdish demonstration yesterday. A Turkish court has barred Figen Yuksekdag, a in July to nearly 160. Pro-Kurdish opposition the government. key’s hopes of European Union leader of the main pro-Kurdish party, from leaving the country, accusing her of “belonging to an armed In another move set to an- claimed the decrees were used Gulen, who has lived in self- membership. terrorist organisation”. The HDP denounced the decision as “totally arbitrary” and said it would appeal. ger President Recep Tayyip Er- as tools to establish a “one-man imposed exile in Pennsylvania Erdogan shrugged off such Erdogan accuses the HDP of links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Hours after the ban on dogan’s opponents, the ability regime”. since 1999, denies any involve- concerns, saying that much of Yuksekdag was announced, authorities ordered the closure of several pro-Kurdish media, according to a of universities to elect their own The government extended the ment. the world had capital punish- decree published late on Saturday in the off icial journal. rectors was also abolished. state of emergency imposed af- Speaking to reporters at a re- ment.

Germany probes IS Vucic shrugs off claim of fatal stabbing assassination bid Reuters grounds to take over from local Berlin authorities, he added. Reuters In the attack, an unknown per- Belgrade petrator set upon a young couple ermany is looking into a sitting under a bridge at the Al- claim by Islamic State (IS) ster river in central Hamburg. erbia’s Prime Minister Gthat one of its followers He stabbed the 16-year-old Aleksandar Vucic said was responsible for a fatal stab- male repeatedly from behind and Syesterday that he did not bing in the German city of Ham- kicked his 15-year-old female believe he had been subject burg two weeks ago in which a companion into the river. to an assassination attempt, young couple were attacked. The stabbing victim died of seeking to calm tensions af- A spokesman for the Federal his injuries shortly afterwards in ter the discovery of a cache of Public Prosecutor said yesterday hospital while the young woman heavy weapons on a route reg- that investigators were checking managed to escape. ularly taken by his motorcade. the claim in a statement pub- In its claim of responsibility, The weapons, which includ- lished by the militant group’s the group said: “A soldier of the ed a rocket launcher, hand gre- Vucic: Someone could have Amaq news agency over the Islamic State stabbed two indi- nades and rifl e ammunition, simply dumped weapons there weekend. viduals in Hamburg city on the A banner reading ‘Our beloved friend, we think of you and miss you’ hangs near candles at the site where were found in bushes in the by chance ... this was not an “We are looking into this and 16th of this month. He carried a 16-year-old was stabbed in Hamburg, northern Germany. The Islamic State group has claimed neighbourhood of Jajinci, near assassination attempt. Nobody are evaluating the credibility out the operation in response to responsibility for the October 16 knife attack that left the teenager dead. a crossroads where Vucic’s touched me. of the content,” the spokesman calls to target the citizens of coa- motorcade normally slows on said. lition countries.” after the attack, police had said increasingly under pressure from rested a Syrian refugee suspected his frequent visits to his par- mafi a and secret police. He noted that it appeared a bit A police spokeswoman in that the attacker was of “south- regional and international forces of planning a bomb attack on an ents’ home. The weapons fi nd is the lat- unusual that the claim was pub- Hamburg said local investigators ern appearance”, aged between 23 in its Middle East heartland of airport in Berlin. “Someone could have sim- est in a series of recent events lished two weeks after the fatal were checking the statement and and 25 years, with stubble. Syria and Iraq. The 22-year-old man commit- ply dumped weapons there by that has put the Balkans on attack. its credibility, but she added that They added the background of In July, the group claimed re- ted suicide in prison shortly after chance,” he told reporters at a edge and sparked rumours and “This diff ers somewhat from the claim of responsibility raised the attack was unknown. sponsibility for two attacks in the his arrest. press briefi ng held to discuss a conspiracy theories. the pattern,” he said. a number of questions. Experts say it is not clear how German state of Bavaria – one Offi cials said Jaber al-Bakr visit by an International Mon- Five days ago, Montenegro The Federal Public Prosecu- “At this point, it is important close the connection is between on a train near Wuerzburg and spoke to a member of Islamic etary Fund mission. thwarted a suspected plot by tor’s Offi ce, which is responsible to point out that the murder groups and individuals pro- the other at a music festival in State in Syria by telephone about “This was not an assassina- a group of Serbian citizens to for investigating crimes con- squad is still investigating in all claiming allegiance to the Islamic Ansbach that wounded 20 peo- a possible target a day before tion attempt,” he said. “No- sway the outcome of its Octo- cerning national security, will directions,” she said. State militant group. ple. German police discovered explo- body touched me.” ber 16 election. decide in coming days if it has In a statement issued shortly The Islamist organisation is In mid-October, police ar- sives in his apartment. Vucic said a tipoff led to the There have also been several discovery of the weapons and recent mafi a-style assassina- that he was immediately taken tions among criminal groups in to an undisclosed safe place. Belgrade. No arrests have been made in Although the region has connection with the fi nd. been peaceful since the end of Swiss woman held in for holding her kids captive He appeared to have no ex- a series of wars in the 1990s tra security at yesterday’s news sparked by the collapse of conference, which had been federal Yugoslavia, the people AFP ern province of Alicante and had According to police, the lowed out on the streets for a seek help until then, as she “had scheduled long in advance and of the Balkans are still deeply Madrid hardly been allowed assistance 17-year-old daughter managed short while every day for quick been under constant threat of was held in the usual central divided along ethnic and reli- when ill, the Guardia Civil police to evade her mother’s surveil- shopping errands or walks, but death from when she was little”. government building. gious lines. force said. lance in August and send an e- under strict surveillance. The daughter has since re- Nevertheless, police were Its countries including Ser- panish police said on Sat- “The minor’s signatures dur- mail to the ANAR Foundation, Their 49-year-old mother, turned to Switzerland to her bio- out in greater force than nor- bia are awash with hundreds of urday that they had de- ing police proceedings were ex- which helps children in trouble who is of Spanish origin, was logical father. mal in Belgrade, patrolling in thousands of illegal weapons Stained a Swiss woman who actly the same as those on their and sounded the alarm. allegedly particularly brutal to- A judge decided to let the streets around government left over from the wars, adding kept her children captive for sev- Swiss ID cards from seven years She had allegedly been the vic- wards her daughter, “hitting her, brother – whom police said was buildings. to fears of a fl are-up of previ- en years, threatening to kill them ago, the writing looks like that of tim of violence from her mother, pushing her against walls or fur- not the victim of violence like Security around top offi cials ous confl icts. if they tried to get help. a small child who has not devel- who prohibited either of her kids niture and throwing cutlery or his sister – return to his home in in Serbia has been tight ever Many such arms are in the The children, now 17 and 15, oped his writing,” a spokesman to have any contact with the out- any other object she had in her Catral, where his mother and her since the assassination 13 years hands of criminal groups. had never gone to school dur- for the Guardia Civil in Alicante side world. hands”, police said. partner have been released pend- ago of Zoran Djindjic by Serb Vucic said he was awaiting ing their time in the southeast- told AFP. She said they were only al- The daughter had not dared ing trial. nationalists with links to the a forensic report from the site. Militants storing stolen assets at Swiss free port? Geneva says no way

By Agnès Pedrero, AFP have taken them seriously. To- treasures from Iraq and Syria. long been known as a place to painting Seated Man With a Geneva facilities had previously such goods to be approved before Geneva day, they are simply unaccept- “These free ports exist in cer- store enormous wealth with very Cane, which had allegedly been been used to traffi c archaeologi- arriving at the port. able,” Pierre Maudet, economics tain countries. I am referring in minimal scrutiny on the origins looted from a Jewish art dealer by cal goods and have implemented If there any doubts as to the chief in Geneva’s cantonal gov- particular to Switzerland,” he of funds. the Nazis and has been valued at a series of transparency meas- provenance of any item, interna- hen a leading French ernment, told Switzerland’s One said. The Geneva free ports, estab- $25mn (€23mn). ures. tional auditing giant KPMG can politician said that FM. The original concept behind lished in 1854, now include two Questions about the piece Geneva free ports chief Alain ask for more information or con- WSwitzerland’s free Maudet’s chief of staff , Patrick free ports was to provide places separate heavily guarded facili- emerged after the Panama Papers Decrausaz told AFP that these duct a “complete inspection” of ports were helping terrorists hide Baud-Lavigne, added that “a let- to store goods in transit, protect- ties where endless rows of valua- leaks uncovered the identity of its new rules should ease concerns the cargo, Decrausaz explained. stolen assets, Swiss offi cials of- ter has been sent to Mr Sapin in- ing them from excessive tariff s ble wine are kept alongside thou- owner. about the facility being exploited One unresolved issue is cus- fered a blunt rebuke. viting him to come make an on- and bureaucracy. sands of works of art including There has, however, been no for terrorist funding. toms agents. In response to French Econo- site inspection”. Perhaps not surprisingly, high- Picassos, Van Goghs and Monets public confi rmation of Sapin’s Federal government guidelines Decrausaz said that he has re- my and Finance Minister Michel Sapin’s supposed insult was ly secured warehouses where ba- – assets likely worth billions of suggestion that treasures looted approved earlier this year require peatedly asked for more, but the Sapin’s charge, authorities in made at a G20 meeting earlier sically anything could be stashed dollars. by Islamist militants had been the name and address of mer- federal government claims that Geneva insisted that they had this month. tax free with few questions asked In recent years, questions have kept in Geneva. chandise owners be mentioned with 1.3mn migrants and refu- cleaned up their act and suggest- He called free ports a “weak became increasingly attractive to been raised about some of the Baud-Lavigne said “there is on inventory lists, he said. gees pouring into Europe over the ed he come and check things out link” in countering terrorist fi - nefarious operators. goods held at Geneva’s secretive a little bit of fantasy and mis- And last month, new systems last two years, Switzerland can’t for himself. nancing as they helped Islamic Switzerland became a free warehouses. understanding around the free for the “control of archaeologi- aff ord to take staff away from “Had (the comments) been State group (IS) sympathisers port hub, mirroring the coun- In April, port authorities se- ports”. cal antiquities” were adopted, border controls to beef up cus- made several years ago, we could traffi c artistic and archaeological try’s banking system which has questered Amadeo Modigliani’s But offi cials have conceded the requiring anyone transporting toms at the port. Gulf Times Monday, October 31, 2016 21 EUROPE Humanity killing off Earth’s wildlife, study ndsfi

By Marlowe Hood, AFP is simply eating, crowding and not good either: experts now the “foundation of future human tems, the negative impacts are cline in average population size mostly for food but also for com- Paris poisoning its planetary cohabit- agree that Earth has entered only development” is reason for opti- “less direct and less tangible on a between 1970 and 2012 for 881 merce – much of it in endangered ants out of existence. the sixth “mass extinction event” mism, he suggested in an inter- global scale”, Lambertini said. species monitored. species. Victims include gorillas and – when species vanish at least view with AFP. The fi ve main drivers of wild- Freshwater covers less than African elephants, slaughtered early three-fi fths of all orangutans, rhinos and ele- 1,000 faster than usual – in the “This is really revolutionary,” life decline – in order of impor- one percent of Earth’s surface, for their tusks, have dropped in animals with a backbone phants, tigers and snow leopards last half-billion years. he said, pointing to a global pact tance – are habitat loss, over- but is home to nearly 10% of all of number by more than a quarter N– fi sh, birds, amphibians, but also faceless species such as “Wildlife is disappearing to rein in climate change going consumption, pollution, invasive the planet’s known species. since 2006. reptiles and mammals – have corals, a crucial cornerstone not within our lifetimes at an un- into force this week, and a newly species and disease, according to Marine and land vertebrates The majority of Earth’s land been wiped out since 1970 by hu- only of marine life but also coast- precedented rate,” said Marco launched set of UN-backed Sus- the report. have suff ered at about the same surface has today been resculpt- man appetites and activity, ac- al human communities. Lambertini, director general of tainable Development Goals run- Climate change is poised to rate – with populations dropping ed by human hands. cording to a grim study released Swathes of coral reef around WWF International. “We should ning through 2030. become a major threat in the 36% and 38% respectively over Human activity has already on Thursday. the globe have already turned not be deceived into thinking “We have succeeded in mak- coming decades, with some ani- the same period – but for diff er- pushed three of nine interlock- On current trends, that plunge white, killed by warming waters, humanity can do without. Bio- ing a strong business case for cli- mals already in decline due to ris- ent reasons. ing “Earth systems” beyond the in stocks of global wildlife could pollution and disease. diversity forms the foundation mate,” Lambertini said. “Now we ing temperatures and changing Factory fi shing has emptied threshold of a safe operating extend to two-thirds by 2020, an The fi ndings are based on of healthy forests, rivers and have to make an equally strong weather patterns. the seas of 40% of sea life, and space, and two others – climate annual decline of two percent, long-term monitoring of some oceans. Take away the species, business case for conservation of “This should be a wake-up call nine out of 10 fi sheries in the change and land-system change conservation group WWF and 3,700 vertebrate species spread and these ecosystems collapse, natural systems.” to marshal eff orts to promote the world are either over- or full- – are edging closer to the red the Zoological Society of Lon- across more than 14,000 distinct along with clean air, water, food That is likely to be a hard sell. recovery of these populations,” fi shed today. zone, scientists say. don warned in their joint biennial populations. and climate services they provide Global warming has measur- said Ken Norris, director of sci- Pollution and climate change “Once we reach a point of no Living Planet report. Scientists have tracked chang- us.” able impacts that have already ence at the Zoological Society of are also wreaking havoc, espe- return, we are not just running There is no mystery as to why: es in the size of those popula- A dawning awareness – in threatened millions of people, London. cially along coastlines. out of resources,” said Lamber- our own ever-expanding species tions, not how many species are government, business and so- and even then it took nearly 30 Freshwater environments such On land, the big threats are loss tini. “We are damaging the eco- – which has more than doubled threatened with extinction. ciety as a whole – that a healthy years to strike a universal deal. as lakes, rivers and wetlands have of land to agriculture and cities, systems that are normally regen- in number since 1960 to 7.4bn – But the news on that front is environment is not a luxury but With biodiversity and ecosys- fared the worst, with an 81% de- followed by rampant hunting, erating those resources.”

