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Sunday 20 August 2017 | 28 Dhul-Qa’Da 1438 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Volume 22 | Number 7259 | 2 Riyals

Emir sends FM: Siege nations failed to submit message proof to support terror allegations to UN chief QNA

Oslo provide any evidence. responsibility of the Saudi mir H H Sheikh Tamim QNA The Foreign Minister Our relations with authorities”, the Minister added. bin Hamad Al Thani has expressed his thanks for Nor- The Foreign Minister said: Esent a written message atar’s Foreign Minis- way’s position in support of Saudi Arabia have “Our relations with Saudi Ara- to UN Secretary-General ter H E Sheikh Kuwaiti mediation, stressing at bia have never reached this level Antonio Guterres, related to Mohamed bin Abdul- the same time that Qatar did not never reached of crisis, a level of enacting a law the latest developments in the rahman Al Thani said want to reciprocate the behav- this level of crisis, in the Kingdom that prevents international arena, espe- Qthat the siege coun- iour of the countries of the even sympathy with the State of cially the Gulf crisis. Qatar’s tries have not yet submitted, blockade, but chose the calm a level of enacting a law in Qatar under fines and Permanent Representative to after 75 days of the blockade, any approach and avoided escala- imprisonment. the United Nations H E evidence supporting their accu- tion of the situation in the region the Kingdom that prevents “This is why we are con- Ambassador Sheikha Alya sations against Qatar supporting which could not tolerate further even sympathy with the cerned about our people, Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani terrorism. escalation. The Foreign Minister especially in light of what the handed over the message During a press conference expressed the hope that the siege State of Qatar under fines Saudi media is doing of spread- during a meeting with the UN held with Norwegian Foreign countries would follow Qatar’s ing hatred against the people of Secretary-General. Minister Borge Brende, the For- example and be more respon- and imprisonment. This is Qatar, so we call on the Saudi eign Minister said he had sive to the Kuwaiti mediation. why we are concerned about our people.” authorities to respond to the discussed with his Norwegian H E Sheikh Mohamed bin demand of the Ministry of Awqaf Qatar condemns counterpart a number of issues, Abdulrahman Al Thani said that and Islamic Affairs and refrain including the siege imposed on the situation in Gaza, the Middle from politicising the issue of the Finland attack Qatar by three Gulf countries East and the peace process, as its territory to perform the pil- of the Ministry of Awqaf and Haj pilgrimage, as it was pre- in coordination with Egypt, well as the situation in Libya, grimage, the Foreign Minister Islamic Affairs in Qatar on the vented for political reasons, and QNA where these countries accused Syria, Yemen, Somalia and said that “more than 100 people safety of the Qatari pilgrims, now also permitted for political Qatar of several charges that Afghanistan were also discussed. have entered Saudi Arabia so far, which means that the safety of reasons”, the Minister noted. atar strongly con- they have not been able to On Saudi Arabia’s decision to but the Saudi authorities have those who exceed the Qatari bor- demned yesterday the prove any of them and did not allow Qatari Haj pilgrims to enter not yet responded to the demand ders to Saudi territories is the → Continued on page 2 Qincident which killed two people and wounded eight others on Friday in the city of Turku in Finland. Qatar promotes The Ministry of Foreign Crisis reshaped region’s economic map: Envoy Affairs affirmed in a state- ment yesterday the solidarity sports and of Qatar with Finland in all Muscat for Qatar. He stressed that the the nations, which played a conditions in the Gulf region measures taken to maintain recreation QNA situation has reshaped the eco- major role in several agreements resulting from the siege on Qatar its security and stability. nomic map of the region. and partnerships and alliances. by “our brothers in Saudi Ara- The statement reiterated tourism: Official atar’s Ambassador to In an interview with Oman He pointed out that Qatar’s prep- bia, the United Arab Emirates Qatar’s firm stance on the Oman, Ali bin Fahad Al Business and Economy maga- arations to organise the World and the Kingdom of Bahrain rejection of violence and ter- Raynald C Rivera QHajri, has praised the dis- zine, the ambassador praised the Cup can create more opportu- have greatly contributed to rorism regardless of motives The Peninsula tinguished relations between the role of the Sultanate in the after- nities for Omani companies, increasing communication and reasons. countries . math of the current crisis in the calling on businessmen in both between businessmen in the two The Foreign Ministry ports and recreation tour- He pointed out that the sit- Gulf, which has deepened eco- countries to work directly and countries and to benefiting from expressed condolences for ism ranks among the uation after the Gulf crisis has nomic and trade ties. The look for opportunities without available opportunities as well the victims and the Govern- Spriorities that Qatar gives redirected the compass to the Ambassador said that there is the need to wait for support from as to enhancing economic coop- ment of Finland and wished strong impetus in developing Sultanate’s position and its ports continuous cooperation between government institutions. eration and trade.” the wounded a speedy a robust tourism industry. as an important strategic choice the chambers of commerce of Al Hajri said that the current → Continued on page 4 recovery. “Sports and recreation tourism is one of the priority tourism sub-sectors in Qatar, and the country holds close to 80 sporting events and Qatar moves ICAO on intimidating Al Arabiya animation world-class competitions across a multitude of sport- ing disciplines annually,” said Irfan Bukhari pendent and The Daily Mail etc. and is meant to scare off would- Hassan Al Ibrahim, Chief The Peninsula Vipin Narang, Associate Pro- be passengers from flying with Tourism Development fessor of Political Science at MIT, the country’s national airline.” Officer at Qatar Tourism atar has raised the issue of tweeted: “This is some outra- “But aviation experts dis- Authority (QTA), while broadcast of a graphic geous stuff from Al Arabiya, missed the graphic animation as addressing the opening of the Qsimulation by Al Arabiya threatening to shoot down a “sensationalist” and pointed out 4th World Mindsports Cham- TV in which a fighter jet was Qatar Airways passenger jet if in that aircraft from the Gulf state pionships yesterday. Held at shown firing a missile at a Qatar Saudi.” have a “legitimate” right to fly in the Doha Exhibition and Airways passenger aircraft for Aviation analyst Alex Mach- the skies over Saudi Arabia,” Convention Center (DECC), “violating airspace of blockad- eras told The Independent it was Farell further writes. the nine-day Championships ing countries”. “irresponsible and unprofessional” While reporting the story, are being hosted for the first Qatar’s Permanent Office at for the Saudi network to air the Daily Mail observes: “The time in the Middle East. the International Civil Aviation graphic animation, but that it was warning will increase the → Continued on page 2 Organization (ICAO) in Montreal a sensationalist move rather than workload of air traffic con- → See also page 4 yesterday handed an official Al Arabiya animation shows a Qatar Airways aircraft being an official Saudi threat. It was irre- trollers in Qatar to prevent message from the State of Qatar escorted by a fighter. Inset: A missile shot at an aircraft. sponsible and unprofessional of their aircraft from straying to ICAO Secretary-General, treaties and conventions, partic- prosecuted for several crimes, the network to air such a report – over the border into Saudi Board President and represent- ularly the 1944 Chicago such as breaching national secu- and passengers flying in the Arabia and possible danger.” Emails leaked by atives of member states, on the Convention, the international air rity and exposing civilians to Middle East region should have Another tweet, reported by “Global Leaks” and violations by the siege countries traffic service agreement and danger. The other option, as no fear or worry about the safety Daily Mail, said: “Spreading obtained by Middle through their satellite TV chan- international air law. being told to viewers by Al Ara- of their aircraft.” terror into civilians is the goal East Eye revealed UAE nels aiming to intimidate The graphic animation had biya TV, is to “shoot down any Alex Macheras also tweeted: which is the pure definition Ambassador to the passengers, through the report showed a fighter jet firing a mis- plane entering its airspace.” “It’s shocking that a news chan- of terrorism.” Ibtesam Al US, Yousef Al Otaiba, which was broadcast on August sile at a passenger plane. In the The voiceover further says nel would think it’s acceptable to Emadi said: “Bombing a civil- 9 by Al Arabiya TV, a Saudi chan- footage titled “Understanding the that according to “international create and illustrate a passenger ian plane!!! What is this suggesting that years nel based in Dubai. Qatar Airways ban”, the voiceo- law, a state that bans flights from airline aircraft being blown out called? Spreading terrorist of Emirati frustration The simulation referred to ver commentary tells people entering its airspace has the right of the sky.” Jeff Farell in his report thinking or not???” with Riyadh’s old what it called the ‘right of the about the options the blockad- to deal with the violating plane in The Independent with head- ICAO, the UN body govern- regime had coalesced siege countries to shoot down ing countries have in case Qatar in any way it wishes.” In this piece line “Fears grow as video shows ing aviation, has issued a into a strategy to any Qatar Airways passenger Airways passenger jet enters of footage, a missile is shown Saudi fighter jet firing missile at directive to all Gulf states, ask- support the rise of aircraft’ if it flew into their air- their airspace. being fired towards a passenger a Qatari civilian aircraft”, has ing them to abide by the space. The message from Qatar The voiceover says that they plane. After its first broadcast, the written: “Viewers believe the sim- international treaties they have young Mohammed bin pointed out that this televised can either dispatch a fighter jet simulation was quickly picked up ulated video of the fighter jet signed which mandate airspace Salman. report constitutes a clear and to force the plane to land after by media outlets worldwide, downing a Qatar Airways civil- openness. serious violation of international which, its members may be including Newsweek, The Inde- ian plane is “beyond provocative” → Continued on page 2 02 HOME SUNDAY 20 AUGUST 2017 Emir greets Ooredoo offers more on Qatarna Pack President of Mohammad Shoeb The Peninsula Afghanistan

atar’s telecom giant Ooredoo has boosted QNA the benefits of its pop- ular pack—Qatarna mir H H Sheikh Tamim Q(which mean our bin Hamad Al Thani Qatar) by adding dedicated Esent yesterday a cable roaming data allowances and a of congratulations to the special rate of QR1 for roaming President of the Islamic services on all Passport partners Republic of Afghanistan Dr in more than 75 Passport Ashraf Ghani on the anniver- countries. sary of the country’s Under the new scheme Independence Day. Qatarna packs now offer bigger Deputy Emir H H Sheikh allowances than ever, including Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani endless local data, dedicated free launched two new bundles and and the Prime Minister and roaming data allowances, and a boosted the benefits of these Interior Minister H E Sheikh special rate of QR1 for roaming packs.” Abdullah bin Nasser bin Kha- Officials and other businessmen during the event announcing the offers added to Ooredoo’s services on all Passport The first Qatarna 350 Pack, lifa Al Thani also sent similar partners. which was launched in July, has Qatarna pack. cables. At a press conference held seen huge demand from Oore- on Thursday, Manar Khalifa Al doo customers and will now and Qatarna 850 Packs, which 14 GB of free roaming data. allowance runs out, they can Muraikhi (pictured), Director of offer 30 GB of endless local data, offer the same unlimited calling Qatarna 850 Pack subscribers continue to use the Supernet at FM: Siege nations PR and Corporate Communica- 10 GB of dedicated free roaming allowance, endless local data, will enjoy unlimited calling, a lower speed, at no extra charge, tions, said: “Ooredoo’s ‘Qatarna’ data, and a special rate of QR1 dedicated free roaming data and unlimited endless local data (fair until their pack renews. did not give proof Packs are designed to celebrate for roaming services on all Pass- special rate of QR1 for roaming usage policy applies) and 20 GB Qatarna subscribers will Continued from page 1 Qatar’s unity and offer calls to port partners, in addition to services. of free roaming data. enjoy a special rate of QR1 for all all operators in the country, as unlimited local minutes and With the Qatarna 600 Pack, All Qatarna packs also ben- roaming activities including call- As for whether Saudi Ara- well as boosted data allowance. messaging. customers will receive unlimited efit from Ooredoo’s Endless ing, SMS and data (after Qatarna bia’s move came as a result And to ensure that all custom- Ooredoo has also launched calling, SMS and MMS, as well as Internet service, meaning that pack roaming data allowance is of Kuwaiti mediation or ers’ needs are met, we’ve two new bundles, Qatarna 600 150 GB of endless local data and once a customer’s local data used). because of the mediation of Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali Al Thani, the Foreign Minister Qatar moves ICAO on intimidating said: “We have expressed two Qatar promotes sports & recreation tourism days ago in a message to the Emir of Kuwait H H Sheikh Continued from page 1 Arabic scrabble are being Al Arabiya animation Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al “The Mindsports World introduced for the first time in Sabah, our readiness to deal Continued on page 1 Championships have previously the Championships, making this Passengers need not be with the Kuwaiti mediation been hosted in the Czech Repub- edition of the tournament Alex Macheras in his article alarmed.” and our respect for it, but the lic, the United Kingdom and unique. titled “Saudi news channel Qatar’s Ministry of Trans- four siege countries have not France. In hosting its fourth edi- We are particularly proud shows simulated downing of a port and Communications responded up to now. Rather, tion, we are pleased to be yet that Doha will witness the first civilian jet” published on “The explained yesterday that the tel- we have seen continuing again confirming Qatar’s posi- time E-sports and Arabic Scrab- Points Guy” website said: “While evised report contained a 3-D escalation and attempt to tion as a pioneer in bringing ble are included in the Saudi Arabia is not a party to the presentation that included a market the accusation that international sporting events to Mindsports World Champion- transit agreement treaty, which voice comment stating that Qatar supports terrorism Hassan Al Ibrahim, Chief the Arab world,” he said. ships; a tradition which we hope permits overflight, it has signed international law gives the siege without providing any evi- “As an indoor event, this will continue at future editions Tourism Development the Chicago Convention — countries the right to down any dence, until they reached a championship demonstrates the of the international competi- Officer at QTA, speaking which states in Article 9 that aircraft that enters its airspace stage of despair to buy a few country’s commitment and abil- tion,” said Al Ibrahim. at the Mindsports World while airspace can be closed for as a hostile target, especially in seconds in the Western chan- ity to host sports competitions The Championships, which Championships which exceptional circumstances, or military areas, where air nels to publish their throughout all seasons of the is open to the public, runs until kicked off at DECC yesterday. during periods of emergencies, defence is unrestricted. advertisements, unfortu- year,” he added. August 27 at DECC. Pic:KammuttyVP / The Peninsula a country cannot discriminate The ministry said that the nately this is their constant against a specific nationality or report also claimed that accord- behaviour since the beginning origin of an aircraft.” ing to international law, a state of the crisis”, the Foreign Min- Alex Macheras is an aviation that prohibits flying over its air- ister added. analyst, frequent flyer & travel- space can down any aircraft The Foreign Minister con- ler. He provides aviation entering its airspace. tinued: “Talk about permitting analysis on international net- The report also explained the entry of Qatari Haj pil- works BBC News, Sky News, possible options, such as forc- grims was as a result of Good Morning Britain & LBC. ing the plane to land and mediation, this confirms that “Since the crisis began, prosecuting its crew on several they are the ones who polit- Saudi has ignored this part of charges, including compromis- icised the Haj pilgrimage. “As the Chicago Convention, and ing national security and for the visit of Sheikh Abdul- Qatar Airways has been avoid- endangering civilians. lah bin Ali and his meeting ing Saudi airspace, as well as The ministry pointed out with the Saudi Crown Prince, other regions in the region.” that the report has been widely it was for personal reasons, Macheras writes: “It’s worth circulated in the international and we have no information highlighting that all commer- media as well as in social media about King Salman receiving cial flights around the world file and has been highly acclaimed him”, he said. flight plans with aviation by legal experts and specialists H E Sheikh Mohammed authorities before departure, in the field of civil aviation. bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and routes are outlined by air- The statement said that said that allowing Qatari Haj line operation teams that study Qatar has demanded, through pilgrims to perform their rites weather, access, airways, flight its Representative to the ICAO of pilgrimage as a result of information regions, traffic and Issa Abdullah Al Maliki, taking mediation was part of series more. the necessary steps to remind of conspiracies that have For this reason, it is almost all States in the Organization of been waged against Qatar impossible that a Qatar Airways their obligations towards the since the beginning of this cri- aircraft would suddenly find security and safety of aviation sis and a repeat of the history itself, barring a malfunction, in under international law as well that has been repeated since an airspace it should not be in. as international ethics. 1996. 3 Qatari clinicians complete NEAL program

The Peninsula Professor Bill McKenna, Institutional Officer for Research s part of Hamad Medical at HMC said that the highly com- Corporation’s (HMC) petitive programme attracts Acommitment to support- some of the best and brightest ing the next generation of clinicians from around the clinical leaders, three senior globe. Qatari clinicians recently com- “This course is an opportu- pleted the prestigious New and nity to share best practices and Emerging Academic Leaders experiences that will ultimately (NEAL) programme at the Uni- Prof. Ibrahim Janahi (pictured), bring real results for our patients versity of Toronto’s Center for Executive Director of Research, and the community,” Professor Faculty Development. Senior Consultant and Division McKenna said. “A pillar of the They were the second group Chief of Pediatric Pulmonology, Corporation’s unique Academic of Qatari leaders identified to HMC and Professor of Clinical Health System is to develop the take part in the programme Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medi- next generation of clinical, aca- which involved studying at the cine–Qatar;Dr Abdulaziz Al demic and research leaders. campus in Canada as well as Khulaifi, Chairman, Cardiotho- “This means developing a cadre assignments and webinars com- racic Surgery, HMC; Dr of current and emerging lead- pleted while in Doha. Abdulaziz Al Hashemi, Director ers and providing them with The three senior Qataris, of Respiratory Therapy and opportunities to grow and supported by HMC’s Academic Sleep Laboratory, and Senior develop.” Professor McKenna Health System Office, graduated Consultant, Pulmonary Sleep, said the programme involved from the highly competitive HMC; and, Assistant Professor not only intensive leadership year-long programme earlier of Clinical Medicine, Weill Cor- coaching but also a focus on this year. They are, nell Medicine–Qatar. academia-specific leadership. SUNDAY 20 AUGUST 2017 HOME 03 Kahramaa to mark 73m working hours sans injury

