BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Al-Attiyah wins 13th Middle INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2-9, 24 COMMENT 22, 23 Food price infl ation REGION 10 BUSINESS 1-4, 15-20 East rally eases in Qatar in Aug. 22,219.00 8,409.48 49.89 ARAB WORLD 10 CLASSIFIED 5-15 +47.00 -18.29 +0.01 INTERNATIONAL 11-21 SPORTS 1-8 despite blockade title +0.21% -0.22% +0.02% Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

SUNDAY Vol. XXXVIII No. 10579 September 17, 2017 Dhul-Hijja 26, 1438 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Emir to hold talks In brief with Trump in

QATAR | Offi cial Emir condemns NY on Tuesday London bombing O Summit-level meeting has been a key partner in the US fi ght work (FIN) as its principal strategic His Highness the Emir Sheikh expected to breathe fresh against terrorism,” an observer said. adviser for enhancing the country’s Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and air into eff orts to end “It is very likely that the Emir-Trump anti-money laundering and counter- His Highness the Deputy Emir meeting would prove a milestone in terrorist fi nancing (AML/CFT) system. Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al- Gulf crisis the historic relations between the two The arrangement will help ensure Thani have sent cables to Britain’s countries,” he added. Qatar meets the heightened and evolv- Queen Elizabeth II and Prime ff orts to end the more than three- “The Gulf crisis, now in its 14th ing global standards and expectations Minister Theresa May in which they month-old Gulf crisis are ex- week, has evaded a solution but looking for fi nancial integrity. His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani expressed strong condemnation Epected to get a fi llip when His at the strong measures Qatar has taken, In its annual Country Report on Ter- of the terrorist bombing that took Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin in tandem with the US, to curb fi nanc- rorism 2016, the US State Department President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in An- lifting of the Saudi-led blockade on place in the subway station in Hamad al-Thani meets US President ing of terrorism, the Americans must has praised the “full partnership” be- kara, the Emir discussed the latest de- Qatar in eff ect since June. southwest London, and stressed Donald Trump on the sidelines of the be keen to end the dispute, which is in tween the US and Qatar in the fi ght velopments in the Gulf crisis and ways Macron is calling for “the embargo Qatar’s firm position rejecting UN General Assembly meeting in New nobody’s interest,” said the observer against terrorism, highlighting the to solve it through diplomatic channels. measures aff ecting the people of Qa- terrorism regardless of motives York on Tuesday. who wanted to stay anonymous. public role of Doha in the Global Coali- Turkey has been a close ally of Qatar and tar, in particular families and students, or reasons, wishing the wounded According to a statement issued by In July, Qatar and the US signed an tion to defeat ISIS. both countries enjoy excellent bilateral to be lifted as quickly as possible,” the a speedy recovery. HE the Prime the White House on Friday, Trump will agreement aimed at combating the fi - US is a major investment centre for relations in diverse fi elds like defence president’s offi ce said in a statement. Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh hold a meeting with His Highness the nancing of terrorism during the visit of Qatar. Qatar Investment Authority and commerce. Erdogan has strongly Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al- Emir, who is now in New York to at- Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to Doha. alone has plans to invest $45bn in the spoken out against the blockade im- the United Arab Emirates cut diplo- Thani has also sent similar a cable to tend the UN General Assembly meeting “The agreement we signed repre- US and about half of it has already been posed by the Saudi-led bloc on Qatar. matic ties with Qatar on June 5, ac- the British Prime Minister. early this week. sents weeks of intensive discussions invested, according to the Authority In Germany, His Highness the Emir cusing Doha of supporting extremism Sheikh Tamim arrived in New York between experts and reinvigorates the chief Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohamed and Chancellor Angela Merkel dis- – charges Qatar has denied. QATAR | Offi cial City on Friday evening to attend the spirit of the Riyadh summit,” Tiller- bin Saud al-Thani. US companies have cussed issues including the Gulf crisis, Riyadh and its supporters severed 72nd session of the UN General As- son had said at a joint news conference made huge investments in the oil and which the German leader said should air and sea links with Qatar and closed Emir congratulates sembly, the offi cial Qatar News Agency with HE the Foreign Minister Sheikh natural gas sectors in Qatar. be solved through dialogue and reiter- its only land border, cutting off vital Mexican president (QNA) said. Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani. The Emir has arrived in the US fol- ated her support to the mediation ef- routes for imports including food. His Highness the Emir Sheikh “Qatar and the US are very close al- Last month, Qatar’s National Anti- lowing his highly successful visits to forts led by Kuwait. The US president is scheduled to Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, lies and their strategic relations are Money Laundering and Terrorism Fi- Turkey on Thursday and Germany and After His Highness the Emir met meet leaders from Jordan, the Palestin- His Highness the Deputy Emir very strong. Besides hosting the mas- nancing Committee (NAMLC) engaged France on Friday. with French President Emmanuel Ma- ian Authority, the United Kingdom and Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al- sive US air base at Al Udeid, Qatar the US-based Financial Integrity Net- During his discussions with Turkish cron in Paris, the latter demanded the Egypt on Wednesday. Thani and HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani sent yesterday cables of congratulations to Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto on Erdogan and Annan discuss the anniversary of his country’s QOC a founding donating partner Independence Day. means to solve Rohingya crisis QATAR | Reaction for Olympic Refuge Foundation Attack on Nato convoy QNA two sides stressed the need to stop the Ankara violence in Myanmar as well as the in Afghanistan slammed need to deliver humanitarian assist- he International Olympic Com- collaboration with the UNHCR and Qatar has strongly condemned the ance to the region and to take necessary mittee (IOC) has announced the with relevant partners and local au- attack on a military convoy of Nato urkish President Recep Tayyip and urgent initiatives in this regard. Tlaunch of the Olympic Refuge thorities on the ground, the founda- in southern Afghanistan, which Erdogan and the Chairman of the The sources said that Erdogan asked Foundation with the Qatar Olym- tion will develop sporting activities resulted in the death of a soldier and TAdvisory Committee for the Ar- Annan, the former UN Secretary-Gen- pic Committee (QOC) confi rmed as a and social development projects that the injury of two others. akan Region in Myanmar, Kofi Annan, eral, to speak with the Government of founding donating partner. can be implemented in a sustainable In a statement yesterday, the yesterday discussed means to fi nd a so- Myanmar to stop the Rohingya tragedy. The foundation is aimed at pursu- way within these safe environments, Ministry of Foreign Aff airs reiterated lution to the humanitarian tragedy of the The Turkish president stressed that his ing the work undertaken throughout the statement notes. Qatar’s firm stance rejecting Rohingya Muslim minority in the region. country is ready to co-operate in or- the Olympic Movement in recent years The Olympic Refuge Foundation violence and terrorism regardless of Turkey’s Anadolu Agency quoted der to fi nd a solution to this problem to support refugees around the world will enter into strategic partnerships motives and reasons. It expressed sources in the Turkish presidency as with the governments of Myanmar and and is a further major initiative that with other foundations, internation- Qatar’s condolences to the victim’s saying that Erdogan had exchanged Bangladesh, where about 400,000 Ro- has emerged from the strong and long- al organisations and non-govern- family and wished speedy recovery views during a telephone conversation hingya Muslims have fl ed taking refuge standing partnership between the IOC HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, ment organisations in order to share to the injured. with former UN Secretary-General from the extermination war waged by and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), QOC president. experiences and build a collective Annan on the committee’s report. The the military in Arakan. Page 21 according to a press statement. approach to foster impactful activi- SPORT | Football The launch took place at the IOC we hope that our contribution to the ties that will assist refugees in their session in Lima, Peru, on Friday. Olympic Refuge Foundation will have social development and integration QFA chief meets Speaking about the QOC’s donation, a positive impact on the lives of young through sport. FIFA president Qatar Olympic Committee president people globally.” “The IOC has a long-time commit- Qatar Football Association (QFA) Police arrest teen over London train attack HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani In a pledge to raise awareness of the ment to refugees around the world. president HE Sheikh Hamad said: “The Qatar Olympic Committee magnitude of the refugee crisis – the We are taking another major step for- bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani AFP Green station. “We’re keeping an open has made a donation to the Olympic UNHCR estimates that more than ward by creating the Olympic Refuge met in Zurich yesterday with London mind around whether more than one Refuge Foundation to support the In- 65mn people have been forced from Foundation. It was paramount for the FIFA president Gianni Infantino person is responsible for the attack,” ternational Olympic Committee and their homes by war, famine and other IOC to continue to fi nd solutions to during his official visit to the FIFA Neil Basu of London’s Metropolitan the UN Refugee Agency in the valuable man-made and natural disasters – the help refugees around the globe,” said headquarters. During the meeting, ritish police arrested an 18-year- Police told reporters. work that they are doing to improve IOC created the fi rst Refugee Olympic IOC president Thomas Bach. “Work- the two sides discussed common old man in the ferry departure Dover’s ferry terminal was evacuat- the lives of young refugees around the Team at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. ing closely with the UNHCR, the Ol- topics relating to football at all Barea of the port of Dover yester- ed during the arrest and “a number of world through the power of sport. The team acted as a symbol of hope and ympic Refuge Foundation will create levels. Infantino stressed the depth day on suspicion of being involved in items” were recovered, while the teen- “The Qatar Olympic Committee peace for refugees across the globe and safe places where young people can of the relationship between FIFA the bombing of a London Underground ager is now in custody in London. shares the belief that having a safe inspired the world with the strength of not only play sport but also develop and QFA, especially that Qatar will train and were looking for more poten- The bomb detonated in a packed space to be able to practise and play their human spirit. skills to help them reconstruct their organise the 2022 FIFA World Cup. tial suspects on the loose. train carriage on Friday morning with sport is a basic human right, and we The aim of the Olympic Refuge lives. I would like to thank our found- For his part, the QFA chief extended The man, who has not been named, a large explosion followed by what are committed to promoting sport as Foundation is to create safe, basic and ing donating partners, the Qatar Ol- thanks to the FIFA president for his was arrested on suspicion of commit- eyewitnesses described as a “fi reball”. a tool for peace and inclusion in so- accessible sports facilities in areas ympic Committee and the Govern- good reception and for the positive ting, preparing or instigating an act of It was Britain’s fi fth terror attack in ciety. Sport spreads solidarity and where there are refugees, a displaced ment of Lichtenstein, for supporting handling of the various files terrorism after Friday’s attack in which six months. The Islamic State group hope, promotes a healthy lifestyle and migrant population and internally the IOC and UNHCR in this project.” discussed during the visit. 30 people were injured at Parsons claimed responsibility. Page 14 brings communities together – and displaced persons. Working in close To Page 24 Qatar to sign more air transport deals this year atar expects to sign more air aey as work began on ‘The Report: Qa- down the road, we expect to sign more The major role earmarked for the na- the International Civil Aviation Organ- transport agreements (ATAs) tar 2017’, the research and consultancy ATAs to continue expanding our reach,” tional carrier, Qatar Airways, as a driver isation (ICAO) were also on the agenda. Qthis year, according to Qatar fi rm’s forthcoming publication on the al-Subaey said. of growth was another topic of conver- “These positive developments, many Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) chair- country’s economy. Other subjects explored at the meet- sation. of which are generating more oppor- man Abdullah bin Nasser Turki al-Sub- Al-Subaey was “confi dent on Qatar’s ing included the expansion planned for Al-Subaey said the QCAA planned to tunities for Qatar Airways, indicate a aey. ability” to add to the eight air trans- Hamad International Airport, which step up support for the airline as it adds bright outlook,” al-Subaey said. The country’s plans to increase air port agreements (ATAs) already signed forms a key part of Qatar’s preparations new routes to its list of destinations The Report: Qatar 2017 will cover passenger traffi c and extend its reach this year, which have given the country for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and broad- served and moves to increase passenger many facets of the country, including its across a broad range of untapped des- access to several markets for the fi rst er economic diversifi cation eff orts. numbers. macroeconomics, infrastructure, bank- tinations was a key topic of discussion time, including key destinations across Al-Subaey told OBG’s team that the He also highlighted the authority’s ing and other sectoral developments. at a meeting held recently between al- Latin America and the Balkans. design for the project, which will en- decision to update its meteorological The publication will contain a de- Subaey and a team from Oxford Busi- “Despite recent challenges, we have Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) able the airport to accommodate up to system, in line with wider plans to in- tailed, sector-by-sector guide for in- ness Group (OBG). high expectations for the rest of 2017,” chairman Abdullah bin Nasser Turki 53mn passengers annually, is expected vest in new technology. The benefi ts of vestors, alongside contributions from OBG’s representatives met al-Sub- he told OBG’s team. “Looking further al-Subaey to commence in the coming months. opening a new offi ce in Montreal under leading personalities. Gulf Times 2 Sunday, September 17, 2017 QATAR Al-Marri meets UN offi cial