Italian earthquakes could go on for weeks in domino eff ect, says leading seismologist The earthquakes that have buff eted central Italy over the last two months could continue in a devastating domino eff ect with one large quake leading to another along the central Apennine fault system, a lead- ing seismologist warned yesterday. An earthquake measuring 6.6 according to the US Geological Survey New quake hits Italy struck yesterday in the same region where a 6.2 quake on August 24 killed 297 people. AFP ties do not become ghost towns. In between there have been thousands of smaller tremors, including a 6.1 Norcia, Italy “We must not allow the profound quake on Wednesday. pain, fatigue and stress that we The latest earthquake caused no known casualties but was the strongest have now to turn into resigna- to hit Italy, one of the world’s most seismically active countries, since taly’s most powerful earth- tion.” 1980. quake in 36 years stuck the The most important architec- Gianluca Valensise, a seismologist at Italy’s National Institute for Geo- Icountry’s mountainous cen- tural casualty was Norcia’s 14th- physics and Vulcanology, told Reuters there was a “geodynamic link” tre yesterday, panicking shell- century Basilica of St Benedict. between the deadly August earthquake and all those that have followed. shocked residents for the third Built on the reputed birthplace Italy’s Apennine mountains that run from the Liguria region in the north- time in two months and fl atten- of the Catholic saint, it had sur- west to the southern island of Sicily are dominated by a chain of faults in ing a world-famous 600-year- vived dozens of quakes over the the earth’s crust, each one averaging about 10-20km in length. old basilica. centuries – but it had been left “An earthquake measuring 6 or larger creates stresses that are redistrib- Remarkably, there were no re- brittle by other recent shocks uted across adjacent faults and can cause them to rupture, and this is ports of anyone dying as a result to the point that yesterday’s probably what we have seen since August,” Valensise said. “This process of the 6.6 magnitude quake, the brought its wall crashing down. can continue indefinitely, with one big quake weakening a sister fault in a head of the national civil protec- The church is looked after by domino process that can cover hundreds of kilometres, in principle.” tion agency said in an update on an international community of Valensise said Italy had seen something resembling the sequence of the impact. Benedictine monks based in two earthquakes in Calabria, in Italy’s southern toe, in 1783 when there were “As far as people are con- local monasteries which attract five major quakes measuring 6.5 or larger in less than two months. cerned, the situation is positive some 50,000 pilgrims every year. More recently, there were three quakes around Assisi in central Italy in but many buildings are in a criti- “It was like a bomb went off ,” 1997, the first one measuring 6.4 which killed 11 people, another the fol- cal state in historic centres and said the town’s deputy mayor, lowing day, and another around 20 days later with many smaller ones in there are problems with electric- Pierluigi Altavilla. “We are start- between. ity and water supplies,” Fabrizio ing to despair. There are too “That sequence was similar to what we are seeing now but this is on a Curcio told reporters. many quakes now, we can’t bear A picture shows collapse near the centre of Norcia following an earthquake yesterday. larger scale,” Valensise said. The quake struck at 7.40am it anymore.” Looking ahead, he said it was certain there would be aftershocks from (0640 GMT) near the small Lucia Rafael, one of several the people are on their knees psy- same area and nine weeks af- enough to set off car alarms in yesterday’s earthquake for “at least a few weeks” but it was not possible mountain town of Norcia, un- nuns forced to fl ee their convent chologically.” ter nearly 300 people died in an Rome, 120km from the epicentre. to say whether there would be any more big quakes. leashing a shock felt in the capital in the town, told AFP that the The quake’s epicentre was lo- August 24 disaster in the tourist Part of the capital’s under- The risk is that, with faults to the northwest and southeast of the central Rome and even in Venice, 300km prolonged shaking had “felt like cated at a very shallow depth of town of Amatrice at the peak of ground rail network and a road region most recently hit, “if the process of stress redistribution finds away. the apocalypse”. 1km, 6km north of Norcia, ac- the holiday season. fl yover were temporarily closed other faults close to rupture level they could go off in the next days or It was Italy’s biggest quake She added: “We don’t want to cording to the US Geological The 13th-century civic tower to allow structural safety checks weeks”, he said. since a 6.9-magnitude one leave, we want to stay and help Survey (USGS), which measured in Amatrice, which was damaged to be carried out. struck the south of the country in others with our prayers, even if it the magnitude at 6.6. but left standing by the August Much of Italy’s land mass and 1980, leaving 3,000 people dead. means staying in a tent.” Italy’s institute of geology and quake, also collapsed yesterday. some of its surrounding waters ing it vulnerable to seismic activ- In 1980, tremors near Naples “We are going through a really Giuseppe Pezzanesi, mayor vulcanology (IGNV) measured As with Wednesday’s tremors, are prone to seismic activity with ity when they move. left 3,000 dead and an estimated tough period,” Prime Minister of Tolentino in the neighbour- the quake at 6.5 and said it had the impact was mitigated by the the highest risk concentrated In addition to the Amatrice 95,000 died in the 1908 Messina Matteo Renzi said, reiterating ing Marche region, said the small been preceded by a 6.1 magni- fact that any buildings deemed along its mountainous central disaster in August, just over 300 disaster, when a quake in the wa- a government pledge to rebuild town had “suff ered our blackest tude shock an hour earlier. vulnerable to seismic activity had spine. people perished when a quake ters between mainland Italy and every damaged house and ensure day yet”. It came four days after quakes been evacuated. Italy straddles the Eurasian struck near the city of L’Aquila in Sicily sent massive waves crash- that dozens of remote communi- “Let’s hope that is an end to it, of 5.5 and 6.1 magnitude hit the The quake was powerful and African tectonic plates, mak- 2009. ing into both coasts.

Georgia ruling party set for landslide win Iceland premier quits after

AFP Yesterday’s vote, which works liance of Patriots six seats in the in the former Soviet region – Tbilisi on a fi rst-past-the-post basis, new parliament. can cement gains after its fi rst Pirates advance in election will decide the fate of a third of With the remaining 50 seats transfer of power at the ballot the mandates in the 150-seat up for grabs in yesterday’s run- box four years ago. eorgia votes in the sec- legislature. off , Georgian Dream was ex- Following the fi rst round bal- AFP cluding bankers, business leaders ond round of contested In the fi rst round, which was pected to win almost all of them. lot earlier this month, almost all Reykjavik and cabinet ministers, including Gparliamentary polls yes- held on October 8, Georgian Should the party win at least opposition parties cried foul, the then premier, had holdings terday, with the ruling Georgian Dream won 48.68% of the vote 113 seats, as expected, it would accusing the government of stashed away in off shore ac- Dream poised for a landslide in a proportional ballot, while be able to form a new cabinet massive vote rigging – a claim celand was gearing up yes- counts. victory after opposition parties UNM came second with 27.11%. and pass constitutional amend- fl atly rejected by the authorities. terday for tough horsetrading The episode revived the seeth- alleged fraud in the fi rst round. For the fi rst time in Georgia’s ments. Western monitors said the Iover its next government af- ing public anger that erupted Led from behind the scenes post-Soviet history, the fi rst By 1300 GMT, nine hours into ballot was competitive, with ter the anti-establishment Pirate during the 2008 fi nancial crisis, by billionaire ex-prime minis- round also saw a small anti- voting, turnout was nearly 31%, isolated instances of violations Party and its allies gained ground which wrecked Iceland’s bank- ter Bidzina Ivanishvili, Georgian Western party, the Alliance of the Central Election Commis- and procedural problems. against the ruling centre-right in ing industry and plunged the Dream is running against the Patriots, clearing the 5% thresh- sion said. The vote, which ended at a vote triggered by the Panama Johannsson: his party suff ered a country into recession, prompt- main opposition United Nation- old needed to enter parliament. Georgia’s Western allies are 1600 GMT, was monitored by Papers scandal. drubbing. ing it to seek a humiliating Inter- al Movement (UNM), founded According to the fi rst round watching closely to see if the international observers from the Prime Minister Sigurdur Ingi national Monetary Fund (IMF) by exiled former president result, Georgian Dream will take strategic nation – praised as Organisation for Security and Johannsson announced his res- Pirate Party co-founder Bir- bailout. Mikheil Saakashvili. 67 seats, UNM 27 seats, and Al- a rare example of democracy Co-operation in Europe. ignation after his centrist Pro- gitta Jonsdottir said she was “The Independence Party is gressive Party – which had been “thrilled” after the movement being rewarded for its role in governing in a coalition with the created by anarchists, hackers corruption,” one Pirate Party co- conservative Independence Par- and activists picked up 10 seats, founder, Smari McCarthy, said. ty – suff ered a drubbing in Satur- more than tripling its represen- The Pirate Party has a fi ve- day’s vote. tation. point programme that includes Moldova in tug-of-war vote between Russia, EU Final fi gures from the election, “We will carry on no matter holding a referendum on EU called after Johannsson’s pred- what’s going to happen in the membership, constitutional ecessor was forced out over rev- next few days,” she told a news change to make leaders more ac- AFP Europe before returning. elations in the Panama Papers of conference, saying her party is countable, greater protection of Chisinau “If we don’t vote, pensioners a hidden off shore account worth “open to compromise”. natural resources and the closure will decide the country’s devel- millions, pointed to a deadlocked The Left-Green Movement of tax loopholes for large corpo- opment, and they vote for going outcome. also picked up 10 seats, the So- rations. x-Soviet Moldova went to ‘Back to USSR’,” he said. The Independence and Pro- cial Democrats three, and the “We are a platform for young the polls yesterday in its Forty-one per cent of the gressive parties together won centrist Bright Future Movement people, for progressive people Efi rst popular presidential population live on less than $5 29 seats in the 63-member par- four. who shape and reshape our so- election since the 1990s, seen (€4.6) a day while the monthly liament or Althingi, down nine The centrist Regeneration ciety,” Jonsdottir told AFP. “Like as a tug-of-war between sup- average salary is $240, accord- from the outgoing assembly. Party, which won seven seats, Robin Hood because Robin Hood porters of closer relations with ing to World Bank fi gures. The Pirates and its three cen- could determine the fate of coa- was a pirate, we want to take the Russia and those seeking EU in- Many Moldovans make ends tre-left allies won 27 seats, reap- lition talks but negotiations with power from the powerful to give tegration. meet only through remittanc- ing gains from a wave of popular the Independence Party could be it to the people.” The crisis-hit country of es sent by relatives working anger with the establishment tough. Gretar Eytorsson, professor of 3.5mn wedged between Ukraine A woman prepares to cast her vote at a polling station in Chisinau. abroad, which make up nearly a parties but falling short of a ma- The two parties fell out over political science at the University and Romania is the poorest in quarter of gross domestic prod- jority. holding a referendum on resum- of Akureyri, said the Pirates did Europe and has struggled with Voters are leaning in opposite with former Soviet master Mos- uct (GDP). Johannsson, an unpopular fi g- ing the nation’s EU membership not gain a majority because not a string of high-profi le corrup- directions as well. cow. “My daughter sends me mon- ure over his perceived closeness talks which were stalled by the enough young people voted de- tion scandals which are over- “We can’t be without Rus- Dodon’s main opponent in ey (for food) from Italy,” said to business, said he will stay in incumbent government. spite a near 80% overall turnout. shadowing the vote. sia, that’s our export market” the polls is former education 70-year-old Zinovia Ilonel, who offi ce until a new government is “We have not been negative “What was suspected hap- Presidential candidates are that could provide cheap gas, minister and proponent of EU also voted for Dodon. “She’s formed. towards other parties or how pened. The young voters did not presenting diametrically op- said Igor Lopukhov, 66, a Rus- integration Maya Sandu, who is never coming home.” President Gudni Johannesson governments should be formed,” show up,” he told AFP. “That posed visions for the country’s sian-speaking pensioner who supported by younger Western- The central election com- is set to task Finance Minister Regeneration leader Benedikt Jo- was most likely the biggest rea- future: calling for deeper ties cast his vote for Socialist Party leaning Moldovans. mission in Moldova said voting Bjarni Benediktsson of the In- hannesson told AFP. son for their loss ... compared and boosting trade with Mos- candidate Igor Dodon, a leader “We have to build Europe was monitored by over 3,200 dependence Party, which won 21 The election was triggered af- with the polls. But let’s not forget cow, or committing to the path in opinion surveys who has at home,” said Ion Lupusor, a Moldovan observers and 562 seats, with trying to form a new ter the Panama Papers revealed that they are a much bigger party toward Europe. pledged to restore co-operation 27-year-old who had studied in more from abroad. government. in April that 600 Icelanders in- now.” Gulf Times 22 Monday, October 31, 2016 INDIA

Minister Issac backs offi cial facing probe

IANS an act of vengeance unleashed Thiruvananthapuram by Vigilance head Jacob Tho- mas. A vigilance court here or- fter the Congress-led dered a probe following a pe- opposition pitched for tition by a public activist that Atop Kerala bureaucrat Abraham has acquired assets K M Abraham who is facing a beyond his known sources of vigilance inquiry, state fi nance income. minister Thomas Issac also ex- Former chief minister Oom- pressed support yesterday for men Chandy and other top the offi cer. Congress leaders had slammed “He (Abraham) has a clean the manner in which the vigi- track record and he has proved lance sleuths arrived at Ab- the same when he worked for raham’s house here without a the centre and with successive warrant but went ahead with state governments here. His the raid. Though the team had tirades against corruption are no women, the raid went on also known and chief minister when his wife was alone in the Pinarayi Vijayan will look into house. the present issues,” Issac told Abraham had brought this reporters in Alappuzha. to the attention of Vijayan and Abraham, who holds the said that this was a purposeful rank of additional chief sec- act done to bring disrepute to retary and is also the fi nance his credentials, while he has no secretary is currently under qualms facing the probe. the scanner of the Vigilance With the issue surfacing in and Anti Corruption Bureau. the media, Thomas said that The bureau raided his house he was not in the know of the last week, which raised a furore search in Abraham’s residence in the assembly with the Con- and Vijayan has ordered a gress slamming the action as probe into the raid.

Indian athletes watch fireworks at the Madan Mohan Malviya stadium on the eve of the festival of Diwali in Allahabad on Saturday. Woman assaulted by nurse dies