QNA most important projects in the The corporation has State of Qatar, which is part of the resident of Qatar General chosen one of the sites major reservoir project in which Electricity and Water Cor- 6,000 and 500 employees work Pporation (Kahramaa) Eng. for the big reservoirs around the clock. Essa bin Hilal Al Kuwari said that project to celebrate For his part, Secretary -Gen- the corporation will celebrate the initiative, and eral of the Supreme Committee next month with 73 million work- distributed some for Delivery and Legacy Hassan ing hours without injury in the Al Thawadi said that the com- major reservoirs project. gifts and food to the memoration of the International The head of the Qatar Gen- workers to notify Humanitarian Day Initiative is a eral Electricity and Water them that they are joint social initiative between the Corporation (QFCI) said in a press always an important Committee and Kahramaa in rec- statement on the sidelines of the ognition of the workers’ efforts. International Humanitarian Day part of any project, He pointed out that all gov- Initiative organised by Kahramaa and to participate ernment agencies in the country that the corporation has chosen in the celebration sponsor workers, and that main- one of the sites for the big reser- taining their security and safety voirs project to celebrate the of the International is a priority in any project in the initiative, and distributed some Humanitarian Day country, stressing the commit- gifts and food to the workers in Initiative. ment of all parties to state this project in order to notify standards to maintain the safety them that they are always an of workers during work. important part of any project, and are with them in any circum- He considered that today’s to participate in the celebration stances, despite the hot weather event is a model that reflects the of the International Humanitar- and despite that most of us are appreciation of the different par- ian Day Initiative. on vacation on this day, but we ties to work on the efforts of those He pointed out that the cor- are with them to share global workers in the infrastructure poration, as part of its social events and major events and we projects of the state. This initia- responsibility, in cooperation consider them as a key partner tive was organised by Kahramaa’s with the Supreme Committee for in the success of our work. National Program for Rationali- Delivery and Legacy celebrates Al Kuwari added that the sation and Energy Efficiency on the day with the staff and work- workers are partners in develop- the occasion of World Humani- ers of the site as partners in ment. “We appreciate their tarian Day, which falls on August development. participation and contribution in 19 each year. This event aims to He explained that the aim of building this community, espe- spread and instill the concept of this initiative is to show that we cially as they serve in one of the humanitarian philanthropy. Eid Al Adha likely on September 1

The Peninsula moon will be 10 minutes before August 23. While Arafat day will sunset over Doha sky. be on August 31. ccording to astronomical It will be impossible to view Eid Al Adha is always on the calculations by Qatar Cal- the new crescent by astronom- same day of the Hijric calendar Aendar House (QCH), the ical telescopes or naked eye over (10th of Dhul- Hijja), while the first day of Hijric month “Dhul - Doha sky and all Arabic coun- date on the Gregorian calendar Hijja 1438H” will be on tries sky on this night; because varies from year to year, where Wednesday and the first day of it will bear after sunset time over Gregorian calendar is a solar cal- Eid Al Adha this year will be on Doha sky and most of Arabic and endar while the Hijric calendar September 1. Islamic countries sky. is a lunar calendar. This differ- The new crescent of Hijric Consequently, the Hijric ence means Eid Al-Adha moves month “Dhul- Hijja 1438H” will month “Dhul-Qa’da 1438 H” will in the Gregorian calendar born tomorrow 29 Dhul-Qa’da be end on August 22, and the first approximately 11 days every at 9:31pm. The time set of the of “Dhul- Hijja 1438H” will be on year.

Buthaina A Al Nuaimi (centre), President of PUE, QF, alongside the recipients of the annual forum awards at the Qatar National Convention Center. PUE kicks off new academic year

The Peninsula one person only, everyone who Essam Quassed, won ‘Best Edu- works for PUE is important to us. cation Initiative’ from Awsaj atar Foundation’s (QF) Pre- It is our impressive and highly Academy. “Schools should change University Education (PUE) professional faculty supported by by being learner focused, learner Qhas kicked off the 2017- a strong and competent admin- led, and learner paced,” said 2018 academic year with its istrative team that allows us to Abrams. second annual forum. fulfil our vision of leading learn- Commenting on the awards The PUE Forum 2017, held at ing,” said Al Nuaimi. ceremony Jamila Al Shemmari, the Qatar National Convention The forum featured an Arabic teacher at Qatar Academy Centre on Thursday was attended awards ceremony, a result of last Doha, said: “I am excited about by more than 1,000 people. The year’s initiative, which was working towards my own pro- event gave employees the oppor- designed to recognise exceptional fessional goals over the next 12 tunity to network, celebrate efforts, as well as build morale, months. I have a lot of ideas achievements, share ideas, and motivation, and mutual respect worth sharing in the field of edu- build long-lasting relationships for all PUE employees. cation and would be incredibly between teachers and staff mem- Award categories included: honored to be recognised at the bers across all of QF’s PUE ‘Exceptional Contribution to Col- PUE Forum 2018.” schools and centers. laboration across Schools’, PUE, part of Qatar Founda- Buthaina A Al Nuaimi, Presi- ‘Exceptional Contribution to Stu- tion for Education, Science and dent of PUE, QF, gave an inspiring dent Welfare’, ‘Best Education Community Development (QF), speech highlighting recent suc- Initiative’, ‘Outstanding Teacher’, houses nine schools and aca- cess stories and welcoming the ‘Outstanding Practitioner – Aca- demic institutions in Qatar, and new academic year. demic’, and ‘Outstanding continually strives to nurture aca- “The success of Pre-Univer- Practitioner – Non Academic’. demic excellence and sity Education doesn’t depend on Samuel Abrams, along with innovation. 04 HOME SUNDAY 20 AUGUST 2017 4th World Mindsports Championships kicks off

Raynald C Rivera and contestants taking part in a further develop sports tourism The Peninsula friendly speed chess game in in Qatar,” he said. which they went against 12-year- Dave Brannan, founder and total of 1,058 mindsports old Chessmaster Ieysaa bin CEO of Mindsports International, enthusiasts from 23 coun- Suhayl and Grand Masters Keith said mindsports are the fastest tries are competing in 21 Arkell, Tamàs Fodor and current growing and most highly A Hassan Al Ibrahim (fourth left), Chief Tourism Development Officer at Qatar Tourism Authority tournaments across six mind- International Master Jack Rudd. watched sports internationally. sports at the 4th World Hassan Al Ibrahim, Chief There are over a billion Mind- (QTA); Prof. Shirish Soni (second right), Ambassador of South Africa; Park Heung - Kyeong Mindsports Championships Tourism Development Officer at sports players around the world, (third left), Ambassador of the Republic of South Korea; Peter Chamberlain (right), Deputy which opened yesterday at Doha QTA, stressed the country’s including 600 million chess Head of Mission at the British Embassy; Mohammed Al Omar (second left), Embassy of the Exhibition and Convention thrust in developing sports tour- players and 400 million Go State of Kuwait; Moza Khalid Al Mohannadi (left), Director CSR, Sponsorship and Media at Center (DECC). ism as an important sector of the players. Ooredoo; during the kick-off of the 4th Mindsports World Championships at Doha Exhibition The contestants will compete industry. Al Ibrahim expressed “It is an honour to be here and Convention Center yesterday. Pics: Kammutty VP / The Peninsula for over $100,000 in prize gratitude to President of the today and bring Mindsports to money, prizes, and the crown Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), the Middle East for the first time. onships,” he said. title of Mindsport World Cham- Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad bin We all hope that this will be the He added: “By being here we pion. The Championships Khalifa Al Thani, for supporting first of many. The Mindsport feel that it will inspire more peo- comprise six headline events the expansion of the range of World Championships were con- ple to come along and we are including chess, scrabble, back- sports events held in Qatar. ceived to bring communities working already with local gammon, bridge, Go and QTA had partnered with QOC together, to help cognitive skill groups in the education area to e-Sports. to cross promote the emerging gaming and to help bring gam- help introduce mindsports into Taking place in the Middle e-sports scene in Qatar. In addi- ing within schools around the schools in Doha and we are going East for the first time, the Cham- tion to the e-sports competitions world,” said Brannan. to continue to do that after this pionships, which run alongside taking place at the Mindsports “We hope that this tourna- event for the coming years.” this year’s Qatar Summer Festi- Championships, QOC will be ment in Doha show the world The Mindsports World val, are organised by Mindsports organising a FIFA e-Sports Com- what can be done in mindsports Championships are also sup- Academy and hosted by Qatar munity Event on the final day of and through venues like this that ported by Qatar Foundation for Tourism Authority (QTA). the tournament. we can bring people together. Education, Science and Commu- The nine-day tournament “Our partnership with QOC We hope that it will help in edu- nity Development, Aspire Zone kicked off to a promising start for this championship marks the cation in schools and that we get Foundation, Ooreedoo, AlFardan The twelve-year-old Chessmaster, Ieysaa bin Suhayl, goes with ambassadors, QTA officials, beginning of a strategic relation- more schools running tourna- Automobiles, Adabisc, Strike and representatives of the event’s ship which will see both entities ments so they can send these KiddyZone. against officials and guests in a speed chess game at the partners, Mindsports champions working closely together to people to these world champi- championships.

Qatar’s envoy to QSTec signs accord with SolarWorld Industries Oman lauds ties Continued from page 1 Berlin strengthen our relationship with reach. “We have the best prod- The Peninsula SolarWorld Industries and con- ucts, the right partners and we Qatar’s ambassador to tinue the production of high share a common vision for the Oman explained that the new atar Solar Technologies quality solar technologies in Ger- future of SolarWorld Industries, reality imposes the necessity (QSTec) announced that it many fully aligns with QSTec’s QSTec and the global solar of pushing relations to greater Qhad successfully come to vision of being a world leading industry,” said SolarWorld and more welcoming levels. an arrangement that would see integrated solar company,” said Industries’ Founder, Dr Frank He pointed out that the Sul- SolarWorld Industries emerge QSTec’s Chairman and CEO, Dr Asbeck. “The industry is expand- tanate’s ports will be the new from insolvency and ensure the Khalid Klefeekh Al Hajri. ing, new markets are opening up gateway for Qatari imports continuation of solar manufac- “We have expanded QSTec’s daily and together with QSTec, and that the moves witnessed turing in Germany. global reach, increased our SolarWorld Industries will con- by the countries have contrib- Headquartered in Germany, research opportunities and tinue to manufacture modules uted to enhancing trade SolarWorld Industries is a fully gained larger access to solar of the highest German quality exchange. integrated solar photovoltaic technologies and markets that and standards.” He underlined the need (PV) module manufacturing will be of great benefit to QSTec “German companies are well to strengthen economic and company that is well known and our partners. known for producing products trade relations in all sectors throughout the solar industry for “QSTec has investments in and technologies of the highest pointing that the current cri- its high-quality products, cut- polysilicon production, inte- quality and reliability,” said sis has shown that it is ting-edge technology and its grated module manufacturing Sheikh Saoud A. Al Thani, necessary to focus on the focus on research and develop- and supply chain technologies Ambassador of the State of Qatar issue of self-sufficiency. ment. Under the agreement, that will allow QSTec and its to the Federal Republic of Ger- Officials of QSTec and SolarWorld Industries posing for a photo. Ambassador Al Hajri several hundred jobs will be partners to reduce costs, and many. “It is in line with the Qatar expressed hope that Omani saved at SolarWorld Industries’ improve quality, across the National Vision 2030 and the a positive impact on our envi- Industries’ products will con- companies would compete German manufacturing plants entire solar value chain.” strategic plans of Germany to ronment, and transform the lives tinue to be manufactured in strongly to enter the open and they will continue to develop The synergies between cease nuclear power production of millions of people around the Germany,” noted Dr Al Hajri. Qatari market. their advanced proprietary tech- SolarWorld Industries and QSTec by 2022. With solar energy now world.” The complex deal ends “The high-quality modules that Al Hajri also praised the nology to capitalise on the enable the development of a sus- being the world’s number one weeks of speculation about the SolarWorld Industries produce role played by Oman Air dur- increasing global demand for tainable business platform that technology choice for new elec- future of solar manufacturing in are ideally suited to QSTec’s top ing the first days of the crisis solar. For QSTec, the new deal will assist both companies to tricity generation, the synergies Germany. tier polysilicon and we are after it launched additional has many strategic advantages. develop new products and between SolarWorld Industries “We are proud to play a role extremely positive about our flights to and from Saudi Ara- “The opportunity to expand their global market and QSTec will no doubt make in ensuring that SolarWorld opportunities for future growth.” bia to help facilitate the return of Qatari worshipers who were stranded at Saudi Qatar Youth airports after performing Umrah. Hostels & QOA sign pact Nakilat & QSCCB hold bowling QNA session atar Youth Hostels signed a cooperation The Peninsula Qagreement with Qatar Olympic Academy akilat recently organ- (QOA) to provide better ised a bowling session service to families and par- Nwith the visually ticularly youth, in line with impaired in co-operation with Qatar National Vision 2030 the Qatar Social and Cultural which calls for investing in Center for the Blind (QSCCB). youth and their ability to Volunteers from Nakilat innovate. acted as guides and some Executive Manager were even blindfolded during Mohamed bin Mahdi Al the session to better appreci- Yami said in a statement ate the challenge of bowling released to the press that without the sense of sight. the agreement represent a Bowling is one of the few new addition to joint work sports that can be enjoyed by between different state people of all ages and abili- institutions. The agreement ties, and blind bowling has works on enhancing coop- proven to be very popular eration and exchanging with the use of a sighted guide expertise between the two or guide rails. Nakilat Admin- sides. istration Director, Rashid He added that the Hamad Al Marri, said, “We are Olympic Academy is a indeed very fortunate to be leading institution in the able to learn and experience, field of providing sports albeit a small portion, the services and activities to challenges the visually youth. impaired face.” SUNDAY 20 AUGUST 2017 HOME 05 NBK Automobiles says New collections from Jaguar & Land Rover The Peninsula

aguar and Land Rover have launched their pre- blockade has no impact mium lifestyle ranges of clothing and merchandise Jfor 2017, including two all-new Heritage Collections inspired by iconic cars of the past. The Peninsula Both Collections have been carefully designed and selected with the same meticulous attention asser Bin Khaled to detail that goes into designing and developing (NBK)Automobiles, its range of vehicles. Overseen by Design Direc- the Authorised gen- tors Gerry McGovern and Ian Callum, the brand eral distributor of DNA runs throughout the Collections in the same Mercedes-Benz in way as it does the vehicles themselves. NQatar, has announced that the The 2017 Jaguar and Land Rover Collections company is continuing to deliver feature an extended range of new products, includ- endary British trans-Americas expedition to life. its services and maintenance as ing 2-in-1 waterproof jackets, new T-shirt styles One highlight in the new Land Rover Collec- usual, and assured the availa- and designs for men, women and children, high- tion is the Heritage Trunk. Made in collaboration bility of the spare parts without quality leather phone and tablet cases, an all-new with renowned luxury luggage makers, Globe- being affected by the blockade luggage set, a new chronograph watch and a sig- Trotter, this sturdy case has Tan leather handles on Qatar. NBK Automobiles nificantly enhanced range of children’s products and straps with a printed cotton weave interior again reiterates its commitment The authorised general distributor of Mercedes- including sweatshirts, hoodies, caps, books, toys, displaying the Overland Expedition route map. to provide the highest standards Benz in Qatar has said the company is continuing to rucksacks, pencil cases and lunch boxes, not for- of customer service, as per the getting of course Adventure Bear, offering up Jaguar highlights Mercedes-Benz values and deliver its services and maintenance as usual, and perfect ideas for customers’ gifts. Additionally an In 1963, a legend was born in the form of the motto “the Best or Nothing”. assured the availability of the spare parts without extended range of replica car models from the Jaguar Lightweight E-type, which experienced NBK Automobiles has made being affected by the blockade on Qatar. Jaguar and Land Rover families are also availa- huge success on the race track. Only 12 of these arrangements for availability of ble. Hannah Naji, Brand Director for Jaguar Land stunning race cars were manufactured, and one parts through alternative routes but also exceed our customers’ duration and mileage, at a con- Rover MENA says: “The Jaguar and Land Rover of these cars was to achieve legendary status at a directly from the Daimler, to expectations, ensuring they venient price. It covers the cost Collections combine exceptional design and orig- famed race in Florida, USA – the 12 Hours of meet all the necessary techni- enjoy the peace of mind.” of parts, labor and operational inality with outstanding quality. In addition to a Sebring. cal demands without any delay He continued, “Nasser Bin fluids needed and is valid for stunning range of heritage-inspired products, we Driven by Ed Leslie and Frank Morrill, the and without any compromise on Khaled Automobiles is always passenger cars, as well as com- have also created new core and lifestyle ranges No.23 Lightweight E-type, painted in Old English quality and excellence. devoted to Qatar, its wise lead- mercial vehicles and trucks. which continue to be stylish and relevant for all White and featuring bold red and blue stripes, Sheikh Faleh bin Nawaf Al ership and to our national Other service packages the family.” crossed the line in first place in the GT4 Class. Thani, Operations Director – values. That’s why we are include Best Maintenance for Number 23’s victory is still celebrated decades Auto at Nasser Bin Khaled importing all our items directly, commercial vehicles, which has Land Rover highlights later and now it is immortalised in the 2017 Jag- Holding said :“We are pleased for our customers to experience a fixed cost that allows custom- Land Rover’s Heritage Collection epitomises uar Heritage Collection. to announce the continuation of seamless service.” ers to know exactly how much the brand’s adventurous spirit and the designers The Jaguar Collection designers have taken maintenance service and the NBK Automobiles operates the maintenance of his vehicle of this new Collection have drawn inspiration from inspiration from the Lightweight E-type for its availability of spare parts to all a wealth of services to assist will cost over a period of years. the two Range Rover crews that conquered the exclusive range of luxury clothing, accessories commercial, personal vehicles customers including a 24-hour This helps manage any future Americas in 1971, which included the infamous and collectibles. One such collectible is a set of and trucks without any delay. Service Helpline to attend to cost implications due to natural Darién Gap expedition. three, stainless steel Bottle Stoppers, which fea- We always strive to deliver the vehicle related emergencies. In wear and tear, as well as avoid The Land Rover Heritage Collection is a pre- ture a range of gear knob designs. highest standards of quality and addition to regular maintenance any impact based on inflation of mium range of clothing, gifts and accessories, For the discerning Jaguar customer, a leather service and find suitable solu- services, it offers Mercedes- maintenance costs. As a brand, inspired by the all-conquering spirit of persever- lined Valet Box has been developed to keep val- tions to all our customers to Benz Service Solutions (MBSS) NBK Automobiles is deeply asso- ance. The navy and gold colours of those original uable accessories organised in style. With multiple have their requests met as usual. allowing customers to purchase ciated with a successful history Range Rovers stand out across the Collection, storage compartments it contains space for four During the period of blockade, maintenance services as per of premium quality service and while technical graphics, route map designs and watches and a tray for securely storing we were able not only to meet, their needs, over the chosen market leadership. accounts of the Darién Gap crossing bring the leg- cufflinks. Eid offers by InterContinental Doha The City