QNA Geneva

atar’s National Hu- man Rights Com- Qmittee (NHRC) Chairman Dr Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri met with UN Spe- cial Rapporteur Idriss Jaza- iry on the negative impact of the unilateral coercive measures by the blockading countries on Qatar, at the UN headquarters in Geneva yesterday. During the meeting, Dr al-Marri gave the Special Dr Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri during a meeting with UN Special Rapporteur Idriss Jazairy in Rapporteur all the reports Geneva yesterday. and complaints that the NHRC has monitored so far number of violations on the loss of investments. competent organisations. as a result of the siege on the siege counties, which Dr al-Marri called for ac- For his part, the Special Qatar. led to the prevention of tivation of necessary mecha- Rapporteur promised to The NHRC chairman Qatari citizens to travel or nisms to strengthen account- take the necessary measures said that the committee check on their property in ability, whether through in accordance with his terms has documented a large those countries, causing the United Nations or other of reference. GU-Q hosts talk on causes and prospects of Gulf crisis today

xperts from across the an opportunity to hear the region will gather to analysis of three renowned Eshare their insights experts on the causes and about the Gulf crisis at an consequences of the crisis, event at Georgetown Uni- what prompted Saudi Arabia versity in Qatar’s (GU-Q) and the UAE to launch the premier research institute, comprehensive blockade of the Centre for Interna- Qatar, and what measures tional and Regional Studies Qatar has taken in response (CIRS). politically, economically and The event, titled ‘Crisis Dr Gerd Nonneman Dr Mehran Kamrava diplomatically.” in the GCC: Causes, Con- Established in 2005, sequences, and Prospects’, off er their insights are Dr Georgetown University in Qatar. CIRS is a research institute will be held at 6pm today at Abdullah Baabood, direc- “The ongoing crisis in the devoted to the academic the university’s Education tor of the Gulf Studies Pro- GCC is by far the most sig- study of regional and in- City campus. The public gramme at Qatar Univer- nifi cant episode of internal ternational issues through event aims to explore the sity; Dr Shafeeq Ghabra, discord within the organi- dialogue and exchange of impact of the blockade on professor of political sci- sation since its inception ideas, research and scholar- Qatar by Saudi Arabia, the ence at Kuwait University; in 1981,” said CIRS director ship, and engagement with UAE, Bahrain and Egypt, and Dr Gerd Nonneman, Dr Mehran Kamrava. “The national and international which began on June 5. professor of international panel discussion hosted by scholars, opinion-makers, The panelists who will relations and Gulf studies at CIRS gives the audience practitioners and activists.

Gulf Times 4 Sunday, September 17, 2017 QATAR

Ambassadors and officials of various European embassies in Doha at a press conference held at the Bulgarian mission. PICTURE: Shemeer Rasheed European Day of Languages off ers crash courses in a dozen tongues

By Joey Aguilar “The European Day of Languages is Doha, according to Bulgarian ambassa- Staff Reporter an important day for us, it symbolises dor Metin Kazak. the unity of European countries in all The envoy said participants would their diversity,” he said. not only learn the basics of a variety of eople in Qatar will have the op- “We want to boost and support this European languages but also savour de- portunity to start learning 12 Eu- initiative in favour of teaching Euro- lectable cuisine from these countries. Propean languages on September pean languages in Qatar.” Swedish ambassador Ewa Polano 26 at the French Institute in Qatar. While the event is scheduled for one echoed the statement of Kazak, saying The event, organised by the Europe- day, participants will be able to have that the event is also an opportunity to an Union National Institutes for Cul- access to information on all the lan- highlight each of their countries’ cul- ture (Eunic) cluster in Qatar, will mark guage courses, organised throughout ture, and “giving a sort of an appetiser the second edition of the European Day the year in the country. of what our countries can off er”. of Languages in the country. Deseez noted that several possibili- “Also, we want to see more students It is celebrated around the world to ties exist today to learn European lan- from Qatar coming to our universities, promote the cultural and linguistic di- guages in Qatar such as French, Ger- which is a very good investment in the versity of Europe. man and Spanish at Qatar University; future for both of us and we see a lot of Speaking during a press conference Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, German potential in this,” she said. held at the Bulgarian embassy in Doha and French at Qatar Foundation; Eng- According to the World Economic recently, Eunic Qatar cluster president lish at the British Council; Portuguese Forum, Europe hosts nearly 400 of the Olivier Deseez told reporters that the at the Translation and Interpreting In- 980 internationally-recognised uni- one-day crash courses would allow stitute; and French at the French Insti- versities in the world. the participants to attend introduc- tute in Qatar. Dutch ambassador Dr Bahia G tory classes on European languages of Last year, he noted that the initiative Tahzib-Lie said the event would also their choice free of charge, from 5pm to attracted more than 100 participants, give European embassies in Doha the 9.30pm on September 26. mostly students (more than 30%) and chance to further deepen their rela- The languages are Bulgarian, Dutch, professionals, in the fi rst edition, and is tions with Qatar and make the Euro- French, German, Greek, Hungarian, expected to attract more people this year. pean Union (EU) “more visible not only Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Apart from crash courses, the sec- for its citizens but also to the world”. Spanish and Swedish. Registration ond edition will feature traditional “We are making an action plan about (mandatory) can be done online at ht- food from each of the European coun- big events so that the people who live in tps://guestli.st/477759 tries, represented by their embassies in Qatar will be more familiar with the EU.”

Gulf Times 6 Sunday, September 17, 2017 QATAR ‘Fire Station: Artist in Residence’ announces winners of third round atar Museums’ (QM) Fire Sta- is open to local Qatari artists and resi- gramme has been a launching pad for tion: Artist in Residence pro- dents of Qatar. many superior talents who have exhib- Qgramme, an initiative designed As part of the programme, which ited all over the world and I can’t wait to to grow the next generation of artistic runs in nine-month cycles, the new see the work that will be created during talent in Qatar, has announced the next group of artists will move into one of this round,” al-Obaidli said. group of talented artists who will take the studios at the Fire Station, collabo- The full list of the 18 artists who will part in the 2017-2018 edition. rate with fellow creatives and develop participate in the 2017-2018 Artist in Following a comprehensive applica- their own technique. They will have a Residence programme is as follows: tion and review process, which saw the chance to meet curators, benefi t from Mubarak Nasser al-Thani (Qatar), May highest number of applicants to date, weekly mentoring sessions and work Saleh al-Mannai (Qatar), Fatima Mo- 18 local painters, designers, sculptors, with arts professionals from all over the hamed (Qatar), Ahmad Nooh Ahmad architects, photographers and visual world, representing Qatar in the inter- (Qatar), Yasser Abdulla al-Mulla (Qa- artists were invited to join the growing national cultural community. tar), Fatma al-Naimi (Qatar), Yousef community of Fire Station: Artist in Khalifa al-Obaidli, director of the Fawzi Bahzad (Qatar), Aisha al-Fadhala Residence participants, according to a Fire Station, welcomed the artists dur- (Qatar), Aisha al-Malki (Qatar), Shouq press statement. ing a reception hosted recently, where al-Mana (Qatar), Islam Shehab (Egypt), Under the visionary guidance of the new residents were able to meet Alexandra Jawe Oddie (UK), Wajiha QM’s chairperson, HE Sheikha Al Ma- one another and share their hopes and Pervez (Pakistan), Paul Valentine (US), yassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, plans for their residencies. Ryan Browning (US), Rachel Leah Cohn the programme launched in September “Each year we welcome tremen- (US), Diogo Esteves (Portugal) and 2015 is designed to take the partici- dously talented individuals to join the Yassmin al-Khasawneh (Jordan). pants’ passion for art to the next level. First Station: Artist in Residence fam- Occidental Petroleum of Qatar Ltd The initiative aims to create a space that ily and each year I am amazed by the (Oxy Qatar) is the ‘principal sponsor’ off ers an indigenous, local approach to passion and creativity I see in the ap- of the Fire Station: Artist in Residence creativity and artistic production and plicants. I am proud to say that the pro- initiative.

The new residents were able to meet one another and share their hopes and plans for their residencies.