IANS able to pay such high amount,” Kolkata alleged one of Reshma’s rela- tives. Reduced fi reworks According to her relatives, mother, who had just Reshma was suff ering from given birth to her child internal bleeding since her de- Ayesterday, died after al- livery and became unconscious legedly being assaulted by a after the assault. nurse at a hospital here, police She was declared dead later. said. Following the incident, The incident took place in Reshma’s relatives held a dem- at Golden Temple R G Kar Medical College and onstration inside the hospital Hospital in north Kolkata. and blocked the road. Environmental responsibility is been renovated and given a fresh look. fi re fi ghters across the city to handle any reported from late in the night to 6 in the Reshma Biwi (20), an inhab- Police from Tala Police sta- increasingly tempering festivities “Dal roti ghar di, Diwali Amritsar di emergency. morning. itant of Deganga in West Ben- tion had to intervene to remove (food from home and Diwali of Amritsar) Chief fi re offi cer G C Mishra said that The CATS (Centralised Accident and gal, was admitted in the hospi- the blockade. IANS is the popular saying. Lakhs of people 1,500 fi re fi ghters along with the back-up Trauma Services) has also put all its 150 tal. She was allegedly pushed Hospital authorities could Amritsar have come to mark the occasion. There is teams in control room, workshops and plus ambulances on high alert. They will by a nurse following an alter- not be contacted after re- festive spirit,” said SGPC member Manjit other departments are on duty to tackle act in coordination with the police. cation over money. peated attempts, while the Singh. emergency situations. Over 500 cases of burn injuries caused “A nurse demanded exorbi- duty officer of Tala police he Golden Temple complex, where The day is celebrated in Sikh religion as “A total of 59 fi re stations exist and we by fi re crackers were reported across the tant amount after Reshma gave station said they are investi- the top Sikh shrine, Harmandar “Bandi Chhor Diwas” (prisoner liberation have established 22 additional centres national capital on Diwali last year. birth to her child on Sunday gating the case, but refused TSahib, is located, was illuminated day) as on this day in 1619, the sixth guru considering last year’s experience,” he The Border Security Force (BSF) on morning. The nurse abused to comment any further on yesterday and fi reworks display took place of Sikhs, Guru Hargobind, returned to said. Sunday refused to exchange sweets and and pushed her as we were not the issue. to mark the “Bandi Chhor Diwas” and Di- Amritsar after being released along with 52 A total of 290 fi re incidents were report- greetings with Pakistani Rangers along the wali. princes by Mughal emperor Jahangir from ed during Diwali last year. international boundary on the occasion of The shrine complex was visited by tens Gwalior prison. Fire engines have been stationed at 22 Diwali. of thousands of people who came to off er The guru and the princes arrived in Am- sensitive areas across the city like Azadpur The BSF move comes in the wake of the prayers. ritsar during Diwali festivities. Since then, Mandi, Bara Tooti Chowk in Sadar Bazar, recent heightened tension between the With millions of lights around, the the Bandi Chhor Diwas and Diwali cel- Ghitorni, Tilak Nagar, Lajpat Nagar and two countries. Odisha MSMEs whole complex presented an attractive ebrations coincide at the Golden Temple Gandhi Nagar as a precaution as the maxi- look. complex. mum number of fi re calls are received from Border guards of both countries have for However, due to environmental and Elsewhere in Punjab, markets wore a these areas. the past several years followed a tradition create 55,567 jobs pollution concerns, the fi reworks display festive look on the occasion of Diwali. Additional emergency teams have also of exchanging sweets on major religious by the shrine management was a reduced Hundreds of people thronged various been stationed at designated areas while festivals like the Eid and Diwali, and also one. markets in Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, for quick response, 10 motorcycles and 11 during Independence Days of both coun- IANS has facilitated setting up 17,741 “We had less fi reworks this year due Patiala and other towns. quick reaction teams too have been read- tries. Bhubaneswar units to create 55,567 jobs by to pollution concerns. But all traditional The Diwali festival spirit could also be ied. The BSF is on maximum alert in Pun- the end of September. said the and religious rituals were followed. There seen in Chandigarh and towns and cities Delhi hospitals too have made arrange- jab following recent ceasefi re violations offi cial. The state government were concerns about damage to the sanc- in Haryana. ments for treating victims of burn injuries and violence in neighbouring Jammu and he Odisha government has drawn a district industries tum sanctorum and other buildings from Nearly 100 minor fi re-related incidents during the festival. Kashmir. has created 55,567 jobs centre wise plan to achieve the chemicals produced by fi reworks,” said a were reported from Delhi on Diwali, but While the Safdarjung Hospital, In the past tow to three years, bor- Tthrough new Micro, objectives, but the department Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Com- there were no casualties, an offi cial said. which has a reputed burn injury ward, der guards have skipped the exchange of Small and Medium Enterprises has failed to achieve the set tar- mittee (SGPC) offi cial. “So far around 100 fi re related incidents has added 24 extra beds and deployed sweets on a few occasions. (MSMEs) by September this get in 2015-16. While it had set The domes, buildings and fl oors of the have been reported, all of which are minor. six more medical specialists, the Ram The exchange ceremony is mainly held year, said an offi cial yesterday. a target to generate three lakh shrine complex were cleaned for the fes- There are no reports of any casualty or Manohar Lohia Hospital in central Delhi at the Attari-Wagah joint check post, The state government has employment through 60,000 tive occasion. major injury,” said an offi cer of the Delhi has set up an emergency OPD to handle 30km from Amritsar, on the International set a target to generate 3.30 new MSMEs, it could only set The shrine complex wore a new look Fire Service (DFS). burn cases. Border. lakh jobs by setting up 66,000 up 53,895 units that created on the outside as the whole market and DFS has cancelled Diwali leave of all its Most cases of burns on Diwali arise from Punjab has a 553km barbed wire fenced new MSME units during 2016- 1.75 lakh jobs in 2015-16, said residential area around the shrine has employees and has put on standby 1,500 accidents attributed to fi recrackers and are border with Pakistan. 17, and the MSME department the offi cial.

Undeterred by unrest, migratory Visitor birds keep tryst with Kashmir

IANS pintails, wigeons and fi nally the at the beginning of migration, Srinagar greylag geese”, he added. weighs just three pounds on ar- Zargar said many birds of pas- rival. sage, like the cormorants and “If the travel takes longer than ndeterred by the pro- sandhill cranes, also spend some scheduled or if the bird’s jour- longed unrest in Kashmir, time in the Valley in early winter ney is halted by a snowstorm Uhundreds of migratory and early spring each year. or other unfavourable weather birds are reaching this wetland “A bird of passage is a migra- conditions, after having lost all reserve daily to keep their annual tory bird that spends just a small fat it had stored for sustaining tryst with the Valley. period during its migration at a the travel and its energy require- The avian visitors come to the certain station,” Zargar said. ments, the bird starts losing its Valley every year from far off Si- With an effi ciency unmatched muscle which is often fatal,” Zar- beria, Eastern Europe, China, Ja- even by the best human naviga- gar pointed out. Maintaining the pan and the Philippines to escape tors, the migratory birds travel water bodies in the extremely the extreme cold in their summer thousands of miles between their diffi cult law and order situation homes. Despite the vicissitudes winter and summer homes. is a challenge the department is of its history, Kashmir has always “All the arduous travel is navi- fi nding hard to meet. provided a sanguine, peace- gated by instinct. These visitors “We are doing our best to ful environment to the migra- have fi xed resting spots en route maintain the optimum condi- tory birds, who spend over fi ve to their fi nal destinations. tions inside water reserves. We months in various water bodies “For example, thousands of have to build embankments to of the Valley each year. these migratory birds spend a ensure that the water level is ad- “Early arrivals have already night or so at the mountain lakes equately maintained. Supervi- started. We have over 10,000 of Gangabal, Vishensar and Gad- sion and maintenance is an es- birds in this wetland reserve sar each time they shuttle be- sential exercise to ensure that the these days. The birds that arrived tween their summer and winter avian visitors remain healthy and here fi rst are the teals, mallards homes,” said the warden. fi t to feed and fend inside the wa- and gadwalls,” Kashmir Wildlife The extreme conditions of ter body,” Zargar explained. Warden (Wetlands) Rouf Zargar the travel undertaken by these In addition to Hokarsar, the told IANS. birds, according to experts, can Valley has other bird reserves “By the middle of November, be judged by the fact that a grey- like Mirgund, Hygam and Shal- A peacock on the fence of the Deer Park in New Delhi. we will have coots, pochards, lag goose that weighs six pounds labugh. Gulf Times Sunday, October 31, 2016 23 INDIA Festival in North East Goa losing laid-back image

AFP clad women who ply its sands Baga, India selling trinkets to visitors wor- ry that India’s reputation as a destination that is dangerous oa has long attracted for women is having an impact. Western holidaymakers “I think the news stories Gfor its relaxed vibe, but about Scarlett have made peo- rapid construction, swelling ple not come. Maybe they are crowds and fears over safety worried,” 39-year-old Monica are threatening the Indian Tipi told AFP before eyeing a state’s global reputation as a sale from an Indian couple. tranquil haven. The acquittal last month The former Portuguese of two local men accused of colony is transforming from a drugging, sexually assaulting quiet paradise popular with in- and then leaving 15-year-old ternational hippies to a heavi- Keeling to drown in shallow ly-developed entertainment water was the culmination of a destination for higher-income case that had highlighted Goa’s foreign and domestic visitors seedier side. who want fi ve-star luxury, Several high-profi le sexual tourism offi cials say. assaults against women across “The laid-back tourist India, including the fatal gang- might go to other destina- rape of a student in Delhi in tions because Goa is chang- 2012, has shone a global spot- ing but now there are lots of light on frightening levels of other segments coming such violence against women in the as MICE tourism (meetings, country. incentives, conferencing, ex- “The news stories haven’t hibitions),” Savio Messias, put us off . We feel safe but we president of the Travel and wouldn’t travel on our own. Tourism Association of Goa, We always stick together,” A nine-year-old girl dressed as a Kumari, is prepared for a festival in Agartala, India, yesterday. told AFP. 26-year-old Australian Chloe “Goa is also getting to be Cato, who’s travelling round a very big wedding destina- India with a friend, told AFP at tion and a lot people are now Anjuna. coming for entertainment,” he Britain’s government warns added. in its travel advice for India Billboards advertising lux- that British women have been ury developments dot Goa’s sexually assaulted in Goa and lush landscape, with Messias says a number of its nationals saying many new hotels, in- die in the state every year due cluding big chains, are opening to drug or alcohol abuse. up every year. Goa-based lawyer Vikram Modi shares Diwali Government statistics show Varma, who acted for Keeling’s Indian visitors soared by 34% mother and who also represents to 4.7mn last year from 2014 the Russian consulate, says po- while foreigners increased by lice have failed to investigate just 5% as the number of char- the deaths of several foreigners sweets with soldiers ter fl ights plummeted. over the last decade or so. Modi has been visiting the troops on (GREF), a wing of the Border Roads Or- photograph, with the mountains provid- moneylenders,” Modi said in his ‘Mann ki Diwali since 2001 ganisation (BRO) that maintains highways, ing a majestic background. Baat’ address on the occasion of Diwali. at Sumdoh, an offi cial said. BJP MP Ram Swaroop Sharma told “Schemes like Mudra, Stand up India, IANS Addressing the soldiers, he said he had IANS: “It’s a historic moment for the lo- Jan Dhan bank accounts are all ways for us Shimla been visiting armed forces personnel every cals of the remote village adjoining China to be rid of the evil of usury,” he added. year on Diwali since 2001. to interact with the prime minister.” “Through direct benefi t transfer (DBT) He mentioned the tremendous re- “This is the fi rst visit of any prime min- of subsidy, and using the Aadhaar (unique rime Minister Narendra Modi yes- sponse from people across the country ister in this area and this would ensure de- ID), money is paid into the account of terday celebrated Diwali with sol- to his appeal for sending messages to sol- velopment in the area,” Sharma said. benefi ciaries. For the common man, these Pdiers in a remote and strategic area in diers as part of the #Sandesh2Soldiers This was Modi’s second visit to the schemes are a way of getting free from the Himachal Pradesh, adjoining the Chinese campaign. Mandi parliamentary constituency this clutches of middlemen,” he added. border, and said he had kept the promise of Without naming Congress vice presi- month. Modi also praised the Haryana govern- implementing “one rank, one pension” for dent Rahul Gandhi, who questioned the Earlier, he visited Mandi town on Oc- ment’s initiative to make the state kero- ex-servicemen that was hanging fi re for implementation of the “one rank, one tober 18 to inaugurate three hydropower sene-free, saying that often subsidies are the last over four decades. pension” scheme, Modi said it was a projects and address a public rally. continued even when not needed only to Modi also later made an unscheduled promise made to ex-servicemen 40 years The Lahaul-Spiti district, spread over the benefi t of middlemen. Armed policemen on Baga Beach in Goa. trip to a village, Chango, and said he was ago and that he was happy he fulfi lled it. 13,835sq km, is a place of remote, un- “Homes in our country which have “deeply touched by the impromptu recep- Mingling freely, Modi went up to the touched beauty with just 31,528 people. gas, electricity, don’t need kero- The sluggish global econo- “Crime does happen every- tion and their joy”. soldiers holding a plate of sweets. At least The climatic conditions are harsh as much sene, but the subsidy continues. But who my and a slump in the value of where, but when the criminal Dressed in olive green and donning a one soldier off ered him a sweet in return, of the land falls under a cold desert where questions all this in government as kero- the Russian rouble are regu- justice system itself prefers to local cap with a green fl ap adorned with much to the joy of everyone. the mercury drops below minus 20 de- sene, gas, electricity are all being supplied larly cited as factors but local blame the victim and protect dry fl owers, the prime minister interacted While returning from Sumdo, the prime grees Celsius during winter. simultaneously, which is only an oppor- businesses fear Westerners are the criminals, a large number with men from the Indo-Tibetan Border minister halted briefl y at nearby Chango The prime minister had celebrated his tunity for middlemen to profi t,” the Prime being turned off by Goa’s rap- of family tourists prefer to hol- Police (ITBP), the Dogra Scouts and the village. He exchanged Diwali greetings, in- fi rst Diwali after coming in power in 2014 Minister said. idly altering landscape. iday in safer environments,” he army at Sumdoh. teracted with the people there and off ered with soldiers posted in Siachen. In 2015, he “The Haryana government, after veri- “Day by day the number of told AFP. Sumdoh, some 330km from Shimla, is sweets to children. was at the India-Pakistan border in Pun- fying against the Aadhar number those foreigners coming is getting The number of Russian located on the border of Kinnaur and La- Modi then spent some time with the lo- jab. families’ gas, electricity connections, has less because they hear it is too tourists visiting Goa plum- haul-Spiti districts. cals in Chango village in Kinnaur district, The government’s schemes for fi nancial managed to make 7-8 districts kerosene- crowded here now. meted from 120,000 in 2013 Offi cial sources said the prime minister known for its delicious apples. inclusion and to encourage small enter- free and soon the whole state will become They want peace and quiet. to just 40,000 in 2014 but reached Sumdoh around 11am and spent Villagers taken aback by the prime min- prise are attempts to free the common man kerosene-free,” Modi said. “Over the past two to three is predicted to bounce back more than three hours at Sumdoh and ister’s arrival raised slogans hailing him. from the clutches of moneylenders, prime “This will be a major change. Corrup- years business has been very to around 100,000 this sea- Chango. He was accompanied by the army Dressed in warm clothes, Modi spent time minister Narendra Modi has said. tion and leakage will be checked, the envi- low,” Mohamed Sultan, a jew- son due to Moscow declaring chief, General Dalbir Singh. with the residents of the village, including “Small traders, businessmen, the veg- ronment will benefi t and precious foreign ellery shop owner at Baga Egypt and Turkey unsafe for its The prime minister also met personnel women and children. etable vendor, milkman, barber...used to exchange saved. The only ones who will be beach, told AFP. citizens, according to Varma. of the General Reserve Engineering Force He also posed with everyone in a group be all so completely in the grip of usurious hit are middlemen,” he added. An imminent ban on alcohol They may choose to visit the consumption in some public casinos that line the river run- areas, plans to shift the popu- ning through the state capital lar Sunburn music festival out Panaji or take a ride on a new of peak season and ministers’ amphibious tourist boat. Diwali in Calcutta comments that beach parties Helicopter rides and trips Another school set are illegal and bikinis should be on seaplanes are also being banned are also contributing launched. to fears the Goan party could “The kind of tourists coming on fi re in Kashmir be over. to Goa has been changing... We “I think it aff ects Western- are targeting the more high- IANS There has been no classwork ers’ thinking. They want to end tourist,” said Messias, Srinagar in any school in the valley in the be free to enjoy their holiday,” adding that the state’s charac- last 112 days of turmoil that has said Sultan. ter will evolve as a result. left at least 92 persons dead and At nearby Anjuna beach, “Some sections of the in- nknown arsonists yes- thousands injured. where British schoolgirl Scar- dustry are very happy about terday set ablaze a The continued closure of lett Keeling died in 2008, sari- this change but some are not.” Uschool building in a schools has been worrying south Kashmir village, push- parents, especially of children ing the number of educational studying at the 10+2 level, institutes gutted in mysterious whose fi nals were to be con- fi res to 25 during the ongoing ducted in October-November. unrest. Separatist leaders ruled out The police said the residents any possibility of exempting detected the fi re in the central schools from their weekly pro- government-run Jawahar Na- test moves. They say allowing vodaya Vidyalaya in Aishmu- children to attend schools in qam of Anantnag district. the times of turmoil would be The fi re was extinguished risking their lives. quickly and major damage to However, they have dis- the building was prevented. tanced themselves from the During the ongoing unrest in acts of arson targeting schools. the Kashmir Valley, 25 schools, Senior separatist leader Syed most of them run by the gov- Ali Shah Geelani has said those ernment in south Kashmir, involved in torching schools have been destroyed in myste- are “enemies of the people of rious fi res. Kashmir”.The state govern- Authorities said they have ment has vowed to have exams identifi ed miscreants who were of all classes conducted by end Actress Debolina Dutta celebrates Diwali with children in Kolkata. torching schools in a planned November even if schools don’t A couple taking shelter under an umbrella during a slight conspiracy. open by then. drizzle on Calangute Beach in Goa. Gulf Times 24 Monday, October 31, 2016 LATIN AMERICA

