BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Sheikh Hamed wins Qatar Baja Qatar’s economy shows resilience post-blockade Rally published in QATAR since 1978

SUNDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 10971 October 14, 2018 Safar 5, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Chief of Staff opens Apache production line Saudi urged to In brief review its aff airs

QATAR | Study for own benefi t Qataris ‘among most E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim “Offi cials in Saudi Arabia should digitally connected’ bin Jabor al-Thani, former think calmly about their friends. What A recently released five-year Hprime minister, yesterday said I wanted to say... is that the offi cials retrospective report examining he hoped Saudi Arabia reviewed the should hold themselves accountable media use in the Middle East found way it handled its external and inter- before their conscience regarding what that Qataris are among the most nal aff airs for its own and the region’s they have gained and what they have digitally connected citizens in the benefi t. lost. Returning to reason and right is Arab region. In terms of Internet “I hope, as I have hoped previously, virtue. There should be a way out for penetration, Qatar has one of the that the brothers in the Kingdom of the brothers’ internal and external pol- highest Internet use rates of any Saudi Arabia would review the way icies,” he continued. “It is not bad for country in the world, approaching they deal with their external and in- the offi cial to look back at his mistakes saturation at 95%, Northwestern ternal aff airs in a manner governed by but it is bad to persist and continue the University in Qatar (NU-Q) has said wisdom and responsibility. The Gulf mistakes. in a press statement. Page 3 HE the Chief of Staff of the Qatar Armed Forces, Lieutenant General (Pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen al-Ghanem, yesterday countries need Saudi Arabia and hope “I do not want the big brother to be inaugurated the production line for the project pertaining to the manufacture of Apache helicopters for the Qatar Amiri Air that no harm comes to it as the stabil- blackmailed due to some unstudied QATAR | Property Force, during a visit to Boeing’s factory in Mesa, Arizona (US). He also toured the company’s flight simulator facilities during ity of Saudi Arabia is stability for the policies or policies decided in time of the visit. During the tour, HE Lieutenant General (Pilot) al-Ghanem was accompanied by Boeing Vertical Lift general manager whole region, though it hopes other- anger. Katara Hospitality signs David Koopersmith, director of the Apache project committee Brigadier General (Pilot) Ghanem bin Abdul Hadi al-Shahwani, wise to my country,” he said in a tweet. “The management of a country dic- deal for Al Messila resort members of the committee and a number of ranking Qatar Armed Forces off icers in charge of the project, the off icial Qatar HE Sheikh Hamad posted a series of tates: do not build with one hand and Katara Hospitality and Marriott News Agency reported. tweets on the matter. demolish with the other.” International have announced the signing of an agreement for Al Messila, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, situated in Doha. Scheduled to open by the end of the year, the Qatar Press Centre deeply resort marks The Luxury Collection brand’s first property to open in Qatar and eighth across the Middle concerned over missing Trump vows ‘severe East and Africa. Page 24

QATAR | Reaction Saudi journalist

Attack on Afghanistan this case away from political calcu- election rally slammed QNA Doha lations. punishment’ if Qatar has strongly condemned that The centre said “it will continue to attack which targeted an election follow up on all developments relat- rally in northeastern Afghanistan, he Qatar Press Centre has ed to the disappearance of Khashog- causing deaths and injuries. In a said it is deeply concerned gi until the situation is resolved.” The statement yesterday, the Ministry Tover the disappearance of Qatar Press Centre denounced any Khashoggi killed of Foreign Aff airs reiterated Qatar’s Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi attempts to conceal and waste time firm stance rejecting violence and after he had entered the Saudi con- to dilute the case before presenting terrorism regardless of motives sulate in Istanbul and was alleged to the full facts to the world. O Turkey says Saudi must tion that has rattled US defence con- Trump said there was much at stake and reasons. It expressed Qatar’s have been brutally killed there. It confi rmed its principled po- co-operate with probe, tractors, saying, “I don’t want to hurt with Khashoggi case, “maybe espe- condolences to the victims’ families, The centre said in a statement sitions rejecting all forms of tar- jobs.” cially so” because he was a reporter. the government and the people of issued yesterday it was “follow- geting journalists and restricting allow access to consulate Khashoggi, a prominent critic of Major US defence contractors have Afghanistan, wishing the injured a ing with great concern the devel- them, expressing the hope that the Riyadh and a US resident who wrote expressed concern to the Trump ad- speedy recovery. opments regarding the suspicious investigation bodies would reveal Reuters/AFP columns for the Washington Post, dis- ministration that lawmakers angered disappearance of the colleague the circumstances and announce Washington appeared on October 2 after visiting by Khashoggi’s disappearance will AMERICA | Diplomacy Khashoggi, since the fi rst day and the fate of Khashoggi immediately the consulate. “We’re going to get to block further arms deals with Riyadh. the controversy and ambiguity that and prosecute the perpetrators with the bottom of it and there will be severe But Trump said he did not want to lose Freed pastor thanks made his case followed-up with in- transparency, especially as this S President Donald Trump said punishment,” Trump said. military sales to Saudi Arabia that are cov- President Trump terest by the world at large.” event represents a message to every in a CBS interview yesterday Asked whether Saudi Crown Prince eted by US competitors Russia and China, American pastor Andrew Brunson It urged the human rights and free journalist in the world and vio- Uthat there would be “severe Mohamed bin Salman gave an order to also exporters of military equipment. yesterday thanked President Donald freedom of expression organisa- lates the most basic international punishment” for Saudi Arabia if it kill Khashoggi, Trump said, “Nobody “I don’t want to lose an order like Trump for his eff orts to facilitate his tions to take strong positions on the laws, international human rights turns out that missing Saudi journalist knows yet, but we’ll probably be able that,” he said, mentioning the compa- release after two years in detention issue, calling for honest and inde- law and the United Nations con- Jamal Khashoggi was killed in the Saudi to fi nd out.” Trump added in excerpts nies Boeing, Lockheed and Raytheon. in Turkey on terror-related charges, pendent investigations to reveal the ventions on the right to freedom of consulate in Istanbul. of the 60 Minutes interview that will “And you know what, there are other in a hero’s welcome at the White truth and expose those involved in expression. Trump said he did not want to block air today, “We would be very upset and ways of punishing,” he said, without House. Page 13 military sales to Saudi Arabia, one op- angry if that were the case.” elaborating. To Page 10 NHRC urges UN to probe Saudi violations of Qatar pilgrims’ right

QNA dressed national insti- London tutions and some civil society organisations related to human rights E the Chairman of the Nation- in Saudi Arabia. al Human Rights Committee However, it has not H(NHRC), Dr Ali bin Smaikh al- received any response Marri, has called on the United Nations to its letters, nor has to conduct international investigations there been any signifi - into the violations of the right to prac- cant co-operation from tise religious practices in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi side since the pointing out that after about a year and HE the Chairman of the National Human Rights siege began. a half of the siege crisis, there is no re- Committee, Dr Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri, meeting with Dr al-Marri noted sponse by the Saudi authorities to end Ahmed Shahid, special rapporteur on freedom of religion that the Saudi authori- violations and harm caused by its arbi- or belief at the United Nations, in London. ties ignore the reports trary actions. and statements of the This came during a meeting of the Saudi mechanisms to deal with the sit- NHRC and the appeals of the inter- NHRC chairman with Ahmed Shahid, uation of victims aff ected by violations national community, particularly the special rapporteur on freedom of reli- are misleading and ambiguous. Offi ce of the High Commissioner for gion or belief at the United Nations, in He added that the actions taken by Human Rights and the urgent appeal of London yesterday. the kingdom’s authorities are merely a the UN special rapporteur on freedom HE Dr al-Marri stressed the need manoeuvre to improve their image and of religion or belief, which all called on for the Saudi authorities to respect the to stifl e the status quo, which resulted parties to put an end to obstacles fac- rights of citizens and residents of Qatar in the continued deprivation of Qatari ing the citizens and residents in Qatar to practise their religious rites uncon- citizens and residents to perform Haj for performing their religious rituals, ditionally and to overcome obstacles (pilgrimage) and Umrah for the second pointing out that the Saudi authorities, facing pilgrims from Qatar. consecutive year. despite all this continue in their policy The NHRC chief confi rmed that the He said that the NHRC has also ad- of politicising religious rituals. Gulf Times 2 Sunday, October 14, 2018 QATAR Qatar supports partnerships to address disasters

QNA dition to investing in qualifi ed Tunis personnel to work in the fi elds of rescue, development and re- lief for safety for all who reside E the Minister of State on its land. for Foreign Aff airs Sultan Al-Muraikhi added that Qatar Hbin Saad al-Muraikhi af- has established a standing com- fi rmed Qatar’s keenness to con- mittee for rescue and relief oper- tinue eff orts exerted by other ations and humanitarian aids for Arab and African countries by areas affl icted by catastrophes in working together in order to ad- brotherly and friendly countries. dress the dangers of disasters “Qatar has enacted the laws of facing humanity and to prepare humanitarian and non-govern- plans accordingly. mental organisations and donor In a statement before the Ar- institutions, which direct sup- ab-African Platform on Disaster port and relief to all countries Risk Reduction in Tunis, HE al- aff ected by natural disasters or Muraikhi expressed Qatar’s sup- confl ict-stricken and civil wars port for the platform’s fi nal dec- areas.” HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment Mohamed bin Abdullah al-Rumaihi along with Georgian laration, stressing that Qatar will He pointed out that Qatar had Minister of Environment Protection and Agriculture Levan Davitashvili. spare no eff ort to build regional a history of supporting the ef- and international partnerships forts of States in co-operation to confront what threatens “our with the UN and international peoples, now and in the future”. agencies to help overcome these “This emanates from the belief catastrophic eff ects, including in Al-Rumaihi discusses farm that development is a right for the Arab region and the African all and represents an added value HE the Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi continent. that must be preserved for the speaking at an event. The Minister of State for For- prosperity of humankind,” he eign Aff airs highlighted that Qa- co-operation with Georgia said. new and emerging risks, adding, or natural disasters is one of the tar provides generous assistance, He said that Qatar looked for- “We have adopted the Sendai most important ways to pre- and is undertaking its role as an ward to seeing co-ordination and framework, which replaced serve national achievements and active and responsible member QNA tween Qatar and Georgia in ar- Georgian side in diversifi ed co-operation, working together the 2005-2015 Hyogo Frame- capabilities.” of the international community Tbilisi eas of mutual interest. agricultural and food trade. to reduce the negative eff ects of work for Disaster Risk Reduc- He said Qatar supports the to bridge South-South co-op- Following the meeting, HE He pointed out that the natural disasters and emergen- tion. The new framework for Sendai framework for disaster eration and the rest of the world, al-Rumaihi said that he had Georgian side expressed its de- cies on human life, population, 2015-2030 will continue and re- risk reduction 2015-2030 and and it is recognised as a leading E the Minister of Mu- discussed with the Georgia sire and readiness to increase the environment, national econ- quires international and regional its seven common objectives, donor to development fi nancing. nicipality and Envi- minister, all aspects of co-op- and strengthen co-operation omies and social conditions in co-operation.” pointing out that Qatar has en- On behalf of Qatar and the Hronment Mohamed eration between the two sides, and partnership with Qatari general, and minimising disaster The Minister of State for For- acted the necessary laws and participating delegation, he wel- bin Abdullah al-Rumaihi has especially in the fi eld of agri- investors. losses by promoting the concept eign Aff airs stressed that Qatar regulations and established in- comed the adoption of the Arab met with Georgian Minis- culture and food security. He noted that Qatar had of preparedness and response attaches great importance to stitutional arrangements such co-ordinating mechanism for ter of Environment Protec- The minister also said that signed two agreements with as an integral part of national the issues of sustainable hu- as the Permanent Committee for disaster risk reduction and es- tion and Agriculture Levan during his visit to Georgia, Georgia in 2016 on agricultural development plans. man development as it is one Emergency, which oversees the tablishment of the special fund Davitashvili. he was briefed on various and veterinary co-operation, HE al-Muraikhi emphasised of the pillars of its national vi- urban and civil expansion in line for disaster risk reduction by the Discussions during the Georgian food products and and a twinning agreement that disaster response required sion. “Preparing and address- with all the standards of security Arab platform for disaster risk meeting dealt with means of expressed his hope to en- was signed between Doha and a renewed eff ort to respond to ing the dangers of man-made and safety at global levels, in ad- reduction. enhancing co-operation be- hance co-operation with the Tbilisi.

Stress on building global multilateral trade system

QNA tion participating in the 73rd burden of the world in a global development, stimulating over- New York session of the General Assem- economic environment of un- all economic growth, creat- bly of the United Nations. The certainty and volatility require ing employment opportunities meeting was discussing macr- the international community and reducing poverty, and thus atar has stressed the im- oeconomic policies. to intensify eff orts to reach contributing to the realisation portance of building a Al-Mahmoud commended common visions that promote of the 2030 Agenda for Sustain- Qmultilateral, rule-based, the important role played by the global economies, especially in able Development. open, non-discriminatory and UN Conference on Trade and developing and least developed He stressed the importance equitable multilateral trade Development (UNCTAD) and countries. of the UN Secretary-General’s system that contributes to sus- its relentless eff orts to address He added that it is through report on international trade tainable development, inclusive trade and development issues, these eff orts the aspirations of and development, as the tan- growth and employment oppor- which hosted the 13th session of the world for a dignifi ed life will gible progress in the Doha De- tunities around the world. Qatar in 2012. be met. velopment Round of the World This was stated by Man- He pointed out that the cur- Al-Mahmoud noted that in- Trade Organisation helped re- sour Abdullah al-Mahmoud, a rent economic crises, high un- ternational trade is an impor- vitalise the global partnership member of the Qatari delega- employment rates and the debt tant enabling tool for economic for sustainable development.

HIA had been ranked the 5th Best Airport in the World at the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2018. Innovative ‘solar farm concept could help in ensuring clean HIA candidate for energy and food security’

World’s Best Airport By Peter Alagos ergy leads to “more profi ts and maintenance costs and increase Business Reporter savings,” adding that the Ter- energy effi ciency up to 30% raSave concept off ers “70% to higher energy yield. 80% savings” in maintenance “The use of a 10sq km area n award-winning sus- compared to other technical solar farm becomes effi cient at Skytrax Awards tainable development treatment plants. by using the same land for ag- Aconcept could help Qatar According to Neuschaefer, riculture. Since the crops are atar’s world-class Ha- fi cation in the Middle East. rienced HIA’s award-winning diversify its energy mix, while plans are being studied for a under the solar farm, they are mad International Air- HIA has also won the ‘Best services and facilities can visit addressing public and private 100MW to 500MW solar farm irrigated regularly and are pro- Qport (HIA) is a candidate Airport in the Middle East’ title Skytrax’s World Airport Survey sector initiatives like environ- project in Qatar. He said utilis- tected from direct sunlight, for the “World’s Best Airport for four years in a row and ‘Best website and vote for the airport mental protection, agro-tech- ing the ‘SolarTerra Farm’ con- which reduces evaporation,” 2019” awards by Skytrax. Staff Service in the Middle East’ based on categories including nology, and food security. cept in the proposed project Neuschaefer explained. The Skytrax World Airport for three years in a row. terminal comfort, food and bev- The ‘SolarTerra Farm’ project will not only be cost-effi cient Neuschaefer also said a Peter Neuschaefer, board Awards is the “most prestig- HIA chief operating offi cer erage, airport shopping and cus- is based on TerraSave, an in- but an added value to Qatar’s study published in the Ain member, GBCQ. PICTURE: ious” accolade for the airport Badr Mohamed al-Meer said, tomer assistance. Voting results novative concept developed by programmes in renewable en- Shams Engineering Journal ti- Peter Alagos industry, voted by customers in “We are proud of HIA’s status will be announced in March next German civil engineer, Peter ergy, agriculture, and food tled ‘Enhancing the Perform- the largest annual global airport among the best airports in the year. Neuschaefer. The idea com- security. ance of Photovoltaic Panels by enrich and support the food customer satisfaction survey. world, and we will continue to The Skytrax World Airport bines a solar and agricultural Instead of building separate Water Cooling’ scientifi cally security strategy of Qatar. It is Earlier this year, HIA had been deliver on our exceptional cus- Awards are based on 12.85mn farm together to produce both solar and agricultural farms, backs the concept of increas- a pioneering concept world- ranked the 5th Best Airport in tomer service and operational customer nominations across energy and food. the ‘SolarTerra Farm’ concept is ing energy effi ciency by cooling wide, which Qatar can use as a the World at the Skytrax World excellence, keeping the passen- 110 nationalities of air travellers “The idea is to reduce CO2 a solar farm with crops planted solar panels. marketing tool, as well. Airport Awards 2018. The air- ger at the heart of everything we and include 410 airports world- emissions to help save the envi- beneath it. Unlike the conven- According to the study, “One “It may also help enhance re- port has been recognised for its do. Our investments in cutting- wide. ronment based on the following tional mounting system, the of the main obstacles that face search in academic institutions innovative facilities, fi ve-star edge technology, unique hos- The survey evaluates cus- concepts: wastewater treat- ‘SolarTerra Farm’ has photo the operation of photovoltaic like Qatar Foundation and raise customer service and state-of- pitality and vast retail off erings tomer satisfaction across 39 key ment, wetland and landscape voltaic (PV) technologies el- panels (PV) is overheating due awareness on sustainable and the-art terminal which can ac- as well as our outstanding art performance indicators for air- creation, biomass production, evated to about 3 metres and a to excessive solar radiation and environment-friendly project commodate more than 30mn collection have shaped our air- port service and product - from solar and wind energy, energy space between the steel struc- high ambient temperatures. solutions in Qatar, or serve as passengers annually, and de- port as a distinct icon for both check-in, arrivals, transfers, storage, solar desalination, and ture for tractors or other ma- Overheating reduces the effi - real life projects for students in scribed as the most architectur- Qatar and the rest of the world. shopping, security and immi- air-conditioning cooling by chines to cultivate crops. ciency of the panels dramati- schools and universities.” ally signifi cant terminal complex As Skytrax Awards acknowledge gration, through to departure at heat exchange,” Neuschaefer The concept also involves cally...it was found that the The TerraSave concept re- in the world. the pioneers in the airport in- the gate. told Gulf Times in an interview. technology that recycles the solar panel with water cooling ceived several recognitions like Skytrax has also recognised dustry, we look forward to main- Passengers can vote for HIA Neuschaefer, who is opera- water used to clean and cool generates more energy than the the ‘2009 Qatar Today Green HIA’s best-in-class service by taining HIA’s position among by visiting the Offi cial Skytrax tions director at Dorsch Hold- PV panels. Neuschaefer said one without cooling.” Award’, ‘2010 The Middle East’s presenting it with the ‘fi ve-star’ the Best Airports in the World in Awards website at http://www. ing Qatar and board member of cooling and cleaning the solar Neuschaefer added: “Not Top 5 Green Buildings Revealed’, airport status, which made HIA 2019 and beyond.” worldairportsurvey.com/Sur- the German Business Council cells with existing treated waste only would this project promote and ‘2011 Meed Award for the the only airport with this classi- Passengers who have expe- veys/favorite_airport.html Qatar (GBCQ), said green en- water or plain water minimises clean energy but it would also Sustainable Project of the Year’. Gulf Times Sunday, October 14, 2018 3 QATAR Qataris ‘among most digitally connected citizens in region’ recently released fi ve- NU-Q launched the fi rst of fi ve platforms in seven countries: about Qatar’s unique use of dig- year retrospective report ‘Media Use in the Middle East’ Qatar, Lebanon, Jordan, Tuni- ital media include the following: Aexamining media use in studies in 2013. Now, with this sia, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and z Qataris spend more time the Middle East found that Qa- rare longitudinal study moving Egypt. online than nationals in other activities, such as playing video taris say they never watch TV. mental in revealing the socio- taris are among the most digit- into its sixth year, we are able to Extensive research was done countries in the Arab region – games or using Facebook. Findings of the report show economic implications of In- ally connected citizens in the evaluate lessons learned com- on long-term social media pat- an average of 44.5 hours a week. z An estimated two-thirds Qataris’ time spent online has ternet and social media use in Arab region. prehensively and understand terns, how and where people Looking at the data compara- of Qatari Internet users watch increased but so has their time Qatar compared to the region at In terms of Internet penetra- the value of both relative stabil- seek news and entertainment, tively, this is a substantial in- news, comedy and religious/ spent with family. They now re- large and provides much-needed tion, Qatar has one of the highest ity and media shifts – whether the connection between cultur- crease from 2013 when Qatari spiritual content online, and port spending on average 43.2 intelligence, as well as practi- Internet use rates of any country incremental or more signifi - al traditions of the region, and nationals reported using the In- now more than half watch hours a week with family. Dis- cal data for industry and public in the world, approaching satu- cant,” said NU-Q dean and CEO comparisons among the studied ternet an average of 37 hours per sports online. A sharp increase coveries such as these indicate policy.” ration at 95%, Northwestern Everette E Dennis. countries. Additionally, percep- week. across all fronts in these cat- that Qataris have embraced dig- The data and analysis col- University in Qatar (NU-Q) has The “largest analysis of its tions of news bias and attitudes z While they are spending egories was seen compared to ital media but in ways that do not lected annually from the surveys said in a press statement. kind in the region”, the ‘Media toward free speech and online 60% more time online than all 2013 and make Qataris the fi rst conform to several regional, and refl ect nationally representative “With the goal of under- Use in the Middle East’ study privacy over time are explored in other nationals in the surveys, citizenry in this study to watch global, expectations. samples of more than 1,000 re- standing the communication examines media behaviour the retrospective report. Qataris are less likely to be en- content more online than on “The retrospection report,” spondents in each participating ecosystem in the region better, across established and new Examples from the report gaged in several popular online TV. Remarkably, three in 10 Qa- Dennis said, “has been instru- country (7,196 in total). HEC Paris in Qatar organises lecture on cancer awareness

EC Paris recently employees aimed to educate educating our staff on the In a statement, HEC Paris help build a healthier, happier hosted an awareness them on the programme’s ob- importance of regular cancer in Qatar said it “has always population through its on- Hlecture, conducted by jectives and the benefi ts of get- screening. believed in contributing to the going, wide-ranging aware- ‘Screen For Life’, Qatar’s na- ting screened in early detection “As a member of Qatar well-being of the community ness drive and outreach pro- tional breast and bowel cancer of breast and bowel cancer. Foundation, HEC Paris is not and in equipping its employ- gramme. ‘Screen For Life’, led screening programme led by Dr Nils Plambeck, dean and only committed to delivering ees with the skills to value the by PHCC, has launched a na- the Primary Health Care Cor- CEO of HEC Paris in Qatar, world-class executive educa- importance of CSR as a con- tionwide awareness campaign poration (PHCC), as part of its said: “At HEC Paris in Qatar, tion but is steadfast in its de- tribution to the society and across the State to mark the corporate social responsibility we believe in taking a holistic termination to contribute to communities”. With the help global annual Breast Cancer (CSR) initiative. approach towards our em- the society in full alignment of ‘Screen For Life’ team, this Awareness Month initiative, The ‘Screen For Life’ team, ployees’ welfare. Conducting with the goals of Qatar Na- initiative aims to enhance the titled ‘Your health is Precious, off ered insights during the this cancer awareness lecture tional Vision 2030. We intend vital need for regular screen- Get Screened’, to urge women lecture held on the HEC Paris in association with ‘Screen to keep spreading the message ing for such life-threatening to undergo a free mammogram Doha campus on the occasion for Life’ , who are a pioneer of keeping health in check to ailments. at one of the programme’s of the Breast Cancer Aware- in raising awareness on breast stay fi t and strong by partner- ‘Screen For Life’ is leading three screening suites Al Wak- ness month this October. The and bowel cancer screening, is ing with stalwarts in their re- the mission to ease the burden rah, Leabaib and Rawdat Al The ‘Screen For Life’ team off ered insights during the lecture. lecture for HEC Paris in Qatar one such initiative that helps spective fi elds.” of cancer in the country and Khail health centres. Gulf Times 4 Sunday, October 14, 2018 QATAR Ministry and partners observe World Mental Health Day he Ministry of Public Sheikh Dr Mohamed al-Tha- tal health of individuals. He re- Mental Health Day, the Ministry Health (MoPH) and key ni, director, public health de- viewed some of the statistics of Education and Higher Educa- Tpartners have observed partment at the MoPH, said: on the development of mental tion, in collaboration with the World Mental Health Day. “Over the past years, Qatar has health services in Qatar, noting Ministry of Public Health, held The MoPH hosted an event been able to improve the mental the distinguished services in this a school poster competition in to engage in this year’s theme, health of the population through fi eld provided by Sidra Medicine. September to promote anti- “Young People and Mental the eff orts of the Ministry of Maryam al-Thani, member bullying. The winning students Health in a Changing world”. Public Health and its partners in of the Qatari youth team who were announced and Dr Hamda A series of short presenta- the health sector.” climbed Mount Elbrus, noted: al-Muhannadi, student coun- tions were given, including He also outlined the impor- “Climbing and fi nding active selling consultant at the Min- specifi c talks on mental health tance of increasing awareness communities in Qatar have been istry of Education and Higher services available in Qatar and about mental health and reduc- a driving force in nourishing my Education, presented them with the “Impact of Social Media on ing stigma-surrounding mental body and mind. I hope that indi- certifi cates and gifts. Mental Health and Wellbeing”. illness. viduals dealing with diffi culties The MoPH, in collaboration The event also hosted a group of He highlighted some of the is- are able to reach out to friends with Qatar National Library local young people, who recent- sues children and young people and family or the Ministry of (QNL), organised activities and ly climbed Mount Elbrus in Rus- are experiencing today, such as Public Health to seek the support games for the public hosted by sia, Europe’s highest mountain bullying, gaming addiction and they need. QNL yesterday. The activities to raise awareness about mental how we can support the com- HE Dr Salih Ali al-Marri and Sheikh Dr Mohamed al-Thani with some of the youngsters who climbed Mount Elbrus. “It is a great initiative that the were based on the Wheel of Well- health and well-being. munity to manage these issues Ministry of Public Health has being (WOW) framework, found- HE the Assistant Minister of in the changing world. titudes about mental health collaboration of key stakeholders services provided by the Primary participated in World Mental ed on positive psychology, which Health Aff airs Dr Salih Ali al- Susan Clelland, acting exec- and mental illness. to reach the wider public.” Health Care Corporation. Health Day and all the awareness promotes physical activities and Marri said he was proud of the utive director of the National She said, “Success of these Dr Sadriya al-Kohji, national Prof Mohamed Waqar Azeem, that is being spread on the need healthy nutrition, social connec- eff orts of the young climbers and Mental Health Programme at events is testimony to country’s lead for Healthy Children and chair of the Department of Psy- for us to educate ourselves and tions with people, looking after the important issues they are the MoPH, highlighted the commitment to lead the way in Adolescents of the National chiatry – Sidra Medicine, ex- others on active steps to be more the environment, and gratitude promoting around physical and importance of the community promoting mental health and Health Strategy 2018-2022, plained that social media has a physically and mentally resilient.” and appreciation, in addition to mental health. coming together to change at- wellbeing in Qatar and having the identifi ed the mental health signifi cant impact on the men- As part of marking World laughter yoga help us relax.