Students learn to protect creative works

nterior design students at the conventions on intellectual property, Virginia Commonwealth Univer- including the Trade-Related As- Isity School of the Arts in Qatar pects of Intellectual Property Rights (VCUarts Qatar) have attended a guest (TRIPS) and the Berne Convention for lecture on intellectual property (IP) the Protection of Literary and Artistic laws and were briefed on how best they Works. Khalifa al-Obaidli, director of the Fire Station, welcomed the artists during a reception hosted recently. could protect their creative works as Abuwasel said that under the Berne they prepare to venture into the mar- Convention, copyright protection ket. is automatically granted to creative Mahmoud Abuwasel, associate at works published on the Internet or any Qatari law fi rm Sultan Al-Abdulla & other medium. Partners (SAP), provided the students A precautionary measure crea- with a roundup of the legal framework tors can take is to draft appropriate related to corporate and intellectual copyright statements linked to the property in Qatar and the diff erent le- works. gal forms and structures available in However, if an infringement is de- the country. tected, action can be taken before the The lecture is part of SAP’s corpo- courts of the jurisdiction in which the rate social responsibility and commu- infringement has taken place to obtain nity engagement initiatives. an injunction against the unauthorised The lecture was a collaboration be- use and/or claim for damages. tween SAP and the university aimed at Abuwasel additionally referred to providing expert and practical insight Qatar’s Trademarks Law, which also for the business course off ered to sen- grants an individual whose trademark ior year students, according to a press Mahmoud Abuwasel rights have been transgressed upon to statement. apply for a court ordered injunction Abuwasel explained that IP covers lectual property is an intangible asset and/or claim for damages. the “creations of the mind” and in- of a person or business that should be SAP is a full service, Chambers Band cludes trademarks and copyrights. protected, not only to prevent unau- 1 and Legal500 Tier 1 law fi rm in Qatar He emphasised its importance for thorised use, but also to safeguard its established since 1999. The fi rm ac- interior design professionals in pro- fi nancial value, he emphasised. tively engages with, and supports, the tecting their creative works. Intel- Qatar is a signatory to international local entrepreneurial community.

Food checks conducted in Mamoura oha Municipality’s health inspection Dsection has con- ducted an inspection cam- paign at food establish- ments in the Al Mamoura area to ensure compliance with food health and safe- ty regulations. The campaign covered six food outlets and re- sulted in the issuance of a report for violation of Law No 8 of 1990 regulat- ing human food control. The violation was is- sued to a eatery for pre- paring food in unhealthy conditions and not fol- lowing the correct proce- dures for thawing frozen chicken. Mohamed Buhashim al-Sayed, head of the section, stressed that such initiatives are be- ing implemented by Doha Municipality to detect violations and act as a de- terrence in order to ensure public health and safety. He said the campaigns would continue and cover various areas within Doha Municipality to make sure that the food served to the public complied with the approved standards and regulations. He said the campaigns include raising awareness at food outlets concerned on best practices in the fi eld of ensuring food safety in order to raise the level of services off ered to customers.

Gulf Times 8 Sunday, September 17, 2017 QATAR DFI announces Qatari fi lm grants for spring 2017 Katara’s ‘S’hail 2017’

oha Film Institute (DFI) has announced the recip- ients of the Qatari Film Fund Spring 2017 grants, Ddedicated to nurturing home-grown fi lmmaking talents by providing all-round support to young Qatari directors and bring creative approaches to storytelling. Launched in 2015, the Qatari Film Fund selects eight opens on Wednesday short fi lms and up to four feature fi lm projects through two funding cycles per year. QNA “Such creative eff orts would Feature fi lms developed through the fund are eligible Doha enrich the cultural process, which for fi nancial support for production and one fi lm will be will hopefully keep expanding, selected for the fund the following year. evolving, growing and thriving,” he Selected short fi lms are eligible for up to QR182,500, atara – the Cultural Village added. with DFI working closely with the fi lmmakers. Foundation is set to launch Katara has sought to provide a For the Spring 2017 cycle, six Qatari fi lmmakers have Kthe Katara International “hunting ground” atmosphere to been chosen for the grant from a record number of sub- Hunting and Falcon Exhibition, the audience during the exhibition missions received, DFI has said in a statement. “S’hail 2017”, on September 20. and lined up traditional sessions The awarded projects include the feature narra- The event will feature local, Arab that are reminiscent of those held tive Khuzama by AJ al-Thani, the short animation fi lm and international participants, in the desert in addition to a variety Fragile by Kholoud al-Ali, the short documentary Un- including 54 from Qatar, 15 from of unique events and activities. titled Arab Museum Documentary by Majid al-Remaihi, Kuwait, fi ve from Spain, and four Throughout the exhibition, visi- and three short narratives – I Am My Own Guardian by from Pakistan. There would be tors will be introduced to diff erent Mahdi Ali Ali, End of the Road by Ahmad al-Sharif, and three participants from Germany falcon species, with more than 400 Nasser Goes to Space by Mohamed al-Mahmeed. and one each from the US, England, falcons coming from three local DFI chief executive Fatma al-Remaihi said: “Our goal France, South Africa, Azerbaijan, farms as well as from nine foreign is to inspire, nurture and empower the next generation and Lebanon. breeding farms in Spain, Germany, of storytellers, who present our stories to global audi- Participants include suppliers of France, and Russia. ences, and serve as a window into the creative aspira- hunting vehicles, tools, equipment The exhibition will also feature tions of Qatar’s emerging fi lmmaking talents.” and falcon-related entities. several falcon veterinary clin- Commenting on the exhibition, ics, including Souq Waqif Falcon Katara general manager and chair- Hospital, which will conduct the man of the International Hunting necessary tests for falcons to be and Falcon Exhibition organising bought at the exhibition. committee Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim The Ministry of Interior will be al-Sulaiti said: “The exhibition has one of the distinguished partici- The event will feature participants from a number of countries. been named ‘S’hail’ – which is a pants at the exhibition as an offi ce Ooredoo is named star that is traditionally known for will be set up at the venue to raise range shotgun/medium-range hunting-related brands that cover ‘Gyrfalcon sponsor’ being closely linked to the hunting awareness among the attendees shotgun/short-range shotgun/air areas such as camping gear, hunt- seasons. about all matters related to pur- gun) and accessories such as tel- ing arms and tools, and safaris, Ooredoo has announced that it “Katara always opts for tradi- chasing and using hunting weap- escopes, spare parts, and hunting which would be off ered with dis- has been named the “Gyrfalcon tional names for its festivals and ons and observing safety guidelines gear. counts. sponsor” of the Katara International competitions, such as El-Meyna as well as all the services off ered by The audience will be in for an in- The event will include cultural Hunting and Falcons Exhibition, and Al-Habbal competitions, Sen- the ministry in this regard. teresting experience at the exhibi- stands from several countries, in- “S’hail 2017”. yar Championship for fi shing and The Ministry of Municipality tion, which will feature a simulated cluding Morocco, Georgia, Kaza- Held at Katara, the event is expected pearl diving, Marmi Festival, and and Environment will participate shooting and air gun event with khstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkey. to attract visitors from around the Al Galayel competition.” in the exhibition through two of- the participation of Qatar Shoot- These countries will introduce region. “Through this common prac- fi ces: one for issuing falcon “pass- ing and Archery Association and Al the visitors to their cultural herit- Manar Khalifa al-Muraikhi, Oore- tice,” he said, “Katara aims to ports and health card” and the Rami Sports Club. age in hunting and falconry, dis- doo’s director of PR and Corporate highlight the cultural heritage in other for displaying houbara bus- Visitors will also enjoy discounts playing exhibits such as hunting Communications, said: “Ooredoo is Qatar and the wider region and tards in addition to other ministry up to 15% at all Katara restaurants clothes and tools. a major supporter of Qatari culture, help combine tradition and mo- exhibits. during the exhibition as well as Underlining the role of arts in traditions and educational initia- dernity in our creative eff orts to The organising committee has discounts from Qatar Airways in promoting heritage, the exhibition tives. build bridges with our heritage on been keen to host the world’s best addition to other off ers. will host 15 artists who will paint, “We are proud of our heritage, and the one hand and with the world on hunting arms companies to exhibit The S’hail 2017 exhibition will at the site, portraits of the hunting proud to be part of this event.” the other.” diff erent kinds of weapons (long- welcome a number of international environment. Es’hailSat taking part in IBC 2017

s’hailSat, the Qatar cation between spacecraft Satellite Company, and the ground systems) Ehas said that it is ex- and capacity management hibiting at the annual Inter- together with a wide range national Broadcasting Con- of teleport services such as vention (IBC) exhibition in uplink, downlink, contribu- Amsterdam, a leading plat- tion, multiplexing, encod- form for the broadcast, con- ing, playout and broadcast- tent delivery, digital media, ing, the statement adds. and satellite sectors across The high-tech teleport the Middle East, Africa, and will also provide back-up South Asia. studios for TV channels and The company is show- serve as a disaster recovery casing Es’hail-1, currently facility for broadcasters. transmitting high-quality, The site will be linked premium DTH (direct to with key media broadcasters The Es’hailSat team at IBC 2017. home) television content by a redundant, dedicated from the 25.5°/26° East fi bre optic link. with the utilisation rate of scheduled to be launched neighbourhood for lead- Es’hailSat president and Es’hail-1 being higher than soon, IBC gives us the right ing channels such as Al chief executive Ali al-Ku- the industry average. platform to engage with Jazeera and beIN Sports, and wari said: “We have had tre- “With our new state-of- customers and partners, and Es’hail-2, the company’s mendous growth since our the-art teleport nearing showcase our capabilities second satellite scheduled commercial launch in 2013 completion and Es’hail-2 and future plans.” for launch soon. In addition to providing transmission and expan- sion opportunities for es- tablished news and sports channels, a growing number of new Arabic channels are choosing Es’hailSat to launch in the Mena region, according to a press state- ment. Qatari cultural channel Qatar TV and Al Kass Sports Channel both recently launched their channels on Es’hail-1. Es’hailSat is also pushing ahead with plans to expand its satellite fl eet. Es’hail-2, a new high- performance satellite with sophisticated anti-jam- ming capabilities, will be positioned at the 26° East hotspot position for TV broadcasting, signifi cantly adding to the company’s ability to provide high- quality, premium DTH tel- evision content across the Middle East and North Af- rica, the statement notes. Also, discussions are un- der way with customers and stakeholders to defi ne the requirements for Es’hail-3 and Es’hail-4. With a commitment to providing broadcasters with secure and independ- ent satellite transmission, Es’hailSat has commis- sioned its own teleport. Located at a dedicated and secured site north of Doha, the new facility will provide satellite TT&C (te- lemetry, tracking, and com- mand, used for communi- Gulf Times Sunday, September 17, 2017 9 QATAR