OFFICIAL LAW AND ORDER CRIME CORPORATE DATA El Salvador ex-president Honduras detains man YPF, Statoil in pact to study Brazil ‘sees more murders arrested on graft charges linked to US drug probe off shore drilling sites in four years than Syria war’

El Salvador’s former president Antonio Saca Honduran police have arrested a man allegedly Argentina’s state-controlled energy company More people have been murdered over the past has been arrested on corruption charges, the linked to two nephews of ’s first lady YPF said it has signed a deal with Norway’s four years in Brazil than have been killed in more attorney general’s off ice said yesterday. Saca, who have been charged with drug traff icking in Statoil to study potential offshore drilling than five years of war in Syria, a Brazilian group a businessman who ruled the small Central the US, an off icial said. Roberto de Jesus Soto sites off Argentina’s Atlantic coast. Argentina said. Brazil has been struggling in recent years American national from 2004 to 2009, was Garcia, a Honduran citizen, was arrested on the has vast oil and gas reserves that have gone with a rise in violent crime, made worst by a detained during the wedding reception of one of island of Roatan off the Caribbean coast of the untapped, in part due unpredictable policies sharp economic downturn and budget cuts to his sons at a reception hall in the capital. He was central American country, according to police and cyclical crises over recent decades. The police forces across the country. According to the arrested along with high-ranking former off icials spokesman Luis Osabas. The US had asked for country’s new president vows to normalise the Brazilian Public Security Forum, nearly 280,000 of his government, including ex-communications the arrest and extradition of Soto Garcia, he said. economy and attract investment. The seismic people were killed in the South American giant minister Julio Rank and youth minister Cesar Soto Garcia is wanted in connection with drug tests will be undertaken in waters of 500 to from 2011 to 2015. The Syrian Observatory for Funes. Several hours after the initial arrests, traff icking charges against Franqui Francisco 3,500 meters. “For YPF and Statoil, access Human Rights counted 256,124 killed over the Bolivia’s President Evo Morales Ayma meets Saca’s former private secretary Elmer Charlaix Flores de Freitas and Efrain Antonio Campo to new information will be fundamental to same period in that country’s civil war. To reach Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez voluntarily surrendered to the police. He faces Flores, the nephews of Venezuelan President understanding the area’s potential,” YPF said their figure, the forum included purposeful killings during a meeting in Cochabamba, Bolivia. charges of embezzling at least $18mn. Nicolas Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores. in a statement. and violent thefts that resulted in death.

Pokemon fans Food back on Venezuelan shelves, but not many can aff ord

AFP zuelan businessmen are starting Caracas to bring in imports again — but at a high price. “There is plenty, but every- ood staples like and thing is super expensive and milk are returning to the imported because nothing is Fempty shelves of Venezue- made here,” said Mendoza, a 75 lan supermarkets after a long year-old retiree, speaking at a absence — but who can aff ord supermarket in a posh Caracas those eye-popping prices? neighbourhood. Delia Mendoza’s eyes widen “Before, I’d eat a large plate of when she realises that the price spaghetti, but now I go for half so for half a kilo of red beans is 4,211 that it will last two days,” she said. bolivars, or $6.40 at the highest Venezuela is paying a heavy offi cial exchange rate. price for neglecting agribusi- This in a country where the ness and food production over monthly minimum wage is the years to concentrate on pe- around $100. troleum, the source of 96% of its “Incredible!” she gasps, and foreign currency. returns the beans — a staple of With global oil prices in a Venezuelan cuisine — to the shelf. slump, the country’s economy is In recent months, the leftist in a tailspin and infl ation is out People walk with their mobile phones as some play Pokemon GO at La Punta beach in Callao, Peru. government of President Nico- of control. las Maduro has begun to relax The IMF predicts that Ven- its price control system, allow- ezuela’s infl ation rate, already ing food sales at market prices the world’s highest, will reach in several Venezuelan states and, 475% by year’s end — and with to a limited degree, in the capital no changes, a whopping 1,660% Caracas. in 2017. That is a sea change for a coun- The cash-strapped govern- try where strict price controls ment has even increased the price had been imposed since 2003 — a of household items in govern- lynchpin of the socialist “revo- ment-subsidised markets, which New Farc deal possible lution” launched by Maduro’s in any case are hard to fi nd. late predecessor and mentor, the The stores lucky enough to iconic president Hugo Chavez. sell imported products like sug- “In a way, the government has ar, rice and cooking oil set their turned a blind eye to this with all prices at the black market rate the regulations they have imple- — where US dollars go for twice mented,” said Asdrubal Oliveros, the offi cial exchange rate — to by end December: Santos head of Ecoanalitica consultants. recover their investment. “This has allowed many com- At these prices, 500 grams of AFP jected the deal in a referendum Since the referendum, San- forts, said he was happy to meet say there is no armed conflict panies, many importers to start Italian costs 4,000 bolivars London on October 2. tos has held marathon talks Uribe “any time” but said “he in Colombia, and that there bringing in products, and those ($6), a dozen eggs can cost $3, “All the negotiators and I with political fi gures includ- has been stalling, not allowing is no war in Colombia and products are being sold at black while a litre of cooking oil costs $17. have met almost every organi- ing former president Alvaro the teams to get into real nego- that there are no victims in market prices.” While a litre of milk in Costa olombian President sation and we are now digesting Uribe — who led opposition to tiations”. Colombia and therefore the Many economists blame the Rica costs $1.50, that same prod- Juan Manuel Santos more than 500 proposals — and the agreement — as well as reli- “I am ready, I am eager, be- transitional justice cannot scarcity on the strict price con- uct costs nearly $4 when im- Csaid in an interview talking with the Farc — to have gious leaders and victims of the cause I know that if we sit down apply.” trols, together with tight cur- ported to Venezuela. yesterday that he hoped to a new agreement, agreed and armed confl ict. we can agree on many of the The interview comes ahead rency exchange limits and Ven- Regular Venezuelans strug- secure a new deal with Farc approved, by Christmas. That On Saturday, inaugurating things that concern him,” the of a state visit by Santos to Brit- ezuela’s over-dependence on gle every day just to fi nd food, rebels by end December, is my goal,” Santos told Britain’s the Ibero-American Summit in president said. ain tomorrow, the fi rst ever by a its vast oil reserves, which has much of which is unavailable at warning that any further delay Observer newspaper. Colombia, Santos said “Peace Uribe had criticised the deal Colombian president, where he made it rely on imports for goods any price. could make the peace process “This uncertainty is very for Colombia will be a reality.” for granting “total impunity” will meet with Queen Elizabeth it once made at home. A woman named Judith stands “explode”. risky, because anything could “We will not betray the hopes for rebel crimes. II and Prime Minister Theresa Lacking easy access to green- in line for long hours at a govern- The government signed a happen that could really make of Colombians or the interna- Santos said: “Some of the May. backs, businesses are starved for ment-subsidised market, where historic agreement last month the process explode. So I am tional community, which has proposals are viable and we On Thursday, he will travel dollars needed to buy supplies a bag of beans costs 280 bolivars with the Revolutionary Armed working 24 hours a day, seven accompanied us with such gen- think the Farc should accept to Belfast to meet key figures and equipment available only ($0.40) — when it’s even available. Forces of Colombia (Farc), Co- days a week, with my team to erosity.” them, but others are simply not in Northern Ireland’s peace abroad. Now that the price con- “The problem is that we can’t lombia’s biggest rebel group, get another agreement,” he Santos, who won the Nobel viable. process, the Foreign Office trol system is crumbling, Vene- fi nd anything,” she says. but in a shock move, voters re- added. peace prize this year for his ef- “For example the ones that said. Shy, pygmy anteaters Fumigation drive Jailed drug lord in a bad state, claims wife are VIPs at Peru zoo DPA he will not survive beyond De- Washington cember. Mexico elected to extradite AFP ndua anteaters, which can meas- in the Amazon because they are Guzman to the US, where he is Lima ure up to a meter long, or the gi- so solitary and shy. They are vul- he wife of Joaquin “El facing numerous charges in the ant anteater, which reaches two nerable,” said Ccarhuas. Chapo” Guzman has states of Texas and California, meters long. “A conservation programme is Turged the Inter-Amer- but that process is tied up in aulina struggles to open They spend their entire lives being launched, and a zoological ican Commission on Human the courts. her eyes, sees strange peo- in the treetops, never touching training course on managing the Rights (CIDH) organisation to Only El Chapo’s lawyers Pple in her space and raises the ground. species.” visit the ailing Mexican drug and family members have her tiny claws in warning. De- But the destruction of the The International Union for lord in prison. been allowed occasional visits, spite the threat, it’s hard not to Amazon rainforest is leaving Conservation of Nature (IUCN) “He’s in a bad state. His “sometimes for only half an want to cuddle the pint-sized them without a home. does not classify the species as rights have been violated in hour,” Coronel said. furball and her mate Freddy, Because of their fragility, threatened, but warned in a 2014 Mexico. He’s in solitary con- His lawyers have fi led in- the only pygmy anteaters in the Paulina and Freddy are not on report that parts of its habitat fi nement where he can’t speak junctions to prevent his extra- world to be kept in a zoo. public display. They are kept in were disappearing in Brazil. with anyone,” Emma dition, but two of them have Since being rescued from a special enclosure designed to “There is no doubt that rapid Coronel, a 27-year-old already been rejected. animal traffi ckers a decade ago, mimic their arboreal habitat. and ongoing deforestation of the former beauty queen, told re- Guzman’s lawyers and when they were a year old, the The pair are believed to be the Atlantic Forest is negatively af- porters outside the Washing- family insist rigorous secu- pair have lived in the Huachipa longest-lived pygmy anteaters in fecting the northeastern popu- ton offi ce of CIDH. rity measures have aff ected his Zoo in Lima, Peru. captivity. lation of Cyclopes didactylus,” “They should be allowed to health, however, prison offi - Native to central and south Sometimes captured to be it said. see the conditions for them- cials reject their claims. America, pygmy anteaters kept as pets, the animals typi- “The species cannot survive in selves.” Once considered the measure about 20 centimetres cally stay alive only a short time the sugar cane plantations that “El Chapo,” the former world’s most powerful drug long — the smallest anteaters in outside their native habitat. are replacing the native vegeta- leader of the Sinaloa car- lord, “El Chapo” has escaped the world. “There’s not much informa- tion in this area and the remain- tel, has been held in solitary maximum security prisons Also called silky anteaters, or tion about them because they’re ing patches of suitable habitat confinement at a maximum twice already. Cyclopes didactylus, they are not very visible. They are being are increasingly fragmented.” security prison in Ciudad He reportedly escaped from known as creatures of the night, aff ected by deforestation, and be- Feeding Paulina and Freddy Juarez in prison in 2001 by using a laun- wrapping their little golden- cause of that we are losing them,” is a challenge for the zoo, which Mexico since he was recap- dry cart before he was recap- brown bodies around tropical said the biologist who cares for has had to substitute the ants A health ministry worker fumigates a house to kill mosquitoes tured in January. tured 13 years later. tree branches to feed on ants. the Lima pair, Gina Ccarhuas. they eat in the wild with a spe- during a campaign against dengue and chikungunya and to Coronel said Guzman was In July 2015 he escaped They are much smaller than It is diffi cult to estimate how cial protein-rich, probiotic milk prevent Zika infection in Managua, Nicaragua. suff ering from health prob- again, but was located by au- their cousins, such as the Tama- many pygmy anteaters there are formula. lems and depression and fears thorities within six months. Gulf Times Monday, October 31, 2016 25 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN Pakistan to probe ex-minister for leaking news

AFP it was announced yesterday. vestigation) committee as it as soon as possible.” they have been put in the dock guage daily sparked an uproar. Analysts have warned that Islamabad The report said civilian offi - is a huge task that intelligence The leak was false news which wrongly.” The journalist who wrote it Sharif may need to strike a deal cials had warned the military to agencies alone cannot do,” In- “has compromised our national Khan said Rasheed was re- was briefl y hit with a travel ban. with the army to ensure his sur- stop supporting jihadist fi ghters terior Minister Chaudhry Nisar narrative (against terrorism)”, moved because he failed to stop The minister’s sacking comes vival. akistan will investigate abroad. Ali Khan told a press confer- Khan said. a reporter from Dawn newspaper at a sensitive time for the gov- Analysts said the military may a former information Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ence. “The military wants, and from going ahead with the story ernment, as it faces street pro- also try to instal its preferred P minister over a leaked on Saturday sacked Information “Tomorrow names for the also the government and the when the reporter came to seek tests by the opposition over the candidate to succeed powerful news report which sparked Minister Pervez Rasheed over committee will be decided in a entire nation want, to expose his comments before publica- Sharif’s family’s off shore bank army chief Raheel Sharif, whose a rift between the govern- the issue. meeting with the Prime Minister the people behind this news, tion. accounts which were revealed in term expires at the end of No- ment and the powerful army, “It will be a full-fledged (in- and this task will be completed military particularly because The article in the English-lan- the Panama Papers leak. vember, as part of any deal.