HMC’s Internal Medicine Clinic observes 4th anniversary amad Medical Corpora- the same number this year with signed with the patient in mind, hances both the overall patient General Hospital’s Emergency tion’s (HMC) Internal 15,116 patient visits registered and specifi cally with the idea of experience and improves health Department, Red Crescent clinics HMedicine Clinic marked during the fi rst half of this year. minimising the movement of outcomes. and the Mobile Doctor’s service. its fourth anniversary last “At the Internal Medicine patients,” said Dr Masoodi. Dr Aisha al-Kubaisi, consult- “The Internal Medicine Clinic month. The clinic is part of Ha- Clinic we are focused on provid- Dr Masoodi says the clinic ant and deputy head of the In- is a person-centred care facility. mad General Hospital and was ing continuity of care to exist- was established with the man- ternal Medicine Clinic, said the We pride ourselves on develop- established to provide follow- ing chronic disease patients. We date of providing comprehensive clinic was established as part of ing relationships with our pa- Dr Aisha al-Kubaisi with nursing staff from the clinic. up care to patients with chronic provide high-quality, personal- follow-up care to help patients HMC’s move towards providing tients because we understand medical conditions. ised care and collaborate closely with chronic conditions man- more outpatient care services that patients who have a chronic During the last four years the 95% of respondents would rec- Dr Nasseer Masoodi, vice-chair with a number of hospitals and age their disease and avoid com- outside the hospital setting. She disease benefi t greatly from an team at the Internal Medicine ommend the clinic to family and of medicine and head of the In- departments across HMC. Our plications. He said staff at the said patients are referred from individualised approach to care. Clinic has made a signifi cant ef- friends and a patient satisfac- ternal Medicine Clinic, said that clinic is unique because of the clinic work with care teams from across HMC’s general hospital During their visits each patient fort to ensure the services pro- tion survey conducted this year in 2017 more than 32,000 patient co-location of outpatient and across HMC to ensure patients network, as well as the National spends up to 30 minutes with vided meet the needs of their indicated that overall satisfac- visits were recorded at the clinic. key support facilities. The clinic receive the best possible care. He Center for Cancer Care and Re- our care teams,” added Dr al- patients. Patient satisfaction tion rates were between 95% He said they are on track to reach is also unique because it was de- says this close collaboration en- search, Qatar Biobank, Hamad Kubaisi. surveys have shown that over and 98%. Gulf Times Sunday, October 14, 2018 5 QATAR

QGBC announces sponsors of Qatar Sustainability Week Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC) row. For the first time, Ashghal will further the sustainability movement in has announced the sponsors of Qatar be Strategic Sponsor, Ooredoo Qatar. At QGBC we believe that public Sustainability Week 2018. Held under will be Telecommunications awareness and community initiatives the patronage of HE Sheikh Abdullah Sponsor, and two organisations like Qatar Sustainability Week are bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, the – ENGIE’s Cofely Besix Facility vital if we are to change mindsets and Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Management and QAFAM – have become a more sustainable country.” the event will take place from October signed up as Qatar Green Building Qatar Sustainability Week 2018 27 to November 3. Conference Sponsors in addition will hold one of its most prominent Organised by QGBC – a member to Contactless as the Technology events, the fourth edition of the of Qatar Foundation – Qatar Sponsor. Qatar Green Building Conference, Sustainability Week 2018 will be held The National Programme for from October 28–30. The conference, at venues and locations across the Conservation and Energy Eff iciency which is held under the patronage country. The event supports eff orts (Tarsheed), part of Qatar General of HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al- to achieve Qatar’s sustainability goals Electricity & Water Corporation Thani, vice chairperson and CEO of by engaging public and private sector (Kahramaa), will serve as Sustainability Qatar Foundation, will bring together organisations in sustainability-oriented Partner, while the Abdullah Bin Hamad industry leaders and sustainability activities and fostering a culture of Al-Attiyah International Foundation for experts to address and showcase their environmental awareness among Energy & Sustainable Development innovative solutions to Qatar and the Children and parents taking part in an activity at the AmanTECH booth. residents. will support the initiative as Strategic region’s most pressing environmental Msheireb Properties has signed Partner for the second consecutive challenges. up for the third year as Platinum year. Over 20,000 people participated in Sponsor of Qatar Sustainability Engineer Meshal al-Shamari, director, Qatar Sustainability Week 2017, with Week 2018. Redco Construction – QGBC, said, “Qatar Sustainability more than 100 partners registering Almana will be Gold Sponsor, and Week is now in its third year. This is for over 200 events. This year, QGBC Vodafone Qatar engages Tadmur Holding will be Awards an exceptional initiative that brings is expecting even greater levels of Sponsor for the second year in a organisations and people together to engagement. community in digital safety programme odafone Qatar marked World know from our work in the fi eld of dig- Mental Health Day 2018 by en- ital safety that children in Qatar spend Vgaging the community in the a considerable amount of time online, company’s long-running programme, many of whom are being exposed to AmanTECH, designed to equip chil- cyber bullying, negative self-image dren and parents with the right tools and negative infl uences. It is there- to navigate the digital world safely. fore vital that parents are equipped World Mental Health Day is ob- with the right understanding for how served on October 10 every year with to keep their children safe in the dig- the overall objective of raising aware- ital world and to have an open dia- ness of mental health issues around logue with their children about these the world and mobilising eff orts in matters,” Vodafone Qatar said. support of mental health. The topic for “Since AmanTECH’s launch in 2014, this year is ‘Young People and Mental safe online gaming, self-image and we have actively engaged children Health in a Changing World’. reputation online, Vodafone Qatar on the topic of online safety at public Qatar National Library played host said in a statement. events and with fun and interactive to a series of events this weekend Vodafone Qatar brand ambassador workshops held at their schools. This that raised awareness about men- and Al Rayyan TV presenter Saoud al- has been incredibly successful and we tal health issues that were organised Maadeed participated in the fake news are committed to continue working to in partnership with the Ministry of activity and discussed with the children ensure children are given the oppor- Public Health, Ministry of Interior, whether or not they should believe eve- tunity to make the most of communi- Primary Health Care Corporation and rything they hear or see online and how cation technologies for their develop- Vodafone Qatar. it is important to look into an article or ment while also instilling healthy and AmanTECH’s booth engaged many a video’s authenticity before sharing it. safe online habits,” it added. children and parents with a number of “The expanding use of online tech- The AmanTECH programme in- activities that required them to per- nologies, while undoubtedly bringing cludes ongoing workshops, an online form tasks related to safety online in many benefi ts, can also bring signifi - source for information and tips for which they learnt specifi c skills, in- cant pressures that have a direct eff ect parents accessible at www.vodafone. cluding identifying fake vs real news, on young peoples’ mental health. We qa/AmanTECH Gulf Times 6 Sunday, October 14, 2018 QATAR MEC announces discounted air freight for camping market

he Ministry of Economy and to visit the following link to view Highlights of the announcement Commerce (MEC), in co-oper- the list of shipping agents for each Tation with Qatar Airways, has country: https://www.mec.gov.qa/ z All local, regional and international z Second edition of Seasonal Market announced discounted air freight pric- ar/Pages/souq.aspx The MEC an- companies participating in market for Camping takes place from Octo- es for the shipment of goods of compa- nounced the opening of registration will benefit from discounted air ber 24 to December 1. The following nies participating in the second edition for participation in the second sea- freight prices table shows discounted air freight of the Seasonal Market for Camping. sonal market for camping in August z Discounted prices fall in line with prices for source countries: The initiative falls in line with after the public for requested more ministry’s eff orts to support and Origin Value in QR (per kg) its eff orts to support and encour- time to prepare for participation and encourage companies Muscat, Oman 3.78, Kuwait 4.45, age companies to participate in this shopping. z Discounted prices are off ered Lahore & Karachi, Pakistan 4.28, Casa- year’s edition of the market, the The market will see the participa- for air freight of goods from seven blanca, Morocco 6.23, Istanbul, Turkey MEC has said in a statement. tion of well-established companies countries 8.88, China 9.04, Tehran, Iran 2.18 All local, regional and interna- in the fi eld. tional companies wishing to partici- “The market, which attracts visi- pate in the seasonal camping market tors, camp owners, and camping en- their products and enables consum- In addition, the market is char- can benefi t from the discounted air thusiasts, contributes to stimulating ers to easily acquire the necessary acterised by a privileged location, freight prices. the commercial activities in the local camping tools and supplies,” the open spaces, a recreational area and The market, which will be held from market, supporting Qatar’s econo- statement notes. a special area for productive fami- October 24 to December 1 on Al Rifaa my and creating a diverse environ- The initiative which is being lies, it adds. Street, will feature all camping supplies ment that contributes to the growth launched for the second consecutive The market allows visitors, camp in one site, in addition to providing a of the trade sector. year, aims at supporting Qatari trad- owners and camping enthusiasts to space and public services for partici- The market aims at providing ap- ers and productive families by pro- buy the necessary equipment, fea- pating companies free of charge. propriate spaces for Qatari traders viding appropriate spaces to exhibit turing all companies specialised in The ministry has invited public and productive families to market and market their products. camping supplies in one location.

Workshops for children with special needs at CassArt

s part of a collaboration with Best Buddies Qatar, Qatar AMuseums (QM) is hosting three free workshops for children with special needs at CassArt at the Fire Station. The fi rst workshop was hosted on October 10, while the ensuing ones will take place on October 17 and 24, with each workshop starting at 10.30am and lasting up to 45 min- utes. Best Buddies Qatar will be arrang- ing for a number of students from the local area to attend, including the Step by Step Centre, Phoenix Pri- vate School Doha, Al Huda Primary School for Girls and Fatma Al Zahra Preparatory School for Girls. Best Buddies Qatar was founded in 2007 with the support of Her High- ness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, un- der the umbrella of the Shafallah Centre. There are currently four high schools and four college chapters in the capital city of Doha. Under the guidance of Qatar Mu- seums’ chairperson, HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al- Thani, the Fire Station has become the hub for Doha’s fl ourishing art scene in recent years.

Gulf Times 8 Sunday, October 14, 2018 QATAR Jumbo Electronics technician Qatar International Court claims ‘grand master’ title oby Davis, a technician at Jumbo Elec- highlights QFC legal system tronics who specialises in home enter- Jtainment products, has won the ‘Grand Master’ title for premium products at the QNA eff ective role played by the 8th LG MEA Service Skill Olympiad. Rome Court with other State ac- Every year, LG organises a service Skill tors in promoting and con- Olympiad for the Middle East and Africa solidating the concept of region where top technicians from each atar International adherence to the rule of law. country are invited to participate in a skill Court highlighted He added that the delega- competition that will test their technical Qyesterday the legal, tions got an overview of the knowledge and the skills of LG products. and regulatory regime of Qa- important role played by the Davis has now been invited to participate tar Financial Center (QFC) court in protecting the rights in LG’s Global Skill Olympiad to be held and highlighted the incen- and property of investors from November 6-9 in South Korea. tives and benefi ts it off ers to and the eff ective role played There, apart from the Skill Olympiad, he investors. by the court with other state will get to experience LG’s research centre This came on the sidelines actors in promoting and at the LG Twin Towers in Seoul and also of the participation of an of- consolidating the concept of undertake a sightseeing tour of the city to fi cial delegation from the adherence to the rule of law. experience Korean culture. Court at the International The Qatar International Video Home & Electronic Center, with Bar Association Conference Court chief executive also one of the largest service centres in Qatar, Joby Davis with the award. (IBA) held recently in Rome, added that they organised a regularly undertakes training workshops along with 7,000 lawyers seminar on the sidelines of and skill upgradation programmes for its Such training equips the service techni- from around the world. the main event, to discuss technicians and also participates in simi- cians with the latest technical know-how, Qatar International Court the topic in detail. Qatar International Court has highlighted the legal and regulatory regime of Qatar lar competitions in the region organised by which enables them to address any product CEO Faisal al-Sahouti It involved a review of Qa- Financial Center (QFC) on the sidelines of the International Bar Association (IBA) various brands, a press statement noted. complaint promptly. stressed the importance of tar’s track record of promot- Conference held in Rome. participating in the confer- ing the role of law locally and ence, which he said was the internationally, refl ecting its most prominent in the world commitment to maintaining in terms of the number of le- peace and resolving confl icts gal specialists who take part. around the world by respect- He added that the con- ing international laws and ference provided the Court conventions. with the opportunity to in- The seminar also dis- troduce its services and the cussed the unfair blockade nature of its work, especially the State of Qatar is being in the fi eld of alternative dis- subjected to, which was a pute resolution methods. catalyst for the country to In a speech given during explore new markets and the conference, he said that new partners with many Qatar International Court countries around the world. participated to shed light on Al-Sahouti said the the legal, and regulatory re- speakers at the seminar all gime of QFC, and to review noted that the blockade did the incentives and benefi ts it not leave any negative ef- off ers to investors. fects on life in Qatar or the He also discussed the Qa- projects that the state is tari legal system and how it working on. It was also a adopts the highest interna- catalyst to accelerate the tional standards. He pointed launching of some of them out that the Court’s section such as the Hamad Interna- at the conference saw strong tional Port. interest from all delegations. He added that the speak- They got to learn about ers also praised the legisla- the nature of the work of the tive development in the State court and its specialties and of Qatar, especially in the experience in smart technol- light of the recent legislation ogy services and solutions, issued by the state under the as well as the electronic sys- unjust blockade, which they tem of the court, which con- said expressed a new direc- tributes to speeding up the tion of the state in the eco- litigation process between nomic fi eld by opening up the parties of the dispute. for more private investment, The delegations also rec- whether local or interna- ognised the important role tional. Qatar International played by the Court in pro- Court is one of the golden tecting the rights and prop- sponsors of this year’s IBA erty of investors and the conference.

The initiative aims to crack down on violations and is conducted with an eye on ensuring maritime safety and security. MoTC conducts inspection drive for maritime safety

he Ministry of Trans- applicable laws and regula- port and Commu- tions, the ministry has said Tnications (MoTC) in a statement. yesterday conducted an in- The initiative also aims spection campaign target- to crack down on violations ing modes of transport by and is conducted with an eye sea with the participation of on ensuring maritime safety the General Directorate of and security as well as pro- Coasts and Borders Security tecting lives and property at and Qatar Tourism Author- sea. ity. Yesterday’s campaign is The campaign falls within one in a series of campaigns the framework of continu- to be conducted over the ous co-operation and co-or- coming period within the dination between all bodies framework of a plan set by concerned countrywide and the bodies concerned to en- aims to ensure all modes of sure the highest levels of transport of sea follow and maritime safety and security work in compliance with all on Qatari waters. Gulf Times Sunday, October 14, 2018 9 QATAR

Advisory Council Speaker chairs meeting in Geneva HE Speaker of the Advisory Council Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud chaired yesterday the consultative meeting for parliament speakers of the Islamic parliamentary group, which is taking place alongside the 139th general assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, QNA reported from Geneva. The five-day general assembly will take place in Geneva starting from today. The Speaker of the Advisory Council also participated in the consultative meeting of the Arab group. During the two meetings, they discussed issues on the agenda of the general assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. They also exchanged views on some of the demands to add new emergency subjects to the general assembly’s agenda, in addition to discussing taking a unified stand on issues of joint interest. The two meetings were attended by a number of Advisory Council members. QRCS in Yemen medical outreach

QNA Doha

nder its large-scale response to the humanitarian crisis in Al-Hudaydah, Yemen, Qatar Red Crescent USociety (QRCS) has breathed life into the collapsing health sector in Sanaa. A new plan is in progress to provide primary healthcare for the population displaced from Al-Hudaydah due to the recent escalation of violence. It is based on an appeal issued by the United Nations Of- fi ce for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Aff airs (OCHA) to mobilise international humanitarian support for inter- nally displaced persons (IDPs) in Sanaa. Several schools are being used as makeshift shelters to accommodate the increasing numbers of IDPs, who are ex- periencing an unbearable situation. QRCS’ representative mission in Sanaa supplied $18,000 worth of medicines to cover the needs of 400 patients be- ing treated at the Abo Bakr Al-Siddiq Health Center. In co-ordination with the centre’s management, other A new plan is in progress to provide primary healthcare for the population displaced from Al- shortages are expected to be subsequently met, in an at- Hudaydah due to the recent escalation of violence. tempt to stop the alarming deterioration in public health conditions as a result of the mass displacement. The people of Al-Hudaydah are facing exacerbated living and health risks, with little food and rampant epidemics. A medical worker at the Abo Bakr Al-Siddiq Health Center said they were doing their best to alleviate the suf- fering of the IDPs in the school’s packed classrooms. “The doctors and nurses are working 24/7 to take care of the pa- tients. All of us are unpaid volunteers”, he added. In addition, the school’s medical camp lacks medicines and other supplies, particularly those for chronic diseases like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and hypertension. There is a dire need to activate the referral system, by contracting a big hospital and medical lab to receive criti- cal cases, particularly for infections and communicable diseases.

The Ministry of Municipality and Environment ‘s General Cleanliness Department has been involved on a daily basis in cleaning streets, public squares and key facilities across the country.

Clean-up campaign by MME

he Ministry of Mu- nicipality and Envi- Tronment (MME) has said its General Cleanliness Department has been exert- ing eff orts on a daily basis to clean all streets, public squares and key facilities across the country with a good number of specialised equipment and work teams. Yesterday, the department cleaned main streets, pave- ments and lanes in some ar- eas falling under Al Daayen Municipality. During the clean-up, sand that had accumulated along roads was removed to ease traffi c fl ow and to maintain cleanliness and beauty, the MME said in a statement. Work teams of the depart- ment also regularly clean the Doha Corniche as it is con- sidered a key destination, attracting a large number of people. Gulf Times 10 Sunday, October 14, 2018 REGION/ARAB WORLD

Trump threatens Palestinian woman dies after ‘severe punishment’

From Page 1 require that it be within 30 to Turkish sources have told 50ft (9-15m) of the iPhone it Reuters the initial assess- is paired with to upload data to West Bank stone-throwing Apple’s iCloud, they said. ment of the police was that Khashoggi was deliberately Even newer models that can AFP killed inside the consulate. communicate with the cloud Ramallah Riyadh has dismissed the directly via wireless require claims. either connection to a nearby Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Wi-Fi network or a type of Palestinian woman died Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu cellular connection that is not of her wounds after Is- said that Saudi Arabia must available in Turkey, the experts Araeli settlers in the oc- co-operate with the investiga- said. cupied West Bank threw stones tion into the disappearance of Apple Watch does not un- at the car she was travelling in, Khashoggi and let Turkish of- lock with a fi ngerprint, which Palestinian security sources and fi cials enter its consulate. the Sabah report said Saudi media said yesterday. Cavusoglu spoke to reporters agents used to access the de- An Israeli police spokesman during a visit to London, after a vice, and it does not include a confi rmed a car had been hit by delegation from Saudi Arabia recording capability by default, stones but did not identify the arrived in Turkey for a joint the experts said. perpetrators. investigation into Khashoggi’s Apple Inc declined to com- He said an investigation was disappearance. ment on the Sabah story. underway but did not give fur- “We have not yet seen co- Meanwhile Prince Moham- ther details. operation on this subject and ed’s big October conference Palestinian offi cial news agen- we want to see it,” Cavusoglu – the Future Investment Ini- cy Wafa identifi ed the passenger said in the comments, which tiative dubbed by media as the who died as 48-year-old mother were broadcast on Turkish tel- “Davos in the Desert” after the of eight, Aisha Mohamed Rabi. evision. annual conference in the Swiss She died in hospital in the Turkish newspaper Sabah re- resort – has suff ered a litany of northern West Bank city of Nab- ported yesterday that Turkey’s cancellations over the contro- lus from a head injury sustained investigation into Khashoggi’s versy. in the stone-throwing incident fate after he entered the Saudi Key business fi gures like the south of the city on Friday, Wafa Palestinians carry the body of 48-year-old mother of eight, Aisha Rabi, who died of her wounds after the car she was travelling in with her consulate revealed recordings chief executive of ride hail- said, citing medical and Pales- husband was hit by stones, during her funeral in the West Bank village of Bidya, near Salfit, yesterday. made on his Apple Watch pur- ing app Uber – into which the tinian security sources. portedly indicating he was tor- Saudi’s own investment fund Her husband, who was driving 23. A wave of mainly lone-wolf tured and killed. injected money – are no long- the car at the time, escaped with Palestinian attacks against Is- However, it was not clear er showing up while media minor injuries, the same sources raelis in the West Bank erupted whether data from Khashoggi’s groups like the New York Times, said. in 2015 but had largely abated. watch could have been trans- Financial Times and Bloomberg Palestinian witnesses and se- Meanwhile, thousands of mitted to his phone outside, or have pulled their sponsorship. curity sources cited by the news Palestinians attended funerals how investigators could have US Treasury Secretary Ste- agency said the stones were yesterday for seven young men retrieved it without obtaining ven Mnuchin said yesterday thrown by Israeli settlers. shot dead a day earlier by Israeli the watch themselves. that he still planned to attend, Stone-throwing incidents troops during fresh demonstra- Technology experts say it is as did IMF chief Christine La- implicating Israeli settlers have tions along the Gaza border, an highly unlikely the watch could garde although she said she risen of late, the Palestinian se- AFP correspondent said. have recorded actions inside was “horrifi ed” by the case. curity sources added. Mourners, including leaders the embassy and uploaded Comment Page 22, Business The Israeli army has not com- of the enclave’s rulers Hamas, them to an iCloud account. Page 2 mented on the attack. chanted slogans condemning Most models of the watch Tensions have been run- Israel for shooting civilians and ning high in the West Bank over called on the international com- the past week with two attacks munity to deliver justice. Saudi-led air strikes kill 19 in Hodeidah against Israelis. The Israeli army said fi ve Pal- Relatives of Palestinian Ahmed El Taweel, who was killed the day before during a protest along the border On Friday, Israeli forces said estinians had been killed dur- fence, mourns during his funeral in Nuseirat camp, in the central Gaza Strip, yesterday. At least 19 civilians were killed “The final toll is not determined they had arrested a Palestin- ing the protests Friday after yesterday in air strikes by a yet because body parts of many ian on suspicion of stabbing and they broke through the heavily- “repelled”, he wrote on Twitter. Mohamed Abbas, 21. At least 205 land now inside Israel, from Saudi-led coalition in the port victims are mixed with each wounding an army reservist on guarded border fence and at- The enclave’s health minis- Palestinians have been killed by which their families fl ed or were city of Hodeidah in war-torn other,” al-Hadiri said. guard duty at a checkpoint south tacked an army post. try said seven Palestinians were Israeli fi re in Gaza since protests displaced during the 1948 war Yemen, rebels said. Earlier yesterday, he said at least of Nablus the previous day. Army spokesman Jonathan killed by Israeli fi re as thousands began on March 30. surrounding the creation of the Youssef al-Hadiri, a spokesman 17 civilians were killed and more Another wanted Palestinian, Conricus said around 20 Pales- of protesters approached the The majority were killed dur- Jewish state. They are also call- for the rebel-controlled Health than 20 others injured in the at- who is suspected of killing two tinians had crossed the border heavily-guarded Israeli border. ing border demonstrations, ing for Israel to end its crippling Ministry, said coalition warplanes tack. Witnesses said that all the Israeli colleagues and wound- in an “organised attack” after Yesterday, the ministry though others have died in air- blockade of the strip. hit two buses carrying civilians people inside the bombarded ing a third in the northern West an explosive device destroyed a named the victims as: Ahmed strikes and tank shelling. There had been hopes the in Hodeidah’s Jabal Ras area, buses were civilians, who were Bank last Sunday, remains on the portion of the fence. al-Taweel, 27, Mohamed Ismail, One Israeli soldier has been protests would ease after a UN- killing at least 19 people and trying to flee fighting in their run. About fi ve of those who got 29, Ahmed Abu Naim, 17, Abdul- killed. brokered agreement to ease the injuring 30 others. The dead area. So far, there has been no Israeli security forces have through the fence assaulted an lah Daghma, 25, Afi fi Atta Afi fi , The protesters are demand- Strip’s energy crisis took eff ect included women and children, comment from the Saudi-led identifi ed him as Ashraf Naalwa, Israeli army position and were 18, Tamer Abu Armaneh, 25 and ing to be allowed to return to this week. according to the off icial. alliance. DPA