Officials with participants in the programme. Students mark Al-Majles Diyafa Restaurant opens at The Pearl-Qatar digital exposure at Commercial Bank ommercial Bank has announced placed within Commercial Bank’s statement noted. Commercial Bank that the “Young Bankers” have 29-branch network and assigned the Group CEO Joseph Abraham said, “The Csuccessfully completed the task of encouraging the use of digital ‘Young Bankers’ Summer Internship fourth annual Summer Internship Pro- banking channels available to Com- Programme is a special CSR event in gramme. mercial Bank customers and explaining the summer calendar for Commercial In this regard, an awards ceremony their benefi ts, all under the guidance Bank as we have the privilege of work- held at Commercial Bank Plaza was at- and supervision of the bank’s staff . ing with young people and helping tended by the parents of the “Young Besides learning communication them on their journey towards becom- Bankers” and the bank’s senior manage- skills by working in the customer-fac- ing tomorrow’s business leaders, en- ment. Commercial Bank received over ing environment of Commercial Bank trepreneurs and professionals.” 250 applications from customers via its branches, the students gained techni- Commercial Bank EGM, Consumer social media channels to enrol their chil- cal knowledge and an understanding Banking Amit Sah noted, “Commercial dren into the Internship Programme. of Commercial Bank’s digital channels Bank leads the market for digital inno- The Internship Programme is de- such as Mobile Banking and Internet vation and it is remarkable how quickly Al-Majles Diyafa Restaurant is now open in Medina Centrale, The Pearl-Qatar, it has been announced. A grand signed for students aged 13 to 17 years Banking, as well as latest market in- our ‘Young Bankers’ have grasped the opening was held recently in the presence of Abdallah al-Hamadi, executive director of Portfolio Management at who are the children of Commer- novations such as the “Young Elite benefi ts of using our digital banking United Development Company (UDC), master developer of The Pearl-Qatar. The restaurant is themed around cial Bank customers, and is now in its Savers Club” that provides benefi ts, channels and been able to demonstrate authentic Qatari design, according to a press statement, and is a tribute to Qatar’s rich culture and heritage. With fourth consecutive year. discounts and interest-earning savings to our branch customers how easy they this inauguration, Qatar’s Al-Majles Restaurant Group continues to successfully adapt its brand and off erings to Titled “Leading Change Via Digital for minors, and Commercial Bank’s are to use.” suit the taste buds of local residents since it first began operations in the 1980s, the statement added. During the Channels”, the two-month long pro- “e-Gift” feature that enables custom- Commercial Bank AGM, head of Net- opening ceremony, an abstract piece of art was unveiled – a work of calligraphy inspired by the Qatari national gramme focused on the digital evolu- ers to electronically send a cash gift to work Branch Reham Thawabi added, anthem. Rashid al-Nuaimi, chairman of Dallah Group and Al-Majles Diyafa, said: “By blending local art, culture and tion taking place within the banking their children, friends and family, and “The ‘Young Bankers’ Summer Intern- heritage, Al-Majles Diyafa goes beyond tantalising the taste buds of the most discerning connoisseurs of fine industry, according to a press state- is designed to “deliver the joy of giving ship empowers Qatari youth by equip- dining and speaks directly to the hearts of our guests.” Pictured are dignitaries and off icials at the opening. ment. Following an induction and and receiving gifts, with the recipient ping them with soft skills they can apply training session, the students were receiving a personalised message”, the and use throughout their careers.”

LuLu Mercedes-Benz promo fifth mega draw held The fifth mega draw for the LuLu Mercedes-Benz Car promotion, organised by LuLu Hypermarket Group, has been held at LuLu Hypermarket, D-Ring Road branch, under the supervision of Ministry of Economy and Commerce inspector Oudiman al-Qahtani. Two Mercedes-Benz E-200 cars (2017 model) were given away as prizes in the mega draw, won by Christian Agbanyo (coupon No 1143828) and Vijayalakshmi Kennedy (coupon No 2039296). Consolation prizes in the form of LuLu gift vouchers, worth QR10,000 and QR5,000 each, were also given to 10 other winners. Shanavas PM, regional manager; Keith Gordon Smith, retail operations manager; Krishnakumar R, general manager, and other off icials from LuLu Hypermarket Group were present at the draw.

Dignitaries at the inauguration. PICTURE: Jayan Orma Sumo Sushi & Bento outlet launched at Doha Festival City

ashion and lifestyle Bowl and Salmon Lov- retail conglomerate ers Bento. The outlet at FApparel Group has Doha Festival City was announced the opening inaugurated by Tomoko of its fi rst Sumo Sushi & Watanabe, first secretary Bento branch at Doha Fes- at the Japanese embassy tival City. in Qatar. Sumo Sushi & Bento is a “Sumo Sushi & Bento’s “family-friendly, authen- menu has been refined tic” Japanese restaurant over the years to cater to that was established more the tastes of the region than 15 years ago, serving and now includes some “the best sushi across the of the most creative and GCC”, a press statement unique flavours in Japa- said. nese cuisine. All of the The food ranges from dishes are prepared fresh bento boxes, noodle and in front of diners at dishes and traditional Sumo Sushi & Bento’s fun sushi to custom-created sushi bar,” the statement sushi sandwiches, Poke noted. Gulf Times 10 Sunday, September 17, 2017 REGION/ARAB WORLD

CONFLICT Iraqi army captures area on border from IS

Iraqi armed forces yesterday dis- lodged Islamic State from a natural Jets attack US-backed gas-rich border area with Syria, according to the military. Iranian-backed forces fighting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s army simultaneously announced the start of an off ensive to reach the same border area from the opposite side. An Iraqi military state- forces in eastern Syria ment said Akashat, a desert region located south of the Euphrates river, Reuters was captured in an off ensive which Beirut Govt says monitors had been announced earlier in the in safe zone would day. The attack on Akashat is meant be ‘illegitimate’ to pave the way for the recapture S-backed militias said of urban centres in the Euphrates they came under attack Syria’s foreign ministry said yes- valley, including the border post of Uyesterday from Russian terday that it would consider Aal-Qaim, it said. Paramilitary forces jets and Syrian government Turkish ground troops expect- known as Popular Mobilisation and forces in Deir Ezzor province, ed to temporarily monitor a Tribal Mobilization took part in the a fl ashpoint in an increasingly safe zone deal in the country’s off ensive, it added. The Iraqi air complex battlefi eld. northwest as “illegitimate”. force dropped thousands of leaflets The Syrian Democratic Forc- The comments came a day overnight on Akashat as well as es (SDF), an alliance of militias after regime allies Russia and on Al-Qaim and the towns of Ana fi ghting with the US-led coali- Iran agreed with opposition and Rawa, alongside the Euphrates, tion, said the strikes wounded backer Turkey to jointly police telling the militants to surrender or six of its fi ghters. a “de-escalation” zone in Syria’s face death, the statement said. Washington and Moscow Idlib province. support separate off ensives in Damascus’s delegate to the the Syrian confl ict — with both talks, Bashar al-Jaafari, had REFUGEES sides advancing against Islamic described them as success- Libyan forces turn State militants in the eastern re- ful but the foreign ministry in gion that borders Iraq. Damascus yesterday criticised back more than “Our forces east of the Turkey. 1,000 migrants Euphrates were hit with an at- “These agreements on de- tack from the Russian aircraft escalation zones do not grant Libyan coastguard vessels inter- and Syrian regime forces, tar- any legitimacy to a Turkish cepted 1,074 migrants during an geting our units in the indus- presence on Syrian territory,” a intensive day of operations west trial zone,” the SDF said in a source from the ministry told of the capital Tripoli yesterday, a statement. state news agency SANA. spokesman said. There has been The SDF accused the Syr- “It is an illegitimate presence,” a sharp drop in migrant crossings ian government of trying to ob- the source added, while between Libya and Italy since July, struct its fi ghters. recognising that the accord “is largely attributed to armed groups Such attacks “waste energies temporary”. around the smuggling hubs of that should be used against ter- Sabratha and Zawiya blocking rorism...and open the door to departures. However, some boats side confl icts,” it said. army and its allies against fi r- have still been leaving from the There was no immediate Fighters from Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) stand together along a damaged street in Raqqa, yesterday. ing across the river, something area, where a number of diff erent comment from Moscow or Da- he said they had done in recent smuggling groups operate. Smug- mascus.The assaults by the have closed in from the west ter Deir Ezzor city, where the Russian or Syrian fi ghter jets coalition...and necessary action days. The Russian foreign min- glers generally pack migrants into Russian-backed Syrian army since last week, while the SDF Syrian army recently broke an fl ew in from government terri- to stop these jets.” istry said units of the Syrian flimsy inflatable boats that are and the US-backed SDF have at advances from the east. Islamic State siege that lasted tory before dawn yesterday. The Syrian Observatory for army had already crossed. later picked up by international times raised fears of clashes that Russian and US battles three years. Still, in June, the The warplanes struck as the Human Rights, a Britain-based A senior aide to President vessels and taken to Italy. Those could stoke tensions between against Islamic State in Syria SDF accused the Syrian mili- SDF waged “heated and bloody war monitor, said coalition Bashar al-Assad said the gov- trying to cross early yesterday the competing world powers. have mostly stayed out of each tary of bombing its positions in battles” in the industrial zone planes had pounded the same ernment would fi ght any force, were intercepted by coastguards The off ensives have con- other’s way, with the Euphrates Raqqa province and the United on the eastern bank, seizing industrial zone overnight to including the US-backed mi- from Zawiya, about 45km west verged on Islamic State from often acting as a dividing line. States shot down a government factories from Islamic State help SDF advances against Is- litias, to recapture the entire of Tripoli, said Ayoub Qassem, a opposite sides of the Euphrates Talks have been under way warplane in Syria’s crowded militants, he said. lamic State. The strikes came a country. “I’m not saying this coastguard spokesman. river, which bisects oil-rich Deir to extend a formal demarcation airspace. “We have requested explana- day after Khawla said his fi ght- will happen tomorrow...but Ezzor, Islamic State’s last major line, offi cials have said. Ahmed Abu Khawla, the tions from the Russian govern- ers would not let Syrian govern- this is the strategic intent,” foothold in Syria. The US coalition has said commander of the SDF’s Deir ment,” he told Reuters.”We have ment forces cross the Euphra- Bouthaina Shaaban said in a TV UNREST Syrian troops with militias the SDF does not plan to en- Ezzor military council, said asked for explanations from the tes. On Friday, he warned the interview. Shelling kills three children in Yemeni city of Taiz Sunset in Kuwait City Shelling of residential districts in Yemen’s third largest city of Taiz has UN urges Iraqi Kurds killed three children and severely wounded nine others, the UN chil- dren’s agency Unicef and witnesses said yesterday. Witnesses told AFP mortar rounds were fired on Friday to drop referendum by Houthi rebels from positions they control in Taiz into two resi- dential neighbourhoods, Al-Deba AFP tiations...on how to resolve all ciples and arrangements” and Al-Sameel, in an area held by Baghdad the problems and outstanding for future relations between government forces. Unicef said on issues” between Baghdad and Baghdad and the KRG. Twitter that the shelling had killed Arbil. The Kurdish Regional In return, Barzani’s admin- three children and wounded nine. he United Nations has Government (KRG) based in istration would agree to post- urged Iraqi Kurdish the northern city of Arbil is pone the referendum at least Tleader Masoud Barzani embroiled in long-standing until the end of negotiations. TRIAL to drop plans for a controver- disputes with the federal gov- “Here is this offer, if they Seven handed sial independence referendum ernment over oil exports, accept this alternative, there and enter talks with Baghdad budget payments and control will be negotiations,” Kubis death sentence aimed at reaching a deal within of ethnically divided areas. said. over militant links three years. Iraqi Kurdish lawmakers He hoped to hear from Bar- Jan Kubis, the top UN envoy on Friday approved holding zani “in the next two or three An Egyptian court yesterday con- in Iraq, off ered international the referendum in the face of days”, the UN envoy said. “I demned to death seven people for backing for immediate nego- fierce opposition both from hope they will consider the membership of the Islamic State tiations between the country’s Baghdad and the Kurds’ in- options and I am waiting for group and over the beheading in federal government and the au- ternational backers. their answer.” Libya of 21 Christians, all but one of tonomous Kurdish region. In the document seen by After several rounds of ne- them from Egypt, judicial off icials In a document he delivered AFP, Kubis called for talks, gotiations in the past, Arbil said. IS in Libya posted a video on to Barzani on Thursday, Kubis overseen by the UN Security has repeatedly accused the the Internet in February 2015 of the proposed “structured, sus- Council, that would aim to central government in Bagh- gruesome beheadings on a Libyan People walk along the sea front as the sun sets over Kuwait City yesterday. tained, intensive and result- reach a deal within “two to dad of failing to deliver on its beach, sparking international oriented partnership nego- three years” defining “prin- promises. condemnation. Gulf Times Sunday, September 17, 2017 11 AFRICA

