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MONDAY Vol. XXXVII No. 10216 September 19, 2016 Dhul-Hijja 17, 1437 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Emir meets Panama president Traffi c on In brief fi rst day of QATAR | Address Call for strong stand to end Syria crisis HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Aff airs school under Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al- Mahmoud said that the magnitude of the humanitarian disaster in Syria and the serious consequences of the continuing crisis on the security and stability of the region and the world require that control the Non-Aligned Movement (Nam) takes a strong positions in support of Several motorists said they did not roads in dealing with the traffi c rush international eff orts to reach a political have any diff iculty in coping with without any trouble. solution according to the Geneva-1 the traff ic and they had, in fact, Several motorists said they did not communique. Addressing the 17th Nam expected a bigger rush have any diffi culty in coping with the summit On Margarita Island, Venezuela, traffi c and they had, in fact, expected the Deputy Prime Minister said the By Joseph Varghese a bigger rush. Most of them were “pre- State of Qatar is at the forefront of the Staff Reporter pared for any scenario and planned countries that provide humanitarian their journey accordingly”, said a par- assistance to Syrian people, adding that ent who takes his children to and from it will continue this support and will not ome parts of Doha witnessed school every day. hesitate to make any eff ort that would heavy traffi c yesterday as thou- “I started quite early thinking there put an end to the suff ering of the Syrian Ssands of children returned to would be heavy traffi c. However, the brothers, bring a political solution to the school, but many motorists said they roads were not as crowded as I had ex- Syrian crisis and enhance security and did not face much diffi culty in general pected and was able to reach the school stability in the region. Page 4 as the situation was “well under con- well in advance. I could also reach my trol”. workplace on time without any has- QATAR | Circular In particular, the rush was heavier sle,” said a parent, lauding the traffi c during the morning and afternoon in authorities for the patrols. Safety directive HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday met with Panama President Juan Carlos Varela at the premises of areas where schools are located, while As anticipated, traffi c was heavy on school buses Qatar’s permanent mission to the United Nations in New York, on the sidelines of the 71st session of the General Assembly. They elsewhere the traffi c was mostly mod- in Abu Hamour, which houses a large The Ministry of Education and Higher discussed bilateral relations and ways to develop them, especially in the investments field, in addition to a host of international erate. number of schools. As a result, there Education has called for forming issues. The meeting was attended by members of the off icial delegation accompanying HH the Emir and senior Panamanian Some 300,000 students were ex- were long queues on some roads and committees in all independent schools off icials. The Emir is in New York to take part in the UN General Assembly session. pected to resume classes yesterday several vehicles could be seen in front to monitor and regulate the safety and after a long summer break and govern- of every school. security of students when they enter and ment offi ces also reopened after the Meanwhile, two new schools started exit school buses and private vehicles. Eid al-Adha holidays. To avoid getting operating from their new premises in There should be one supervisor with a caught in the “back-to-school” rush, the Abu Hamour area. The Sudanese mobile phone in every bus, according to motorists were advised to start early and Palestinian community schools are a circular issued by the Schools Aff airs and look for alternative routes wherev- located close to Safari Mall and heavy Department at the ministry to all the Kahramaa urges customers er diversions had been put in place. On traffi c was seen in the area as a large managements of independent schools. A their part, the authorities concerned number of students, teachers and of- document should be prepared including stepped up patrols to ensure that traffi c fi cials turned up for the fi rst day of the the rules and regulations of using fl ow remained smooth. new academic year. school buses and the necessary punitive Roads in and around areas such as Minor accidents, meanwhile, were measures against the violators. Parents to replace tungsten bulbs Abu Hamour, Mesaimeer and Old Air- reported from some of these ar- and students should sign the document port, among several others, experi- eas – slowing down traffi c for a while. and pledge to abide by it. Department atar General Electricity & Wa- watt tungsten bulbs too from Novem- more comfortable for eyes and better enced heavy traffi c yesterday morning Prompt intervention by the Traffi c Po- director Khalifa Saad al-Dirham ter Corporation (Kahramaa) ber 1. for the health of people, it was pointed as thousands of children headed for lice helped clear the roads quickly and stressed the importance of choosing Qyesterday urged customers to “LED bulbs of 7, 11, 20 and 23 watts out. school. Long queues could be seen at restore normalcy. highly-qualified bus supervisors to help reduce electricity consumption by could replace tungsten lamps of 25, 60, Energy consumption could also some interchanges and roundabouts. Speaking about his experience of be responsible, and give them clear replacing tungsten lamps at home and 100 and 120, respectively,” Kahramaa be reduced by utilising sunlight to However, commuters said the situa- commuting on the fi rst day after the instruction on how to maintain the safety other buildings with energy saving LED said. the maximum. If interior walls are tion was well under control as the traf- summer holidays, a parent stressed and security of students while on board. bulbs. The new appeal to switch to LED painted in light colours, natural light fi c police had made arrangements for that the traffi c situation had improved “LED bulbs are 10 to 18 times energy bulbs has been made in the wake of coming into the rooms will be en- special patrols around town, especially in Doha compared to previous years. “I AMERICA | Probe effi cient than tungsten bulbs and re- Kahramaa’s ongoing fi ve-year-old hanced. near new intersections and diversions. hope that with the completion of the duces electricity use by nearly 80%,” Tarsheed campaign, the national pro- Tarsheed’s law No 20 for the year This, in particular, helped motorists ongoing works, the situation will fur- Police search for Kahramaa explained in a statement, gramme for conservation and energy 2015 stipulated that keeping a build- not familiar with the new layout of ther improve.” terror link in blast while pointing out that lighting ac- effi ciency, managed in collaboration ing’s external lights on between 7am Investigators yesterday sifted through counts for 10 to 15% of the total energy with the Ministry of Municipality and and 4.30pm could invite a fi ne of blast remnants, examined video and consumption of a building. Environment. QR10,000. The law also stipulates on scoured the scene of an explosion that While a ban on the import and sale The LED bulbs also produce less the necessity of installing lighting tim- wounded 29 people in Manhattan, of 75 and 100 watt tungsten bulbs had heat with no harmful carbon emissions ers in all buildings to control the ex- attempting to establish if there were come into eff ect in Qatar on May 1 this compared to the tungsten bulbs. Hence ternal lighting in line with the adopted any links to terrorism. Page 9 year, it is being expanded to 40 and 60 LED bulbs are environment-friendly, practices of Kahramaa. HIA serves a record 17.6mn passengers A large number of vehicles on one of the inner lanes in Abu Hamour. amad International Airport and the top airport in the Middle East PICTURES: Jayan Orma and Noushad Thekkayil (HIA) registered 17.6mn pas- for the last two years.” Hsengers in the fi rst half of this Hamad International Airport is the year, up 20% on 14.6mn served during hub for Qatar Airways, which now fl ies the same period last year, “setting a to more than 150 destinations world- new passenger record” for the airport. wide. Doha has now become a global HIA also saw a signifi cant increase hub for business and leisure travel. in aircraft operations from January HIA’s facilities include two dual to June with a total of 118,069 move- capacity runways, one of the largest ments, which represents a 17% increase free span maintenance hangars in the in aircraft take-off s and landings at the world, a cutting edge two-storey cargo airport, compared to the same period in facility and one of the world’s largest 2015. self-contained catering facilities. This growth is attributed to the con- HIA also boasts of an airside hotel, two tinuous expansion of Qatar Airways airside squash courts, a gym, a 25-metre with eight new destinations added in swimming pool and spa and houses art A long queue of vehicles at the roundabout on the way to Salwa Road from Abu the fi rst half of the year namely, Ad- Hamad International Airport: the first six months of this year have been the busiest pieces by local and international artists, Hamour. elaide, Atlanta, Birmingham, Boston, for the airport to date. placed across the terminal. Los Angeles, Marrakech, Ras Al Khaim- At Hamad International Airport, ah and Yerevan as well as new fl ights by The UAE topped all countries in achieving record passenger and aircraft Qatar Duty Free off ers 40,000 square Philippine Airlines, Atlas Global Air- terms of total passenger numbers fol- movement traffi c. We expect HIA to metres of combined retail, food and lines and Himalaya Airlines. lowed by India, Saudi Arabia, the US continue demonstrating a healthy and beverage facilities, establishing the re- Cargo tonnage continued to grow and United Kingdom. steady growth in passenger numbers tailer as a premier shopping and dining strongly by 20.3% totalling 817,792 Regionally, the Far East achieved a for the rest of the year, supporting Qa- destination. tonnes during the same period, further 33.6% share of passenger movements, tar’s vision for HIA to be leader among With more than 70 retail outlets of- strengthening HIA’s position as one of followed by the Middle East with 22% global aviation hubs. fering an unprecedented selection of the world’s major cargo hubs. and Europe with 21.6% during the same “We are therefore committed to fur- designer labels, fashion, electronics, HIA’s top routes in regards to pas- period. ther invest in the development of HIA, gourmet foods and much more, QDF at senger numbers during the fi rst half of On the airport’s fi gures, Badr Mo- by adding capacity, improving connec- Hamad International Airport caters to this year were Dubai, London, Bang- hamed al-Meer, chief operating offi cer tivity and delivering the best services to all tastes and needs. In addition, more kok, Bahrain and Colombo, generating at Hamad International Airport, said: our travellers who have voted us as one than 30 cafes and restaurants off er a collectively 20.3% of the airport’s traf- “The fi rst six months of this year have of the top ten airports and the 5th best sumptuous selection of global and local fi c. been the busiest for our airport to date, airport shopping in the world for 2016, cuisine. The rush-hour traff ic near Abu Hamour interchange yesterday. Gulf Times 2 Monday, September 19, 2016 QATAR Exciting summer of Two get 15 years in jail for robbery bid science at WCM-Q for he Court of Appeal has However, the court acquitted cheque book and discovered sentenced two expatri- him for not being guilty. that the cheques were miss- Tate men to 15 years in jail Syrian convicted of issu- ing. Investigations led to the and subsequent deportation ing stolen cheques: A Doha defendant, who was convicted for an attempted burglary. Criminal Court has sentenced by the court for the material Local Arabic daily Arrayah a Syrian man to three years in evidences included in the case. high school students reported that the court has also jail and ordered his subsequent Bangladeshi in jail for at- acquitted a third defendant. deportation for stealing bank tacking neighbour: A Doha wo Qatari high school pacity of the country to help fulfi l The trio were accused of at- cheques from the vehicle of his criminal court has sentenced a students have spent the the goals of Qatar National Vision tempting to steal the money friend. Bangladeshi man to two weeks Tsummer learning re- 2030. The programme also counts of a company to resolve a fi - According to an Arabic daily in jail and fi ned him QR5,000 search administration skills at towards students’ voluntary com- nancial crisis they were facing. Arrayah report, the defendant for attacking his neighbour Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar munity service hours, with stu- They colluded to attack the stole nine blank cheques from a verbally and physically. (WCM-Q) thanks to a new in- dents who complete the course employees in charge of paying cheque book his friend had left Local Arabic daily Arrayah ternship programme launched logging 100 hours of service. salaries. On the salary payment in his vehicle. reported yesterday that the is- by the college. For Hissa, the internship pro- day, they tried to attack the He subsequently issued sue started when the defendant Students Moza al-Hail and gramme was a great opportunity employee in charge to snatch a two cheques, for QR7,000 had a dispute with his neigh- Hissa al-Fakhri, both 17, gained to explore what type of career she sum of QR6mn. and QR17,900, by counter- bour regarding foul smell and valuable work experience, skills wants to pursue. “I have multiple However, the security staff feiting the signature of his fumes coming from the kitchen and knowledge on the four- interests across the sciences and of the company came to the friend and presented them to window. week intensive Research Intern- social sciences so it has been great rescue of the employee. The a building materials company The defendant asked the ships for National High School to be able to explore them here at two of the defendants were ar- to buy some ceramic tiles and victim to close the window Students programme. WCM-Q. During the programme rested on the spot and the third marble. but the other did not respond Moza, a rising senior at Al we had some sessions about sleep escaped. He was later found in The victim was summoned promptly. So the defendant Maha Academy, said she discov- research, which I found really in- a GCC country. by the police and notifi ed he started to insult the victim ered that there is much more to teresting because it combines He was arrested by Inter- had two bounced cheques. and attacked him physically research than what goes on in the medical science, psychology and pol and brought back to Qatar. It was then he examined his causing some injuries. lab. “We learned about the grants the social sciences. I was really procedure, ethics in research, inspired to discover there are ar- how laboratories and research in- eas of research that combine dif- stitutes are structured and man- ferent subjects like this.” Mercedes-Benz SLK Class 2015 model recalled aged, and the procedures that Shaikha al-Qahtani, senior The Ministry of Economy campaign comes within the necessary repairs are carried out. must be followed to ensure health Moza al-Hail with Harald Mubarak, laboratory manager, WCM-Q Research. research training specialist at and Commerce (MEC), in framework of its ongoing The MEC has urged all customers and safety in the labs.” WCM-Q, said: “The aim is to collaboration with Nasser eff orts to protect consumers to report any violations to its As part of the programme, Hissa, a rising senior at National High School Students give students a real, hands-on Bin Khaled Automobiles, and ensure that car dealers Consumer Protection and Anti- which is administered by Michael E. DeBakey High School programme targets high school na- experience of research adminis- has announced the recall of follow up on vehicle defects Commercial Fraud Department WCM-Q’s Research Division, for Health Professions, added: tionals who are 16 years and above tration. They work closely with Mercedes-Benz SLK Class and repairs. through the following channels: the students also took classes on “Learning about the college ap- and are interested in scientifi c re- our researchers and administra- 2015 model because of a The MEC will co-ordinate with Hotline: 16001, e-mail: info@mec. time-management techniques, plication procedure was really search. The ultimate goal is to in- tive staff and have the opportu- potential defect in the internal the dealer to follow up on gov.qa, Twitter: @MEC_Qatar, self-directed study skills and useful for us now that we are go- crease the number of Qataris purs- nity to make real contributions as requirements of the wiring the maintenance and repair Instagram: MEC_Qatar, MEC how to prepare strong college ing into our senior year.” ing careers in science and research, well as observing the work going harness. works and communicate with mobile app for Android and IOS: applications. The Research Internships for and so enhance the research ca- on in the labs.” The MEC said the recall customers to ensure that the MEC_Qatar Vodafone backs Total staff visit Al Wakra Global Goals Hospital to cheer children odafone will help raise In addition, Vodafone will awareness of the Sus- hold internal employee en- Vtainable Development gagement activities to drive otal, in collaboration Goals (SDGs) through its net- the delivery of the Global with Al Wakra Hospital, work around the world during Goals. Torganised a private visit the ‘Global Goals Week’ set for In Qatar, Vodafone spent to the children’s wing of the September 17 to 24. QR1bn in the last 24 months hospital to share the joy and The SDGs or ‘Global Goals’ on building a world class net- festivities of Eid with the kids. have been adopted by world work infrastructure that sup- Led by some members of the leaders on September 25, 2015 ports the country’s aim to be hospital’s public relations de- at the United Nations Sustain- a leading knowledge based partment and nursing teams, able Development Summit in economy. Total’s employees visited the New York. These are a set of 17 Vodafone also recently em- children, gave them their wish- Volvo Qatar app goals aimed at ending poverty, barked on a journey to reduce es and presented them with fi ght inequality and injustice, its environmental footprint gifts. for latest models and tackle climate change through rolling out the fi rst They also brought along two by 2030. phase of its hybrid powered popular mascots to cheer the Doha Marketing Services “Vodafone’s purpose is to cell sites. children, who were equally ex- Company (Domasco), the connect everybody to live a Year 2016 has also seen Vo- cited to see them. The children authorised distributor in Qatar better today and build a bet- dafone bring a number of in- are aged two to 14 years old. for Volvo, has announced the ter tomorrow and we are proud novative solutions to Qatar “This visit really means a lot new Volvo Qatar smartphone to be a delivery partner of the such as the launch of its Global to us; something as simple as a Employees from Total and Al Wakra Hospital organised the Eid visit. app, an intelligent and advanced SDGs,” said Ian Gray, CEO, Machine to Machine Platform visit to the hospital can make information platform for Vodafone Qatar. that enables the implementa- a real impact on the life of the Abdulla Mohsen, Total’s head brate Eid this year, it gave us the Total also expressed its customers. “In our short seven year his- tion of Internet of Things con- children, and it teaches us at the of Government Liaison & Em- joy of bringing these celebra- appreciation to the manage- The Volvo Qatar app, available on tory in Qatar we have achieved nectivity solutions. same time. We really enjoyed ployee Relations, was also a part tions to them where they were,” ment and staff of Al Wakra both Apple App Store and Google a lot that directly supports Vodafone has also been being around the children and of the visiting team. “It’s great he said. Hospital for giving it the op- Play, is free of charge. the goals and are committed supporting the empower- spending time with them. They to see the children’s’ strong At the end of the visit, Mo- portunity to visit the hospital Users can browse through up-to- to bring our global expertise ment of women for more also seemed to have had a great spirit. They may be fi ghting ill- hamed al-Dosari, acting Public and for the high level of pro- date information with pictures and innovation to Qatar to than six years with its Al Jo- time, which helped them take nesses, but seeing them smile Relations manager, presented fessionalism. of the latest Volvo car models. continue benefi ting the local hara female sales channel. It their minds off things for some and play reminded us that no Total with a memento in appreci- Total’s employees also They can also find the nearest community and economy,” he was also the fi rst telco in the time,” said Christophe Eon, matter how tough they are, they ation of the partnership between stressed that the “children are sales and after sales locations on added. region to provide its female Total’s deputy vice-president are still children. As they may the two entities. Eon received the fi ghters and an inspiration to the Qatar map and get directions In Qatar, Vodafone will sup- staff with the best maternity – HR, Communications & CSR. not be able to go home to cele- memento on Total’s behalf. them”. to the location in any of the port the global awareness cam- benefi ts of 112 calendar days navigation apps on their phones. paign with widespread social to increase the return to work Simultaneously, they can request media communications, SMS and retention rates after for more information or schedule to its customer base and by giv- maternity leave. a test drive at their convenience. ing free mobile data access to Vodafone also launched Keeping customers in touch with the Global Goals website www. in 2014 its Falla youth pro- Minister tours independent schools the Scandinavian brand locally globalgoals.org and YouTube gramme which has benefi tted and globally, the app provides Channel during the week. more than 100,000. latest Volvo news from across the E the Minister of Educa- world. Users can also view Volvo tion and Higher Education Qatar’s Facebook and Twitter HDr Mohamed Abdul Wahed feeds and easily engage with this Ali al-Hammadi yesterday visited content. three independent schools in con- With a few taps, users can book a Strong winds, low nection with the start of the new service appointment or connect school year. directly to Volvo’s toll free He toured the schools to see that number. There is an embedded visibility expected they were ready to receive students. after sales feedback mechanism He met the management of each too. school and stressed the importance Faisal Sharif, managing director trong winds, dusty con- department tweeted yesterday. of registering attendance from the at Domasco described the Volvo ditions and low visibility Visibility, meanwhile, may fi rst day. Qatar app as “an innovative Sare expected in parts of drop to 3km or less in some The Minister also asked them platform designed to best suit the country today, the Qatar areas at times. provide students with all the neces- our customers’ digital based Met department has said. The detailed forecast for in- sary assistance to help them over- lifestyles.” Off shore areas, too, are like- shore areas says hazy to misty come any diffi culty in learning. Andrew Parrot, head of Sales & ly to see strong winds and high conditions are expected in He also urged the management of Marketing for Volvo, added that seas by midday, according to some places at fi rst, followed schools to be strict in implementing “customers can now seamlessly the weather report. by a hot day. Slight to blowing the regulations and rules. HE Dr Mohamed Abdul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi at an independent school yesterday. connect with their favourite Northwesterly-northeast- dust and some clouds are also brand with just a few taps on their erly winds are expected to likely at times. smartphones.” blow at 8-18 knots in inshore Slight dust is expected in areas, reaching a high of 22 off shore areas, with the sea knots in some places at times. level rising to 7-8ft in some Embassy revises In off shore areas, the wind places by midday. Mastercard launches mobile application speed may go up to 25 knots by A maximum temperature of consular timings midday. 45C was recorded in Turayna astercard, a leading Africa, to explore and enjoy all Lounge Locator that allows dedicated Mastercard Buy 1 Get The timings of the consular The mercury level, which yesterday, followed by 44C in technology company of the privileges that come with users to look up the nearest 1 mobile application and the section of the Indian embassy has been hovering around Batna, Karana and Messaied. Min the global pay- Titanium, Platinum, World and lounge(s) in any given airport link to download it instantly. have been revised with eff ect the early/mid-40C levels In the capital, the mercury ments industry, has launched World Elite Mastercard credit along with the location, open- Mastercard cardholders can from Wednesday. over the past few days in sev- level rose to 43C in the Qatar its mobile application for card and debit cards. ing hours, facilities and more; also explore a wide array of off ers Applications will be received eral areas, is likely to come University area. products, Mastercard For You. The application also provides insurance service that includes with top-tier merchants, such from 9am to 12.15pm. Delivery down to the upper-30C lev- Today, the maximum tem- Available for free on both Ap- cardholders with specifi c call-to- quick access to digital claim as Cleartrip, Careem, Reebonz of documents after rendering els starting from this after- perature is expected to be 39C ple and Android devices, Mas- action prompts to ease and sim- forms during travel emergen- and Starwood Hotels & Resorts, consular service will be from 4pm noon as a result of the north- in Doha, Mesaieed, Wakrah, Al tercard For You enables card- plify the redemption process. cies; as well as an overview of all amongst others, with only a few to 5.15pm. westerly winds, the Met Khor and Abu Samra. holders in the Middle East and Key features include the of the off ers available with the quick taps on the mobile itself. Gulf Times Monday, September 19, 2016 3 QATAR

Leaders send condolences to Saudi king

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim Demand for school bin Hamad al-Thani, HH the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani and HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani have sent supplies to continue cables of condolences to Custodian of the Two Holy By Peter Alagos Mosques King Salman bin Business Reporter Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia on the death of Princess Nouf bint Bader bin Abdulaziz emand for a wide assort- al-Saud. ment of school supplies Dwill continue even after educational institutions in Qa- President of tar welcomed thousands of stu- Chile greeted dents yesterday, it is learnt. “We are still expecting many parents to do ‘back to school’ HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim shopping, especially this com- bin Hamad al-Thani, HH ing weekend,” said Abdul Manaf the Deputy Emir Sheikh K P, deputy general manager of Abdullah bin Hamad al- LuLu Hypermarket along D- Thani and HE the Prime Ring Road. Minister and Minister of In the weekend prior to the Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin opening of classes, he said Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani school supply sales were “suc- yesterday sent cables of cessful” due to the high turnout congratulations to Chile’s of students and parents. President Michelle Bachelet “There are still some par- on the anniversary of her ents and students who will buy country’s Independence school supplies, which is why Day. we are still off ering promotions even after classes have started,” he told Gulf Times yesterday. Asked if sales this year were Ties reviewed higher compared to 2015, Manaf said: “It is still early to compare Qatar’s Minister of State current sales with last year’s for Foreign Affairs HE turnout because we are still ex- Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi pecting more customers to come has met separately with in, but in the previous days we Guinea-Bissau’s Foreign have experienced good sales, Minister Suarez Sambo, especially during the past week- Indonesia’s Foreign Minister end,” he noted. Retno Marsudi, South Manaf said out that some A wide range of school supplies is still available to parents making last minute ‘back to school’ shopping. Africa’s Foreign Minister families are still arriving from Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, vacation and some parents have For its ‘Get Set for School’ off ers include bags and trolleys, were expected to attend classes, and Director General of waited for classes to open to get a campaign, Manaf said LuLu D- glue, fi neliner pens, drawing which started yesterday. Start- the Slovenian Foreign list of school supplies needed in Ring Road is off ering promo- books, notebooks, pencil cases, ing the new academic year are Ministry David Brozina on the new academic year. tions on books and stationeries, and rulers, among other prod- about 100,319 students from the sidelines of the 17th “Some parents wait for the as well as other school supplies. ucts, while Saudia has promo- Independent Schools around Summit of the Non-Aligned opening of classes before buy- Other stores like WHSmith in tions on steel fl asks, clay, sta- Qatar, while another 172,247 re- Movement, currently in ing school supplies. When they Al Meera and Saudia are off ering tionery sets, assorted students sumed classes in private schools session in the Venezuelan shop, we usually see some of their respective ‘Back to School’ tables and chairs, girls and boys and in kindergartens, according island of Margarita. them bringing a list of the school promotions until September 25. shoes, socks, and water bottles. to the Ministry of Education and School bags and trolleys are popular among many customers. During the meetings, they supplies they need,” he said. WHSmith’s ‘Back to School’ More than 300,000 students Higher Education. PICTURES: Peter Alagos discussed bilateral relations. Hanan al-Kuwari holds talks with Canadian PM and FM

QNA Montreal

inister of Public Health, HE Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Ku- Mwari met Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the side- lines of a working dinner held for sen- ior participants in the Fifth Replenish- ment Conference of the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Montreal. During the meeting, the health min- ister conveyed the greetings of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al- HE Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari meets Canadian Foreign Minister Stephane Dion. Thani to the prime minister. Trudeau too conveyed his greetings Minister of Foreign Aff airs Stephane McGill University For Cancer and the to the Emir. Dion. Talks dealt with bilateral rela- Children’s Hospital in Canada, the Ex- He also thanked Qatar for support- tions and topics being discussed dur- ecutive Director of the Royal College of ing the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tu- ing the conference in addition to a Physicians and Surgeons and Chairman berculosis and Malaria. number of issues of common interest, of the Certifi cates Attesting Authority. The Canadian premier praised the especially in the health sector. Co-operation in various health ar- depth of relations with Qatar. The Qatari minister also met with eas were discussed during the meet- HE Dr al-Kuwari also met Canada’s a number of senior offi cials from the ings. QA starts A380 fl ights to Sydney

atar Airways has announced that Sydney has become its Qfi rst destination in Australia to be served by the A380 super-jumbo, just six months after it joined the air- line’s global network. Following the route’s inauguration with the Boeing 777-300 on March 1, Qatar Airways “has seen a steady growth in demand for its service on the route”, the Doha-based carrier has said in a statement. The 517-seater A380 aircraft in- Qatar Airways’ A380 makes its Australian debut in Sydney. creases Qatar Airways’ current daily capacity by 44% on this route to meet this key destination than to introduce port managing director and CEO Ker- the growing travel and trade demand. our iconic A380 to the country, start- rie Mather said. Qatar Airways Group chief execu- ing with the nation’s biggest hub, “Qatar Airways’ Doha-Sydney tive Akbar al-Baker said, “From the Sydney.” service already generates an estimat- moment we inaugurated the service The 517-seat capacity is spread ed 3,000 jobs and contributes more to Sydney earlier this year, we have across twin decks in a tri-class confi g- than $240mn to the economy per been welcomed with open arms. Cus- uration of eight seats in First Class, 48 year, plus it provides passengers with tomers fl ying to and from Sydney ap- seats in Business and 461 in Economy, more choice and connectivity. Syd- preciate our global route network and featuring “world-class amenities and ney Airport estimates that Qatar Air- our effi cient fl ight schedules, which fi rst-rate services that set it apart from ways’ A380 will deliver an incremental save them hours of time on the average other aircraft”. Passengers travelling $78mn in inbound visitor expenditure itinerary. We are pleased to respond from Sydney to London and Paris can annually to Australia, supporting the in kind, with the introduction of the enjoy the Qatar Airways A380 experi- federal government’s target of doubling A380 service to Sydney, off ering 517 ence throughout their journey to these overnight visitor expenditure by 2020.” seats per fl ight. two European destinations. The daily fl ight schedule is as fol- “Australia is one of the main hubs “We’re thrilled that Qatar Airways lows: QR908 departing Doha at of the business world in Asia Pacifi c, has ‘upgauged’ to an A380 within six 9.40pm and arriving in Sydney at with many passengers fl ying world- months of the airline’s launch in Syd- 7.35pm (+1), and QR909 departing wide for business and leisure. What ney, which is testament to their early Sydney at 10.25pm and arriving in better way to serve travellers from success and strong loads,” Sydney Air- Doha at 5.05am (+1). Gulf Times 4 Monday, September 19, 2016 QATAR Al-Mahmoud urges Nam to take strong position on Syria crisis

QNA stability of the region and the world re- Syrian people, adding that it will con- all those responsible for all war crimes Margarita Island, Venezuela quire that the Non-Aligned Movement tinue this support and will not hesitate and crimes against humanity committed (Nam) takes a strong position in support to make any eff ort that would put an end in Syria to justice, and ensure they do not of international eff orts to reach a politi- to the suff ering of the Syrian brothers, escape punishment so as to prevent the re- E the Deputy Prime Minister cal solution according to the Geneva-1 bring a political solution to the Syrian currence of such atrocities. and Minister of State for Cabi- communique. crisis and enhance security and stability The pursuit of the movement since its Hnet Aff airs Ahmed bin Abdul- Addressing the 17th Nam summit On in the region. inception to achieve a world of equal- lah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud said that the Margarita Island, Venezuela, HE the HE al-Mahmoud added the continued ity, justice and stability is fully compatible magnitude of the humanitarian disaster Deputy Prime Minister said the State of grave deterioration in Syria represents an with the policy of the State of Qatar and its in Syria and the serious consequences of Qatar is at the forefront of the countries international failure to address the crisis eff orts at the international level, HE the the continuing crisis on the security and that provide humanitarian assistance to that has left the majority of the Syrian Deputy Prime Minister said, stressing the HE al-Mahmoud addressing the 17th Nam summit. keenness of the State of Qatar to co-oper- ate with Nam countries on the basis of mu- people in need of assistance as a re- Council Resolution 2235 (2015) con- tual respect, non-interference in the aff airs sult of a systematic policy to impose fi rmed that the Syrian regime and of others and support programmes and a blockade on civilians and deprive ISIS group used chemical weapons in policies to advance development, peace them of the most basic necessities Syria, he said. and respect for international law. of life as well as the use of all types of The use of chemical weapons Qatar appreciates the Non-Aligned weapons that killed nearly half a mil- against civilians represents a fl agrant Movement’s support for the Palestinian lion innocent civilians and displaced violation of international law and cause, HE al-Mahmoud pointed out, say- millions inside and outside Syria. international instruments, HE the ing: “I have no doubt that this will con- At the end of last August a joint Deputy Prime Minister said, adding tinue in the light of the continuing Israeli investigation by the Organisation that justice and equity require that occupation of Palestinian territory and the for the Prohibition of Chemical the international community take continued denial by Israel of the Palestin- Weapons and the UN mechanism immediate and eff ective measures to ian people’s rights and their right to estab- established pursuant to Security protect the Syrian people and bring lish their independent state.”