The Peninsula to the Health and Fitness Club Eid Staycation Offers: beverages. *Terms and Condi- and relax by the open air rooftop Enjoy a lavish stay close to tions Apply •Extra person charge nterContinental Doha The City pool and stay longer thanks to all major leisure and shopping at QR 200 per person per day announced the Eid Al Adha the complimentary early check destinations and book our Eid •Valid from August 31 to Septem- Ioffer with an unforgettable in at 12:00 noon and late check package starting from QR750 per ber 9, 2017 •Advance experience with friends and fam- out, included in the packages. night. Inclusive of Deluxe room reservations recommended. ily and revel in the joy at The for two •Breakfast at The Square Square for brunch on the first two Eid at The Square •Complimentary upgrade to a Stay for 4 – Pay for 3 days of the celebration with a Kick off your Eid celebrations premium room (Subject to avail- Make the most of your Eid selection of traditional and inter- in style with our spectacular ability) •Complimentary holidays and enjoy a fantastic national options, topped off with brunch on the first two days of high-speed wireless internet getaway in the heart of West Bay, at 12:00 noon •Complimentary •Extra person charge at QR favourite indulgent desserts. Eid. Bring your family and loved •Complimentary early check-in close to all major attractions and late check-out at 17:00 •Compli- 200 per person per day *Valid For those looking for week- ones to The Square and enjoy our at 12:00 noon •Complimentary shopping destinations. Book your mentary access to the Health & from August 31 to September 9 end getaway or staycation spread of authentic regional and late check-out at 15:00 •Com- stay for 4 days and pay for 3 with Fitness club including rooftop * Advance reservations options, enjoy a lavish stay close international favourites, perfect plimentary access to the Health our Eid offer, and enjoy addi- pool • 20% discount on food and recommended. to all major leisure and shopping for everyone to indulge in. & Fitness club including rooftop tional benefits. Inclusive of beverage •20% discount on For enquiries and reserva- destinations and book one of our 12:30 – 16:00 • QR255 inclu- pool •20% discount on food and Complimentary upgrade to a laundry • Enjoy our fantastic Eid tion, contact on +974 4015 Eid packages starting from QAR sive of soft beverages • QR355 beverage •20% discount on laun- premium room (Subject to avail- Brunch at The Square on the 1st 8888/+974 7021 8803 or email 750 per night or, stay for four inclusive of selected house bev- dry •Enjoy fantastic Eid Brunch ability) •Breakfast at The Square and 2nd day of Eid for an addi- [email protected] days and pay for three with our erages •QR390 inclusive of at The Square on the 1st and 2nd Restaurant •Complimentary tional QR 190 per person for food and beverage, and QAR 2,100 package. Keep active premium beverages day of Eid for an additional QR high-speed wireless internet inclusive of soft beverages. [email protected] with our complimentary access 190 per person inclusive of soft •Complimentary early check-in *Terms and Conditions Apply for room reservations. Mondrian Doha starts accepting reservations

atar’s exciting new lifestyle hospitality offer- ing, Mondrian Doha, managed by sbe, the Qleading lifestyle hospitality company that develops, manages and operates award-winning hos- pitality venues globally, has announced that it is now accepting reservations for the soon to open property in Doha. With Mondrian Doha, marking sbe’s first hotel in the Middle East and the introduction of the Holiday Villa Hotel & Residence Doha Mondrian brand to the region, sbe is set to open a number of their award-winning culinary concepts, certified for HACCP compliance Katsuya and Cleo across the GCC by 2020. Jorge Giannattasio, Chief Operating Officer at The Peninsula of HACCP. The ceremony was sbe, commented: “We are delighted to now be in a attended by Holiday Villa’s General position to take bookings for Mondrian Doha, and oliday Villa Hotel & Residence Manager Joey Chen, Executive Assist- are very much looking forward to opening our first Doha has been awarded the ant Manager Roy Buma, Operation hotel in the middle east in Doha, Qatar, which is one Hcoveted Hazard Analysis and Manager Ruban Jack, Executive Chef of the most dynamic cities in the region.” Critical Control Points (HACCP) global Ismail Ismadi and F&B Manager Zamri The lavish 270-room hotel has been designed in certification after completing and com- Kusnin together with the culinary and collaboration with world-renowned Dutch designer, plying with the food safety management management team. Upon receiving Marcel Wanders, along with South West Architecture system’s regulatory and statutory the award, Chen said, “Food safety is – the architectural company of record for Mondrian requirements. The HACCP certification a top priority at Holiday Villa. The Doha, responsible for the design of the building. The is the premier level of food safety stand- hotel needs to ensure that from pro- hotel will be an exceptional lifestyle offering for Doha ard that is highly regarded in the curement, delivery, handling, and will be Marcel Wanders’ first hotel for the region. hospitality and food industries. preparation to consumption, the food Guests can choose from five distinctive room categories The esteemed award was pre- safety system is in accordance to the including a penthouse suite, studio suites, one and two sented by Chief Executive Selim Kseib, high quality standards of HACCP.” bedroom suites and a range of standard guestrooms - Businesss Line Manager Vishal Bhat Holiday Villa Hotel & Residence all of which share the universal design details of and Business Development Executive Doha offers 357 lavishly designed Swarovski crystal chandeliers and sumptuous bespoke Rifaat Al Kahal of Bureau Veritas – a hotel rooms and 396 fully furnished furniture in hues to mirror the desert. The hotel will be global leader in Testing, Inspection serviced apartments. For reservation taking bookings from October 1, 2017, with room rates and Certification (TIC) that ensures and inquiries, call at + 974 4408 4888 starting at QR875 ($240) per night. For further infor- compliance with regulations and or email at info@holidayvilladoha. mation, visit www.mondriandoha.com standards based on the 7 principles com. Visit www.holidayvilladoha.com. 06 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA SUNDAY 20 AUGUST 2017 Erdogan slams German rebukes in election row

Istanbul eligible to vote in the German AFP “He (German foreign elections not to cast their bal- minister) knows no lots for Merkel’s Christian urkish President limits! Who are you to Democratic Union (CDU), their Recep Tayyip Erdogan coalition partner the Social lashed out at the Ger- talk to the president Democratic Party (SPD), or the man government of Turkey? Know your Greens. “Teach them a lesson in yesterday for criticis- limits. He is trying to the German elections,” he said. Ting his call to ethnic Turks to teach us a lesson... How “They are waging a campaign vote against Germany’s two rul- long have you been in against Turkey. Vote for those ing parties in September politics? How old are who don’t have enmity towards elections, warning the foreign Turkey.” minister to “know your limits”. you?” Erdogan said. He added: “It’s not impor- The latest spat between tant for us whether Germany Ankara and Berlin risks propel- “unprecedented act of interfer- opens its doors to us or not. We ling a months-long crisis in ties ence” in Germany’s sovereignty. have enough doors.” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivering a speech at a meeting of the ruling Justice between two Nato allies with But speaking to supporters in the Tensions have spiralled deep historic links to a new level southwestern province of Den- between Germany and Turkey and Development Party (AKP) in Denizli, Turkey, yesterday. ahead of Germany’s general izli, Erdogan launched a stinging in recent months. election on September 24. personal attack on Gabriel. Berlin has lambasted Ankara February ahead of trial on terror refuge in Germany. Addressing the detained journalists and Erdogan had a day earlier “He knows no limits! Who over the magnitude of the crack- charges. German journalist Merkel as “Madam”, Erdogan said activist. “Forgive me but you have caused consternation in Berlin are you to talk to the president down that followed last year’s Mesale Tolu has been held on the Turkish authorities had sent your legal system and so do we,” by urging ethnic Turks in Ger- of Turkey? Know your limits. He failed coup, which has seen sev- similar charges since May, while Germany dossiers on 4,500 sus- he added. many to vote against both is trying to teach us a lesson... eral German citizens arrested, activist Peter Steudtner was pects wanted for extradition to In a potential further bone of parties in Chancellor Angela How long have you been in pol- including journalists. arrested in a July raid. Germany on terror charges and contention, Dogan Akhanli, a Ger- Merkel’s governing coalition. itics? How old are you?” Turkish-German journalist Ankara meanwhile has received no answer. man writer of Turkish origin, was Foreign Minister Sigmar Erdogan said. Deniz Yucel, the Istanbul corre- accused Berlin of failing to extra- “And she wanted one or two arrested in Spain yesterday at Gabriel had bitterly condemned Erdogan repeated his con- spondent of the Die Welt daily, dite suspected Kurdish militants people to be sent home by me,” Ankara’s request, Greens MP Erdogan’s comments as an troversial call for ethnic Turks has been jailed in Turkey since and coup plotters who have taken he said in apparent reference to Volker Beck said.

Foreign ministers Lebanese army and Hezbollah target IS on Syrian border welcome US Mideast mediation Beirut security source said. The area is “The army has succeeded in A Hezbollah statement said receives. Washington classifies Reuters the last part of the Lebanese-Syr- eliminating a very large part of the group was meeting its pledge the Iran-backed Hezbollah as a CAIRO: The Palestinian, ian frontier under insurgent their men and equipment. We to “remove the terrorist threat at terrorist group. Egyptian and Jordanian for- he Lebanese army control. have tightened the noose around the borders of the nation” and “There is no coordination, eign ministers expressed launched an offensive yes- A security source said the them and they have become was fighting “side by side” with not with Hezbollah or the Syr- support yesterday for US Mid- Tterday against an Islamic offensive was making advances much weaker,” Colonel Nazih the Syrian army. It made no ian army,” General Ali Kanso said dle East peace efforts at a State (IS) enclave on the north- with several hills taken in the Jraish told reporters. mention of the Lebanese army in a televised news conference, Cairo meeting ahead of a eastern border with Syria, as the push against the militants The operation by Hezbollah operation. The Lebanese army adding that the army had started White House delegation visit Lebanese Shia group Hezbollah entrenched on fortified high and the Syrian army targeted the said it was not coordinating the to tighten a siege of IS in the area to the region. The ministers announced an assault on the mil- ground, in outposts and in caves. area across the border in the assault with Hezbollah or the two weeks ago. said in a joint statement they itants from the Syrian side of the An army spokesman said a western Qalamoun region of Syrian army. “It’s the most difficult battle “appreciated the American frontier. third of the area in the hands of Syria. Hezbollah-run Al Manar Any joint operation between so far waged by the Lebanese role to achieve peace” The Lebanese army opera- the militants was so far now TV said that its fighters were the Lebanese army on the one army against terrorist groups - between the Israelis and tion got underway at 5am (0200 recaptured since the offensive ascending a series of strategic hand and Hezbollah and the Syr- the nature of the terrain and the Palestinians. GMT), targeting Islamic State began with twenty militants heights known as the Mosul ian army on the other would be enemy,” he said, characterizing They “look forward to the positions near the town of Ras killed in either direct combat, Mountains that overlook several politically sensitive in Lebanon the 600 Islamic State fighters in US administration intensify- Baalbek with rockets, artillery shelling or aerial strikes. Ten sol- unofficial border crossings used and could jeopardize the sizea- the area as 600 “suicide ing its efforts in the coming and helicopters, a Lebanese diers were injured. by the militants. ble US military aid the country bombers”. period”. Talks between Israel and the Palestinians have been at a standstill since the failure of US mediation in the Palestinian teenager shot dead spring of 2014. by Israeli forces in West Bank Protest against ruling dynasty in GAZA CITY: Israeli forces have shot and killed a Palestinian after he attacked a policemen at a West Bank checkpoint, stabbing one of the Togo; two dead officers. The Palestinian Health Ministry says the shooting took place at an Israeli checkpoint in the West Bank. The assailant was identified as LOME: Two protesters were 17-year-old Qutaiba Zahran, who died at the scene shortly after being killed and 13 others wounded shot. Israeli medical authorities say the attacker stabbed an Israeli officer in Togo when security forces at the Tapuah Junction near Nablus City, wounding him slightly in the opened fire to break up dem- leg. The Israeli policeman was evacuated to hospital. onstrations against the ruling Gnassingbe family dynasty, the security ministry said. President Faure Gnass- ingbe has been in power in the West African country President Robert Mugabe (centre) of the Republic of Zimbabwe, arrives at the Opening since the death in 2005 of his Session of the 37th Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit of Heads father, Gnassingbe Eyadema, of State and Government at the OR Tambo Building in Pretoria, yesterday. who had been at the helm for 38 years. Wearing the red colours Grace Mugabe absent from of the opposition PNP party, chanting and singing “50 years is too long!”, thousands summit as assault claim lingers of demonstrators in the cap- ital Lome called for the Pretoria The alleged assault is a of the platform where several reinstatement of the consti- AFP political headache for South heads of state spoke. Her hus- tution limiting terms that Africa and Zimbabwe, close band, 93, in a black suit and Eyadema introduced in imbabwe’s First Lady neighbours with deep eco- beige scarf, was among eight response to protests in 1992. Grace Mugabe failed to nomic and historical ties. regional leaders present. Security forces fired tear Zappear yesterday at a The matter also appears Neither South Africa’s for- gas to disperse them. summit in South Africa attended to have spilled into aviation, eign ministry or the police by her husband, an event over- with South African Airways said where the Zimbabwean Khartoum airport shadowed by her effort to obtain abruptly announcing that it first lady was, after it emerged diplomatic immunity over was halting flights to and from that two aircraft were barred reopens after plane assault allegations. Zimbabwe in a decision that from leaving Johannesburg skidding incident The wife of President followed flights being can- and Harare. Robert Mugabe has not been celled overnight after a One was owned by Air KHARTOUM: Aviation traf- seen since being accused of dispute over permits, officials Zimbabwe, the company reg- fic in Khartoum International attacking a 20-year-old said. ularly used by President Airport was back to normal, model with a electrical exten- Police had said Grace Mugabe, and one by South ending a brief closure after sion cord last weekend in a Mugabe was expected at the African Airways (SAA). an aircraft skidded off the Johannesburg hotel where the two-day Southern African The first flight could not runway, due to heavy rain couple’s two sons were stay- Development Community take off Friday night from last morning. Spokesman for ing. The case has become a (SADC) meeting that opened Johannesburg International the Sudanese airports Com- media spectacle, with protest- with a “first spouses pro- Airport because the airline pany Zuhair Sandagawi said ers gathered outside the gramme”. But the 52-year-old lacked an “international per- the 130 passengers were summit, some brandishing wife of Zimbabwe’s leader mit to operate”, according to unharmed, adding that the placards that read “Grace, was not among the first ladies South Africa’s civil aviation Airbus A320 was tucked for disgrace.” in reserved seating at the foot authority. maintenance. SUNDAY 20 AUGUST 2017 ASIA 07