Tribute Opposition activists held in Islamabad

AFP is not a crime against govern- tainty among the workers as they Islamabad ment, but a crime against the did not know where they would state. gather on November 2. We are a nuclear power and ‘‘Earlier, it was announced that akistani police yesterday what impression will it make be- the protesters would gather at arrested more than 100 fore the world if a mob comes to Faizabad up to Zero Point but after Psupporters of opposition the capital of the country to shut the activists started assembling at politician Imran Khan who en- it down?” the minister said. Banigala, it was assumed that the tered Islamabad days before a Imran Khan denied his activ- rally would start from there’’. planned protest shutdown of ists had possessed weapons. He said the PTI had formed the capital, the interior minister Police have cordoned off his committees to contact its work- said. residence and fi red tear gas dur- ers but the mobile phones of the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ing clashes there with his sup- party’s Punjab north and the is under growing pressure from porters on Sunday, an AFP pho- district chapter heads remained Balochistan province Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri (right) and Lieutenant General Amir Riaz (second right) light candles in opposition parties, mainly tographer said. switched off . He said PTI MPAs memory of the cadets killed at the Balochistan Police College, in Quetta yesterday. At least 62 people have been killed in a gun and Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf In summer 2014, Khan led a from Rawalpindi were busy suicide bomb assault claimed by Islamic militants on the police academy on October 24, the deadliest attack on a security (PTI), over his children’s off - mass protest that lasted four holding photo sessions in diff er- installation in the country’s history. shore bank accounts which were months. ent areas. revealed in the Panama Papers ‘‘Internal diff erences among leak. “Police intercepted them the PTI offi ce-bearers and its Khan, a former cricketing but most of them ran away, fi ve members of the Punjab As- DEFENCE hero, has threatened to “lock many leaving their cars sembly may cost the party heav- down” Islamabad on Wednesday behind. Police arrested ily as the worker s are not yet Pakistan, Turkey to force Sharif to accept an in- more than 100 of them” mobilised,’’ he said. Shanghai Electric to buy $1.77bn conduct joint quiry into the aff air. ‘‘Nobody knows about the The new protest plan comes at He allied himself with populist plan of the party in case roads naval exercise a sensitive time for Sharif, with cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri to stage a were blocked on Nov 2,’’ said stake in Pakistani power fi rm the Supreme Court due to start sit-in outside parliament call- Asif Akbar, a resident of Satellite The Turkish and Pakistani navies hearing a case about the Panama ing for the government to resign Town. conducted a bilateral exercise in Papers revelations on Monday. over vote-rigging allegations. He said for the public meet- Reuters the North Arabian Sea in order “About 450 people entered Is- Khan called off the protest in ings the party should have in- Karachi to enhance interoperability and lamabad today,” Interior Minis- December 2014 after Taliban mili- formed the workers a week ago contribute to regional maritime ter Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told tants stormed an army-run school so that they could reach the ven- security. The exercise covered a a press conference. in Peshawar and killed 154 people, ues on time. ‘‘We are willing to hina’s Shanghai Elec- number of areas, including anti-air “Police intercepted them but most of them children. respond to Imran Khan’s call but tric power company will warfare operations, communica- most of them ran away, many Meanwhile, three days before there is no guidance,’’ he said. Cbuy a controlling stake tion drills, and joint manoeuvres leaving their cars behind. Police Imran Khan`s plan to siege Is- Tahir Malik, a resident of Mil- in K-Electric, a power genera- by the participating surface ships. arrested more than 100 of them.” lamabad, confusion prevailed in lat Colony, said the party work- tion and distribution company Offi cers seized seven Kalash- his party about the venue where ers in the area were willing to in Pakistan’s largest city, for VIOLENCE nikov rifl es, 21 rifl e magazines, its workers would assemble. go to Islamabad but no one was $1.77n, K-Electric’s parent Gunmen kill four tear gas and seven bulletproof ‘‘There is no co-ordination available to provide any infor- company announced in a state- people in Karachi jackets, the minister said. between the leadership and the mation whether they should as- ment yesterday. formance business and market further collaboration between He said Khan’s PTI planned to workers and the latter have to go semble at Banigala or Faizabad. Dubai-based Abraaj Group leader to a strategic buyer who the two parties in many other occupy the Pakistan Secretariat, to the Banigala mansion of Imran He said the strategy of the said it had entered into a de- is fully committed to continu- areas in the future,” Wang Gunmen on motorcycles killed an offi ce complex housing gov- Khan to get information,’’ a sen- party to gather workers in case fi nitive agreement with China’s ing this success story into the Yundan, Shanghai Power’s at least four people at a religious ernment ministries. ior PTI leader said. the roads were closed was also state-backed Shanghai Electric future,” Arif Naqvi, Abraaj’s chief executive, said in a gathering of Shias in Karachi, “They want to occupy the Pa- ‘‘The party changed two unclear. ‘‘We have been asked to to divest its 66.4% stake in K- chief executive, said in a state- statement. Pakistan’s largest city, on Saturday, kistan Secretariat and the plan plans in the last 24 hours. On watch private TV channels to get Electric. ment. Shanghai Electric an- police said, in the latest attack is not to allow government em- Friday night, the local leaders updates,’’ he said. K-Electric serves around When completed, the deal nounced its intention to bid for claimed by the Sunni militant ployees to enter,” he said. were asked to make arrange- PTI MPA Rashid Hafeez ad- 2.2mn customers in and around will be biggest M&A agreement the stake in August. group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi’s Al Alami The minister said that on Sat- ments for blocking Faizabad mitted that there was confusion Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city in Pakistan in a decade. Chinese companies’ in- faction. The shooting took place in urday night some 1,200 PTI ac- but the idea was dropped on among the workers but said an with a population of about Large parts of the Pakistani terest in Pakistan is grow- the North Nazimabad neighbour- tivists tried to drive in convoy to Sunday afternoon. A press announcement would be made a 20mn. economy remain nationalised, ing after China announced hood of the sprawling metropolis Islamabad from the northwest- conference by Imran Khan was day before November 2. He said It is involved in both gen- or held by a few private busi- energy and infrastructure of more than 18mn people. ern city of Peshawar. also cancelled soon after an he was also waiting for the party’s eration at thermal power plants nessmen, rather than diversi- projects worth $46bn in Lashkar-e-Jhangvi’s Al Alami fac- When police stopped them on announcement. Now the lo- guideline to assemble the workers. and power distribution. fi ed companies. the South Asian nation last tion killed more than 60 police the motorway they beat up offi c- cal leaders have been informed ‘‘There is a plan to go to Islamabad “Today marks a milestone “The K-Electric transac- year, with a view to open- cadets in Quetta on Monday in an ers but had to retreat when rein- about a public gathering in At- but a decision will soon be made in that partnership as we enter tion only marks the beginning ing a trade corridor link- attack in conjunction with Islamic forcements arrived. tock on October 31’’. for the workers to gather at Faiza- into a defi nitive agreement to of SEP’s co-operation with ing western China with the State. But it said it carried out this “The lockdown of the capital He said there was an uncer- bad or Banigala,’’he said. divest our stake in a high per- Abraaj and we look forward to Arabian Sea. attack on its own. Afghan military death rate Lawyers off er to ghtfi rises in 2016: watchdog Sharbat Gula’s case

AFP bers were killed, according to a son, the top US and Nato com- gender gap have all eroded this Internews seek her release. Washington quarterly report from the offi ce mander in Afghanistan, warned year. Peshawar A number of other lawyers of the Special Inspector General a week ago that basic leadership “Deep-rooted cultural tradi- also want to fi ght her case. for Afghanistan Reconstruction failures in many Afghan police and tions and a persistent insurgency Steve McCurry, the Ameri- he death rate among Af- (SIGAR). military units were helping drive continue to threaten the physi- number of organisations can photographer who took the ghan security forces is An additional 9,665 members casualty rates higher. cal safety and health of Afghan and lawyers are off ering iconic photograph of Sharbat Tsurging far above last were wounded during the same women and hold them back from Ato defend Sharbat Gula, Gula in 1984 that made her fa- year’s levels, a US government period, the report found. “The most immediate entering public life,” the report the Afghan woman arrested Sharbat Gula: Then and now mous all over the world, has also watchdog said yesterday, and Violence from the Taliban and challenge to the US states. by the Federal Investigation off ered to hire a lawyer for her slew of social gains in the war- other insurgent groups typically reconstruction eff ort, The Afghan government still Agency (FIA) for fraudulently Her bail application hasn’t and help her shift to the US, Af- torn nation is also eroding. spikes over the summer during and to the viability of only has full control of two- obtaining Pakistan’s compu- yet been fi led, but this could ghanistan and another country. Afghan forces are nearing the the “fi ghting season.” the Afghan nation state, thirds of the country’s popula- terised national identity card happen today. Sharbat Gula’s arrest has end of their second year provid- But increasingly, militants remains the armed tion of 30mn. (CNIC) in the court of law. The green-eyed Sharbat Gula become big news in the world ing security across their war- continue launching attacks insurgency pursued by the Some 10% is in Taliban hands, Sharbat Gula, who became had allegedly acquired Pakistan’s media and has caused an out- torn country, after Nato moved throughout the year, meaning Taliban and other factions” and the rest is still being fought famous after her picture as a CNIC in the hope of staying on pouring of sympathy for her. into an advisory and training role the death rate will likely rise fur- over. 12-year-old refugee girl student in the country as a refugee as she In her native Afghanistan, — and the toll on the local forces ther still. Still, SIGAR found, morale This summer’s fi ghting saw the made it to the cover of the Nation- feared her life will be in danger in many Afghans were annoyed by has been devastating. “The most immediate chal- within the ranks appears good, Taliban try at least seven times to al Geographic magazine in 1985, Afghanistan. her arrest in Pakistan and some 2015 was a terrible year, with lenge to the US reconstruction with three-quarters of recruits seize a provincial capital, as they was sent by a court on judicial re- She is a widow and was wor- took to the social media to ex- an estimated 5,000 killed and eff ort, and to the viability of the saying they have received good did in Kunduz last year. mand and is presently lodged at ried for the safety of her three press their anger. another 15,000 wounded, pri- Afghan nation state, remains the care and 90% satisfi ed with their The Afghans managed to repel the Central Prison Peshawar. children, including a four- Their anger was directed marily by the Taliban. armed insurgency pursued by pay. these thanks to Nato support, The next date of hearing in year-old boy. against Pakistan and demands But the death toll this year is the Taliban and other factions,” The report also found that easier rules for the United States the case is November 11. The Afghan embassy in Pa- were made to the Afghan gov- already much worse: From Janu- the inspector general, John Sop- gains in key social areas such as to strike targets and the grow- The FIA has booked her on kistan has reportedly contacted ernment to help in securing her ary 1 through August 19, a total ko, said in the report. poverty, unemployment, wom- ing confi dence of the Afghan air three counts, all of which are senior lawyer Latif Afridi to release and bringing her home of 5,523 Afghan service mem- US Army General John Nichol- en’s rights and the education force. bailable. pursue Sharbat Gula’s case and to Afghanistan. Gulf Times 26 Monday, October 31, 2016 PHILIPPINES

LA police to impart China ships still at disputed anti-drug training to local cops shoal, fi shermen back: govt China took control South China Sea — where sev- of Scarborough Shoal, eral nations have competing By Louise Sofia A Usero 230 kilometres west US assessing new situation: State dept partial claims. Manila Times of the main Philippine However Aquino’s successor island of Luzon, in 2012 The United States is verifying re- spanning an area of 150 square ment. Under such circumstanc- ance with the July 12 arbitral Duterte played down this vic- ports that Chinese coast guard kilometers. It was seized by es, it is fully possible for the two decision,” the State department’s tory in a visit to China earlier embers of the Los An- AFP vessels have finally opened up China after a two-month stand- countries to return to the track Toner said. The Communist this month, putting territorial geles Police Depart- Manila Panatag Shoal (Scarborough off with the Philippines in 2012. of managing disputes through Party of the Philippines (CPP) disputes on the back-burner Mment (LAPD) are in the Shoal) to Filipino fishermen. In a case brought by the ad- consultation and focusing on pounced on Toner’s statement and focusing instead on Chi- country to train Manila police- In a news briefing in Washington ministration of former president co-operation,” a ministry spokes- and hit the US for interfering in nese aid. men to become instructors and hinese coastguard ships on Friday, State department Benigno Aquino, the Philippines man said during a news briefing the country’s aff airs. Chinese President Xi Jinping teach grade school students the are still patrolling the spokesman Mark Toner said the won a resounding victory at an in Beijing on Friday. “In the first place, the US has told Duterte there was no reason harmful eff ects of illegal drugs. Cdisputed Scarborough US was aware of the reports and international arbitration tribunal The ministry noted that the two no standing whatsoever to for hostility and diffi cult topics The Drug Abuse Resistance Shoal in the South China Sea but was “assessing” the situation at in The Hague on July 12 over sides agreed to fishing industry make any assessment in an “could be shelved temporarily”. Education (DARE) training is a are not stopping Filipinos from Panatag. “We are still assessing. Beijing’s extensive maritime co-operation in the West Philip- area that is part of Philippine The Chinese occupation of two-week intensive and exten- fi shing there, a Philippine de- We hope it is certainly not a claims in the area, infuriating pine Sea (South China Sea) maritime territory,” said the CPP the shoal has been a sore point sive programme. The Manila fence spokesman said yesterday. temporary measure,” the State the Asian giant.China’s Ministry during the meeting. in a statement. “Secondly, it is in relations, with Filipino fi sh- Police District (MPD) plans to The information — from fi sh- department off icial said. of Foreign Aff airs had no direct Washington, which supported US war-mongering and naval ermen frequently complain- bring the anti-drug campaign to ermen who have just returned On Friday, Presidential spokes- confirmation on the Chinese the arbitration process, however build-up in accordance with its ing that Chinese ships drive schools and hopes to keep school from the shoal — came despite man Ernesto Abella told report- coast guard’s withdrawal, but said it hoped the deal between US pivot to encircle China that them away from their fi shing children away from illegal drugs earlier Philippine government ers Filipino fishermen have been spoke in a conciliatory note Manila and Beijing took the July is at the root of the outstanding grounds. Duterte had hinted with the help of trained police statements that the Chinese fishing at Panatag Shoal in the on the reported resumption of 12 ruling into account. security problems in the South at the possibility of a Chinese instructors. had left the outcrop they seized past three days without interfer- Philippine fishing activities at “We’d like it to be a sign that China Sea.” The CPP, which is in withdrawal upon his return “The LAPD is better trained, in 2012. ence from the Chinese coast Panatag. China and the Philippines are talks for a final peace deal with from Beijing, saying: “We’ll just better equipped, and better A spokesman for President guard. Panatag is a triangular “With President Duterte’s visit, bi- moving toward an agreement the government, congratulated wait for a few more days. funded, but nonetheless we have Rodrigo Duterte had said Satur- chain of reefs and rocks sur- lateral relations have turned to a on fishing access at Scarbor- Manila and Beijing for the appar- We might be able to return to the same delegation and convic- day there were no longer signs rounding a 46-kilometre lagoon, new page of all-around improve- ough that would be in accord- ent breakthrough. Scarborough Shoal.” tion and same mission to per- of Chinese ships at the shoal, Newspaper reports yesterday form,” said MPD District Direc- after Duterte visited China to also said fi shermen from the tor Supt. Joel Coronel. repair frayed ties. have been to Bajo de Masinloc, assment by these vessels and It drove Filipino fi sher- victory over China at an inter- northern province of Pangasi- The LAPD representatives are However Defence Department (the local name for Scarbor- they were able to fi sh in peace,” men away from the rich fi shing national tribunal earlier this nan were able to fi sh at Scarbor- veterans and are led by Scott spokesman Arsenio Andolong ough Shoal) say that they have he said in a statement yesterday. ground, sometimes using water year. ough Shoal, with the Chinese Gilliam, the director of the DARE said the fi shermen who visited observed an undetermined China took control of Scar- cannons. In a judgement that infuri- watching but not interfering. programme, and Jeff rey Smith. the shoal on Saturday still saw number of Chinese white ships borough Shoal, 230 kilometres In a case brought by then- ated Beijing, the tribunal ruled “Happy days are here again,” They expressed their support Chinese coastguard ships there. in the area but (the Filipinos) west of the main Philippine is- president Benigno Aquino, the in July there was no basis for the Philippine Star quoted one to the anti-drug campaign of “Filipino fi shermen, who were not subjected to any har- land of Luzon, in 2012. Philippines won a resounding China’s claims to most of the fi sherman as saying. President Rodrigo Duterte and Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Es- trada. “I know that the president wants to cut down drugs in the Philippines. And I think that is Ex-San Juan very important. The fact that he Lawmakers seek bill to establish has made an eff ort to stop drugs in the Philippines, I think that is vice mayor a tremendous eff ort,” Smith said in a press briefi ng. “Education has changed, state-owned burial facilities sees graft children have changed, and so therefore the strategies that were used also have changed and By Angelica Ballesteros case acquittal we are looking forward to teach- Manila Times ing these police offi cers and giv- ing them the most up-to-date By Neil Alcober tools and strategy for teaching everal lawmakers over Manila Times the children of the Philippines the weekend pushed for how to make good choices,” he Sthe immediate passage of added. a bill seeking to establish state- ormer San Juan City Vice Twelve members of the LAPD owned crematorium facilities Mayor Francis Zamora be- will be teaching 72 Manila po- in all legislative districts in the Flieves that he will be cleared licemen on how to become ef- Philippines. from the malversation charges fective instructors under DARE. AKO Bicol party-list Rep. fi led against him in connection The programme aims to make Rodel Batocabe, along with with the alleged anomalous pur- children better understand the Representatives Alfredo Gar- chase of P2.1mn worth of high- consequences of using illegal bin and Christopher Co, au- powered fi rearms in 2008. substances and how to get out of thored House Bill (HB) 135 or “I am very confi dent that I will risky situations. the “Accessible Crematories be cleared because I am not an “We have to teach offi cers how Act” to provide an aff ordable accountable offi cer. I don’t hold to become classroom teachers; interment option to all Filipi- and disburse money,” Zamora, we prepare them for the lessons. nos, especially the poor, which then a member of the city coun- LAPD brought educators that will be managed by the Depart- cil which approved the ordi- will give them the skill to have ment of Social Welfare and De- nance allowing the city govern- classroom management and an- velopment (DSWD). ment to acquire fi rearms, said in swer questions, those things that “The cost of dying is getting an interview. will make the offi cer better in the prohibitive and getting com- Zamora however maintained classroom,” Gilliam said. petitive with the cost of liv- that the money was taken from DARE is a comprehensive ed- ing. Establishing crematorium the supplemental budget of the ucation programme taught in the facilities will operationalise a city.“The calamity fund of the US and 52 countries including socialised fee structure, ena- city of San Juan was intact for the the Philippines. The MPD has bling the marginalised sector year 2008,” he added.The former only 14 active DARE instructors and the indigents to avail of the vice mayor on Monday pleaded since the programme was imple- crematorium services fee” Ba- not guilty during his arraign- mented in Manila in 2013. tocabe said. A man applies paint on the apartment type tombs at the Navotas Public Cemetery, north of Manila. ment at the Sandiganbayan’s “The usage of marijuana, to- Batocabe said the conges- Sixth Division. His co-accused, bacco, and alcohol continues tion of cemeteries will once an additional P25,000 is spent multiply this by our current Batocabe said it is prudent Congregation for the Doctrine former councillors Angelino to decrease. We are a part of again be witnessed during this for the interment and casket of population estimates, that’s for the country to push for an of Faith released new guide- Mendoza and Rolando Bernardo, it, we’re not gonna say we are year’s observance of All Saints’ the deceased. around 610,000 deaths per “alternative and more cost-ef- lines on cremation, noting also entered not guilty pleas. doing it all but with what the Day. “There is an estimated 6.1 year. This number of deaths fi cient solution for the families that the family of the deceased The purchase of the fi rearms schools are teaching, we noticed On average, a traditional deaths per 1,000 population naturally would require a large who do not have enough mon- should not scatter the remains was consummated during the a dramatic drop after we started burial costs around P100,000. per year in the Philippines, area of land to accommodate ey to pay for traditional means at sea or on land and, instead, term of then mayor and now teaching this new curriculum,” Of this amount, P70,000 is al- according to the US CIA web- the burial of the bodies,” the of burying their deceased.” must store them in a sacred Senator Joseph “JV” Victor Ejer- Smith said. lotted for the memorial lot and site’s World Factbook. If we lawmaker noted. Earlier this week, the Vatican place such as a cemetery. cito. Duterte launches poverty alleviation initiative in Mindanao