30 Burundi refugees killed in clashes with Congo security forces

Reuters have counted 32 bodies. There are also about Kinshasa 100 wounded.” Reuters TV footage showed more than 30 bodies covered by sheets on the roadside in t least 30 Burundian refugees have Kamanyola, with many more wounded also been killed in clashes with Congo- lying in the street. Alese security forces over plans to send A UN spokeswoman confi rmed that at some of them home, a Reuters witness and least 18 Burundian asylum seekers had been local activists said yesterday. killed but said the toll was likely to rise. Many Police and soldiers opened fi re as the refu- others had taken shelter at the UN peace- gees protested over the plan in the town of keeping mission’s nearby base, she added. Kamanyola in eastern Democratic Republic According to a spokesman for the UN of Congo on Friday, the activists told Reu- refugee agency, more than 2,000 Burundian ters. refugees live in Kamanyola with host fami- Congo’s government spokesman Lambert lies. Mende denied that those killed were refu- In a statement, Burundi’s main opposi- gees, saying that the clashes broke out when tion grouping, CNARED, accused Burun- assailants from an unidentifi ed armed group dian army troops and members of the ruling attacked an offi ce belonging to the national CNDD-FDD’s youth group Imbonerakure of intelligence agency. carrying out the killings with the Congolese Five soldiers and 20 of the attackers were army. killed in the fi ghting, Mende said. Burundian offi cials could not be imme- More than 400,000 refugees have fl ed diately reached for comment, but Burundi’s Burundi — including 40,000 to neighbour- foreign minister Alain Aime Nyamitwe wrote ing Congo — since violence erupted in April on Twitter: “My heart sinks as I learn of the Protesters use the wreckage of a car to block the street during fighting between the military and police, backed by intelligence forces, in Mogadishu. 2015 when President Pierre Nkurunziza said shootings in Eastern #DRC.” he would seek a third term in offi ce, a move “Clarifi cations are needed on the shoot- his opponents said was unconstitutional. ings & circumstances around,” he added. Wendo Joel, an activist from a Congolese The violence in Burundi has killed over pro-democracy and human right group, said 700 people and a UN commission said last the refugees had seized a weapon and killed a week there were reasonable grounds to be- soldier as they tried to free some of their ar- lieve authorities had committed crimes rested compatriots. against humanity. “The soldiers fi rst fi red in the air but there The government rejected the commis- 9 die in accidental were many refugees,” Joel told Reuters. “I sion’s fi ndings as “propaganda”. Protesting genocide Mogadishu clash

Reuters cause police were wrongly informed and then opened fi re. We defended gunfi re...We took our babies on our Mogadishu that there were armed militias in the ourselves and chased the so-called shoulders and fl ed,” resident Mo- area. security forces after hours of fi ght- hamed Idle told Reuters. “Accidents happen,” he said. ing today. We lost two soldiers and In a separate incident yesterday, ighting between the military Somalia has been riven by civil a wife of my colleague,” Major Nur insurgents briefl y entered the town and police backed by intelli- war since 1991, when clan-based Osman, a military offi cer, told Reu- of El Wak in Gedo region, southern Fgence forces killed nine people warlords overthrew a dictator then ters yesterday. Somalia, near the border with Kenya. in the Somali capital yesterday, po- turned against each other. “The land belongs to the military, “A few soldiers were in El Wak and lice said. The weak UN-backed govern- it houses the families of soldiers. they left in the morning for tactical “It seems they mistook the Somali ment is now battling an Islamist in- However, the security forces were practice. Many Shebaab fi ghters ad- national army for (clan) militias. The surgency, but many members of its trying to force us off the land,” he vanced,” Captain Ibrahim Ali, a mili- death toll is nine people including a security forces are badly trained and said. tary offi cer, told Reuters. civilian,” Major Abdullahi Hussein, a coordination is poor. Residents said the fi ghting was Shebaab said they stayed briefl y, police offi cer, told Reuters. “Last night security forces (the terrifying. took weapons and supplies, and He said the fi ghting occurred be- police and intelligence) besieged us “We were awoken last night...by left.

Tsvangirai admitted to hospital

AFP the former prime minister leader has often accused Mu- Protesters gather outside the Myanmar embassy during a demonstration against Harare or the hospital treating him. gabe and his government of Naypyidaw’s alleged “ethnic cleansing” of its Rohingya minority. The march by Tsvangirai, 65, an- rigging polls. hundreds of demonstrators outside Myanmar’s embassy turned violent on Friday, nounced last year he had In 2008 Tsvangirai won an AFP journalist reported, and police outside the mission in Pretoria fired teargas imbabwe’s main op- been diagnosed with cancer 47.9% of the vote to Mugabe’s and stun grenades to disperse the angry crowd. The UN has accused Buddhist- position leader Mor- of the colon and had begun 43.2%, which led to a run-off . dominated Myanmar of waging an ethnic cleansing campaign against the largely Zgan Tsvangirai has chemotherapy. But Tsvangirai pulled out Muslim stateless group, who say the military has launched a brutal crackdown in been hospitalised in South News Day independ- before the fi nal round of vot- Rakhine state. Africa after his health de- ent daily earlier reported ing after a spate of violence teriorated, a senior party Tsvangirai was airlifted against his supporters. Tsvangirai ... ailing offi cial told AFP yesterday, to South Africa on Friday though a spokesman said morning after he fell ill. his condition was stable. “He was on oxygen and “He is in South Africa on drip and had been vomiting account of a medical cause. heavily,” the paper said. He is being attended to,” a Tamborinyoka, however, senior offi cial from Tsvan- said Tsvangirai had “urged girai’s Movement for Dem- the nation not to panic ocratic Change (MDC) told about his health” and that AFP, speaking on condition he would return in time to of anonymity. campaign for next year’s “We are monitoring the elections. situation. He will be fi ne, President Robert Mu- it’s only that he was over- gabe, 93, Tsvangirai’s rival whelmed with work and his for over a decade, regularly health deteriorated.” fl ies to Singapore, report- Luke Tamborinyoka, edly for medical reasons, Tsvangirai’s spokesman, thought most details about disputed what he termed his health are kept under “morbid media reports that wraps. he is critical and is battling Tsvangirai’s party has for his life”, insisting he had been riven by divisions gone to South Africa for a since he struck a troubled routine medical procedure four-year power-sharing and “is in a very stable con- deal with Mugabe after vio- dition.” lent and disputed elections Tamborinyoka did not in 2008. mention what was ailing The former trade union Gulf Times 12 Sunday, September 17, 2017 AMERICA Court rules against govt on ‘sanctuary’