Wildlife reserve park 23 dead, 40 injured in Indian train crash devastated by floods Guwahati Muzaffarnagar adding to difficulties, the rail- AP IANS ways were engaged in a grim battle for rescuing those trapped OFFICIALS say rising flood- t least 23 people were by deploying heavy gas cutters waters have inundated large killed and at least 40 and other equipments to break parts of a famous wildlife injured in a major open into the coaches. reserve park in northeastern derailment when 14 The accident occurred India, killing more than 225 coaches of the around 5.45 p.m. when 14 animals and forcing hundreds KalingaA Utkal Express bound for coaches of the Puri-Haridwar of other animals to flee. Park Haridwar in Uttarakhand went Kalinga Utkal Express bound for director Satyendra Singh says off the tracks with one of the Haridwar derailed in Khatauli in 15 rhinos, 185 deer and at least coaches mounting on another Meerut-Saharanpur Division. one Royal Bengal tiger have near Khatauli in Uttar Pradesh The impact of the accident was died in the devastating floods yesterday evening. so severe that one of the coaches that have submerged almost More casualties are feared as could be seen mounted on the entire Kaziranga National a number of passengers are said another while another coach had Park in Assam state. Mean- to have been trapped in the crashed into the Chowdhary while, across northern India derailed coaches. Union Minister Tilakram Inter College along the and neighboring Nepal and and Muzaffarnagar MP Sanjay tracks. Railway spokesperson Bangladesh, the death toll from Balyan, who reached the spot, Anil Saxena said that 14 of the drowning, collapsed houses claimed nearly 60 people were coaches had derailed, while the and landslides triggered by injured. The state police however state police chief’s press release annual monsoon rains climbed put the dead at 23 and injured at 40. said eight coaches had derailed. to around 578 yesterday. “Twentythree people have Police and railway officials Soldiers and disaster manage- died, and 40 are injured,” the said they were keeping all Workers look for survivors on the wreckage of a train carriage after an express train derailed ment workers in the three office of the Director General of options open when asked near the town of Khatauli in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, yesterday. countries have launched mam- Police office said in a revised whether there could be a terror moth rescue efforts to evacuate release. The earlier release it angle in the accident. including heavy lift cranes and to bring passengers to safety. forces to join the rescue operation. and provide food and shelter to the issued had put the number of The railways and police gas cutters to access the affected The National Disaster Its chief Sanjay Kumar said 20 bod- nearly 16 million people affected injured at 400. With nightfall summoned all equipments coaches and cut through them Response Force (NDRF) also rushed ies have been recovered so far. by the floods in South Asia. Nine officials Nitish Kumar-led Janata suspended over cow deaths Dal faction joins NDA

RAIPUR: In the wake of the Patna NDA. He said the uproar over the death of 250 IANS national executive cows in Durg and Bemetra also approved the par- districts of Chhattisgarh, nine he Janata Dal-United ty’s decision to walk officials of the Agriculture and faction led by Bihar out of the Grand Alli- Animal Husbandry depart- TChief Minister Nitish ance of the RJD and ment have been suspended Kumar (pictured), yester- Congress and join and issued show-cause day passed a resolution at hands with the BJP to notices, officials said. The the party’s national exec- form government in departmental action came utive meeting here to Bihar. The national after a report on the deaths formally join the National executive meeting was was submitted by Agriculture Democratic Alliance held at the official res- Department’s Director S K (NDA), the ruling front at idence of Nitish Kumar, Pandey yesterday. the centre. who is also JD-U president. After the cattle died at “A resolution that the JD-U will join Most of the JD-U leaders, including Phoolchand Goshala in God- the BJP-led NDA was unanimously 70 party MLAs, two Lok Sabha MPs and marra village in Bemetra approved in the meeting. Now we have seven Rajya Sabha MPs participated in district and Mayuri Goshala become part of NDA,” JD-U General the meeting. in Rano village, Agriculture Secretary K C Tyagi told reporters. The JD-U now has two factions: one Minister Brijmohan Aggarwal The resolution was moved by Tyagi, led by Nitish Kumar and the other by had asked the Department’s which was approved by all invited senior party leader and former party Director S K Pandey to sub- members. Tyagi said that BJP President president Sharad Yadav. Yadav has been mit the report on the matter Amit Shah had urged Nitish Kumar dur- opposed to Nitish Kumar’s move to by August 19. ing his recent visit to Delhi to join the embrace the BJP. Merger of AIADMK factions likely in two days

Chennai maintained that expulsion of V K Panneerselvam asserting that talks IANS Sasikala from the party was a basic on the merger of the AIADMK factions requirement before they can come are going on “smoothly” and a “good otwithstanding differences, together. The much-talked about decision” will be out in a day or two. both the factions of the merger, which appeared a done deal “There are no differences and the NAIADMK expressed confidence on Friday evening came unstuck appar- talks for the merger as desired by the over their merger in two days, but a ently due to persisting differences over people of Tamil Nadu and cadre of leader of the group led by former Sasikala and other issues. AIADMK are proceeding smoothly,” Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam Yesterday began with Panneerselvam told reporters. Gorakhpur deaths govt-made tragedy: Rahul Gandhi

Lucknow negligence. Instead of trying to Singh and legislator Aradhana IANS cover up, Chief Minister (Yogi Mishra, Gandhi landed at the Adityanath) and the government Gorakhpur airport and drove ongress Vice-President should take action in the mat- straight to the house of Brahm- Rahul Gandhi met yester- ter,” the Congress leader said in dev Yadav at Baghagada village Cday a few of the families another tweet. and spoke to the family which who lost their children in the Extending his condolences, lost seven-day-old twins. Gorakhpur hospital tragedy to he told the families that the Con- He was briefed on the trag- express sympathies and said it gress supported them in their edy and asked about the reason was a “government-made trag- hour of crisis. behind the deaths of over 60 edy” since the deaths occurred “Prime Minister Narendra children in five days between due to lack of oxygen. Modi talks about ‘new India’. We August 7 and 12. “I met the bereaved fami- do not want such new India. We The Congress leaders lies. All of them told me that need India where the poor can assured Yadav they will try and their children died due to lack return to their home happily, get him a job. of oxygen. It is very clear that it after treatment of their chil- Raj Babbar dubbed the is a government-made tragedy,” dren,” Gandhi said. Bharatiya Janata Party’s state Gandhi said in a tweet. “I had gone to this hospital government as a “total failure” More than 60 children had earlier. Addressing reporters, I and said it had lost the right to died at Baba Raghav Das Med- had requested Modi ji that this rule. ical College last week, allegedly hospital needs money, but no After this, Rahul Gandhi due to disruption in the supply action has been taken.” went to the house of Nitesh of oxygen to the institution over Accompanied by Congress Shukla in Malanv village and unpaid dues to the supplier General Secretary Ghulam Nabi was scheduled to visit Rama company. Azad, Uttar Pradesh Congress Shankar in Basauli Khurd vil- “It is absolutely clear that Committee chief Raj Babbar, lage and Jitendra at Khatauna this (tragedy) is due to former Union Minister R P N village. 08 VIEWS SUNDAY 20 AUGUST 2017

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI [email protected]

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED [email protected]

EDITORIAL Terror target ultiple terrorist attacks have again laid bare the Achilles heel of Europe. The spread of the continent makes it vulnerable to terrorist groups that step into the cracks and go after unsuspecting people, M leading to killings and gory sights. Not very long ago, a major Islamist terrorist group had defiantly told Europeans that Jihadis would make it well nigh Playing to the gallery impossible for them to venture out of their homes. The threat that was underscored by a pervasive arrogance seems to be coming true. spots, Trump administration officials Europe has been in the cross hairs of international Irfan Bukhari denounce Qatar’s aid to terrorists terror groups who target liberal values, in keeping with while fires burn in the background. their fundamentalist designs aimed at creating fear and This is a harsh and largely unfair judg- hatred. Militants married to misleading and false ment of the peaceful, globalist ideologies have been summoning all their resources and city-state I knew.” strength to recruit people internationally that has led to “Taliban office” story which was It is a ripe time for Saudi the spread of militancy extensively across regions and ach and every move from the hack- designed grossly to prove unfounded Arabia to take a pause to continents. ing of QNA website back in July this accusations against Qatar has gone It is not only countries at the core of the continent year to the engineered-events down the tube as the world knows that recognise mischievous that have been the victims this time. Russia — known for behind the reopening of Saudi bor- the office was opened to facilitate a hands working behind its overriding security and intelligence apparatus has not ders for Qatari pilgrims is broader US-led effort of peace talks in the Gulf crisis and also been spared. The bloodletting started with Spain where Epreplanned and part of a greater yet visibly Afghanistan. In no way, it was an vehicles were driven into crowds, claiming fourteen failed conspiracy hatched to damage, defame endorsement of Taliban’s ideology. differentiate between lives. The dead — including a three-year-old boy — are and isolate Qatar by Saudi-led alliance. Luckily, hollowness of substance real well-wishers and All accusations, the 13-point list of of blockading countries false allega- from Spain, Portugal, Italy, Argentina, Belgium, USA and enemies disguised as Philippines. demands, hostile propaganda campaigns tions against Qatar has also been The surge in public anger and even frequent u-turns in political proved by leaked emails of UAE friends. For such ‘friends’ positions by Saudi-led quartet are meant ambassador to US, Yousef Al Otaiba. amid grief is understandable. to raise mist of misinformation to confuse The New York Times reported that Voltaire said: “Defend Mayor of the popular tourist judgment of people across the globe. Otaiba had received an “angry call” me from my friends, I With terrorism’s destination of Barcelona, When blockading countries’ mouth organs from UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah egregious ideology where the tragedy unfolded, can defend myself from operating from the Gulf like Al Arabiya bin Zayed Al Nahyan, complaining creeping up stonewalled queries about and Sky News Abu Dhabi failed to deliver that the Taliban had ended up in Qatar my enemies.” on Europe, the absence of bollards at the desired results they loosened the strings and not the UAE, according to mes- attack site. The fear in the continent faces a of their deep purses to launch smear cam- sages in the ambassador’s Hotmail response of the civic body paigns against Qatar in the US media. account. serious security chief was palpable when he First by cutting all links with authorities “I got an angry call from (Zayed) will affect the entire world, not just crisis. said it’s not possible to place concerned in Qatar; blockading sea, air saying how come we weren’t told,” the region. “The Gulf region is con- barriers everywhere as and land routes; imposing restrictions on Otaiba wrote to an American official, sidered an energy centre; everything terrorists would have channels of logistics like accommodation; referring to the decision on choosing that happens affects everyone, and targeted another spot if the Saudi Arabia virtually barred Qatar’s pil- Qatar to host the Taliban. This leaked the crisis happened suddenly and no site of Thursday’s attack had bollards. grims entry to the Holy Land to perform email is sufficient to expose mala one knows when and how it will As a mourning Spain tried to come to terms with the Haj and when the whole world community fide campaign against Qatar. end.” bloody reality of the Jihadist assault, tranquil Finland stood against the injustice they opened the The blockading countries are stuck Qatar has been saying in categori- popped up in the news. The Scandinavian nation, known border posing as if they were doing a great in a quagmire they created themselves cal terms since the onset of crisis that it for its, peaceful society, became the target of a knife favour. and the only honourable exit is an never interferes in the internal affairs attack by a Moroccan asylum seeker who launched a Banning Qatari pilgrims from Haj was a open admission of their diplomatic fol- of neighbouring countries and has stabbing spree against women, killing two. Six others flagrant violation not only of human rights lies. The journey will start with halting never ever tried to destabilise them. were injured in the assault at a market in southwestern but Islamic injunctions also and unblocking poisonous media campaigns against On the other hand, leaked emails of Finland. In a similar narrative, the father of the attacker the path to the Holy Land is the legal and Qatar and refraining from issuing fiery Emirati ambassador to Washington are said he hadn’t come across any signs of radicalisation in moral duty of Saudi authorities hence there statements against Qatar’s leadership. more than enough to prove UAE’s hid- his son. left no space to play to the gallery. The Minister of State for Foreign den motives regarding the region and In another incident, a city in Siberia is in the news The reopening of Saudi borders for Affairs H E Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi its overambitious approach for power over a knife attack that injured seven persons. “The Qataris is being portrayed by the blockad- has rightly stressed that there is no politics. executor of the stabbing operation in the city of Surgut in ing countries’ rent-a-quotes as a great winner in the Gulf crisis because it is a The messages, obtained by Russia is a soldier of the Islamic State,” the IS’ benevolent step. Public relations writers problem affecting people, families and Middle East Eye through the Glo- propaganda outlet Amaq said. hired by the siege countries should at least tribal relations, as well as international balLeaks hacking group, show The relatively amorphous nature of European society spare religious matters from being politi- relations. Otaiba mocking Saudi Arabia to and polity and chinks in the intelligence apparatus are cised for short-lived vested interests and In an interview with the Bulgar- his Egyptian wife, Abeer Shoukry, making it susceptible to Jihadist terror. A large number used for cheap publicity stunts. ian newspaper 24 hours, Al Muraikhi over the 2008 decision of Saudi of immigrants with the European bureaucracy’s lack of “Despite the fact it’s been politically said the continuation of the situation religious police to ban red roses on attempts at integration is also behind jilted youth taking motivated to ban the Qatari people Valentine’s Day. from Haj and politically motivated that In another email, Yousef Otaiba to arms in a continent known where development they allow them (in)..., we welcome wrote that Abu Dhabi has warred for indicators have been a model looked up to by the less such a step, which is a step forward to 200 years with the Saudis over Wah- developed world. get rid of this blockade that is imposed habism and that the Emiratis had more against my country,” said Foreign Min- “bad history” with Saudi Arabia than ister H E Sheikh Mohammed bin anyone else. He revealed that now was QUOTE OF THE DAY Abdulrahman Al Thani. the time when the Emiratis could get Not paying heed to the repeated calls for “the most results we can ever get out of dialogue by the world community to iron The blockading countries Saudi”. out political differences for the greater good It is a ripe time for Saudi Arabia to Steve Bannon will are stuck in a quagmire of the region and world, Saudi-led quartet is they created themselves take a pause to recognise mischie- be a tough and doing only one thing seriously and that is to vous hands working behind the Gulf and the only honourable smart new voice at run smear campaign against Qatar with crisis and also differentiate between laughable lies. exit is an open admission real well-wishers and enemies dis- @BreitbartNews... Without presenting even single substan- of their diplomatic follies. guised as friends. For such ‘friends’ maybe even better tive evidence to back their “Qatar supports Voltaire said: “Defend me from my terror” allegations in last two and a half The journey will start with friends, I can defend myself from my than ever before. months, they are funding propaganda halting poisonous media enemies.” Fake News needs attacks on Qatar in the US media. campaigns against Qatar And the “countries” which are try- the competition! Gary Wasserman, who spent 8 years in and refraining from issuing ing to widen the rift in the region to Doha writes in The Washington Post: “The gather the loot will continue having Qatar I lived in for eight years is unrecog- fiery statements against eggs on their faces. Donald Trump nisable from the television ads running in Qatar’s leadership. US President Washington. In these Saudi-sponsored The writer is a Doha-based journalist. SUNDAY 20 AUGUST 2017 OPINION 09 The White House power struggle that toppled Bannon

unauthorised interview where he Gregory Aftandilian seemed to disagree with Trump’s Al Jazeera hawkish stance on North Korea, Trump may have wanted to sack Bannon as a way to deflect US public anger over his own com- lthough White House intrigues and ments about the Charlottesville infighting are nothing new, the Trump incident in which he seemed to White House has taken these brawls to a put anti-fascists on the same level new level. After several weeks of very as neo-Nazis and claimed there public feuds, Trump on August 18, under were “some good people” in a theA influence of his new chief of staff, John Kelly, neo-Nazi led march the night fired the White House chief strategist, Steve Ban- before the violence broke out in non, who was rumoured to have been behind that city. That Trump has given right-wing attacks on National Security Adviser HR Kelly significant leeway to run the McMaster. White House staff also sealed Trump’s advisers are a mix of “alt-right” Bannon’s fate. ideologues who believe that Trump should In terms of the administra- completely shake up Washington and pursue tion’s foreign and security policy, an “America-centered” policy, and pragmatists this essentially means that the who believe the United Statesshould lead the pragmatists now have the upper international community and maintain tradi- hand over the ideologues. tional alliances. A file photo of Steve Bannon (left) with Reince Priebus before a meeting with President Donald Trump Although Trump is the ultimate The former was represented by Bannon, at the White House in Washington. decision-maker and can be erratic who was executive chairman of the alt-right at times, the advice he will be Breitbart News organisation, along with some Bannon vs McMaster territory in the country. Trump, on the other hand, receiving will come more and allies that were put on the staff of the National McMaster has been the subject of vitriolic has questioned the efficacy of this Afghanistan more from people with significant Security Council by Trump’s discredited former attacks by Breitbart News and other right-wing strategy. experience in foreign and security National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. media because he has kept on some staffers from On Iran, McMaster was simply reflecting the matters, like McMaster. McMaster, Defence Secretary James Mattis, Sec- the Obama administration and fired other staffers reality that Iran was implementing the nuclear deal As for the Middle East, this retary of State Rex Tillerson, and now John that his predecessor, Flynn, had brought on. and, for the US to pull out of it, would strain ties means that Trump will likely Kelly, the new White House chief of staff, repre- McMaster also favoured allowing former Obama with European allies. Despite these differences, maintain commitments to allies sent the latter. National Security Adviser Susan Rice to maintain Trump gave McMaster a public show of support on and will not retreat into a kind of her security clearance as a courtesy. Another epi- August 4 by stating, in response to right-wing “fortress America”. On the Israeli- sode that earned the wrath of the right wing was attacks, that McMaster was “very pro-Israel”. Palestinian issue, Trump will still that McMaster joined Mattis and Tillerson in recom- The recent advent of John Kelly to the White listen to Kushner because of fam- Although some reports mending to Trump to certify to Congress that Iran House chief of staff position has been a plus for ily ties, but if Kushner decides to was upholding the nuclear deal. McMaster, as the two are friends from their days in throw in the towel, McMaster and have suggested that In the ideological mishmash of the right wing in uniform (Kelly was a Marine Corps general and his NSC staff might reclaim that Bannon was sacked by America, McMaster has been depicted as a pawn of McMaster is still an Army general). Both also share portfolio. Trump because he gave a worldwide “Jewish conspiracy” because of alleged an antipathy to Bannon. connections to George Soros, a billionaire who sup- The writer is a lecturer at the Pardee an unauthorised interview ports liberal causes and is of Jewish background, as The influence of Charlottesville School of Global Studies at Boston where he seemed to well as a critic of a strong US-Israeli relationship The recent violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, University and is a former US State disagree with Trump’s because McMaster reportedly supports the nuclear led by a group of white supremacists, including neo- Department Middle East analyst. hawkish stance on North deal with Iran and has disagreed on occasion with Nazis, which resulted in widespread revulsion in the Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, over Israeli- US, also may have boosted McMaster’s standing vis- Korea, Trump may have Palestinian issues. a-vis Bannon. Although Bannon was not linked wanted to sack Bannon McMaster’s relationship with Trump has some- directly to this incident and has denied that the alt- as a way to deflect US times been problematic because of disagreements right is inherently racist or anti-Semitic, there have public anger over his over Afghanistan and Iran. On the former, McMaster been enough articles in Breitbart (during and after has been reflecting the views of the US military that Bannon’s stewardship there) that tend to follow the own comments about the D-RING ROAD sees a need for more US troops in Afghanistan to white supremacist agenda to make a connection. POST BOX: 3488 Charlottesville incident. continue its training mission of the Afghan army Although some reports have suggested that and prevent the Taliban from taking any more Bannon was sacked by Trump because he gave an DOHA - QATAR [email protected]