Gulf Times 12 Sunday, October 14, 2018 AFRICA 16 dead in Nature’s fury Somalia suicide bombings

AFP Mohamed, a police offi cial in Baidoa. Mogadishu “The targeted locations are populat- ed by innocent civilians so that all of the victims were civilians, and the number t least 16 people were killed in of the dead can increase anytime be- Somalia yesterday in suicide cause of the wounded,” he added. Abombings that targeted a res- Mohamed Adam, another police of- taurant and coff ee shop, police said. fi cial, gave the same toll. Suicide bombers walked into the “I saw fi fteen dead bodies at the hospi- two locations in the southwestern city tal all of them collected from the scene of of Baidoa and detonated their vests the attacks, many worried people poured within minutes of each other, accord- into the hospital looking for their rela- ing to witnesses. tives” Abdi Hassan, a relative of a patient The blasts came a day before the who was wounded in the blast. People cross the Sume river after it burst its banks in the eastern village of Nanyinza, in Uganda’s Bududa district. At least 34 people were killed after the river in fi rst anniversary of a truck bomb- Shebaab, an Al Qaeda affi liate, is eastern Uganda burst its banks, sending thick sludge and rocks barrelling into homes, disaster off icials said. ing that left more than 500 dead in fi ghting to overthrow the internation- Mogadishu, the worst ever attack in ally-backed Somali government in Somalia which was blamed on Islam- Mogadishu. ist group Shebaab. The Shebaab were forced out of “The number of the dead we have the capital by African Union troops confi rmed from the two blasts is in 2011 but still control parts of the 16 and nearly twenty others were countryside and carry out attacks wounded some of them seriously, against government, military and Mozambique opposition cries nine people died in the second blast civilian targets seemingly at will in and seven in the fi rst,” said Abudulahi Mogadishu and regional towns. DR Congo identifies ‘second wave’ of Ebola foul over election results second wave of the Ebola virus has The latest outbreak is the 10th in been confi rmed in eastern Demo- DR Congo since Ebola was fi rst de- AFP accusing election offi cials of tampering with the re- million people dead before the fi ghting stopped in Acratic Republic of Congo, where an tected there in 1976. Maputo sults. 1992. initial outbreak has already killed 125 peo- Offi cials in Beni have announced “If the popular vote is not respected, Renamo will Fresh violence erupted in 2013 between Renamo ple, a minister said yesterday. measures to protect health workers break off the negotiations and the consequences will rebels and government troops, raising fears of a re- The latest wave is centred in Beni, after a number of incidents where re- ozambique’s Renamo opposition yesterday be entirely the responsibility of (President Filipe Ny- turn to civil war, but the party declared a truce in a town in North Kivu near the border sponse teams were assaulted. accused the government of falsifying local usi) and the Frelimo Party,” he said. 2016 and opened fresh peace talks. with Uganda, said Health Minister Dr Fears and misconceptions about Melection results in several areas, warning Partial results from a third of Mozambique’s 53 Nyusi and Renamo’s Momade had recently made Oly Ilunga. “We don’t yet know the the virus have led to widespread mis- that such a move could prompt it to abandon peace municipalities, released Thursday, gave Frelimo a progress on a key sticking point in the peace talks — scale of it,” he added. “The epicentre, trust and resistance to Ebola response talks. clear lead, although Renamo claims to have won in the disarmament and integration of former Renamo which was in Mangina is now in Beni.” workers, including those who come The country went to the polls on October 10 in a dozens of areas, including in Matulo, the country’s rebels into the police and army. The two towns lie about 20km apart. into communities wearing hazmat key test for the ongoing peace talks between the rul- most heavily-populated city. But Momade accused Nyusi of “silent complicity” This second wave occurred as a result suits to orchestrate burials. ing Frelimo party and Renamo — negotiations which Frelimo, which has ruled Mozambique since its in- over the intimidation and attacks on Renamo sup- of community resistance to measures A staff member of the UN peace- began in 2016 to end three years of violence between dependence from Portugal in 1975, currently controls porters during the election campaign, alleging his taken to tackle the disease, Ilunga said. keeper mission MONUSCO was government troops and Renamo rebels. 49 of the country’s 53 municipalities. party was looking to push Renamo “into a new cycle “The epidemic in Beni is high risk..and among the latest victims of the virus, “We do not want war but we also do not accept any Wednesday’s vote was the fi rst time Renamo has of confl ict”. the situation is worrying.” the UN and health ministry said. attempt to change the popular will,” Renamo’s acting contested a local election in 10 years, with the party As well as internal political tensions, this south- On Friday, the World Health Or- The work of health offi cials is also leader Ossufo Momade told reporters. hoping to make a breakthrough ahead of next year’s ern African nation has also been struggling with the ganization expressed concern over hampered by violence in a region Although the offi cial results have not yet been general elections. emergence of an Islamist insurgency in the northern the growing number of cases in recent which has long been ravaged by armed published, Renamo says the party had been cheated In the mid-1970s, Renamo fought a brutal 16-year coastal region which has killed scores of civilians and weeks, especially in Beni. confl ict. of victory in one major city and three other towns, civil war against the Frelimo government that left a police.

Nigeria imposes travel ban on graft suspects

AFP Opposition candidate picks running mate Abuja Nigeria’s main opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar, a deputy to ex-president Abubakar has picked his deputy from the Olusegun Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007, igeria yesterday ordered its south-east of the country, ahead of a bid to has run for the presidency four times security agencies to put some oust President Muhammadu Buhari from without success. N50 high-profi le graft suspects power in next year’s election. He has amassed a huge fortune in on a watch list and prevent them from Abubakar, who will stand for the Peo- the import-export business, as well as leaving the country. ples Democratic Party (PDP) in Febru- oil, agriculture and telecommunica- A presidency statement said the ary’s election, chose Peter Obi, a former tions, and is credited with having a move was to ensure the implemen- governor of Anambra, a south-eastern network of support across Nigeria. tation of an executive order(EO6) stronghold for the party since 1999 The 2019 vote is seen as Abubakar’s which empowers President Muham- when Nigeria returned to civilian rule. last opportunity for the top job. madu Buhari to temporarily seize and forbid access to any suspicious assets. of these persons of interest are being members of the opposition were be- “To this end...Nigeria Immigration monitored by the relevant agencies to lieved to be the target. Service and other security agencies ensure that the assets are not dissi- Buhari who came to power in 2015 have placed no fewer than 50 high- pated,” it added. on an anti-corruption platform, has profi le persons directly aff ected by Buhari got the nod to implement accused the regime of ex-president EO6 on watch-list and restricted the executive order this week after Goodluck Jonathan of large-scale them from leaving the country pend- the opposition lost a court bid to looting of the treasury. Many opposi- ing the determination of their cases,” stop its implementation. The presi- tion fi gures are on trial for corruption it said. dency did not disclose the names off ences, but there have been no nota- “Also, the fi nancial transactions of those affected by the order, but ble convictions. Gulf Times Sunday, October 14, 2018 13 AMERICAS Trump meets pastor at heart of US-Turkey row

DPA/AFP having ties to the outlawed Kurdis- Washington tan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is designated a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the US, and the Euro- he US pastor at the centre of pean Union. a diplomatic spat between A ruling by a Turkish court on TWashington and Ankara ar- Friday allowed Brunson to receive rived back in the United States yes- credit for time already served, terday after being freed from house meaning he could go free. arrest in Turkey where he had faced Brunson maintained his inno- terrorism charges. cence throughout the process, and Live television images showed Trump administration offi cials Pastor Andrew Brunson meeting have said the charges were politi- US President Donald Trump at the cally motivated. White House within 24 hours of After a brief stopover in Germa- being freed. ny for a medical check, Brunson ar- Trump told Brunson: “You are rived in Washington yesterday. very, very special to all of us.” US media reported that the The president said the two sides White House had struck a deal with had been negotiating “long and Ankara, in which Brunson would be hard”, and insisted that no ransom released and some charges against was paid. him dropped in exchange for the Brunson – who has become a easing of economic pressure on cause celebre for Trump’s conserv- Turkey. ative Christian base – thanked the “There was NO DEAL made with president before kneeling before Turkey for the release and return of him, placing his hand on his shoul- Pastor Andrew Brunson,” Trump der and praying for Trump to have tweeted in response to the reports. “supernatural wisdom”. “I don’t make deals for hostages.” The Turkish government said “There was, however, great ap- yesterday that outside pressure did preciation on behalf of the United Trump and Brunson participate in a prayer at the Oval Off ice. Also seen are members of Congress and not infl uence a court’s decision to States, which will lead to good, administration off icials. lift the house arrest and travel ban perhaps great, relations between on Brunson. the United States & Turkey!” he sisted that he was not guilty. other Americans in detention. said that the US and Turkey had “No Turkish offi ce, especially tweeted. “I am an innocent man. I love He said that Washington would plenty of disagreements beyond our president, yielded to all the Erdogan responded: “I hope that Jesus. I love Turkey,” he said in his “continue to work hard to bring Brunson. pressure, threats and outrageous the United States and Turkey con- fi nal defence. home all American hostages and “The clamp has now been re- statements,” said Omer Celik, a tinue co-operation in a manner When the verdict was read out, those wrongfully imprisoned and moved, which opens the way for spokesman for the ruling Justice that befi ts two allies.” Brunson wept and hugged his wife detained”. bilateral negotiations to address and Development Party (AKP). Turkey said its judiciary is inde- Norine. National Aeronautics and Space other sources of disagreement, but Relations between Washington pendent of political concerns. After gathering his belongings, Administration (Nasa) scientist Washington and Ankara still have and Ankara soured over Brunson’s The case had seen Turkey and the Brunson was driven to the airport Serkan Golge, a dual US-Turkish to navigate through a minefi eld,” two-year detention, with the US impose tit-for-tat sanctions on in the Turkish city of Izmir, where national, was jailed for seven and Skinner said. Trump administration slapping each other’s senior offi cials, as well he boarded a US military plane for a half years in February on ter- He pointed to Turkey’s order sanctions on Turkey’s justice and as tariff s on imports. Germany. ror charges, a term reduced to fi ve for Russian S-400 missile defence interior ministers. Brunson is an evangelical Pres- Upon arrival there for a refuel- years last month. systems, which has riled its West- The 50-year-old pastor was de- byterian clergyman who lived in ling stop, he kissed an American And two Turkish employees of ern allies, as well as Ankara’s deter- tained in October 2016 and arrest- Turkey for nearly half his life, ini- fl ag presented to him by Richard US diplomatic missions remain in mination to do business with Iran ed that December. tially moving there in 1993 as part Grenell, the US ambassador in Ber- jail. in defi ance of US sanctions. He was accused of links to the of a missionary programme. lin. One of them, former Adana con- Turkey is bracing for poten- movement of Fethullah Gulen, an He was fi rst detained in October While the strain in US-Turkish sulate staff er Hamza Ulucay, was tial fi nes from US authorities over Islamic cleric who lives in exile in 2016, faced up to 35 years in jail. relations eased with Brunson’s re- denied release on Friday. sanctions-busting by Turkish the US, whom Turkey blames for a Prosecutors then demanded a lease, problems remain. Anthony Skinner, director for lender Halkbank, whose deputy di- failed coup attempt in July 2016. sentence of up to 10 years. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Middle East and North Africa at rector general has been jailed in the Brunson was also accused of The pastor has steadfastly in- urged Turkey to “quickly release” the Verisk Maplecroft consultancy, United States.

Chicago protest targets president’s ‘anti-woman agenda’

AFP through downtown Chicago before strongholds of Texas, Georgia and Chicago heading to early voting locations. South Carolina. “I would like women to take “It is infuriating to women to charge of the mid-terms,” protester watch that display that we watched housands of people made Sarah Sieracki told AFP. in that Senate committee hearing, their disdain for President The 23-year-old from the nearby and to see that that man was still TDonald Trump heard at a Republican-dominated state of In- confi rmed,” Scheller said. “Women rally and march yesterday in Chi- diana was exactly the type of voter are angry. And we’re starting to feel cago aimed at galvanising support organisers were hoping to encour- comfortable being angry.” for Democrats in the upcoming age to get involved in the election. Republicans currently hold the November mid-term elections. She was carrying a “Grab ‘em by White House and both chambers A giant “Baby Trump” fl ew over the mid-terms” sign – a play on an of Congress, but many in the party the crowd. infamous remark made by Trump. fear anti-Trump voters will over- Trump was depicted as “El Dia- “Women need to vote. They need whelm the president’s supporters blo” on a high-fl ying fl ag. to get out,” said Sieracki. “We need in the elections, pushing the House Demonstrators waved “Vote to rally the young millennials and – at least – over to the Democrats. Blue” banners – the message was the people coming up, turning 18 Most states allow early voting unmistakable. (years old).” by mail-in ballot or at a limited Angered by the bitter fi ght over The Chicago rally symbolised number of polling stations, giving new US Supreme Court Justice the political rancour generated by those unable to show up on Elec- Brett Kavanaugh and what they the partisan fi ght over Kavanaugh’s tion Day a chance to vote. called the “anti-woman agenda” of A girl listens as women gather for a rally and march at Chicago’s Grant confi rmation despite sexual assault Chicago organisers insisted their the Trump administration and the Park to inspire voter turnout ahead of mid-term polls in the US. allegations and powerful testimo- event did not favour any one party, Republican Party, women – and ny against him by his accuser Dr even though funding came largely men – rallied in the Windy City. screen, encouraging people to reg- of Women’s March Chicago, which Christine Blasey Ford. from trade unions and Democrat- The “March to the Polls” event ister to vote. organised the event, told AFP. All but one Senate Republican aligned groups. – which began in Grant Park and “Imagine being able to hold this Yesterday’s events included a voted to confi rm Kavanaugh to a Previous women’s protests have was to wrap up downtown – came administration accountable,” Clin- street festival-like “Voter Vil- lifetime appointment on the Su- included plenty of anti-Trump just as voter registration deadlines ton said, echoing the general senti- lage” where dozens of commu- preme Court. rhetoric. neared in most states and early vot- ment that the election is a barom- nity groups and politicians set up All but one Democrat voted Protests in January shut down ing ramped up in more than a dozen eter of Trump’s popularity. booths to reach new voters and en- against. streets in dozens of American cit- states including Illinois. “We wanted to lead into the mid- courage political involvement. Anti-Trump marches were ies. Hillary Clinton appeared in a terms and encourage women to get Demonstrators planned to leave scheduled later this month in other In Chicago, hundreds of thou- video message played on a giant out and vote,” Jessica Scheller, head Grant Park for a formal march states, including the Republican sands marched.

Hurricane death toll hits 17, say off icials

Three days after the devastating passage of Hurricane Michael, search teams in Florida pressed their hunt for victims into hard-to-reach areas Canada announces C$50mn boost yesterday, as the death toll rose to 17 and off icials scrambled to deliver aid to those who lost everything. The mammoth storm, which made landfall as a Category 4 storm on in aid to Palestinian refugee agency Wednesday, claimed lives in four states, but the Sunshine State suff ered the worst damage by far. Large parts of the state’s panhandle were pulverised by the strong AFP lost their homes because of the cuts to Palestinian aid by his pred- winds and rain, and eight storm-related deaths have been reported in Ottawa 1948 Middle East confl ict. ecessor. Florida so far. Its assistance includes schools, US President Donald Trump, “Mexico Beach is devastated,” Governor Rick Scott said of the town healthcare centres, and food dis- as well as Israel, opposes how hardest hit by the hurricane, the most powerful to hit the US in decades. anada has stepped up aid for tribution. the agency operates and how the “It’s like a war zone,” he said while touring the town of 1,000 people on Palestinian refugees, an- The Canadian contribution is to number of refugees is calculated. the Gulf of Mexico. Cnouncing C$50mn ($38mn) be spread over two years. More than 750,000 Palestin- Rescue teams with sniff er dogs were searching for possible victims for the United Nations Relief and C$40mn will go to “meeting the ians fl ed or were expelled during buried under the rubble in the debris-strewn community. Works Agency (UNRWA), whose basic education, health and liveli- the 1948 war surrounding Israel’s US media have reported one death in the town – the body of an elderly mission has suff ered since Wash- hood needs of millions of Pales- creation. man was found hundreds of metres from his home. ington cut its help. tinian refugees”, Ottawa said in a These Palestinians and all their Brock Long, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency The Canadian top-up comes statement. descendants are deemed by the UN (FEMA), warned that the death toll could yet rise. after the United States, the largest Another C$10mn will be used agency to be refugees who fall un- “I hope we don’t see it climb dramatically but I have reasons to believe single contributor to the UNRWA, to provide “emergency life-saving der its remit. we still haven’t got into some of the hardest-hit areas,” he said. announced in August an end to assistance to more than 460,000 Canada said it “exercises en- As sombre residents began making it back to their homes, off icials said its $350mn a year funding for the Palestinian refugees in Syria and hanced due diligence” for all aid it could take 10 days to compile a final damage estimate. agency. Lebanon”, it said. for Palestinians including “strong Beyond Florida, five storm-related deaths were reported in Virginia. The UNRWA was set up in 1950 In 2016, Prime Minister Justin anti-terrorism provisions in fund- One died in Georgia and three more were killed in North Carolina. to help Palestinian refugees who Trudeau’s administration reversed ing agreements”. Gulf Times 14 Sunday, October 14, 2018 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

21 dead in Anwar returns to frontline Indonesia fl ash fl oods

Reuters politics in big election win Jakarta lash fl oods and landslides AFP miership this year after a shock “I want him to be our eighth triggered by torrential rains Port Dickson election win, saying he would prime minister.” Fin Indonesia have killed stay in power for only two years About 100 supporters greeted at least 21 people, including 11 before handing the reins to Anwar with shouts of “Refor- schoolchildren, left 15 missing, nwar Ibrahim won an Anwar. masi” - his battle cry while in and destroyed hundreds of homes, overwhelming mandate Anwar was in prison when opposition - as he arrived at a authorities said yesterday. Ain a parliamentary by- he forged an unlikely alliance polling station. More than 500 homes in the election yesterday, offi cials said, with Mahathir in a bid to unseat There had been little doubt provinces of North and West Su- setting the stage for his return then-prime minister Najib Ra- the reformist politician would matra have been fl ooded or dam- to frontline Malaysian politics zak, who had called elections for win the seat, which was va- aged, with some swept away by and sealing the once-jailed op- May amid massive corruption cated after a member of the the fl oods, which also destroyed position fi gure’s remarkable allegations. ruling coalition stepped down three suspension bridges, said a resurrection. Underscoring the drama of to pave the way for Anwar’s disaster relief offi cial. Figures released by the Elec- yesterday’s vote, one of Anwar’s return. “Evacuation as well as search tion Commission showed he got six challengers is the ex-aide But he campaigned hard to and rescue operations are un- more than 71% of the total votes who had accused him of abuse. secure the multi-racial con- derway,” said Sutopo Purwo Nu- cast in a seven-way contest Polls opened under cloudy stituency, promising voters groho, a spokesman for disaster which included a former aide skies at 8am (0000 GMT) and development, clean govern- mitigation agency BNPB. “But who lodged the abuse charges closed nine and a half hours lat- ment and a boost to local the aff ected villages are in the that landed Anwar in prison for er in the sleepy southern coastal tourism. mountains and access is diffi cult, a second time in 2014. town of Port Dickson, home to Anwar did not discuss the due to damaged roads.” “I am happy with the results,” a sizeable ethnic Chinese com- sodomy accusations on the In North Sumatra, 11 children Anwar said after the victory, munity that has traditionally campaign trail. He has al- studying at an Islamic village which marks the charismatic been one of Anwar’s pillars of ways maintained the charges school died after their classroom politician’s stunning politi- support. were trumped up to derail his wall collapsed when a nearby riv- cal comeback from prison to “We are voting for the next political career. People’s Justice Party president and leader of the Pakatan Harapan coalition Anwar Ibrahim, centre, er overfl owed on Friday. parliament. premier. We need an infl uential But he has campaigned dog- celebrates after winning in a by-election in Port Dickson yesterday. “The victims were buried in a Winning the seat was a key leader to bring long-overdue gedly on the multi-billion-dol- torrent of mud and wall debris,” requirement for Anwar to suc- progress to Port Dickson,” said lar graft scandal at state fund coalition lose offi ce for the first unthinkable even six months ago. formist opposition movement Sutopo added. ceed 93-year-old Prime Min- 60-year-old voter Lee Tian 1MDB, which led to dozens time since the country declared The duo went onstage to- while fi ghting to overturn his Rescuers are hunting for one ister Mahathir Mohamed, who Hock. of corruption charges against independence from Britain gether at one campaign event, convictions. student still missing from the jailed his former protege and “This morning, I prayed for a former leader Najib and his wife in 1957. prompting wild cheers from Mahathir, his mentor turned 29 in the class at the time, but heir apparent abuse and corrup- big win for Anwar,” retired truck Rosmah Mansor. Political heavyweights in- supporters. tormentor and now ally, came have accounted for all the rest, tion charges in 1998 when their driver Mat Taib, a member of Both face the prospect of cluding Mahathir have cam- After he was dumped as fi - back from retirement to lead the regional police chief Irsan Sinu- relationship soured. the country’s ethnic Malay ma- spending the rest of their lives in paigned for Anwar dur- nance minister and jailed in Alliance of Hope coalition that haji said, adding that authorities Mahathir returned to the pre- jority, said. jail in a scandal that saw Najib’s ing a comeback that was the 1990s, Anwar led a re- won power in May. were checking for other people who may have gone missing. Two people were found dead yesterday after their vehicles were swept away by the river. Four people died in landslides UN calls on Australia to evacuate Snowstorm in the city of Sibolga in North Sumatra, while fl ash fl oods in West Sumatra killed four more, off shore refugees over health crisis kills 9 climbers including two children.

or talk, humanitarian group “This policy has failed on a ment on the agency’s website. Reuters Médecins Sans Frontières number of measures,” UNHCR “This is a system designed, on Nepal peak Melbourne (MSF), which was ejected from spokeswoman Catherine Stub- fi nanced, managed by Aus- Ranger Nauru, has said. berfi eld said in a statement. tralia, and it’s Australia which The United Nations refugee “It’s failed to protect refugees; must be accountable for the full AFP across a wide area, including he United Nations has agency, UNHCR, said on Friday it’s failed to provide even for gamut of those consequences.” Kathmandu some in a riverbed some 500m taken by asked Australia to ur- that more than 1,400 people are their most basic needs.” Australia’s Department of (1,640ft) away from the main Tgently evacuate detain- still being held on both islands, Of the 12 people who have Home Aff airs did not immedi- camp. ees from the Pacifi c islands of which have hosted Australia- died since Australia began de- ately respond to a request from ine members of a “Everything is gone, all crocodile Nauru and Papua New Guinea, bound migrants and asylum- taining migrants and refugees Reuters to seek comment. South Korean climb- the tents are blown apart,” saying it bears responsibility seekers since 2013. off shore, half had been con- In a statement to the Guardian Ning expedition were Gurung said. DPA for their deteriorating health The refugees were trans- fi rmed or suspected suicides, newspaper, it said it treated the killed after a violent snow- Gurung landed a helicop- Sydney conditions. ferred to the islands after being the agency said. health of refugees “seriously”. storm swept them off a cliff on ter just above the expedition Worsening mental health has intercepted trying to reach Aus- “Ultimately, responsibil- It added, “All transferees on Nepal’s Mount Gurja, one of team’s camp and attempted to left some of the children among tralia by boat, a policy widely ity lies with Australia for those Nauru are free to move around the deadliest mountaineering descend to the campsite with olice confi rmed yesterday the refugees in a “semi-coma- criticised by the United Nations who have sought its protection,” the island; they are not in accidents to hit the Himalayan a group of local villagers, but that an Aboriginal ranger tose state”, unable to eat, drink and other rights groups. Stubberfi eld said in the state- detention.” nation in recent years. icy and unstable conditions Ptaken by a crocodile in a re- The bodies of eight climb- meant they were unable to re- mote part of northern Australia ers – four South Koreans and trieve any of the bodies. had been found dead. four Nepali guides – were Rescue offi cials tried to send The woman was wading on the spotted near the wreckage of a second helicopter to the site edge of a muddy waterhole look- Thais mark anniversary of late king’s death their camp by a rescue team but it was unable to fl y due to ing for mussels when she sud- yesterday morning, but strong strong winds, police spokes- denly disappeared on Friday. winds were hampering the man Sailesh Thapa said. It took police many hours to search eff ort. Another attempt will be reach the remote Aboriginal com- A fi fth South Korean climber made Sunday, he added. munity of Gan Gan, 177km south was initially reported missing, The storm is the deadliest of the mining town of Nhulunbuy. but offi cials later confi rmed incident to hit Nepal’s moun- Northern Territory Police he was at the camp when the taineering industry since 18 Commissioner Tony Fuller told deadly storm hit Friday and people were killed at Mt Ever- reporters yesterday that the wom- also perished. est’s base camp in 2015 in an an, a ranger for the National Parks, “A mountain expedition of avalanche triggered by a pow- was fi shing and gathering mussels fi ve South Korean nationals erful earthquake. on the water bank with her family and four foreigners were swept The previous year, 16 Sher- when she suddenly vanished. off by strong winds at the base pas were killed on Everest “The family noticed she was camp during their climb to when an avalanche swept missing and the bucket she was Mount Gurja. (They) fell off a through the Khumbu Icefall carrying was found nearby,” he cliff and died,” the South Ko- during the busy Spring climb- said, adding, “They heard some rean foreign ministry said in a ing season. Then in October, a splashing. She was up to her statement. freak blizzard killed more than waist in the water.” Helicopter pilot Siddartha 40 tourists and their guides in Police and rangers searched the Gurung was among the fi rst the Annapurna region, a dis- water late Friday and found the body people to reach the site af- aster that was largely blamed a kilometre from the attack site. ter the deadly storm and on poor weather forecasting The crocodile was then de- described a scene of total and lacklustre safety stand- stroyed by local Aboriginal rangers. destruction. ards in Nepal’s poorly regu- Deaths from crocodile attacks He said all the tents had lated trekking industry. have increased since culling end- been fl attened, reduced to a Mountain weather is known ed in 1971 with 14 people killed tangled mess of tarpaulin and for being unpredictable with between 2005 and 2014, up from broken poles, and the climb- strong winds capable of 10 deaths in the previous 33 years. ers’ bodies were scattered throwing a person off balance. The last death was in January.