Venezuela president meets al-Mahmoud

QNA entrusted HE the Deputy Prime Minister Margarita Island, Venezuela to convey his greetings to HH the Emir and his wishes to the Qatari people. During the meeting, they reviewed enezuelan President Nicolas bilateral relations between the two Maduro met with HE the Dep- countries and means of advancing Vuty Prime Minister and Minis- them in various fi elds. HE the Deputy ter of State for Cabinet Aff airs Ahmed Prime Minister and Minister of State bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud on for Cabinet Aff airs also met with In- the sidelines of the 17th Non-Aligned dian Vice-President Mohamed Hamid Movement (Nam) summit on Marga- Al-Mahmoud with Venezuelan Ansari on the sidelines of the summit. rita Island, Venezuela. President Nicolas Maduro. During the meeting, they discussed At the outset of the meeting, HE al- bilateral relations and means of ad- Mahmoud conveyed greetings of HH wishes to him and the Venezuelan peo- vancing them in various fi elds, in addi- the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al- ple for their progress and prosperity. tion to exchanging views on a number Thani to the president along with best For his part, the Venezuelan president of topics of common concern. Gulf Times Monday, September 19, 2016 5 QATAR

QTA reaches out to French travel trade at ‘Qatar Day’ event in Paris

atar’s ambassador to France Sheikh Meshaal bin Hamad Qal-Thani and Qatar Tourism Authority’s (QTA) chief marketing and promotion offi cer Rashed al-Qurese led the opening of a ‘Qatar Day’ event in Paris recently, to introduce key French travel professionals, tour oper- ators and travel media to the country’s tourist off erings. “Awareness of Qatar in the French market is growing, thanks to the coun- try’s association with Paris Saint Ger- main and the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Tri- omphe,” said al-Qurese at the event. He noted that much of QTA’s work in France goes on behind the scenes, strengthening relations with French travel trade through trade engage- ment, destination training workshops, familiarisation trips, and tour operator campaigns. QTA has been successful in boost- ing the number of French tour opera- tors featuring Qatar to front line travel trade and consumers, from just 14 in 2014 to more than 25 at present, ac- Qatar’s ambassador to France Sheikh Meshaal bin Hamad al-Thani and QTA’s cording to al-Qurese. chief marketing and promotion off icer Rashed al-Qurese at the Paris event. “We have additionally generated great interest in our ‘Tawash’ on- hanced our destination awareness and enthusiasm to confi dently gener- line destination training programme among key sales personnel by provid- ate consumer visitation to Qatar,” he among travel agents, and this has en- ing them the necessary knowledge added.

Course on mammalian cell culture held

he Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) at Qatar Uni- techniques’, ‘Preparation of media and other reagents’, ‘Prin- versity (QU) recently organised and hosted a training ciples of cell culture techniques’, ‘Types of cell cultures and Tcourse, aimed at engaging scientists and researchers applications’, and ‘Demonstration on chicken embryo and to share their knowledge and experience on basic and ap- chicken embryo fi broblast culture’. plied biomedical research. Also on the programme were theoretical classes and Themed ‘Principles of Mammalian Cell Culture Training hands-on sessions covering a wide range of topics such Course’, the event drew 12 faculty, students and researchers as types, principles and applications of cell cultures, cell from QU, Hamad Medical Corporation and Qatar Biomedical growth and growth curve analysis, primary cell culture and Research Institute. cells transformation techniques, and stem cell culture and The programme agenda included presentations delivered applications. by BRC assistant professors of infectious diseases, Dr Hadi BRC director and QU College of Health Sciences dean Dr Yassine and of metabolic diseases Dr Huseyin Cagatay Yal- Asmaa al-Thani noted that it brought focus on the Centre’s cin, research professor and project manager, Dr Hany El- commitment to raising the local health system standard and sayed Mady, and research assistants Layla al-Mansoori and to increasing community awareness on specifi c medical is- Maria Khalid Smatti as well as by QU College of Medicine sues relevant to Qatar.“It also highlights QU’s mission to professor, Dr Ala-Eddin al-Moustafa. align research with the needs of the society and the national They addressed topics on ‘Introduction to the animal aspiration towards fulfi lling the goals of the National Health mammalian cell culture lab’, ‘Demonstration on aseptic Strategy,” she added. Gulf Times 6 Monday, September 19, 2016 QATAR/REGION QU College of Education welcomes new faculty

atar University College of Edu- and multidisciplinary knowledge while cation (QU-CED) has held an combining heritage, civilisation, cul- Qorientation event in which 12 tural identity, and social change. Our new faculty were provided with the faculty have a responsibility to contrib- necessary information on the college’s ute to the college’s scholarly endeavours programmes and services. which are aligned with QU’s mission to During the event, Dr Hissa Sadiq, produce a generation of professionals formerly CED dean (2004-2016), was and leaders who can drive the country’s honoured in recognition of her sig- development and progress.” nifi cant contribution to the college’s He also stressed the importance achievements in terms of academic of strengthening links with the soci- accreditation and programmes. At- ety, maximising impact on the wider tendees included CED associate deans, community by advancing a vibrant faculty and staff . CED dean Dr Ahmed al-Emadi research culture focused on its needs CED dean Dr Ahmed al-Emadi wel- and expectations, and bringing to bear comed the new faculty and wished them play a major role in fulfi lling the needs faculty and students’ expertise and ex- a successful professional journey at QU. of the society by providing its stu- periences to various entities in Qatar He said: “CED is well-positioned to dents with high-quality programmes and beyond.

Environment inspection campaign

he patrols of the Environment, The violations including grazing essary legal procedures against them. Protectorates and Wildlife De- camels in the open, littering in the The Eid inspection campaign at the Tpartment at the Ministry of desert, discarding nylon fi shing nets in fi sh market at Al Wakrah municipality Municipality and Environment (MME) non-designated areas, and other issues. resulted in destroying around 500kg of has spotted 13 various environmental Violation reports were issued and the rotten fi sh, including 350kg in a single violations and issued 22 warnings dur- violators were referred to the security day. Al Khor Family Park received around ing Eid al-Adha holidays. department concerned to take the nec- 40,000 visitors during the Eid holidays.

Gunmen kill two Hadi names new Saudi policemen central bank governor

AFP The two offi cers were pa- Reuters the state-run sabanew.net Riyadh trolling in a police car when Dubai news agency. The decree also they came under fi re at included a decision to move around 11:30pm, a ministry the bank’s headquarters nidentifi ed gunmen spokesman told the offi cial decree by Yemen’s from the capital Sanaa to the killed two Saudi po- Saudi Press Agency (SPA). exiled president Abd- southern port city of Aden, Ulicemen in the east- They were both pro- ARabbuh Mansour according to the statement. ern city of Dammam late on nounced dead on arrival in Hadi has appointed fi nance Meanwhile, suspected Saturday, the interior min- hospital. The spokesman minister Monasser al-Quaiti militants have killed three istry said, describing it as a did not specify who it held as head of the central bank, Yemeni soldiers in two sepa- “terrorist attack”. responsible for the shooting. according to a statement on rate shootings in the south. Gulf Times Monday, September 19, 2016 7 ARAB WORLD Israeli soldiers shoot and injure Palestinian

QNA to search for a “suspicious individual.” Bethlehem “At around 6am, the assailant, who was hiding in the bushes, jumped out and stabbed the offi cer using two sraeli forces shot and seriously in- knives,” Ynet reported. jured a Palestinian man after he al- Also yesterday, Israeli army closed Ilegedly stabbed an Israeli army of- the main entrance of the town of Beit fi cer yesterday morning at a guard post Ummar, north of Hebron in the West in the illegal Israeli settlement of Efrat Bank. Israeli army closed the main en- southwest of Bethlehem in the south- trance of the town, banning the entry ern occupied West Bank. and exit of passengers and drivers into The incident came after four Pales- Palestinian chidlren cross earth and from the town, a witness told Pal- tinians and one Jordanian were killed blocking access to the West Bank estinian News Agency (Wafa). by Israeli forces in recent days amid village of Bani Naim yesterday after The Israeli military said the closure an upsurge in violence in the occupied Israeli forces limited acces to the area was due to the maintenance of a neigh- Palestinian territory. following an alleged attack near a bouring military watchtower. It said the According to an Israeli army state- settlement east of the West Bank town closure will continue until September 22. ment, an “assailant stabbed and of Hebron earlier in the week. Meanwhile, Israeli occupation forces wounded an Israeli army offi cer. In re- have seized an under-construction sponse to the immediate threat, Israeli stationed at the guard post shot and property owned by a Palestinian citizen forces fi red at assailant. Both evacuated wounded the Palestinian suspect, Pal- in Yaboud town southwest of Jenin to for medical care”. estinian Ma’an news agency reported. use as a military post. Both were reportedly taken to the According to Israeli news site Ynet, A statement by Yaboud municipal- Hadassah Medical Centre in Jerusa- the settlement’s electronic secu- ity said that Israeli troops took control lem’s Ein Karem. rity system had identifi ed movement of a property belonging to a Palestinian According to Israeli media, the within 400m of the settlement be- citizen and turned it into a military ob- 30-year old Israeli army commander tween 2am and 4am yesterday and a servation post. sustained stab wounds to his upper “civilian security squad” along with The Israeli soldiers raised the Israeli body, and other Israeli army soldiers Israeli army forces went to the scene fl ag on its roof, the statement added.

Islamists eye Jordan election comeback

AFP seats in the 130-seat parliament, mak- come of this election,” said Kirk Sowell Amman ing it the biggest opposition force. of Utica Risk Services, a consultancy. The IAF boycotted elections in 2010 “Given parliament’s limited powers and 2013 in protest at the electoral system and the distorting impact of seat allo- ordanians vote tomorrow in par- and allegations of fraud. Jordan’s elector- cation, the primary signifi cance of this liamentary elections that could see al system gives disproportionate clout to election could be as a referendum on Jopposition Islamists re-emerge as a rural districts, which are less populated the state’s eff orts to weaken the Muslim major parliamentary force in the king- than the cities but tend to return tribal Brotherhood.” dom, a key Western ally in the fi ght candidates loyal to the monarchy. “If its ‘reform’ coalition easily defeats against militants. The IAF will also face competition regime-aligned Islamists, it could be a The vote comes as Jordan wrestles from Islamists seen as aligned with black eye for the establishment,” he added. with stubbornly high unemployment, the palace, however. These include the Despite the challenges facing Jordan, fears of a spillover from wars in Syria breakaway Muslim Brotherhood Asso- the election has failed to inspire the and Iraq and the burden of hosting ciation, which the government author- public. The Phenix Center, a local poll- hundreds of thousands of refugees. ised last year to compete in polls. ster, reported that 42% of Jordanians Experts expect the Islamic Action “How well Islamists aligned with the planned not to vote while 19% were un- Front, the political arm of Jordan’s monarchy fare compared to the IAF co- decided. Nearly a third said they would Muslim Brotherhood, to win around 20 alition may be the more important out- vote for a family or tribe member. Gulf Times 8 Monday, September 19, 2016 AFRICA

Zimbabwe police deny using bullets against protesters Somali general dies

AFP arresting close to 100 protesters, a number Harare the police disputed. “Only 21 people were arrested by the Zim- babwe Republic Police throughout the coun- imbabwe police yesterday denied us- try... for engaging in acts of disorderly con- ing bullets to disperse protests against duct of blocking the smooth fl ow of traffi c in bomb attack Zpresident Robert Mugabe at the week- and intimidating the general public to side end, as activists called for electoral reforms with them and partake in illegal activities,” Shebaab has continued a campaign They have also staged repeated ahead of general elections in 2018. said the police statement. of bombings in the capital attacks in Kenya and a recent secu- “For the record no fi rearm or live bullets Nyathi said the arrested activists included rity analysis warned the group was were used in the perceived protests through- members of the main opposition Movement AFP expanding its horizons with cells out the country,” police spokesman Paul Ny- for Democratic Change (MDC) “who were Mogadishu active in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, athi said in a statement. openly agitating for violence”. Tanzania and Uganda as well as So- “As police we reiterate that anyone who NERA on Saturday said about 100 activists malia. claims that live bullets were fi red at protesters were arrested while others were heavily as- top Somalia general known Kenya’s fi ght to hold on to should come forward with evidence.” saulted by law the enforcement agents. for fi ghting the jihadist potentially lucrative Indian Ocean A coalition of opposition parties under Campaigners said they would challenge the AShebaab group, was killed oil and gas reserves, threatened by the banner of the National Electoral Reform protest ban through the courts, which had yesterday when a suicide bomber a maritime border spat with Soma- Agenda (NERA) had planned country-wide overturned a similar order earlier this month. rammed an explosives-packed car lia, goes before the UN’s top court in demonstrations on Saturday demanding Mugabe has vowed a crackdown on dissent into his vehicle, offi cials and wit- The Hague today. reform ahead of the 2018 election, when and blasted judges for “reckless” rulings al- nesses said. The hearings, due to last through 92-year-old Mugabe plans to stand again. lowing previous demonstrations. General Mohamed Roble Jimale the week, are the fi rst stage in Ken- A month-long protest ban and a massive Opposition to the ageing leader’s 36-year Gobale was killed along with four of ya’s battle against a 2014 claim by police deployment, in Harare, however, saw rule has grown in recent months with a surge his security guards in the attack in the Somalia for the redrawing of the the event fi zzle out before it started. of public demonstrations, triggered by an capital Mogadishu that was claimed sea border, a move that would af- But activists charged the police with in- economic crisis that has left banks short of by the Al Qaeda linked Shebaab. Members of the Somalian military forces walk at the site of a suicide car fect three of Kenya’s 20 off shore oil timidation, fi ring against small groups dem- cash and the government struggling to pay its “There was a heavy blast caused bomb attack, which killed a top Somalia general yesterday. blocks. onstrating in the suburbs of the capital and workers. by a car loaded with explosives,” A relative newcomer to the oil in- said security offi cial Abdiaziz Mo- The attack was claimed in a state- militants in southern Somalia. dustry but one seen as having major hamed. ment broadcast on the Shebaab’s His brigade was stationed in the potential, Kenya has awarded the “Several members of the military Andalus radio and quoted by a pro- lower Shabele region where the three oil blocks to Italy’s EniSpA. were killed in the incident, includ- Shebaab website. group has major infl uence. “I’m confi dent that we will win ing a senior commander.” Gobale was the commander of the The last Shebaab attack on that case,” Somali President Hassan Witnesses said Gobale’s vehicle army’s Third Brigade. Mogadishu was barely a fortnight Sheikh Mohamud said on state radio was travelling on the road when an- He had fought the Shebaab since ago when five people were killed yesterday in Mogadishu. other vehicle rammed it, causing a 2007, leading a brigade that battled by a suicide car bomb outside a Leading Kenya’s delegation to the massive blast. its militants in several neighbour- popular hotel near the presidential International Court of Justice (ICJ) The attack took place after the hoods of the capital until they were palace. is attorney-general Githu Muigai, convoy had left the military hospital forced out in 2011. Last week, Mogadishu hosted a who for his part reiterated that Nai- and was heading towards the de- Since then, they have continued top-level African gathering for the robi “contested the jurisdiction of fence ministry. their attacks on government, mili- fi rst time in more than four decades the ICJ to hear the matter”. “The blast was very huge, I saw tary, civilian and foreign targets in a — a one-day summit of the IGAD At the heart of the dispute is how smoke and fi re overshadowing the bid to overthrow the international- regional trade bloc. to draw the line of the sea boundary. whole area,” witness Abdi Hassan ly-backed government. This weekend, Shebaab fi ghters Somalia, which lies north of Ken- told AFP, saying he understood that The group is expected to try and disguised as Kenyan soldiers and ya, wants it to continue along the Gobale had died in the attack. violently disrupt elections which riding Kenya army vehicles attacked line of the land border, in a south- Somalia’s President Hassan are to be held later this month and a military base in Elwak, a town near east direction. Sheikh Mohamud sent his condo- in October. the Kenyan border. Kenya wants it to go in a straight lences to the general’s family, his Gobale played an important role They looted the base and left after line east, along the parallel of lati- spokesman said. in the fi ght against Al Qaeda linked briefl y taking control of the town. tude, giving it more sea territory. SA watchdog grills ministers in Zuma, Gupta inquiry

Reuters 20 other top offi cials and members of Zuma’s a dramatic turn earlier this year after Jonas said Johannesburg cabinet, the paper said. the Guptas had off ered him his boss’s job, an al- “Partly the reason we subpoenaed them is legation that led to calls for Zuma to resign. because they shouldn’t be seen as sell-outs Zuma has denied Jonas’ claims, saying only the outh Africa’s anti-corruption watchdog but as law abiding citizens who are complying president appointed ministers, in line with the has interviewed Finance Minister Pravin with the lawful order from an authorised in- constitution. SGordhan and his deputy Mcebisi Jonas as stitution,” Madonsela told the paper, without The Guptas have denied infl uencing Zuma, part of an investigation into whether President elaborating. saying they were pawns in a political plot against Jacob Zuma was infl uenced by the wealthy Gupta Presidency spokesman Bongani Ngqulunga the president. family in making government appointments, the confi rmed to the paper that Zuma had received The Guptas, who moved to South Africa from Sunday Times newspaper reported. the letter from Madonsela and that it was “being India after apartheid fell in 1994, run businesses The paper said public protector Thuli Madon- processed”. ranging from uranium and coal mining to media sela had written to Zuma informing him of her in- Madonsela said in June she would investigate and information technology. vestigation into whether he breached the execu- “specifi cally whether or not the government of Madonsela, whose term as public protector tive code of conduct. South Africa and specifi cally the president un- ends in October, previously received public sup- Madonsela has already interviewed Gordhan, lawfully allowed the Gupta family to choose min- port in South Africa for taking Zuma to task over his predecessor Nhlanhla Nene and deputy fi - isters and other occupants of high offi ce”. the spending of 240mn rand ($16.94mn) of state nance minister Jonas and will interview at least The scandal surrounding the Gupta family took money on upgrading his private home.

Buhari under fi re over speech plagiarism

AFP Lagos

igerian President Muhammadu Buhari has come under fi re from critics after admitting part of his Nrecent “Change Begins With Me” speech was copied from US President Barack Obama’s 2008 victory speech. Buhari announced the social initiative earlier this month urging Nigerians to stop bribing and littering in a programme that continues his “war against indiscipline” launched while serving as military ruler in the 1980’s. “We must resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship, pettiness and immaturity that have poi- soned our country for so long,” Buhari said at a ceremony held in the nation’s capital of Abuja. The presidency was forced to issue a statement late Friday night acknowledging that the line was lifted from Obama. “It was observed that the similarities between a para- graph in president Obama’s 2008 victory speech...are too close to be passed as coincidence,” presidential spokesman Garba Shehu said in a statement, adding that an “overzeal- ous” speech writer will face “appropriate sanction”. Critics questioned whether Buhari was reading his speeches before delivering them, and worried that the fl ub was tarnishing Nigeria’s image abroad as interna- tional leaders prepare to meet in New York this week for the UN general assembly. “The president and his aides just have to do better,” op- position party member Adeyanju Deji said in a Twitter post. “We plead guys, stop embarrassing our great nation.” This isn’t the fi rst time that Buhari’s team has borrowed from American campaigns. Another one of the president’s lines has been “make Nigeria great again” a copy of “make America great again”, the slogan used by US presidential candidate Donald Trump and before him by Ronald Reagan. Gulf Times Monday, September 19, 2016 9 AMERICA

IS claims Minnesota 29 hurt in NYC blast, no knife attack

AFP Washington

innesota police said yester- terrorism link found day they were investigating Ma shopping mall stabbing Reuters more than 260. spree that injured eight, but could New York City The New Jersey explosion came from not comment on a claim that the a pipe bomb, offi cials said. Islamic State group was behind the A US offi cial familiar with informa- attack. ew York Governor Andrew tion circulating inside the government A man who made “some refer- Cuomo said yesterday there said the motive remained unknown ences to Allah” stabbed and injured Nwas still no indication that an and insuffi cient evidence had been eight people in a shopping mall in explosion that injured 29 people in gathered to link the two New York the city of St Cloud late on Saturday Manhattan on Saturday was linked to bombs. before he was shot dead by an off - international terrorism, while inves- There was no evidence to connect duty offi cer, police said. tigators scoured the scene of the blast. them to the New Jersey blast, said the The suspect “asked at least one FBI investigators were to examine source, who spoke on condition of an- person if they were Muslim before remnants of the bomb plus an unex- onymity. he assaulted them,” Blair Anderson, ploded device found four blocks away “From what we know now, and it’s the St Cloud police chief, told jour- and another device that exploded limited, almost anybody could have nalists. about 130km away in New Jersey on fabricated these bombs and used cell- But he emphasised that the assail- Saturday to see if they were connected, phones as timed detonators,” said an- ant’s motivation remained unclear. Cuomo said. other US offi cial familiar with the in- “Whether that was a terrorist at- No international group had claimed quiry. tack or not, I’m not willing to say responsibility “but it is very, very early “There are instructions all over the that right now because we just don’t in the investigation,” the state gov- internet, and the crudity, positioning, know,” he said. ernor told reporters, reiterating what and relative ineff ectiveness of these Local offi cials had no immediate New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio had does not suggest that a more sophisti- response to a claim by the IS-linked said hours after the blast. cated group played any role in this.” news agency Amaq that the assailant “A bomb exploding in New York is The US Federal Bureau of Investiga- was “a soldier of the Islamic State.” obviously an act of terrorism, but it’s tion (FBI) was taking evidence from all A St Cloud police offi cer told AFP not linked to international terrorism. three devices to its special crime labo- yesterday that the department was In other words, we fi nd no ISIS con- ratory in Quantico, Virginia, said Cuo- actively investigating the attack, nection, et cetera,” Cuomo said, refer- mo, adding that he had been briefed by but had no further information for ring to the Islamic State. “all the relevant agencies.” public release and had no immediate With world leaders due to arrive in “We will fi nd who planted these ex- plans for further news briefi ngs. the city ahead of the UN General as- plosives and they will be punished.... Speaking shortly after midnight, sembly, some 1,000 additional state We will not allow these type of people Chief Anderson said the armed sus- police and National Guard offi cers and these type of threats to disrupt our pect entered the Crossroads Center were being sent to the city to patrol life in New York,” Cuomo said. mall in St Cloud — a city of about transportation hubs as a precaution, Most of the injured were treated 67,000 people some 110km north- Cuomo said. for minor injuries including shrapnel Firefighters respond to an explosion on West 23rd Street in New York on Saturday night. west of Minneapolis — and attacked Heads of state and government to- wounds and released, though police at least eight people. morrow begin six days of speeches in listed one injury as serious. with yellow crime scene tape and level with residential fl oors above. The room for exercise cycles and a small The lone suspect was wearing a pri- New York, with some dignitaries arriv- “When you see the damage, I think placed dozens of numbered evidence Flatiron Building, a New York land- hotel, among other businesses. vate security uniform and had at least ing early for preliminary events. we were fortunate that there were no markers on the ground. Neighbourhood mark, is about 500m away. The explosion quickly became an is- one knife, and “made some references A sweep of the neighbourhood fol- fatalities,” Cuomo said. residents who could show identifi cation It happened outside the Associated sue in the presidential race. Republican to Allah,” the police chief said. lowing the blast had turned up another New York police, the FBI and the US were allowed back into their homes. Blind Housing facility at 135 W 23rd candidate Donald Trump told an audi- “That suspect was confronted by device four blocks away consisting of a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms The blast, described by one neigh- Street which provides housing, train- ence, “We better get very tough, folks.” an off -duty police offi cer and sum- pressure cooker with wires attached to and Explosives converged on the site bour as “deafening,” reverberated ing and other services for the blind. Democratic rival Hillary Clinton said marily shot and killed,” he said. it and connected to a cell phone. for their fi rst daylight view of the ex- through the Chelsea district of Man- The same block is home to a Roman in a statement she had been briefed but Anderson said the eight injured Pressure cooker bombs were used plosion, closing several blocks of West hattan around 8.30pm (0030 GMT Catholic Church with a neoclassical would wait until she had more infor- people were taken to a hospital. in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing 23rd Street to traffi c. yesterday) on 23rd Street, a block of facade, a Basque restaurant, a show- mation before commenting further. All but one was later released. that killed three people and wounded Investigators cordoned off the area mostly commercial spaces at street Trump bashes Clinton as ‘too soft’ on immigrants