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE Facebook and Twitter are too big to allow fake users TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 FAX: +974 4455 7758

replies he received alleged that the posts didn’t go number of surprising statements. MANAGING EDITOR Leonid Bershidsky against the platform’s policy. Shapira then traveled “Facebook cannot proactively prevent an individual TEL: 4462 7505 Bloomberg to Hamburg, where Twitter’s German office is from registering and creating a Facebook account and pro- located, and spray-painted the tweets on the pave- file,” the company testified. “It is simply not feasible to DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR ment in front of the office building. review over 1 billion profiles to locate a single user who may TEL: 4455 7769 Germany has a new law obliging social net- be lying about his or her name. No technical program or works to delete hate speech within 24 hours of it mechanism exists to prevent an individual from lying about here’s something in common being reported. With the link to Shapira’s video, his or her identity and/or age.” All it could do, Facebook said, LOCAL NEWS SECTION between amazing story of Maas also tweeted a report from a government- was shut down the girl’s accounts — the new ones she set up TEL: 4455 7743 “Nicole Mincey”, the pseudony- funded study showing that Twitter only deletes 1 every time — after the fact. The judge sided with Facebook. mous Twitter user with 146,000 percent of hate-speech posts after they’re reported In reality, both Facebook and Twitter would be able to BUSINESS NEWS SECTION followers who was retweeted by by users, while Facebook erases 39 percent of such identify users if they wanted to. It would be enough for them TEL: 4462 7535 TPresident Donald Trump and then disap- posts and YouTube 90 percent. All three platforms to require a valid credit or debit card, the way one does in peared overnight along with a few other delete almost 100 percent of the posts after being application stores or on Amazon, and require regular SPORT NEWS SECTION online personae, and a recent prank by a contacted again via e-mail. “#HeyTwitter, that’s not updates to the card information. That way, all accounts TEL: 4455 7745 Berliner frustrated with his inability to get enough!” Maas wrote. linked to one card would be tied to their actual owner, and Twitter to remove hate speech. The com- With Mincey and the racist tweets in Germany underage users’ accounts would be tied to their parents’ ONLINE SECTION mon element is the obvious solution to alike, it took particularly persistent users to draw identities. TEL: 4462 7501 both problems, which rarely surfaces in attention to spurious and offensive content. The This would immediately resolve the problems of fake [email protected] discussions of trolling, fake news and networks, though they profess a willingness to fight names, anonymous bullies, troll armies and hate-speech law cyberbullying. fakes, cyberbullying and other abuses, aren’t par- violations. There would still be cases of identity theft, but the PUBLIC RELATIONS Social networks should be obliged to ticularly proactive about it, and they have a platforms could easily alert a user if a new account ban anonymous accounts. If they refuse to plausible explanation: They cannot police their vast attempted to use his or her card data. TEL: 4455 7613 do so voluntarily, government regulators user bases, and they need a lot of help. Such identification, of course, would hurt whistleblowers [email protected] should force the issue. But there’s an easy answer to that defence. Nei- and opposition activists in oppressive regimes. But, for their Nicole Mincey was apparently a fake ther “Mincey” nor most of the tweets Shapira own safety, those of them who want to hide their identities ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT African-American identity that helped sell sprayed on the pavement in Hamburg would have should stay off Facebook and Twitter, anyway: There’s a TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 Trump-related merchandise online. It was been possible had Twitter required identifying greater chance that a hostile government or corporation will FAX: 4455 7870 part of an enterprise supported by pro- information from users before creating accounts. track them down there than on more secure, encrypted [email protected] Trump social media posts from several The platform’s anonymity — its privacy policy spe- messaging platforms or on the Dark Web. As for the world’s fake accounts representing people whose cifically allows pseudonyms and multiple accounts unbanked, one could argue they are of little value to the CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT backgrounds, looks (illegally used stock — gives bigots, swindlers and bullies a sense of advertisers who fund the social networks and thus non- TEL: 4455 7857 photos, actually) and views might appeal impunity. It’s not clear what else it does for users; essential to their business models. [email protected] to potential buyers. The whole scam blew after all, the accounts with the most followers — There’s plenty of anonymity to be had on the internet for up after the Trump retweet prompted the those of public personalities and journalists — are, those who need it. There is, however, no reason the huge SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION owner of the photo stock to look into the as a rule, verified by Twitter. People don’t attach corporate platforms which essentially trade in our personal TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 matter. But how many other pro-Trump much value to anonymous opinions. They may information should be allowed to get on a high horse as FAX: 44557819 and anti-Trump accounts on Twitter and appreciate an account that specialises in a certain defenders of privacy. These platforms are huge media com- Facebook are actually fake? How do we kind of content or even an interesting bot — but panies that have as little to do with the internet’s early ideals [email protected] figure out which of the famous internet what would be the harm in identifying their as today’s Apple has with the company Steve Jobs and Steve echo chambers are even real? Is there a creators? Wozniak launched in a garage in the 1970s. They should be way to make sure real people are not reg- Facebook, unlike Twitter, has a strict policy regulated in the same way as a TV station or a newspaper, All thoughts and views ularly misled and confused by the against multiple personal accounts and pseudo- which always knows the authors of the information it expressed in these columns purveyors of fake opinions who are just nyms — which it doesn’t enforce. If an account has publishes. trying to sell a bootlegged MAGA cap? been reported as using a fake name or impersonat- The social platforms hold on desperately to anonymity are those of the writers, not The German story also involves a ing someone, it may require an image of a because it’s the basis for their inflated user numbers, which of the newspaper. retweet by a top government official — government-issued ID. they sell to advertisers and the stock market. If they give it Justice Minister Heiko Maas. In a video But the company vehemently protests when up -- in reality, not just on paper like Facebook — competi- All correspondence Maas tweeted this week, Shahak Shapira, people try to force it to identify users. A UK court tors will spring up to offer it. These are not good reasons for regarding Views and an Israeli-born satirist and musician living case in 2013 is a great example. When the parents the advertising market’s dominant players. They should face Opinion pages should be in Berlin, explains that he tried to flag of an underage girl who had repeatedly used Face- up to their responsibility and start caring whether their users about 300 tweets violating Germany’s book to hook up with men proposed the are real — and why they might not want to give their real mailed to the hate speech laws to Twitter, but the few pre-identification of users, Facebook made a names if they are. [email protected] 10 ASIA SUNDAY 20 AUGUST 2017 Afghanistan marks 98 years of independence

Kabul Tight security festival], everyone is in good Anatolia mood and in the mood to buy,” Security was also on said Attaullah, a young road-side housands of young high alert in capital vendor. Afghan men, wearing Kabul. The Kabul The youths have been par- traditional dresses and Garirson put in place ticularly active, coming out to the holding the tri-color additional staff and streets for celebration. national flag, flocked extra checkposts. Less than 200 miles from Tat a park in the capital Kabul to Kabul, the city of Jalalabad, cap- mark the country’s 98th Inde- ital of Nangarhar province, also pendence Day anniversary The country still needs had many attractions for those yesterday. political and economic going on a two-hour long drive A rare wave of jubilation independence. Our eastwards. swept the war-torn country with aim is to turn Herat Jalalabad is the final resting a renewed sense of patriotism. into a hub for our place of King Khan. All main roads, public and economic growth and Thousands of dedicated private buildings, parks and cars regional transit trade: Afghans paid homage to the late in major urban centres includ- Ghani king, who spearheaded an ing Kabul, Kandahar, Herat, unlikely drive for modernization Afghan President Ashraf Ghani attends Afghan Independence Day celebrations, in Kabul, Mazar-e-Sharif, Jalalabad, Khost of the country in the 20th cen- yesterday. and other cities were decorated “I came here last night, and tury, but faced an uprising from with the national flag and post- would stay here till late night the prevalent conservative participated in the festivities by Afghan President Moham- economic independence,” he ers of former King Amanullah today as well. Look at the peo- forces. performing their traditional mad Ashraf Ghani, who is a said. Khan, who was at the helm of ple everyone is so happy and Jalalabad youths gathered at Chob Jangi dance. diehard admirer of Khan, led the “Our aim is to turn Herat into affairs when Afghanistan cheered up! I wish the war ends the Gul Agha Sherzai stadium in Gulab Mangal, governor of main ceremony at the Ministry a hub for our economic growth declared independence from the and we witness such days more the downtown area under tight Nangarhar province, has prom- of Defence in Kabul. and regional transit trade. Herat British influence over its foreign often,” he said in a single breath security. Units of the Afghan Air ised to renovate the King He laid a floral wreath at the would link Iran, China and Cen- policy in 1919. as he took a break from the tra- Force (AAF) dropped leaflets Amanullah Khan shrine and Liberty Memorial and paid hom- tral Asia. We would soon launch In the capital Kabul, the ditional Attan Dance. from the air among the cheering adjacent historical places. age to the martyrs who sacrificed the railway line here,” he added. newly inaugurated Zazai hill The road leading to the park crowd. Security was also on high their lives to earn On Ghani’s directives, work park was one of the main attrac- was packed with street vendors Sportsmen from various dis- alert in capital Kabul. The Kabul independence. is underway to restore the iconic tions for those wishing to mark offering different sizes of flags, ciplines showcased their talents Garirson put in place additional Later, Ghani flew to Herat Dar-ul-Aman Palace in Kabul, the day in public with others. armbands, face masks and dec- at the public event in the sta- staff and extra checkposts. where he inaugurated a new cot- which was first commissioned Ali Katawazay, a high school oration items for cars. dium. Members of the Sikh Afghans living abroad joined ton processing factory. “The by Khan in 1920s as part of his student, was among them. “It feels like Eid [Muslim holy religious minority also the celebrations on social media. country still needs political and modernization drive.

Manila lawmakers Malaysia postpones receive proposed execution of Filipino Bangsamoro Law Zamboanga Manila Anatolia AFP We would like to A proposed Bangsamoro Basic alaysia has granted a thank the governor Law (BBL) drafted by the Moro last-minute stay of exe- of Sabah for Islamic Liberation Front (Milf) Mcution to a convicted responding to the was transmitted to the office Filipino murderer following an repeated appeals of the Senate and Congress, appeal by Manila, Philippine the official website of the Milf officials said yesterday. of the Philippine published. Ejah Jaafar, whose age was government on behalf “We trust in the collective not given, was scheduled to of the family of Mr wisdom of both houses of hang on Friday after being Jaafar: Cayetano Congress should they deem found guilty of murder in proper to refine the draft in Malaysia in 2006. the course of the regular leg- But following an appeal by “Jaafar was sentenced to islative mill,” according to a A H-IIA rocket carrying Michibiki 3 satellite lifts off from the launching pad at Tanegashima the Philippine mission in Kuala death in 2009, a ruling that was copy of the one-page letter Lumpur, Jaafar’s case was later upheld by an appellate Space Center on the southwestern island of Tanegashima, Japan, yesterday. dated August 14 on the referred back to the pardons court and Malaysia’s federal Luwaran website. board in Sabah state according court,” the statement added. The proposal presented to a Philippines foreign depart- Hundreds of thousands of Japan launches satellite to advance GPS last month to President Rod- ment statement yesterday. Filipinos live in the Malaysian rigo Duterte and was part of The government said its state of Sabah on Borneo island. Tokyo autopiloting and possible highly precise position informa- a peace agreement signed ambassador to Kuala Lumpur Philippine foreign depart- Reuters national security purposes. tion by next April. between the government and has since 2015 been requesting ment spokesman Robespierre The government postponed Japan plans to boost the the Milf in 2014 but derailed that the Malaysian authorities Bolivar said that Jaafar and his apan yesterday launched an the launch a week ago because number of its geo-positioning in January the following year spare Jaafar’s life and commute family have lived in Sabah “for H-IIA rocket carrying a geo- of a technical glitch. satellites to seven by 2023, mak- by a fighting in central Mind- his sentence. a long time”, but gave no other Jpositioning satellite into orbit “With the success of the third ing its system independently anao that killed 44 policemen, “We would like to thank the details. after a week-long delay, the satellite, we have made another operational even if the US GPS 17 rebel fighters and a number governor of Sabah for respond- The Philippines has also government said. step closer for having signals becomes unavailable for some of civilians. ing to the repeated appeals of appealed to Malaysia to com- The launch of Japan’s third from four satellites in the future,” reason, a government official the Philippine government on mute the death sentences of geo-positioning satellite is part Masaji Matsuyama, minister in said previously. behalf of the family of Mr Jaa- nine of its nationals who were of its plan to build a version of charge of space policy, said. The satellite was manufac- Japan town holds far,” Philippine Foreign convicted of taking part in a the US global positioning sys- The government plans to tured by Mitsubishi Electric Corp Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano 2013 attack on the Sabah, which tem (GPS) to offer location launch a fourth satellite by the and was blasted into orbit by evacuation drills said in the statement. left scores of people dead. information used for end of the year to start offering Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. Kotoura Reuters

Six dead while RESIDENTS of a town on the Kabul & Islamabad discuss ways to restore peace Japanese coast held evacuation sawing mortar drills yesterday to prepare for Karachi Earlier this week, Pakistan’s The development followed Taliban announced the death of any launch of North Korean shell in Vietnam Anatolia Foreign Secretary Tehmina Jan- the meeting between US Central their long-term leader Mullah missiles towards the US Pacific jua, leading a diplomatic Command Chief Gen Joseph L. Omer triggering a bitter power territory of Guam, that would Hanoi akistan’s foreign secretary delegation, visited Kabul in an Votel and Pakistan’s army chief struggle within the militia. fly over their homes. AP and Afghan deputy foreign effort to restore ties with the Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on Fri- Chance for resumption of the As sirens blared from Pminister yesterday dis- war-torn country. day in garrison city of stalled process went further dim speakers in the town of Kot- SIX people including four chil- cussed ways to ratchet up efforts In yesterday’s meeting, “they Rawalpindi to discuss the secu- following death of Mullah oura, children playing soccer dren in a family have been for bringing peace and stability discussed strengthening coop- rity situation in Afghanistan. Omer’s successor, Mullah Akhtar outside ran to take shelter in killed when a Vietnam War-era to Afghanistan, Pakistan’s For- eration between the countries Islamabad and Kabul have Mansur in a U.S. drone strike on a school, along with their par- mortar shell they were saw- eign Office said. in diverse fields as well as in the long been accusing each other Pakistan’s soil last year. ents and their team coach. ing for scrap metal exploded. Afghan Deputy Foreign Min- efforts for lasting peace and sta- of providing safe havens to Since then, several attempts “I’ve been concerned State-run Tuoi Tre news- ister Nasir Andisha is on a visit bility in Afghanistan”, said a militants. to resume the stalled peace every day that something paper says the victims died to Pakistan to mark the Afghan statement by the Foreign Office. A series of terrorist attacks process have been made by a might fall or a missile could on the spot following the independence celebrations and Recognizing that terrorism in both countries, for which the four-nation group comprised of fall in an unexpected place explosion in south-central for the foundation-laying cere- was a common enemy of the two two sides blame each other, has Pakistan, Afghanistan, the U.S. due to North Korea’s missile province of Khanh Hoa. mony of the new Afghan countries and their peoples, the put a further strain on already and China. capabilities,” said the coach, The blast also seriously Embassy in Islamabad. two sides agreed to deepen tense relations between Paki- Until now, however, these Akira Hamakawa, 38. injured the father of one of The second high-level meet- cooperation and coordination in stan and Afghanistan in recent attempts have failed to bear fruit. Nearly 130 people took the victims. The report says ing between the two neighbours counter-terrorism efforts, the months. Taliban have opened new part in the drill in Kotoura, the family had collected the in less than a week is seen as statement added. Pakistan brokered the land- battle fronts across Afghanistan which mortar shell from a coffee part of ongoing efforts aimed at Pakistan also emphasised mark first round of direct talks in recent months as Afghan has a population of plantation. repairing rifts between the two the need of expediting infra- between the fragile Afghan gov- security forces -- suffering cas- 18,000, a town official said. Police in Khanh Hoa sides amid allegations of cross- structure and energy ernment and the Taliban in ualties and desertions -- struggle For 10 minutes, people province were not available border terrorism, interference connectivity projects between Islamabad in July 2015, but the to beat back a revitalised ducked down covering their for comment yesterday. and trade barriers. the two neighbors, it said. process broke down after insurgency. heads with their arms. SUNDAY 20 AUGUST 2017 ASIA 11 Barcelona attacks suspect still at large