Four Maldives’ poll offi cials fl ee to Lanka, citing threats Royal Thai Army soldiers stand in formation before a portrait of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej during a ceremony at the Royal Plaza in Bangkok, as Thailand marks the second death anniversary of the king yesterday. Intimidation and threats drove capital of Colombo, leaving behind company that printed the four members of an election just one panel member, two of the ballots, saying the PPM sought panel in the Maldives to flee the Maldivian off icials told Reuters on to bribe its employees to provide island nation, two off icials said condition of anonymity. false statements that backed yesterday, a day before its top “We left due to threats,” said one, Yameen’s challenge. court hears defeated president who asked not be identified, for Yameen’s party called the Cambodia off ers help in search for missing soldiers Abdulla Yameen’s challenge to fear of a risk to his life. complaint “ludicrous”, saying it his election loss last month. Yameen’s party dismissed the was a tactic to divert attention ambodian leader Hun earlier this year and who this He had also accused the US of to ward off possible consequences The tourist paradise has been in threat accusations, saying the from the court case. Sen has off ered to resume month had written to Hun Sen assisting an opposition leader such as potential trade sanctions political upheaval since February, election off icials left because of Yameen conceded defeat in last Cworking with a US pro- about reactivating the project. who was charged with treason, by the European Union, though he when a state of emergency was public outrage sparked by the month’s election after an off icial gramme that recovers the re- The searches, which have re- claims the ambassador at the has bristled at suggestions that he imposed by Yameen, who ran the leak of an audio recording about count showed joint opposition mains of American soldiers covered the remains of 42 Amer- time called absurd. is under international pressure. Indian Ocean islands with an iron poll rigging. leader Ibrahim Mohamed Solih killed during the Vietnam War, ican servicemen in Cambodia – The rise in tensions came dur- The programme “had been run- hand, critics say, jailing political “So they say,” Mohamed Hussain had polled 16.8% more votes in a as the premier seeks to defuse dozens are still unaccounted for ing the lead-up to a fl awed vote in ning successfully for more than 30 opponents and Supreme Court Shareef, secretary general of the surprise result. criticism of a fl awed election. – were suspended in September July that was swept by Hun Sen’s years, before it was suspended”, justices. Progressive Party of Maldives The Election Commission said Hun Sen stated his inten- 2017 as relations soured between party after the Supreme Court Hun Sen said in his letter, adding Since Yameen lost his bid for (PPM), said. “When in fact they the vote had been free and fair, tion to restart the “important” the two countries. dissolved the main opposition. that his government would restart re-election, the opposition has left because of public outrage with turnout of 89.2%. mission in a letter published on Hun Sen halted it after Wash- But after securing victory, the co-operating with the mission been trying to secure a smooth following a leaked audio about But on Wednesday, his lawyers government mouthpiece Fresh ington stopped issuing visas to 66-year-old strongman request- with a “compassionate spirit”. transition of power, due on rigging. They are refusing to approached the Supreme News Saturday and also shared senior Cambodian offi cials in ed pardons for activists and op- America’s secret bombing of November 17. clarify.” Court, saying supporters had on his offi cial Facebook page. reprisal for the country tempo- position members who had been Cambodia during the Vietnam Four members of the Maldives The off icials’ accusations follow complained about rigging of It was addressed to two US rarily refusing to take in Cam- arrested in a crackdown on dis- War remains a sensitive sub- Elections Commission have fled domestic media reports of votes and fraudulent ballot state lawmakers who visited bodian nationals deported from sent before the ballot. ject and is a touchstone of fi ery and three are in the Sri Lankan a complaint to police by the papers. (AFP) Cambodia ahead of the vote the US for committing crimes. Analysts say Hun Sen is trying speeches by Hun Sen. (AFP) Gulf Times Sunday, October 14, 2018 15 BRITAIN/IRELAND

Met police hit back at Secret Brexit plans to criticism of ex-chief

By Haroon Siddique appease DUP revealed Guardian News & Media Eff ort to avoid Irish backstop ing made on a Brexit deal in the ferring to a leaders’ summit that to an extension if it proved nec- would result in UK being EU negotiations and results could will start on Wednesday night essary to negotiate a trade deal. he Metropolitan police ‘rule taker’ beyond 21 months be made public as early as to- with a dinner at which Brexit The prime minister’s spokes- have condemned criti- morrow should extra ground be will be the focus of the discus- woman said on Friday: “When Tcism of the force’s deputy By Daniel Boff ey and made on the Irish border issue sion. we published our plans in June commissioner for remaining Heather Stewart over the weekend. A senior EU diplomat said that on a UK-wide customs backstop, in his car while Khalid Masood Guardian News & Media Sabine Weyand, the EU’s the Brexit secretary, Dominic we were absolutely clear that the stabbed an unarmed police of- deputy chief negotiator, told the Raab, could arrive at the Euro- arrangement would be tempo- fi cer to death during the West- 27-member states that the state pean commission tomorrow, rary, and only in place until our minster Bridge attack. ecret plans to allow an ex- of play would be assessed by the should a deal be agreed during future economic relationship is Sir Craig Mackey, then the tension of the transition negotiating teams this evening. intensive talks over the week- ready.” acting Met commissioner, was Speriod in the Brexit with- EU offi cials remain wary, end. Mujtaba Rahman, a former being driven out of the Palace of drawal agreement could result in however, that developments in “Mr Raab has stated he might Treasury and European com- Westminster during the incident the UK living under all EU rules the UK could still derail the deal. come to Brussels on Monday,” mission offi cial, and now head on 22 March last year. well beyond the 21 months so far In current plans, the backstop, the diplomat said. “It all de- of Europe for the Eurasia Group He faced calls to resign and for negotiated, the Guardian can re- under which the whole of the UK pends on progress still having to risk consultancy, said that an ex- him be stripped of his knight- veal. would stay in a customs union be made between now and that tra six months would be needed hood from former offi cers and The expected off er of an ex- while Northern Ireland alone Arlene Foster (right) has told Theresa May that the DUP will not moment. The negotiating teams if only for a trade deal to be ne- on police forums, after he told tension is designed to convince eff ectively stayed in the single accept any Brexit deal which treats Northern Ireland diff erently to are back in their offi ces today gotiated and ratifi ed by all the the inquest into Masood’s death Arlene Foster, the leader of the market, would be enacted in De- the rest of the UK. discussing outcome of talks over member states’ parliaments. that he remained in his vehicle Democratic Unionist Party cember 2020 if a bespoke tech- the last few days.” “The UK has no choice but to because he had “no protective (DUP), that the “backstop” plan nological solution or trade deal They were concerned, sources extra time it would benefi t from May asked in September last ask for a mechanism to extend equipment and no radio”. to avoid the creation of a hard could not be reached by then. said, about any backstop pro- EU membership. year for a transition period, the transition, not least to fur- The Express front page on border on the island of Ireland Foster has insisted that she posal that risks the UK staying It would not, however, have which she optimistically de- ther mollify the DUP,” Rahman Thursday read “Police hero who will never come into force. will not accept any Brexit deal in the customs union without a any representation in the bloc’s scribed in her Florence speech said. “But doing so is also a rec- put his boss to shame”, compar- A longer transition period under which Northern Ireland is clear date for exiting it. decision-making institutions. at the time as a period of imple- ognition of reality: both the UK ing Mackey’s actions unfavoura- would mean the whole of the treated diff erently to the rest of The plan to include an exten- Jean-Claude Juncker, the Eu- mentation of aspects of the fu- and the EU’s political leadership bly with those of the armed pro- country would be locked into the UK. sion clause in the withdrawal ropean commission president, ture trade deal, including migra- will change next year, meaning tection offi cer who shot Masood a prolonged period of what EU Senior Brexiters, including the agreement would be a way to as- expressed his confi dence on Fri- tion controls. substantive trade negotiations dead, while an article on the Sun diplomats have previously de- Commons leader, Andrea Lead- suage concerns. day that a deal would be struck The prime minister had said it are unlikely to begin until Sep- website was headlined “Mark of scribed as a state of “vassalage”, som, are understood to be plan- It is being discussed privately for the prime minister to sell would be “limited” to a period of tember 2019 at the earliest.” cowardice”. with the House of Commons ning to attend cabinet next week by European commission and back home. about two years. Jacob Rees-Mogg, the chair of Speaking after the conclusion being forced to accept Brussels before deciding on whether to UK negotiators at the talks in “People who put all their She had added that she did not the European Research Group, of the inquest, the Met com- regulations without having any resign. Brussels. chips on the hypothesis of no believe the British people would said that extending the tran- missioner, Cressida Dick, said say on them. There was alarm about the The length of any extension is agreement are wrong; we must “want the UK to stay longer in sition “would not necessar- the criticism was “confused, The revelation came as EU language used by Downing yet to be agreed. fi nd an accord and I think we will the existing structures than is ily make the backstop redundant unpleasant, personalised and ambassadors were informed at a Street on Friday that Theresa It is likely that the UK would fi nd it,” he told Le Monde. necessary”. and would be very expensive” ignorant”. meeting on Friday evening that, May “would never agree to a need to make additional budg- “We need to make substan- Liam Fox, the international because of the expected addi- “The attack in New Palace following further concessions by deal that would trap the UK in a et contributions on top of its tial progress, which we’ll review trade secretary, suggested soon tional contributions to the EU Yard occurred and was stopped the UK, good progress was be- backstop permanently”. £39bn divorce bill to cover the next week,” Juncker added, re- after that he would only be open budget. in seconds. Sir Craig had abso- lutely no opportunity to stop the killer or save PC [Keith] Palmer. Anyone who suggests otherwise is simply wrong,” she said. “The actions he was able to, and did, take were to protect the Watchdog ‘pressed medics unarmed police staff colleagues who were in the car with him. He went on to lead the Met’s response to the attack with dis- tinction.” into inaccurate statements’ Neil Basu, a Met assistant commissioner and Britain’s most senior counter-terrorism Paramedics make claim at However, witnesses say he two years after the incident had pertained to a conversation she offi cer, echoed her comments, disciplinary hearing against was dragged there, unconscious been the result of “leading ques- had with PC Hannah Ross, who describing the criticism of four off icers over incident and with his head hanging. tions” by investigators. is accused of lying to paramedics Mackey as “abhorrent”. left 20-year-old Julian Cole Cole suff ered a cardiac arrest Dilley also said she felt sub- about Cole’s condition. He also warned against giv- paralysed and stopped breathing. jected to emotional blackmail At issue was whether Ross told ing people such as Masood “the He will spend the rest of his by investigators from the In- Dilley that Cole was removed comfort that they have some- By Damien Gayle life in a persistent vegetative dependent Police Complaints from the van, or whether he got how divided us as a result of Guardian News & Media state. Commission, the forerunner of out himself. This picture courtesy of the Cole family shows Julian, whose neck their actions”. On the recommendation of the IOPC. Giving evidence, Sim also was broken during the incident in 2013. In his summing-up to the jury, the police watchdog, the Inde- She said they told her how produced a letter – previously the chief coroner of England and wo paramedics giving pendent Offi ce of Police Con- Cole’s family needed “closure” undisclosed – written to his su- The evidence from the para- He told the hearing that Cole Wales, evidence at a disciplinary duct (IOPC), four offi cers from over the incident. periors in which he said he felt medics came after a medical had suff ered a “hangman’s frac- Mark Lucraft QC, described Thearing of police offi cers Bedfordshire police are facing “I didn’t really feel comfort- that his second signed witness expert suggested that Cole had ture” – a shattered vertebrae in Mackey’s actions as “sensible involved in an incident in which allegations amounting to gross able [giving the statement] statement “doesn’t give a true suff ered a broken neck when po- his cervical spine, the portion and proper and intended to pro- a student athlete was paralysed misconduct for allegedly fail- because of the time that had refl ection of events”. lice tackled him to the fl oor. of the spinal column extending tect others in the car”. have accused investigators of ing to conduct adequate welfare passed,” Dilley said. Asked why he had signed a Professor Charles Davis, a from the base of the skull to the Lucraft said Mackey did not putting them under pressure to checks on Cole, lying about the She said that while an ini- statement that did not accu- consultant neurosurgeon, said top of the chest, which had led to fl ee the scene. give inaccurate statements. incident to paramedics and in- tial statement she gave around rately refl ect his memory of the that – on the balance of prob- 90% damage to his spinal cord. “You may well think that it Caroline Dilley and Paul Sim, vestigators, and using excessive three weeks after the incident incident, he admitted: “I sup- abilities – “it was possible but A patient with such a fracture was important for the most sen- of the East of England ambu- force. had been her recollection of pose being at home I felt under unlikely” that Cole was able to may not suff er immediate dam- ior police offi cer in the coun- lance service, are credited with Evidence from Sim and Dilley events, the second was the re- pressure to get it over and done get up and engage in a further age to the spinal cord, and could try to be at New Scotland Yard, saving the life of Julian Cole at form an important part of the sult of an interview in which she with.” struggle if his neck was broken indeed walk into a hospital, Dav- where he could take command Greyfriars police station, Bed- case being brought by the force’s was questioned about specifi c Sim even suggested that his when he was fi rst taken down by is said. and control of what, at that time, ford, after the then-20-year- professional standards depart- points. fi rst statement, given three a bouncer from Elements. However, he added, the pain could potentially have been part old’s neck was broken and his ment. “In my mind it felt quite lead- weeks after the incident, may Emphasising that he could not was “likely to be very severe and of a much larger attack,” he said. spinal cord was injured in 2013. But appearing in their uni- ing... I was unsure, when I got it not have been accurate. make a judgment based on solely the patient [if] fully conscious An earlier hearing saw foot- forms before the hearing in Ste- back, what came from my mem- In it he said he had spoken to reviewing CCTV footage, Davis and not paralysed, might say: ‘I age of Cole being tackled to venage on Friday, both distanced ory and what was suggested to a police offi cer to get Cole’s im- said: “I would say that the frac- feel like my head’s falling off and the ground twice by police and themselves from elements of me,” she said. mediate medical history; but he ture is more likely to be an injury I’ve got to hold it and I dare not bouncers outside Elements their written and signed witness Among the evidence in the said in the hearing that it was sustained later in several inju- move it because of the pain’”. nightclub in Bedford. statements, and said that they case is a letter sent by Dilley’s possible that his recollection ries – as I understand it from the Ross, Sgt Andrew Withey, PC The offi cers involved say that could no longer reliably remem- employers to the IPCC outlining had in fact come from conversa- CCTV – than an earlier injury, Nicholas Oates and PC Sanjeev Cole was conscious and able to ber the incident. seven points in the statement tions with his colleague about because the later injuries, as de- Kalyan deny all the accusations. walk to the police van, where he Both complained that a fol- that she felt needed clarifi ca- the incident, rather than a con- scribed, involved movement of The hearings are expected to was arrested. low-up statement given almost tion, most important of which versation with the offi cer. the neck.” continue for another week. Sir Craig: accused of cowardice. Police try mindfulness therapy to beat burnout

College of Policing to fund offi cers make better decisions. to the techniques; there are 30 Mindfulness-based cogni- included being fi rst on the scene trial for more than 1,500 Demand for the police’s programmes for prisoners and tive therapy is recommended by of a murder. off icers to combat stress- “Mindfi t Cop” course was high in prison offi cers and courses are the National Institute of Clinical “You are getting into high- related sick leave what is often considered a macho off ered to nurses and doctors in Excellence to treat recurrent de- stress situations and as a super- profession, with places fi lling up several National Health Service pression. visor you need to be calm,” she By Robert Booth in less than a week. (NHS) trusts. Stress is a serious problem for said. “We were driving under Guardian News & Media Four hundred and fi fty-seven More than 200 MPs and peers the police. blue lights but I was talking to offi cers in Avon and Somerset have taken a course, although, Nearly 10,000 offi cers, equiva- myself and concentrating on my and 300 in South Wales will take as McIntyre-Smith joked to her lent to one in 12, took time off breath and making it slower.” n Thursday afternoon, a the eight week course, alongside recruits in Bedford, that may not sick with stress or anxiety over Another sergeant, who asked dozen novice police of- colleagues from Hertfordshire, have been the best advert. the past year, according to fi gures not to be named, said: “I encoun- Ofi cers straightened their Bedfordshire and Cambridge- There are early signs of possi- released this summer. ter diffi culties when attending backs, closed their eyes and shire. ble eff ectiveness in policing. A hundred offi cers from con- incidents with weapons, due to started to meditate for the fi rst The rollout after that could be An initial trial in Bedfordshire stable rank to superintendent in being the victim of a nasty stab- time. signifi cant. suggested work-related-burn- Bedfordshire have taken a course, bing. “You are going to face things in Nerys Thomas, the head of re- out was, on average, lower for 72 which includes a day staying si- “I have received a lot of sup- this career that your family and search at the College of Policing, people who used the techniques lent. port and assistance to build friends will never face,” said their said: “If the responses are posi- and an internal report concluded: Among the offi cers who had coping strategies, none quite trainer, Detective Inspector Jenni Police off icers will be taught mindfulness techniques such as slower tive we would then look to make “Participants reported sleeping taken the course was Sergeant as eff ective as the three-part McIntyre-Smith. “To be able to breathing during the eight-week course. this available to all forces in Eng- better, being able to reduce pain Karen Jarman, who was off work breathing technique which forms deal with that is important.” land and Wales.” medication and feeling calmer for seven months with post- part of Mindfi t Training. She asked the fi rst-year Bed- to wield a truncheon. time off sick in the past year. The move is indicative of fast- and less reactive.” traumatic stress disorder after “When a job comes in where a fordshire police constables to The College of Policing is to Its backers hope to improve growing interest in mindfulness Modern mindfulness emerged she was beaten unconscious dur- person is armed with a knife and focus on their breathing, the sen- fund a trial of a secular ver- offi cers’ management of high- in public services – even as sci- in the US in the late 70s where it ing a routine drugs search. I am the closest unit to attend, I sations in their bodies and to ob- sion of mindfulness training for adrenaline confrontations, make entists continue to study how ef- was developed to help seriously She said it had enabled her to would always feel this is a diffi - serve their thoughts, techniques more than 1,500 offi cers in part them more alert when gathering fective it actually is. ill people manage pain. overcome severe anxiety and get cult situation. derived from Buddhist medita- to combat soaring stress and evidence, improve listening skills More than half a million It has since spread globally, back to work. “The breathing technique tion which might soon be as inte- anxiety in the service, which has when dealing with witnesses and schoolchildren and 3,000 civil popularised by apps such as She now uses the techniques gives me strength in those mo- gral to an offi cer’s training as how forced record numbers to take victims and even help fi rearms servants have been introduced Headspace. when deployed, which last week ments.” Gulf Times 16 Sunday, October 14, 2018 EUROPE