AFP Houston

onald Trump took his campaign to Texas on Saturday, bashing DHillary Clinton’s immigration policies as too lax, in a state still up for grabs on Election Day. With polls showing a tightening race just over seven weeks before the November 8 election, the Republican candidate turned up the vitriol, saying that as president, his Democratic rival would virtually end border enforce- ment and place the country “in grave peril.” Trump was speaking a day after a much-hyped televised event in which, after years of questioning whether Barack Obama was an American citi- zen, he fi nally declared that the presi- dent “was born in the United States, period.” But he also made the surprising charge — refuted by fact-checkers — that it was Clinton who originated the Democratic Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton waves as she accepts a Phoenix “birther” theories about Obama. Award from Representative Jim Clyburn (D-SC) during the Congressional Black On Saturday, speaking before a sym- Caucus Foundation’s Phoenix Awards Dinner in Washington, DC. pathetic audience that included people who said their friends or family mem- “Every day we fail to enforce our Democrats are increasingly worried bers had been killed by undocumented laws...a loving parent is at risk of los- about poll numbers during a week that immigrants, Trump continued his ing their child.” Clinton lost momentum. sharp attacks on Clinton. While he repeated his charge that She fell ill last week during a 9/11 The immigration issue has been Clinton would introduce “total am- memorial ceremony in New York, central to Trump’s campaign since he nesty in the fi rst 100 days, which where she was seen stumbling limp- said last summer that many Mexican means Obamacare, Social Security and legged into her vehicle, an episode that immigrants were drug smugglers and Medicare for illegal immigrants,” her raised tough questions about her over- rapists. website does not mention amnesty. all health and her campaign’s transpar- The candidate made it clear Satur- It does promise to “introduce com- ency. day that he is not about to give up on prehensive immigration reform with a Polls show the lead she has held over the attack line, even at the risk of of- pathway to full and equal citizenship Trump narrowing quickly. fending many Hispanic voters. within (the) fi rst 100 days,” lifting the One survey gave her just a two-point Trump asserted that Clinton would threat of deportation in many cases. margin, down sharply in a matter of “implement amnesty by executive or- Clinton, who returned to the cam- weeks, boosting worries she is ceding der, violating our constitution and paign trail Thursday after a bout with the stage to Trump as time runs out on putting the entire nation in grave peril.” pneumonia, has pressed the theme the campaign clock. Clinton has called for a softening that her Republican rival is unfi t to be Two of the Democrats’ liberal stars, of immigration practices, saying she president. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth War- would deport only violent criminals “His campaign was founded on this ren, were campaigning for Clinton in and terrorists, a position in stark con- outrageous lie” about Obama’s birth, she Ohio on Saturday to drum up support trast to Trump’s vow to build a border said. “There is no erasing it in history.” among the young people whose votes wall and deport huge numbers of the “He’s feeding into the worst impuls- she needs on election day. undocumented. es, the bigotry and bias that lurks in our Sanders ripped into Trump about His suggestion that immigrants are country,” she added. the “birther” controversy. disproportionately responsible for Appearing alongside Clinton at the “What they were trying to do,” he serious crime appears unfounded, ac- Congressional Black Caucus gala on said at a rally, “is to de-legitimize the cording to several studies. Saturday, Obama delivered a forceful presidency of the fi rst African-Ameri- However, Trump insisted on Satur- plea to black voters to stop Trump from can president we have ever had.” day that Americans are being killed on becoming president. Clinton campaign manager Robby a daily basis by the undocumented. “My name may not be on the bal- Mook condemned Trump’s widely “Every day our border remains open, lot, but our progress is on the ballot,” criticised remarks, saying they “should innocent Americans are needlessly Obama said. “You want to give me a be out of bounds for a presidential can- victimized and killed,” he said. good sendoff , go vote!” didate.” Gulf Times 10 Monday, September 19, 2016 ASEAN

Wooing customers Teacher accused of throwing mug denies he meant harm

Agencies Bangkok

58-year-old teacher who threw a plastic mug at a A17-year-old schoolgirl and caused nerve damage to her face insisted yesterday he did not mean to hurt her and still cared about her. In his fi rst interview since the high-profi le mug–throw- ing incident on Aug 8, Paithoon Klaengkratok, a physical educa- tion teacher at Chokchai Samak- kee School in Chok Chai district, refused to comment on the ac- tual incident, saying he did not want any further consequences for student Narudee Jodsanthia, Bangkok Post reported. “Let the legal process take its course about what happened. I’m a teacher. I have love and bonds with every one of my students in- A Thai woman prepares her shop in the Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok yesterday. Chatuchak Weekend Market is one of the world’s largest weekend markets covering an area of 27 acres altogether cluding Nong Sai (Ms Narudee),” divided into 27 sections, and containing more than 15,000 booths selling goods from every part of Thailand. the father of three children said. “I defi nitely never meant to harm anyone. I still love and care about Nong Sai.” Paithoon has been transferred to Boonwattana school in Muang district pending investigation. A fact-fi nding committee has concluded Paithoon did throw a mug at his students, but did not intend to hit Narudee, a Mathay- om 5 student, who suff ered a se- 13 dead, 10 missing in vere facial injury. Classmates of Narudee said the incident was an accident. The teacher threw the mug at the glass pane window near Narudee and 6-7 students but it bounced off and hit Narudee in the head. He did so to warn the class to stop Thai river boat collision chatting and order some, includ- ing Narudee, who had stood up AFP boat went down. “There are 13 The country has one of the and left their spot to avoid the Bangkok confi rmed dead and 33 injured so world’s worst road traffi c death sun, to return to their places. far,” said Udomsak Khaonoona, rates, and crashes of speedboats However, Narudee insisted disaster prevention chief for the operating between the popular that her teacher intentionally t least 13 people were city which is 80 kilometres north southern tourist islands are also threw the plastic mug at her when killed yesterday and ten of Bangkok. common. she gave statements about the at- Amore are missing after a “The boat tried to avoid an- The Chao Phraya, the main tack at the Nakhon Ratchasima boat carrying Muslim pilgrims other vessel and crashed into the river that fl ows through Bang- prosecution offi ce on Thursday. sank on Thailand’s Chao Phraya concrete column of a bridge,” he kok, is a key commuting artery, Chukiat Wisetsena, director river after hitting a bridge, offi - said, adding that the passengers fi lled with often packed boats of the Secondary Educational cials said. were local. plying the waterways at break- Service Area Offi ce 31, said the The accident happened near Rewat Prasong, deputy gover- neck speed. teacher would face a disciplinary the ancient city of Ayutthaya, a nor of Ayutthaya province, said Thailand’s reputation as the investigation starting today. popular tourist attraction, al- most of those on board the boat “Land of Smiles” has suff ered in A panel will question both though no foreigners were be- were local Muslim pilgrims re- recent years amid frequent dead- sides and Narudee can present lieved to be among the dead. turning from a nearby mosque. ly bus and boat accidents, crimes evidence to back her claim that Video footage posted by Kha- “The boat driver may not have against foreigners and political the teacher had intended to hurt osod TV showed desperate been used to this area and there unrest. her, Chukiat said. scenes as rescue workers scram- was a strong tide today,” he said, But visitors keep coming. Paithoon has also been charged bled to reach the stricken two- adding ten people were unac- A record high of nearly 30mn by police with physical assault fl oor vessel, its lower deck sub- counted for. travelled to the kingdom in 2015, causing injury to a student. merged under water. Despite its wealth compared a number boosted by a surge in Pol Capt Karn Singchangchai Rescuers threw ropes to help to regional neighbours and huge mainland Chinese tourists, with of Chok Chai police station, who people swim to land as others tourism sector, accidents are some 33mn expected this year. is supervising the case, said he gave CPR to unconscious victims common on Thailand’s public The junta government this would call nine classmates of on the banks of the river. transport network. week said they expected tourism Narudee for questioning as wit- Some 100 people were believed Safety regulations are often to account for as much as 17 % of People stand near a boat which according to off icials, capsized on the Chao Phraya river while carrying nesses. He expects to forward a re- to have been on board when the weakly enforced. GDP this year. pilgrims, in the ancient tourist city of Ayutthaya yesterday. port to prosecutors by next week. Borneo loggers swap chainsaws for cheap healthcare

AFP fortune for local villagers. But clinic in 2015. But that caseload be announced in January. Webb Sukadana, Indonesia for Juliansyah, a father-of-two is set to balloon when a modern said one possible location is Raja from Manjau, the income was hospital — equipped with oper- Ampat, a string of idyllic islands unreliable and the work — often ating theatres, a blood bank and in Papua famed for marine bio- he forest around Manjau involving days-long missions vaccine fridges — opens in Oc- diversity. Villagers there have in Borneo once reverber- alone in the forest —was tiring tober. been dynamiting the pristine Tated with the scream of and dangerous. “Green villages”, or those that reef to make ends meet, jeopard- chainsaws, as gangs of illegal The cash was gone as soon stop logging entirely, are granted ising their future livelihood, she loggers felled ancient hardwood as it had been earned, spent on 70% reductions on treatment. said. trees for sale to timber mer- medicine, school books or other Yellow and red villages – which There are always setbacks. chants downstream. essential items, he said on the are on track to stopping logging Satellite imaging, observed by But many loggers in the re- edge of Gunung Palung National – receive 50 and 30% discounts forest guardians who keep a mote Indonesian village are Park. respectively. close watch on communities, re- hanging up their chainsaws in “One day you’re rewarded, But anyone who cannot aff ord vealed in June that Juliansyah’s return for aff ordable healthcare, the next there’s nothing. You healthcare can off set the cost by village had cleared protected through a community incen- cannot save anything,” explained collecting seeds for replanting in land inside park boundaries. tive scheme that aims to save Juliansyah, who like many Indo- degraded forest, said Farida, who The village will be down- lives and protect Borneo’s fragile nesians goes by one name. manages a nursery of native sap- graded to yellow but can always rainforests. It is illegal to cut down trees lings outside Sukadana. redeem itself, said Fransiscus This strategy is set to be rolled inside the park, a critical habitat In April, ASRI co-founder Xaverius, who oversees reforest- out elsewhere in Indonesia, for endangered orangutans, sun doctor Hotlin Ompusunggu won ation projects around Gunung where impoverished communi- bears and hornbills in south- a 50,000 pound ($65,700) grant Palung. ties often reliant on illegal in- western Borneo, a biodiverse is- from the Whitley Fund for Na- On a dirt road separating the dustries for survival are putting land shared between Indonesia, A recent photo shows family members of former loggers waiting for medical treatment at a non-profit health ture at an award ceremony at- protected park from a massive enormous strain on the environ- Malaysia and Brunei. clinic in Sukadana, West Kalimantan province. tended by legendary naturalist palm oil plantation — another ment. His village was eventually ap- David Attenborough. source of pressure on Borneo’s In western Borneo, where the proached by Alam Sehat Lestari Webb, who co-founded ASRI The rampant destruction of “Now, occasionally you will The prize money — the second forests — a motorcyclist drives approach was fi rst pioneered, (ASRI), a non-profi t organisa- and established Oregon-based the old-growth forest Webb en- still hear a chainsaw... But it’s a signifi cant endowment gifted to past with a load of ironwood logging had long been the life- tion based in nearby Sukadana charity Health in Harmony, its countered when she fi rst arrived completely diff erent scene.” ASRI by the Britain-based char- slats, likely carved from a felled blood of many communities, and made an unusual off er. key fi nancial backer. in western Borneo 22 years ago The clinic, where patients ity – will help fund the scale-up stump, said Xaverius. providing quick cash whenever it If they agreed to cease log- Of the 24 villages surrounding has slowed to a trickle, with de- watch videos on forest con- of the project. “It’s very challenging if you was desperately needed for wed- ging, the entire village would be Gunung Palung, all but one have graded areas slowly regrowing. servation while waiting to see Communities on the islands want to do conservation work in dings or health emergencies. granted discounts on medical agreed to put down their chain- “There was pretty much nev- a doctor, has evolved into the of Sulawesi and Sumatra, and Borneo,” he said, as tankers car- A single Bornean ironwood bills at the local health clinic, saws, Webb said. Since 2007, er a day standing right here that primary healthcare provider for in the eastern region of Papua, rying crude palm oil thundered — a rare, slow-growing gi- and free training for new careers when ASRI started working with you couldn’t hear a chainsaw in around 60,000 people living who are dependent on indus- by. “On the one hand there’s ant prized for its durable tim- as forest custodians and farmers. villages, the number of logging that forest,” Webb told AFP, ges- alongside Gunung Palung. tries like mining and blast fi sh- people who want to save the for- ber — could fetch hundreds of The incentives have worked, households has plunged from turing to the lush greenery be- Nearly 7,300 villagers re- ing have been canvassed, with a est, and on the other there’s peo- dollars at a lumber mill, a small says American physician Kinari nearly 1,400 to 180. hind the clinic. ceived medical treatment at the second launch site expected to ple who want to survive.” Gulf Times Monday, September 19, 2016 11 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA Taiwan lifts typhoon warning

DPA/AFP heavy rain to northern Taiwan on the sea north of Taiwan,” bureau storm crashed into the country’s were clearing up debris from the Taipei/Beijing Saturday, disrupting transporta- forecaster Wu Wan-hua said. coastline. storm which uprooted more than tion in some areas. Train services in northern Heavy rains and winds up 3,000 trees and destroyed roads In the capital Taipei, cumula- Taiwan have returned to normal to 170kph (105mph) whipped and walls, it said. aiwan has lifted warnings tive rainfall exceeding 420mm yesterday. eastern Fujian province late Flooding also destroyed an about Typhoon Malakas, was measured, the bureau said. However, some international last week, fl ooding streets and 871-year-old bridge that was Twhich was now moving As of morning yesterday, the and domestic fl ights were still knocking over trees, billboards protected heritage site in Yong- towards Japan, but urged people eye of the storm was approxi- being cancelled or delayed. and power lines. chun county, Xinhua reported on to remain alert due to heavy rain, mately 290km to the northeast Approximately 2,900 resi- The offi cial Xinhua news agen- Friday. local media reported yesterday. of Taiwan, moving in a northerly dents were evacuated but no in- cy described the storm as the The typhoon, which had ear- Forecasters at the Central direction toward Japan at a speed juries were reported, the Central world’s strongest typhoon this lier skirted the southern tip of Weather Bureau said that people of 15kph, the bureau said. Emergency Operation Centre year and the worst to hit the re- Taiwan, made landfall in Xiamen in mountain and coastal areas “Malakas is to signifi cantly said. gion since records began in 1949. early on Thursday. in northern and eastern parts of aff ect weather in Japan on Tues- Meanwhile, the death toll from Fifteen remain missing, Xin- At one point more than 3.2mn Taiwan should stay alert to heavy day. In Taiwan, however, people Typhoon Meranti, the strongest hua said, adding that Xiamen homes had their electricity cut rain, state-run Central News in coastal areas still have to stay typhoon to hit China in nearly 70 city’s transportation and power off and water supplies for many This Nasa satellite image shows Typhoon Malakas in the East China Agency reported. alert because big waves higher years, has reached 28, state news supply continued to be “spotty”. communities in Xiamen were Sea. Typhoon Malakas brought than four metres remain today on said yesterday, days after the More than 10,000 workers disrupted, it added.

Train Japan’s granny ‘Dreamgirls’ driver in bitten by cheerleading bug trouble By Harumi Ozawa, AFP “Once you hit the age of 70, The fi rst came at the age of 53 Chiba, Japan you have to admit it’s downhill,” – when she packed up and fl ew for peeing she said with a smile, before to Texas to study. adding: “We’ve come a long way It was against the wishes of trutting her stuff in a gold- in 20 years!” her ageing mother, but she says AFP hemmed mini-skirt, white Japan is renowned for its her children supported her deci- Tokyo Sleather boots and shaking spritely pensioners: women live sion. silver pom-poms, octogenarian for an average of 87 years and After completing a master’s Fumie Takino has discovered her men to 80. degree in gerontology at the apanese train operator JR elixir of youth – cheerleading. But the average “healthy” University of North Texas and East has apologised after a Takino and her troupe of lifespan is 10 years less for both a work placement in New York, Jdriver urinated over the rail- spirited grandmothers tweak sexes, meaning many suff er she returned home with a new- way track while on duty because the nose of old age, even if their physical and mental ailments in found sense of freedom. he did not want to delay services rambunctious routine to the the fi nal decade of life. But it was actually in Japan by using the toilet, media re- song Dreamgirls leaves them Takino, however, insists that that she encountered the quin- ported on Saturday. painfully out of breath and their her glamorous hobby has helped tessentially American activ- The driver, in his 50s, felt pink tank tops dripping with mitigate the eff ects of ageing – ity of cheerleading with its eye- the urge to go on Monday as his sweat. making her feel mentally and popping array of moves, from train stopped at Sakura station Takino, 84, has spearheaded physically more agile. human towers, somersaults and In this picture taken on March 26, 84-year-old Fumie Takino (second right) and other members of ‘Japan in Chiba, southeast of Tokyo, the group of more than 20 bub- She took up the activity when back fl ips. Pom Pom’ perform during a competition of the United Spirit Association (USA) Japan in Chiba, a suburb public broadcaster NHK and the bly seniors for some two dec- her relationship with her hus- It took off in Japan around 30 of Tokyo. Asahi Shimbun said. ades, founding the “Japan Pom- band began to falter. years ago, though remains rare He then opened the cabin Pom” squad after being bitten by She explained: “My marriage outside school and university training – and while they don’t (USA) Nationals competition, sixties, says that forging new door away from the platform the cheerleading bug – despite it was not going well. I put up with environments. overdo the acrobatics, they take where mostly high school and personal bonds is a huge attrac- and urinated over the rails before being traditionally the preserve it until my children got married.” “It blew my mind,” said Taki- practice seriously, even analys- university teams compete. tion. departure as he did not want to of teenage girls – in her sixties. Takino added that she would no, who immediately rounded ing videos of themselves to im- Given their age, some mem- “When you get old, you keep cause a delay by going to the re- “You have to be 55 or older,” not have had the confi dence to up fi ve friends to start her own prove. bers have to drop out for health losing friends,” she said at a stroom, Asahi said. Takino told AFP, referring to pick up the pom-poms in her troupe after fi rst hearing about Earlier this year, the team cel- issues or to care for ageing practice where she hoped to be- The company, which received the qualifi cation for joining her youth, explaining that she be- cheerleading. ebrated its 20th anniversary by spouses, but new recruits are come a new member. “But you a report of the case from an eye- team, the average age of which came emboldened by changes Two decades later, the gran- performing as guests at Japan’s easy to fi nd. always have mates here to share witness, instructed him to go to is 70. she made in middle age. nies gather each week for intense annual United Spirit Association Shinko Kusajima, in her late a good time.” the restroom if necessary, NHK said without clarifying if he would be punished. “We deeply apologise for giv- Record bid ing distrust and uneasiness to our customers,” the company ‘Living fossil’ crabs said, according to NHK. “Taking this case sincerely, we will pro- vide thorough instruction and mysteriously dying never repeat similar incidents.” The case comes after a bul- let train driver came under fi re AFP to tally them,” said Kitakyushu earlier this month as an online Tokyo city offi cial Kenji Sato. “In total photo emerged of him operating the number of dead horseshoe it with his feet up. crabs reached about 500.” Central Japan Railway said the undreds of horseshoe The Asahi Shimbun daily re- 29-year-old acknowledged that crabs – known as “liv- ported the number of deaths he operated the high speed train Hing fossils” because was eight times higher than in that position for 10 seconds they are among the Earth’s normal. and the company vowed a “strict oldest creatures – have been Sato said there was no con- response”. found dead in southern Ja- sensus among experts on what pan, confounding experts who was causing the high die-off study the alien-like sidewalk- among the creatures, although ers. some have suggested rising sea Condolences over Horseshoe crabs, known for temperatures, parasites or dis- air strike in Syria their blue blood, are a regular ease could be to blame. summer visitor to tidal fl ats in The crab is designated an The Australian ministry southern and western Japan, “endangered species” in Ja- of defence has off ered its including one near Kitakyushu pan, where its population has condolences to the families of city where they lay their eggs. shrunk as its coastal habitat Syrian soldiers killed or wounded Some invariably die in the has been destroyed. in a US-led bombing campaign process, but this year a local Despite the name, they are on Saturday, in which Australia conservation group noticed actually not crabs: Their clos- participated and Russia said hit that the number of arthropods est living relatives are spiders Syrian military personnel and that perished was unusually and scorpions. vehicles. high, a local offi cial told AFP While many animals’ cir- Australian aircraft were among this week. culatory systems use iron to the warplanes that struck what “The conservation group transport oxygen around their were believed to be Islamic State A total of 432 people in dragon robe costumes attempt on Saturday to set a Guinness Record for the most people performing Yu Opera spotted about fi ve to 10 bod- bodies, the blood of the horse- fighting positions around Deir together, in Zhengzhou, Henan province, China. ies every day during the egg- shoe crab uses copper – hence al-Zor in Eastern Syria. laying period, so they started its blue colour.

Japan confronts disability stigma after silence over murder victims’ names

By Kwiyeon Ha and abilities can still suff er stigma It ratifi ed a UN rights treaty in consideration about how the stark contrast to coverage of oth- views but experts say they are not have increasingly come under Linda Sieg, Reuters and shame. 2014 and a new anti-discrimina- matter was reported. er Japanese victims of mass kill- mainstream. criticism. Tokyo “It is true that some may not tion law took eff ect in April. Seiko Noda, a prominent rul- ings, including seven who died in Neither euthanasia nor assist- “Some things do trickle down have wanted their children to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ing party lawmaker who has suf- a July attack by Islamist militants ed suicide is legal in Japan. from the big city but it takes a be subjected to public scorn,” regularly mentions the disa- fered abuse on the Internet for in Bangladesh. Eff orts to pass a law protecting while,” said Suzanne Kamata, an he stabbing deaths of 19 said Takashi Ono, stepfather of bled when speaking of plans for “wasting taxpayers’ money” on “Clearly, there is a diff erence in doctors who withhold life-pro- American living in Tokushima, disabled people in their 43-year-old Kazuya, a long-time a more inclusive society to cope medical care for her fi ve-year- the treatment of those with dis- longing care with the patient’s about 500km west of Tokyo, Tsleep last July and the si- resident of the Tsukui Yamayuri- with a shrinking population. old disabled son, Masaki, was not abilities and those without dis- consent have stalled in the face of whose 17-year-old daughter is lence surrounding their identi- en facility who survived multiple But people with disabilities, surprised that the Sagamihara abilities,” said Kiyoshi Harada of stiff opposition from disabilities deaf and has cerebral palsy. ties are forcing Japan to grapple stabbing wounds in the attack. especially cognitive impair- victims’ families chose anonym- the Japan Disability Forum, an rights groups, who fear it could Preparations for the 2020 with its attitudes toward physi- Ono and his wife Chikiko are ments, can still suff er from ity. NGO network. “We cannot tell be a fi rst step to legalising eutha- Paralympics are providing impe- cally and cognitively impaired among the few relatives who have stigma and – unlike in many ad- “Some families are positive what sort of lives the victims led, nasia. tus for an improved barrier-free persons, less than four years be- gone public. vanced Western countries – their and try to change the world by what their hobbies were, what Those with cognitive disabili- environment, at least in Tokyo, fore Tokyo hosts the Paralympics. None of the families of the families share the shame. being open about their disabled their existence was like.” ties, like residents of the Sag- where Tokyo Metro aims to have Almost nothing except their dead has done so. In a statement released to children. But the ‘silent majority’ The suspect in the Sagamihara amihara facility, face greater dis- all subway stations equipped genders and ages – ranging from “In Japan, disabled people Japanese media after July’s stab- still has a negative view and does killings, Satoshi Uematsu, had crimination than the physically with multi-purpose elevators by 19 to 70 – has been made pub- are discriminated against so the bing spree, police in Kanagawa not want it known that they have been briefl y committed to hos- impaired, who activists say have March 2019, up from 81% now. lic about those who died when a families wanted to hide them,” prefecture, where the facility is disabled children,” Noda, 56, told pital as a danger to himself and seen major progress in recent Optimists say the debate it- man went on a stabbing spree at a Ono told Reuters in an interview, located, said that they did not re- Reuters. others after writing to a lawmak- decades. self over the Sagamihara victims’ facility for disabled people in Sa- adding that he and Chikiko had lease the victims’ names because Victims’ families likely also er advocating euthanasia for the Disabled people in rural areas anonymity gives cause for hope. gamihara town, southwest of To- always been open about their it was a facility for cognitively worried about being accused of severely disabled and outlining a also face greater hurdles to inte- “It was a bitter incident, but it kyo, killing 19 and wounding 26. son, who has autism and cogni- disabled people and they needed abandoning their relatives by plan for mass murder. gration than residents of cities, is important that it is becoming a The silence has sparked debate tive disabilities. to protect the families’ privacy. institutionalising them, experts Some who work with disabled where there is a trend toward care trigger for people to think about about the need for change in a Japan has made progress in its They also said the victims’ and activists said. people worry that ordinary Japa- in small group homes away from this seriously,” Japan Disability society where people with dis- treatment of the disabled. families had requested special The identity blackout stands in nese share Uematsu’s extreme large, isolated institutions that Forum’s Harada said. Gulf Times 12 Monday, September 19, 2016 BRITAIN Ebola nurse says screening at airport was chaotic

Guardian News and Media Just days after she was cleared its own rules when it allowed re- entirely responsible,” she told the three west African countries in tempt to conceal their mistakes. screening unit, but I can’t. They London of bringing the nursing profes- turning medics to take each oth- Mail on Sunday. “They – not me 2014. She was accused of covering “It’s been awful being thought of were not prepared. There weren’t sion into disrepute, she said the er’s temperature, she said. When – put public lives at risk by allow- up her early symptoms by con- as dishonest. It’s like my repu- enough screening kits. It was hot, screening for potential Ebola in- she alerted them to her elevated ing me to fl y (back to Scotland) cealing her elevated temperature tation has been destroyed even busy and disorganised.” auline Caff erkey, the Scot- fection at Heathrow airport was temperature, Caff erkey was un- before they had an opinion from by taking paracetamol when she though I knew I had done nothing Caff erkey and a group of oth- tish nurse who nearly died chaotic. Offi cials manning the able to contact the infectious dis- an infectious diseases offi cial,” landed at Heathrow. wrong,” the nurse said. ers were told they could take each Ptwice from Ebola, has said special screening room could not ease expert on call because it had she added. Caff erkey contracted Speaking freely for the fi rst She said she was feeling fi ne at other’s temperatures in a side government health watchdogs cope with the numbers of NHS the wrong number. Ebola while working as an NHS time since the investigation and Heathrow but the screening sys- room, in a breach of PHE rules. were entirely responsible for the volunteers returning from lifesav- “I went out there to help save volunteer in a Save the Children professional conduct hearing tem could not cope with the ar- A doctor in her group found her “catalogue of errors” that led to ing work in Sierra Leone and ran lives but I came back to a system hospital built by the British gov- concluded, Caff erkey hit back at rival of 50 medics returning home temperature to be above the nor- her being accused of putting the out of kits. that failed. I was made a scapegoat ernment at the height of the Eb- her accusers and said she had been from Sierra Leone. “I would like to mal 37C (98.6F) – at 38.2C and public at risk. Public Health England breached for a catalogue of errors. PHE were ola epidemic that swept through “hung out to dry” as part of an at- say something positive about the then 38.3C.