Ripoll Hunt under way 22-year-old Younes Reuters Abouyaaqoub. Catalan police said Spanish media reported that olice were still search- they were still looking Abouyaaqoub was the driver of ing for the driver of a for a man identified the van in Barcelona but the van that ploughed into by the mayor’s office police could not confirm it. a crowd in Barcelona, in the town of Ripoll The Spanish government said killing 13 people, but as 22-year-old Younes it now considered the cell behind Pthe government said the sus- Abouyaaqoub. the attacks out of action, though pected IS militant cell behind the police in Catalonia would not attack had been dismantled. confirm this. Police have arrested four Fifty people were still “The cell has been fully dis- people in connection with the in hospital yesterday mantled in Barcelona, after attack in Barcelona on Thursday following that attack, examining the people who died, and another in the Catalan sea- with 12 in a critical the people who were arrested side town of Cambrils, where a condition. and carrying out identity woman was killed when a car checks,” Interior Minister Juan rammed passersby early on Ignacio Zoido told a news Friday. dead and injured among the conference. Police shot dead five attack- crowds of tourists and local res- He said Spain was maintain- ers in Cambrils and said they idents strolling in the Barcelona ing its security alert level at four, were wearing fake explosive boulevard. one notch below the maximum belts and had an axe and knives Catalan police said they were level that would indicate another in the vehicle. still looking for a man identified attack was imminent, but would None of the five are believed by the mayor’s office in the town reinforce security in crowded to be the driver who sped into of Ripoll, where several of the areas and tourist hotspots. Las Ramblas, leaving a trail of suspected attackers lived, as In the past 13 months, mili- tants have used vehicles as Spain's King Felipe VI (right) and Queen Letizia (second right) visiting victims of the Barcelona weapons to kill nearly 130 peo- attack at the Hospital del Mar, in Barcelona, yesterday. ple in France, Germany, Britain, Sweden and Spain. the jihadist group said. enclave of Melilla have been attacks, five are Spanish, two are The driver in the Barcelona Police raided a flat in Ripoll, arrested so far in connection Italians, two are Portuguese, one attack abandoned the van and its ninth raid on homes in the with the attacks. Belgian, one Canadian and one fled on foot on Thursday after town so far, in its hunt for peo- Another three people have US citizen, emergency services ploughing into the crowd. ple connected to the attacks. been identified but it is unclear and authorities from those coun- Fifty people were still in hos- The latest flat raided had whether they are still at large. tries have confirmed so far. pital yesterday following that been occupied by a man named Spanish media said two of them A seven-year-old boy who attack, with 12 in a critical as Abdelbaki Es Satty, according may have been killed in Alcanar, had been missing since the attack condition. to a search warrant. where a house was razed by an in Barcelona was found yester- Many were foreign tourists. Neighbours said he was an explosion shortly before mid- day in one of the city’s hospitals The Mediterranean region of imam. His landlord said he had night on Wednesday, and the and was in a serious condition, Catalonian is thronged in the last been seen on Tuesday. third is Abouyaaqoub. El Pais newspaper reported. summer months with visitors Scraps of paper covered in Police believe the house in Spain’s King Felipe and drawn to its beaches and the port notes were strewn around the Alcanar was being used to plan Queen Letizia visited the injured city of Barcelona’s museums and flat, which had been turned one or several large-scale attacks - who are of many different tree-lined boulevards. upside down during the police in Barcelona, possibly using a nationalities ranging from IS fighters claimed respon- search. large number of butane gas can- France and Germany to Pakistan Mourners stand near flowers, candles and tributes to the sibility for the attacks in Cambrils Three Moroccans and a citi- isters stored there. and the Philippines and are in victims of the attack. and Barcelona, a statement by zen of Spain’s North African Of the 14 dead in the two various Barcelona hospitals.

Ukrainian climber found dead Scientist blames UK govt for health service ‘crisis’ on Mont Blanc London Hunt hit back saying that budgets, an ageing population more expensive for the outcomes muscle linked to a sensor and Reuters Hawking, author of the bestsell- and more expensive, complex patients receive than in the UK”. computerised voice system, said Grenoble ing book ‘A Brief History of treatments has put the system “We see the balance of Hunt had cherry-picked research AFP hysicist Stephen Hawking Time’, was wrong and that his under huge financial strain. power in the UK is with private to justify his arguments. found himself in a war of criticism was a “pernicious Hawking, a supporter of the healthcare companies, and the “For a scientist, cherry-pick- A Ukrainian climber was found Pwords with Britain’s Con- falsehood”. opposition Labour Party, said the direction of change is towards a ing evidence is unacceptable. dead on Mont Blanc yester- servative government after he “The care I have received NHS was “a cornerstone of our US-style insurance system.” When public figures abuse sci- day, a day after setting off to said it had caused a crisis in the since being diagnosed with society” but was in crisis because Last year, English doctors entific argument, citing some scale western Europe’s high- state-run National Health Serv- motor neurone disease as a stu- of political decisions. staged their first strikes in four studies but suppressing others est peak, rescuers said. ice (NHS) and was leading it dent in 1962 has enabled me to It was also facing a conflict decades over government plans to justify policies they want to The 42-year-old became towards a profit-making US- live my life as I want, and to con- between the interests of multi- to reform pay and conditions as implement for other reasons, it trapped in an overnight storm style system. tribute to major advances in our national corporations driven by part of moves to deliver what it debases scientific culture.” on 4,810-metre mountain. The British cosmologist, who understanding of the universe,” profit and public opposition to said would be a consistent serv- Hunt responded on Twitter The climber had alerted was diagnosed with motor neu- wrote Hawking. increasing privatisation, he said. ice seven days a week as studies saying no health secretary could mountain rescuers that he rone disease aged 21, also Founded in 1948, the NHS is “In the US, where they are showed mortality rates were ignore the “comprehensive” evi- was in trouble, but they could accused the government’s health a source of huge pride for many dominant in the healthcare sys- higher at weekends when staff- dence and said his government not come to his aid because minister Jeremy Hunt of cherry- Britons who are able to access tem, these corporations make ing is reduced. had put more money, doctors of the poor conditions. picking scientific evidence to free care from the cradle to the enormous profits, healthcare is However, Hawking, who and nurses into the NHS than “He had lost track of justify policies. grave, but in recent years tight not universal, and it is hugely communicates via a cheek ever before. where he was, so he sent a sig- nal around 10:00pm,” said the mountain unit of the gendar- merie in nearby Chamonix. “But it was impossible to German writer held in launch a rescue operation because the mountain was in the middle of major storm.” Spain on Turkey’s order Berlin morning. The accusations Polish-US writer AFP against him were unknown. Spanish police had a so- Janusz Glowacki ogan Akhanli, a German called red notice -- an alert writer of Turkish origin circulated by Interpol that is dies at 78 Dwho has written exten- roughly equivalent to an inter- sively on Turkey’s record on national arrest warrant. Warsaw human rights, was arrested in Akhanli’s website says he AP Spain yesterday at Ankara’s was born in northeastern Tur- request, a Green MP said. key in 1957, moved to Istanbul THE wife of renowned “I have asked the German at the age of 12 and was held as Polish-US playwright and foreign minister to immediately a political prisoner from 1985 screenwriter Janusz Glow- do everything in its power with to 1987, when he was acki says he has died at 78. Spanish authorities to prevent tortured. Popular in New York and extradition to Turkey,” German He moved to Cologne in the Finnish flags fly at half-mast in Turku, Finland, yesterday. Polish artistic and intellec- lawmaker Volker Beck said. 1990s, was stripped of his Turk- tual circles, Glowacki was A German foreign ministry ish citizenship and became a the author of award-win- official said the ministry was German citizen in 2001, it says. ning plays “Antigone in New Finland arrests stabbing spree suspect aware of the case, was in con- The arrest shows that Turk- York” and “The Fourth Sis- tact with Spanish authorities ish President Recep Tayyip ter,” which set classic Helsinki terrorism-related. investigated as murders with and was seeking to provide Erdogan is seeking to “extend themes in the contemporary Reuters The suspect arrested on Fri- terrorist intent,” Crista Granroth consular help. his power beyond his country’s world. day after being shot in the leg from the National Bureau of The Spanish interior min- borders, to intimidate critics Born in 1938 in Poznan, innish police said yester- by police had arrived in Finland Investigation said. istry could not immediately be and to pursue them around the western Poland, he made a day that an 18-year-old last year, they said, adding they While the identity of the vic- reached for comment. world,” Beck charged. name for himself in the 1960s FMoroccan man arrested later arrested four other Moroc- tims has not been disclosed by Akhanli’s local newspaper, Akhanli has written about with short stories and after knife attacks that killed can men over possible links to authorities, police said the the Koelner Stadt-Anzeiger in the killing of Turkish-Armenian screenplays. two people in the city of Turku him. attacker appeared to have tar- western Germany, said the journalist Hrant Dink, who was Actress Olena Leonenko- appeared to have specifically “Due to information geted women during the Turkish-born writer was murdered in 2007, and about Glowacka said Glowacki died targeted women and that the received during the night, the stabbing spree in downtown arrested in the southern Span- the killing of Armenians under yesterday. spree was being treated as Turku stabbings are now being Turku. ish town of Grenada yesterday the Ottoman Turkish empire. 12 EUROPE SUNDAY 20 AUGUST 2017 Berlin residents block neo-Nazi protest rally

Berlin Restrictions regime, carry weapons, drums AP or torches, and could bring only Police in Germany say one flag for every 25 eft-wing groups and they generally try to participants. Berlin residents pre- balance protesters’ Such restrictions are com- vented more than 500 rights to free speech mon in Germany and rooted in far-right extremists and free assembly the experience of the pre-war from marching yester- against the rights of Weimar Republic, when oppos- Lday to the Berlin prison where counter- ing political groups would try to high-ranking Nazi official Rudolf demonstrators and forcibly interrupt their rivals’ ral- Hess died decades ago. residents. lies, resulting in frequent street Police in riot gear kept the violence. neo-Nazis and an estimated Police in Germany say they 1,000 counter-protesters apart Far-right protesters generally try to balance protest- as the two sides staged compet- had planned to march ers’ rights to free speech and free ing rallies in the German capital’s to the site of the assembly against the rights of western district of Spandau. former Spandau counter-demonstrators and Far-right protesters had prison, where Hess residents. planned to march to the site of The rules mean that shields, hanged himself in Right-wing demonstrators gather prior to a neo-Nazi rally on the occasion of the 30th the former Spandau prison, helmets and batons carried by 1987, but were forced anniversary of the death of Hitler’s deputy Rudolf Hess, in Berlin Spandau, yesterday. where Hess hanged himself in far-right and Neo-Nazi protest- 1987, but were forced to turn to turn back after ers in Charlottesville wouldn’t be back after about a kilometer (0.6 about a kilometer allowed in Germany. A number of far-right pro- The 64-year-old cited the his role in planning World War II, miles) because of a blockade by because of a blockade Openly anti-Semitic chants testers emerged from the tents clashes in Charlottesville and her died on August 17, 1987. Allied counter-protesters. by counter-protesters. would also prompt German with black tape covering their parents’ experience of living authorities ruled his death a sui- After changing their route, police to intervene. arms or legs. under the Nazis as her reason for cide, but Nazi sympathizers have the neo-Nazis, who had come Neo-Nazi protesters yester- Berlin police spokesman coming. long claimed he was killed and from all over Germany and counter-protesters. day were frisked and funneled Carsten Mueller said the protests “The rats are coming out of organise annual marches in his neighboring European countries, Authorities had imposed through tents where police passed largely peacefully. the sewers,” she said. “(President honour. Those annual far-right returned to Spandau’s main sta- restrictions on the march to checked them for weapons, for- Among those demonstrating Donald) Trump has made it marches used to take place in the tion for speeches amid jeers and ensure that it passed peacefully. bidden flags and tattoos showing against the neo-Nazis was Jossa socially acceptable.” Bavarian town of Wunsiedel, chants of “Nazis go home!” and Organisers were told they symbols banned in Germany, Bentja from the western city of Hess, who received a life sen- where Hess was buried, until “You lost the war!” from couldn’t glorify Hess or the Nazi such as the Nazi swastika. Koblenz. tence at the Nuremberg trials for authorities removed his remains.

Greece arrests Belgian woman Seven injured in over terror link Russia knife attack Athens Moscow people were taken to hospital, AFP AFP with the figure confirmed by investigators, who lowered an A 22-year-old Belgian woman he IS jihadist group yes- earlier toll of eight wounded. has been arrested in Greece on terday claimed A spokesman for regional charges of extremism under Tresponsibility after a man police had earlier downplayed a Europol arrest warrant, the stabbed seven people on the the possibility of a terrorist inci- coastguard and reports said street in a Russian city before dent, telling Interfax news yesterday. being shot dead by police, agency that the theory that the “A 22-year-old foreign despite investigators saying it incident was “a terrorist (attack) national has been arrested was probably not a terrorist is not the main one”. over suspected links to ter- attack. The Investigative Commit- rorist activity,” a coastguard “The executor of the stab- tee said it had established the spokeswoman said. “She is bing operation in the city of attacker’s identity, saying he being held on the island of Surgut in Russia is a soldier of was a local resident born in Corfu.” the IS group,” IS propaganda 1994, and that they were look- Authorities declined to outlet Amaq said in a statement, ing into “his possible psychiatric Members of the rescue services work at the scene where an "extreme" storm wrecked a large identify the suspect’s nation- after the jihadists also claimed disorders”. ality but state agency ANA marquee, at Sankt Johann am Walde, in Austria, yesterday. responsibility for twin attacks Opposition leader Alexei said she was a Belgian appar- in Spain that left 14 dead. Navalny questioned the author- ently of Moroccan origin. The attack also comes a day ities’ treatment of the incident, It was not immediately 2 dead in Austria as storm wrecks tent after a stabbing spree in Fin- writing on Twitter: “Someone clear when the warrant was land, which left two people runs round with a knife and issued or whether it was linked Vienna “(The) extreme storm tore winds of up to 126 kilometres dead and eight others injured tries to kill as many people as to any particular incident. AFP away most of the tent,” a state- (78 miles) per hour. and is being investigated as a possible. What is that, if not a “We do not know which ment said. Two people were hurt in terrorist attack, although the terrorist attack?” case this is linked to,” the wo people were killed in “The two people were killed Salzburg by falling pieces of assailant’s motive is unknown. Investigators have opened spokeswoman said. Austria and 120 injured, 20 by flying debris including the scaffolding while elsewhere fly- Russia’s Investigative Com- a criminal probe into attempted “The woman had trav- Tof them seriously, when an tent scaffolding.” ing objects and falling trees mittee, which probes major murder, not terrorism, with the elled by ferry from Italy to the “extreme” storm wrecked a Those killed were a 19-year- caused numerous car accidents crimes, said a man in Surgut Investigative Committee’s chief Greek port of Igoumenitsa,” large marquee, police said old woman and a 28-year-old and blocked train lines. had “carried out attacks on pas- Alexander Bastrykin taking the ANA said. yesterday. man, both from the local area. In the historic central spa sers-by, causing stab wounds”. case under his personal She was arrested late Fri- The accident happened late Storms barrelling through town of Bad Ischl, a circus tent It said armed police called to control. day on Corfu after Italian Friday when around 650 peo- Austria on Friday night caused was destroyed, giving a taste of the scene “liquidated” the Regional police said officers authorities alerted their ple were celebrating inside the widespread havoc elsewhere, freedom to a number of per- attacker following the stabbing fired warning shots at the scene Greek counterparts, the tent in Sankt Johann am Walde temporarily cutting off power forming goats and ponies that yesterday morning. before firing at the suspect, who agency said. in the north of the country. to 150,000 households with briefly escaped. Regional officials said seven was wearing a balaclava.