Italy shutters tiny 11 ‘migrants’ burn to town’s landmark migrant model

AFP death in car crash Rome AFP/DPA taly’s interior ministry has Thessaloniki, Greece ordered that all migrants Ibe transferred out of a tiny southern town that had wel- leven people died yesterday comed them but which trig- in northern Greece when a gered a national debate on in- Ecar thought to be carrying tegration after its mayor was migrants crashed head-on with arrested. a truck and burst into fl ames, po- Domenico Lucano, the left- lice said. leaning mayor of Riace, made Firefi ghters recovered 11 bod- headlines around the world ies from the vehicle, which had for welcoming migrants to the been travelling towards Thessa- sparsely-populated town in Salvini: has seen his popularity loniki. Calabria in a bid to boost jobs increase since the coalition The driver of the truck, which and development. government came to power had been heading towards the But earlier this month, he in June. town of Kavala, escaped the un- was placed under house ar- scathed. rest on charges of involvement A small amount of pocket “The people are charred and in organising “marriages of money is also given to the mi- hard to identify,” a traffi c police convenience” for asylum pur- grants. offi cer told DPA. poses. Lucano said that his law- Three minors were among Known as Mimmo, the yers are preparing an appeal those killed in the fi ery crash, the mayor has also been accused against the ministry, which has cause of which was not initially of skipping a tender process to demanded a breakdown of all clear. award a rubbish management expenses. Greek police said the car in- contract to co-operatives with “How is it possible to think volved in the crash had been used ties to migrants. of destroying the ‘Riace model’, for migrant smuggling in the His arrest was hailed by In- which has been described by past. terior Minister Matteo Salvini innumerable people, politi- It had failed to stop earlier in and his far-right League party cians, intellectuals and artists, the day when police offi cers tried as proof that the “government as an extraordinary experi- to pull it over for a check. of change has declared war on ence?” he asked. “They want Last June, a migrant smuggling the immigration business”. to destroy us. I am immensely van carrying 16 people, mainly But it sparked an outcry bitter.” from Syria and Iran, crashed near from supporters who say the His migrant programme Kavala, killing six people includ- “Riace model” – funded since has seen abandoned houses ing three children. the 2000s with Italian and Eu- restored and craft workshops “We are deeply saddened by ropean funds – is a simple but reopened in Riace, attracting the devastating news from an eff ective way to both revive de- tourists, and has been lauded area where thousands of refu- The burned truck is pictured in Sarakina, near Kavala, northern Greece yesterday. Eleven people died after a car thought to be carrying populated villages and house by many as a model of integra- gees have risked their lives and migrants crashed head-on with a truck and burst into flames, police said. hundreds of asylum-seekers. tion. crossed into Greece on irregular The transfer of the migrants Lucano was even named one routes,” said Philippe Leclerc, nearly half having drowned in the the UNCHR statement added, More than 12,700 refugees grants who want to reach Central to other centres will begin next of the 100 most infl uential per- the United Nations High Com- fast-fl owing Evros River. calling for “alternatives to these and migrants have crossed into and Western Europe by way of week, according to the minis- sonalities by Fortune magazine missioner for Refugees (UNHCR) “These horrifi c deaths are part dangerous crossings for people in Greece’s northeast since the start Greece, as the so-called Balkan try, which has been investigat- in 2016 and inspired a docu- representative in Greece, in a of the broader dangers faced by need of international protection”. of the year, according to data Route north through Albania, ing “clear irregularities” in the fi ction by Wim Wenders. statement. people who fi nd themselves at Greece reports near daily ar- compiled by the UNHCR, more Montenegro and Bosnia-Herze- town’s reception system since Salvini, who wants to reduce At least 40 deaths have been the mercy of human smugglers, rests of smugglers carrying mi- than double the number in 2017. govina has largely been closed off 2016. projects inspired by Riace and recorded in the region in 2018, who exploit their vulnerability”, grants from the Turkish border. However, it is diffi cult for mi- and the borders fortifi ed. The state gives small centres group asylum-seekers in large €35 a day for each resident with centres, has seen his popular- the bulk of the money spent on ity increase since the coalition providing accommodation, government came to power in Tens of thousands food and language lessons. June. stage anti-racism Drug boats used in march in Berlin human traffi cking AFP AFP ered at Berlin’s famous Branden- Madrid Berlin burg gate where a number of German groups performed. had already arrived in the over- “It’s already a success,” said our people were arrested seas territory located in north- ens of thousands of people Theresa Hartmann, spokeswom- in the Spanish over- ern Morocco across the Medi- marched in Berlin yester- an for the #unteilbar (indivisible) Fseas territory of Ceuta terranean to the mainland. Tday in a protest against movement, who said they had for charging migrants up to Police said the gang charged racism amid growing concern only been expecting 40,000 peo- €2,000 to take them to the between €1,800 and €2,000 over xenophobic incidents in the ple to turn up. mainland in speedboats nor- ($2,100 and $2,300) per person east of the country. The #unteilbar collective, mally used for drug traffi cking, for the trip, earning a profi t of Organisers said that at least made up of a number of activ- police said yesterday. around €26,000 per vessel. 242,000 people turned out for ist groups and individuals, has It is unclear whether those “Such were the profi ts of the rally. already staged demonstrations arrested had been involved in the organisation that its mem- Police spoke of “several tens of in the northern city of Hamburg drug traffi cking and decided bers found it better to devote thousands”. and Munich in the south, that at- to change tack, or if they had themselves to this criminal “Say it loud, say it clear, we are tracted thousands. merely got hold of the vessels fi eld rather than that related to all indivisible,” the demonstra- They are supported by trades for their operations. drugs,” they added. tors chanted as they marched unions, religious organisations A Civil Guard police union Close to 40,600 migrants through central Berlin in blazing and some charities. A protester holds a giant heart-shaped placard as she takes part in a major demonstration yesterday for warned last month that nar- have reached Spain by sea since sunshine. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, a an open and caring society organised by the action group ‘unteilbar’ (‘Indivisible’) in Berlin. cos in the country’s south had the start of the year with an- Some held up signs in support member of the Social Democratic entered the lucrative trade of other 398 dying in the process, of migrant rescue missions in Party (SPD), posted a message of Building on the backlash to At the end of August a far-right Early this month, German migrant traffi cking, as more according to the latest fi gures the Mediterranean, while others support on Twitter. Chancellor Angela Merkel’s de- demonstration in the eastern city police arrested six men on sus- and more people try to reach of the International Organisa- waved placards reading “More The march was partly in re- cision to admit more than a mil- of Chemnitz after the murder of picion of having taken part in Europe from Africa via Spain. tion for Migration. love, less hate” and “No room for sponse to the rise of the anti- lion refugees in 2015 and 2016, it a German that was blamed on a the attacks, describing them as Police said that the four de- That’s more than triple the Nazis”. immigration Alternative for Ger- won its fi rst parliamentary seats refugee degenerated into attacks members of a far-right “terror- tained allegedly led a gang in amount of people who arrived The crowds eventually gath- many (AfD) party. in elections last year. on foreigners. ist” group. Ceuta that took Algerians who at the same period last year.

Rival Cypriot leaders agree to meet Portugal declares hurricane alert in bid to end reunification deadlock A rare meeting between rival Cypriot leaders will be arranged by the United Nations in the coming days in a bid to kick-start AFP/Reuters of the Atlantic Ocean for weeks”. tion,” Lisbon’s mayor Fernando reunification talks after a 15-month hiatus. Lisbon/Barcelona But it was expected to make Medina told reporters. Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades said on Friday that the United landfall in Portugal yesterday, Over the past 176 years, only Nations will arrange a meeting with his Turkish Cypriot counterpart with strong winds and rain ex- Hurricane Vince has made land- Mustafa Akinci to try to end the current deadlock. ortugal placed most of the pected in the early evening, with fall on the Iberian peninsula, hit- A UN-backed peace conference collapsed in acrimony in country on red alert yes- the most serious conditions like- ting southern Spain in 2005, ac- Switzerland in July 2017 and there have been no off icial Pterday as Hurricane Leslie ly overnight or this morning. cording to weather records cited negotiations since then. barrelled towards its coastline in Meteorological records in- by experts. The last time the rival leaders tried to get the talks back on track what could be the fi ercest storm dicate that only fi ve hurricanes In October 2017, strong winds was at an informal dinner in April but the two men agreed to to hit the country since 1842. have ever arrived in this part of from Hurricane Ophelia, which disagree on the way forward. Authorities urged those living the Atlantic Ocean, and Leslie travelled north off the coast of by the coast to stay indoors and could turn out to be the fi ercest Portugal and western Spain, fed fi shermen to return to port while storm to hit Portugal since 1842. forest fi res that killed around 40 Thousands of Italians march against some fl ights were cancelled over The exact trajectory of the people during a heatwave. warnings winds could reach up to hurricane, however, remains Ophelia then made landfall in Verona city council’s ‘pro-life’ stance 120kph (75mph). uncertain due to the presence of Ireland as a violent storm, killing And neighbouring Spain was another storm approaching the three people. A warning sign is displayed at Costa da Caparica, near Lisbon. Thousands of protesters marched in the northern Italian city of also making preparations, with region from the north, Portugal’s While Leslie is likely to be Verona yesterday, after the local council passed a motion to fund meteorologists expecting it to meteorological institute said. downgraded to storm category rain was expected in the north hicles and beaches covered in Catholic anti-abortion groups. hit early today, although by then Maritime authorities have ad- when it hits western Spain to- and east. debris. The motion, proposed by a member of the far-right League party, it was likely to have been down- vised fi shermen currently at sea day, authorities still warned that On Tuesday, intense rain With the new storms ap- declared the city “pro-life”. graded to a tropical storm. to return to the nearest port and it could cause damage as it adds sparked fl ash fl oods in the Span- proaching, the civil protection Under the scheme, pregnant women will be encouraged to give up Global weather forecasting site Portugal’s TAP airline cancelled on to other active weather fronts. ish holiday island of Majorca, agency advised people to secure unplanned babies for adoption. AccuWeather has dubbed Leslie seven fl ights to and from Lisbon. Spain’s civil protection agency killing 12 people. doors and windows in anticipa- Women wearing white cone hats reminiscent of those worn in a “zombie hurricane” as it fi rst “We don’t know what the real said storms in the south and east Rivers burst their banks and tion of strong winds and to avoid Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, a reference to women’s formed on September 23 “and and concrete impact will be, so of the country could be “very swamped homes, leaving road- going near trees, cranes or build- rights, led the march through the city famed for Shakespeare’s ode has been meandering the waters we’re erring on the side of cau- strong locally” and that heavy sides strewn with wrecked ve- ings under construction. to love, Romeo and Juliet. Gulf Times Sunday, October 14, 2018 17

INDIA Kejriwal should immediately dismiss Gahlot and Jain: BJP

IANS press conference here. tion there was information of transport, law, revenue, infor- ot’s legal team said the IT offi cers the elected representative. current market rate) of Rs28 lakh New Delhi He said the failure of Kejriwal undeclared investment in shares mation technology and adminis- searched Gahlot’s fl at for around “Some rumours about the re- (duly accounted for) was found to take action in the case of cor- in Dubai in addition to Benami trative reforms. 60 hours and could recover only covery of Rs35 lakh of unaccount- along with jewellery belonging to ruption by his ministers Gahlot, property,” Tiwari said. Tiwari said the network of Rs1.1mn, “the amount which has ed money are being spread while the mother-in-law of Gahlot (as- he Bharatiya Janata Party Satyendar Jain and former min- His remarks came after the Gahlot’s “unaccounted trade” is been duly accounted for in his the truth is that a sum of Rs11 lakh sessed at current market rate) of yesterday described the ister Asim Ahmad indicates his Income Tax department offi - too wide. “But at close examina- books”. “The Income Tax Depart- in cash was found at the premises Rs41 lakh, duly accounted for”. TArvind Kejriwal govern- involvement in corruption and cials yesterday claimed they have tion, we get to understand that ment is red-faced and smarting of Kailash Gahlot. Another sum of The AAP minister’s legal team ment in Delhi as “most corrupt”, “proves that the chief minister found documents that show the the modus operandi of tax eva- from its politically motivated and Rs24 lakhs was admittedly related also rubbished the allegations of and demanded dismissal of its completely lacks morality”. minister had evaded tax worth sion is similar to what we saw in ill-advised raid on Mr Kailash to the family of Mr Gahlot’s elder benami properties worth Rs1bn cabinet minister Kailash Gahl- “The BJP demands that Kejri- Rs1.2bn. Jain’s case,” he said. Gahlot,” it said. brother,” the statement said. being found during the raids, say- ot over alleged tax evasion of wal immediately dismiss corrupt The I-T department carried However, the legal team of Calling the search a “com- About the IT offi cers recover- ing that “not a single document Rs1.20bn. ministers Gahlot and Jain,” he out searches at over 16 residen- Gahlot called the claims a “de- plete failure”, Gahlot’s legal ing unaccounted jewellery worth was recovered for any property”. “The Kejriwal government is said. tial and business premises of liberate act of spreading misin- team alleged that “fanciful ru- Rs20mn from Gahlot’s residence, The team warned of legal ac- the most corrupt government in “It has been learnt that tax Gahlot and his family members formation to cover the abysmal mours” are being circulated to the legal team said: “The truth is tion against the IT department the history of Delhi,” Delhi BJP evasion of Rs120 crore by Gahlot on Wednesday and Thursday. failure” of the I-T department. divert the public attention in a that jewellery belonging to wife for harassing “an elected repre- president Manoj Tiwari said at a has come to light and in addi- Gahlot holds the portfolios of A statement released by Gahl- desperate attempt to browbeat of Kailash Gahlot (assessed at sentative”. US senators urge India to soften data storage stance

Reuters to our economic partnership,” New Delhi the US senators said in the let- ter that has not been previously reported. wo US senators have called Modi’s offi ce did not immedi- on Prime Minister Naren- ately respond to an e-mail seek- Tdra Modi to soften In- ing comment. dia’s stance on data localisation, Other than the RBI proposal, warning that measures requiring India is working on an overarch- it represent “key trade barriers” ing data protection law that calls between the two nations. for storing all critical personal In a letter to Modi dated Friday data in India. and seen by Reuters, US Senators E-commerce and cloud com- John Cornyn and Mark Warner puting policies are also being de- – co-chairs of the Senate’s India veloped. caucus that comprises over 30 The letter also raised concerns senators – urged India to instead on the draft data protection bill adopt a “light touch” regulatory and e-commerce policy frame- framework that would allow data work that called for stringent lo- to fl ow freely across borders. calisation measures. Journalists hold placards during a protest against what they say is sexual harassment in the workplace, in New Delhi yesterday. The letter comes as relations These measures have unnerved between Washington and New some tech companies who fear it Delhi are strained over multiple will increase their infrastructure issues, including an Indo-Rus- costs, hit their global fraud de- sian defence contract, India’s tection analytic platforms and new tariff s on electronics and aff ect planned investments in other items, and its moves to buy India at a time when more and oil from Iran despite upcoming more Indians are going online US sanctions. and using digital payments. Claims against Akbar US lobby groups, that repre- “We see this (data sent companies such as Face- localisation) as a book Inc, Amazon.com and Al- fundamental issue to the phabet Inc-owned Google, have further development of also voiced concerns about the digital trade and one that proposals. is crucial to our economic Shamika Ravi, a member of must be verifi ed: Shah partnership” Modi’s economic advisory coun- cil, had earlier told Reuters that IANS All these things will have to be Ghazala Wahab, in an article on hol and ask her to also do so. this the more successful it will be. Global payments companies the moves were in the “long- New Delhi seen. And once we do it, we will a news portal, wrote an account Other female journalists who Some will try to misuse it too.” including Mastercard, Visa and term strategic and economic in- certainly think over it (the action of her “harrowing experience” have made allegations against Meanwhile, lawyers Mru- American Express have been terest” of the country. against Akbar),” he added. with Akbar. Akbar include Prerna Singh nalini Deshmukh and Vaib- lobbying India’s fi nance ministry The senators added that any haratiya Janata Party pres- More than half-a-dozen Former Mint Lounge editor Bindra, Sujata Anandan, Shuma hav Krishnan have volunteered and the Reserve Bank of India to concerns related to “protection ident Amit Shah has said women journalists have accused Priya Ramani, who wrote about Raha, Harinder Baweja and Anju to provide legal aid to victims relax proposed rules that require and security” as well as access Bhe was not in a position the minister of state for External a predatory “celebrity editor” Bharti. without charging any fee while all payment data on domestic to data for lawful purposes were to comment on M J Akbar, who Aff airs of sexual harassment and without naming anyone in an ar- Jewellery designer Farah Khan the Indian Film & Television transactions in India be stored possible without restrictions on is facing multiple allegations of inappropriate behaviour at vari- ticle piece last year, on Monday is the latest celebrity to share her Directors’ Association (IFTDA) inside the country by October 15. physical location, according to sexual misconduct, as the claims ous stages of his journalistic ca- publicly identifi ed Akbar as the opinion on the ongoing #MeToo has issued notices to all directors The letter is most likely a last- the letter. against the minister needed to be reer, during which he launched central character of her piece. movement in India. She says al- who have been named by women ditch eff ort after the RBI told of- Government sources have pre- “looked into”. and edited several newspapers. “I began this piece with my M though she supports the brave for sexual harassment or assault. fi cials at top payment fi rms this viously told Reuters though, that “It’s diffi cult to comment on Akbar is currently on an of- J Akbar story. Never named him women who have spoken out IFTDA president Ashoke Pan- week that the central bank would stringent data localisation meas- something that comes on a web- fi cial tour abroad. He is yet to because he didn’t ‘do’ anything. against their perpetrators, she dit said notices had been sent to implement, in full, its data local- ures were essential for gaining site. One can put anything on make a statement on the allega- Lots of women have worse sto- also wants just the truth to be the accused fi lmmakers, includ- isation directive without extend- easier access to data during in- a website. So, this needs to be tions against him. ries about this predator – maybe stated with no exaggerations as ing Sajid Khan and Vikas Bahl, ing the deadline, or allowing data vestigations. checked. If that is true or false, On Friday, US-based journal- they’ll share,” she said. some may try to misuse it. seeking their response within to be stored both off shore as well The measures in India come whether such an incident hap- ist Majlie de Puy Kamp told on- Journalist Shutapa Paul re- In a series of tweets yester- ten days. If they do not respond, as locally – a practice known as at a time when countries around pened or not,” Shah said in an line news portal Huff Post India called in a series of tweets on day, Khan said: I support the their names would be placed on data mirroring. the world are announcing strin- interview on ETV late Friday. that Akbar forcibly kissed her on Wednesday that as the India brave women who have spoken the ‘non-co-operation’ list, fol- “We see this (data localisa- gent rules to regulate how fi rms “It will have to be seen if it is the last day of her internship at Today editor, whenever Akbar out against their perpetrators. lowing which the women could tion) as a fundamental issue to store data and protect privacy, the same person who is level- The Asian Age offi ce in 2007. came to Kolkata, he would in- But I also ask only the truth to be approach the two lawyers who the further development of dig- in the aftermath of Facebook’s ling allegations or someone else Earlier this week, FORCE vite her to his hotel, usually after stated with no exaggerations, as have come forward to provide ital trade and one that is crucial Cambridge Analytica scandal. has put it up (on social media). magazine executive editor 8pm. He would then drink alco- the more honest and real we keep legal help, he added.

New Delhi’s air quality Third phase of Kashmir deteriorates to ‘unhealthy’ municipal polls ends IANS held for the four municipal Jammu/Srinagar committees of Samba, Ram- DPA age lung tissue – were recorded burning, a statement from the garh, Vijaypur and Bari Braha- New Delhi at levels up to 12 times the limit Haryana State Pollution Control mana. deemed safe by the World Health Board said. oting for the third phase In Anantnag, voting took Organisation. Haryana has banned the burn- of municipal polls ended place for the Mattan municipal he air quality in New Delhi Air pollution control strategist ing of crop residue but farmers Vpeacefully yesterday in committee, while in Baramulla plummeted to an “un- Parthaa Bosu wrote on Twitter continue the practice as it is the Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba, district people voted for the Uri Thealthy” level yesterday that pollution levels were eight cheapest way of clearing their Srinagar, Anantnag and Bara- and Sopore municipal commit- as farmers burned post-harvest times above the city’s standard fi elds. mulla districts, with an overall tees. roots and plant debris on their level and cautioned residents to The entire state was being turnout of 16.3%. For the Srinagar municipal fi elds outside the capital. stay indoors, avoid exercise and monitored via satellite imagery to Jammu region in Samba dis- corporation, voting was held in The city’s already poor air qual- monitor children and senior. spot and control burning. trict recorded the highest voter four wards. ity worsens every year as farmers People on their morning walks New Delhi, a city with a popu- turnout of 81.5%, while Baram- In the Valley’s Pulwama and in neighbouring Punjab and Har- could be seen wearing masks. By lation of 20mn, has been ranked ulla in the Valley saw a turnout Bandipora districts, some can- yana states burn crop residue in late afternoon, the Air Quality among the worst-polluted cities of 75.3%. didates were elected unopposed October and November to prepare Index in parts of eastern Delhi in the world in recent years. In Srinagar, a dismal 1.8% of while in the other wards, no for the next growing season. shot up to the “very severe” cat- Vehicular and industry emis- the electorate came out to vote, candidate had fi led papers for The early morning sun was egory. sions, construction dust and rub- while in Anantnag it was saw the third phase. hidden in a haze and air quality Heart Care Foundation, a bish burning are all cited in addi- 3.2%. A total of 365 candidates are was recorded as “very poor” at non-profi t working in the area of tion to crop burning as reasons for Polling started at 6am and in the fray for 96 wards of eight several locations monitored by health, has called for postponing high levels of pollution. ended at 4pm. urban local bodies comprising the Ministry of Earth Sciences. Delhi’s half marathon, scheduled The government has taken up As in the previous two phas- 193,990 eligible voters. The levels of suspended par- for October 21, as the poor air some initiatives to combat the es, there was no major incident Additional staff was de- ticles smaller than 2.5 microme- quality posed a risk to runners. worsening air quality, but none of violence anywhere in the ployed at polling stations with tres – a size considered extremely Fines were imposed on 12 farm- of them have proved very suc- Voters arrive at a polling centre amid tight security during the third state. a large number of voters, offi - fi ne that can penetrate and dam- ers on Friday due to crop residue cessful. phase of Jammu and Kashmir municipal polls, in Srinagar yesterday. In Samba district, polls were cials said. Gulf Times 18 Sunday, October 14, 2018 INDIA

SIT report on Gujarat riots a blatant lie, reiterates ex-army offi cer

IANS written the ‘gospel truth’, adding and other logistical support from ditional chief secretary (Home). The SIT never called the Lt Gen- “an administrative failure”, Ansari, attache at the Indian High Com- New Delhi that the sequence of events has the state government in order to “I was not aware of the SIT eral for questioning. It looks ap- during his brief address at the book mission in Nicosia seeking his been recorded in the “war dia- fan out to cities and towns which report until a few days ago when parent from its report that the SIT launch, asked “where does the re- views on whether the army or it’s ries” of the army. were engulfed in violence. this was pointed out to me. Let did not look at Shah’s After Action sponsibility lie if the civil adminis- After Action Report was consid- etired Lt General Zameer “When the time comes, these This delay, according to him, me say again, it is a blatant lie. I Report submitted to Gen Padmana- tration failed to respond?” ered before reaching the conclu- Uddin Shah reiterated yes- diaries will be provided. What happened despite a request by have told the truth. I don’t think bhan, which was subsequently for- Ansari praised the book and sion that there was “no delay in Rterday that authorities de- I have reported is the gospel the Lt General to Modi at 2am if there’s a better qualifi ed person warded to the central government. referred to the portions that ap- requisition and deployment of the layed making transport arrange- truth,” he said. on March 1 in Ahmedabad, in the than me to talk about it,” he said. According to Shah, the army put pealed to him personally. The army” have not been answered. ments to the army by over a day The book has courted much presence of then defence minis- General S Padmanabhan, the an end to the mayhem during the evening also witnessed a brief A panel comprising former despite a request made to then controversy over its portions re- ter George Fernandes. then chief of Army Staff , speak- riots within 48 hours (March 4) by reading about the life of wives of Indian envoy to Saudi Arabia chief minister Narendra Modi lating to the riots. Shah, who led A Supreme Court-appointed ing to IANS earlier, had backed “resolute, fi rm and fair action”, but men in service. Talmiz Ahmad; actor Naseerud- during the 2002 Gujarat riots. the army in quelling the riots, Special Investigative Team (SIT) the assertions of Shah. Shah says he holds the “bias” and “politici- The SIT was headed by former din Shah; Jamia Hansard Vice Shah was speaking at the has said in his memoir that af- report, that had cleared Modi’s he “could not be surer” about the sation” of the police responsible CBI director R K Raghavan (now Chancellor Syed Ehtesham Ha- launch of his book The Sarkari ter about 3,000 troops landed at name, had concluded that there events leading to the deployment for the uncontrolled violence. ambassador to Cyprus). When con- snain; senior journalists Seema Mussalman, unveiled by former the Ahmedabad airfi eld by 7am was no delay “in requisition and of army in Gujarat as he had men- Although Shah does not make tacted by IANS on phone, Raghavan Mustafa, Satish Jacob and Vinod vice president Hamid Ansari. on March 1, they had to wait for deployment of the army”, based on tioned every detail in the After Ac- any political statements and calls the said he was “not prepared to talk”. Dua later participated in a panel The former offi cer said he has over a day to receive transport testimony of Ashok Narayan, ad- tion Report on Operation Aman. delay in the deployment of the army Questions sent to him and his discussion on the book.