May’s Never too old for ice cream council in Smith slams vow to fi ght Heathrow proposal Corbyn plan

London Evening Standard London for shadow he Tory leader of Theresa May’s own local council has Tvowed to use “all neces- sary fi nancial resources” for a high court battle to block a third run- way at Heathrow. Councillor Simon Dudley, head cabinet polls of Windsor and Maidenhead council, pledged the legal action to Guardian News and Media factions over how the new shadow be that the practicalities are just protect residents “irrespective of London cabinet should be chosen. It will too much.” who the prime minister is”. be the last opportunity to get the Senior party fi gures, several He has joined forces with issue on the agenda for the party from the soft left of the party, are Wandsworth, Richmond upon wen Smith has said Jeremy conference in Liverpool next believed to be considering a return Thames and Hillingdon councils Corbyn’s plan for Labour week. to the shadow cabinet if they can for the looming court battle if the Omembers to elect at least a Sources told the Guardian they be elected by their colleagues with government, as expected, backs third of the shadow cabinet would understood Corbyn and his back- a mandate of their own. Heathrow expansion. deepen divisions in the party. ers did not have majority support Other prominent Labour MPs “We have very signifi cant fi - Smith, who is widely expected on the NEC for shadow cabinet still believe their political future nancial resources,” he said. “We to lose to Corbyn in the leader- positions to be chosen entirely by lies away from the shadow front- will put all the necessary fi nancial ship contest, said his opponent’s the membership, but expected a bench, with the shadow home resources behind a vigorous legal proposal was not a peace off ering compromise deal to be struck. secretary, Andy Burnham, set action.” to Labour MPs but an attempt to The Observer reported that to depart soon to run for mayor The town halls’ lawyers, Har- consolidate support among mem- Corbyn would propose mem- of Greater Manchester, and the rison Grant, wrote to David Cam- bers. bers be allowed to elect a certain former shadow cabinet members eron this year warning him that his “It isn’t a conciliatory gesture, number of shadow cabinet posi- Chuka Umunna, Yvette Cooper “no ifs, no buts” promise before it’s not simply an attempt to ex- tions and have a direct say in poli- and Caroline Flint competing the 2010 general election to op- tend democracy in the Labour cymaking through “digital con- to chair the home aff airs select pose a third runway had created a party,” he told Sky News. “It’s an sultations”. One proposal is that committee. The former shadow “legitimate expectation” among attempt to further cement his a third of shadow cabinet posts foreign secretary Hilary Benn, residents that the project would position and use the membership are elected by members, a third former shadow chancellor Chris not go ahead. as a means of driving a wedge be- by MPs and a third chosen by the Leslie and former shadow housing So if it were given the green tween the MPs and his leadership. leader. minister Emma Reynolds are run- light, they argued, it would be an “I don’t think Jeremy and his Labour’s deputy leader, Tom ning or understood to be seriously “abuse of power correctable by team can get away with say- Watson, an early proponent of considering a bid to be the La- the courts”. Dudley said Windsor ing that this is all about an olive shadow cabinet elections decided bour chair of the new Brexit select and Maidenhead had allocated branch when really and truly it’s by MPs, questioned the practi- committee that will mirror David £30,000 for the legal battle and about deepening the divisions calities of opening the poll up to Davis’s department. signalled that this could rise to that he’s created in the party.” the entire membership. MPs had Liz Kendall, who stood against hundreds of thousands. Corbyn told ITV’s Peston on previously been allowed to elect Corbyn for the leadership last “We are going to protect our Sunday he was in favour of some their own frontbench in opposi- summer, said mass membership residents irrespective of who the shadow cabinet positions being tion, but that was scrapped under election of the shadow cabinet prime minister is,” he added. The chosen by the membership, but Ed Miliband. would not work. “I do not believe council’s concerns include more said some had to be selected by Watson, who will bring the in a parliamentary democracy by pollution, noise and traffi c as well the leader. shadow cabinet elections motion plebiscite and I think the idea that as extra housing needs. “I understand the feelings, a to the NEC tomorrow, told the you are delegated to do solely what Following the Brexit vote and proportion is fi ne, but I do think House magazine: “I’m all for wid- party members want – I don’t Maidenhead MP May becoming that there has to be also a rec- ening the way members partici- think that’s the right way for- Prime Minister, the council com- ognition that we have a system pate in decision-making. I guess ward,” she told Sky News. missioned a poll to gauge whether where the leader is elected by the for a leader they would have to The NEC is expected to dis- local opinion over Heathrow ex- membership and supporters as a balance up whether they wanted cuss proposed boundary reviews pansion had changed. whole, and clearly the leader has people with an alternative base that would leave many Labour The survey found it was broadly a mandate coming from that elec- of authority rather than coming MPs facing a fi ght to be reselect- stable, with 38% opposed to Hea- tion and has put forward various from fellow colleagues in West- ed in new constituencies. Asked throw’s proposed third runway, views,” he said. minster or from a leader. whether that would be a prelude compared with 34% for, while The party’s national executive “And then there would be a cost to deselections of agitating MPs, 50% backed another runway at Elderly people stand at an ice cream store at the pier in Brighton in southern England. committee (NEC) will hear argu- implication about it – how do you Corbyn said: “There will be selec- Gatwick, with 13% against. ments tomorrow from diff erent elect people and stuff ? So it might tions.” Leadership contest cost Tory eurosceptics push for hard Brexit

Labour by-poll: Farron Reuters ganisations, pushing for either London a ‘soft Brexit’ that sees Britain keeping its close ties with the Guardian News and Media the council seat, was because lo- “movement capable of deliver- EU or backing a tougher ver- London cal Labour activists were preoc- ing a pro-European campaign” enior members of the rul- sion. cupied with the party’s leader- – a pitch to other Labour donors ing Conservative Party are Open Britain, which was ship election. who have expressed some hesita- Ssupporting a new group to formed by those who cam- iberal Democrat activists “Just yards away from where tion at supporting the party un- lobby for a so-called ‘hard Brex- paigned for Britain to remain in won the party a crucial lo- the LibDem team were knock- der Corbyn’s leadership. it’ and persuade Prime Minister the bloc, said leaving the EU with Lcal by-election victory ing on doors, some of the local “In a few days time, Labour Theresa May to leave the EU’s no trade deal was “the biggest because Momentum campaign- Momentum activists were in the looks like choosing to continue lucrative single market, media threat our economy faces”. ers were in the pub canvassing pub. They were telephone can- its fl ight into fantasy and point- reported yesterday. “Working people will hope for Jeremy Corbyn in the Labour vassing for Corbyn in the Labour lessness,” Farron said of the La- The new group, called Leave Number 10 rejects this approach leadership contest instead, the leadership election. bour leadership election, where means Leave, will press for Brit- and instead seeks membership of LibDem leader Tim Farron has “Meanwhile in the real world Corbyn is expected to defeat his ain to break all ties with the Eu- the single market, which is vital suggested. outside that rather nice Sheffi eld rival Smith. ropean Union, with leader prop- for jobs and growth,” Conserva- In a dig at the Labour com- pub, real people were voting in a Farron, whose own party is erty investor Richard Tice saying tive lawmaker and supporter of pliance unit, which some party real election.” currently polling at about 8% only that would fulfi l the wishes Open Britain, Anna Soubry, said members claim has been un- A Momentum spokesper- nationwide, said the LibDems of Britons, who voted for Brexit in a statement. fairly denying leadership ballots son said: “Sheffi eld Momentum were not prepared to accept the at a June referendum. May, who was appointed prime to potential voters, Farron said members and supporters cam- result of the EU referendum and Quoted by the Sunday Tel- minister shortly after the refer- the LibDems would not target paigned for a Labour victory dur- said the defeat of the Remain egraph newspaper, Tice said “no endum which forced the resigna- anyone “for thinking the wrong ing the Mosborough by-election, campaign was “temporary”. deal is better than a bad deal” - or tion of predecessor David Cam- thoughts or belonging to the alongside phone-banking in the “I will not be told that I am not that Britain should pull out of the eron, is increasingly expected to wrong group”. leadership election just like Owen a European. I will not accept that single market even if no alterna- trigger the divorce procedure, or “But you will get purged for Smith supporters. We are looking my country has been lost to the tive trade deal had been struck Article 50, early next year after wimping out and knocking off at forward to this leadership contest nationalists,” he said. “Britain with the EU. It said he had the saying she needed until the end 9.30 on polling day,” he told the ending so we can focus entirely on can still stand tall in Europe and backing of a former justice min- of this year to form a negotiating party conference’s members rally building Labour victories.” Britain can still be freed from the ister, Dominic Raab, and other stance. in Brighton. Farron said the donation of Tories. Let’s take back control.” leading Conservatives. With the opposition Labour Farron said the LibDems vic- £2.1mn to the party by Labour Earlier, Farron told Labour and Since Britain voted to leave Party in turmoil, the Conserva- tory in the Mosborough byelec- peer Lord Sainsbury before the Tory moderates they could fi nd a the EU, groups that campaigned tive Party’s divisions over Europe tion in Sheffi eld, where the party EU referendum showed his party, new political home by defecting on either side of the referendum are coming to the fore as May came from fourth place to win rather than Labour, was seen the to his party. Tim Farron: taunts Labour have morphed into lobbying or- gives little away. Gulf Times Monday, September 19, 2016 13 BRITAIN

Government blocks plan to force out London estate residents

Guardian New and Media A south London council re- able personal resources” if they probably be unable to obtain a disproportionately affected. build would be more expensive Bartlett told the Guardian in July. London quest for permission to issue were to stay in the area after they mortgage to make up any short- Those issues breached resi- than their current value. Eileen Short of Defend Coun- people on the Aylesbury estate were moved out of their homes. fall and their future earning dents’ human rights, he said. The council’s proposal has cil Housing, said: “Whether it’s with compulsory purchase or- Among the issues raised by potential is likely to be limited, According to documents re- faced bitter opposition from motivated by cynical financial controversial plan to force ders “adopted extremely low the inspector was the price of- using their savings and other leased by the council, the plan to residents and anti-gentrifi- interests, competing interests people out of their hous- valuations”, the government fered to them by Southwark investments would severely demolish then rebuild the estate cation campaigners, who have of other landlords, or fear of the Aing estate to make way for said. The Communities Secre- borough council. The average limit their ability to choose how would leave about 30% fewer said the current social housing political consequences of at- a rebuild that would leave more tary, Sajid Javid, rejected it on was calculated at £187,000, they spend their retirement,” social rented homes and more should be upgraded instead. tacks on tenants and housing, private and less social housing Friday. while a flat on a nearby develop- Javid said. than four times the number of Some residents vocalised their the government’s decision to has been dealt a blow after the He agreed with a government ment was valued at £459,000. He also said it was likely that private homes. Research by the support, however. “We watched block compulsory purchase on government decided it would inspector who said residents “For elderly residents, who people of black and ethnic mi- Guardian suggests those let at the estate go up. Now it’s had Aylesbury is good for council breach residents’ human rights. would “need to invest consider- are of an age where they would nority backgrounds would be social rent levels after the re- it. It needs to come down,” Jean housing”.

Tanks for the memory Stop illegal scavenging of battleships, ministry urged

Ministry of Defence urged middle fi ngers.” to take action amid fears Dr Innes McCartney, a marine that the recently discovered archaeologist who with other wreck of HMS Warrior will be wreck hunters discovered the pillaged HMS Warrior upside down 83 metres beneath the surface of the Guardian News and Media North Sea, said that despite their London status as war graves 16 of the other 24 British and German wrecks he has seen from the pivotal bat- he former head of the tle have already been pillaged for Royal Navy has called on items including huge bronze pro- Tthe ministry of defence pellers and boiler condensers that to crack down on illegal metal melted down can each be worth as scavenging from sunken battle- much as £65,000. ships amid claims that more than He said that he had seen clear half of the war graves from one of signs of looting on the HMS Queen the fi rst world war’s largest naval Mary — the grave of 1,266 sailors. battles have been pillaged. “The damage they have done to Lord Boyce, a former admiral the wreck was observed by us in of the fl eet and head of the British 2014,” he said. “Where once the armed forces, told the Guardian stern of the ship was intact, it has the practice was “vandalism” and now been smashed open to remove A replica of a World War I tank arrived in Trafalgar Square to mark the 100th anniversary of the war machine. was comparable to stealing head- the condensers from the ship.” stones from a military cemetery. New footage of the ship shows He spoke out as the last miss- it has lain undisturbed for the last ing ship from the Battle of Jutland century except for shoals of cod — which cost the lives of 8,645 swimming around its upturned British and German sailors in 36 hull. Huge propellers are visible hours of combat off the coast of along with the bases of several of Denmarkin June 1916 — was found the gun turrets. so far untouched almost 100 years Commercial metal salvage after it was sunk by German shell- companies are believed to have been operating across the North No more welfare cuts to ing. Boyce’s grandfather Albert Boyce, a navy petty offi cer, was on Sea battlefi eld in recent years board the armoured cruiser HMS without being challenged by Brit- Warrior as it went down in what ish authorities despite the wrecks some naval historians consider the being covered by the Protection of largest sea battle in history. Military Remains Act 1986, which Germany hoped to end British makes it illegal for Britons to dis- come under May: minister control over the North Sea, which turb them, and under sovereign restricted its trade. immunity that could allow over- Guardian News and Media partment would be diff erent from ous commitments we’ve made,” reform bill, which proposes to cut course, nobody wants an inhu- Petty Offi cer Boyce survived, seas prosecutions. London Iain Duncan Smith, his predeces- he said. “But there will be no new disability benefi ts by £30 a week. mane system.” but 71 of his crewmates perished. McCartney said scavenger ships sor before Stephen Crabb, who search for cuts in individual wel- The work and pensions sec- On the perceived gap in the One shell alone killed 40 men, were known to drop fi ve-tonne quit over his distaste for disability fare benefi ts.” retary said the government’s help the government gives to while ships’ doctors could not chisels to break open wrecks, here will be no more wel- benefi t cuts. “I am diff erent from Green added: “You’re right that overall attitude to welfare had young people and pensioners, cope with the number of people which could also contain human fare cuts under Theresa Iain – I will use diff erent lan- the period of austerity meant that not changed but appeared to ac- Green said: “I absolutely accept who needed amputations, with remains, before using mechani- TMay’s government after guage,” he said. tough decisions had to be taken knowledge there had been some that we need to look over time at many men dying as they waited, cal grabs to haul components out those have already been an- “But I know we both share the across the board, not just in the mistakes, including people being the area of intergenerational fair- according to survivors’ accounts. from the deep, taking them ashore nounced, the Work and Pen- desire for increasing social jus- welfare system. There are things wrongly assessed as fi t for work. ness but I do think we should step “A shell came through the upper and melting them down. sions Secretary, Damian Green, tice, by which we mean ... that that have been announced that “The simple thrust is making sure back from this view that we’re be- deck and killed three of my mates “The defence ministry should has announced. you don’t just measure it by the haven’t yet been introduced but work always pays,” Green said. ing too generous to pensioners. working with me — another mate chase these things down,” said Strongly hinting that the gov- benefi ts bill, you measure it by people know that they are com- “Obviously there are individual “Because all these things are had his leg blown off ,” recalled Lord Boyce. “When I was involved ernment’s austerity agenda was the help you are giving those in- ing. But no new cuts.” cases where it looks as though the very long term and if we look over Stoker 1st Class David Williams. “I in the ministry we took grave loot- over, Green told BBC1’s Andrew dividuals. Lady Tanni Grey-Thompson, system is not working and we look the long term, pensioner poverty got hit myself. ing quite seriously and I absolutely Marr Show planned cuts would “The commitment that the an 11-time Paralympic gold med- at all those individual cases very in the 1980s was 40% of pension- “The sick berth steward tried to believe that criminals should be continue but there would be no prime minister has made since allist, was among those who hard. I think you need a system ers, it’s now down to 14%; that’s bandage me and as he did another pursued to discourage others as further raids on benefi ts. she took offi ce has been that ob- spoke out in the House of Lords of assessment and it’s a case of an enormous benefi cial social shell came and blew off his two much as anything else”. Green said his tenure in the de- viously we will meet the previ- against the controversial welfare continuous of improvement. Of revolution.”

Ukip chief heaps Owners off ered cash praise on Putin to put house on market Guardian News and Media who was also in the radio studio, London interjected: “You could say that about Idi Amin.” London Evening Standard paying up to £300 is believed “But this is 100% not a gim- “He is a very strong leader,” London to be the fi rst time anyone has mick. Anyone who books a valua- he new Ukip leader had James continued. “He is putting promised cash in return for the tion with us: we will come round, revealed that she counts Russia fi rst, and he has issues opportunity to get a property have a look at your home, and TVladimir Putin, Mar- with the way the EU encour- London estate agent is of- on its books, albeit in Brixton then hand you £50 as we leave. garet Thatcher and Winston aged a change of government in fering to pay homeowners Pounds — a currency that can be “If you decide you want to Churchill as her political he- the Ukraine which he felt put at Acash just to look inside used in hundreds of shops, cafes market your property with us, roes. risk a Russian population in that their property — and more if they and restaurants in the local area. we’ll give you another £250. The Diane James, who was elect- country.” put it on the market. only condition with that is we ed to replace Nigel Farage last Putin has attracted inter- In a sign that the capital’s An estate agent is off ering have to be the sole agent. week, was asked on BBC1’s national criticism for Russia’s housing market continues to the money to any local “Obviously someone could, Sunday Politics who “other annexation of Crimea and its heat, a Brixton-based estate homeowner who lets them at that point, turn around and than Vladimir Putin” were her involvement in Ukraine, its sup- agent is off ering the money to value their property for take their property off the market political heroes. After naming port for the regime of Bashar any local homeowner who lets rent or sale. The money again, and they would be £300 up. Thatcher and Churchill, James al-Assad in Syria and alleged them value their property for will be paid irrespective of But I just don’t believe they will.” was asked to confi rm that she cyber-attacks on the other gov- rent or sale. The money will be whether they decide to list Mercieca said he is currently also considered the Russian ernments and the crushing of paid irrespective of whether the property with the estate only looking for properties in president among her top three, opposition at home. they decide to list the property agency Brixton, Clapham and East Dul- and she responded that she did. Donald Trump has repeatedly with the estate agency, the fi rm’s wich. The line of questioning fol- expressed appreciation of Putin managing director has promised. The off er is a sign of how Lon- He said his fi rm ran a similar lowed comments she made in during the US election cam- But if any owner does go on to don’s red-hot housing market promotion at the beginning of a 2015 radio interview when paign, calling him a better leader list their property with the fi rm continues to defy predictions of the year. While refusing to reveal she was Ukip’s foreign aff airs than Obama and citing his 82% — again for rent or sale — the es- a Brexit-related downturn, and how much the fi rm paid out, he spokesperson. approval rating as a sign of his tate agency promises to pay an marks an uptick in the lengths insisted that the promotion “was During the LBC interview, success. extra sum with “no strings at- estate agents will go to obtain well worth it” from a business she described Putin as a strong Asked during an NBC News tached”. new properties for sale and rent. perspective. leader who stands up for Russia. interview whether Trump Estate agencies have in the Shane Mercieca, managing “The last time we did this in “I admire him from the point of “wanted to be complimented past off ered inducements such as director of Keating Estates, said: January it worked very well. We view that he’s standing up for his by that former KGB offi cer”, the food hampers to persuade people “Obviously we are doing this to got a decent number of new valu- country. He is very nationalist,” Republican candidate replied: “I to book valuations. try and gain an advantage over ations and listings off the back of she said. think when he calls me brilliant, But Keating Estates’s off er of other, larger estate agents. it,” he said. Diane James: admires Putin Labour’s Harriet Harman, I’ll take the compliment”. Gulf Times 14 Monday, September 19, 2016 EUROPE

Free Wi-Fi providers AfD gains in Berlin polls not liable AFP local issues including poor pub- Berlin’s Free University. Often seen as an amusingly Berlin lic services, crumbling schools, “The more fearful (mem- chaotic exception in otherwise late trains and a housing short- bers) within her party might be orderly and punctual Germany, for ‘illegal’ age, as well as how to cope with increasingly scared of losing Berlin became a national laugh- erman Chancellor Angela the migrant infl ux. power in 2017,” he told the Han- ing stock for a grand BER airport Merkel’s party suff ered Nonetheless, the vote marked delsblatt business daily. project that is now fi ve years be- activities Ga bruising loss in Berlin another milestone for the up- Another analyst, Kai Arzhe- hind schedule and three times state elections yesterday while start AfD, which has campaigned imer of Mainz University, also over budget. the right-wing populist AfD on a xenophobic platform, simi- predicted tensions would rise In another debacle, thousands DPA again gained support, capitalis- lar to France’s National Front or between the CDU and its Bavar- of refugees were left waiting Luxembourg ing on anger over her open-door far-right populists in Austria ian sister party the CSU, but he for days and weeks last year at refugee policy. and the Netherlands, and gained stressed the CDU was unlikely to Berlin’s then hopelessly over- The anti-Islam Alternative support especially in Berlin’s Merkel: conceded before the election that it was hard to reach the change its top candidate, Mer- whelmed Lageso central migrant usinesses off ering free for Germany (AfD) party won poor eastern fringe districts. ‘protest voters’ who have turned their backs on mainstream parties. kel. registration centre, with many wireless Internet services around 12%, according to broad- A strong showing in Ger- “To ask this question one year forced to sleep in the dirt out- Bcannot be held liable for casters’ exit polls in the capital, many’s biggest city means it shouting “get lost” – conceded As Mueller has rejected a new before federal elections would be side. illegal downloads, the European which prides itself on being a “doesn’t just benefi t from dis- before the election that it was coalition with the CDU, Merkel’s suicidal, especially since in the Casting his ballot yesterday, Union’s top court has ruled, in hip, multicultural city – gaining content in rural areas but can hard to reach the “protest vot- party may be cast out of the Ber- CDU there is no credible succes- police offi cer Tobias Ludley, 27, a case pitting electronics giant seats in the tenth of Germany’s establish itself ... in a city of mil- ers” who have turned their backs lin government altogether. sor,” he said. said he worried about Berlin’s Sony against a German shop 16 states a year ahead of national lions that is known for its open on mainstream parties. The Social Democrats were In Berlin – a city famously cash-strapped public services, owner. elections. lifestyle,” said the Frankfurter Berlin’s SPD Mayor Michael seen likely to team up with the dubbed “poor but sexy” by its as well as its “little building site”, Sony had taken the owner of a Merkel’s Christian Demo- Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung Mueller dramatically warned ecologist Greens and the far-left previous mayor, bon vivant the BER. German sound and light system cratic Union won just 18% – its newspaper. on the eve of the election that Die Linke party, both of whom Klaus Wowereit – the election He also voiced concern about shop to court, after an Internet worst post-war result in the city, Germany took in 1mn asylum- a strong AfD result would be scored more than 16% support, campaign was dominated not the AfD, a party that he has user unlawfully off ered music before or after the 1989 fall of seekers last year, and more than “seen throughout the world as according to ARD and ZDF exit just by migrant policies but also labelled “the wolf in sheep’s for download via the shop’s free the Berlin Wall – according to 70,000 of them came to Berlin, a sign of the resurgence of the polls. widespread frustration over clothing”. public Wi-Fi network. the exit polls, likely spelling the with many housed in the cav- right and of Nazis in Germany”. Such a “red-red-green” coa- poor public services. “The AfD is appealing to peo- The Munich judges ended up end of its term as junior coalition ernous hangars of the Nazi-built Merkel’s CDU has a national lition, its member hope, could With little industry and an ple who otherwise wouldn’t referring the issue to the Euro- partner to the Social Democrats former Tempelhof airport, once majority – but in Berlin it has one day be replicated at the na- above-national average jobless vote, the protest voters,” he said, pean Court of Justice (ECJ). (SPD), who won 23%. the hub for the Cold War-era served as junior coalition part- tional level. rate of 10%, Europe’s techno worried about the party gain- The Luxembourg-based court The election in the chronically Berlin airlift. ner to Mueller’s SPD, tradition- Merkel will face more pressure party capital is chronically broke ing ground in a city which was found that businesses provid- indebted city-state of 3.5mn Merkel – who was booed this ally the strongest party in the “to explain her political strat- and known for its shambolic city normally “a shining example of ing free Wi-Fi in the hope of at- people was dominated by many week by right-wing activists city. egy”, said Gero Neugebauer of offi ces. multiculturalism”. tracting potential customers are off ering a service, and cannot be held liable for unlawful acts Drink-driving committed by others via that In- Rain on the parade ternet connection. tourist held after Sony, which holds the copy- killing officer right for the music, is therefore not entitled to claim compensa- A French tourist has been tion or seek reimbursement for detained on the Spanish island of its court costs. Majorca after she hit and killed a However, the court did fi nd police off icer cycling with his son that Sony could demand that the while four times over the drink Internet connection be password drive limit, authorities said on protected in a way requiring us- Friday. ers to identify themselves before The 35-year-old, whom police accessing the network. have only identified as Florence, The shop owner, Tobias Mc was driving on Wednesday Fadden, described the ruling as evening with her friend when a partial victory, as everybody she ran into the off icer who was should have easy Internet access. riding with his eight-year-old son. “However, if I have to run “He was sent to hospital in a around fi rst and beg for a pass- critical state and died there,” a word, then it achieves the exact spokesman for the Guardia Civil opposite,” said the Internet ac- police force told AFP, adding the Little Anna is pulled in a handcart during the costume parade tivist, who is also a member of tourist had been four times over yesterday at the Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich. Germany’s Pirate Party. the drink drive limit. Germany’s Bitkom digital as- The victim was 44 and worked Right: Raindrops cover a brass instrument during the parade. sociation welcomed the court’s as a police off icer in Palma de decision, arguing that it gave Majorca, capital of the island. Below: Acrobats perform during the parade. public Wi-Fi operators more le- A video posted on local media gal security and removed the risk outlets showed the blonde tourist of them having to pay compensa- kneeling handcuff ed at the scene tion for rights abuses committed of the accident, asking police to by people using their network. let her go in French and stating The ECJ has referred the case that she is a nurse. back to the Munich court for a She was detained and has since fi nal verdict. been charged with involuntary manslaughter and driving under the influence of alcohol, said a One dead in blast spokeswoman for the High Court of the Balearic Islands. One person died and 17 people Local media reported that she were injured in an explosion at a had told a judge that she and block of flats in a Spanish seaside her friend had shared a bottle of resort near Barcelona early white wine and a shot of liqueur yesterday, rescuers said. at a restaurant, and drunk coff ee It was not immediately clear and two more shots at another what caused the blast which took place. place in the residential building in Premia de Mar, a resort town some 25km (15 miles) north of Man who kicked Barcelona. “The explosion happened at woman is freed 8.25am (0625 GMT) injuring People dressed in traditional Bavarian clothes are reflected in a 17 and killing one person,” a A Turkish court has released a puddle while taking part in the parade. spokeswoman for Barcelona’s fire man who confessed to kicking brigade told AFP. a young woman in the face on an Istanbul bus because she was wearing shorts, local media reported. The 35-year-old had confessed during his interrogation to Bear on dentist visit attacking the woman but was One in four French Muslims released by the court after it decided that no crime had been DPA His long tongue hung from committed, the Dogan news Berlin his mouth as the dental sur- agency reported. geons worked on his infl amed The attacker, a security worker, ‘revolt’ against secular laws root canals. had previously been diagnosed gor, a 250kg brown bear be- A second brown bear was as suff ering from “manic ing kept in a wildlife park also expected to have dental depression”, the agency said. AFP The survey of 1,029 people a greater role for religion in the tioned said they themselves did Inear the German capital surgery once Igor’s operation Shouting “Those wearing shorts Paris aims to inform the govern- workplace but opposed the bur- not wear the garment. Berlin, has had a visit from the was completed, park director must die!”, the man attacked the ment’s plans to overhaul French qa and polygamy. And eight out of 10 people dentist to deal with a grizzly Julian Dorsch said. woman, a nurse, kicking her in Muslim bodies in the wake of Most “problematic”, accord- believed that public school can- case of tooth decay. Dorsch said a specialist urs- the face, reports said. round one in four French several Islamist militant at- ing to the report, was the third teens should off er halal options Several volunteers had to ine dentist from Hamburg and Police detained the suspect on Muslims, mostly young tacks, most of them the work of group which was composed – a demand that has been re- be called in at the Johannism- experts from the Leibniz Insti- Saturday in Uskudar, a district Apeople, support an ul- French extremists. of “mostly young, low-skilled jected by several town councils uehle wildlife park near the tute for Zoological and Wildlife on the Asian side of the city, they tra-conservative form of Islam, It was carried out between people with low levels of par- who see it an encroachment of town of Baruth in the state of Research in Berlin had set up a added. including the wearing of the April 13 and May 23, before this ticipation in the labour market” religion in schools. Brandenburg to help move the makeshift operating theatre in He later told police he had been full-face veil, but the vast major- summer’s furore over the ban- living on the outskirts of cities. The survey also showed that, anaesthetised 21-year-old bear the park for the procedure. angered by her clothing. ity accept France’s strict secular ning by several towns of the “Islam is for them a way of contrary to commonly-held so that dentists could operate The surgeons used similar laws, a study showed yesterday. full-body burqini (also spelled asserting themselves on the perceptions, French Muslim on his teeth. dental tools to those used for The Ifop survey carried out burkini) swimsuit, which has margins of French society,” the women are more conservative During the procedure, Igor human dentistry, only larger. Dismembered for a major study of French made Islam a hot-button topic report found, noting that most than men on some issues. lay on his back with his limbs Dorsch said bears in the wild Muslims by Institut Montaigne, eight months before the next people in that group approved Only 56% of women said they outstretched. also suff er from tooth decay. bodies found a liberal think-tank, showed presidential election. of the burqa and of polygamy, would attend a mixed swim- that the vast majority of people Institut Montaigne’s report which is permitted by Islam. ming pool, compared with 75% The bodies of two adults and two who identify as Muslim accept grouped French Muslims into Around half of under-25s fell of men. children were discovered, hacked curbs on religion in public. three categories: “completely into this category, compared to The study also showed that, into pieces in a house outside But 60% considered girls secular”, devout but accept- around 20% of over-40s, re- while most respondents consid- Madrid yesterday, police and the should nonetheless be allowed ing restrictions on religion in vealing a generational gap be- er their religion as important, local mayor told AFP. to wear the headscarf in school, the public domain, and a more tween moderates and younger most do not regularly attend a The child victims were aged 12 years after it and other reli- reactionary group that uses hardliners, the report found. mosque, with 29% of attending “around four and one”, a police gious symbols were banished Islam for the purposes of “re- Two issues – the right to wear a mosque on a weekly basis. spokeswoman said, adding that from the classroom, the sur- volt”. the headscarf and access to ha- France has Western Europe’s the gruesome discovery was vey published in Le Journal du Those in the secular category, lal food – emerged as enjoying biggest Muslim population. made at a house just outside Dimanche weekly showed. which made up 46% of the total, support among all Muslims, The study estimated the the village of Pioz, around 60km And around one in four – did not reject Islam but demon- whether practising or not. number of French people iden- northeast of the Spanish capital. 24%– supported the wearing of strated their religious feeling Two-thirds of all respondents tifying as Muslim to be far All four victims were members the burqa and niqab, the full- mainly by eating halal meat. said they supported the right to smaller than often thought, at of the same family, local mayor face veils that were banned in The second group (25%) was wear the headscarf, even though around 3.7mn, or 5.6% of the Ricardo Garcia Lopez told AFP. public places in 2010. “proudly Muslim” and wanted two-thirds of the women ques- population. Igor gets his teeth checked under anaesthesia. Gulf Times Monday, September 19, 2016 15 EUROPE