By Julmunir I Jannaral ment to farmers and fi sherfolk, – Co-operative Development number of tractors and other off ered again recently and the Manila Times/Cotabato City electrifi cation projects and set- Authority, Housing and Urban farm and fi shery equipment are president said he will accept it ting-up of water systems in the Development Co-ordinating just gathering dust in govern- this time to be used for new hos- region’s poorest communities. Council, National Anti-Poverty ment warehouses. Such equip- pitals in ARMM. resident Rodrigo Duterte The CRDA focuses on anti- Commission, National Commis- ment could not be released to The president did not utter vowed full support for poverty projects that harness sion on Muslim Filipinos, Na- target benefi ciary co-operatives any cuss word during his entire Pdevelopment initiatives mainly resources from the De- tional Food Authority, National in recent years due to problems speech but he continued lam- in the Autonomous Region in partment of Social Welfare and Youth Commission, Offi ce of the in raising the required counter- basting the US government and Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and Development, Department of President-Presidential Action part fund. its ambassador to the Philip- other confl ict-aff ected areas as Agriculture, Department of En- Centre, Philippine Commission “Why come up with a pro- pines, Philip Goldberg. he launched the administration’s ergy and the Technology Edu- on Women, Philippine Coconut gramme for the poor that needs The Philippines, he said, poverty alleviation and develop- cation and Skills Development Authority, Presidential Com- counterpart funding?” he asked, would survive even without ment agenda here. Authority (Tesda). mission on the Urban Poor as adding those benefi ciaries don’t American aid, adding the China Aside from the ARMM, Re- “We will pour development well as Technical Education and even have enough food to eat. and Japan have expressed sup- gions 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), funds in Moro areas,” said Du- Skills Development Authority. “I’ll buy more for you but port for his administration’s de- 10 (Northern Mindanao) and terte in the vernacular noting With the president were In- please take good care of those velopment eff orts. 12 (Central Mindanao) are cov- that his priority in Mindanao is terior and Local Government equipment, they were bought Duterte is the country’s fi rst ered by the Comprehensive Re- eradicating hunger, especially Secretary Ismael Sueno, Social with money from the people.” president from Mindanao. He form and Development Agenda among children, and reducing Welfare and Development Sec- Duterte also mentioned the visited for the fi rst time the re- (CRDA). the incidence of poverty. retary Judy Taguiwalo, Energy possibility of building a hos- gional seat of ARMM in this city The president said the assist- Current statistics indicate Secretary Alfonso Cusi, and pital in Jolo and in other areas where he was warmly welcomed ance package includes scholar- that provinces in ARMM are on Tesda Director General Guiling in ARMM next year with funds by local offi cials and employees ship grants for deserving stu- top of the list in terms of poverty Duterte: poverty alleviation efforts Mamondiong. coming from a private dona- at the sprawling Shariff Kabun- dents, reducing vulnerabilities incidence. There are resources, Duterte tion. While he did not mention suan Cultural Complex. of children from hunger and ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman joined the president in the dis- Cultural Complex on Saturday. added, that could be harnessed the donor’s name, he said the The constituents gathered at malnutrition, distribution of and Cotabato City Mayor Cyn- tribution and turn-over of the At the forefront of imple- immediately, mentioning Ag- amount is P1bn and was origi- the complex grounds waited pa- Philhealth cards, provision of thia Sayyadi, together with local, assistance packages to benefi - menting the programmes are riculture Secretary Emmanuel nally off ered to him as campaign tiently for the presidential chop- farm inputs and fi shing equip- regional and national offi cials, ciaries at the Shariff Kabunsuan 12 agencies of the government Pinol’s report that a signifi cant fund before the elections. It was per ahead of landing. Gulf Times Monday, October 31, 2016 27 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL

Lanka Residents of ex-enclaves to becomes fi rst S Asian nation to vote for fi rst time in civic poll join OGP By Mizan Rahman election commission (EC) in tions of nearly 200 UPs where claves inside Bangladesh, from reserved seats and 326 sub-district of the district. Dhaka Dhaka. the voting was earlier cancelled which were merged with the member contenders are con- On September 26 last, the Eight of the 22 UPs are in Pan- during the staggered country- mainland Bangladesh in July testing the elections in eight election schedules were an- Agencies chagarh, eight in Lalmonirhat wide UP elections held early 31, 2015 following the ratifi ca- Ups under Sadar, Boda and nounced for the UPs after mak- Colombo and sixin Kurigram, EC assist- this year, he added. tion of land boundary agree- Debiganj sub-districts of the ing the eligible inhabitants of oters in some 100 former ant secretary Ashfaqur Rahman Full-fl edged election will ment (LBA) by India, include district. ex-enclaves voters this year. exclaves are set to ex- told newsmen. be held in 59 UPs, while there 12 in Kurigram, 59 in Lal- In Lalmonirhat, 37 chairman Under the agreement, India ri Lanka has become South Vercise their franchise The election commission has will be by-elections for one monirhat, four in Nilphamari candidates, 167 women from exchanged 111 enclaves measur- Asia’s fi rst member of the for the fi rst time as 22 Union already completed all the nec- chairman post and some and 36 in Panchagarh. reserved seats and 213 member ing 17,160 acres to Bangladesh S70-nation Open Govern- Parishads (UPs) are going to essary preparations to arrange member posts, reserved According to EC statistics, contenders are in the election and received 51 enclaves cover- ment Partnership (OGP) follow- polls there from 8am to 4pm the UP election in the districts, seats set aside exclusively for a total of 8,935 voters from race in eight UPs under Sadar, ing 7,110 acres, which all were ing an invitation from the group. today. said Rangpur regional election women in 67 UPs, the offi cial former enclaves will exercise Hatibandha and Patgram sub- located inside Cooch Behar, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Ra- Nearly 14,000 voters from offi cer Monirul Islam. said. their franchise in the UP elec- districts of the district. ending the decade-old suff er- japakshe in a letter to the co-chairs some 100 former Indian en- A total of 400 UPs, including Some 65 UPs are going to tions in Panchagarh, while some In Kurigram, 32 chairman ings of the people living in en- of the OGP said Sri Lanka meets claves out of 111 inside three 22 in the now-defunct exclaves, polls today as two candidates 1,700 voters in eight UPs in La- candidates, 90 women from claves on both sides of Bangla- the eligibility criteria for partici- northern districts -Panchagarh, are going to poll or by-election bagged equal votes in the lmonirhat and 3,098 in six UPs reserved seats and 219 mem- desh and India. pation in the OGP and is strongly Lalmonirhat and Kurigram - across the country, he said. countrywide UP elections, he in Kurigram. ber contenders are contesting The UP is the lowest lev- committed to its objectives as will be allowed to vote in the Of the 400 UPs, elections added. In Panchagarh, 39 chair- the elections in six UPs under el local government body in set out in the OGP declaration, UP election, said offi cials at the will be held in a few polling sta- The 111 former Indian en- man candidates, 98 women Phulbari and Bhurungamari Bangladesh. according to a media report. “The OGP’s goals and princi- ples are in line with the commit- ment of the Government of Sri Lanka to transparency, openness and good governance,” he wrote Talks over Bangladesh-born in the letter. Opposition BNP to Open Government Partner- ship (OGP), which was launched fi sheries US scientist wins in 2011, is a unique multilat- eral initiative aimed at secur- ing concrete commitments from stage ‘big showdown’ dispute prestigious prize governments to promote trans- parency, increase civic participa- tion, fi ght corruption, and har- this week By Mizan Rahman ness new technologies to make Dhaka governments more open, eff ec- on November 7 tive and accountable to citizens ndia and Sri Lanka will around the world. hold the ministerial-level angladeshi-born It brings the governments and Agencies our rally successful. We want Italks in New Delhi this American scientist Dr civil society together on a single Dhaka you all to start working for the week to resolve the fi sheries BShafi qul Islam jointly platform to pursue good govern- event right after this meeting.” dispute, a media report said won the prestigious Prince ance goals including, most im- Alamgir said the decision on yesterday. In- portantly, anti-corruption. NP is making prepara- participation in the Zila Parisad A 10-member Sri Lankan ternational Prize for Water Last month, Sri Lanka’s fi rst OGP tions to stage a ‘huge polls will come from the meet- fi shing association delegation (PSIPW). Shafiqul Islam national action plan formulated Bshowdown’ ahead of ing with the top leaders of the will leave for New Delhi on The prize was awarded to through a process of wide consulta- National Revolution and Soli- BNP-led 20-party alliance. Wednesday and the ministe- the team of Dr Shafi qul Is- fecal contamination, and tions was approved by the cabinet. darity Day on November 7 at The procedure of holding rial-level talks will be held on lam (Tufts University, USA) even in volcanic springs in The plan includes measur- Suhrawardy Udyan in the capi- Zila Parishad election is con- Saturday. and Dr Rita Colwell (Univer- Iceland. able commitments in areas of tal Dhaka. trary to the fundamental mat- India’s External Aff airs Min- sity of Maryland at College Dr Islam has applied health, education, information BNP secretary general Mirza ters of the constitution, the ister Sushma Swaraj will meet Park) for their outstanding Colwell’s fi ndings to relate and communication technology, Fakhrul Islam Alamgir an- BNP leaders told reporters after her Lankan counterpart Mangala performances in developing chlorophyll levels and chol- environment, local government, nounced the plan in a meeting Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir a meeting with 20-party alli- Samaraweera and Sri Lankan and testing a model that uses era outbreaks in the Bay of anti-corruption, the Right to In- of Dhaka city unit of BNP and ance leaders. Fisheries Minister Mahinda chlorophyll information Bengal. formation and women’s issues. also advised leaders and activ- leagues to strengthen their On October 6, the Zila Amaraweera. from satellite data to predict Using satellite data from The fi rst ever OGP national ac- ists to prepare for the event. campaign for the rally at every Parishad (Amendment) Bill, These talks are to be pre- cholera outbreaks at least Nasa, he developed a satel- tion plan was released by the gov- Fakhrul said: “We have ward of the city. 2016, was passed in the parlia- ceded by talks between the three to six months in ad- lite-based model to predict ernment for the two-year period decided to hold a rally at On October 20, BNP an- ment to remove some ambigui- fi sher associations of the two vance, according to foreign potential cholera outbreaks from 2015-2017 affi rming commit- Suhrawardy Udyan on Novem- nounced a 10-day programme, ties from the Zila Parishad Act, countries. ministry sources in Dhaka. at least three to six months ments to promote transparency, ber 7. We have already taken including a rally in Dhaka, to 2000 and clarifying about the Sri Lankan fi shing organisa- Dr Rita Colwell is an in- in advance. accountability and public partici- permission from the police for observe the National Revolu- formation of electoral college tions have protested recently ternationally-acclaimed The model has been tested pation (TAP) in the thematic areas the event. tion and Solidarity Day, mark- with public representatives over an alleged give in by their oceanographer and micro- with chlorophyll informa- of health, education, information “We would like to ensure ing the civil-military uprising from all tiers for Zila Parishad government wherein Indian biologist who has spent the tion from satellites over the and communication technology, mass gathering at our rally to on November 7, 1975. election. fi shermen doing illegal fi sh- bulk of her career studying Bay of Bengal region to pre- environment, anti-corruption, lo- prove that BNP is the coun- BNP’s Dhaka city unit con- As per the amended act, only ing in the Lankan waters would the V. cholerae bacterium dict cholera outbreaks in cal government, right to informa- try’s number-one party. We’ve vener Mirza Abbas said they the elected representatives of be allowed to do fi shing lim- that causes cholera. She and Bangladesh. tion and women’s issues. to demonstrate that there’s no will hold a massive ever rally on local government bodies will ited to a given number of days her colleagues have found V. The team is currently The national steering commit- other bigger party than BNP.” November 7. take part in the polling to elect per week, the paper said. The cholerae in oceans around working on testing the tee will be headed by the presi- The BNP secretary general He said: “All our leaders will Zila Parisad chairman and government has denied the the world, in isolated lakes model with ground-based dent to monitor the ambitious also directed his party col- have to work together to make members. accusation, it added. and rivers untouched by observations. open government partnership. Dogs in Road link puts Nepal enjoy Nepal region treats, aff ection back on map