Reuters The Trump administration Chicago has argued that its deporta- tion crackdown is focused on illegal immigrants convicted federal judge on Friday of serious crimes, and that barred the US Justice public safety is jeopardised A Department from de- when police refuse to notify nying public-safety grants US Immigration and Customs to so-called sanctuary cities Enforcement of plans to re- that limit co-operation with lease such a person from local the Trump administration’s custody. crackdown on illegal immi- But critics counter that A Black Lives Matter protester stands in front of St. Louis Police Department officers. gration. enlisting police co-opera- The preliminary injunc- tion in rounding up immi- tion issued by US District grants for removal under- Judge Harry Leinenweber mines communities’ trust was ruling in response to a in local law enforcement, legal challenge brought by particularly among Latinos, Chicago, the third-largest and they have questioned city in the United States, but whether the administration the judge ruled that his order is really targeting dangerous Riots after former cop would be applied on a na- criminals. tionwide basis. Trump’s opponents also Chicago sued in August af- say there is no correlation be- ter US Attorney General Jeff tween immigration and vio- Sessions announced that the lent crime, citing a sharp drop Justice Department would bar in homicides in Los Angeles cities from receiving certain since the early 1990s, despite cleared in murder case grants unless they allowed embracing the sanctuary cities federal immigration authori- movement. Former off icer Stockley fired five times taunted officers who arrived in riot gear ties unlimited access to local at Smith who he suspected of drug by the busload. jails and provided 48 hours’ The Justice Department pushing “Reports of bricks thrown at police. notice before releasing any- has sought to punish That’s not protest. That’s a crime. We one wanted for immigration cities and other local Reuters stand behind our offi cers. This violence violations. jurisdictions that St Louis won’t be tolerated,” Missouri Governor Chicago Mayor Rahm have joined a growing Eric Greitens said on Twitter. Emanuel hailed Friday’s deci- “sanctuary” movement Smith was shot fi ve times in his car af- sion at a City Hall news con- aimed at shielding olice fi red tear gas and rubber bullets ter trying to fl ee Stockley and his partner, ference as “an affi rmation of illegal immigrants from during clashes with protesters in St following an alleged drug deal, authorities the rule of law”. “It’s an as- stepped-up deportation PLouis early yesterday after a white said. Prosecutors said that during the pur- sertion of our most funda- eff orts former policeman was acquitted of mur- suit, Stockley could be heard saying on an mental American values and dering a black suspect. internal police car video he was going to it’s an unambiguous, clear The Justice Department A peaceful rally over Friday’s not guilty kill Smith. rejection of the false choice grants at issue typically are verdict turned violent after police con- At Stockley’s direction, his partner, who that the Trump Justice De- used to help police improve fronted a small group of demonstrators was driving, slammed the police cruiser partment wanted Chicago to crime-fi ghting techniques, — three years after the shooting of an- into Smith’s vehicle and they came to a make between our values, our buy new equipment and assist other black suspect in the nearby suburb stop. Stockley then approached Smith’s principles and our priorities,” victims of crime. of Ferguson stirred nationwide anger and car and opened fi re with his service weap- Emanuel said. Friday’s injunction would debate. on, court documents said. President Donald Trump prevent the department Offi cers fi red tear gas as people broke The former policeman believed Smith has made tougher immigration from wielding the threat windows at a library and two restaurants was armed, defence attorneys said, and a enforcement a centrepiece of of withholding such grants and threw bricks and water bottles at of- gun was found in the car. But prosecutors his campaign and presidency, as punishment against any fi cers. Activists hold placards during a demonstration in St Louis, Missouri. argued Stockley planted the weapon and along with a pledge to build a of the dozens of cities that Protesters also threw rocks and paint at that the gun had only Stockley’s DNA on wall on the US-Mexican bor- have taken a stance similar the home of St Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson, day was the acquittal of former city po- national debate on race relations after it. der. to that of Chicago, includ- said Acting Police Commissioner Law- liceman Jason Stockley, 36, who was found white offi cer Darren Wilson shot dead Stockley’s attorney, Neil Bruntrager, As part of that policy, ing New York, Los Angeles, rence O’Toole. not guilty of the fi rst-degree murder in the black teenager Michael Brown on August said his client was relieved at the verdict. the Justice Department has Philadelphia and New Orle- Nine city offi cers and a state trooper shooting death of Anthony Lamar Smith, 9, 2014. “It’s been a long road for him,” Bruntrager sought to punish cities and ans. were injured and at least 23 people were 24, on December 20, 2011. Protests and clashes broke out after a said. other local jurisdictions that Police agencies in those taken into custody, he said. Following the After the ruling, around 600 protest- grand jury cleared the offi cer, giving rise to St Louis prosecutor Kimberly Gardner have joined a growing “sanc- jurisdictions have gener- violence, rock band U2 cancelled a concert ers marched from the courthouse through the Black Lives Matter movement. called on protesters to avoid violence. “I tuary” movement aimed at ally barred their officers from scheduled for last night in St Louis, citing downtown St Louis, chanting “No justice, After Friday’s verdict, one group of understand the verdict has created anger shielding illegal immigrants routinely checking individu- safety concerns for fans who would have no peace” and “Hey hey! Ho ho! These demonstrators tried to climb onto Inter- and frustration for many in our commu- from stepped-up deportation als’ immigration status when attended. killer cops have got to go!” Some held state 40 but was blocked by police. An- nity,” she told reporters at the courthouse. efforts. making arrests or traffic “We have been informed by the St Louis “Black Lives Matter” signs. other group blocked an intersection by Stockley waived his right to a jury trial, al- In granting his injunction, stops. Police Department that they are not in a “I’m sad, I’m hurt, I’m mad,” Rever- sitting down in the street for six minutes lowing the judge to decide. He left the St Judge Leinenweber found that And they have refused position to provide the standard protec- end Clinton Stancil of the Wayman AME of silence. Louis Metropolitan Police Department in the city of Chicago has estab- to keep anyone locked up tion for our audience as would be expected Church in St Louis said by telephone. “We After most protesters drifted away, 2013 and was arrested last year. lished “a likelihood of success” longer than otherwise war- for an event of this size,” U2 said in a joint haven’t made any progress since Ferguson, a smaller group of people police de- Smith’s family settled a wrongful death in prevailing on the merits ranted at the request of fed- statement with concert promoter Live Na- that’s clear. Cops can still kill us with im- scribed as “agitators” lingered on the lawsuit against the city for $900,000 in of its case once the lawsuit is eral agents seeking to deport tion. punity.” streets in an upscale neighbourhood 2013, according to Al Watkins, an attorney considered in its entirety. them. The verdict that ignited protests on Fri- Ferguson became the focal point of a near the mayor’s house. The group for Smith’s fi ancée, Christina Wilson. What will the Donald say at UN General Assembly

DPA New York

he UN’s annual General As- sembly is the biggest event in Tthe diplomatic calendar, and this year it will play host to one of the world’s least diplomatic leaders — US President Donald Trump. In the week-long event, everyone is invited to take to the stage to speak on any topic of their choosing, and the US traditionally takes centre stage as sec- ond on the roster. “It’s really going to be all ‘what will the Donald say’ and how will people re- act to that,” Richard Gowan, a New York University UN expert, told DPA. Will he stay on script? Will he deviate and go into a UN-bashing rant? Will he urge more “fi re and fury” against North Activists gather on the Trump Unity Bridge during the Mother of All Rallies demonstration promoting the “protection for traditional American values and an America First agenda” on the National Mall Korea? As ever with President Trump, in Washington yesterday. it’s hard to predict, Gowan says. As president-elect, Trump in a tweet Council sharpened sanctions against event on Monday, before UN General But when Haley led a Security Coun- can presidents as a useful whipping be back to square one,” Gowan told accused the organisation of being a North Korea for the third time this year. Assembly speeches begin. Trump will cil trip to visit Washington, he told boy in the sense that the institution DPA. “club for people to get together, talk Pyongyang retaliated with a missile ask other member states to sign a com- them money was “peanuts” compared has problematic popularity in the US Twitter has been one of Trump’s and have a good time”. launch days later, prompting questions munique supporting UN Secretary- to the work they were doing. The threat and kicking it often wins you points — preferred media for off ering critiques But the US delegation set to arrive at about whether the UN could really General Antonio Guterres’ plans for to put a huge dent in the UN coff ers was I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw some of the UN. In 2012, he tweeted that the the UN’s Midtown headquarters shows “starve the regime” into stopping its reform and asking him to make the or- not taken lightly: The US pays 25% of harsh rhetoric in his speech,” Doyle marble panels behind the UN speaker that Trump means business: He will be nuclear programme. ganisation “fi t for purpose”. the general budget and 28% towards said. Whatever topic Trump addresses, are “cheap”. And this year wasn’t the joined by Vice President Mike Pence A military option is still on the table, A draft of the document seen by DPA peacekeeping funds. we should expect some fi reworks, Doyle fi rst time Trump has off ered his cost- and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, as US National Security Adviser HR Mc- includes a key point urging “greater As for Trump’s speech, a fair bit of says. cutting advice to the UN. In 2005, the well as UN ambassador Nikki Haley. Master said Friday. transparency and predictability on re- UN-bashing is probably on the cards, It’s worth bearing in mind that native New Yorker and real estate mo- North Korea will be front and cen- The US has already come under fi re quired resources”. Michael Doyle, a UN expert at Colum- Trump is not just restricted to the po- gul off ered to revamp the organisation’s tre of the conversation, Haley said from other nations for imposing their Whether Trump plays nice, where he bia University and former adviser to dium — the entire Twitter-sphere is his Midtown headquarters at a third of the Friday, on the same day the UN Secu- own sanctions outside of the Security will speak alongside Guterres and Ha- Kofi Annan, told DPA. stage. cost touted by UN plans. This year, for rity Council held its third meeting on Council, and all eyes will be on Trump ley, remains to be seen. The speeches are aimed at domestic “I wouldn’t be surprised if he gave the fi rst time, Trump will be the one Pyongyang’s provocations in less than to see what he says about North Korea Trump has called UN spending “out audiences, Doyle says, so it will be no a speech full of the tough stuff , but he standing in front of those panels. two weeks. and the future of the UN. of control” and threatened this year to surprise if Trump touts his “America could also be surprisingly emollient And this year, President Trump of- A week before Trump was due at the UN reform is high on the agenda as slash roughly $1bn from the US contri- First” line on the world stage. and we’ll all be confused and 12 hours fering to redecorate is probably the UN General Assembly, the Security the theme of a traditional US-hosted bution. “The UN has often served for Ameri- later the tweets will drop and we’ll all least of the UN’s concerns. Gulf Times Sunday, September 17, 2017 13 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA

SCARY RIDE ARRESTED CURBS CREATIVITY BOOST Koala survives 16km drive 7 boys held over deaths Thailand imposes sin tax Singapore turns carparks trapped under Aussie SUV of 25 in madrassa fire on cigarettes and alcohol into ‘parklets’ for a day

A koala survived a 16km road trip in Seven boys have been arrested in connection Thailand’s so-called “sin tax” on cigarettes and Singaporeans yesterday removed their cars from Australia clinging to the axle of a four with a deadly fire that killed 25 people in the alcohol drinks came into eff ect yesterday amid carparks for PARK(ing) Day, an initiative that aims wheel drive vehicle, before the driver sleeping quarters of an Islamic boarding school in product shortages as an apparent result of the to explore how urban parking spaces can be stopped and heard the cries of the Kuala Lumpur, police chief Amar Singh confirmed government’s warning regarding hoarding. The tax used for activism, art and leisure. A total of 166 traumatised animal. The female koala had in a press conference yesterday. “I can assure increase will result in price hikes of up to 40% on carparks were turned into 85 so-called “parklets,” crawled into the wheel arch while the car was you the case is solved with the arrest of seven cigarettes and up to 20% on alcoholic beverages, with activities ranging from photo booths to free parked in the hills on the outskirts of Adelaide, of them,” he said, adding that the suspects were depending on their alcohol content. The health screenings to modular furniture design. The the state capital of South Australia. “I could smell aged between 11 and 18. He also revealed that government argues the measure will encourage activities were organized by students, business her burnt fur,” Jane Brister, from Fauna Rescue, two of them had criminal records for off ences consumers to drink beverages with lower alcohol owners and community groups. Mohamed told Reuters in a phone interview yesterday. committed this year — one for rioting and the content. Critics say it will encourage people to Mustaghfir built a larger-than-life replica of a Sadly, although the koala was uninjured, Brister other for stealing car parts. Earlier yesterday, local drink illegally brewed substances. “We hope that congkak board, a traditional Malay game. “We said the animal was a lactating mother which media reported that 14 people who had survived the hikes will not push the burden so much to think that (games) are underrated, so we wanted A koala that was trapped behind the wheel of a meant her joey — the term for infant marsupials the blaze in the school’s sleeping quarters had the consumers,” said Somchai Poonsawat, the to create exposure amongst little kids... instead car in Adelaide. — was missing. been placed in a temporary shelter. Director General of the Excise Department. of just playing on their gadgets,” he said.