Renzi steps up attack on fellow EU leaders Russians take part in Reuters Rome

talian Prime Minister Mat- teo Renzi stepped up his Iattacks against other Euro- pean Union leaders yesterday parliamentary polls after an EU summit in Bratis- lava which he said amounted to AFP “But this is my country and I no more than “a nice cruise on Moscow have to express my opinion.” the Danube”. Offi cials said that by 1500 Renzi said at the end of Fri- Moscow time (1200 GMT) the day’s summit he was dissatis- ussians voted yesterday nationwide turnout stood at al- fi ed with its closing statement, in parliamentary polls, most 33%. after he was excluded from a Rwith parties loyal to Presi- Despite the authorities pledg- joint news conference by Ger- Renzi said of his fellow EU dent Vladimir Putin expected to ing to crack down on vote-rig- man Chancellor Angela Merkel leaders: If we want to pass the maintain their dominance de- ging, observers and opposition and French President Francois afternoon writing spite the longest economic crisis candidates from around the Hollande. documents without any soul of his rule. country posted claims of possi- In particular, he criticised or any horizon they can do it The nationwide election fol- ble violations including “cruise- the lack of commitments on on their own. lows a tumultuous few years that voting” – where people are the economy and immigration have seen the country seize the bussed to vote at multiple polling in the summit’s conclusions, about the budget to be pre- Crimea peninsula from Ukraine, stations – and ballot stuffi ng. which he himself signed. sented next month, saying that plunge into its worst standoff Electoral commission head In a fi ery interview in daily there would be “no negotia- with the West since the Cold War Ella Pamfi lova dismissed claims Corriere della Sera yesterday, tion” with Brussels, and money and start a military operation in of widespread fraud but said Renzi – who has staked his he planned to spend on tack- Syria. authorities were probing allega- career on a referendum this ling immigration and making But the Kremlin exerts near- tions in the Siberian Altai region year on his plan for constitu- Italy safer from earthquakes total control and, after a cam- and threatened to annul the vote tional reform – intensifi ed his would be excluded from EU paign dubbed the most boring there. criticisms, though he remained rules on defi cit limits. in recent memory, a trouble-free Although the country is suf- vague on what commitments Other countries were more victory for ruling United Russia fering its longest recession of Pu- he would have liked the sum- guilty than Italy of breaking would help smooth the way for tin’s rule due to low oil prices and mit to have produced. budget rules and Italy had met Putin to claim a fourth term as Western sanctions over Ukraine “If we want to pass the after- its commitments on tackling president in 2018. the Kremlin strongman boasts an noon writing documents with- the infl ows of migrants cross- “I knew who to vote for. Sure- approval rating of around 80%. out any soul or any horizon ing the Mediterranean, Renzi ly you must be aware,” Putin While United Russia had they can do it on their own,” said. quipped to journalists after cast- slipped in the polls ahead of the Renzi said of his fellow leaders. “I’m not going to stay si- ing his vote in Moscow, Russian vote it still looks set to scoop the “I don’t know what Merkel lent for the sake of a quiet life agencies reported. largest chunk of the vote ahead of A man casts his ballot at a is referring to when she talks ... if someone wants to keep Looming large is the spectre of other parties loyal to the authori- polling station in Moscow during about the ‘spirit of Bratis- Italy quiet they have picked the mass protests over vote rigging ties like the Communists and the parliamentary election. lava’,” he said. “If things go on wrong place, the wrong meth- that followed the last legislative ultra-nationalist Liberal Demo- like this, instead of the spirit od and the wrong subject.” polls fi ve years ago and grew into cratic Party. which largely opposed Moscow’s of Bratislava we’ll be talking With polls showing the ref- the biggest challenge to Putin A change to the electoral sys- takeover – have said they are about the ghost of Europe.” erendum too close to call, Ren- since he took charge in 2000. tem that means half of the depu- boycotting the vote, others said Renzi has promised to resign zi insisted that he had “never This time round the authori- ties are now chosen on a con- they were proud to take part. if he loses the autumn refer- been so optimistic” about its ties have made a show of clean- stituency basis also looks set to “I went to vote, and all my rel- endum and is preparing a 2017 outcome. ing up the vote by replacing the bolster the pro-Kremlin parties atives and neighbours are going,” budget which he says will cut The ballot is expected to be former scandal-tainted election as they can use state resources to said pensioner Valentina. “We taxes despite a slowing econ- held in late November or early chief and allowing more genuine bolster their campaigns. are for Russia.” omy and record high public December. opposition candidates to take Polling stations were due to Voters in some areas of the vast debt. The other EU leader to most part. close in Russia’s western-most country are also electing regional “At Bratislava we had a nice vocally criticise the results But critics insist the Kremlin’s European exclave of Kaliningrad leaders. cruise on the Danube, but I of the Bratislava summit was media dominance means the vote at 1800 GMT and exit polls are In the North Caucasus region hoped for answers to the crisis Hungarian leader Viktor Or- can never be fair and – with the expected shortly afterwards. of Chechnya strongman Ramzan caused by Brexit (Britain’s exit ban, who faces his own domes- 450-member State Duma viewed For the fi rst time since Moscow Kadyrov performed a traditional from the EU), not just to go on tic referendum next month, on as a rubber-stamp body that seized the Black Sea peninsula of dance before casting his ballot as a boat trip,” he said. the EU’s plan to relocate refu- slavishly toes the Kremlin’s line Crimea in 2014 residents there he faces the fi rst electoral test of He was similarly belligerent gees throughout the continent. – apathy is widespread. voted for Russia’s parliament. his iron-fi sted rule. “The elections are absolutely Ukraine has slammed the poll Ahead of the vote, rights predictable,” Dmitry Pribytkov, as illegal. groups said that all criticism of While a member of the Ukrainian National Guard keeps watch, a 47, told AFP after voting in the While leaders from the re- Kremlin stalwart Kadyrov had woman shows her passport to enter the Russian embassy in Kiev and second city of Saint Petersburg. gion’s Crimean Tatar minority – been ruthlessly crushed. take part in the parliamentary election. France is not for sale: Le Pen tells rally

Reuters we would not recognise anymore, That appeared to be part of her Frejus, France that would have become foreign strategy to appear more moder- to us,” she told a crowd of about ate than her father, party founder 6,500. Jean-Marie Le Pen, to attract rance is not for sale,” The crowd booed at the men- mainstream support and pos- National Front (FN) tion of supposed orders to Paris sibly woo Muslims disillusioned A car with a paper ‘probation’ licence plate is seen at the Bill “Fparty leader Marine coming from “Berlin, Brussels with the traditional parties. Clinton Boulevard in Pristina. Le Pen told supporters yesterday, and Washington” and Le Pen Le Pen also did not mention launching her campaign for the praised British voters for vot- any of her likely opponents in the 2017 presidential election with ing in June to leave the European race during the speech, which a vow to defend national sover- Union, saying that she could not was heavy on rhetoric about sov- eignty if elected. wait for France to do the same. ereignty but light on actual poli- Kosovans fume over Opinion polls have for months At that, the crowd broke into cy plans or details. predicted that Le Pen, whose far- cheers and rounds of the party’s Le Pen and close aides had told right party opposes immigration trademark chant “On est chez reporters on Saturday that she paper licence plates and the European Union, will nous!” (This is our home!) would only fully start her cam- make it to the second round of Le Pen: France is not in the hands of the French anymore. Le Pen devoted much of her paign once her opponents’ pri- the two-stage election but lose in speech to slamming immigration maries are over. Reuters Belgrade today to apply for an the early May run-off to a main- ed throughout her speech that choice between on one side and “politico-religious habits The centre-right opposition Pristina Indian visa but I can’t go with stream candidate. “France is not in the hands of the France – its sovereignty, its iden- coming from abroad” – a veiled Republicans will choose their my car,” said Tefi k Maliqi, 60, a Billing herself as “the candi- French anymore”. tity, its values, its prosperity – reference to Muslims – but did candidate in November and the businessman. date of the people”, Le Pen insist- “This 2017 election is a harsh and on the other side a country not mention Islam or Islamists. governing Socialists in January. osovo’s drivers are in Campaigners blame corrupt uproar after an admin- public procurement practices Kistrative slip-up led to for the failure to source metal the country running out of new plates. licence plates, forcing it to is- Bidders in the failed tender sue paper substitutes that are to manufacture new licence French former president Chirac mostly invalid abroad. plates complained of an opaque The paper plates, around and irregular process. 10,000 of which have been is- “I paid €15 ($16.80) for pa- hospitalised with lung infection sued, are accepted only in Ko- per plates and can’t go any- sovo, a predominantly ethnic where with them. Someone in Albanian country which broke the government should resign AFP served two terms as head of – he fl irted with communism in away from Serbia in 1999, and over this,” said Samir Fejziu, 38, Paris state, is probably best remem- his youth – Chirac also served in neighbouring Albania. pointing to his rain- and mud- bered internationally for his two stints as prime minister in Further obstacles to travel spattered plates. opposition to the US military 1974-76 and 1988-90 and was are the last thing the impov- Since formally declaring in- rench former president intervention in Iraq in 2003. Paris mayor from 1977-1995. erished and isolated country dependence in 2008, Kosovo’s Jacques Chirac, 83, was A small stroke while in offi ce His infl uence is still felt in needs as its 1.8mn citizens, economic development has Fhospitalised yesterday in 2005 weakened him, and he is French politics, with one of his many of whom work abroad, been slow, with the European with a lung infection, the sec- now rarely seen in public. former prime ministers and struggle to drum up business Union and the World Bank ond time in a year the frail elder In December 2015, he spent political heirs, Alain Juppe, the around the world. blaming corruption and isola- statesman has received hospital two weeks in hospital, suff ering current favourite to win next “I was supposed to go to tion for its sluggish growth. Chirac: had just returned from a visit to Morocco. care. from what his family described year’s presidential election. Chirac, who led France from as fatigue. Polls make Juppe the fa- 1995 to 2007, was “hospital- In recent weeks, his entou- vourite to win the conservative ised this morning at Pitie-Sal- rage said his health had im- nomination, ahead of former petriere (hospital in Paris) to be proved. president Nicolas Sarkozy. treated for a lung infection”, his Chirac has reportedly suf- Yesterday, the political rivals August equals July as hottest month: UN agency son-in-law Frederic Salat-Ba- fered from a degenerative neu- tweeted their concern and best roux told AFP, adding he would rological disorder in recent wishes for Chirac’s prompt re- remain there “in the coming years, leading prosecutors to covery. AFP The United Nations Meteoro- The August fi gures were an es- tied” with July “for the warmest days”. spare him the embarrassment of “I am thinking aff ectionately Geneva logical Organisation (WMO) also pecially jarring reminder of soar- month ever recorded”. The popular ex-president having to appear in court during of Jacques Chirac. I hope with forecast that 2016 will prove to be ing temperatures on the planet, The average temperature last had just returned from a visit to his 2011 corruption trial. all my heart he overcomes his the warmest year on Earth over since July has typically proven to month was 0.16 degrees warmer Morocco with his wife Berna- He was handed a two-year illness and gets well soon,” Ju- ugust equalled July as the 137 years of record-keeping. be the hottest month each year. than the previous hottest Au- dette, Salat-Baroux added. suspended prison term for col- ppe tweeted. hottest month in modern “It is looking likely that 2016 Citing data from the Euro- gust, which was in 2014. Rumours were swirling about luding in the creation of 28 fake Sarkozy also took to Twitter, Atimes, the UN’s weather will (be) the hottest year on pean Centre for Medium Range Last month was also 0.98 de- his condition but a source close jobs for party workers when he saying: “I am thinking at the agency said, warning that ex- record, surpassing the incredible Weather Forecasting and the grees warmer than the average to the family told AFP he was served as mayor of Paris mayor. moment of Jacques #Chirac. I traordinary temperatures were temperatures witnessed in 2015,” US space agency Nasa, the UN August temperature from 1950- conscious. Benefi ting from a popularity hope he recovers as quickly as “set to become the new norm”. WMO chief Petteri Taalas said. said that August “wound up 1980, the WMO said. The centre-right Chirac, who that extended beyond the right possible.” Gulf Times 16 Monday, September 19, 2016 INDIA

Tamil Nadu Roundup Singur men get back lands, but face uncertain future

By Umaima Shafiq IANS tic activity centred on the return signalled the ‘death’ of the plant, with ‘kash’ fl owers, a grass spe- and the judgment is a vindica- the 997.11 acres acquired for the Singur, West Bengal of land records to farmers. as the then Tata Sons chairman cies that heralds the autumnal tion. Now, we are gearing up for project. A little over eight years back Ratan Tata announced shifting of Durga Puja festival. the pujas,” Mahadeb Das, a lo- Interestingly, the September IT off icials too, the area had seen hectic ac- the project out of Singur follow- But the prim periphery of the cal Trinamool activist whose 14 celebrations were held at the fter the initial euphoria tivities, but of a diff erent kind. ing an intense and often violent plant, as seen in early 2008, has 1.3 acres were acquired despite same spot on the Durgapur Ex- raid homes, over the Supreme Court Then, as the auto major geared peasant movement led by the now given way to an unwieldy his unwillingness, said, proudly pressway where she held the sit- off ices of Ajudgment, Singur resi- up to roll out the world’s lowest Trinamool Congress of Mamata growth of shrubs, slush and showing his land record and in eight years ago. dents now seem uncertain about priced car Nano from its blue- Banerjee. fi lth, inhabited by venomous compensation cheque. The chief minister was, how- ex-minister what the future holds for them and-white factory shed here, the Months later, Nano got its snakes. In fact, a snake catcher Interestingly, many of the ever, careful not to sound anti- after the land acquired earlier stretch buzzed with anticipation home in Gujarat’s Sanand. But was kept at the site to tackle any songs sung at the programme industry in a state that is high Income tax off icials carried out for Tata Motors’ Nano project is and bustled with enthusiasm. the factory here has since stood exigency. were those which one would as- on unemployment and short on raids at the homes and off ices returned to them. Engineers were fl own in from forlorn, enveloped in darkness, The mood, however, is san- sociate with the leftists. investment. of former All India Anna Dravida Dwellers of this rural hamlet Pune to groom professionals at and the epicentre of political and guine in villages like Beraberi, A major gainer on the issue Reiterating her government’s Kazhagam minister Natham in Hooghly district of West Ben- the plant, while the company legal battles over the years that Bajemelia, Khaserberi, Ghaser- is Banerjee, her popularity now hands-off policy on land acqui- Vishwanathan and Chennai mayor gal are experiencing both jubila- also brought around four-fi ve changed the course of West Ben- beri and Gopalnagar, from where seemingly at an all-time high. sition, Banerjee reached out to Saidai Duraisamy and his son Vetri tion and despondency over the model cars for demonstration gal’s history. the anti-land acquisition move- She had staked her all during the the Tatas and invited them to last week. judicial verdict that struck down and training of local technicians. On September 14, as Banerjee ment had started. Singur movement, spearheading set up an auto hub in Goaltore The IT teams also raided the acquisition of land imple- The engine and paint shops, - now the state chief minister - Durga Puja is set to return to the protests from 2006-08 as the in West Midnapore district on Vishwanathan’s college in mented by the former Left Front assembly unit and press shop presided over the ‘Singur Divas’ Singur after 10 years, with some main opposition leader in West a 1,000 acre plot owned by the Dindigul district about 400km government for the project and were nearing completion, as the celebrations attended by over villagers having earlier declared Bengal. state. from Chennai. ordered its return to the cultiva- company eyed an October 2008 800,000 people, the factory col- they would take part in the festival Banerjee had undertaken a 26- In villages, there are still many The raids relate to an incident tors. Nano rollout. ours were surrounded by a long only after getting back their land. day hunger strike and a 16-day who feel the Tatas’ exit has badly in April, when based on a tipoff , At the same time there is hec- But ironically, the same month stretch of green paddy dotted “It was a hard-fought victory sit-in to demand return of 400 of hit Singur. police found Rs40.7mn at the house of a Karur-based financier, who claimed that Vishwanathan had kept it to bribe voters during the May by-polls. Tributes to Saint Teresa The IT off icers also found documents indicating that Chennai mayor Duraisamy had misused his off ice for multi-billion rupee real estate deals done by his son and other relatives in Govt okays Coimbatore and Chennai. DMK politician murdered

Selvaraj, 44, the block president $1bn road of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), was allegedly murdered during his morning walk at the railway grounds in Villupuram, about 200km from Chennai, last week. Selvaraj and his four friends had project to arrived at the ground on separate bikes and had been walking when a gang of five, also on bikes, intercepted them. They began stabbing Selvaraj even as his friends tried to shield him. Selvaraj died of multiple injuries. The gang fled. link nations The incident sparked public outrage. The primary idea behind the and new - and about to be rolled ances are awaited from Nepal. In another incident, a 35-year- Bangladesh-Bhutan-India- out,” Nandan said. “This bridge will connect old financier was murdered by a Nepal (BBIN) road initiative The project includes, among Kakarbhitta in Nepal with Pani- six-member gang at his house in is to improve ground others, an upgrade of the 122km tanki in West Bengal. Once we Lawspet in Puducherry. connectivity in the region Siliguri-Mirik-Darjeeling road receive the necessary approv- ($15mn) and the widening of als, we would like to bid for the Petrol bomb hurled IANS the 60km National Highway-35 projects as early as possible, say New Delhi (Kolkata-Bangaon) on the border by November-end,” said Anand at minister with Bangladesh ($130mn). Kumar, managing director of Na- It also includes a new 123km tional Highways and Infrastruc- ndia has approved an am- road to connect with Diamond ture Development Corporation. A 27-year-old man threw a plastic bitious $1.04bn project for harbour, on the outskirts of The four South Asian nations, packet containing petrol at a Iconstructing and upgrading Kolkata, at a cost of $250mn. All led by Road Transport and High- public meeting presided over 558km of roads to link the coun- these are in West Bengal and will ways Minister Nitin Gadkari from by Edappadi K Palanisamy, the try with Bangladesh, Bhutan be entrusted to the state’s Public the Indian side, had signed a land- state minister of public works and Nepal and ease the move- Works Department for execu- mark Motor Vehicles Agreement in department, in Jalakandapuram in ment of passengers and cargo, tion, offi cials said. June last year in the Bhutan capital Salem district. as part of the larger effort to “This apart, two highways Thimpu to regulate passenger, Fortunately the packet fell on an increase inter-regional trade by are going to come up in Ma- personnel and cargo vehicular amplifier and caught fire that was 60%. nipur - 115km Ukhrul-Tolloi- traffi c among the neighbours. doused immediately. The accused, The new project has been Tadubi ($230mn) and a 138km “This agreement between sub- Kutty, was arrested even as the given an offi cial nod by India’s split, four-lane road between the grouping of four South Asian na- minister and his entourage left Department of Economic Aff airs Kohima-Kedima Kring-Imphal tions - Bangladesh, Bhutan, In- the stage. with 50% funding from the Asian section of National Highway-39 dia and Nepal - will pave the way The meeting held to Development Bank (ADB), of- ($280mn),” said A D James, dep- for seamless movement of people commemorate late chief minister fi cials said, adding that the road uty secretary in the ministry. and goods across their borders and party founder Annadurai’s project will cover West Bengal “These two roads are to be for the benefi t and integration of birth anniversary. Six men and Manipur on the Indian side executed by the National High- the region and its economic de- were arrested and police are as of now. way Infrastructure Development velopment,” Gadkari had said. ascertaining whether they were “The mandate is for complet- Corporation. They are currently A joint statement later said: opposition party cadres. ing the project within the next in the DPR (detailed project re- “Transforming transport cor- two years,” a senior offi cial said. port) stage,” James said. Offi cials ridors into economic corridors “The primary idea behind are also looking at the possibility could potentially increase intra- TN Congress the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India- of shorter routes. regional trade within South Asia gets new chief Nepal (BBIN) road initiative is to Apart from the works under by almost 60% and with the rest improve ground connectivity in the $1bn project, a 600m bridge of the world by over 30%.” the region,” said Leena Nandan, and a 110km road in the Impal- Referring to funding, James Congress leader Su joint secretary in the Ministry of Moreh stretch of Manipur are said talks were simultaneously Thirunavukkarasar, 66, a Road Transport and Highways. also being planned under the on with ADB to look beyond protégé of late chief minister M “We have taken up fi ve high- broader BBIN road initiative. the committed 50%. “There are G Ramachandran, was elected way stretches in the country, The Manila-based bank has chances that the bank may even as president of the Tamil Nadu Nuns of Missionaries of Charity take a ride in a tram decorated to pay tribute to Saint Teresa which are very important for agreed to fund up to 50% of this fund up to 72% of the total cost Congress Committee (TNCC) on in Kolkata yesterday. Teresa was declared a saint in a canonisation ceremony held by Pope such a connectivity to succeed. project as well, offi cials said. for the project. Then we will get September 14. Francis in the Vatican earlier this month. This project is entirely diff erent The DPR for this is ready. Clear- around $700mn.” Thirunavukkarasar began his political career in MGR’s AIADMK party and won for six consecutive terms from the Arathangi constituency in Pudukottai district from 1977. He became a minister in MGR’s cabinet in 1980 Jung visits hospitals amid spurt and held many portfolios until 1988. He also changed political parties in dengue, chikungunya cases thrice before joining the Congress in 2010. He replaces E V K S Elangovan. IANS 76 of the 200 beds earmarked Bara Hindu Rao Hospital New Delhi for chikungunya and dengue medical superintendent Ajit patients were occupied. Goel told Jung that the round- Rajni’s daughter Apart from one death last the-clock fever clinic was get- seeks divorce elhi Lieutenant Gover- month, there had been no fa- ting approximately 1,000 pa- nor Najeeb Jung yes- tality due to these diseases, he tients daily, and at present had Tamil superstar Rajnikanth’s Dterday visited several said adding that chikungunya 163 patients of chikungunya, 72 second daughter Saundarya has government hospitals which patients did not always require of malaria and 50 of dengue be- confirmed that she has applied for are dealing with a sudden spurt hospitalisation. ing treated. divorce from her husband Ashwin in diseases like dengue and Passey said a dedicated fever GTB Hospital additional Ramkumar whom she married in chikungunya. clinic with suffi cient testing kits medical superintendent Vinaik 2010. The couple have a one-year- Jung visited fever wards was functioning at LNJP Hos- Parwal told Jung that 788 adult old son. and clinics at Lok Nayak, Bara pital and test results were made and 148 child patients were at- “News about my marriage is true. Hindu Rao and GTB hospitals available within an hour. tended to the hospital in the last We have been separated for over to oversee the arrangements Coming across a number of 24 hours and 117 units of blood a year and divorce talks are on. I there for handling the rush of elderly patients at these three transfused to patients suff ering request all to respect my family’s patients. hospitals, Jung asked authori- from dengue, chikungunya and privacy,” Saundarya said in a He also interacted with med- ties to ensure that patients with malaria. statement. ical superintendents, doctors, complications, particularly the Jung directed the secretary A graphic designer by profession, patients, staff and other visitors elderly, should be attended to (Health and Welfare) to provide Saundarya is the founder of to know fi rst-hand the prob- with utmost care and on a pri- more doctors to hospitals, if Ocher Picture Productions lems they faced. ority basis. needed. and has worked in movies like J S. Passey, medical superin- At Bara Hindu Rao Hospi- The Lt Governor stressed on Kochadaiyan, Sandakozhi, Baba tendent (MS) at Lok Nayak Jai tal, Jung visited its fever clinic ensuring better standards of Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung is accompanied by off icials as he visits a hospital to take stock of the and Sivaji. Prakash Hospital, told Jung that where fi ve doctors were on duty. cleanliness at the hospitals. situation arising out of an outbreak of chikungunya and dengue, yesterday. Gulf Times Monday, September 19, 2016 17 INDIA

INVESTIGATION POLITICS ALLEGATION EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT Swathi murder suspect Trinamool legislators Probe 400 attacks on our Seminar discusses problems Khattar declares Dadri commits suicide in jail join Congress in Manipur activists in Kerala: BJP of children of jail inmates as Haryana’s 22nd district