IANS Rokaya previously had no mar- Agencies Kathmandu ket for their produce, the high- Kathmandu way has proved to be a lifeline. These days, buyers from vari- oad connectivity has put ous parts and even from the cap- olice dogs in the Nepa- Jumla, an undeveloped ital can now approach the apple lese capital on Satur- Rregion in Nepal, back on farmers directly. Pday were honoured in the map. Rokaya said: “From 150 trees, a ceremony with treats, food Some 850km away from I produced 4,000kg of apples off erings and aff ection while Kathmandu and also the largest this year. I sold a few kilograms wearing fl oral necklaces as a region in the Himalayan coun- to the traders and the rest are sign of respect on the second try, Jumla has always remained being processed for making dry day of Tihar festival or Diwali, in isolation, reports Xinhua apple slices.” dedicated to canines. news agency. The day, known as Kukur Since the 232km-long Karnali “I had never thought Tihar in Nepali, is devoted Highway connected this part that this place would be exclusively to the celebration of the country with the major connected to the capital of man’s four-legged friends nearby town of Surkhet in 2007, and the world” based on their important con- Jumla started witnessing gradu- tributions to society, which in al development. Many of these entrepreneurs the police forces include main- Nepalese women participate in a celebration of the Tihar festival in Kathmandu yesterday. Tihar (Diwali), known as the festival of lights, is a And with the construction use hand-powered machines taining security and assisting five-day festival celebrated in late autumn. Below: A woman holds dogs during Tihar festival in Kathmandu. of a black-topped road just two provided by development agen- with crime scene investiga- years ago, Jumla is escaping the cies to process the apples and tions, personnel at the Central ent forms of life, light and shackles of isolation. sell them in the form of candy or Police Dog Training School prosperity. For many senior citizens, its slices in packets. said. The day comes in between like a dream seeing a road and They also produce apple wine From sunrise to sunset on Kak Tihar (the day for crows) moving vehicles. and brandy, which are becoming Saturday, all dogs countrywide and Gai Puja (the day for “I had never thought that this popular both locally and nation- – including street dogs, house- cows). The other days include place would be connected to the ally. hold pets and herders –received those for oxen and for sib- capital and the world. It’s not These small scale enterprises food off erings to thank them for lings, according to the Nepali just a highway, it’s good luck for have been supported by diff er- their friendship and loyalty. culture portal We All Nepali. all of us,” Bhakta Rokaya, 60, ent national and international Dogs were seen in the streets Animal rights organi- told Xinhua news agency at his organisations like the UN De- and parks of Kathmandu sations, like Animal Ne- apple farm in Rokayabada vil- velopment Programme (UNDP). adorned with red face paint, pal, used the day to spread lage, about 15 km away from the Poverty is regarded as a ma- made from a rice and yoghurt awareness about the need to major town. jor challenge in Karnali, which paste, and a fl ower necklace care for stray dogs, like the Apple production is a major comprises the fi ve districts of known as a malla. many who became homeless source of income for the ma- Kalikot, Jumla, Mugu, Dolpa and Diwali, the fi ve-day festival after a devastating earth- jority of the residents of Jumla, Humla. Among these, Humla of lights, takes place annually in quake hit the country last which has a cold climate and and Dolpa are yet to be connect- the autumn to celebrate diff er- year. suitable soil. While farmers like ed by roads. Gulf Times 28 Monday, October 31, 2016 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Production Editor: C P Ravindran Dollar shortage hits

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar [email protected] developing countries Telephone 44350478 (news), 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) The dollar shortage has the US dollar, a parallel currency market by China’s investment boom, many global fi nancial crisis. The increase Fax 44350474 fl ourished. The black market’s premium commodity exporters found themselves since 2014, however, has been more become acute in countries (relative to the offi cial exchange rate) with historically high levels of foreign- persistent. like Egypt, Nigeria, Iran, in most European countries (and in exchange reserves. These war chests Floating the exchange rate has not Japan) skyrocketed through the early were kept mainly in dollar assets, altogether eliminated the parallel- Angola, Uzbekistan and 1950s, reaching levels that we now tend especially US Treasury securities. market premium in countries such as South Sudan, among many to associate with “unstable” emerging During the bonanza years, avoiding or Nigeria, as de facto dollar rationing markets. leaning against currency appreciation is still pervasive. In the meantime, GULF TIMES others Today, seven decades later, despite was probably the major challenge that depreciation or devaluation (which the broad global trend toward more many central banks faced. In that heady has been even more dramatic in the By Carmen M Reinhart fl exibility in exchange-rate policy environment, some countries went black market) will not boost exports Cambridge and freer movement of capital across further and adopted (once again) a much, because a single or handful of national borders, a “dollar shortage” policy of pegging their currency to the commodities – prices for which remain Turn the ambitions has reemerged. Indeed, in many dollar. depressed – dominate these countries’ mmediately after World War developing countries, the only thriving For countries that had embraced tradable sectors, while public and II ended, a new phrase entered market for the past two years or so more fl exible exchange rates – Russia, private debts are denominated in US the economic lexicon: “dollar has been the black market for foreign Brazil, and Colombia, among many dollars. of the Paris deal into Ishortage”. European economies exchange. Parallel currency markets, others – the initial reversal of oil and Of far greater urgency is that were coping with extensive war- mostly for dollars, are back. primary commodity prices ushered in dollar shortages have become food related damage and a broad array of a wave of currency crashes, while those shortages in countries such as Egypt impediments to their eff orts to rebuild that maintained more rigid exchange- and Venezuela, as well as much of action in Marrakesh their industrial base. At the time, the The Marshall Plan, rate arrangements experienced rapid Sub-Saharan Africa, which rely United States was the only provider of reserve losses. Because the price slump heavily on food imports. Given import The recent announcement by the UN World capital equipment for reconstruction. through its generous has persisted, by 2015 capital controls compression, the resulting scarcities, Meteorological Organisation (WMO) that global carbon So, without access to US dollars, were being tightened and currency pegs and skyrocketing black-market Europe’s economies could not obtain provision of grants, were being adjusted or abandoned. prices, the most vulnerable segments dioxide (CO2) levels have passed a symbolic threshold the inputs needed to increase their Fining, threatening, or even jailing of the population have been left at assumes special signifi cance in the light of the next exports. was designed to informal currency traders have not been real risk. major United Nations climate change summit meeting on With limited, if any, hard-currency relieve the dollar particularly successful. The Marshall Plan, through its November 7 in Marrakesh, Morocco. (US dollar or gold) reserves on hand, The dollar shortage has become acute generous provision of grants, was and little prospect for acquiring shortage in post-war in countries like Egypt, Nigeria, Iran, designed to relieve the dollar shortage Global average CO2 levels are above 400 parts per million dollars through export earnings, Angola, Uzbekistan and South Sudan, in post-war Europe. No modern-day (ppm) for the fi rst time in three million years, and are 144% European economies attempted Europe among many others. In Myanmar, equivalent is visible on the horizon. In to shrink their current-account where exchange rates were unifi ed in the current setting, it is more plausible of pre-industrial levels of 278 ppm, the UN weather agency defi cits by compressing imports from This time, the source of the dollar 2012, the parallel market for dollars has to expect a variant of the 1980s, announced in the annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin. other (mostly) European countries. shortage is not the need for post- been reinvigorated. The phenomenon with more emerging and developing The global average concentration of CO2 fi rst reached The expectation was that import confl ict reconstruction (though in some is far more widespread, complex, and countries seeking IMF programmes. compression would permit them cases that is also a contributing factor). varied – but it is useful to focus on the This, perhaps, may be an opportunity 400 ppm in 2015, according to WMO. The amount of to accumulate suffi cient dollars to Rather, countries in Africa, the Middle more extreme cases. for China to fi ll a void at the top. – atmospheric CO2 previously reached this level during purchase capital imports from the US. East, Central Asia and Latin America A search of news articles from Project Syndicate certain months of the year, and in certain parts of the world. But, because numerous countries have been hit very hard by plunging oil 2000 to 2016 in which the terms employed the same tactics in an and commodity prices since 2012. “dollar shortage”, “black market”, or zCarmen Reinhart is professor of But 2015 marked the fi rst time on record that the global environment in which a broad array After a long and spectacular “parallel markets” for foreign exchange the international fi nancial system at average surpassed this threshold for a whole year. This CO2 of capital controls was in place and “bonanza” in commodity prices appeared, indicates that dollar shortage Harvard University’s Kennedy School of level, then, surged in 2016, bolstered by the powerful El Nino offi cial exchange rates were pegged to since the early 2000s, driven largely concerns escalated in 2008, amid the Government. event, which also triggered droughts in tropical forests and wildfi res. The Mauna Loa Weather report The WMO’s Observatory in Hawaii – The secret success Three-day forecast the world’s premier site announcement TODAY for measuring CO2 has High: 35 C has imparted a predicted “that carbon Low : 24 C Hazy to misty at places at first dioxide concentrations beomes mild daytime with some fresh urgency of Abenomics clouds. to a process that will stay above 400 ppm for the whole of 2016 and TUESDAY By Koichi Hamada not dip below that level High: 32 C has already seen Tokyo Low: 26 C for many generations.” signifi cant strides Sunny The WMO’s okyo is in the midst of a announcement has construction boom, with in the past year WEDNESDAY imparted a fresh urgency old high-rise offi ce and apartment buildings being High: 32 C to a process that has already seen signifi cant strides in the T Low: 24 C rebuilt in more modern and elegant past year. But it is also a reminder that the progress among forms, all while maintaining stringent Sunny nations needs to continue apace if the global thermostat is environmental standards. So bright is Tokyo’s gleam – which Fishermen’s forecast going to be reset, say climate scientists. is sure to impress visitors at the A South Korean tourist taking a selfie In the previous century, by some accounts world leaders 2020 Olympic Games – that the city at the famous Shibuya crossing in OFFSHORE DOHA might seem like an anomaly, given Tokyo. Wind: NW-NE 03-13 KT were slow to agree on actions to combat environmental Waves: 1-3/4 Feet gloomy reports that, after decades INSHORE DOHA threats and climate change. The Montreal Protocol that of stagnation, Japan’s GDP growth acquiring considerable income from Wind: NW-NE 05-13 KT phased out chlorofl uorocarbons, for instance, was not remains anaemic. Japanese activities abroad. Given this, Waves: 1-2 Feet signed until 14 years after scientists fi rst linked the chemical In fact, even the small cities of gross national income (GNI) might be a Kushiro and Nemuro in Hokkaido, more accurate representation of Japan’s Around the region to holes in the ozone layer. located near the disputed islands economic circumstances. Weather Weather tomorrow between Russia and Japan, are being In the 2015 fi scal year, Japan’s GNI today Max/min Max/min The pace at which world nations have acted may have Abu Dhabi Sunny 34/23 Sunny 35/23 accelerated with the Paris climate agreement in 2015, rebuilt and modernised at a brisk pace, grew by 2.5%, while its GDP grew by Baghdad Sunny 33/18 P Cloudy 32/17 as is apparent to any tourist (as I was only 0.8%. Because Japan’s nominal Dubai P Cloudy 34/25 Sunny 34/25 followed by the Kigali deal when nearly 200 nations signed this summer). What explains this GDP is now close to ¥500tn yen, Kuwait City Sunny 34/22 Sunny 38/23 earlier this month to phase out hydrofl uorocarbons, another divergence between disappointing the 1.7-percentage-point diff erence Manama P Cloudy 34/24 Sunny 33/24 national economic data and visible between GNI and GDP amounts to Muscat Sunny 31/23 Sunny 30/23 greenhouse gas. Riyadh progress in Japanese cities? ¥8.5tn. Sunny 35/19 Sunny 35/19 Tehran M Sunny 23/14 M Sunny 24/13 More than 170 nations came together in 2015 to agree to It may be a problem of calculation. To be sure, foreign activities are not hold the global temperature rise to no more than 2C (3.6 According to offi cial data, Japan’s the only reason why GNI is growing degrees F) above pre-industrial levels. Under the Paris deal, economic growth slowed by one more quickly than GDP. percentage point, in real terms, in Even within Japan, many fi rms have nations agreed to implement national laws to curb global the 2014 fi scal year. Yet, according to lately been earning revenues at record temperatures. The agreement is scheduled to enter into force Bank of Japan researchers, tax data rates, thanks largely to Prime Minister on November 4, after dozens of countries have ratifi ed it, suggest that growth was more than Shinzo Abe’s economic revitalisation three percentage points higher than the eff orts. formally binding themselves to its terms. offi cial fi gure, implying that GDP was In fact, the gradual economic growth In Marrakesh, diplomats hope to create an independent some ¥30tn (about $300bn) larger than spurred by so-called Abenomics, body that will put into force the Paris deal. They plan to offi cially reported. together with the low exchange rate There is good reason to believe that that has prevailed until recently, has create an independent body to monitor, verify, and publicise it was. helped to spur the tourism that has countries’ pollution levels, according to . Tax data account for distributed GDP enabled cities like Kushiro and Nemuro As pointed out by The Christian Science Monitor, diplomats and cover a broader swath of economic to fund their reconstruction. activity than traditional measures of Taken together, the growth of Japan’s will seek to hammer out how developed countries will pay output. GNI and the implications of tax data for poorer countries to adapt to climate change and develop And, because few taxpayers have and 2008 SNA suggest that Japan’s new clean energy technologies. Under the Paris deal, rich incentives to infl ate their reported economy has been doing signifi cantly income, the resultant fi gures are better lately than the national statistics countries voluntarily pledged to spend $100 billion annually unlikely to be overestimates. seem to suggest. by 2020 to help poorer countries. More insights into Japan’s real Though each new calculation focuses Around the world Some climate change experts say CO2 levels passing the progress can be derived from another on a diff erent year, we can use them source: the new System of National heuristically to estimate unaccounted- Weather Weather 400 ppm threshold further highlights the need to turn today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Accounts 2008, the latest international for economic progress in Japan. Athens Cloudy 17/10 Sunny 18/09 the ambitions of the Paris deal – to curb the rise in global statistical standard for national The result is substantial: a ¥30tn S Showers 24/20 Showers 21/17 32/24 temperatures – into concrete action in Marrakesh. accounting by the United Nations annual adjustment for distributed Bangkok T Storms 32/25 S T Storms Statistical Commission. income and ¥19.8tn adjustment for Berlin M Cloudy 10/08 Showers 11/06 Cairo P Cloudy 29/19 Sunny 28/17 Tentative calculations using R&D and intellectual property. Cape Town M Sunny 22/15 Cloudy 27/15 To Advertise Japanese Cabinet Offi ce data suggest Add the GNI adjustment of over Colombo T Storms 29/24 T Storms 29/24 that, according the standard of ¥8.5tn, and Japan’s economy is nearly Dhaka M Sunny 31/24 M Sunny 32/24 [email protected] the 2008 SNA – which counts ¥70tn, or 14%, larger than offi cial data Hong Kong M Sunny 29/22 M Sunny 27/21 12/05 research and development, including suggest. Istanbul M Sunny 13/06 S Showers Display Jakarta S T Storms 32/24 T Storms 31/24 intellectual property, among fi rms’ While this is only a rough Karachi Sunny 36/22 Sunny 36/22 Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 capital assets – Japan’s 2011 GDP calculation, it is impossible to deny London P Cloudy 18/08 Cloudy 13/03 Classified exceeded the published data by 4.2%, the potential diff erences that more Manila M Sunny 33/25 M Cloudy 32/26 or ¥19.8tn. comprehensive calculations can make. Moscow Cloudy -1/-4 M Cloudy -2/-6 Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 New Delhi Sunny 32/17 Sunny 32/18 A third failing of traditional GDP This has important policy New York Sunny 13/04 M Sunny 14/09 Subscription measurements for Japan lies in the implications. – Project Syndicate Paris Sunny 18/06 Fog 16/08 [email protected] fact that they account only for what is Sao Paulo I T Storms 28/16 S T Storms 31/19 actually produced within the country’s zKoichi Hamada is emeritus professor Seoul S Showers 09/-2 Sunny 07/-2 S T Storms T Storms 31/25 borders. of economics at Yale University, and a Singapore 31/25 Sydney Sunny 21/11 Sunny 22/12 2016 Gulf Times. All rights reserved But we live in a globalised world, special adviser to Prime Minister Shinzo Tokyo Clear 19/09 Cloudy 15/11 and nowadays, Japan’s citizens are Abe. Gulf Times Monday, October 31, 2016 29 QATAR