EU anti-migrant group Italy’s anti-terror deportations reach 202

Rome major tourist sports and said it the British city of Manchester. sees mission a success AFP Italian officials stress would step up monitoring of The suspect, whose age was trucks moving around the not released, had managed to Paris taly said yesterday it had that they have yet capital. avoid the fate of two previous AP deported two Moroccans and to be alerted to an The latest individuals expulsion orders issued in 2011. Ia Syrian on security grounds, imminent, credible deported included a 38-year-old The third man expelled was far-right European group has hailed as a success its bid lifting to 202 the number of threat on its territory Moroccan said to have been rad- a 31-year-old Moroccan whose to stop humanitarian organisations from rescuing potentially dangerous Islamists icalised while in prison for minor expressions of support for IS Amigrants in the Mediterranean, but ended its trouble- expelled since January 2015. or against the Vatican. crimes. His status was bumped were thought to be linked to a plagued voyage stranded at sea. The announcement came as from medium to high risk after psychiatric disorder for which Operation Defend Europe came to an abrupt end this week security was raised after vehi- he and other prisoners were he received compulsory treat- after more than a month at sea in the chartered ship C Star, cle attacks in Barcelona and introduce barriers preventing seen enthusiastically celebrat- ment after being arrested for but said yesterday that Malta refused to let it dock. elsewhere, and a widely- vehicular access to six pedestri- ing the Stockholm truck attack theft. The vessel was unable to dock in Sicily earlier and Tuni- reported warning from the IS anised areas of the island’s in April. The interior ministry said all sia banned it from its shores. group that Italy is next on its hit capital Palermo, reflecting fears The Syrian, who also oper- three had been flown back to Still, the anti-migrant group’s representatives labeled the list. of truck attacks. ated under a false Tunisian their respective countries of sea operation a success at yesterday’s news conference in Lyon, Administrative expulsions, Additional barriers are to be identity, was arrested in 2015 for origin. France, where Generation Identity, the sponsors, have a which are not subject to any placed on potentially vulnera- involvement in illegal immigra- Italy is regularly threatened chapter. appeal, are one of the main ble locations in Milan, a meeting tion and placed under house by IS propagandists. The European youth movement calls aid groups “sea planks of Italy’s strategy for pre- of regional security officials arrest at a centre for asylum Italian officials stress that taxis” for rescuing migrants sent to sea by Libyan smugglers venting the kind of jihadist decided. seekers in southern Italy. they have yet to be alerted to an in flimsy boats, saying they are contributing to the “inva- attacks suffered by other Euro- The prefecture for the Rome There, he was caught cele- imminent, credible threat on its sion” of Europe. pean countries. region approved an increase in brating the attack in May that territory or against the Sicily decided yesterday to the number of guards for its killed 22 people at a concert in Vatican. SUNDAY 20 AUGUST 2017 AMERICAS 13

Thousands of counter protesters march to a planned ‘Free Speech Rally’ on Boston Common in Boston, yesterday. Thousands march in Boston against right-wing rally

Boston Huge protest Last weekend’s clashes in white supremacist message and black-clad protesters, some with neighborhood early yesterday. Reuters Charlottesville, Virginia, where violence of Charlottesville and their faces covered, as the crowd “These signs and the message Some 500 police one woman was killed in a car said their event would be peace- screamed “go home” and “no so far this morning is all about housands of people in officers placed rampage after bloody street bat- ful. “The point of this is to have hate” at them. love and peace,” Walsh told Boston protested a barricades to tles, ratcheted up racial tensions political speech from across the Beyond the Boston rally and reporters. “That’s a good “Free Speech” rally prevent vehicles already inflamed by white spectrum, conservative, libertar- march, protests are also expected message.” featuring right-wing from entering the supremacist groups marching ian, centrist,” said Chris Hood, in Texas, with the Houston chap- Monica Cannon, an organ- speakers yesterday, park, the nation’s more openly in rallies across the an 18-year-old Boston resident ter of Black Lives Matter holding izer of the “Fight White Twith hundreds of police mobi- United States. who stood among a crowd of a a rally to remove a “Spirit of the Supremacy” march, said it was oldest. To keep the lized to prevent a recurrence of two groups separate, White nationalists had con- few dozen people who planned Confederacy” monument from a necessary move. “Ignoring a violence that left a woman dead verged in the Southern university to join the Free Speech rally. a park and civil rights activists problem has never solved it,” they also built a at a Virginia white-supremacist city to defend a statue of Robert “This is not about Nazis. If there in Dallas planning a rally against Cannon said in a phone inter- protest last week. cordon around the E Lee, who led the pro-slavery were Nazis here, I’d be protest- white supremacy. view. “We cannot continue to In historic Boston Common site of the rally. Confederacy’s army during the ing against them.” Boston authorities had road- ignore racism.” park alone, hundreds of protest- Civil War, which ended in 1865. Last weekend’s violence blocks in place to avert car attacks The Free Speech rally’s ers who believe the event could A growing number of A growing number of US sparked the biggest domestic cri- like the deadly one carried out in speakers include Kyle Chapman, become a platform for racist US political leaders political leaders have called for sis yet for US President Donald Charlottesville by a man said to a California activist who was propaganda dwarfed the few have called for the the removal of statues honour- Trump, who provoked ire across have neo-Nazi sympathies against arrested at a Berkeley rally ear- dozen rally participants. The removal of statues ing the Confederacy, with civil the political spectrum for not counter-protesters and a similar lier this year that turned violent, number of protesters was poised honouring the rights activists charging that they immediately condemning white spate of attacks by Islamist and Joe Biggs, formerly of the to swell exponentially as a march Confederacy, with promote racism. Advocates of the nationalists and for praising extremists in Europe, most right-wing conspiracy site with thousands more people civil rights activists statues contend they are a “very fine people” on both sides recently Barcelona. Infowars. bore down on the park. charging that they reminder of their heritage. of the fight. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh Antonio Vargas, a 20-year- Some 500 police officers promote racism. Duke University removed a Two male rally participants had asked protesters to avoid old student at Gordon College, placed barricades to prevent Advocates of the statue of Lee from the entrance wearing Trump’s red “Make Boston Common, saying their joined the protest march. “I vehicles from entering the park, statues contend they of a chapel on its Durham, North America Great Again” campaign presence would draw more believe in equality,” Vargas said. the nation’s oldest. To keep the Carolina campus, officials said hats attempted to enter the pro- attention to the far-right activ- “I believe race shouldn’t define are a reminder of two groups separate, they also yesterday. test pen that police had set up to ists. He joined the crowd of the pattern of your life or the built a cordon around the site of their heritage. Organisers of the rally in keep the two sides separated. thousands assembling in Bos- result of your life. “There also is a the rally. Boston have denounced the They were swarmed by ton’s historically black Roxbury time to stand up and not be silent.” After Charlottesville, students worry about safety on campus

Charlottesville slogans. The protest turned vio- he was shocked by the violence AP lent last Saturday, when a car and initially wondered if it drove into a crowd of counter- would be safe for him to attend hen Carl Valentine protesters, killing one woman UVA. “Wow, I am going to be in dropped off his and injuring 19 others. this place, it looks like a war Wdaughter at the Uni- Flags flew at half-staff out- zone,” Dodd, a cheerful redhead, versity of Virginia, he had some side the Rotunda, the historic remembered thinking. “But I do important advice for the college building designed by university think that we are going to be all freshman: Don’t forget that you founder Thomas Jefferson. A right, there is nothing they can are a minority. statue of Jefferson was stained do to intimidate us. I am not “She has to be vigilant of that with wax from the candlelight going to let them control my and be concerned about that, vigil held earlier in the week by time here.” always know her surrounding, thousands of students and city Others feel less confident. just be cautious, just be residents in a bid to unite and “As a black man, as a black stu- extremely cautious,” said Val- heal. Some student dormitories dent I don’t know if I can really entine, 57, a retired military had signs on the doors reading, say that I am safe,” lamented Right-wing activists hold ‘Free Speech’ Rally in Roxbury at the Reggie Lewis Athletic Center officer who now works at the “No Home for Hate Here.” Weston Gobar, president of the before marching to the Boston Commons, yesterday. Defense Department. UVA President Teresa Sulli- Black Student Alliance at UVA. As classes begin at colleges van began her address to He says he’ll warn incoming and universities across the students and families by wel- black students not to take their Trumps to skip top art awards country, some parents are ques- coming “every person of every safety for granted. “The message tioning if their children will be race, every gender, every is to work through it and to rec- Washington Kennedy Center honors cere- particularly after he said on safe on campus in the wake of national origin, every religious ognise that the world isn’t safe, AFP mony is a posh and generally Tuesday that “both sides” were last weekend’s violent white belief, every orientation and that white supremacy is real, non-political affair — a highlight to blame for the violence in nationalist protest here in Char- every other human variation.” that we have to find ways to deal onald and Melania Trump of the Washington social year, Charlottesville. lottesville, Virginia. School After the speech, anxious par- with that,” Gobar said. will skip one of Ameri- with tuxedo- and gown-wear- Trump’s decision to skip the administrators are grappling ents asked university Terry Hartle, president of the Dca’s top art awards, the ing guests feting icons of Kennedy Center affair under- with the difficult question of administrators tough questions American Council on Education, Kennedy Center Honors, the American culture — and with scored his fraught relationship how to balance students’ phys- about the gun policy on campus, said colleges are in the process of White House announced yes- the President and First Lady, in with the American art world ical safety with free speech. about white supremacists and reassessing their safety proce- terday in the latest sign of the prominent balcony seats, nearly and, more broadly, with main- Friday was move-in day at the likelihood of similar violence dures. Such work is already president’s growing isolation after always a focus of attention. stream Washington. Some of the University of Virginia, and in the future. under way at UVA. one of the most disastrous weeks That made the Trumps’ this year’s Kennedy Center hon- students and their parents For Valentine, of Yorktown, In an interview, Sullivan of his young administration. decision all the more surprising, orees have made clear their unloaded cars and carried suit- Virginia, the unrest brought back said the university will be The decision — which came if not unprecedented. Yesterday, disapproval of the president’s cases, blankets, lamps, fans and painful memories of when, as a revamping its emergency pro- after several honorees said they Kennedy Center President David stances on the arts, and on the other belongings into freshmen young boy, he couldn’t enter gov- tocols, increasing the number would boycott a White House Rubenstein and President Deb- Charlottesville controversy. dormitories. Student volunteers, ernment buildings or movie of security officers patrolling reception for the awards — was orah Rutter said they were Television writer and pro- wearing orange university theatres through the front door. the grounds and hiring an out- intended to allow the events to go “grateful for this gesture” by the ducer Norman Lear said shortly T-shirts, distributed water bot- “We’ve come a long way, but still side higher education safety ahead without “political distrac- Trumps, adding in a statement: after being named an honoree tles and led freshmen on short a long way to go for equality.” consultancy. tion,” Trump’s spokeswoman “The administration has gra- that he would not attend the tours of the university grounds. His daughter Malia Valen- Student body presidents said. But the decision came at a ciously signaled its respect for White House reception. Also But along with the usual tine, an 18-year-old pre-med from over 120 schools in 34 moment of extreme distraction, the Kennedy Center and ensures being honored are rapper LL Cool moving-in scene, there were student, is more optimistic. “It states and Washington, D.C., as Trump faced a torrent of crit- the Honors gala remains a J, Cuban-American singer Gloria some visible signs of the tragic was scary what happened, but signed a statement denounc- icism over his reaction to the deservingly special moment for Estefan and singer Lionel Richie. events of the past weekend, I think that we as a community ing the Charlottesville violence violent protests last week in the honorees.” The Kennedy awards ceremony when white nationalists will stand together in unity and and saying college campuses Virginia. Some of the honorees have on December 3 will be the 40th— marched through campus hold- we’ll be fine,” she said. should be safe spaces free of In sharp contrast, the annual been sharply critical of Trump, and the first of the Trump era. ing torches and shouting racist Christopher Dodd, 18, said violence and hate. 14 AMERICAS SUNDAY 20 AUGUST 2017 Millions to witness first eclipse in 99 years New York Solar spectacle and as many as 7 million, experts say, are Reuters expected to converge on towns and cam- The total eclipse of the pgrounds along the narrow corridor for wilight will fall at midday sun is considered one the event. Many are attending multi-day tomorrow, stars will glimmer of the most spell- festivals featuring music, yoga and and birds will roost in an eerie binding phenomena in astronomy lectures. stillness as millions of Ameri- nature but it rarely Millions more could potentially watch cans and visitors witness the occurs over a wide in real time as the eclipse is captured by Tfirst total solar eclipse to traverse the video cameras mounted on 50 high-alti- swath of land, let alone United States from coast to coast in 99 tude balloons and streamed online in a one of the world’s most years. joint project between NASA and Montana heavily populated The sight of the moon’s shadow pass- State University. A partial eclipse will ing directly in front of the sun, blotting countries at the height appear throughout North America. out all but the halo-like solar corona, may of summer. Adding further to the excitement is draw the largest live audience for a celes- the wide availability of affordable solar- tial event in human history. When those Tomorrow’s event will safe sunglasses produced by the millions watching via broadcast and online media be the first total solar and selling so fast that suppliers were run- are factored into the mix, the spectacle eclipse spanning the ning out of stock. will likely smash records. “It will certainly entire continental The owner of one leading manufac- be the most observed total eclipse in his- United States since 1918 turer reported price gouging by tory,” astronomer Rick Fienberg of the second-hand dealers who were buying and the first visible American Astronomical Society (AAS) said up large supplies in and reselling them anywhere in the Lower last week. The eclipse begins its cross- over the Internet at a huge mark-up. country trajectory over the Pacific Coast 48 states in 38 years. Not all the hoopla will unfold on dry of Oregon in late morning. It will reach The next one over North land. Welsh pop singer Bonnie Tyler is South Carolina’s Atlantic shore some 90 America is due in just slated to perform her 1983s hit single minutes later. seven years, in April “Total Eclipse of the Heart” aboard a The total eclipse of the sun is consid- 2024. cruise liner as the vessel sails into the path ered one of the most spell-binding of totality from Florida on Monday. phenomena in nature but it rarely occurs Back on the ground, forest rangers, over a wide swath of land, let alone one police and city managers in the total of the world’s most heavily populated eclipse zone are bracing for a crush of countries at the height of summer. In travelers they fear will cause epic traffic terms of audience potential, it is hard to jams and heighten wildfire hazards. top the United States, with its mobile and “Imagine 20 Woodstock festivals affluent population, even though the occurring simultaneously across the direct path is mostly over rural areas, nation,” Michael Zeiler, an AAS advisory towns and small cities. The largest is panel member wrote on his website, Nashville, Tennessee, a city of 609,000 GreatAmericanEclipse.com, referring to residents. the famously chaotic 1969 outdoor rock Even so the advent of social media extravaganza in upstate New York. and inexpensive high-tech optics have Eclipse souvenirs are sold for total Zeiler, an avowed “eclipse chaser” boosted public awareness, assuring what solar eclipse enthusiasts gathering who made the 650-mile (1,046 km) drive many US experts predict will be unprec- in Madras, Oregon. from his New Mexico home to Wyoming edented viewership for the so-called for a choice view, said South Carolina is “Great American Eclipse.” shadow, or umbra, cast by the moon will likely to see the greatest influx as the des- Some might take issue with that pre- fall over a 70-mile-wide (113km-wide), tination state closest to the entire U.S. diction, citing a solar eclipse visible over 2,500-mile-long (4,000km-long) “path Eastern seaboard. parts of India, Nepal, Bangladesh and cen- of totality” traversing 14 states. The 12 mil- Tomorrow’s event will be the first total tral China in July 2009. National lion people who live there can view the solar eclipse spanning the entire continen- Geographic estimated 30 million people eclipse at its fullest merely by walking out- tal United States since 1918 and the first in Shanghai and Hangzhou alone were side and looking up, weather permitting. visible anywhere in the Lower 48 states in in its path that day. Some 200 million Americans reside 38 years. The next one over North Amer- Tomorrow, the deepest part of the within a day’s drive of the totality zone, ica is due in just seven years, in April 2024.

Regional nations plus US condemn Canada struggles with refugee surge from US

Venezuela’s Montreal with suitcases in hand, before from about 400 in May to 3,800 detained by the Royal Canadian disseminated on foreign web- AFP being picked up by federal police in the first weeks of August. Mounted Police, but they are sites and social media that say new assembly who deliver them here. Under a Canada-US agree- assured an opportunity to file a how to illegally immigrate to oldiers busily assemble tents Eventually, the newcomers ment, asylum seekers travelling refugee claim in Canada. Canada,” RCMP spokeswoman Caracas /Lima with wooden floors, light- will be transferred to Montreal through the United States would The military was sent in to Camille Habel said. Reuters Sing and heating in Canada’s or a government facility in be turned away at Canadian bor- help set up a camp near the bor- On Thursday, Transportation Quebec province near the US Ontario province where officials der checkpoints, and told to file der at the beginning of August, Minister Marc Garneau warned group of 12 regional border to temporarily house a will help them find more suita- a refugee claim in the United then a second and a third, to that getting into Canada “is not nations plus the United surge in asylum-seekers from ble accommodations while their States. But that rule does not accomodate newcomers who an automatic ticket to being AStates rejected Venezue- the United States. claims are considered. Security apply to people who reach Cana- have made the journey. accepted here as a refugee.” la’s new government-allied Children run between rows prevented media from speaking dian soil unchecked, through Border, police and immigra- In fact, only half of the wave legislative superbody, saying and rows of the military green to any of the tent city residents. backwoods. tion staffing have also been of Haitian nationals who tried they would continue to regard tents as their parents line up to Most of the new arrivals are The Canada-US border is the increased to handle the influx. In last year were accepted as refu- the opposition-controlled con- speak with immigration officials Haitians who face expulsion longest between any countries the meantime, the federal govern- gees. Prime Minister Justin gress as the country’s only and file refugee claims. Through- from the United States at the end in the world. There are no fences ment has been feverishly working Trudeau has often touted Cana- legitimate law maker. out the day, school buses drop of the year. Then, temporary asy- along the vast stretches of dense to dispel misinformation being da’s immigration and refugee The move came after an off dozens of people at a time at lum granted to 60,000 Haitians forests and mountainous terrain, spread in the United States and system, saying at the start of the announcement on Friday that the makeshift tent city in Saint- affected by a devastating 2010 and security is relatively low. overseas about how to flout Can- year: “To all those fleeing perse- the newly-created constitu- Bernard-de-Lacolle, Quebec. earthquake is due to expire. Those who bypass border ada’s immigration laws. cution, terror and war, ent assembly, elected in late They walked across the border Their numbers have soared checkpoints to enter are “There’s information being Canadians will welcome you.” July to re-write the crisis-hit country’s constitution, would supersede congress and pass laws on its own. Trump thanks The Lima Group, includ- US judge rejects Polanski ing Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia and seven Bannon other regional governments, victim’s bid to close case late on Friday joined the Washington United States in criticising the AFP Los Angeles an impassioned plea to the assembly for “usurping” the AFP judge in June to end the case so powers of Venezuela’s tradi- onald Trump yesterday she could go on with her life. tion congress. thanked Steve Bannon for US judge on Friday She said she and her family had The congress has been Dhis “service” a day after rejected a bid by a been enduring a grueling ordeal controlled by the opposition the US president parted ways Awoman Roman Polanski for 40 years. since 2016, but has been neu- with his former chief strategist raped as a teenager to close the “I would implore you to con- tered by President Nicolas and key campaign ally. case, saying the fugitive film- sider taking action which would Maduro’s loyalist Supreme The 63-year-old Bannon left maker must appear in court for finally bring this matter to a close Court, which has tossed out a White House reeling from the the matter to be resolved. as an act of mercy for myself and almost every law it has passed. fallout over the president’s Los Angeles Superior Court my family,” she told the judge. “We reiterate our rejection response to a violent white Judge Scott Gordon said in a But Gordon said in his rul- of the constituent assembly supremacist rally. “I want to thank 10-page ruling that while ing that although dismissing the and its actions,” the 12-mem- Steve Bannon for his service. He Samantha Geimer—who was 13 case would help Geimer, “soci- ber Lima Group said in a came to the campaign during my at the time—had clearly suf- ety has an interest in even statement published by Peru’s run against Crooked Hillary Clin- fered because of the case, he handed justice, which can be foreign ministry. “We ratify our ton - it was great! Thanks,” Trump could not dismiss it “merely satisfied only by continuing the full support for the Venezue- tweeted. because it would be in the vic- prosecution in this case.” lan congress.” it added. Maduro Hours of leaving the White tim’s best interest.” He added that it was Polan- has slapped the opposition House.Bannon said: “If there’s Polanski, who turned 84 on ski’s refusal to face justice that with several measures blam- any confusion out there, let me Friday, fled the United States in was responsible for Geimer’s ing it for the unrest that killed clear it up: I’m leaving the White 1978 before he could be sen- continued anguish, rather than more than 125 people in House and going to war for tenced after pleading guilty to the courts. “The defendant in recent months. The UN says Trump against his opponents — having unlawful sex with this matter stands as a fugitive government troops used on Capitol Hill, in the media, and Geimer. The 54-year-old vic- and refuses to comply with excessive force in many cases. in corporate America.” tim, who lives in Hawaii, made court orders,” he said. SUNDAY 20 AUGUST 2017 BREAK TIME 15