P Ramkumar, the accused in the sensational S All four legislators of the Trinamool Congress The Bharatiya Janata Party yesterday alleged Several eminent citizens came together to focus on an Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar Swathi murder case, committed suicide yesterday in in Manipur, including state president Thounao- there were at least 400 cases of assault on its often ignored area - problems faced by children of jail yesterday declared Dadri as the 22nd district of the Puzhal jail in Chennai by biting a power cable, police jam Shyamkumar, joined the ruling Congress activists in Kerala since the Left took power inmates. At a seminar held in New Delhi, they discussed state. Making the announcement at a public rally in said. Ramkumar was taken to the Government Hos- yesterday. “We took the decision to leave the and demanded a probe either by the Central the plight of children of prisoners and sought ways to Dadri in Bhiwani district, he said that developmental pital in Royapettah but he died on the way. Swathi, TMC as the national leaders have neglected us. Bureau of Investigation or a high court judge. improve their lot through the collaborative eff orts of indi- projects worth Rs1.12bn had already been completed 24, an IT professional with Infosys, was stabbed to We have to consolidate our position since we are “Ever since the Pinarayi Vijayan government viduals, governments and civil society. Organised by the in the Dadri assembly segment during the two-year death at the suburban Nungambakkam railway sta- accountable to the people,” Shyamkumar said. assumed office four months ago, 400 cases Siddhartha Vashishta Charitable Trust (SVCT), the seminar tenure of his government. Khattar also inaugu- tion in Chennai on June 24 allegedly by Ramkumar, “The demand for implementation of the Inner of assault against our cadres by CPM support- highlighted its “Prisoners’ Child Education Programme” rated nine development projects worth Rs450mn. who had been stalking her. Police zeroed on Ram- Line Permit has been disrupting normal life in Ma- ers have taken place,” BJP general secretary which provides tuition fees, books, stationery, uniforms, Referring to the water management and irrigation kumar, 22, an unemployed graduate with the help nipur. Ten persons have been killed... Despite our Bhupendra Yadav said. “We demand a probe etc, to these children, as also counselling, mentoring schemes, especially in southern Haryana, the chief of CCTV footage and signals from Swathi’s phone requests, TMC MPs refused to take up the issue in either by the CBI or by a high court judge since and motivational sessions where required. The seminar minister said the government planned to spend which he had taken, and arrested him Tirunelveli parliament. It shows the party has no concern for justice from the state government is impossi- discussed issues such as the psychological and socio- Rs1.43bn to boost lift irrigation system. “We are also district on July 2. When he was about to be arrested, the people of Manipur,” he said. The decision of ble,” the MP said. Yadav led a delegation of BJP economic condition of these children; the role education preparing schemes to store rainwater in ponds, police said he tried to commit suicide by cutting his the legislators comes as a morale booster to the leaders who visited Kannur and other areas in can play in improving their lives; and the steps required to especially in the areas of Bhiwani, Loharu, Badhra, throat with a blade. Congress. Kerala for two days. support them. Mahendgarh and Rewari,” he said. India blames Pakistan after 17soldiers die The raid came as tensions Modi said in a series of Twitter The Defence Ministry earlier were already running high in posts. put the number of wounded at India’s only Muslim-majority The raid came as tensions were 35. state, which has faced more already running high in India’s Singh, the home minister, than two months of protests only Muslim-majority state, chaired a crisis meeting in New following the July 8 killing which has faced more than two Delhi and cancelled trips to Rus- of Hizbul Mujahideen months of protests following the sia and the United States. commander Burhan Wani July 8 killing of Hizbul Mujahideen Defence Minister Manohar commander Burhan Wani. Parrikar and Army Chief Gen- Agencies At least 87 civilians have been eral Dalbir Singh headed to Uri, Srinagar killed and thousands injured roughly halfway between Kash- in street clashes with security mir’s summer capital Srinagar forces, who have been criticised and Islamabad, to investigate the ndia accused Pakistan of be- by human rights groups for using attack. ing behind yesterday’s mili- excessive force. “There are defi nite and con- Itant attack on an army base The government has been clusive indications that the near the border that killed 17 sol- coming under growing pres- perpetrators of Uri attack were diers, in one of the most deadly sure over the level of casu- highly trained, heavily armed attacks in Jammu and Kashmir alties and over the security and specially equipped,” Singh in a quarter-century-old insur- forces’ use of shotguns loaded said in a series of strongly-word- gency. with pellets which can blind ed tweets that were confi rmed as Four commando-style gun- demonstrators. genuine by his offi ce. men, armed with AK-47 assault Thousands of angry dem- US ambassador to India, Rich- rifl es and grenades, burst into onstrators defied a curfew on ard Verma, also “strongly con- the brigade headquarters in Uri Saturday in Kashmir to attend demned” the Uri attack, which at 5.30am and were killed after a the funeral of a schoolboy comes weeks after Secretary of three-hour gunfi ght, a senior In- whose body was found riddled State John Kerry visited New dian army offi cer said. with pellets, sparking fresh Delhi. The incident sharply increased clashes. After that meeting Kerry urged tensions between the bitter, nu- Federal Home Minister Ra- Pakistan to do more to combat clear-armed rivals and will raise jnath Singh tweeted: “Pakistan terrorism, while also announcing fears of a potential military esca- is a terrorist state and should be the resumption of trilateral talks lation. identifi ed and isolated as such.” with India and Afghanistan this Indian and Pakistani troops Pakistan rejected allegations month in New York, leaving Is- are in close proximity in many that it was involved. lamabad looking isolated. places along one of the world’s “India immediately puts The military death toll was one most heavily militarised fron- blame on Pakistan without do- of the worst it has suff ered in a tiers, and exchanges of fi re are ing any investigation. We reject single incident during years of not uncommon. this,” foreign ministry spokes- confl ict in Kashmir. Lieutenant General Ranbir man Nafees Zakaria said. Before this attack, 102 people Singh told reporters in New Delhi Most of the fatalities hap- had been killed in separatist at- that yesterday’s attack bore the pened in a tent that caught fi re, tacks in the stated this year. hallmarks of Pakistan-based Singh, the army’s director gen- Among them were 30 security Jaish-e-Mohamed group . eral of military operations, told personnel, 71 militants and one Evidence gathered at the scene the briefi ng in New Delhi. civilian, according to a tally by indicated the attackers were for- He had informed his Paki- the New Delhi-based South Asia eign and their equipment bore stani counterpart of his fi ndings, Terrorism Portal. Pakistani markings, he claimed. which linked the attack on Uri Modi recently raised the stakes “Our men are ready to give a to a similar raid in January on an in the neighbours’ decades- An Indian Army helicopter flies over the site of a gun battle between soldiers and rebels inside an army brigade headquarters near the border with befi tting response,” Singh said in Indian Air Force base in Punjab old feud by expressing support Pakistan in Uri yesterday. response to a reporter’s question. that India also blames on Jaish- for separatists in Pakistan’s He did not elaborate. e-Mohamed. resource-rich Baluchistan prov- The UN is preparing to hold Senior Indian journalist and Pakistan have been on edge of other attacks - including one Earlier, Prime Minister Naren- Television footage showed ince. its annual general assembly in commentator Shekhar Gupta since the New-Year attack on the on Mumbai in 2008 that killed dra Modi strongly condemned helicopters fl ying in to evacuate Pakistan has, meanwhile, New York, where Kashmir is said Pakistan would be “delu- Pathankot air force base in Pun- 166 people. what he called the “cowardly ter- the injured as an operation con- called on the United Nations and likely to come onto the agen- sional” to think that India would jab, near the border with Paki- After initial progress, an at- ror attack.” tinued to secure the area. the international community to da amid concerns that India’s not respond. stan, that killed seven uniformed tempt to conduct a joint investi- “I assure the nation that Smoke rose from the com- investigate atrocities it alleges tough rhetoric could herald a “This India has moved on from men. gation into the air base attack lost those behind this despicable pound, set in mountainous ter- have been committed by Indian military escalation between the old strategic restraint,” he said. India has blamed Pakistan- momentum and a tentative peace attack will not go unpunished,” rain. security forces in Kashmir. old foes. Relations between India and based groups for that and a string dialogue has stalled. ‘Fall of Mehbooba govt Opposition slams Modi can douse Kashmir fi re’ govt for ‘security lapse’ IANS She hoped that “the perpetra- New Delhi/Patna tors of this dastardly act as also IANS politicians have been rendered ir- 8 killing of the Hizbul Mujahideen the forces behind them will be Srinagar relevant,” Karra, one of the clos- commander. severely dealt with and brought est aides of PDP founder, the late The militant’s death triggered pposition leaders yester- to book.” Mufti Mohamed Sayeed, said. an unprecedented and seem- day sought to blame Prime In a tweet, former home min- he fall of the government “And blame this unholy, unethi- ingly unending crisis in the Kash- OMinister Narendra Modi’s ister P Chidambaram said: “Gov- led by Chief Minister Meh- cal and unacceptable alliance be- mir Valley that has resulted in 87 government for the terror attack ernment must mobilise all re- Tbooba Mufti can bring calm tween the PDP and BJP for that. The deaths and over 12,000 injured in on an army camp in Uri in Jammu sources, manpower and material, on the streets of Jammu and Kash- PDP betrayed the electorate because almost two-and-a-half months of and Kashmir and attributed the to strengthen border defence to mir, says Tariq Karra, a prominent the votes were sought to keep the unrest. assault to “lapses” in stopping the prevent infi ltration of terrorists.” Kashmiri politician who resigned BJP out of power. This alliance laid Karra said the “daily killings and infi ltration of militants. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in anger from parliament and from the ground for the discontent and unabated bloodshed” were like “an Congress leader and former chief Lalu Prasad Yadav said: the state’s ruling People’s Demo- anger that you see on the streets of undeclared war against the Kash- defence minister A K Antony “Soldiers are dying due to the cratic Party of which he was one of the Kashmir Valley today.” miris by the government of India” said the attack that left 17 sol- failure and negligence of Modi; the founders. Karra resigned from the party and that it was being facilitated diers dead was “a serious secu- where is his 56-inch chest now?” Karra said the PDP-led govern- and quit his Lok Sabha seat on by the government of Jammu and rity lapse.” Yadav said Jammu and Kashmir ment’s policies in Kashmir have Thursday. Elected from Srinagar, Kashmir. Antony told reporters that the was an integral part of India but wiped out the middle ground that he was the urban face of the PDP, So how could the situation Kashmir issue was “drifting and the situation there was going out existed between separatism and a party that has its bastions in the be controlled and the violence reaching dangerous propositions.” of control, thanks to “only big talk pro-India ideology, rendering all rural areas, particularly in south stopped? “This incident comes close on and no action” on the ground. mainstream politicians irrelevant Kashmir. “Stop this mayhem. The per- the heels of what happened in The Communist Party of In- in the restive state. “The seeds were sown on that ception on the ground today is Pathankot. At both these places, dia (Marxist) also condemned He said the PDP was founded in very particular day when the alli- that the government in Jammu the militants managed to enter the killing of 17 soldiers and said 1998 to fi ll the gap where the peo- ance was cobbled together. Later and Kashmir is anti-people. It is military camps and this is a huge Pakistan “must stop aiding and ple “were caught between the two on, misgovernance and the irre- facilitating the fascist designs of security lapse,” he said. abetting the extremist forces.” extremes” of being either pro- or sponsible, egoistic and arrogant the BJP-led government of India. Congress president Sonia “Despite the deployment of a anti-India. “It played the role of attitude of the people at the helm The anger may possibly be doused Gandhi described the terror large number of security personnel, the buff er between the two ex- fuelled the anger. The Burhan if the state government doesn’t strike as a “cowardly attack and the government has failed to stop tremes. I had built this party brick Wani episode was only a trig- remain there. That is a popular Women shout anti-Indian slogans during a protest against the recent a deplorable aff ront on our na- the continuing infi ltration of mili- by brick. But today, all mainstream ger,” he said, referring to the July view,” Karra said. killings in Kashmir, in Srinagar yesterday. tional conscience.” tants,” the party said in a statement. Gulf Times 18 Monday, September 19, 2016 LATIN AMERICA US-Mexico border fl ooded with Haitians arriving from Brazil

Reuters customs and border protection, Border offi cials need more Calexico reported 100 Haitians work there after the earthquake, America and Mexico” and they to build a wall along the border Washington an official in San Ysidro, Cali- space to hold Haitians in deten- were in custody on Friday when US offi cials said. continue to engage other gov- with Mexico to stem illegal im- fornia, reported 900 Haitians tion while they go through the “the fi rst big wave arrived,” but But with the slump in Brazil’s ernments on the issue. migration. were waiting to cross from process of being interviewed and did not specify how many. economy and the August 5-21 US department of homeland The numbers of Haitians S border offi cials are Tijuana in Mexico and asked potentially seeking asylum when After presenting themselves summer Olympics over, many security offi cials were criticised waiting to enter California this struggling to fi nd enough border patrol to send Creole they arrive in San Ysidro and to authorities and being tem- have set their sights on the US to by Republican lawmakers on a week represent a spike in a mi- Uspace to temporarily hold speakers to interpret interviews Calexico, California. porarily detained, migrants can fi nd work. House of Representatives panel gration trend that began this hundreds of Haitian immigrants with migrants. In response to the offi cial’s make a claim for asylum and be State department spokesman last week for not doing enough to fi scal year. Between October who left Brazil, where they re- Apprehensions of Haitians in request for interpreters, another released until their scheduled Joseph Crook said the agency vet migrants and secure the bor- and July, 3,538 Haitian migrants located after Haiti’s 2010 earth- southern Mexico are also on the offi cial said border patrol had court date. is “concerned for the safety of der, a topic that has also played arrived in the US illegally, more quake, but have decided to move rise, where an estimated 500 three Creole-speaking agents Most of the Haitians have all migrants throughout the out in the campaign for the No- than 3,000 of whom were enter- again amid recession and the Rio have arrived, indicating that the and off ered to send them to San travelled from Brazil, where they region, including Haitian mi- vember 8 presidential election. ing through San Ysidro into San Olympics ending. surge toward the US could grow Ysidro and Calexico. moved to take advantage of a grants seeking to journey north- Republican Party candidate Diego, US customs and border According to an internal US when those people travel north. A third offi cial stationed in programme that allowed them to ward through south and central Donald Trump has said he wants protection data showed. Firms laud Waiting for free food Argentina’s reforms but wait to invest

Reuters prove effi ciency, but workers re- Buenos Aires sisted the change. “This shows there is a cultural issue, to maintain the level of xecutives applauded the work without thinking of eco- opening of Argentina’s nomic effi ciency,” said Trevisani. Eeconomy at a major busi- Some progress was made last ness forum in Buenos Aires last week in resolving the infrastruc- week but many said they are ture issue, however, after the CEO looking for improved infrastruc- of German conglomerate Siemens ture, more fl exible labour laws said the company would work to and other reforms before com- create energy and transportation mitting investments. projects worth up to 5bn euros President Mauricio Macri’s ($5.6bn) in coming years. government ended a decade- Better infrastructure would long debt dispute, curbed also benefi t the agriculture sec- spending and lifted capital con- tor in the world’s top exporter of Children wait to receive free food which was prepared by residents and volunteers on a street in the low-income neighbourhood of Caucaguita in Caracas, Venezuela. trols in its fi rst 10 months in soy oil and soy meal. power in an eff ort to attract in- Around 90% of Argentina’s vestment needed to restore eco- output is transported on trucks, nomic growth. a more expensive alternative Macri’s government says it than the trains and river barges has commitments for $30bn in used in competitors like the US investments, including a pledge and Brazil. for $1bn over four years from “Until the farm gate, I think the Coca-Cola Co made in Janu- Argentine producer is quite com- ary, though local consultancy petitive. From the farm to the port, Abeceb says at least $130bn per he is not as competitive,” said Juan Washington concerned as year are needed. Luciano, CEO of US grain trader BP CEO Bob Dudley called the Archer Daniels Midland Co. government’s forum, which at- Argentina’s political reality tracted nearly 2,000 executives lead some to question how po- from dozens of countries, an litically feasible further reforms, initial step in building the confi - especially the historically sensi- dence businesses would need to tive labour issue, really are. Russia courts Nicaragua invest in Argentina. Macri’s party does not have a “Two things are needed: one, majority in Congress and needs Tribune News Service The White House tried unsuc- on the western hemisphere. tanks, is buying planes, is buy- Ortega, a former rebel leader scale, more rigs, more roads and moderate members of the op- Washington cessfully to pressure President She said Ortega’s eff orts to use ing all sorts of arms, and yet the who was also president during infrastructure...and two, labour position Peronist movement to Daniel Ortega to host interna- the Supreme Court to increase need of the people seems to be the 1980s, is running for a third fl exibility,” Dudley said in an in- pass legislation. tional observers for the critical his power and stifl e opposition ignored,” said Rep. Albio Sires, consecutive term in November terview, explaining both changes While the government was ussia’s cozy military rela- November elections. And now were much like Maduro’s own D-N.J., the ranking member of after persuading the Supreme would bring down costs and in trying to woo investors week in- tionship with Nicaragua, disappointed members of Con- eff ort to use the courts to block the western hemisphere sub- Court to overturn a constitu- turn create more jobs and growth. side a luxurious convention cen- Rwhich is rapidly evolving gress, led by Florida Republican actions by the opposition-led committee. tional ban on consecutive terms Argentina’s oil sector, blessed tre, blocks away thousands of into a single-party regime, is Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, want National Assembly. The US has multiple interests of offi ce. He is expected to win. with one of the world’s largest small-scale agricultural produc- raising concerns in Washington. to target Ortega’s pocketbook. Last month, Nicaraguan in Nicaragua. Nicaragua is a In recent months, Ortega, shale reserves, faces one of the ers gave out free vegetables in Russia recently sold Nica- “The only way the likes of military offi cials showed off member of the Central Ameri- who leads the Sandinista Na- strongest unions in a country order to draw attention to price ragua 50 tanks, won access to (Venezuelan President Nicolas) the new Russian T-72 tanks in a can Free Trade Agreement, tional Liberation Front party, known for strict labour laws and distortions and double-digit in- Nicaragua’s airspace and ports, Maduro or Ortega will feel the scene that recalled when then- many US businesses operate announced that he would not workers’ groups with signifi cant fl ation they say crushes profi ts. and is building a law enforce- pressure is by cutting off their president Ronald Reagan used there and it’s a key transit point allow international observers to political power. Some executives said they ment centre near the Pacifi c access to money,” Ros-Lehtinen the possibility of Russian tanks for drugs and other contraband. monitor the upcoming election. Cesare Trevisani, vice presi- feared a political backlash to coast. said. as a pitch for funding contra The state department’s 2017 He named his wife, fi rst lady dent of Italy’s Trevi Group, illus- Macri’s reform eff orts, which The Obama administration Ros-Lehtinen made com- rebels fi ghting Ortega’s Sandi- budget seeks $14mn in foreign Rosario Murillo, as his running trated his concerns over labour are initially thought to have in- is “closely monitoring” Rus- parisons between the Nicara- nista government in the 1980s. aid for Nicaragua, which has mate. In June, the Nicaraguan issues with an example: one of creased infl ation and poverty, sia’s presence in Nicaragua and guan and Venezuelan govern- “It’s always bewildered me raised US concerns about re- Supreme Court stripped two the group’s companies tried in though the government expects is expressing concern about the ments during a hearing for the how the second poorest coun- ports of repressive tactics and opposition parties of their lead- 2012 to use a larger drill to im- both to fall soon. lack of democratic space. foreign aff airs sub-committee try in the hemisphere is buying courting by Russia and China. ers. Another insect-borne Rodriguez in UN Peruvian president’s approval rating rises virus appears in Haiti Kuczynski, who took off ice at the end of July after a close run-off election, Tribune News Service to chikungunya: fever, joint and mosquitoes are carrying this had the backing of 63% of Port-au-Prince muscle pain, rashes and abdom- virus.” Peruvians in September, inal pain. It was Lednicky and his team up two percentage points “One can say it’s as bad as of researchers who this year since August nfectious disease specialists chikungunya, but there is so lit- announced that the Zika virus say they have confi rmed the tle information available,” he had been present in the hemi- Reuters IMayaro virus in a patient in said. “Maybe it’s been in Haiti sphere months before it was Lima Kuczynski: support climbs Haiti. this whole time and no one confirmed in Brazil in March The virus is closely related to checked for it.” 2015. It was in Haiti as early as improve the economy,” and “he the chikungunya virus but re- Whether the confi rmed case 2014, they said, citing blood he approval rating of has experience and potential.” searchers say they do not yet signals the start of a new out- samples collected in December Peru’s recently elected Kuczynski, considered a know if it’s caused by the same break in the Caribbean region, 2014. Tpresident Pedro Pablo business-friendly leader, has Aedes aegypti mosquito that’s researchers do not know, Led- The lab had begun monitor- Kuczynski has risen slightly in fi lled his cabinet with tech- been linked to chikungunya and nicky said. ing chikungunya fever cases September, as Peruvians have nocrats and was in China last the Zika virus. after its April 2014 outbreak in supported his plans to spark week talking to potential in- “Many diff erent mosquitoes “One can say it’s as bad as Haiti and had collected blood economic growth, a survey vestors in Peru’s mining and can carry the same virus,” said chikungunya, but there samples from schoolchildren in by pollster Ipsos Peru showed railway sectors. Dr John Lednicky, a University is so little information the Gressier-Leogane region, yesterday. Of the 17% of Peruvians who of Florida associate professor available” southwest of Port-au-Prince, Kuczynski, who took of- disapproved of Kuczynski, the in the environmental and global where the laboratory is located. fi ce at the end of July after a principal reason cited was his health department of the Col- Nor do they know if the vi- Lednicky said the newly found close run-off election, had the perceived lack of seriousness. lege of Public Health and Health rus is going to be widespread in Mayaro virus is diff erent from backing of 63% of Peruvians in In his fi rst months in offi ce Professions. Haiti where the Zika virus has what they found in 2014. September, up two percentage he has garnered a reputation Lednicky, who runs the uni- been difficult to track because “The virus we detected is ge- points since August, according for off -kilter humour on topics versity’s laboratory in Haiti, said of the country’s weak health netically diff erent from the ones to the poll published in nation- such as contraception and the the Mayaro virus fi rst was found system. that have been described recent- al newspaper El Comercio. porous nature of the country’s in Trinidad and Tobago in 1954, “We would like to do a ly in Brazil, and we don’t know The pollster said that the border with Bolivia. and has been causing illnesses lot lot more but our hands yet if it is unique to Haiti or if it Panama President Juan Carlos Varela Rodriguez shakes most common reasons among The survey polled 1,267 in south America, mainly in the are quite tied,” he said. “We is a recombinant strain from dif- hands with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the respondents for supporting people from September 13 to Amazon region. would really like to help in ferent types of Mayaro viruses,” United Nations headquarters in New York yesterday. Kuczynski were that “he has 15, with a margin of error of 2.8 It causes similar symptoms Haiti ... and look into which he said. good plans,” “he is working to percentage points. Gulf Times Monday, September 19, 2016 19 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN

Deceased student Call for merger of tribal tops exams

Internews Islamabad areas with KP before 2018 gifted student who was diagnosed with a brain Internews with the fi ve-year merger plan. Fata Reforms Committee has and uniform transition and year-long plan would push the “If the recommendation is to Aaneurysm a month after Peshawar KP’s view was that the merger proposed a set of “parallel and merger with KP. entire merger process into an merge Fata with KP, why intro- he sat his Intermediate papers could take place sooner rather concurrent” political, admin- “I think both suggestions uncertain future. duce a diff erent legal system?” has posthumously secured the than later and that the fi ve-year istrative, judicial and security were valid and hold water,” said “If Fata misses the opportu- he asked. top distinction in the examina- he Khyber Pakhtunkhwa plan proposed by the commit- reforms as well as a massive re- a senior government offi cial, nity to send its representatives “Why are you creating an- tions held by Multan Board of province of Pakistan tee led by adviser to the prime construction and rehabilitation who was present in the meeting. to the KP Assembly in 2018, the other Pata (Provincially Admin- Intermediate and Secondary Thas proposed the Feder- minister on foreign aff airs, Sar- programme to prepare Fata for a He said the suggestions would next opportunity would come in istered Tribal Areas), another Education in Pakistan’s Punjab ally Administered Tribal Areas taj Aziz, would push the whole ‘fi ve-year transition period’ for now form part of the document 2023. Who knows what happens Malakand? Let there be one province this year. (Fata) merger with the north- process into an indefi nite and merger with KP. to be presented to Prime Min- until then,” he remarked. “What province, one government and Unfortunately, Waqas Rauf, a western province by 2018 and uncertain future. The provincial government, ister Nawaz Sharif after its rec- we say is pragmatic and practi- one system,” he argued. resident of Vehari district, will holding of the local government Aziz had come to Governor however, believes that the ommendations were reviewed cal,” he said. “I don’t see any The chief minister said that not be able to celebrate his suc- elections, saying any delay House in Peshawar on Septem- merger could and should take by parliament. problems,” he asserted. he had consulted all the politi- cess. Rauf died of brain hemor- could derail the entire reform ber 7, along with his team that place by 2018 to allow its people “My gut feeling is that we “What we can do is turn the cal parties in KP before putting rhage on July 11. and integration process be- included National Security ad- to contest elections and send should be able to wrap up the seven tribal agencies into seven his suggestions before the Multan board results showed yond redemption, government viser Nasser Khan Janjua and their representatives to the KP entire discussion and submit or eight districts,” he suggested. Committee. that Rauf had obtained 1,013 offi cials say. secretary state and frontier Assembly. a summary to Prime Minister “Our offi cers are already serving “There is a consensus in KP,” marks in the general science Offi cials familiar with dis- regions Shehzad Arbab. The province has also pro- Sharif by the end of October,” he there. Administrative merger he claimed, adding “Every- group and clinched fi rst position cussions on the proposed He briefed KP Governor posed that instead of holding said. “It shouldn’t take longer would not be an issue at all.” body wants merger and wants in the board examinations. merger say that the KP chief Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, CM Khattak the local bodies’ elections under than that.” Khattak was critical of the it quick,” he said. “This is a Rauf’s parents were invited at minister during a formal meet- and senior ministers Sikandar a diff erent system, the Commit- Khattak said the sugges- hybrid judicial system proposed historic opportunity. Prime the prize distribution ceremony ing with the Fata Reforms Sherpao and Inayatullah on the tee should look into adopting tions he had put forward to the for Fata. He said he had asked Minister Sharif should seize held at Multan Arts Council on Committee held in Peshawar proposed reforms. the KP’s Local Government Act, Committee. The CM said he the Committee to fully main- this opportunity and make Sunday. Waqas’s father Haji Niaz earlier this month did not agree In an 80-page document, the 2013 to ensure Fata’s smooth had told them that their fi ve- stream Fata. history.” a retired army man could not control his emotions when he was called onto the stage to re- ceive the medal and certifi cate of his late son. Niaz said his son had made Three soldiers him proud even after his death but they could no longer cel- ebrate his success. “This is a very tough time for killed in ambush the whole family. Sadly, death came earlier to Waqas than success,” he added. He said Waqas was a hard- by IS, Taliban working and brave student, who did not let his disease come in the way of his studies. Reuters Jamaat-ur-Ahrar, which “His disease was diagnosed Peshawar carried out the Easter Sunday one month after the exam. Dur- bombing in Lahore in which ing the exam, he used to com- 70 people were killed, at one plain about the symptoms of hree Pakistani soldiers time swore fealty to Islamic brain hemorrhage like head- were killed in an am- State’s Middle East leadership, ache, weakness in the body and Tbush in the northwest- but later switched back to the numbness,” he said. ern city of Peshawar yesterday, Taliban. “Even with his ailing health, he militants said, in an attack for The two groups also both used to study the whole night,” which both Islamic State and claimed responsibility for a he added. a Pakistani Taliban faction suicide bombing at a hospital claimed responsibility. in the Pakistani city of Quet- Militants said they am- ta that killed 74 people last Voters’ lists to bushed an unmarked vehicle month. ferrying soldiers yesterday Pakistan’s military said on be displayed morning near the congested September 1 it had arrested tomorrow Daudzai area of Peshawar. more than 300 Islamic State Military sources confi rmed the militants and sympathisers, The Election Commission of attack but said the killed men thwarting the ultra-hardline Pakistan (ECP) has announced were army employees and not group’s attempts to expand that the revised voters’ lists will soldiers. there. Civil society activists light candles for the victims of the August 8 suicide bombing at the Civil Hospital, in Quetta, yesterday. A devastating be displayed tomorrow at 1,000 The Pakistan army often But concern has been grow- suicide bombing at a Quetta hospital on August 8 killed at least 73 people, many of them senior lawyers. centres and off ices of the district uses unmarked vehicles for ing that Islamic State – which election commissioners. transportation of soldiers and controls parts of Iraq and Syria The exercise is the second phase other employees in volatile ar- and is known for especially of the process for updating the eas around Peshawar to avoid brutal treatment of religious electoral roll. being identifi ed and attacked. minorities – might replicate Death toll in suicide bombing up to 36 The ECP said yesterday that the “They were travelling in a their model in Pakistan, es- list would be placed on its website civil van when unknown armed pecially after Islamic State and would also be shared with the men opened fi re at them,” said loyalists seized small pieces AFP “We have now compiled a list and blew himself up in the main tack occurred in Peshawar in media. Voters, it said, could check a security offi cial who declined of territory in neighbouring Peshawar of victims of the blast which in- hall. A curfew has been imposed December 2014, when Tali- the lists and seek an amendment, to be named. “Three of them Afghanistan. cludes 36 dead and 27 injured. in the area since the bombing. ban militants stormed a school if required. They may also send died on the spot.” On Friday, Pakistani author- At least eight children below Taliban faction Jamaat-ul-Ahrar killing more than 150 people, a text message with their CNIC Pakistan’s military this ities said they arrested four Is- he death toll from a Tali- the age of 10 are among the (JuA) claimed responsibility for the mostly children. number to 8,300 for finding out month declared that it had lamic State militants plotting ban suicide bomb attack dead,” Naveed Akbar, deputy attack, saying it was carried out to The army launched an op- the details. foiled Islamic State’s attempts attacks in the city of Lahore. Ton a mosque in north- chief of the Mohmand tribal avenge the deaths of 13 of its mem- eration in June 2014 to wipe The commencement of the to establish operations in the The four men had 1.6kg (3.5lb) west tribal Pakistan has risen district administration, said. bers and arrests of others by a local out militant bases in the north- first phase of the door-to- country. But the group’s Amaq of explosives as well as fuses to 36, including eight children, “Many children were hit in vigilante force in 2009. western tribal areas and end the door verification of the news agency said Islamic State and detonators, offi cials said. offi cials said yesterday. the blast because they were Since 2007 the government has bloody insurgency that has cost voters was to begin on was behind the ambush, also Most Islamic State recruits The Friday attack targeted a praying in the last rows in the encouraged vigilante forces com- thousands of civilian lives. August 1, but was delayed claimed by Jamaat-ur-Ahrar, in the region are believed to mosque in the Mohmand tribal mosque where the bomber prising tribesmen – locally known Last year, the country re- at the last moment by two an off shoot of the Islam- be Pakistani or Afghan de- district bordering Afghanistan struck,” Akbar said. as peace committees – to defend corded its lowest number of weeks. Hence the display of ist militant Pakistani Taliban fectors from other Islamist where the army has been fi ght- The bomber came in as Fri- their villages against the Taliban. killings since 2007, when the lists scheduled for August 21 group. movements. ing Taliban militants. day prayers were in progress Pakistan’s deadliest ever at- Pakistani Taliban was formed. was also rescheduled. Row with state department Fire at Kabul market derailed USAID mission