12 feared dead in Rahul takes landslide in Odisha the fi ght over IANS Bhubaneswar

he Odisha government yesterday rushed a team Tof rescuers after local Rafale deal media reported that 12 people, including fi ve children, lost their lives while four were missing following a landslide in Gajapati district. The incident occurred in Barghara village when a cave in to HAL doors which they had taken shelter collapsed following incessant IANS the contract has zero experience. the contract has worked only for rain triggered by cyclone Titli on Bengaluru “Does HAL have debt? No. But 12 days. The temples of modern Thursday. the person who got the contract India are being destroyed,” the However, the offi cials are yet has Rs45,000 crore debt,” he Congress president said. to confi rm the exact death toll. ongress president Rahul added. Taking a jibe at the media, he said: “There are reports about the Gandhi yesterday took the “You are the only company “You (HAL employees) called me death of 12 people and miss- CRafale battle to the doors with the requisite experience to here because you feel the media is ing of four persons in a land- of Hindustan Aeronautics Limit- build that aircraft (Rafale). You not listening to your voice. But me- slide caused by heavy rains in ed, and said the government has are the people who built Tejas, dia does not listen even to us these Baraghara village in Gajapati “insulted, hurt and destroyed” MiG, Sukhoi. How can anybody days. The media bosses don’t want district. We are verifying the the future of the public sector say that you are not experienced? these types of conversations.” reports,” Special Relief Com- company by depriving it of the The forces trying to take away Gandhi said he was 100% with missioner (SRC) Bishnupada off set contract with the French your future are quite powerful, the employees of defence public Sethi said. aircraft manufacturer Dassault. quite connected,” he said, add- sector undertakings and told them He said they can only confi rm In an hour-long interac- ing that concerted eff orts would they were free to call him anytime the death toll after the team re- tion with about 100 former and be needed to save HAL and other 24/7 to voice their grievances. turns. present employees of HAL, who public sector companies. Replying to questions by re- The SRC said the team would were asked by the management “I have come to give a message porters on Defence Minister Nir- have to trek about 17km, cutting to keep away from the meet- that we are going to protect your mala Sitharaman saying that the the trees to reach the spot. ing, Gandhi also questioned the future. We are going to fi ght for government of India had no role Chief Minister Naveen Pat- credibility and the experience of your rights. Rafale is your right. in deciding the off set partner, the naik expressed condolence over the private company that got the The decision (to give off set con- Congress chief said the defence the tragedy. Rs300bn off set contract. tract) should be done only on minister was “lying”. “The tragic incident of land- Gandhi said fi rms such as merit. Nobody in the world who “The former president of France slide in Gajapati has been most HAL, Indian Space Research thinks objectively and takes de- (Francois Hollande) has said that unfortunate. I extend my deep- Organisation and the Defence cisions on merit can take away the government of India told him est condolence to the bereaved Research and Development Or- the off set contract from HAL.” to give the contract to Ambani. families,” he said. ganisation were the “temples of Gandhi said when the Congress Documentation has also come out Chief secretary Aditya Prasad modern India” which were being comes to power at the Centre its that Dassault has said this.” Padhi said a team comprising “destroyed” by the government government would ensure that Before interacting with the em- Gajapati district superintendent that was indulging in corruption. HAL got more orders to make air- ployees, Gandhi said: “We are in of police, sub-collector, doctors “A very senior person in the craft. “We will not allow this gov- opposition but if there is some- and other offi cials have gone to government has raised questions ernment or anyone to destroy HAL thing we can do to help you we the landslide area. over the ‘capacity’ of HAL. I ask or take away orders from it.” would like to do it. When we come He said the accident spot is them as to what is the capacity of Referring to the circular ask- to government we would like to do located at the border of Sri- Anil Ambani’s company that has ing employees to keep away from even more aggressively.” kakulam in Andhra Pradesh and got the contract? What exactly is the interaction with him, Gandhi Mirajuddin, a former trade un- Raighar block and it is inacces- the experience this person has (in said the management must have ion leader of HAL, said the com- sible. aeronautics)? The HAL’s capabili- been under “pressure” from the pany was capable of manufactur- With opposition parties ques- ties are all in front of us. You (HAL) government but “we are fi ghting ing Rafale in India and they were tioning the poor handling of the have built HF-24, MiGs, Sukhoi for you too”. agitated over the off set contract natural calamity and the gov- and Tejas. The public sector is the He said the HAL fraternity has going to a private company. ernment’s zero casualty claim, backbone of the country and the been insulted and hurt. “Their “We felt let down...we were the chief minister said, “If the defence sector,” Gandhi said. hard work of the last 78 years, not only surprised but felt in- opposition parties want to The opposition leader said it their patriotism, has been insult- sulted. We are not begging. We criticise, they can do so. We are was “completely ridiculous” to ed and questioned by the govern- are demanding that our rights busy in relief and rehabilitation Congress president Rahul Gandhi greets employees of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) during an say that HAL does not have any ment through the Defence Min- based on merit should be pro- works.” interaction with them, in Bengaluru yesterday. experience. The person who got istry. The gentleman who has got tected,” he said.

Sena threatens mass suicides Mohanlal under fi re if women enter Sabarimala over actress kidnap case IANS address them as mere actresses. IANS tion and culture to be protect- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Kochi “It really hurt us very much... Thiruvananthapuram ed and that’s our only demand. NDA campaign against the court he could have mentioned us by Hundreds of our activists will ruling. our name. We have now realised reach the temple town on Oc- He said: “Women coming he Association of Ma- that AMMA’s executive com- he Kerala unit of Shiv Sena tober 17 and guard all entry to Sabarimala temple should layalam Movie Artists mittee is taking us for a ride and yesterday threatened to points to the famed temple,” be ripped in half,” and one half T(AMMA), led by superstar is not serious about the victim Tstage mass suicides if added Aji. should be thrown to Delhi and Mohanlal, came under fi re yes- getting justice in the kidnap- women in the 10-50 age group Given the aggressive postur- the other half to the Offi ce of terday from the Women’s Col- ping case,” said Revathy, adding are allowed to enter the Sabar- ing of the Shiv Sena members, Chief Minister Vijayan. lective in Cinema (WCC) over AMMA should be handled by re- imala temple. now all eyes will be on the way But sensing that his statement the way the kidnapping case of sponsible people. P Aji, a senior Shiv Sena leader, the Kerala government led by had crossed limits of decency, he an actress is being handled. Trouble started soon after told IANS here that their “sui- Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan quickly apologised. The WCC was formed last Mohanlal took over as AMMA cide squads” comprising men – who has announced that the Meanwhile activist Desai said: year by women drawn from vari- president in June. He took back and women above 50 are ready state government will ensure “We will announce a date very ous sectors of the fi lm industry into the AMMA fold Dileep, for the supreme sacrifi ce. adherence to the Supreme Court soon to visit the temple... There to fi ght for their cause, after they prompting leading actresses “Our members will be sta- verdict – handles the situation should be no attempt to stop found that AMMA was not pro- Rima Kallingal, Remya Nam- tioned at various places in and when the temple doors open on us because we now have equal tecting their interests. bisan and Geetu Mohandas to around the temple and if any October 18. rights.” Senior actor Dileep is an ac- quit the organisation in protest. woman not supposed to enter On September 28, the Su- Desai played a major role in cused in the kidnapping case that Another 14 members announced the temple is granted access, preme Court delivered its ver- opening up to women shrines like took place last year. The actor their decision to quit, citing lack then their suicide squad mem- dict against the age-old tradition Mumbai’s Haji Ali. was in jail for 85 days and is now of fairness. bers will take their lives,” Aji that banned the entry of women Reacting sharply to the re- out on bail. At a press conference yester- warned. between 10 and 50 years into the marks of the activist who is also The WCC alleges that AMMA day, Revathy, Padmapriya, Par- The Shiv Sena’s threat comes Sabarimala temple. the founder of the Pune-based has not supported the victim, vathy and the three actresses hours after gender equality ac- In a related development, po- Bhumata Brigade, Kerala BJP whereas Dileep has got all the who quit AMMA and a few oth- tivist Trupti Desai said that she lice in Kollam district yesterday president P S Sreedharan Pillai Women hold placards as they attend a protest march called by backing. ers were also present. was determined to visit the tem- registered a case against actor said Desai should not challenge various Hindu organisations against the lifting of ban by Supreme Leading actress Revathy yes- The decision on Dileep’s sta- ple shortly. Kollam Thulasi for his state- the emotions and feelings of the Court that allowed entry of young women to the Sabarimala temple, terday said that many like her tus has been left to the next gen- “We want the temple tradi- ment at a public meeting of the devotees of the temple. in Kochi yesterday. were shocked to hear Mohanlal eral body meeting of AMMA. Gulf Times Sunday, October 14, 2018 19 LATIN AMERICA

Pope defrocks 2 Chile ex-bishops Bolsonaro commits to free in abuse scandal AFP Vatican City

ope Francis has defrocked two Chilean former bish- press after calling it ‘trash’ Pops for allegedly sexu- ally abusing minors, the Vatican Reuters Adviser favours selling Eletrobras generation assets said yesterday, after a meeting Rio de Janeiro between the Pontiff and Chile’s The top economic adviser to Brazilian de Janeiro. “There are many cases of president. far-right presidential front-runner Jair strong private generation.” The decision to expel former razil’s leading presidential can- Bolsonaro said he favours selling off Bolsonaro has named Guedes, a archbishop Francisco Jose Cox didate has vowed to defend free- some of the power generation assets of University of Chicago-trained economist, Huneeus and former bishop Bdom of the press after his tirades utility company Centrais Eletricas Bra- to be his economy and finance super Marco Antonio Ordenes Fernan- against the media and reports of his sileiras S.A., raising new contradictions in minister, a clear signal that he plans to be dez — the latest heads to roll in supporters attacking journalists raised the candidate’s policy team. a market-friendly president if he defeats a country hit hard by the cleric fears that civil liberties might suff er if Shares of the company, known as leftist Workers Party candidate Fernando abuse scandal — is not open to he is elected. Eletrobras, soared following the clear Haddad in the October 28 run-off vote. appeal. Soon after describing the media as lead Bolsonaro took in last Sunday’s Yet Bolsonaro has disavowed Guedes Both were stripped of their “trash” in a Thursday tweet, far-right first-round vote, but then tumbled 13% publicly on occasion, revealing wide priesthood “as a consequence of congressman and former army captain on Wednesday when Bolsonaro said divisions on policy among his team of overt acts of abuse against mi- Jair Bolsonaro turned around and called he would privatise transmission and advisers, which is divided between na- nors”, it said. journalists “friends,” pledging to defend distribution units but not the generation tionalists and free-market advocates. The announcement came a their work. of electricity. Divisions have emerged on taxation and day after the Pope accepted the “When they cover the facts, without Bolsonaro had previously promised wage policies and includes the potential resignation of Washington DC political activism and partiality, the to privatise some state-controlled privatisation of Brazil’s largest company, archbishop Donald Wuerl, who media fulfi l the valuable role of inform- companies. state-run oil corporation Petrobras. has been blamed for not doing ing people,” he said on Twitter, adding But in comments to reporters late on Commenting on his reluctance to sell enough to deal with paedophile “WE ARE AGAINST ANY TYPE OF SO- Friday, his economic guru Paulo Guedes core Eletrobras units, Bolsonaro cited priests. CIAL CONTROL OF THE MEDIA AND gave a contradictory view, saying he a concern about Chinese domination, Yesterday’s defrocking was INTERNET.” favoured selling Eletrobras generation which has bought electrical assets in “an extremely unusual, if not Like US President Donald Trump, assets rather than transmission assets. Brazil in the past two years. unprecedented” move, wrote whose 2016 campaign he has emu- “Transmission, that’s very diff icult, but “China isn’t buying in Brazil, China is Ines San Martin, a Vatican ex- lated, Bolsonaro has derided critical in the case of generation there are cases buying Brazil,” Bolsonaro said. “Are you pert working for specialist Cath- press coverage as “fake news” and con- where I would sell and others where I willing to leave Brazil in the hands of the olic website Crux. nected directly with supporters on so- wouldn’t,” Guedes told reporters in Rio Chinese?” Brazil’s right-wing presidential candidate for the Social Liberal Party Jair Bolsonaro Defrocking is considered the cial media, where he posts video chats, gestures at a press conference in Rio de Janeiro. Church’s harshest penalty for retweets right-wing outlets and sug- priests, barring the off ender gests the media is part of a corrupt sys- prominent in a string of violent acts Since the impeachment of former “That fear is not paranoia. It is the re- pendent, and be responsible in every- from exercising any clerical du- tem out to stop him. hanging over the race. president Dilma Rousseff , which sult of what Bolsonaro and his allies say thing that you write,” he added. ties at all, even in private. In a Friday interview, his presidential Some incidents involve his support- Haddad’s Workers Party (PT) called a — and what the candidate does not say.” But when it was the turn of a fe- Scores of new cases involving rival, leftist Fernando Haddad, criti- ers allegedly attacking or threatening media-supported “coup,” crowds at The Brazilian Association of Inves- male reporter from newspaper Folha the abuse of minors by priests cised Bolsonaro’s campaign for “foster- journalists, along with minorities that leftist rallies have also been accused of tigative Journalism (Abraji) has identi- de S.Paulo to ask a question, she was have come to light in Chile, ing a culture of violence.” he has denigrated. intimidating camera crews from major fi ed more than 60 instances of physical hissed and booed by his supporters, deepening a crisis in the Roman Bolsonaro suspended campaign Some of his comments have led TV stations. violence or its imminent threat against prompting party leader Gustavo Bebi- Catholic Church that has also events after surviving a knife attack to him facing federal charges of hate However, many reporters say the ani- journalists during the campaign and anno to remind them of their commit- embroiled Pope Francis. during a rally last month, but still rode speech, which he has dismissed as po- mosity from Bolsonaro supporters has more than 70 cases of online persecu- ment to a free press. Francis yesterday met Chilean a wave of anger over political graft, ris- litically motivated. been more intense, targeting specifi c tion. Folha broke news of police investigat- President Sebastian Pinera at the ing violence and a weak economy to win On Thursday, a car transporting journalists for social media attacks that Bolsonaro attempted to address the ing a senior Bolsonaro aide this week. Vatican for talks on the “diffi cult 46% of fi rst-round votes last Sunday. Haddad was blocked by a pick-up truck have led to physical confrontations. issue during a rare news conference in Regarding the aggressions allegedly situation” in Chile. Opinion polls show him with a dou- in Brasília, according to his communi- “There is no doubt we’ve had violent Rio de Janeiro on Thursday, although carried out by his supporters, Bolsonaro They discussed “the painful ble-digit lead over Haddad ahead of the cation staff . The unidentifi ed occupants episodes and a growing climate of fear,” his eff orts were undercut by support- said he had zero tolerance. scourge of abuse of minors, re- October 28 run-off . of the vehicle shouted epithets against said Diego Escosteguy, former editor- ers in the room. “Members of the press, “If by any chance it was somebody iterating the eff ort of all in col- In Brazil’s most bitterly polarised Haddad, his aides said. in-chief of newsweekly Epoca and critic or maybe I should say ‘friends,’...we’re who voted for me, I reject that sort of laboration to combat and pre- election since the end of military rule Haddad said a man had been identi- of the PT. “Journalists, blacks, women, going to guarantee the freedom of the vote. They committed a crime, they’ll vent the perpetration of such in 1985, Bolsonaro’s stabbing by a men- fi ed in connection with the incident and PT voters — many are afraid,” he tweet- press,” he said. have to pay,” he said. “My people are not crimes and their concealment”, tally disturbed man has been the most is being monitored by police. ed on Friday. “We want for you to really be inde- disseminating hate.” the Vatican said. The leaders “shared the hope that the church could live a true rebirth,” Pinera said in a state- ment. Traditional headgear A total of 167 bishops, priests Mexican police investigate and lay members of the church in Chile are now under investiga- tion for sexual crimes commit- traffi cking along US border ted since 1960. Francis has already apologised repeatedly to Chileans over the Reuters Chihuahua’s Autonomous University of scandal, admitting the church Mexico City Ciudad Juárez. failed “to listen and react” to the “The region has become a space where allegations, but has vowed to traffi cking, sexual exploitation and disap- “restore justice”. olice in Mexico have arrested a pearances are a growing reality,” he told In May, the Argentina-born woman suspected of running a sex the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Ac- Pontiff accepted the resignation Ptraffi cking operation along the US cording to Hernández, many women who of fi ve Chilean bishops following border that may be linked to the disap- become victims of sex traffi cking are fi rst allegations of abuse and related pearance of several nursing students ear- reported as missing and later turn up dead. coverups. lier this year, authorities say. Government fi gures show that as of Francis himself became mired Claudia Palmira is accused of coercing April, more than 9,000 women are re- in the scandal when, during a a teenage girl and a young woman into ported missing across Mexico. More than trip to Chile in January, he de- performing sexual acts in exchange for 2,000 men and women are missing from fended 61-year-old bishop Juan money and traffi cking them across state the border state of Chihuahua. Barros, who was accused of cov- lines, according to the Attorney General’s Jessica Rentería, spokeswoman for ering up abuse by paedophile offi ce in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. the prosecutor investigating the Palmira priest Fernando Karadima in the The case highlights the prevalence of case, said authorities discovered the sus- 1980s and 1990s. traffi cking in Mexico, where an estimated pected traffi cking operation after looking Karadima was suspended for 341,000 people live in modern slavery, into the disappearance of three nurses life by the Vatican over allega- according to the 2018 Global Slavery In- who lived together in the town of Perral. tions of child molestation. Francis dex published by the human rights group Mexican media has reported that eventually accepted he was wrong Walk Free Foundation. Palmira allegedly used online social net- to defend Barros and subsequent- Figures from the Attorney General’s of- works to promote a “catalogue” of wom- ly accepted his resignation. fi ce show more than four out of fi ve hu- en for potential clients. Juan Carlos Cruz, one of Ka- man traffi cking cases in Mexico involve The prosecutor’s offi ce said the au- radima’s victims, tweeted yes- sexual exploitation. “It’s an increasingly thenticity of the cataloguer has not been terday that it was “a good day for Indigenous schoolchildren dressed in traditional attire take part in the commemoration of Indigenous Resistance serious problem,” said Alfredo Limas verifi ed but said social networks have the survivors of these monsters”. Day on Friday in San Juan de Oriente town, Nicaragua. Hernández, co-director of the Observa- been used in human traffi cking in Chi- “Now it’s up to the Chilean tory of Social and Gender Violence at huahua. justice to do something!” Dead not spared indignities of Venezuela’s crisis

By Con Alexander Martinez, A year before his death, an em- Lisandra has had more than Venezuela slams Colombia over refugee status granted to dissident unique, though many others are AFP bolism had left the 78-year-old her share of woe; in 2014, her po- due to chronic violence. Maracaibo, Venezuela Alvarez incapacitated. lice offi cer son was shot dead. Tension was running high over the status to Borges, a former president which favoured the development “There are many deaths...and Chicken pox only made the sit- Days before Alvarez died, Bra- weekend between Venezuela and of Venezuela’s National Assembly, of drug traff icking, paramilitarism, there is no way to bury them,” uation worse, and went untreated cho’s family dug a hole in his Colombia, with Caracas accusing whom Caracas accuses of master- criminal gangs and Colombian said one of his neighbours, who enceslao Alvarez’s because of a chronic shortage of backyard and slipped his body Bogota of protecting its enemies minding a drone attack on President irregular groups.” did not want to be identifi ed. body lay rotting in his medicines. inside. after Colombia granted refugee Nicolas Maduro in August. Relations between the two “Sometimes it takes 48 hours.” Whouse in Maracaibo His agony ended on October 4 He had succumbed the previ- status to Venezuelan dissident The Venezuelan statement countries are icy, with Colombia In 2017, non-governmental until the stench spread up the in a poor neighbourhood in the ous day to blood poisoning — a fate Julio Borges. described Borges as “a notorious currently having no ambassador organisations recorded some street. His shamed family had no port city of Maracaibo. which his relatives said could have Colombia protected “Ven- enemy of peace in Venezuela.” in Caracas after the last one was 26,000 violent deaths in Ven- money to bury him. His daughter Lisandra asked been avoided with antibiotics. ezuelan citizens who seriously Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza recalled last year. ezuela. Just days before, another fam- for help from local authorities to Even in life, the 39-year-old attack democracy and the life meanwhile criticised Colombian Colombia hosts nearly 1mn In many cases, the bodies of ily buried Ender Bracho in his bury him, but no help came. mason — with his protruding ribs of Venezuelan presidents,” the President Ivan Duque on Twitter, Venezuelans, many of whom murder victims are not accepted own back patio, covering him “The body was in a state of de- and gaunt facial features — was government said. saying he was unfairly blaming have fled the economic crisis and by funeral homes because they with a few shovelfuls of earth composition and the house was already looking like a corpse. Colombia announced on Thurs- on Venezuela the “abandon of political unrest in the neighbour- want to avoid the possibility of until the local state authorities stinking. I couldn’t fi nd a way “Where is the government to day that it had granted refugee the Colombian side of the border, ing country. any disturbances caused by their fi nally stepped in with a coffi n to clean it,” said the 43-year-old help the poor? What they are do- relatives, said Mora. and a grave. laundry worker. ing is destroying us!” said Bra- For Alvarez, while the neigh- In February, the corpse of Three days later, a neighbour- cho’s niece, Milagros. Several hours passed before come to me look for the cheapest That price doesn’t include a bouring municipality donated street vendor Francisco Rollos ing municipality donated a coffi n “Look at the state the country workers from the Zulia state gov- service they can get,” says funeral gravestone. the coffi n and the grave, it did not was laid out in front of the city and a grave. is in. We can get nothing.” ernment showed up with a casket parlour owner Luis Mora. Undertakers are also looking to provide a hearse to transport his hall in the northwestern city of By that time, the stench com- Wrapped in a blanket, Bracho’s and directions to a gravesite. “When they come, they have cut costs. body. Turen — a silent but forceful plea ing from the house infi ltrated the body was lowered into the back- The economic crisis, coupled already spent what little resourc- They no longer buy large A neighbour took his remains for the municipality to take on his homes all along the street. yard pit. with state repression, is hit- es they have on care and treat- stocks of formaldehyde, used to to the cemetery in a van. burial. “We threw three bags of lime in His mother Gladys helped cov- ting ordinary Venezuelans hard, ments,” he told AFP. preserve bodies, but only acquire He also brought concrete slabs For Venezuela’s poor, the living the coffi n and one more on top to er his remains with some earth. with chronic shortages of basic Mora, who owns two Caracas it “day by day,” said Mora. and bricks for the grave. nightmare created by the coun- contain the smell,” said Lisandra. Neighbours objected, fearing goods and infl ation forecast to top funeral homes, says costs vary Some situations are even more Twelve slabs usually would try’s economic crisis — which A year ago, she had to sell the disease could spread if his tem- 1.3mn% this year, according to the from 8,000 to 25,000 bolivars extreme. have been needed to complete has forced millions to fl ee — is family refrigerator in order to porary grave were to end up being International Monetary Fund. ($130 — $400), set against a min- In Bracho’s neighbourhood, the job. lingering beyond the grave. bury her mother. his fi nal resting place. “About 90% of the people who imum monthly salary of $29. his undignifi ed end is far from But there were only two. Gulf Times 20 Sunday, October 14, 2018 PAKISTAN Unregistered mobile phones to become unusable

Internews or pose potential health problems ment, mobile phone operators, they would not be blocked by the able to operate the handset after subscribers about the status of means the device either has an Islamabad to unsuspecting consumers. distributors, and consumers. DIRBS. furnishing information includ- their mobile devices. IMEI that is not allocated by “We recommend that con- These are the devices that are “However, a consumer who ing their identity card number, The four types of responses GSMA, or is duplicated. sumers buy only PTA-approved not registered with the Global inserts a SIM (subscriber iden- the IMEI of the handset, and that can be received by a sub- To facilitate such users, the he Pakistan Telecommu- phone sets after October 20. A System for Mobile Association tity module) card other than the country where the set was scriber inquiring about the status PTA will auto-pair all such IMEIs nication Authority (PTA) consumer should text the In- (GSMA) and may be mass-pro- the one (s)he was using before bought. of the IMEI include “compliant active on mobile networks with Thas announced that the ternational Mobile Equipment duced by manufacturers that do October 20 in a non-compliant “In exceptional cases, such us- devices”, which are the PTA-ap- specifi c SIMs before October 20. long-anticipated Device Identi- Identity (IMEI) number printed not comply with international mobile device after the amnesty ers on roaming services, they will proved devices legally imported After that date, such users will fi cation, Registration and Block- on the box of a new handset to standards of production, result- period, will be required to reg- be able to continue using their into Pakistan. be able to use their devices with ing System (DIRBS) would be- 8484. But he or she should pay ing in the proliferation of coun- ister the phone’s IMEI with the phones without interruption. The second response is “valid paired SIMs only. come functional on October 20, for the handset only after (s)he terfeit, possibly hazardous, mo- PTA within two weeks to be able However, as soon as they insert a devices”, which are the ones hav- Finally, the “blocked devices” after which all unregistered mo- receives reply that the set is com- bile phones. to continue using the handset,” local SIM, they will have to reg- ing valid IMEIs but which are not message indicates that the IMEI bile phones would become unus- pliant with the regulatory stand- The PTA also said it had legal- Dogar said. ister their mobile devices with PTA-approved. is blocked as this IMEI had been able. ards,” said the PTA’s director ised the nearly 160mn compliant Consumers who buy handsets PTA,” Dogar said. To facilitate such users, the reported stolen earlier. The DIRBS is an indigenous general for services Talib Dogar. and non-compliant mobile de- abroad would have to register Another senior offi cer, Nou- PTA will auto-register the IMEIs Khalid said that after coming solution aimed at combatting the He said the technology will vices, active on all the networks, them in Pakistan by logging on to man Khalid, explained that in active on mobile networks before into eff ect, the system could help use of smuggled or counterfeit help the authorities counter the before the launch of the DIRBS. the PTA’s DIRBS website. order to create public awareness, October 20, and their status will the government increase reve- phone sets which either serve to problem of counterfeit devices All these devices would not After the one-time registra- the PTA is sending SMSes (short be compliant after the said date. nues from $170mn to $200mn on reduce tax revenues for the state, that adversely aff ects the govern- face any service interruption as tion, the consumer would be messaging service text) to all A “non-compliant” message imported phone sets.