HBKU professor presents research at Abayas designed in UN event in Geneva

amad bin Khalifa Uni- which the users sat together versity (HBKU) assist- and searched for information. Hant professor Dr Dena Our work addresses a signifi - al-Thani has presented her cant gap in current assistive Qatar are ‘gaining research on technological in- technology, wherein technol- novation and accessibility at ogy to support individual web a United Nations event held in searching is relatively well Geneva, Switzerland. developed, but nothing exists Invited by the Offi ce of the explicitly to support collabo- United Nations High Commis- ration of VI users with their sioner for Human Rights, Dr sighted peers in a workplace or al-Thani attended the three- educational setting.” global popularity’ day 2016 Social Forum of the Dr al-Thani provided civil Human Rights Council and society actors, representatives By Joey Aguilar spoke at a panel on accessibil- of member states, and inter- Staff Reporter ity and non-discrimination, governmental organisations in sharing insight on how to bet- attendance at the event with ter integrate the visually im- observations from her research baya is becoming highly popular paired in the workplace and in study and clear, cost-eff ective, globally with a large number of de- educational settings. practical and easy-to-imple- Apartment stores off ering various In recognition of the tenth ment design recommenda- collections from Arab designers, includ- anniversary of the adoption of tions that can enhance the ing Qataris, a senior offi cial from Qatar the Convention on the Rights productivity and integration of Chamber has said. of Persons with Disabilities, people with disabilities. “You will be surprised how abaya the event focused on promot- She also stressed the impor- is spreading all over the world,” Qatar ing full and equal access to tance of involving target users Chamber board member and Qatari Busi- fundamental freedoms to all in the design and evaluation nesswomen Forum chairperson Ibtihaj al- people with disabilities and process of a software develop- Ahmadani said on the sidelines of the 10th leaving no one behind in the ment life cycle to ensure acces- Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition at the push for the UN Sustainable sibility is kept in mind when Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre, Development Goals. developing the next generation which concludes today. Dr al-Thani explored the of collaborative accessibility She noted that abayas are now available role of computing research in tools for the visually impaired. in major and renowned fashion outlets increasing accessibility to the The HBKU professor, who is such as Harrods, among others. Many of digital world and its relevance part of the faculty of the uni- the new collections at the exhibition have for achieving more and better versity’s College of Science and been designed by Qatari designers, some employment. Engineering, acknowledged on of whom have just arrived from New York, She noted: “As the Internet her return to Qatar that par- the offi cial added. becomes more integrated into ticipation in events like the So- Qatar Chamber has opened its doors our daily lives, web accessibil- cial Forum gives academics and to these designers and Qatari business- ity becomes more than merely researchers the opportunity women, welcoming them to its forums Al-Ahmadani and other off icials tour the 10th Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition at DECC. PICTURE: Jayaram a moral obligation that is op- to highlight the eff ective role such as the Qatari Business Women Fo- tional to satisfy. In fact, it is academic research plays in ad- rum aimed at supporting their endeav- About the exhibition this year, she de- event is bigger than the last time.” bian fashion designs of abayas, kaftans, becoming a legal obligation in dressing global issues: “Shar- our and helping them to network glo- scribed Heya as unique and every edition Launched in 2007, Heya is Qatar’s big- veils, jalabiyas, shaylas, and evening many developed and develop- ing insights from academia bally, she said. has many surprises with many new Qatari gest platform for contemporary Arabian gowns with more than 220 booths from ing countries. can have a tremendous eff ect Al-Ahmadani stressed that they also designers participating. fashion creations, attracting an increasing high level designers. “In our research work, we in strengthening the links be- support “business people in general” “We were amazed seeing what they number of exhibitors from neighbouring In a press statement, organisers stressed looked into the area of inclu- tween research, industry, poli- especially young entrepreneurs, both have done with their new additions, GCC countries, as well as from countries Heya is a women only exhibition and al- sive design from a diff erent cymakers and the international men and women, both old and newcom- they are beautiful, we are happy to in other regions. lows visitors who are 13 years old and perspective. We studied the community. Such an event pro- ers. see this improvement,” she said. “The The exhibition features diff erent Ara- above. Entry is free. collaboration between Visu- vides a great opportunity for us ally Impaired (VI) and sighted as academics and researchers users in performing complex, to build bridges between these collaborative web searches, in diff erent domains.”

Catering fi rm hauled up for violation

oha Municipality’s Health Control Section Dhas penalised a catering fi rm at Madinat Khalifa violat- ing food health regulations. The inspectors found un- labelled frozen fi sh and meat Travellers can enjoy Business Class to South Africa’s biggest metropolis, Johannesburg. products, both unfi t for con- sumption, together in a fridge. A cleaning campaign was The also kept cooked conducted at Al Safliya Island. food in unhygienic conditions. A violation report was issued and necessary legal procedures Qatar Airways boosts business taken. The section also spotted a restaurant in a hotel at Old Al Ghanim Area, thawing frozen food products at room temper- class capacity to Johannesburg ature and re-freezing thawed A restaurant in a hotel at Old Al products. Ghanim Area was reprimanded A restaurant in a hotel at for thawing frozen food atar Airways has said it is boost- “The introduction of this Boeing 777 Qatar Airways senior vice-president “Doha’s Hamad International Airport Umm Ghuwailina Area was products at room temperature. ing its premium off ering to Johan- will off er passengers from Johannesburg, for Africa, Middle East & Pakistan Ehab is well positioned as a gateway to destina- found to be storing expired Qnesburg by increasing its Business and those travelling to the city from Qatar Amin said, “We have seen very strong de- tions across continents and our Business food products and thawing Al Khor and Al Thakhira Class seat capacity by nearly 40% for the Airways’ global network, an opportunity mand for our Johannesburg service since Class passengers from Johannesburg can frozen chicken in unhygienic Municipality Maintenance busy winter season. to experience the World’s Best Business the launch of this route in 2005, especial- experience the award-winning Al Mourjan conditions. Both restaurants and Transport Section has The daily Boeing 777 wide-body serv- Class,” the statement noted. ly in the premium cabins. We celebrated Business Lounge while transferring at the were issued violations of law supervised cleaning and ice will now provide 42 Business Class “Qatar Airways was voted by millions of our 10th anniversary in Johannesburg last airport to go to any Qatar Airways global no 8 for 1990 on the Regulation maintenance operations of seats and complement the airline’s sec- passengers at the Skytrax 2016 Awards for year, and over the last decade demand destination.” of Human Food Control. some parks at the munici- ond daily Boeing 787 Dreamliner with its off ering the World’s Best Business Class, for Qatar Airways fl ights has grown. Last The Al Mourjan Business Lounge in The director of Doha Munic- pality, in addition to the fish 22 Business Class seats between Doha and Best Business Class Airline Lounge and year, we increased frequencies to the city Doha off ers facilities such as a dedicated ipality Jamal Matar al-Nuaimi market. South Africa’s biggest metropolis, Johan- Best Airline Staff Service in the Middle from 10 fl ights a week to double-daily family room, games room for children, issued an administrative de- The Beaches and Islands nesburg. East. These accolades are a refl ection of fl ights. The additional service to Johan- quiet room with individual and double cision to close a restaurant Department at the Ministry of The move comes in view of increasing Qatar Airways’ end-to-end superior serv- nesburg refl ects the growing demand for occupancy resting areas, shower facilities at Najma Area in Doha for 30 Municipality and Environment customer demand, the Doha-based carrier ice providing passengers with unforgetta- travel to and from this popular destina- and a business centre off ering 24/7 secre- days for serving food prepared has conducted a cleaning cam- has said in a press statement. ble fl ight experiences.” tion. tarial services, among others. in unhygienic conditions. paign at Al Safl iya Island. Qatar Airways, BA expand code-share partnership atar Airways has announced an ex- Dublin in Ireland, Hamburg and Stuttgart in ways fl ight between London Heathrow and panded code-share agreement with Germany, Luxembourg, Basel in Switzerland, Doha. As part of the agreement, all non-stop QBritish Airways, which will now pro- Bilbao, Malaga, Ibiza and Palma in Spain, Lis- fl ights between the UK and Doha will operate vide travellers with a wider choice of fl ights bon and Faro in and Billund in Den- under the code-share agreement, allowing and an enhanced network. mark. both oneworld carriers to provide passengers With the launch of British Airways’ non- Qatar Airways Group chief executive Ak- with better links between the UK, Asia, Mid- stop service between London and Doha, trav- bar al-Baker said: “Following the recent news dle East and Africa. ellers will benefi t from seven daily fl ights to of our joint business agreement with British Now in its 19th year of operations, Qatar Heathrow, improving connectivity on to each Airways, we are pleased to further strengthen Airways has a fl eet of 190 aircraft, fl ying to airline’s network. The expanded code-share our relationship with the announcement of more than 150 key business and leisure desti- network will now also include all of British these additional code-share fl ights across nations across six continents. Airways’ fl ights within the UK, covering Ab- Europe, which will enhance our commercial Passengers connecting through Qatar erdeen, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inver- co-operation and strengthen our competitive Airways’ hub, Hamad International Airport ness, Leeds, Bradford, Manchester and New- off ering in the market.” in Doha, can enjoy a comfortable and ef- castle, the Doha-based carrier has said in a This code-share follows the recent an- fi cient transit. The airport has more than press statement. nouncement that Qatar Airways and Brit- 40,000sqm of retail space and restaurants, Additionally, Qatar Airways will code- ish Airways will commence a joint business including over 70 retail and 30 food & bever- share on a number of routes from London agreement from October 30, the same date age outlets as well as a 25m swimming pool, Travellers will benefit from seven daily flights between Hamad International Airport and London Heathrow to Europe, including all services to as the fi rst direct scheduled daily British Air- gym, hotel and spa. Heathrow Airport, improving connectivity on to each airline’s network. Gulf Times 30 Monday, October 31, 2016 QATAR Mercedes-Benz’s Sprinter minibus, V-Class showcased at hospitality expo asser Bin Khaled (NBK) Automo- NBK Automobiles displayed at the exhibi- “Our participation in this exhibition rep- biles, the authorised distributor of tion the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 524 Hotel resents our commitment to all sectors of the NMercedes-Benz in Qatar, has partici- Minibus, described as the perfect solution economy and the Qatar Vision 2030,” said pated in the recently concluded Hospitality for large groups and tours, and the recently Jihad Farhoud, general manager of Commer- Qatar 2016, a major hospitality event in the launched V-Class that is considered the ideal cial Vehicles, NBK Automobiles. Gulf region. choice for VIP transport and small families. As the van that establishes an entire vehi- cle segment, the Sprinter has been ahead of the crowd since 1995. The new Sprinter off ers a wide range of equipment options as well as new safety packages that meet the very high- est standards. It off ers manoeuvrability that feels like a car – perfect for narrow streets and busy traffi c. Sprinter Minibuses are the fl exible all- rounders in the Sprinter family: a wide range of model variants, for 20 passengers, is cou- pled with almost unlimited deployment op- tions to off er outstanding flexibility. Sprinter Minibuses are equipped with in- novative features such as the Adaptive ESP system, which even responds to the existing load distribution. The V-Class was displayed at the event immediately after its Qatar launch. The V- Class is characterised by a high level of driv- ing comfort and standard of safety, thanks to 11 innovative driver assistance systems. The V-Class also sets new standards in comfort and variability with a host of inno- The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 524 Hotel Minibus at the exhibition. vations. The Mercedes-Benz multi-purpose vehi- contact area with the leather seat for driver and with armrests in two seat rows. As a result of its cle (MPV) is the only vehicle in the segment front passenger. improved technology and operating logic, the seats to off er optional 4-way lumbar support and The seating in the rear allows numerous confi gu- can be folded forward intuitively to aff ord fast and active seat ventilation with reversing fans to rations to meet any requirements. As standard, the easy access to the rear. As an option, a folding table The Mercedes-Benz V-Class at the event. ensure a consistent relative humidity at the MPV is equipped with four individual luxury seats can be installed between the single seats. Breast cancer conference calls for community partnerships

he Qatar International breast cancer. On the second day, Breast Cancer Conference, there were a number of lectures Torganised by Qatar Cancer and workshops, including one on Society (QCS), has recommended male breast cancer, presented by community partnerships and early Dr Hadi Oborshid, health educator detection as the major steps to at QCS. fi ght breast cancer in the country. Dr Oborshid, quoting the Na- The two-day conference opened tional Cancer Strategy statistics by HE the Minister of Public pointed out that, male breast can- Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al- cer accounts for about 3% of breast Kuwari on Friday shed light on the cancer cases in Qatar. disease with the theme, ‘Present The workshop also highlight- standards and new perspectives in ed the role of men in support- breast cancer’ through a number ing women for early detection of of lectures and workshops that breast cancer and its importance discussed the most important in the treatment stage. statistics and studies with the at- It was noted that one of the bar- tendance of more than 3,000 par- riers in early detection of breast ticipants. cancer in Qatar is the rejection by The conference stressed the im- men. portance of empowering the com- According to Rahaf Wasfi , munity in Qatar with the knowl- health educator at QCS, raising edge of early detection of breast awareness among men about early cancer from young age. detection of breast cancer would It highlighted the importance help women to carry out the proc- of encouraging the healthcare or- ess in a better way. ganisations in the country to col- Dr Haya Moudadi, honorary laborate with QCS to promote ambassador of QCS and director breast cancer awareness which in of Al Forsan Training Centre con- return will improve the quality of ducted a workshop entitled, ‘You healthcare and life of breast cancer First,’ targeting all community au- patients. diences. The breast cancer conference Moudadi explained that the has also stressed on the role of community still needs to raise the corporate organisations in the awareness of cancer and that shy- country to be socially responsi- ness still prevents some women ble and the need for partnering from undergoing various breast HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari, Dr Sheikh Khalid bin Jabor al-Thani and other off icials with some of the children who participated in the inaugural ceremony. with QCS to spread awareness of cancer examinations.

QCS chairman Dr Sheikh Khalid bin Jabor al-Thani speaks at the event. A view of the packed conference venue.