Jakarta protest North Korea seeks military ‘equilibrium’ with the US AFP and on Russia, which is hosting tens of “The North appears to have resolved Seoul thousands of North Korean workers. technical diffi culties in launching the The United States called for Thurs- missiles from TELs. With its mobility day’s meeting of the Security Council, being increased, Hwasong-12 poses an orth Korea said yesterday it to be held during the annual General imminent threat to the US and its allies was bent on nothing less than Assembly gathering of world leaders at in the region,” he said. Nmilitary “equilibrium” with the UN. The North’s previous missile launch, arch-enemy the United States with a President Donald Trump will also a Hwasong-12 IRBM just over two An Indonesian student holds a poster during a protest in Jakarta yesterday against the killing and persecution of full nuclear arsenal, forcing UN powers meet the leaders of Japan and South weeks ago, also overfl ew Japan’s main the Rohingya by the Myanmar government. into fresh crisis talks. Korea on the sidelines of the General islands and was the fi rst to do so for Kim Jong-Un successfully fi red a Assembly to address the crisis. years. Hwasong-12 intermediate-range bal- The US Pacifi c Command confi rmed “Within three to fi ve years, the listic missile over Japan on Friday, re- Friday’s rocket was an intermedi- North is expected to be capable of op- sponding to the latest round of UN em- ate range ballistic missile (IRBM) and erating nuclear missiles as deterrence,” bargos over its sixth nuclear test with said the launch did not pose a threat to Yang added. its furthest-ever missile fl ight. North America or to the US Pacifi c ter- Russian President Vladimir Putin The UN Security Council, which has ritory of Guam, which Pyongyang has and his French counterpart Emmanuel Singaporeans protest against condemned the launch as “highly pro- threatened with “enveloping fi re”. Macron jointly appealed Friday for a vocative,” will hold a new ministerial- Seoul’s defence ministry said it resumption of direct talks with North level meeting Thursday on the prolifer- probably travelled around 3,700km Korea, as the only way out of the crisis. ation of weapons of mass destruction, and reached a maximum altitude of While Russia and China both backed uncontested presidential vote focused on enforcing sanctions on 770km. last week’s US-drafted sanctions reso- Kim’s regime, diplomats said. “The combat reliability of Hwa- lution, they have been pushing a pro- North Korea’s young leader said Fri- song-12 was thoroughly verifi ed,” posal to kick-start talks with North Reuters cially strongly about,” she said, add- said it was silent as speeches that day’s launch had increased the North’s Kim was quoted as saying by star TV Korea with a freeze on the country’s Singapore ing that the power of authorities “had touched on race and religion would “combat power of the nuclear force”. presenter Ri Chun-Hee, who appears nuclear and missile tests in exchange gone unchecked”. have needed a police permit. “Our fi nal goal is to establish the when North Korea wants to boast of its for a suspension of US-South Korea She said it was the fi rst time she had Gilbert Goh, one of the main organ- equilibrium of real force with the US achievements or needs to make an im- military drills. undreds of Singaporeans, most attended a protest. isers, said an estimated 2,000 people and make the US rulers dare not talk portant announcement. But the United States has rejected dressed in black, held a silent If the election had been held, all participated. about military option for the DPRK,” North Korea’s offi cial party newspa- the proposal as “insulting” and main- Hprotest yesterday against an citizens above the age of 21 would have Tan Cheng Bock, who lost the pre- he said, according to the offi cial Korean per Rodong Sinmun allocated half its tains it will only enter into talks with uncontested presidential election last been eligible to vote. vious presidential election in 2011, Central News Agency. coverage to pictures of the launch. Pyongyang if it halts all missile and week in which applications from four Aiming to strengthen a sense of in- said in a Facebook post: “It is not Kim said the country was close to the Yang Uk, an analyst with the Korea nuclear tests unilaterally. candidates were rejected. clusivity, multicultural Singapore had President Halimah as a person that goal of completing its nuclear ambitions Defence and Security Forum, told AFP In response to Friday’s launch, South Political protests are rare in the decreed the presidency, a largely cer- Singaporeans are unhappy about. It and should use all power at its disposal that Kim’s stated ambition of achiev- Korea’s military immediately carried wealthy city-state but the election emonial six-year post, would be re- is about the way our government has to fi nish the task, saying it had “nearly ing a military balance with Washington out a ballistic missile drill of its own, of Halimah Yacob, a former speaker served for candidates from the minor- conducted this whole walkover presi- reached the terminal”, KCNA reported. was some way off . with the defence ministry saying it of parliament, as the country’s fi rst ity Malay community this time. dential election.” “We should clearly show the big power “It’s too unrealistic for North Korea took place while the North’s rocket was woman president had led to some dis- Of the four other applicants for the Displays of dissent are unusual chauvinists how our state attain the goal to reach equilibrium in nuclear force still airborne. may over how other prospective can- presidency, two were not Malays and in Singapore, one of the richest and of completing its nuclear force despite with the US,” he said. President Moon Jae-In told an emer- didates were rejected. two were not qualifi ed to contest, the most politically stable countries in the their limitless sanctions and blockade,” The North has raised global tensions gency meeting of Seoul’s national se- “ROBBED OF AN ELECTION elections department said on Monday. world. Kim said, according to KCNA. with its rapid progress in weapons curity council that dialogue with the #NotMyPresident”, read a banner Halimah had automatically quali- It has been ruled by the People’s The Security Council last week technology under Kim, who is regular- North was “impossible in a situation at the entrance to the park where fi ed because she held a senior pub- Action Party (PAP) since independ- imposed a new raft of sanctions on ly pictured by state media overseeing like this”. the protest was held, a venue called lic post for over three years and was ence in 1965 and the current prime Pyongyang, slapping an export ban launches and visiting facilities. But unless something changes, it is Speakers’ Corner, which has been declared elected after nominations minister, Lee Hsien Loong, is the son on textiles, freezing work permits to “The latest launch, which was ap- likely the tests will continue, said pro- designated as the site in the city for closed on Wednesday. of the country’s founding father Lee North Korean guest workers and plac- parently made from a TEL (transporter fessor Yang Moo-Jin of the University people to air their views. The stringent eligibility rules in- Kuan Yew. ing a cap on oil supplies. erector launcher or missile vehicle) in- of North Korean Studies. “We care about the country and clude a stipulation that a candidate In the 2015 general election — held But the impact of those sanctions stead of a makeshift launch pad, means “There is a high possibility that the where it’s heading toward,” said from the private sector should have months after the death of Lee Kuan depends largely on whether China, the North is now ready to deploy the North may test-fi re another ICBM by 22-year-old Anna, who declined to headed a company with paid-up capi- Yew — the PAP won almost 70% of the Pyongyang’s ally and main economic IRBM Hwasong-12 for combat purpos- the end of this year to prove it has mas- give her last name. tal of at least S$500mn ($370mn). popular vote and swept all but six of partner, will fully implement them es,” Yang said. tered the technology,” he said. “This is an issue that I feel espe- Organisers of yesterday’s protest parliament’s 89 seats.

Widespread destruction in central Vietnam after major typhoon

AFP trees and power lines were torn down in Ha Tinh, Vietnam fi ve hard-hit provinces, the disaster agen- cy said. “The wind was so bad that I hid under haken residents in central Vietnam the bed. I’m old but I’m afraid of death,” were yesterday piecing their homes 70-year-old retired teacher Tran Ngoc Sand businesses back together after a Khang told AFP in Ha Tinh. powerful typhoon hammered large swathes Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc visited of coast and killed at least four people. the hard-hit province yesterday to survey Typhoon Doksuri tore through Vietnam the damage. Friday afternoon, reducing structures to “We have to quickly mobilise forces to re- piles of debris and knocking out electricity pair houses and damaged schools...We have and telecommunications in several prov- to ensure people can get back to normal life,” inces, in one of the worst storms to hit the he said on state-run Vietnam Television. country in years. Nearly 80,000 people were evacuated as Residents woke up yesterday to the wide- the storm bore down while the government spread destruction in normally idyllic coast- deployed a quarter of a million troops and a al communities popular among beachgoers. fl eet of vehicles and ships. “I sat inside my house covering my ears, I Vietnam’s central coast is routinely didn’t dare leave as I was so scared,” Mai Thi lashed by storms, especially during tropical Tinh, whose restaurant in Ha Tinh province storm season from May to October. was completely destroyed, told AFP. It has already been hit by severe weather “The power is still off so we can’t do any- this year, with 140 people dead or missing in thing. I don’t know how long it will take to natural disasters since January, according to recover,” she told AFP. offi cial fi gures. At least four people were killed and eight Forecasters warned of a risk of fl ooding injured, according to Vietnam’s Disaster and landslides as the storm swept through Management Authority. central and northern Vietnam, bringing Soldiers remove debris yesterday in Ky Anh town in the central province of Ha Tinh, a day after Typhoon Doksuri made landfall to the country’s central coast. Some 123,000 homes were damaged and with it heavy rains. Gulf Times 14 Sunday, September 17, 2017 BRITAIN