Housing project PM announces measures builders to receive for overseas Pakistanis legal help, Prime minister reiterates Pakistan (SBP), and the NADRA problems faced by overseas Pa- soon be issued to provincial gov- protection govt’s resolve to complete to submit a workable plan for kistanis in sending remittances ernments and law-enforcement tribal areas merger removing bottlenecks in the re- and retaining their legal proper- agencies in this regard, he added. mittance transfer mechanism ties in Pakistan. The meeting decided to es- Internews Internews using e-solutions. He added the government is tablish connectivity between the Islamabad Islamabad “Had an extensive meeting trying to solve their problems ministry of overseas Pakistanis this morning on overseas Paki- expeditiously. and human resource develop- stanis. We are going to announce “Overseas Pakistanis are ment and the NADRA to main- nvestors and developers in- he government has abol- a special package of incentives to among national assets” and tain records of the overseas Pa- terested in the Naya Paki- ished the mandatory re- encourage them to send remit- could play an important role in kistanis, including the labourers. Istan (New Pakistan) Housing Tquirement for overseas tances through banking chan- improving the country’s fi nan- Biometric verifi cation charges Project launched by Prime Min- Pakistanis to obtain the National nels by removing all hindrances cial condition through remit- for the labourers going abroad ister Imran Khan would be given Identity Card for Overseas Pa- and procedural issues. [The] tances, said Khan. were reduced from Rs45 to Rs10 legal protection and full assist- kistanis (NICOP), one of the Philippines did this success- The meeting also decided to per verifi cation. ance by the ministry of law, a sources of revenue for the Na- fully,” Khan tweeted after the reform civil and criminal laws, The meeting also decided that senior government offi cial has tional Database and Registration meeting. discouraging illegal occupation the “family tree” record of Pa- said. Authority (NADRA). “By removing these hindranc- of properties owned by overseas kistanis working abroad would Since it is a public-private It also reduced biometric ver- es, we will be able to increase Pakistanis. be shared with the ministry of Khan: We are going to announce a special package of incentives to partnership project, some pro- ifi cation charges for the labour- remittance fl ows from $20bn to It also discussed the matter overseas Pakistanis and human encourage them to send remittances through banking channels. spective investors and devel- ers going abroad. at least $30bn, and perhaps even of establishing special courts in resource development, enabling opers are wary of future litiga- Both the decisions were tak- $40bn, through banking chan- this regard. it to provide them the benefi ts education and housing. place through a constitutional tion and investigations by the en during a meeting chaired by nels,” he tweeted further. Khan stated that labourers of health, education and accom- “The tribal areas will be pro- amendment in the last days of anti-corruption watchdog, the Prime Minister Imran Khan in The meeting was attended earning low wages were already modation. vided all-out facilities like other the fi ve-year term of the previ- National Accountability Bureau the wake of a briefi ng given to by, among others, Special As- burdened with harsh working Meanwhile, during a meet- parts of the country,” he added. ous Pakistan Muslim League (NAB), which is already prob- him by the ministry of overseas sistant to the Prime Minister conditions abroad, and it is the ing with Federally Administered During the meeting, matters – Nawaz (PML-N) government ing a similar venture, the Ashi- Pakistanis and human resource on Overseas Pakistanis Syed government’s responsibility to Tribal Areas (Fata) senators at relating to the overall situation that ended on May 31. ana housing scheme in Lahore, development. Zulfi qar Bukhari, Special Assist- facilitate them and provide nec- the Prime Minister’s Offi ce, in tribal areas, the Fata merger, The process of transition is sources said. The government decided to ant to Prime Minister on Media essary facilities and incentives Khan reiterated the govern- and administrative aff airs came still in progress, which is now A senior offi cial of the min- undertake a couple of new ini- Iftikhar Durrani, the secretary for them and their families in the ment’s resolve to complete the under discussion. being monitored by the PTI gov- istry of housing said that the tiatives to facilitate the overseas to the prime minister, the fi - country. process for merger of the Fata The prime minister said the ernment. developers would be given legal Pakistanis. nance secretary, the secretary Various incentives, includ- with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) tribal people had rights to the Following the landmark merg- assistance. The prime minister also an- for overseas Pakistanis and hu- ing tax exemptions on remit- province. region’s resources, and that er, the provincial government The law ministry is formulat- nounced that the government man resource development, the tances and several social welfare The prime minister said that these should be spent on the established the offi ces of deputy ing proposals to facilitate the in- would soon unveil a special FBR and NADRA chairmen, and schemes, were also discussed the government is also striving construction and development commissioner and assistant vestors and the developers. incentives package aimed at senior offi cials from the SBP, the during the meeting. hard to place an eff ective local of the area. commissioners by introducing The ministry has already re- encouraging the overseas Pa- Federal Investigation Agency The prime minister warned governance system in the tribal The government has already the status of sub-division and ceived about half-a-dozen off ers kistanis to transfer remittances (FIA), and the Civil Aviation Au- that strict action would be taken districts. announced a Rs100bn uplift districts in the tribal areas which from investors and prospective through banking channels. thority (CAA). against those occupying proper- He assured the delegation package for tribal districts. were previously governed under developers from Pakistan and He directed the ministry of The Pakistan Tehreek-e-In- ties owned by the overseas Paki- that the Centre would help the The landmark merger of Fata one-and-a-half century-old overseas, a senior offi cial said. fi nance, the Federal Board of saf (PTI) government, said the stanis. provincial government in provi- and the Provincially Adminis- colonial laws known as the Fron- He said that the investment Revenue (FBR), the State Bank of prime minister, is fully aware of Relevant directives would sion of basic facilities like health, tered Tribal Areas with KP took tier Crimes Regulations. off ers have been received from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates. At least three groups have proposed several million dollars Crucial by-elections of investment in the projects, while several others are seeking appointments to present their taking place today proposals to the prime minister and the minister for housing and works, the offi cial said. Internews and shared their concern over The ministry has also written Islamabad the arrest of PML-N president to the ministries of defence, rail- Shehbaz Sharif just ahead of ways, religious aff airs and edu- the by-election. cation to submit details of gov- ll is set for the by-elec- The PML-N team comprised ernment land available for the tion today in 35 constit- Senators Sardar Yaqoob Nasir, Naya Pakistan Housing Project. Auencies countrywide in Chaudhry Tanvir Khan, and While the response of all the Pakistan. Marriyum Aurangzeb. ministries is still awaited, the Out of a total of 7,489 polling The PML-N leaders empha- government is confi dent that it stations, 1,727 have been de- sised that the arrest of their would have enough land avail- clared highly-sensitive. party leader, who’s also Leader able across the country to build According to the Election of the Opposition in the Na- 5mn houses, as per the prime Commission of Pakistan (ECP), tional Assembly, would have minister’s announcement. by-elections will be held in 11 a negative impact on the by- Prime Minister Khan launched National Assembly constitu- election. Naya Pakistan Housing Project encies and 24 provincial con- Speaking with media persons on Tuesday. stituencies. outside the Election Commis- Under the project, 5mn houses Out of 11 National Assembly sion Secretariat after the meet- would be provided to low-in- constituencies, one is in Islam- ing, Aurangzeb and Tanvir said come people across Pakistan. abad, eight in Punjab, and one that they had apprised the ECP Initially, the pilot project each in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa secretary of their concerns. would be launched in seven cit- and Sindh. They also shared their par- ies: Faisalabad, Sukkur, Quetta, A total of 51,235 polling per- ty’s reservations about the July Dera Ismail Khan, Islamabad, sonnel will be involved in the 25 general election. Gilgit, and Muzaff arabad. electoral exercise. They said that ballot count- A developer who visited the Army personnel will guard ing after polling should be housing ministry to present his the polling stations, both in- made before polling agents, Election presiding off icers carry election materials for a by-election after receiving them from the distributing point in Lahore yesterday. More proposal spoke about his plan. side and outside, and will be and that Form-47 be prepared than 100 candidates are contesting for 35 National Assembly and Provincial Assembly seats in the by-election scheduled for today. “I have presented a proposal responsible for security from before the candidates and their to build 10,000 small houses October 12 to 15. polling agents. costing between Rs700,000 and The ECP issued notifi cations PML-N chairman Raja Mo- Rs1.7mn per unit, according to on the shifting of four polling hamed Zafarul Haq, who is also their sizes,” said Major (retired) booths to new locations (build- the Leader of the Opposition in Tahir Ashraf. ings) as requested by the re- the Senate, has already written Family of woman on death row pray for freedom However, he also expressed gional election commissioner/ a letter to the ECP chief Justice some apprehensions about the district election commissioner (retired) Mohamed Raza Khan, project. (DRO), NA-131, Lahore. requesting that he order im- AFP However, in any case they announced that it had reached I will hug her and will cry meet- “Normally, government- The commission wrote to the mediate release of the PML-N London feared for their future life in a judgment, which it has yet to ing her and will thank God that sponsored housing projects are DRO in response to his letters president. Pakistan under the blasphemy reveal. he has got her released.” unsuccessful as these colonies written to the Election Com- The letter had said that with laws, they told AFP. “We are hopeful that what- Bibi’s family are in London on are developed in areas to which mission Secretariat on October the by-election just round the he family of Asia Bibi, a Bibi, who has been on death ever the court proceedings are, a visit organised by the charity residents have no real connec- 5 and 8. corner, a level playing fi eld was Christian mother who row since 2010, is at the cen- it will come out as positive for Aid to the Church in Need. tion. Meanwhile, a three-mem- not being ensured for all the Tfaces becoming the fi rst tre of the high-profi le case that us,” her husband Ashiq Mesih Bibi, a labourer, was ac- “The houses should be built in ber delegation of the Paki- contesting parties. person to be executed for blas- has divided Pakistan and drawn told AFP. cused of blasphemy against the areas where residents have rea- stan Muslim League – Nawaz He described the arrest of phemy in Pakistan, said they prayers from the Vatican. Her daughter Eisham Ashiq Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in sons to stay, like their business- (PML-N) met ECP Secretary the PML-N president as pre- hoped the Supreme Court On Monday the Supreme added: “I will be very happy the 2009 by Muslim women she was es, jobs or children’s education Babar Yaqoob Fateh Mohamed poll rigging. would free her. Court heard her last appeal and day my mother will be released. working with in a fi eld. nearby,” he said. Gulf Times Sunday, October 14, 2018 21 PHILIPPINES More Filipinos Communist eff ort to experienced oust Duterte ‘has failed’ hunger in

By Dempsey Reyes list of universities and colleges “Maybe White Christmas Manila Times allegedly being used as re- since the holiday season is ap- cruitment grounds by the CPP proaching,” he added, when third quarter and its armed wing, the NPA. asked if there would be colour- he “Red October” plot al- Among the 18 schools on the coding in the coming months. legedly being brewed by list are the University of the The supposed scuttling by Tthe Communist Party of Philippines Diliman, UP Ma- the CPP and the NPA of the of year: survey the Philippines (CPP) is fi zzling nila, Polytechnic University “Red October” plot came after and Defence Secretary Delfi n of the Philippines, Ateneo de the communists themselves Lorenzana has said he was look- Manila University, De La Salle and the political opposition, By Catherine S Valente (412,000 families) in June 2018 ing forward to a “White Christ- University, University of Santo among other so-called desta- Manila Times to 17.3% in September 2018. mas” instead. Tomas, Adamson University bilisers, laughed off the al- It also increased by 5.4 points “That (Red October plot) and Far Eastern University. leged plot to boot out Duterte in Balance Luzon, from 7.3% will not prosper anymore since “When the AFP disclosed from Malacanang. he number of Filipino (758,000 families) in June to we have uncovered their plans the plot, initially, they (plot- Last month, Parlade told families experiencing 12.7% in September. from the start,” Lorenzana told ters) were collaborating with a television interview that Tinvoluntary hunger in- Quarterly hunger, meanwhile, reporters on the sidelines of the several groups but when their members of the opposition, creased in the third quarter of fell by 3.3 points in the Visayas, International Day for Disaster plans were exposed by the particularly from the Liberal 2018, according to the latest from 9.3% (419,000 families) in Reduction 2018 in Quezon City. AFP, they scampered, which Party (LP), were conniving Social Weather Stations (SWS) June to 6.0% in September. Despite the apparently abort- is the reason why the plotters with the communists to re- survey. It, however, rose by 7.0 ed plot, he insisted that the will not pursue it anymore,” move the president. The poll from September 15 to points in Mindanao, from 11.3% Armed Forces of the Philippines Duterte: overcoming opposition according to Lorenzana. He, however, retracted his 23 among 1,500 Filipino adults (604,000 families) in June to (AFP) was able to retrieve docu- Instead of a “Red October,” statement, saying some of the nationwide found that 13.3% 18.3% in September. ments after armed clashes with The “Red October” plot was Antonio Parlade Jr, assistant the Defence chief said in jest LP members withdrew their or around 3.1mn families ex- SWS noted that the 3.9-point the New People’s Army (NPA), supposed to take place on Octo- deputy chief of staff for opera- that he would rather opt to participation in the ouster plot perienced involuntary hunger increase in the quarterly hunger containing plans to oust Presi- ber 17, as earlier announced by tions. look forward to a happy De- after realising it was hatched at least once in the past three was due to “increases in the inci- dent Rodrigo Duterte. the military through Brig. Gen. Parlade had also released a cember. by the communists. months, up by 3.9% points from dence of hunger among the self- the 9.4% or around 2.2mn fami- rated poor and the self-rated lies in June 2018. non-poor.” The pollster noted that the From June to September, quar- September reading was the terly hunger rose by 5.9 points Tough life highest since the 15.9% in De- among the self-rated poor, from Cayetano cember 2017. 12.6% in June to 18.5% in Sep- The 13.3% quarterly hunger tember.This has been the highest was composed of 10.6% (around since December 2017. hails UN 2.5mn families) who experienced It also increased by 1.1 points “moderate hunger” and 2.8% among the non-poor (Not Poor (about 643,000 families) who plus Borderline) over the same rights experienced “severe hunger.” period, going from 6.5% to 7.6%. Moderate hunger refers to This was the highest since De- those who experienced it “only cember 2017. panel seat once” or “a few times” in the last Hunger also increased among three months, while severe hun- the self-rated food poor, rising ger pertains to those who expe- by 7.5 points from 14.8% in June Reuters rienced it “often” or “always” in to 22.3% in September. Manila the last three months. It also increased by 1.5 points The few who did not state among the Not Food-Poor/ their frequency of hunger were Food-Borderline, from 6.7% to ranting the Philippines a classifi ed under moderate hun- 8.2%. fresh three-year term on ger, the pollster said. “At any one point in time, Gthe UN Human Rights SWS said moderate hunger fell quarterly hunger among the Council has vindicated Presi- by 2.5 points, from 8.1% in June self-rated food-Poor is always dent Rodrigo Duterte and shown to 10.6% in September. greater than Hunger among the his detractors to be “morally This was the highest since the self-rated poor,” SWS said. corrupt”, its foreign minister said 12.2% in December 2017. The third quarter poll, con- yesterday. Severe hunger increased by 1.5 ducted using face-to-face in- Human rights activists say points, from 1.3% in June to 2.8% terviews, had sampling error Duterte’s crackdown on drugs in September. margins of + or – 3% for national after taking offi ce in June 2016 — This was the highest since the percentages, + or – 4% for Bal- since when the police have killed 3.7% in December 2017. ance Luzon, and + or – 6% each more than 4,800 people — made Children push wooden carts with a drum of water in Manila, yesterday. Hunger rose by 4.3 points for Metro Manila, Visayas, and his government unfi t for a seat at in Metro Manila, from 13.0% Mindanao. the body. But the Philippines was re- elected to the 47-seat council by secret ballot at the UN Gen- eral Assembly on Friday. “We are really greatly hon- Council quashes high court’s oured as this is a vindication Brothers in clash for Senate that fake news and baseless accusations have no place in ‘no interview’ proposal modern-day human rights dis- cussions,” Foreign Affairs Sec- role in mid-term election retary Alan Peter Cayetano said Manila Times to obtain a copy of the reso- JBC ex-offi cio member, nei- in a statement. Manila lution.With the retirement of ther confi rmed nor denied the “We thank human rights ad- Chief Justice Teresita de Castro report that the JBC junked the By Neil Jayson Servallos year’s polls. He explained that me. But I now have to stand for vocates around the world but last week, fi ve senior justices of high court’s recommendation. Manila Times it was time to stand up to “bul- my principles,” JV said in a ra- also condemn a few who are he Judicial and Bar the tribunal were automatically The three page SC resolu- lying” from his family and fight dio interview. morally corrupt and who use Council (JBC) has re- nominated by the JBC – Associ- tion, signed and promulgated for his own beliefs and that he The re-electionist senator human rights for political and Tjected a proposal that ate Justices Antonio Carpio, Di- by Edgar Aricheta, Clerk of ncumbent Senator Joseph joined the Nationalist People’s added that he is eyeing a dia- financial gain,” he said. Supreme Court (SC) justices osdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Court of the SC en banc, stat- Victor “JV” Ejercito yester- Coalition (NPC) — leaving his logue with his father as he wants The Philippines garnered 165 nominated for the post of Mariano del Castillo and Estela ed that while the interview is Iday said he would slug it out father’s political party Pwersa to use the surname “Estrada” in out of 193 votes, with one ab- chief justice should no longer Perlas-Bernabe. part of the vetting process of with his half-brother and former ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) — the ballots and to settle the dis- stention, to win a fresh term be interviewed during the Unimpeachable sources the JBC, the SC justices’ phi- senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada to proclaim his independence putes between him and Jinggoy, beginning Jan 1, 2019, accord- vetting process. of the Manila Times said the losophy can be determined al- for a Senate seat in the 2019 from the clan. whom he blamed for his sharp ing to a UN statement on its The high court en banc, in JBC en banc junked the SC ready through their ponencias mid-term elections. Erap, incumbent mayor of drop in the September 2018 website. an Internal Resolution dated proposal, pointing out that or decisions. JV, son of former president Manila, was reportedly dis- Pulse Asia survey for wannabe Duterte is the subject of two September 4, 2018, asked that the council is an independ- The resolution stated: Joseph “Erap” Estrada with heartened to learn of JV’s senators. complaints before the Interna- the fi ve most senior justices be ent constitutional body and “Whereas, the Supreme Court Guia Gomez, previously an- transfer to the NPC. JV said he would file his cer- tional Criminal Court that ac- exempted from the oral inter- the public interviews of ap- has administrative supervi- nounced that he would give “I had always been the one tificate of candidacy either cuse him of crimes against hu- view during the vetting process plicants is part of the “trans- sion over all courts and the way to Jinggoy, Erap’s son with who gave way. They would un- tomorrow or Tuesday at the manity over the drug-related for the position of chief justice. parency” process. Justice personnel thereof exercised Dr Luisa “Loi” Ejercito Estrada, derstand me. Even if I was al- Commission on Elections of- killings. The Manila Times was able Secretary Menardo Guevarra, en banc.” in the race for senators in next ways bullied, it was all fine with fice in Intramuros, Manila. Kris Aquino sues business partner over embezzlement

By Iza Iglesias teams had met with his (busi- taneous urticaria — which is ag- them because I made a deathbed “Sino?” segment on dzBB that Manila Times ness partner’s) representatives gravated by stress, according to promise to my mom (late former it is her manager Nicko Falcis, in an attempt to settle ami- her doctors. president Corazon Aquino) that whom Kris regarded as a busi- cably, but in straightforward In the post, Aquino said the Big Brother Josh and Bimbi will ness partner, who embezzled her ust three weeks after reveal- language — ‘they don’t care’. physical toll was a result of a always come fi rst, but I fear that investments. ing that her trusted business My family had advocated for business-related ordeal and all that I had worked hard for will Earlier reports said the ac- Jpartner embezzled her in- peace but the other party failed “devastating pain of lost trust.” be lost. It is wrong that the two tress-host engaged the services vestments, multi-media mogul to even meet us halfway and in- She then disclosed that she was boys I love most, my life’s mean- of Falcis as managing director of Kris Aquino offi cially fi led qual- stead chose to spread malicious seeking justice for “fi nancial abuse ing and inspiration may suff er her digital media company, Kris ifi ed-theft complaints in seven lies and falsehoods… I want- and betrayal” that was committed consequences because I was tar- Cojuangco Aquino Productions. cities against the individual ed to quietly put this painful by someone close to her, and who geted and deceived by a person Falcis was also reportedly re- whom she opted not to identify. chapter behind me. had already earned millions from with no conscience,” she wrote. sponsible for Aquino’s “Crazy In her Instagram post, Aqui- “You know me — I was not the running her media company Kris “The settlement or legal battle Rich Asians” gig. no said she personally fi led the one who started this fi ght, but I Cojuangco Aquino Productions will now be in the hands of law- The website Push, ABS- complaint before the Quezon was not raised to back off from (KCAP), which is currently behind yers I respect, auditing and ac- CBN’s digital entertainment City Offi ce of the Prosecutor on the quest for truth. You started her digital empire. counting fi rms I trust, the word arm, quoted sources as far back Friday morning. it, I will fi nish it,” Aquino’s post Consulting her lawyers Sig of honour of his deeply shamed as December 31, 2017 that Falcis Meanwhile, her legal team read. Fortun and Florin Hilbay on mother and sister that all my was the reason why Aquino left from the Fortun Narvasa and On September 25, the what legal action to take, Aquino investments shall be returned, good friend Boy Abunda as tal- Salazar Law Offi ce fi led the 47-year-old actress shared that said she was particularly af- and our collective prayers that ent manager. same complaint on her behalf in she was unable to eat or sleep fected by the matter because the justice for my sons will prevail,” The article posted on that date San Juan, Mandaluyong, Pasig, properly and had lost 15 pounds trust funds of her two sons Josh Aquino said. said, “Nicko Falcis is Kris’ new Makati, Taguig and Manila. in a month. and Bimbi were involved. As reported by Manila Times manager. He was responsible for “I continue to have faith that She sought medical attention “My pain comes from my fear Entertainment yesterday, it was making her earnings from dig- the Philippines’ justice system in Singapore and was diagnosed that tens of tax paid millions veteran show business person- ital media nearly exceed those will uphold the law with im- to be suff ering from an autoim- from my sons’ trust funds, mon- ality Lolit Solis who revealed in from traditional TV by February partiality and fairness. My legal mune disease — chronic spon- ey I conscientiously saved for radio anchor Arnold Clavio’s 2018.” Kris Aquino: victim of business partner? Gulf Times 22 Sunday, October 14, 2018 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Nonrestrictive global trade key to poverty alleviation As fears of a trade war challenge global economic growth over the next few years, the World Bank dispatched a clear message – trade is important to uplift the poor. A full-blown trade war, the World Bank warns, will clearly hit global growth, because all countries will be escalating their tariff threats. “Trade is critical, if we want to end extreme poverty. We are all concerned about abject poverty among people across the world. To end poverty, we need development, Khashoggi mystery fi xes which is only possible through trade facilitation,” World Bank president Jim Yong Kim said in the Indonesian island of Bali recently. Kim’s comments assume signifi cance in the context of the rising US-China trade tensions and high levels of debt faced mainly by low income countries. spotlight on Saudi offi cial There are risks from trade growth going down and many low income countries becoming more indebted. “We are worried about trade tensions… we are worried zSaud al-Qahtani is described as Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman’s strategist, enforcer about the fact that many lower income countries have now gone into a level of indebtedness,” Kim said and the prince. This is who we are,” Qahtani extremely loyal, extremely nationalistic certainly become more populist and added: “It is a troubling picture.” By Tamer El-Ghobashy/ Washington Post wrote. and extremely competent. If one of the more aimed at the young, who are Kim said the World Washington In recent days, Qahtani has taken royals asked him to do something, he the more engaged in social media,” Bank is working with to Twitter to mock what he described just gets it done.” Haykel said. “I think he’s modulating There are risks developing countries as outlandish Turkish statements With his infl uential family name, or changing his tone based on that to brace for a further n the months before he blaming Saudi Arabia for Khashoggi’s Qahtani rose through the ranks in the demographic and that kind of politics.” from trade disappeared, Jamal Khashoggi told disappearance and has denied having royal court quickly after studying law On his Twitter account, Qahtani deterioration. friends he had received calls from any role in a plot to lure the prominent and criminal justice. He was well known frequently warns of consequences for growth going “Trade is very critical Ia senior Saudi offi cial urging him journalist to a gruesome death. for his newspaper columns promoting critics of the kingdom and promotes because that is what to end his self-imposed exile and come “Dexter of the century,” he wrote the royal family and nationalist poems what some call conspiracy theories down and many has lifted people out of home to Riyadh. sarcastically in Arabic, a reference to he would write under the nom de plume claiming destructive plots by the extreme poverty,” Kim The invitation included the promise the American television series that of Dhari – many of which served as Muslim Brotherhood and Qatar. He low income of a safe return and even the possibility featured human mutilation. “The lyrics for Saudi and Arab musicians. enthusiastically retweets supportive said. “I am a globalist. of a job with Crown Prince Mohamed rest say I’m Grendizer,” he continued, “You would never mistake him for a replies from Saudi users. countries That is my job. That bin Salman, the de facto ruler of Saudi making reference to the robot hero of a true intellectual, but his writings in the Marc Owen Jones, a researcher at is our only chance of Arabia whom Khashoggi had been Japanese cartoon popular in the Middle early 2000s were never as infl ammatory Exeter University, has written that becoming more ending extreme poverty. so critical of in his columns for The East. as they are now,” said a Saudi media Qahtani’s “Twitter activity has reached We need more trade not Washington Post’s Global Opinions Khashoggi’s disappearance has analyst who spoke on the condition Trump-levels of antagonism.” indebted section. drawn renewed attention to the of anonymity out of fear of publicly In comments to the New York Times less trade,” he said. Khashoggi told his friends he did not crackdown on criticism in Saudi Arabia criticising Qahtani. in March, Khashoggi said Qahtani Recently, the World trust the off er or the offi cial delivering and the methods Mohamed has used Less visible to US offi cials than has leveraged his mastery of social Bank launched a “human capital index” to help rank it, Saud al-Qahtani, a 40-year-old to eliminate public opposition to his Mohamed’s security and diplomatic media and technology to command countries by the level of their investments in such areas as adviser to Mohamed described as the policies. Qahtani has been central to aides, Qahtani has the title of adviser “a troll army” online and project an mercurial prince’s enforcer. that eff ort. He cuts a flamethrowing to the royal court and head of the state- image of Saudi power at a time when education and healthcare. In the West, Qahtani is not among fi gure on social media but is known run Centre for Studies and Information the kingdom is embroiled in regional Many leaders who attended the recent IMF / World the better-known members of behind the scenes as an intelligent Aff airs. rivalries with Iran and Qatar and a Bank Group annual meetings in Bali expressed concern Mohamed’s stable of young aides. strategist. A senior offi cial from the costly war in Yemen. over the dramatic rise in the price of crude oil and turmoil But in the Gulf, he is the loudest and “He probably can be described as administration of former US president Mohamed has enthusiastically in the currency markets of developing economies. most visible Saudi offi cial. He tweets MbS’s information czar,” said Bernard Barack Obama said he could not recall embraced Qahtani’s methods, often and in populist terms, urging his Haykel, a professor of Near Eastern Qahtani in any meetings with the Khashoggi told the Times. They include Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo who 1.33mn Twitter followers to identify studies at Princeton University who Saudis. But others say his low profi le “They are creating a virtual world said, “The balance of powers and the alliances among critics of the kingdom to add to his has known Qahtani since 2006. “He’s belies his infl uence, especially on the where Saudi Arabia is a superpower major economies are breaking down. Weakness in co- blacklist. extremely bright, well read, but I would 33-year-old Mohamed, who is a fan of and MbS is the most popular leader,” ordination and co-operation has caused many problems.” As Saudi Arabia has campaigned say he’s not very exposed to the West.” technology and video games. Khashoggi said. “Of course, all this has The World Bank has also warned that a wave of to isolate Qatar, Qahtani has been the Haykel added: “He’s known for being “The politics of Saudi Arabia have his approval.” automation and artifi cial intelligence will eliminate many chief promoter of the kingdom’s most provocative ideas, such as digging a low-skilled jobs in coming years, making it harder for canal to turn Qatar into an island. He is people with low levels of education and poor health to also a powerful amplifi er of fake news compete for work. and social media bots. In the light of a deteriorating global trade landscape, But above all, Qahtani is known for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) downgraded its being a fi erce loyalist to the crown prince, having served under Saudi forecast for global economic growth to 3.7% this year kings since 2003, and a fi rm believer from its earlier estimate of 3.9%. in Mohamed’s project to modernise It also issued reports last week on government fi nance Saudi Arabia while enforcing the and fi nancial stability that warn of the risks of disruptions strict restrictions on free speech and to world trade. movement that have ensnared dozens of Saudi activists, clerics and social The World Bank / IMF Group annual fi nancial meetings media users. that took place in Bali, which is the most popular island In Khashoggi’s estimation, Qahtani holiday destination in the Indonesian archipelago, at a is the offi cial through whom Mohamed time of growing concern over trends other than trade, maintains total control over Saudi such as moves to raise borrowing costs in the US and media. “Over the past 18 months, MbS’s some other regions to help cool growth and keep infl ation communications team within the in check. Royal Court publicly has chastised, Rising interest rates are drawing investment fl ows out and worse, intimidated anyone who of emerging markets in Asia and Latin America at a time disagrees,” Khashoggi wrote in a when growth in their exports is likely to slow. Post column in February, referring to Mohamed by his initials. “Saud al-Qahtani, leader of that unit, has a To Advertise blacklist and calls for Saudis to add names to it. Writers like me, whose [email protected] criticism is off ered respectfully, seem to Display be considered more dangerous than the more strident Saudi opposition based in 44466621 44418811 London.” But in a column in the Saudi- Classified controlled Al-Arabiya news in 44466609 44418811 April, Qahtani portrayed himself as Mohamed’s humble servant, awed Subscription and intimidated by his vision for modernising Saudi Arabia. [email protected] Qahtani said he was personally assigned by the crown prince to study how to overhaul and streamline Saudi © 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved bureaucracy. “‘Sky is the limit.’ So said Khashoggi: deepening mystery Gulf Times Sunday, October 14, 2018 23 COMMENT Climate change poses economic crisis