Internews carried out by USAID. It con- not achieved EPPA develop- Islamabad ducted the audit to determine if ment objectives for Pakistan, USAID programmes in Pakistan notwithstanding the mission’s contributed to the achieve- self-reported accomplish- he United States could ment of the development ments,” according to fi ndings not achieve its long- of EPPA objectives. of the audit report. Tterm development ob- “The State Department’s About 30% of EPPA-funded jectives in Pakistan that it had budget and programming for awards that previously audited set under the $7.5bn Kerry- shorter-term politically stra- did not meet intended goals, Lugar Act due to competing tegic goals confl icted with and another 55% did so only short-term political priorities USAID’s longer-term devel- partially, it adds. of the State Department, says a opment planning,” states the The report blames the US report by the USAID inspector report. State Department for most of general’s offi ce released earlier EPPA gave the lead role for the problems, which at that this month. assistance activities to the time was led by Hillary Clinton, The report titled ‘Compet- State Department, making it who is now the Democratic Par- ing priorities have complicated responsible for budget and ty’s nominee for the November USAID-Pakistan’s eff orts to project decisions. presidential election. achieve long-term develop- “However, the State Depart- US authorities did not have ment under EPPA (Enhanced ment and USAID-Pakistan had time to achieve long-term ob- Partnership with Pakistan competing priorities, and ulti- jectives in Pakistan, as they Act) of 2009’ reveals that mately USAID-Pakistan had to wanted to achieve short-term against the fi ve-year package integrate its long-term objec- objectives, so that they could of $7.5bn, actual disburse- tives with State Department’s report back to the Congress on ments stood at only $1.8bn by shorter-term priorities,” the a quarterly and biannual basis, September last year. The EPPA report notes. said Hina Rabbani Khar, Paki- is commonly known as Kerry- The report further reveals stan’s former foreign minister. Lugar-Berman Act. that “USAID staff were sent She also served as minister of The report released on Sep- out of Pakistan for disagree- state for economic aff airs and tember 8, provides an over- ing with State Department interacted with US authori- sight of US foreign assistance decisions.” ties on Kerry-Lugar funding Afghan firefighters try to extinguish a fire which broke out at a wood market in Kabul yesterday. programmes and operations “USAID programmes have issues. Gulf Times 20 Monday, September 19, 2016 PHILIPPINES

Duterte needs Ex-hostage tells of terror six more months for his war on as friends were beheaded AFP drugs Indanan, Philippines Norwegian former hos- Reuters tage yesterday described Manila Ahis psychological torture as he heard his friends being beheaded by militants dur- hilippine President Rod- ing a year-long captivity in the rigo Duterte said yester- southern Philippines. Pday he needed six more A heavily bearded and gaunt months for his war on drugs, Kjartan Sekkingstad, who was re- saying he only realised how bad leased on Saturday by the feared the country’s narcotics problem Abu Sayyaf group, also said he was after taking offi ce over two narrowly survived military at- months ago. tacks against his captors, with a Duterte, a former crime- bullet piercing his backpack. busting mayor of the southern “Basically, I’ve been treated city of Davao, won the presi- like a slave, carrying their stuff dency in May promising to sup- around, time to time abused,” a press crime and wipe out drugs frail-looking Sekkingstad said and drug dealers in three to six as he was received by a govern- months. More than 3,500 peo- ment envoy in the town of In- ple — or about 47 per day — have danan on the forested island of been killed in the past 10 weeks, Jolo. Also released were three some 58% by unknown assail- Indonesians held by the group, ants and the rest in legitimate who were also turned over to police operations against illegal envoy Jesus Dureza. drugs, according to local police. Sekkingstad told reporters he “I did not realise how severe endured “psychological pressure”, and how serious the problem of with the Abu Sayyaf threatening drug menace in this republic was several times to behead him. until I became president,” Duterte Sekkingstad, then aged 56, said in a media briefi ng in Davao. was abducted in September Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari (fourth right) poses for photos with freed Norwegian national Kjartan Sekkingstad (centre), and three Indonesians He said there were “hundreds 2015 from the high-end Phil- (front left to right) during their turn-over ceremony in Indanan town, Sulu province, in southern island of Mindanao yesterday. of thousands of people already in ippine tourist resort which he the drug business” now, some of managed and was taken to Jolo meeting guarded by hundreds “the Norwegian government them working in government. by the Abu Sayyaf. of Misuari’s fi ghters from the does not pay ransom in this case “We would need time to put Two Canadian resort guests Moro National Liberation Front. or any other case”. everything in order. Give me a captured with him, John Ridsdel Sekkingstad and Dureza then And Duterte’s spokesman little extension, maybe of an- and Robert Hall, were later be- fl ew to the southern city of Dav- Martin Andanar also said in other six months,” he said. headed by the group after a ran- ao to meet Philippine President Manila that “the (Philippine) som demand of about 300mn Rodrigo Duterte. government maintains the no- Misuari ‘not ready pesos ($6.5mn) was not met. The three Indonesians were ransom policy”. for peace talks’ Sekkingstad said that during taken to the nearby city of Zam- “Now, if there is a third party the separate killings in April and boanga where a retired Indone- like family that paid, we do not President Rodrigo Duterte has June, the two handcuff ed Cana- sian general was waiting to pick know anything about that,” he admitted that Moro National Lib- dians were escorted out of sight, them up. told reporters. eration Front (MNLF) leader Nur “but still close enough that you It was still unclear if they The Abu Sayyaf was formed Misuari, whom he had invited for could hear their cries when it were the same Indonesian sea- in the 1990s with seed money a dialogue, remains ambivalent happened.” men kidnapped by armed men from Osama bin Laden’s Al and is not ready to commit to “It was devastating,” the vis- off a fi shing trawler in Malay- Qaeda network. peace talks, Manila Times re- ibly shaken Norwegian said. sian waters in July. Based in remote southern ported. “Nur Misuari is ambivalent. Sekkingstad said he also sur- At a press forum with Duterte islands of the mainly Catholic I think Nur will not commit now, vived numerous military attacks later, a now-clean shaven Sek- Philippines, its kidnappings for he’s consolidating the forces but on his captors and even saved as kingstad thanked the president ransom — often of foreigners — he has lost control of the young a souvenir a bullet that went and all those who helped obtain have earned it millions. men of the Moro generation,” through his backpack. his freedom. While its leaders have in re- Duterte said before military The Abu Sayyaf handed the It was unclear if any ransom cent years pledged allegiance troops at Camp Melchor Dela Norwegian over to another was paid and, if so, by whom. to the Islamic State group, Cruz in Gamu, Isabela. Duterte rebel leader Nur Misuari, whose A spokesman for the Abu analysts say the Abu Sayyaf is has pursued a conciliatory stance group assisted in the release Sayyaf was quoted in a local mainly focused on crime rather toward Misuari and MNLF rebels and at whose camp he spent the newspaper yesterday as saying the than religious ideology. who were sidelined by the Aquino night, according to the govern- group received 30mn pesos (about The group is blamed for the administration when it signed a ment. Escorted by a small con- $625,000) for the Norwegian. worst terror attacks in Philip- peace pact with the Moro Islamic tingent of Jolo police yesterday, Norwegian foreign aff airs pine history and is listed by the Liberation Front (MILF). Misuari handed him and the communications chief Frode United States as a terrorist or- President Rodrigo Duterte shakes hands with Norwegian national Kjartan Sekkingstad (left) as they meet Indonesians over to Dureza at a Andersen said by phone that ganisation. in Davao city. Estrada vows more Batanes under state of calamity incentives for teachers after typhoon destruction By Leander C Domingo strong winds will be given pri- said electricity may be restored and Basco town in Batanes. By Jaime Pilapil Manila Times ority. after a week. Telecommunica- Meanwhile, another ty- Manila Times The Offi ce of Civil Defence tion lines in the towns of Basco, phoon, locally named Gener, (OCD) in Region 2 estimated Mahatao and Itbayat were also was forecast to leave the coun- he provincial govern- P37mn worth of vegetables, down since Wednesday except try yesterday. ayor Joseph Ejercito ment of Batanes has de- root crops and corn crops in Uyugan town. The Philippine Atmospheric, Estrada vowed to give Tclared a state of calamity were damaged by the typhoon. Geophysical and Astronomical Mmore incentives to after Typhoon Ferdie (interna- Meanwhile, 28 school build- “With the calamity funds, Services Administration (Pa- public school teachers whom tional codename: Meranti) af- ings were also destroyed by the we will be able to restore gasa), however, said that some he called “real superheroes”. fected more than 10,000 people typhoon. Norma Talosig, OCD- heavily damaged facilities parts of Luzon will still experi- “If you have to put someone and damaged P55.5mn worth of Region 2 director, said at least by the strong typhoon ence rains because of the south- on a pedestal, put teachers. crops and infrastructure. 10,214 people were aff ected. as well as facilitate the west monsoon. They are society’s heroes,” the Gov. Marilou Cayco also ap- She added that 292 houses delivery of services to Cloudy skies with light to mod- mayor said as the city observed pealed for potable water, food were totally damaged and 932 aff ected families and erate rains accompanied by thun- National Teachers’ Month. items, generator sets for water partially damaged in the towns individuals” derstorms are expected over the “Real superheroes don’t pumps, transformers, galva- of Basco, Ivana and Uyugan. provinces of Ilocos, Batanes, Apa- wear capes, they teach,” Es- nised iron, construction mate- In Basco town, the buildings However, communica- yao, Zambales, Bataan, Palawan, trada added. rials and ropes. of the Bureau of Fisheries and tion lines were established on and Babuyan Group of Islands. This year’s National Teach- “With the calamity funds, we Aquatic Resources, Technical Thursday through SSB Radio Partly cloudy to cloudy skies ers’ Month theme is “Teachers, will be able to restore heavily Education and Skills Devel- of the Philippine Atmospheric with isolated rain showers will partners for change.” damaged facilities by the strong opment Authority, Provincial Geophysical and Astronomical be experienced in Metro Manila typhoon as well as facilitate the Capitol and the Santo Domingo Services Administration (Pa- and certain parts of the country. “As long as I am delivery of services to aff ected Church were destroyed. gasa) and through VSAT of the Moderate to strong winds the city mayor, I will families and individuals,” Cayco The province has no power Civil Aviation Authority of the will blow in Luzon and Visayas, work hard to provide said.She said families whose since Tuesday because electric Philippines (CAAP) connecting while the coastal waters will be all the needs of our houses were totally damaged by posts were toppled. Offi cials Tuguegarao City in Cagayan moderate to rough. dear beloved teachers”

Estrada said teachers need all the support they could get in developing globally-minded citizens, nurturing families, Airport agency to supervise screeners strengthening communities, and building the nation. “As long as I am the city By Benjie Vergara MIAA general manager Ed Monreal said the supervision of the Airport Police De- mayor, I will work hard to pro- Joseph Estrada: recognition for teachers Manila Times the new measure came from the Depart- partment. Asked how many screeners and vide all the needs of our dear ment of Transportation, which ordered body friskers are employed in the OTS, beloved teachers. While they creased from P2,000 to P3,000. training seminars and con- OTS front-liners to work under the MIAA. Monreal said he was not sure of the total are not in it for the income, In April, Estrada distributed ventions which amounted to here’s a new security arrangement at Monreal said the OTS would remain number. they deserve the best they computer tablets with installed P1.14mn. the Ninoy Aquino International Air- a full regulatory body or policy-making In the past, some OTS frontliners were could have,” he pointed out as instructional materials to some The city also allotted almost Tport (NAIA). body when it comes to security, while the allegedly involved in the so-called “bul- he acknowledged the crucial 11,000 teachers in Manila to P2bn for its Special Education- Starting today, body friskers and screen- MIAA would be the implementing body. let-planting” scam. role teachers play in shaping enable them to further improve al Fund (SEF) for the construc- ers of the Offi ce for Transportation Security However, Monreal said salaries would Monreal also said the agency was in the the young generation. their classroom instructions. tion and renovation of school (OTS) will be under the direct supervision still be drawn from the OTS until the process of requesting an additional 10 During Estrada’s term, the The city government also infrastructures and procure- of the Manila International Airport Author- agency is completely turned over to the units of “high-tech” X-ray machines and monthly allowance of Manila shouldered the expenses for ment of educational equipment ity (MIAA) until its smooth transition to the MIAA. The airport chief said the OTS K9 units to boost security inspection in public school teachers was in- the teachers’ recent leadership and supplies. latter next year. frontliners would work with or fall under four NAIA terminals. Gulf Times Monday, September 19, 2016 21 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL

Sirisena Hasina: Mobilise opinion for leaves for US to deportation of Mujib killers attend UN IANS By Mizan Rahman give shelter to the killers of Fa- and Awami League Offi ce Sec- tioned in the Canadian consti- shelter to the killers, then all about the extradition of the self- Colombo Dhaka ther of the Nation Bangabandhu retary and PM’s Special As- tution that the country will not murderers will seek shelter from confessed killer of Sheikh Mujibur Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” the sistant Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap deport anybody if death sen- those countries.” living in Canada, Noor Chowd- foreign ministry in Dhaka quot- were present. tence order is given against him Hasina said it means that hury, through discussions. ri Lankan President rime Minister Sheikh ed Sheikh Hasina as saying. “So far the government or her. “What type of provision the countries without having About the trials of war criminals, Maithripala Sirisena yes- Hasina yesterday called The prime minister said this knows that one convicted killer it is?” she questioned. the provision of death sentence she said the government faced ob- Sterday left for New York, Pupon the expatriate while addressing a reception of Bangabandhu is hiding in Hasina said the killers of would be a safe haven for killers! structions and she received many to attend the 71st sessions of Bangladeshis living in Canada accorded to her at Centre Mont- the USA, one in Canada, two in Bangabandhu are the citizens of She said her government has telephone calls from big places the United Nations General As- and the USA to mobilise public Royal in Canada by expatriate Pakistan while two others re- Bangladesh and their punish- been working to bring back the during the trials and execution of sembly which is scheduled start opinion for the extradition of Bangladesh nationals. mained traceless. How could a ment will be done as per the law fugitive killers of Bangabandhu verdicts against the culprits who today. convicted killers of Bangaband- Canada unit president of civilised country give shelter to of the country. “Why are eff orts since 1996. “Our eff orts will had killed 3mn people and violated Sirisena is due to address hu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Awami League Mahmud Mia a convicted killer?” she asked. being made to save the killers?” continue to execute the court 200,000 mothers and sisters dur- the General Assembly on Sep- from the two countries. presided over the function con- The prime minister said the She added, “Why the coun- verdict against the killers by ing the War of Liberation. tember 21 – his second address “I’m leaving a demand be- ducted by its general secretary Bangladesh government has al- tries will give shelter to those bringing them back home.” “I replied our judiciary is in- to the General Assembly since fore you to write letters to pubic Azizur Rahman Prince. ready asked the US and Canada who had committed crimes like In a bilateral meeting between dependent, and there are laws in winning the presidency in Jan- representatives of those coun- Foreign Minister Mahmood why they are giving shelter to murder. It could be a diff erent the prime ministers of Bangladesh our country and verdicts would uary 2015. tries where you’re residing and Ali, Liberation War Aff airs Min- the killers. matter if the killers were their and Canada on Friday, both coun- be implemented as per the The president’s media di- ask why those countries would ister AKM Mozammel Haque She said it has been men- citizens. If they want to give tries agreed to fi nd out a solution laws,” she said. vision said that Foreign Min- ister Mangala Samaraweera, Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media Minister Gay- antha Karunathilaka, Skills Protest against garbage dump relocation Development and Vocational Training Minister Mahinda Lanka sounds Samarasinghe, Provincial Council and Local Govern- ment Minister Faizer Mus- thafa were among the del- egates who left with Sirisena alert over Zika, for New York. 10 missing in Nepal boat chikungunya capsize

IANS news agency reported. At least 10 persons were reported Colombo The warnings over chikun- missing while 37 others were gunya and Zika were issued rescued when a boat capsized in after two deaths were reported the Koshi river in eastern Nepal’s ri Lanka’s main inter- in Chilaw, 84km away from Sunsari district, a top off icial said national airport and Colombo, last week. The vic- yesterday. Sthe Colombo Port have tims were admitted to the The boat was heading been placed on high alert to Chilaw state hospital suff ering towards Prakashpur from prevent the spread of the Zika a high temperature. Sri Lanka Tapu (Island) on virus and chikungunya, media Both the patients had re- Saturday with at least 47 reported yesterday. turned from India in the same passengers on board when “The airport’s health desks week. it capsized due to fast water have been told to caution pas- Increasing cases of Zika currents, according to Mohan sengers travelling to the af- and chikungunya have been Bahadur Chapagain, chief fected countries,” quarantine reported from many Asian district off icer of Sunsari. director Palitha Karunaperu- countries, including Singa- Police have confirmed the ma was quoted as saying. pore, India and Thailand, identities of those missings The Sri Lankan government and airlines operating in Xinhua news agency reported. said that the island nation these countries have been A search operation for those faced a threat from the two told to exercise caution and missing was continuing. deadly diseases, and that state report to health authorities Local people take part in a protest rally in Kotugoda and Ekala, 30km north of Colombo. Residents of Kotugoda and Ekala took to “However, traces of none of those hospitals were being geared to if there were any sick pas- the street, protesting against the relocation of Meetotumulla garbage dump. missing have been found yet,” an cope with these cases, Xinhua sengers. off icial said. AL lawmaker jailed over murder India visit

By Mizan Rahman moved for Rana while additional man Khan Mukti, former mayor as though a fugitive, he signed ment sitting because I was inside Dhaka public prosecutor Monirul Islam of Tangail municipality, and the attendance sheet in parlia- the parliament throughout the Khan defended the state. Jahidur Rahman Khan Kakon, ment to save his membership in sitting,” he added. successful On April 6, a court issued a a businessman of Tangail, and the legislature. Police, on May 20, confi scated court in northern Tan- warrant for the arrest of the 10 Saniyat Khan Bappa, former However, chief whip ASM moveable assets of 10 fugitive gail district town yester- accused in the Awami League vice-president of Bangladesh Feroz and whip Shahiduz- accused, including Amanur, fol- Aday jailed ruling Awami leader Faruk murder case after Chhatra League (BCL), student zaman Sarkar, said that they lowing a court order. Sources at League (AL) member of parlia- accepting the charge sheet sub- from of the AL. were not aware of any such the Parliament Secretariat said and fruitful: ment Amanur Rahman Rana over mitted on February 3 last by po- Among the arrestees, Aminul development. Amanur last attended a sitting the murder of another ruling lice inspector Golam Mahfi zur Islam Raja and Mohammad “It is possible that he might last year. His membership might party leader Faruk Ahmed. Rahman. Ali made their confessional enter the parliament lobby and have been cancelled if he had Additional district and ses- Of the 14 charge-sheet- statements to law enforcers. sign the attendance sheet to save missed the budget session, the sions judge Abul Mansur Miah ed accused, fi ve, including Faruk Ahmed, an AL senior his membership in parliament. sources said. Prachanda passed the order when Rana, Rana, are now behind the bars leader and also a freedom fi ghter, But I am not sure about this,” As per rules, an MP loses lawmaker from Tangail-3 con- while the rest nine are now on was gunned down in the district said Shahiduzzaman. membership if he remains ab- stituency, surrendered before his the run. town on January 18, 2013. “Amanur might have come sent in parliament sessions for IANS sub-regional co-operation court to seek bail. Those absconding include In June this year, Amanur to the lobby but this is for sure 90 sittings at a stretch without Kathmandu which India is also pursuing,” More than a dozen lawyers Rana’s brothers Sahidur Rah- Rahman Rana hit the headlines that he did not attend the parlia- permission of the Speaker. he said. Asserting that India has put epal Prime Minister the overall issues of Nepal in Pushpa Kamal Dahal priority and has given special N‘Prachanda’, who re- attention to mutual interests Chopper crash turned home after a four-day and concerns, Prachanda said BNP pledges to visit to India yesterday, said works related to common in- his visit to the neighbouring terests and welfare would be country was successful and carried out together. fruitful. fi ght ‘false’ cases Speaking to reporters at “Dynamics of our Tribhuvan International Air- relations with port in Kathmandu upon India and China are By Mizan Rahman Khaleda Zia are at the last stage. arrival from India, he said diff erent, so our ties Dhaka At the joint meeting, the the visit has created mu- with India would not BNP leaders discussed ob- tual trust and confi dence in create distance with serving their chairperson’s jail bilateral ties. China” ajor opposition release day tomorrow. “Our ties and partnership Bangladesh Nation- Arrested on September 3, with India will not aff ect our He said the incumbent gov- Malist Party (BNP) 2007, Zia was released from bilateral ties with China,” said ernment in Nepal was com- yesterday said it is planning prison on bail on September the prime minister asserting mitted to taking the country to face ‘false’ cases politically 11, 2008, after nearly a year in that his visit has taken Nepal- down the path of economic alongside legal battle. prison on alleged graft charges. India ties to new heights. prosperity, and added that “We’d earlier taken some Fakhrul said their chairperson “Dynamics of our relations the Indian government was programmes during our move- is expected to return home from with India and China are dif- ready to support it in har- ment to face false cases politi- Saudi Arabia on September 22. ferent, so our ties with India nessing hydropower, creat- cally. We’re now again talking On her return home, he said would not create distance with ing physical infrastructure about it. We’ll try our best to she will be given due reception China,” he said at a time when and developing the tourism face those politically,” sec- on the day. his government is being seen sector in Nepal. retary general Mirza Fakhrul On September 7, the BNP as having a “Delhi tilt”. Prachanda shared that im- Islam Alamgir said. chief went to Saudi Arabia and “Characteristics of our re- portant deliberations were Fakhrul came up with the re- performed Haj with her fam- lations with India and China held and views exchanged marks while talking to report- ily members who arrived there are diff erent. Relations with during his meetings in New ers after a joint meeting of the from London. one side will not aff ect the Delhi with Indian Prime Min- party and its associate bodies at BNP standing committee mem- other side,” he said when ister Narendra Modi, Minister BNP’s Nayapaltan central offi ce. ber Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, joint asked about Nepal’s ties for External Aff airs Sushma The BNP leader talked about secretary general Khairul Kabir with China. Swaraj, Home Minister Ra- political action against po- Khokon, organising secretary Im- Prachanda said Nepal has jnath Singh, Finance Minister litical cases at a time when ran Saleh Prince, assistant offi ce maintained balanced and nu- Arun Jaitley, National Secu- the trial proceedings of some secretaries Taiful Islam Tipu and People gather at the site of a helicopter crash in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar, some 292km southeast anced relations with both rity Advisor Ajit Doval, former cases, including Zia charitable Belal Ahmed were, among oth- of Dhaka, recently. One person was killed while four others sustained injuries after a helicopter neighbours. Prime Minister Manmohan and Zia orphanage graft ones, ers, present at the meeting with crashed in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar, one of the world’s largest natural sandy sea beaches. “The aim of my visit was Singh, industrialists and fi led against BNP chairperson Fakhrul in the chair. to create an environment for media persons. Gulf Times 22 Monday, September 19, 2016 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Production Editor: C P Ravindran Truthiness on the march