CONCEPTIS SUDOKU

08:00 News 10:55 Sydney Harbour 07:00 Swamp 13:10 Mako Mermaids 08:30 Latin America 12:02 How Do They Do Brothers 14:50 Jessie Investigates It? 07:25 Whale Wars 15:15 Austin & Ally 09:00 12:47 The Big Storage Hunters 08:15 Treehouse 16:05 Descendants Picture 13:10 Gold Rush Wicked World 10:30 13:55 Masters 16:10 Inside Story Running Wild With 11:00 Treehouse Girl Meets World 11:00 News Bear Grylls 17:00 Masters Good Luck 11:30 Talk To Al Jazeera 14:40 Deadliest Catch Charlie 12:50 Guardians Of 12:00 News 15:25 Fast N' Loud 17:25 Starstruck Rescue 12:30 Rebel Education 16:10 Wheeler Dealers 18:55 Welcome To The 13:45 Deadliest 13:00 NEWSHOUR 17:00 How Do They Do Ronks Snakes Of South 14:00 News It? 19:05 Best Friends 14:30 17:50 Africa Inside Story Storage Hunters 14:40 Whenever 15:00 Al Jazeera World 18:50 Running Wild With The Vet Life 21:10 15:35 Austin & Ally 16:00 NEWSHOUR Bear Grylls Gator Boys 21:35 Stuck In The 17:00 News 21:00 Mega Trains 16:30 Gator Boys Middle 17:30 Listening Post 21:50 Gold Rush: 18:20 Catching 22:00 Bunk'd Yesterday's answer 18:00 Newsgrid Remembering John Monsters 22:25 Miraculous Tales 19:30 101 East Schnabel 19:15 Monster Of Ladybug And Conceptis Sudoku: Conceptis Sudoku is a number- 20:00 News 22:40 What On Earth? Island Cat Noir placing puzzle based on a 9×9 grid. The object is to 20:30 Inside Story 23:30 Fast N' Loud 20:10 Project Grizzly 22:50 Lolirock place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so 21:00 NEWSHOUR 00:20 Wheeler Dealers 22:00 Mutant Planet 23:10 Sabrina Secrets that each row, each column and each 3×3 box 22:00 01:05 News Mega Trains 22:55 Untamed & Of A Teenage contains the same number only once. 22:30 Talk To Al Jazeera 01:50 Gold Rush: Witch 23:00 Uncut 23:35 Marco Polo: A Very Remembering John 00:45 Treehouse Binny And The Modern Journey Schnabel CROSSWORD Masters Ghost BABY BLUES

NOVO — Pearl SHOWING AT VILLAGGIO & CITY CENTER Annabelle 2 (2D/Thriller) 10:00am, 12:20, 2:40, 5:00, 7:10, 7:20, 9:20, 9:40, 11:30pm & 12:00midnight Valerian And The City of A Thousand Planets (2D/Action) 10:40am, 12:20, 1:20, 3:00, 4:00, 5:40, 6:40, 8:20, 9:20, 11:00pm & 12:00midnight Security(2D/Action)10:00am, 12:00noon, 2:00, 4:00, 6:00, 8:00, 10:00pm& 12:00midnight Resident Evil: Vendetta (2D/Animation) 10:15am, 12:30 & 2:45pm 47 Meters Down (2D/Thriller) 5:00, 7:00, 9:00 & 11:00pm Kidnap (2D/Thriller) 10:15am, 2:30, 6:45 & 11:00pm Wind River (2D/Action) 12:15, 4:30 & 8:45pm Youm Min El Ayam (Arabic)12:40, 5:10 & 9:40pm Pilgrimage (2D/Drama) 10:00am, 2:00, 6:00 & 10:00pm Snatched (2D/Action) 12:00noon, 4:00, 8:00pm & 12:00midnight The Man With The Iron Heart (2D/Action) 10:10am, 2:40, 7:10 & 11:40pm Richard The Stork (2D/Animation) 10:00, 11:50am, 1:40, 3:30 & 5:20pm Valerian And The City of A Thousand Planets (3D IMAX/Action) 10:00am, 12:40, 3:20, 6:00, 8:40 & 11:20pm MALL

Lie (2D/Telugu) 2:30pm Snatched (2D/Action) 5:15pm The Emoji Movie (2D/Animation) 2:00pm Security (Action) 9:30pm Resident Evil:Vendetta(2D/Animation)2:00pm Pilgrimage (2D/Thriller) 4:00pm Richard The Stork(2D/Animation) 3:30 & 5:15pm Valerian And The City of A Thousand Planets (Adventure) 7:00 & 9:15pm The Man With The Iron Heart (2D/Action) 7:15pm Bareilly Ki Barfi (2D/Hindi) 5:45&11:30pm Youm Min Al Ayan 8:00pm Annabelle 2 (2D/Horror) 9:30 & 11:30pm Varnyathil Aashanka 11:15pm

LANDMARK Snatched (2D/Action) 2:30 & 10:00pm The Emoji Movie (2D/Animation) 2:30pm Pilgrimage(2D/Thriller) 6:30pm Resident Evil: Vendetta (2D/Animation) 3:00pm Richard The Stork(2D/Animation) 4:00, 5:30 & 7:00pm Youm Min Al Ayan (Arabic) 4:30 & 8:30pm The Man With The Iron Heart (2D/Action) 7:00 & 9:15pm Valerian And The City of A Thousand Planets (Adventure) 7:00 & 11:30pm Annabelle 2 (2D/Horror) 9:15pm Security (Action) 5:00 & 11:30pm Varnyathil Aashanka (2D/Malayalam) 11:15pm ROYAL PLAZA Pilgrimage (2D/Thriller) 2:00pm Richard The Stork(2D/Animation) 2:00 & 3:30pm Valerian And The City of A Thousand Planets (Adventure) 3:45 & 5:15pm Bareilly Ki Barfi (2D/Hindi) 6:00pm Annabelle 2 (2D/Horror) 7:30 & 9:45pm Yesterday’s answer Youm Min Al Ayan (Arabic) 8:15pm The Man With The Iron Heart (2D/Action) 9:30pm ALL IN THE MIND Security (Action) 11:45pm Snatched (2D/Action) 11:45pm

ABANDON, ACCEPT, ADOPT, ASIAN TOWN BANISH, BORROW, CAST Chunkzz (2D/Malayalam) 5:15, 7:45 & 10:15pm OFF, CHOOSE, CLAIM, Lie (2D/Telugu) 5:45pm Bareilly Ki Barfi (2D/Hindi) 11:15pm CLUTCH, COLLECT, VIP-2 (2D/Tamil) 9:00 & 11:45pm Toliet Ek Prem Katha 6:00pm CONFISCATE, DECLINE, Aashanka (Malayalam) 4:00, 7:00, 8:15 & 10:00pm DISCARD, DISOWN, DISPOSE, DROP, DUMP, ESCHEW, AL KHOR GRAB, IMPOUND, LEAVE, Annabelle (Horror) 10:30am, 1:00, 6:15 & 11:30pm Security 12:15, 4:45 & 9:15pm OBTAIN, PICK, PILFER, PINCH, VIP 2 (wTamil) 12:30, 6:00 & 11:30pm Valerian (Adventure) 3:30 & 8:45pm PLUNDER, POSSESS, Seven Sisters 2:15, 6:45 & 11:15pm Aashanka (Malayalam) 3:15 & 8:45pm PURCHASE, PURLOIN, RECALL, RECEIVE, REFUSE, REJECT, RESIST, SEIZE, ROXY SELECT, SEQUESTER, SHED, A Stork's Journey (Animation) 12:00noon, 2:00, 4:00. 6:00 & 8:00pm SHUN, SNAP UP, SPURN, Annabelle (Horror) 12:00noon, 6:15, 8:30, 10:50pm & 01:00midnight STEAL, TAKE, THROW AWAY, Valerian (Adventure) 12:00noon, 2:50, 5:40, 8:30 & 11:20pm TURN DOWN, WELCOME, Aashanka (Malayalam) 12:00noon & 2:50pm Kidnap (Thriller) 2:40 & 4:15pm WITHDRAW. The Emoji (Animation) 8:00 & 10:00pm Lie (Telugu) 5:40 & 8:30pm 16 HOME SUNDAY 20 AUGUST 2017

PRAYER TIMINGS

FAJR 03.49 am QC starts Model Orphans City in Sudan SHOROOK 05.09 am QNA Charity Office in Sudan, Hus- referred to the integrated ZUHR 11.37 am MAGHRIB 06.07 pm sein Kermash, said that the health center, which provides ASR 03.07 pm ISHA 07.37 pm atar Charity (QC) beneficiary families started the necessary health service started operating the process of moving to the for the city’s residents. Sheikha Aisha bint city in good conditions, with The beneficiary families of WEATHER TODAY Hamad bin Abdul- the occupancy rate of the the city’s facilities and serv- Qlah Al Attiyah’s city’s houses reaching so far ices expressed their great o o Model Orphans City, in the city more than 90% and waiting satisfaction and gratitude with of Al Damar in the River Nile for the rest of the families to the housing in the city, which 33 C 38 C State of the sister Republic of join. He added that the city’s provides the basic conditions Minimum Maximum Sudan. markets were opened, to pro- for a decent living, and The Association explained vide all the basic needs of its expressed their sincere thanks that it has already started the inhabitants. to the donor, the State of Qatar process of distributing houses He pointed out that coor- and Qatar Charity for this to families that were selected dination was established with huge project which com- according to specific criteria the Ministry of Health and the pletely changed their lives. and operating the educational Ministry of Education in Sudan The city of Sheikha Aisha Qatar Charity officials during the launch of Sheikha Aisha and health facilities of the city regarding the operation of bint Hamad bin Abdullah Al bint Hamad bin Abdullah Al Attiyah’s Model Orphans City in coordination with the Min- educational and health facil- Attiyah was built on an area at Al Damar in Sudan. istry of Social Affairs and the ities in the city. He confirmed of 200 thousand square Ministry of Health and the the opening of primary and meters in Al Damar at a cost hall, a kitchen and a bath- and service areas for children Ministry of Education of the secondary schools as well as of $12m. The city, which was room), girls and boys’ schools, and green spaces, and (two River Nile State of Northern kindergartens, where more officially opened last April, a vocational training center, water wells) to supply the city Sudan. than 400 students and stu- consists of 200 houses (each a health center, a mosque and with safe drinking water as The Director of Qatar dents were enrolled. He also consisting of two rooms, a a shopping mall. Recreational well as public services. Huge response to Katara Hunting & Falcons expo

QNA A press release issued by Katara activities of hunting and falcons, and backgrounds that will enable him to pointed to the diversity of participants, to build mutually beneficial relation- identify hunting as a hobby and sport ultural Village (Katara) con- whether companies or individuals, ships among the hobbyists and traders. with its conditions and seasons and firmed that the number of from Kuwait, England, Turkey, Swe- as well as discovering products and environment. The exhibition is one of Cparticipants, from Qatar and den, Spain, Iran, China, Poland, services in this important youth sec- the largest international exhibitions abroad, in Katara International Hunt- Pakistan, Lebanon, America and Ger- tor and it represents an important specialised in falcons, many activities ing and Falcons Exhibition , which will many. Peru, Georgia, Kazakhstan, event for all those interested in hunt- will be held during the event, includ-

Hazy at places at first becomes hot be held from September 20 to 24, has Kyrgyzstan, India and other ing and falcons. The general public will ing: auction of birds, falconry and daytime with some clouds and hu- exceeded 100 from Qatar and abroad countries. have the opportunity to get closer to hunting exhibitions, and the exhibi- mid by night. until now, and registration will con- The event aims to support the cul- this field, including a diverse market tion is dedicated to the hunting tinue till today. tural, sporting and commercial and cultural and environmental handicraft and bird supplies. HIGH TIDE 02:45 – 16:15 LOW TIDE 08:45 – 23:30

Courtesy: Qatar Meteorology Department Celestial spectacle GU-Q welcomes class of 2021 The Peninsula

fter a week filled with campus tours, Ameetings with their professors, and fun activ- ities with their new classmates, Georgetown University in Qatar’s (GU- Q) Class of 2021 was officially inducted into the University with a tradi- tional convocation ceremony. The event took place at the end of a busy ori- sions process. critical thinking, analysis, entation program “The new student and communication skills The planet Venus was seen close to crescent early yesterday. designed to prepare the convocation is an impor- in an international Pic: Salim Matramkot / The Peninsula new students for the start tant day – it is when our context. of the academic year and first year students become During the four year introduce them to Geor- part of the Georgetown undergraduate program, getown’s history, values, community,” said GU-Q students follow the same and campus life. Dean Dr. James Reardon- curriculum as their peers Ooredoo sponsors ICC event The 79 new students Anderson. “As their at Georgetown’s campus represent 23 nationalities, academic program begins in Washington, D.C. They The Peninsula sponsorship, Manar Khalifa Al including 39 Qatari stu- this week, the Class of benefit from the unique Muraikhi, Ooredoo Director of dents (about half of the 2021 will start down the facilities available at GU- oredoo was one of the PR and Corporate Communica- class) and GU-Q’s first path toward their degree, Q’s world class Education main sponsors of the 71st tions, said: “Ooredoo is proud to Cambodian, Ethiopian, and they will also begin a City campus, small class OIndia Independence Day once again support an event that and Vietnamese students. journey to become ana- sizes, and interactions celebrations held at Al Wakrah encourages diversity and show- The incoming class speaks lytical learners, strong with peers from more Sports Club on Friday. cases the amazing culture of 25 different languages; leaders, and engaged glo- than 40 different coun- Sponsorship of the Independ- India. We hope everyone who 58% of the new students bal citizens.” tries. After they graduate ence Day festivities is part of attended had a great time and are bilingual, while 41% The new class will be in 2021, they will join Ooredoo’s longstanding partner- wish all Indian expats in Qatar a speak three or more lan- studying toward GU-Q’s Georgetown’s diverse ship with the ICC (Indian Cultural happy Independence Day.” guages. With GU-Q Bachelor of Science in alumni community, who Centre) in Qatar and the evening As part of Ooredoo’s sponsor- receiving the largest Foreign Service degree, a now work for leading event was a colourful celebra- ship, the company provided a number of applications in unique interdisciplinary local and international tion showcasing and promoting special Ooredoo booth which its history this year, they program that enables stu- organizations in indus- the diverse Indian culture in promoted Hala Flexi Cards, join the student body after dents to tackle pressing tries ranging from finance Qatar. which provide Hala customers successfully navigating a global issues by helping to energy, diplomacy, Talking about the with ‘Flexi Points’. highly competitive admis- them develop their education, and media. London expo displays works of 11 Qatari artists

The Peninsula

leven Qatari artists are among over 40 emerg- Eing artists from the Middle East whose works are featured at Transition exhibi- tion which recently opened at the Menier Gallery in London. From left: Nada Abdulkareem Baker, Nasser Al Attiyah, Farah Altaweel, Ahmed Al Jufairi and Fatima Mohammed. Transition, which runs until September 2, is the lat- est exhibition presented by Yousef, Ahmed Al Jufairi, many ways ‘transition’ played that enables individuals to Amongst the rich and var- Reconnecting Arts, an artist- Amna Al Baker, Farah a role in their lives. reflect on their personal expe- ied topics addressed are the led platform supporting Altaweel, Fatima Mohammed, Covering a wide range of riences. It showcases a diverse effect of urbanisation and dis- emerging contemporary Mid- Hessa Al Ali, Maryam Yousuf media – including fine art, and fresh selection of work placement, the impact of dle Eastern creatives, and Al Homaid, Nada Abdulkar- calligraphy, sculpture, photog- that encourages dialogue balancing different cultures supported by Qatar Museums eem Baker, Nasser Al Attiyah raphy, video and installations about the power of connec- within one’s own identity, as (QM). and Sara Khalid Al Buainain. – the exhibition highlights tion and the complexities of well as gender roles, embrac- The Qatari artists featured Each artist used various Arab contemporary art as a change geographically, per- ing faith and the future of the in this exhibition are Abdulaziz forms or art to express the developing form of expression sonally and artistically. Middle East.