By Larry Elliott is to dismiss higher interest rates, The reason is simple: poor families London rising oil prices, Italy and trade wars as have more children. Birthrates fall as somehow unimportant. countries become richer. Ominously, next year is the 90th an- Between the two extremes are those ate last month Indonesia was niversary of the Wall Street Crash. who think the circle can be squared by hit by a devastating earth- The Great Depression that followed carbon-free growth, made possible by quake and tsunami that left that market meltdown led to new eco- the dramatic fall in the cost of renew- Lthousands of people dead and nomic thinking. able energy. missing. It spawned full employment poli- Technology will ride to the rescue, Last week, the International Mon- cies, increased spending on welfare, they insist. etary Fund arrived in the country to and a new set of multilateral organisa- This sounds like a cost-free (or at hold its annual meeting on the island tions. least relatively cheap) option, and of Bali. Turn the clock forward to 2018 and that’s why almost all politicians pay lip On the day when the IMF issued a the parallels are obvious. service to green growth. warning about trouble ahead for the International co-operation has But then they act in ways that make global economy, the latest report from broken down, economic failure has achieving global warming targets the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on damaged mainstream political parties, harder – by building new roads and Climate Change said the world had and belief in the invisible hand of the expanding airports. only a dozen years left to take the steps free market has been shattered. And always for the same reason: be- necessary to prevent a global warming But the threat posed by global cause doing so will be good for growth. catastrophe. warming means the current crisis of This is called a balanced approach, The message is clear for those capitalism is more acute than that of but it is nothing of the sort. If the IPCC willing to hear it: get ready for a time the 1930s, because all that was really is even close to being right about its when economic failure combines with required then was a boost to growth, timeline, speeding up the transition ecological breakdown to create the provided by the New Deal, cheap from fossil fuels to renewables is vital. perfect storm. money, tougher controls on fi nance Can that be done? One of the win- Even without the added complica- and rearmament. ners of this year’s Nobel prize for eco- tion of climate change, the challenge In today’s context, a plain vanilla go- nomics – William Nordhaus – says it facing the fi nance ministers and central for-growth strategy would be suicidal. can, if policymakers get serious about a bank governors gathered in Bali would Even so, there are countries that are carbon tax set high enough to price oil, be signifi cant enough. prepared to self-immolate their econo- coal and gas out of the market. The IMF has cut its forecast for mies in pursuit of growth at all costs. Here, though, the breakdown in global growth, but the chances are that America is one. Australia appears to international co-operation and trust next year will be a lot worse than is The world has only a dozen years left to take the steps necessary to prevent a global warming catastrophe. be another. becomes really damaging. currently forecast. The risks, the IMF At the other end of the spectrum are Ideally, existing global institutions says, are skewed to the downside. for increasing borrowing costs. bail out if the worst happens. the IMF has been called in to help those who say there will be a future for – the IMF, the World Bank, the UN and You bet they are. In Europe, a colossal row is brewing The standoff between Rome and Argentina, there has been a run on the the planet only if the idea of growth is the World Trade Organisation – would For the past 10 years, the world between Italy’s populist government Brussels is happening as Europe’s Turkish lira, and infl ation in Venezuela ditched altogether. be supplemented by a new World economy has been surviving on a diet and the fi scal conservatives at the Eu- growth rate has started to slow. threatens to hit Weimar Germany- Politically, this has always been a Environmental Organisation with the of low interest rates and money crea- ropean commission because the budget One reason is that its export-driven style levels. In better times, oil-rich hard sell, and has become even more power to levy a carbon tax globally. tion by central banks, but that stimulus proposed by Rome runs completely economies are already being hurt by Venezuela might have been well placed diffi cult now that populations in the Even in the absence of a new body, is now being gradually withdrawn. counter to the EU’s fi scal rules. the early skirmishes in Trump’s trade to benefi t from the rising price of crude West have experienced an entire dec- they would be working together to In the United States, growth has Offi cials in Brussels are more wor- war. oil, which is heading steadily towards ade of fl atlining living standards. face down the inevitable opposition to been further pumped up by Donald ried about Italy than they are about As the IMF noted last week, protec- $100 a barrel. In the developing world, the problem change from the fossil fuel lobby. Trump’s tax cuts for individuals and Brexit, and with good reason. tionism is a key risk to global growth. Every big recession in the global has been too little growth rather than Instead, the response to climate companies, but only temporarily. Italy’s banks are awash with bad China, the world’s second biggest economy has been prefi gured by a too much. change looks similar to the response The impact will start to fade next debts and could not survive the sort economy, has always been Trump’s jump in the cost of crude, which makes Tackling global population growth to the fi nancial crisis: fail to recognise year as higher interest rates start to of fi nancial crisis that appears to be in main target, and it has been aff ected it somewhat curious that share prices is a no-brainer from a climate-change there is a problem until it is too late; bite. prospect. by new US tariff s, as its domestic on Wall Street are so high. perspective, and most of the projected panic; then muddle through. Trump is already berating the Fed- It is a much bigger country than economy was already slowing. Traditionally, stock markets antici- increase comes from low-income That’s a sobering prospect. – Guard- eral Reserve, America’s central bank, Greece, and far too big for Europe to Elsewhere, in the past few months pate trouble, but the mood currently countries, most notably in Africa. ian News and Media

Winning the war on tuberculosis Three-day forecast TODAY For starters, TB is among the Although this so-called To be sure, there are some positive Maximum Temperature : 360c By Ibrahim Assane Mayaki Minimum Temperature : 290c Johannesburg leading killers of HIV-positive people, “harmonised” approach applies to a trends in the fi ght against TB. Global claiming some 40% of those who die commercial industry, its focus on co- infection rates are falling by about 2% MONDAY from HIV. ordinating with the Regional Economic annually, and even African countries Maximum Temperature : 360c he world is fi nally waking up to This poses dangers for non-HIV Communities (RECs) – African hit by TB still managed a 4% decline in Minimum Temperature : 270c the threat posed by one of the patients as well, especially those with Union states grouped for economic infections from 2013 to 2017. TUESDAY most overlooked diseases of suppressed immune systems, young integration – could serve as a model And, with organisations like the Maximum Temperature : 350c Tour time. children, and infants. for more eff ective collective action on World Health Organisation and the Minimum Temperature : 280c Eradication is also diffi cult because TB containment. But before a specifi c African Union beginning to produce Last month, the United Nations Fisherman's forecast General Assembly (UNGA) hosted TB is a highly contagious airborne framework can be agreed upon, three roadmaps for TB eradication, it is clear the fi rst-ever high-level meeting on bacterium; people living and working issues require urgent attention. that momentum is steadily building. tuberculosis (TB) to explore options for in close quarters – such as miners, First, African healthcare planners and Still, sustaining this progress in WARNING international eradication eff orts. prisoners, migrants, and refugees – disease specialists must set country, Africa will require signifi cant regional Inshore : Nil But, as welcome as this new global suff er the highest rates of infection. regional, and local containment targets. co-ordination, not to mention a lot Offshore : Nil focus is, the fact remains that the road to Finally, because TB prevalence is For example, setting goals for more money. WEATHER beating TB begins in Africa. closely linked to poverty and social reductions in new TB infections would Most vaccines and medications are Inshore : Hot daytime with local Simply put, TB remains one of the marginalisation, reaching those most at enable health offi cials to measure more currently too expensive for the majority clouds maybe rainy deadliest epidemics in Africa today, and risk is not always easy. accurately the impact of their strategies. of Africans. on some areas by afternoon one-quarter of all TB deaths worldwide Infectious diseases have no borders, Moreover, to end TB completely, But even those lucky enough to Offshore : Partly cloudy at times occur there. and as African countries deepen their Africa will need new and sustained obtain treatment – usually a six- to In 2016, some 417,000 people on the trade ties and intra-Africa migration fi nancial commitments from the public eight-month course of powerful WIND Inshore : Northeasterly-South- continent succumbed to the disease. grows, the threat of regional pandemics and private sectors. antibiotics – still face a 20% chance of easterly 05-15 KT Recent outbreaks of multidrug- will only increase. And, fi nally, disease-control relapse. Offshrore : Southeasterly-North- resistant TB and extensively This makes it all the more critical that strategies must be designed to support The goal of eradicating TB is within easterly 02-12/15 KT drug-resistant TB in South Africa, Africa begin developing a multi-sector, the economic and healthcare priorities reach; the recent gathering at the Visibility : 4-8 KM Mozambique and Ghana could push the integrated approach to containing, of the RECs. UNGA marked a critical turning point annual death toll even higher. controlling, and eventually eradicating At the moment, most state and in the world’s war on the disease. Offshore : 1-3/4 FT These pockets of the bacterium, now public health challenges like TB. regional healthcare systems lack But even as commitments are made and declarations signed, we must completely immune to antimicrobial To this end, one approach that funding and human resources. Around the region treatment, mean that the challenge of African governments could emulate is African policymakers must therefore remember that in Africa, the battle is far Weather global eradication has become even more the TB management strategy in place develop systems for prevention, from over. - Project Syndicate Weather tomorrow Max/min daunting. for the continent’s mining sector, an diagnosis, and care that help Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, a former today Max/min P Cloudy 37/24 Part of the reason for TB’s persistence inter-agency plan devised in 2014 by governments share the disease burden prime minister of Niger, is CEO of Baghdad P Cloudy 39/26 Sunny 38/25 is the vulnerability of the populations it the Southern African Development and ensure that treatment protocols are the New Partnership for Africa’s Kuwait City Sunny 38/26 Sunny 36/28 infects. Community. consistent across regions. Development (NEPAD). Manama Sunny 37/29 Muscat Sunny 31/27 M Cloudy 31/27 Tehran P Cloudy 22/13 M Sunny 24/13 Live issues Are nail polishes really toxin-free?

By Carolyn Crist complications with fertility, thyroid lower concentrations than reported in New York issues, obesity and cancer.” previous studies. Young and colleagues measured the At the same time, the products with concentrations of 22 plasticiers in 40 lower TPHP levels tended to have lthough nail polish manu- nail polish samples to compare the higher levels of didiethylhexyl phtha- Around the world facturers have begun label to actual ingredients. late (DEHP), a hormone-disrupting Weather Weather removing some toxic ingre- The samples included diff erent chemical and possible carcinogen that today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Adients, their labels are not colours, fi nishes and top coats, and was banned from cosmetics in the EU Athens P Cloudy 22/17 P Cloudy 21/16 always accurate and the reformulated the researchers analysed them for 12 at the same time as DnBP, the authors Beirut P Cloudy 26/22 M Sunny 26/22 products aren’t necessarily safer, phthalate and 10 organophosphate note. Bangkok S T Storms 33/26 S T Storms 33/27 suggests a new study. plasticisers. Overall, Young’s team concludes Berlin Sunny 24/12 Sunny 23/11 “We were trying to learn more about Among the samples were 11 diff erent that label contents can be defi ned Cairo Sunny 30/19 M Sunny 30/19 what ingredients were in nail polish, “n-free” labels, ranging from “3-free” diff erently by diff erent brands, the Cape Town Sunny 25/14 Cloudy 19/13 and the more we dug deep into the to “13-free.” All of the samples in- ingredient exclusions are usually not Colombo S T Storms 29/24 S T Storms 29/24 labels, the more confused I was about cluded signifi cant levels of at least one validated by a third party, and new la- Dhaka T Storm 27/24 P Cloudy 31/23 the health claims, which I knew would The European Union banned DnBP plasticiser, and most contained at least bel types are often not consistent with Hong Kong P Cloudy 25/22 P Cloudy 25/22 be confusing for consumers and nail in cosmetics in 2004, Young’s team fi ve of the 22 ingredients studied. the preceding labels in terms of what Istanbul Cloudy 20/17 Cloudy 19/16 salon workers, too,” said lead author notes in Environmental Science and The “5-free” to “13-free” samples ingredients are excluded. Jakarta I T Storms 34/26 S T Storms 33/25 Anna Young of the Harvard T H Chan Technology. had lower levels in general than unla- “It’s important for consumers to Karachi Sunny 35/24 Sunny 34/24 School of Public Health in Boston. The US Food and Drug Administra- belled or “3-free” samples, the study understand that ‘n-free’ can mean London P Cloudy 23/14 Rain 16/07 In the 2000s, nail polish manu- tion requires ingredient labels on nail team notes. diff erent things to diff erent compa- Manila S T Storms 33/26 S T Storms 32/26 facturers started phasing out three polishes but doesn’t require products TPHP, which is used as a plasticiser nies,” said Heather Stapleton of Duke Moscow P Cloudy 16/08 P Cloudy 17/08 particularly toxic chemicals: formal- to be tested for safety before entering and fl ame retardant in a number of University in Durham, North Carolina, New Delhi Sunny 32/19 Sunny 32/20 dehyde, toluene and dibutyl phtha- the market, the researchers add. consumer products, was found in 40% who wasn’t involved in the study. New York S Showers 15/08 P Cloudy 17/12 late (DnBP). They would label these In addition, certain chemicals such of the samples. “More research is warranted to Paris Sunny 27/17 Rain 21/11 formulations as “3-free.” However, as phthalates can be listed as “fra- It was detected in 12 of the 27 prod- understand the exposure levels that Sao Paulo P Cloudy 31/18 Cloudy 21/17 many of these products replaced those grance” due to trade secret concerns. ucts that did not list it as an ingredi- consumers are receiving,” Stapleton Seoul Sunny 19/05 M Sunny 19/08 chemicals with another plasticiser, “It’s a chemical Whack-a-Mole,” ent. said. Singapore T Storm 29/25 S T Storms 29/26 triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), which Young said. “That’s especially impor- The research team was pleased to “It’s important to know what these Sydney Showers 18/13 P Cloudy 18/15 has since been shown to be potentially tant for nail salon workers because fi nd that DnBP wasn’t in any of the labels mean and how they relate to Tokyo Cloudy 19/16 Cloudy 18/15 toxic as well. some of these toxins are linked to samples, and TPHP seemed to be in chemical exposure.” – Reuters Health Gulf Times 24 Sunday, October 14, 2018 QATAR

Katara Arabic novels fest from tomorrow

he fourth Katara Festival of Arabic Novels will open Ttomorrow at Katara — the Cultural Village with the partici- pation of prominent writers and critics in Arabic fi ction. The festival will conclude on Wednesday. A major highlight of the festival is the awarding of the winners of the Katara Prize for Arabic Novels 2018. The fi rst day of the festival will witness the opening of the Katara Library of Arabic Novels on the Katara premises and an exhibition on the life and works of renowned Palestinian novelist Ghassan Kanafani. The award carries cash prizes worth a total of $300,000 in the unpublished novels category. Each of the fi ve winners will receive $60,000. The prize for unpub- lished novels category amounts to $150,000, equally divided into fi ve winners, each getting $30,000. Each of the fi ve winners in the un- Off icials at the agreement-signing ceremony. Al Messila, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, north aerial view. published critical studies category will get $15,000 taking it to a total of $75,000. The award for unpublished novels by young writers totals $50,000, with each of the fi ve Katara Hospitality, Marriott International winners getting $10,000. The fi rst day will see the launch of an innovative app by Katara named #mishwar_wariwaya that allows people to listen to audio sign agreement for Al Messila luxury resort version of select novels, while walking for physical exercise. A signing ceremony of books by atara Hospitality and The management agreement pearance is the ultimate in luxu- lationship with Katara Hospital- rope, Africa, Asia and the US. rooms and climbing walls. winners of the Katara Prize for Ar- Marriott International was signed by Sheikh Nawaf bin rious hospitality. The hotel is a ity with the signing, we see this Al Messila, a Luxury Collection The signing of Al Messila, a abic Novel 2017 will also take place Khave announced the sign- Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani, chair- welcome addition to our growing as testament to Qatar’s robust Resort & Spa will feature 152 luxu- Luxury Collection Resort & Spa on the day. The books, including ing of an agreement for Al Mes- man of Katara Hospitality, and local portfolio of iconic proper- tourism strategy and its reputa- riously-appointed rooms, includ- marks the eighth hotel collabo- novels and critical studies, are be- sila, a Luxury Collection Resort Arne M Sorenson, president & ties, and we are delighted to be tion as a leading luxury destina- ing 30 individual villas, and seven ration between Katara Hospital- ing published by Katara Publish- & Spa, situated in Doha. CEO of Marriott International. continuing to set the standard for tion in the region.” distinct culinary experiences. ity and Marriott International, ing House under the auspices of Scheduled to open by the end “This agreement marks The luxury hospitality over the world.” True to the spirit of The Luxury Inspired by the conserva- which already includes the Doha the Katara Prize for Arabic Novel. of the year, the resort marks The Luxury Collection brand’s fi rst Alex Kyriakidis, president Collection, the resort will provide tory and 1,100 indigenous trees Marriott Hotel, Sharq Village & Events on the fi rst day will con- Luxury Collection brand’s fi rst property in Qatar and our sec- and managing director of Mar- global explorers with “authentic around it, the resort features key Spa, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel, The clude with a seminar on Ghassan property to open in Qatar and ond worldwide after Excelsior riott International in Middle experiences that refl ect the local wellness and recreation facili- Ritz-Carlton Doha, Sheraton Kanafani followed by screening of eighth across the Middle East Hotel Gallia, a Luxury Collec- East and Africa, said: “We are spirit, lifestyle and design of its ties, including a swimming pool, Grand Doha Resort & Conven- a fi lm based on Kanafani’s novel and Africa. tion Hotel, Milan. Al Messila Re- excited to further expand our location”, the statement notes. fi tness centre, tennis and foot- tion Hotel, Renaissance Golden Return to Haifa produced by Iraqi The signing also marks Katara sort & Spa is the epitome of what brand portfolio in the country Katara Hospitality is a global ball courts and a 12,000sqm spa. View Beach Resort, Sharm el fi lmmaker Qassim Hawal. Hospitality’s 39th project under Katara Hospitality looks for in a with the opening of our fi rst hotel owner, developer and op- The resort also features a Sheikh, Excelsior Hotel Gallia, a As many as 1,283 entries were its portfolio of hotels, the com- hotel,” said Sheikh Nawaf. Luxury Collection property. As erator with a collection of iconic dedicated kids’ club with its Luxury Collection Hotel and The received for the current and lat- pany has said in a statement. “Its grand and statuesque ap- we strengthen our growing re- hotels in key markets across Eu- own private reception, fitness Westin Excelsior Rome. est edition of the Prize.

Qatar Museum staff prepare one of the exhibits. Two exhibitions to open Mathaf’s autumn season

atar Museums (QM) has said it is putting the fi nal touches Qon the fi rst exhibitions of this year’s fall season, which will open to the public on October 17 at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art. The two exhibitions, ‘Revolution Generations’ and ‘I strongly believe in our right to be frivolous’ by Lebanese artist Mounira al-Solh, will bring into focus contemporary storylines that resonate with visitors from Qatar and across the region, QM has said in a statement ‘Revolution Generations’, a ground- breaking exhibition curated by Math- af director Abdellah Karroum, will present artists from the Arab world, Turkey, Iran and diaspora, looking at important moments of change in the One of the artworks that will be displayed at Mathaf. history of modern and contemporary art when underground artistic move- series of drawings and embroideries tensity and Sense’, guest curated by ments developed in the region in re- depicting personal histories and expe- Sara Raza (independent curator), sponse to the absence of freedom of riences that emerge from the humani- presents a posthumous view into the expression. tarian and political crises in Syria and oeuvre of this modernist artist’s stu- In parallel, ‘I strongly believe in our the Middle East. dio practice. right to be frivolous’, curated by Hen- Simultaneously, two Focus exhibi- ‘Jassim Zaini: Representation and drik Folkerts (Dittmer curator of Mod- tions will also be on view, continuing Abstraction’, curated by Fatma Mosta- ern and Contemporary Art, the Art the in-depth display series dedicated fawi (curator, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Institute of Chicago) and Laura Bar- to historical artists from the museum’s Modern Art, Doha), will present a fo- low (curator, Mathaf: Arab Museum collection. cused view of the works of a pioneering of Modern Art, Doha) will showcase a ‘Fateh al-Moudarres: Colour, Ex- Qatari modernist.