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar across Europe and the US [email protected] Telephone 44350478 (news), To make good decisions, spin. Opaque or dubious dealings of that decision are still emerging. National Health Services. The Leave 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) voters need to assess have cast doubt on the integrity of If our leaders can be so willfully campaign even plastered the pledge Fax 44350474 organisations and institutions on wrong about such consequential onto the side of a campaign bus. reliable facts, presented which we should be able to rely. For matters, how can we believe anything Now that the referendum is over, transparently and without example, the New York Times recently they tell us? This question has Johnson and others have backtracked, published a series of articles on think opened the door for a new, more overt and the campaign has rebranded itself bias tanks that highlighted the confl ict of truthiness, espoused by the likes the “Change Britain” movement and interest faced by those who operate of Trump, who seems to introduce promised to redirect EU funds to other By Lucy P Marcus as analysts, but are beholden to freshly invented “facts” on a daily areas instead. This has infuriated GULF TIMES corporate funders and sometimes also basis. Trump’s surrogates, for their many, especially given the recent London act as lobbyists. part, use television appearances and warning by the body that represents social media to restate the falsehoods, hospitals across England that he late US Senator Daniel seemingly operating under the underfunding has pushed the NHS to Patrick Moynihan famously Nowadays, facts and principle that if you repeat something the brink. Brexiteers have also walked Signs of sixth said, “Everyone is entitled truth are becoming often enough, it will become true. back pledges to curb immigration, Tto his own opinion, but not And many voters seem willing to go amid a sharp increase in hate crimes to his own facts.” That may be true. increasingly diffi cult along for the ride. When 40 leading across the UK that their rhetoric But, entitled or not, politicians and Republican foreign policymakers and helped to fuel. mass extinction electorates are constructing their own to uphold in politics national-security experts signed a The downsides of Brexit should alternate realities – with far-reaching letter expressing their opposition to have been obvious to voters before consequences. As soon as a few experts are found Trump, whom they fear would be “the the referendum – not least because so Nowadays, facts and truth are to have been off ering half-truths – or most reckless president in American many economists, defence experts, are upon us becoming increasingly diffi cult to worse – the credibility of the entire history,” their concerns were largely and world leaders spelled them out uphold in politics (and in business and fi eld can be called into question. disregarded. Trump’s response – that during the campaign. But, as leading even sports). They are being replaced Christine Todd Whitman, who those leaders are the ones who made Brexiteer Michael Gove proudly Scientists are increasingly convinced that the world is with what the American comedian was Head of the US Environmental the world “such a dangerous place” observed, people in the UK had “had barrelling towards a “sixth mass extinction” event. They Stephen Colbert calls “truthiness”: the Protection Agency (EPA) on September – sounds just plausible enough to enough of experts.” fear species are going extinct at a rate that far exceeds what expression of gut feelings or opinions 11, 2001, told residents of New York justify ignoring their warning. Even In fact, it seems that some people one would expect to see naturally, as a result of a major as valid statements of fact. This year City that the air was safe to breathe outright lies spoken in a nationally voted for Brexit specifi cally because might be considered one of peak and the water was safe to drink in the broadcast interview go unchallenged, so many experts spoke out against it. perturbation to the system. truthiness. days after the terrorist attack on the as if Trump were indeed entitled to his They seemed to believe Brexiteer MP A new study published last week in Science magazine To make good decisions, voters World Trade Center. own facts. Gisela Stuart: “the only expert that confi rms that in the world’s oceans threats of extinction need to assess reliable facts, from But, as a 2003 EPA report noted, the The leaders of the UK’s campaign matters” is the voter. It should be no economic data to terrorism analysis, agency “did not have suffi cient data to withdraw from the European Union surprise that the post-referendum are not apportioned equally among all species — rather, the presented transparently and without and analyses to make such a blanket enjoyed a similar advantage in the run- reality is not what many Brexit voters larger ones, in terms of body size and mass, are uniquely bias. But, today, talking heads on statement” at that time. With cases up to June’s Brexit referendum. They expected. imperilled right now, according to Chris Mooney, who television would rather attack those of severe respiratory illness piling painted a wholly false picture of the Yet the revelations of the falsehoods analysed the study for The Washington Post. with expertise in these areas. And up, Whitman now admits that the country’s circumstances – from its role that propelled the Leave campaign to ambitious political fi gures – from the statement was wrong. in the EU to the impact of immigration victory have hardly driven people back From sharks to whales, giant clams, sea turtles, and tuna, leaders of the Brexit campaign in the Likewise, as the recently published – and knowingly made impossible into the arms of experts. Truthiness the disproportionate threat to larger marine organisms United Kingdom to US Republican Chilcot report showed, the Iraq War promises about what would happen if is on the march, particularly across refl ects the “unique human propensity to cull the largest presidential candidate Donald Trump was launched in 2003 under false the public voted “Leave.” Europe and the US – in large part – dismiss the facts altogether. pretenses. Intelligence reports had not For example, leaders like Boris because so many of the authorities members of a population,” the authors of the study have The environment is ripe for such established that there were weapons Johnson, now Britain’s foreign who should be calling out the lies are said. behaviour. Voters, particularly of mass destruction in the country, secretary, declared that the £350mn tainted by truthiness themselves.- Geoscientist Jonathan Payne of Stanford University, the in the advanced economies, are yet British prime minister Tony ($465mn) supposedly paid weekly to Project Syndicate study’s lead author, has termed it surprising there was no jaded by years of broken political Blair dutifully followed US president the EU (a deeply fl awed fi gure that promises, revelations of cover-ups, George W Bush in ordering his fails to take into account the benefi ts zLucy P Marcus is CEO of Marcus similar kind of pattern in any of the previous mass extinction and relentless political and media military to invade. The consequences received) would be redirected to the Venture Consulting. events examined. The conclusion is that this pattern has not happened before in the half billion years of the animal fossil record. The researchers conducted the work through a statistical analysis of 2,497 diff erent marine animal groups at one taxonomic level higher than the level of species — called “genera.” The fi nding was that increases in an organism’s body size were strongly linked to an increased risk of extinction in the present period — but this was not the case in the Earth’s distant past. “The extreme bias against large-bodied animals distinguishes the modern diversity crisis from all potential deep-time analogues,” the researchers wrote. “These losses in the ocean are paralleling This pattern has what humans did to not happened land animals some 50,000 to 10,000 before in the half years ago, when we billion years of wiped out around half of the big-bodied the animal fossil mammal species on record Earth, like mammoths, mastodons, saber- tooth cats and the like,” said Anthony Barnosky, executive director of Stanford Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, who reviewed the study for the Post. Barnosky was the co-author of a study published last year that found an “exceptionally rapid loss of biodiversity over the last few centuries, indicating that a sixth mass extinction is already under way.” A particular problem, according to Payne, is that if all the top predators are taken out, then the species they used to prey upon can run amok and explode in population, having large reverberating eff ects on the entire ecosystem. “The preferential removal of the largest animals from the modern oceans, unprecedented in the history of animal life, may disrupt ecosystems for millions of years even at Syrians Mohamed Ibrahim and Abu Majd distill melted plastic in a barrel as part of a refining process to produce fuel in Aleppo’s rebel-held eastern district of Sakhur. levels of taxonomic loss far below those of previous mass extinctions,” the authors wrote. The current study underscores that ecosystem risks are not being principally driven by a changing climate — yet. Aleppo turns to dangerous ‘alternative’ fuels Rather, they are being driven more directly by which species humans hunt and fi sh, and where they destroy ecosystems By Karam al-Masri/AFP the city, leaving 250,000 residents Food and fuel shortages have stop - we want vegetables and fuel to to build homes, farms, cities, and much more. But as Aleppo without electricity since July. combined to make life a daily grind be allowed in!” he bellowed. In their native Sakhur district, Abu for residents of Aleppo, where “How can we cook and feed our climate change worsens, it will compound what is already Ahmed and Mohamed packed plastic many districts have to survive on children if there’s no fuel on the happening. n a destroyed building in objects into black barrels, which were three hours of generator-powered market?” The research is heartening for those who care about ocean Syria’s Aleppo, neighbours Abu then sealed and heated on a wooden electricity a day - and some make do Their diesel-starved cars and buses Ahmed and Mohamed Ibrahim fi re. with none at all. parked on debris-ridden routes, conservation – precisely because human-driven large animal desperately rummaged through The price of the rare fuel supplies in Aleppo’s residents are left with only extinctions in the sea are not as advanced as they are on land, I rubble and debris in search of scraps of Aleppo has rocketed to 1,200 Syrian their feet for transport. there is still a huge amount of biological life that we can save. plastic to turn into fuel. “There’s no more fuel pounds ($2.3 at the current black “We’re only extracting between 70 Residents of the rebel-held eastern on the market, no market rate) for a litre or nearly a and 80 litres a day,” said Abu Ahmed of districts of the city have struggled quarter of a gallon of diesel, compared the plastic-based process he used. To Advertise to keep their cars running or their heating oil, no petrol, with 350 pounds before the blockade. Most of what he and his colleagues electricity on since government forces Residents have been anxiously make goes to feed generators used by [email protected] fi rst besieged their neighbourhoods no gas” awaiting deliveries of food and fuel residents to pump water from wells. Display this summer. since a ceasefi re came into force last “Our goal is not to make a profi t “There’s no more fuel on the The plastic melts and produces a Monday, but no aid has entered the but to serve our neighbourhood, Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 market, no heating oil, no petrol, no gas that is piped and cooled, resulting city yet. by giving people a degree of self- Classified gas,” said Abu Ahmed, 40. in a yellow liquid used as diesel by Forty UN trucks carrying food aid suffi ciency,” said his neighbour, “So we’ve decided to turn to the desperate residents of eastern - enough to feed 80,000 people for Mohamed Ibrahim. Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 alternatives,” he added, with plastic Aleppo. one month - remain stuck on Syria’s The operation is riddled with Subscription as the raw material in a dangerous and “We found out about this by looking border with Turkey. dangers, and in this case had a [email protected] primitive process of extracting fuel to on the Internet and seeing how With living conditions so basic, shocking outcome. fi re up electricity generators. residents of Ghouta produce diesel, so Mustafa Marjan, a 30-year-old Just days after speaking to AFP, Fierce clashes south of Aleppo this we are copying them,” Abu Ahmed said, resident of the Zabadiya district, Abu Ahmed and one of his colleagues 2016 Gulf Times. All rights reserved summer damaged the only power referring to another rebel-controlled remained unimpressed by the truce. were burned to death when a barrel plant that served eastern parts of and besieged area near Damascus. “I don’t only want the bombs to exploded during the melting process. Gulf Times Monday, September 19, 2016 23 COMMENT Water challenges for the Middle East

Mena countries must Despite its vast oil and gas wealth, are 500 metres deep – without any water more sensibly, but also of how to support one another in Algeria has failed to ensure suffi cient regulation. protect against climate-related disaster aff ordable water resources for its Eff ective government intervention risk. implementing programmes population, not to mention adequate may be a long way off in Yemen, but it is For the private sector and NGOs, employment opportunities. As a result, feasible – indeed, imperative – in other upgrading water management in modelled on what has the country is now being rocked by Mena countries. For starters, national the Mena region presents a major worked elsewhere popular protests. governments must work to modernise opportunity to invest in water-services Libya has faced even greater agricultural practices, including by delivery and related technology. instability, wrought by years of internal training farmers and introducing more The regional market for enhanced By Moha Ennaji confl ict. The resultant power cuts effi cient irrigation tools. local sanitation and water-related Fez and fuel scarcity undermined water Reducing farmers’ dependence on services is estimated to be worth over distribution in the country. Last rainfall is essential. $200bn. summer, the UN had to procure some Some countries – namely, Morocco Projects aimed at meeting this he United Nations World 5mn litres of water from neighbouring and Jordan – have already taken some demand are a smart investment. Water Development Report countries to meet the country’s needs. important steps in this direction. But it is up to governments to take confi rms what many already In Jordan, water shortages Morocco’s government, in particular, the fi rst steps. Tknow: hundreds of thousands occur with devastating frequency, has made substantial eff orts to develop If they do not take action to preserve of people in the Middle East and North particularly in larger cities like Amman. its water resources, including through water reserves and standardise supply, Africa (Mena) – especially in Algeria, Jordan is estimated to have enough dam-building. the most defenceless populations will Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, water reserves to support 2mn people. But there is a still a long way to continue to suff er, a situation that can Sudan, Syria, and Yemen – have faced Yet its population is more than 6mn, go. Water-distribution effi ciency in easily lead to unrest – or worse. the worst water shortages in decades not including the 1.5mn Syrian refugees Morocco remains low – just 60% Indeed, if nothing is done to address in 2016. who currently reside in the country. for irrigation. For a country that has the water challenges facing the Mena This is the last thing the region In times of shortage, it is the refugees experienced more than 20 droughts in region, those challenges may fuel needs, as it works toward economic who are likely to be among the fi rst to 35 years, that is a serious problem. future wars. growth and diversifi cation. feel the eff ects. The good news is that the African At the next meeting of the Multiple factors have contributed Water supplies in many refugee Development Bank recently approved a Conference of the Parties to the UN to the current situation, including camps, in both Jordan and Lebanon, loan of more than €88mn ($98.7mn) to Framework Convention on Climate climate change, desertifi cation, water have been cut to a minimum – a fund a project aimed at improving the Change, to be held in Morocco in pollution, and misuse of natural decision that aff ects millions of people quality of water distribution. November, water should be at the top resources. who are already enduring scorching This points to a crucial insight: no of the agenda. Inadequate information, education, temperatures. one country can do it alone. Regional Given that more than 80% of the and communication exacerbate many At Rukban, a refugee camp on and international co-operation is badly national contributions to the fi ght of these challenges, as it reinforces Jordan’s joint border with Syria and needed. against climate change from the a lack of awareness of – much less Iraq, more than 85,500 residents each Mena countries must support one countries of the global South focus on commitment to – environmentally receive barely fi ve litres per day for another in implementing programmes water challenges, co-ordinated action friendly practices. cooking, drinking, and washing. modelled on what has worked by governments and international Add to that inadequate disaster- The situation in Yemen is similarly elsewhere. actors can no longer be postponed. risk reduction and management by grim. Racked by sectarian violence and Moreover, additional investment - Project Syndicate/Mohammed Bin governments – many of which are civil war, the country is struggling to – fi nanced from domestic and Rashid Global Initiatives dealing with other confl icts and crises manage water resources. The capital, international sources – should be – and the situation has become truly Sanaa, could run dry in 10 years. allocated to repairing ageing water zMoha Ennaji is president of the South dire. And, with half of Yemen’s population infrastructure, as well as new projects, North Center for Intercultural Dialogue Algeria, for example, has been lacking access to clean water, crops are such as well-designed dams and water and Migration Studies in Morocco experiencing its worst drought in failing and disease is spreading. The reservoirs. and Professor of Gender and Cultural fi ve decades. With much of the UN estimates that 14,000 children And stronger eff orts must be made to Studies at Fez University. His most country’s agriculture relying heavily under the age of fi ve die of malnutrition safeguard existing water resources. recent books include New Horizons of on rainfall, owing to underdeveloped and diarrhoea each year. Here, the public has an important Muslim Diaspora in North America and infrastructure, cereal yields are down Meanwhile, farmers are drilling role to play. But citizens fi rst must be Europe and Muslim Moroccan Migrants 40% this year. deeper than ever for water – some wells made aware not only of how to use in Europe. Dehydration can lead to serious complications Weather report Three-day forecast you may end up with a heat injury, TODAY Mayo Clinic News Network High: 39 C Tribune News Service ranging in severity from mild heat cramps to heat exhaustion Low : 30 C Expected strong wind and low or potentially life-threatening horizontal visibility at places. ehydration occurs when you heatstroke. use or lose more fl uid than z Swelling of the brain (cerebral you take in, and your body edema). Sometimes, when you’re TUESDAY doesn’t have enough water getting fl uids again after being High: 39 C D Low: 29 C and other fl uids to carry out its normal dehydrated, the body tries to pull functions. If you don’t replace lost too much water back into your cells. Sunny fl uids, you will get dehydrated. This can cause some cells to swell Common causes of dehydration and rupture. The consequences are include vigorous exercise, especially especially grave when brain cells are WEDNESDAY in hot weather; intense diarrhoea; aff ected. High: 39 C vomiting; fever or excessive sweating. z Seizures. Electrolytes - such as Low: 28 C Not drinking enough water during potassium and sodium - help carry Sunny exercise or in hot weather even if electrical signals from cell to cell. If you’re not exercising also may cause your electrolytes are out of balance, dehydration. Anyone may become the normal electrical messages can Fishermen’s forecast dehydrated, but young children, become mixed up, which can lead to OFFSHORE DOHA older adults and people with chronic involuntary muscle contractions and Wind: NW-NE 10-20/25 KT illnesses are most at risk. sometimes to a loss of consciousness. Waves: 7-8 Feet You can usually reverse mild to zLow blood volume shock INSHORE DOHA Wind: NW-NE 08-18/22 KT moderate dehydration by drinking (hypovolemic shock). This is one of Waves: 1-3/4 Feet more fl uids, but severe dehydration the most serious - and sometimes needs immediate medical treatment. life-threatening - complications of Around the region The safest approach is preventing dehydration. It occurs when low blood Weather Weather dehydration in the fi rst place. Keep an volume causes a drop in blood pressure today Max/min tomorrow Max/min eye on how much fl uid you lose during and a drop in the amount of oxygen in Abu Dhabi Sunny 42/28 Sunny 40/28 hot weather, illness or exercise, and your body. Baghdad Sunny 37/20 Sunny 39/21 Dubai Sunny drink enough liquids to replace what z Kidney failure. This potentially Sunny 41/29 38/29 Kuwait City Sunny 40/26 Sunny 40/26 you’ve lost. life-threatening problem occurs when Manama Cloudy 39/32 Sunny 39/31 your kidneys are no longer able to Muscat Sunny 32/27 Sunny 32/28 Complications remove excess fl uids and waste from Riyadh Sunny 41/24 Sunny 39/24 your blood. Tehran Sunny 30/19 Sunny 32/20 zHeat injury. If you don’t drink z Coma and death. When not enough fluids when you’re exercising You can usually reverse mild to moderate dehydration by drinking more fluids, treated promptly and appropriately, vigorously and perspiring heavily, but severe dehydration needs immediate medical treatment severe dehydration can be fatal.

Live issues How to build teamwork in marriage

By Judi Light Hopson, Emma H this has always helped those I For example, ask, “Do you need Franklin. “If they can get the couple Hopson and Ted Hagen counselled,” she insists. some quiet time to take a nap?” Or ask, arguing, they can drive a wedge. Tribune News Service Relationship empowerment requires “Would you like to stay home alone That’s why it pays to limit how much each person to start paying close while I run some errands?” time you spend with family and friends attention to the other. z Share your vulnerabilities. as a married couple.” or those of us who’ve It boils down to having the other If you act like you can do it all, your Franklin goes on to say that even experienced divorce, we person’s back consistently. mate will not feel he or she can share well-meaning friends can learn your Around the world know the negative feelings of problems with you. Without openness, fi nancial secrets or other private Weather Weather brokenness. At some point, there is no team. Each person trying to issues. today Max/min tomorrow Max/min F “Marriage is based on Athens P Cloudy 32/21 P Cloudy 30/19 our happy union either dissolved or impress the other can wear thin pretty “Once your sister mentions your exploded. quickly. poor credit rating or speaks of a private Beirut Sunny 29/23 Sunny 31/26 T Storms T Storms 31/25 mutual support” issue you don’t want to be publicised, Bangkok 33/26 The teamwork we’d pledged to zWish for things out loud. Berlin P Cloudy 21/09 P Cloudy 19/11 honour went sour. For instance, if your mate mentions Do say, “I wish we could aff ord your mate will know the cat is out of Cairo Sunny 36/23 Sunny 38/25 To examine how a marriage crumbles, cooking steaks for dinner, it helps to some household help.” By making your the bag. People who hover too close to Cape Town M Sunny 24/13 P Cloudy 19/12 we all need to remind ourselves the ask: Should I make salad and baked wishes known, you give your mate a your home can learn enough to destroy Colombo S T Storms 29/26 S T Storms 29/26 S T Storms 32/26 truth about any relationship. Even a potatoes? Or, if your mate is getting good chance to step up. For example, the two of you,” Franklin emphasises. Dhaka 32/26 S T Storms Hong Kong S Showers 31/26 S Showers 29/26 basic friendship requires dedicated a cold, it helps to ask: Do you want your spouse might bring you an ad for As a united team, remember that Istanbul M Sunny 33/21 T Storms 26/17 mutual support for survival. me to pick up some over-the-counter a cleaning service. your support belongs with your Jakarta S T Storms 32/25 T Storms 32/25 “Marriage is based on mutual medicine? zBrag on your mate, especially spouse. You can love other people and Karachi Sunny 33/27 P Cloudy 32/27 support” says a marriage counsellor “I used to be a team player when I when things are shaky. help them in all kinds of ways, but London Showers 20/14 S Showers 19/11 Manila S T Storms 31/25 T Storms 32/25 we know. We’ll call her Teresa.”If the fi rst got married,” says a friend of ours Let’s say your husband forgot to don’t threaten your marriage in order Moscow Showers 09/07 Showers 12/07 teamwork is constant, the bond will we’ll call Derrick.”But, when I got my drop off your dry cleaning. If you say, to do so. New Delhi Sunny 36/26 Sunny 37/26 hold. fi rst promotion at work, I had to travel “I appreciate the fact you stopped for New York T Storms 24/22 S Showers 28/21 If not, the crumbling process a lot. milk. You’re so nice,” this proves you zJudi Light Hopson is the executive Paris Showers 20/14 P Cloudy 22/11 S T Storms Rain 16/11 begins.” I deliberately tried to tune out my are supportive of your spouse without director of the stress management Sao Paulo 27/16 Seoul P Cloudy 26/14 Sunny 26/12 Teresa says she has worked with wife’s needs.” keeping score. website USA Wellness Cafe at www. Singapore S T Storms 32/25 P Cloudy 33/25 clients whose marriages were hanging These tips can help strengthen “I’ve learned that in-laws and usawellnesscafe.com. Emma Hopson Sydney P Cloudy 21/08 M Sunny 19/14 by a thread. “When I explained that teamwork in any love relationship: jealous friends can help destroy a is an author and a nurse educator. Ted Tokyo Cloudy 23/21 Cloudy 22/19 you’ve got to gear up the teamwork, zTry asking, rather than assuming. marriage,” says a minister we’ll call Hagen is a family psychologist. Gulf Times 24 Monday, September 19, 2016 QATAR Q-Chem in Eid celebrations a pact to fund grand success: QTA people with By Joey Aguilar Staff Reporter special needs

he seven-day Eid al- atar Chemical Company “Q-Chem’s move is part of Adha festivities, organ- Ltd (Q-Chem) has said the corporate social responsi- Tised by Qatar Tourism Qit is supporting charity bility concept and our commit- Authority (QTA) across various projects in Qatar that will alle- ment towards good citizenship. malls, concluded yesterday af- viate the suffering of a number Helping disabled persons not ter entertaining thousands of of people nationwide. only assists this segment of residents and visitors, mostly The Q-Chem initiative society in meeting their aspira- families. comes after signing an agree- tions in life, but also strength- QTA highlighted the contin- ment with Qatar Society for ens social bonds and is the very uous support and co-operation Rehabilitation of Special Needs essence of our cultural founda- of its partners in hosting the (QSRSN), by which the compa- tion.” shows and activities for a varied ny will finance the purchase of audience, including those from wheelchair lifts, according to a “Q-Chem’s move is part neighbouring GCC countries. press statement. of the corporate social “Eid celebrations in Qatar The agreement was signed responsibility concept and were a grand success, thanks by Saeed Rashid al-Kaabi, chief our commitment towards to the extensive collaboration administration officer for Q- good citizenship. Helping and backing of our partners in Chem and Amir al-Mulla, ex- disabled persons not only the retail, hospitality and en- ecutive director for QSRSN. assists this segment of tertainment sectors in support Under the agreement, spe- society in meeting their of our eff orts to diversify the cialised lifts will be mounted aspirations in life, but also country’s tourism off ering,” on vehicles to ease movements strengthens social bonds QTA’s Tourism Events and Fes- for persons with disability and is the very essence of tivals director Mashal Shahbik and enable them to move their our cultural foundation” said in a press statement. wheelchairs without much help She noted that festivals, such from others. Sheikh Thani bin Abdullah as Eid al-Fitr, Qatar Summer Saad Rashid al-Muhannadi, al-Thani, chairman of QSRSN, Festival and Eid al-Adha which CEO of Q-Chem, said: “It’s expressed gratitude and appre- are held annually, form an im- part of Q-Chem’s strategic ciation to the Q-Chem man- portant part of Qatar’s strategy objectives to extend a helping agement and its co-operation to build a rich calendar of events hand to charity organisations with the Society to sponsor no- that drive footfall to the coun- such as Qatar Society for Reha- ble causes. He stressed that the try’s venues and attract visitors bilitation of Special Needs. We target audience would “enor- year-round. “Following on the are honoured to partner with mously benefit from this do- successful run of festivals we the Society to serve our com- nation and definitely improve have delivered this year in part- munities. health conditions.” nership with the private sec- tor, we are looking forward to exploring new additions to the annual events calendar,” Shah- bik stressed. Parents and children get to meet the characters of ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks’ at Ezdan Mall. Performers, mostly artistes from the UK, have been provid- puller as it fi lled City Center action-comedy show ‘Pirates Hyatt Plaza treated visitors with fi reworks display. Other ven- ing one-of-a-kind shows in the Doha’s skating rink with a large from the Caribbean’ wowed ‘Sinbad, the Sailor’ (performed ues included Souq Waqif, Ka- past seven days. Organisers of number of spectators at each young spectators at Lagoona by Lebanese artistes in Arabic) tara – the Cultural Village, The each show had also given chil- show while ‘Beauty and the Mall with their songs and danc- at its crowded food court. Pearl-Qatar, Al Dosari Zoo and dren an opportunity to ‘meet Beast’ charmed both adults and es, as well as their funny con- Besides family entertainment Game Reserve, Dahl Al Hamam and greet’ the artistes who por- children at Dar Al Salam Mall. versations. shows at malls, several Eid cel- Park, Aspire Zone, Sheikh Faisal trayed their favourite cartoon Alvin and the Chipmunks’ life- Al Khor Mall’s hosting of the ebrations at diff erent locations Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum, and fairy tale characters on size mascots, as well as other ‘Flying Super Kids’ show had in Qatar also received a large Aqua Park, Qatar National Con- stage. performers, enthralled the also seen a continuous fl ow of number of visitors who enjoyed vention Centre, Sealine Beach ‘Tarzan’ proved to be a crowd crowd at Ezdan Mall while the mallgoers for seven days while watching cultural shows and and Asian Town. Officials during the signing of the agreement. Elan Media’s printing house gets two global certifi cations

lan Media’s printing demonstrates its commitment tems. Elan Media has success- house, Qatar Interna- to provide clients with a pro- fully demonstrated compliance Etional Print, has an- fessional service that meets the with these International Stand- nounced its achievement of the highest international quality ard requirements and we are ISO 9001:2015 and the OHSAS and safety standards”, the com- pleased to welcome Elan Media 18001:2007 certifi cations. pany has said in a press state- as an integral part of our family The certifi cate was received by ment. of over 100,000 certifi ed clients Tariq al-Hammadi, acting Group On his part, Kseib said: “I worldwide.” chief support offi cer, from Selim would like to extend my compli- Elan Media has been operating Kseib, chief executive of Bureau ments to the entire team of Elan in Qatar for 12 years. It currently Veritas in Qatar. Media for this accomplishment. prints over 950,000sq m of ad- With this award, Elan Media It truly refl ects a high level of vertising material per year and has become the “only printing commitment from the lead- delivers a wide variety of steel and signage service provider ership and the entire team, to and signage projects, including in the region to garner the two benchmark best international “wayfi nding”, fences, scaff old- Officials at the awarding ceremony. certifications, and further practices in management sys- ing, etc.

QC partners Mall of Qatar, Carrefour, Rayyan Water in ‘Beat the Heat’ drive

all of Qatar, Carrefour the workers’ participation in this Qatar and Al Rayyan initiative.” MWater have partnered Rony Mourani, general man- with Qatar Charity (QC) for the ager at Mall of Qatar, said: “All launch of the fi rst phase of “Su- the people working on this re- qia”, an initiative designed to markable project play a pivotal help workers involved in outdoor role in its success, and it is our projects “Beat the Heat”. responsibility to ensure that The campaign aims to encour- the highest safety standards are age healthy lifestyles among maintained during these hot Qatar’s large construction work- summer months. We would like force, whose members play a to extend our gratitude to both pivotal role in building the na- Qatar Charity and Carrefour for tion’s world-class infrastruc- being a part of this refreshing ture, according to a press state- initiative.” ment. Laurent Hausknecht, country QC arranged for “cool water” manager for Qatar, Kuwait and trucks to distribute more than Bahrain at Carrefour, Majid Al 11,000 water bottles, provided Futtaim Retail, added: “We are by Carrefour, to Mall of Qatar proud to be participating in the workers, and delivered lectures ‘Beat the Heat’ campaign. The about the importance of hydra- fact that we have already man- tion in a variety of languages. aged to distribute over 11,000 “We would like to extend our bottles is a fi rst step in the right gratitude to our valued partners, direction and moving ahead, we Mall of Qatar, Carrefour and look forward to many more.” Al Rayyan Water, for their co- Workers, who were the di- operation in this initiative, and, rect benefactors of the “Beat the more specifi cally, for the inher- Heat” campaign, expressed de- ent care, respect and warmth light at the fact that such initia- that they continue to display tives are being undertaken. They towards Qatar’s valued work- also valued the diff erent types of ers,” said Ali al-Gharib, director interactions carried out by vari- of Programmes and Centres at ous charitable organisations and QC. “We are also thankful for corporations in Qatar. The campaign aims to encourage healthy lifestyles among Qatar’s large construction workforce.