Killings of cats add Suspect held in London to concern about bomb attack manhunt reach of Reuters culprit London Latest discovery of two ritish police arrested an mutilated cats on their 18-year-old male in the owners’ doorsteps raises Bport of Dover and raided suspicions killer may be a house in a small town outside operating nationwide London yesterday as they hunt- ed for whoever planted a bomb By Mattha Busby on a commuter train that injured Guardian News & Media 30 people a day earlier. Prime Minister Theresa May put Britain on the highest se- he discovery of two dis- curity level of “critical” late on membered cats in bags on Friday, meaning that another at- Ttheir owner’s doorsteps in tack may be imminent, and de- Northampton has added to con- ployed soldiers and armed police cern that an animal killer who to strategic locations such as has eluded police for almost two nuclear plants and defence sites. Commuters walk outside Parsons Green station, which was years may be operating nation- In what authorities called a re-opened in the early hours of the morning yesterday. wide. “very signifi cant” development, Northamptonshire police offi cers arrested a man about icide bomber killed 22 people at of the above-ground stops on have contact their colleagues in 7.50am (0650 GMT) in Dover, a concert by the American singer the Underground (nicknamed London, where Met offi cers are from where passenger ferries sail Ariana Grande in Manchester in “Tube”) network. investigating a spate of cat kill- to France. May. Health offi cials said none was ings in recent months. Five hours later they raided a The threat level remained at thought to be in a serious condi- The latest incident occurred property in Sunbury, a commut- the highest setting for four days tion. on September 7, when the own- er town southwest of London, while police raced to establish “I was on the second carriage ers of 15-year-old Topsy found and evacuated nearby premises if the man had worked alone or from the back. I just heard a kind the mutilated animal outside as a precaution. with the help of others. of ‘whoosh’. I looked up and saw their front door on Brookfi eld Reuters photographs showed Forensics investigators film a property in Sunbury-on-Thames being searched after a man was arrested Prior to that it had not been the whole carriage engulfed in Road in Kingsley. police cordons in a modest sub- in connection with an explosion on a London Underground train. triggered since 2007. fl ames making its way towards A teenage girl had previously urban street in Sunbury, in the Prime Minister May said the me,” Ola Fayankinnu told Reu- found the cat Rusty dumped in county of Surrey, around 11 miles In what was the fi fth major Pictures showed a slightly Cressida Dick, Britain’s top public should not be alarmed by ters. “There were phones, hats, plastic bag on her doorstep with (18km) from Parsons Green terrorism attack in Britain this charred white plastic bucket police offi cer, sought to reas- armed offi cers on the streets, a bags all over the place and when its ears, head and limbs cut off . where the bomb exploded. year, the home-made bomb with wires coming out of the top sure the public as she joined col- rare sight in Britain. I looked back I saw a bag with The family’s other cat sur- “This is a very signifi cant ar- shot fl ames through a packed in a supermarket shopping bag leagues patrolling the entertain- “This is a proportionate and fl ames.” vived being set on fi re a couple of rest. The police have made very commuter train during the Fri- on the fl oor of a train carriage. ment district on the south bank sensible step which will pro- Islamic State has claimed days earlier. good progress but the operation day morning rush hour in west The Parsons Green station of the Thames. vide extra reassurance and pro- other attacks in Britain this year, South Norwood Animal Res- is ongoing,” said interior minis- London but apparently failed to where the attack took place reo- “Yesterday we saw a cowardly tection while the investigation including two in London and the cue and Liberty (Snarl), a south ter Amber Rudd, adding that the detonate fully. pened by morning yesterday. and indiscriminate attack which progresses,” she said in a tel- Manchester pop concert. London charity, said that the two threat level remained at “criti- The militant group Islamic Armed police patrolled the could have resulted in many lives evised statement late on Friday. Western intelligence offi cials new killings “bore wounds in- cal”. State (IS) claimed responsibility. streets of London near govern- being lost,” she said. “London The bomb struck as passen- have questioned similar claims dicative of the UK animal killer”. “There is no doubt that this According to media reports, ment departments in Westmin- has not stopped after other ter- gers were travelling to the centre in the past, saying that while Is- The fi rst description of a sus- was a serious IED (improvised the bomb was attached to a ster and were guarding Premier rible attacks and it will not stop of the British capital. lamic State’s extremist ideology pected serial cat killer was re- explosive device) and it was good timer, unlike other recent blasts League soccer grounds hosting after this one.” Some suff ered burns and oth- may have inspired some attack- leased at the end of last month. fortune that it did so little dam- which have typically been sui- matches, including the national The last time Britain was put ers were injured in a stampede ers, there is scant evidence that Based on witness accounts of age,” she added. cide bombs. stadium at Wembley. on “critical” alert was after a su- to escape from the station, one it has orchestrated attacks. three recent cat killings in Cat- erham in Surrey, Snarl said the suspect was a white male in his 40s with dark brown hair and possible acne scarring. He was referred to as the Croydon cat killer after a spate Johnson’s Brexit plans reignite of killings in south London, but Snarl has urged people to stop using the term after similar at- tacks in Manchester, Birming- ham, Brighton and the Isle of speculation over leadership move Wight. The charity’s concerns led the Met to launch Operation Takehe Reuters to invest in infrastructure, re- ing forward to PM’s Florence “And yes – once we have set- Jeremy Corbyn said yesterday’s in 2015 to track down the culprit. London form the tax code and set immi- Speech. All behind Theresa for a tled our accounts, we will take comments also laid bare the He has been seen approach- gration levels as it sees fi t. glorious Brexit.” back control of roughly £350mn confl icts within May’s govern- ing cats with food and toys and A prominent Brexit cam- A favourite with grassroots per week,” he said. “It would be ment and cut the ground from making “kissing noises” at a ritish Foreign Secretary paigner in last year’s referen- members of the Conservative a fi ne thing, as many of us have beneath the prime minister’s number of locations. Boris Johnson has set out dum, Johnson also repeated Party, Johnson had been expect- pointed out, if a lot of that mon- authority. Northamptonshire police Bhis plans for a “glorious” the controversial claim that the ed to challenge for the leader- ey went on the NHS (the Na- But a source within Down- said offi cers had “been in con- Brexit that angered colleagues government would be £350mn ship after May gambled away her tional Health Service).” ing Street said Johnson’s views tact with the Met as part of their and reignited speculation that ($476mn) better off per week parliamentary majority in a June During the campaign, John- were well known: “As you’ll see on-going investigation into cat he would challenge Prime Min- once outside the EU. election she did not need to call. son travelled around Britain on in the PM’s speech next week the Johnson: They think Brexit isn’t deaths, to see if these are in any ister Theresa May for the leader- “My friends, I must report Instead, he publicly pledged a bus emblazoned with a slo- government is united in our de- going to happen. I am here to way linked”. ship of the Conservative party. that there are at least some peo- his loyalty. gan suggesting that Britain was termination to make the most of tell you that this country will A Met spokesman said its of- With May due to set out her ple who are woefully underes- But the Times newspaper re- sending £350mn a week to the the opportunities for a success- succeed in our new national fi cers would “assess the latest vision for Brexit in a speech timating this country,” Johnson ported earlier this week that EU – a fi gure rejected as inac- ful future outside the EU.” enterprise, and will succeed report to see if it is linked to the in the Italian city of Florence, wrote in the Daily Telegraph. Johnson believed he had since curate by experts – and that the Colleagues criticised the tim- mightily. We have a glorious cases already established as part Johnson published a 4,300- “They think Brexit isn’t going been sidelined as May prepares money would be better spent on ing of the article, which came future. of the ongoing investigation led word newspaper article that to happen. I am here to tell you to compromise over a divorce the NHS. around two hours after May put by police in Croydon”. roamed well beyond his minis- that this country will succeed in bill with the EU to ease the talks. Yesterday’s article also in- Britain on the highest threat lev- Conservatives in Scotland. The animal charities Peta UK terial brief and, in some cases, our new national enterprise, and “We would not expect to pay cluded Johnson’s belief that el of critical, meaning an attack Will Tanner, a former adviser and Outpaced are off ering a re- went beyond the approach set will succeed mightily,” he wrote. for access to their markets any Britain needed to leave the EU may be imminent. to May, said the timing was as- ward of £10,000 for information out by the government. “We have a glorious future.” more than they would expect to because “so many young peo- “On the day of a terror attack tonishing, self-serving and dis- leading to the arrest and convic- Britain, he said, would not pay With some colleagues angered pay for access to ours,” he wrote. ple with the 12 stars lipsticked where Britons were maimed, loyal: “The real PM *just* raised tion of the person responsible. to access European markets in by the timing – Johnson’s article The article made no reference on their face” were beginning to just hours after the threat level is threat level. Meanwhile guy who Members of the public are the future. was published a day after a bomb to a transition period the gov- have split allegiances between raised, our only thoughts should wants to replace her issues a asked to contact police and Once out of the European Un- injured 30 people on a train – he ernment is expected to negoti- Europe and their own country. be on service,” said Ruth Dav- prelude to resignation, to save quote Operation Takahe if they ion, the country should borrow later added on Twitter: “Look- ate. Opposition Labour leader idson, the popular leader of the face over £350mn. Hmm.” encounter the suspect. Voters to be asked for ID in trial at fi ve polling stations

Identification to be shown in with a ballot paper, but the fi ve dal in Tower Hamlets, east Lon- requirements risks making it five areas in local elections local authorities are likely to trial don. harder for people to vote, re- next May in first pilot a variety of systems, including Reports of alleged electoral ducing turnout and excluding schemes, but critics fear it will showing photo identifi cation (ID) fraud through impersonation some parts of the electorate, all cut turnout or providing polling cards where more than doubled between while doing little to stop deter- individual barcodes could be 2014 and 2016, according to the mined fraudsters,” she said. “It Tower Hamlets in east London will pilot a new postal voting system with tighter security as part of plans By Jessica Elgot scanned. Electoral Commission, but other is disappointing that rather than for electoral reform. Guardian News & Media The Cabinet Offi ce and Elec- campaigners have voiced con- combating the real challenge toral Commission said details cerns that the scheme will be a of the millions missing out on likely to be the fi rst in a series of to have confi dence in the demo- able to roll out ID in polling sta- were still being fi nalised of what barrier to voting. their chance to vote, the Tories pilots to evaluate the impact of cratic process. tions at future elections.” oters in fi ve local authori- photo ID would be required, as The pressure group Electoral are creating further barriers to asking for ID on voter turnout, “The current situation of peo- Voter ID has been a require- ties will need to show well as a system involving non- Reform Society has described democratic engagement that will ahead of a national rollout. ple simply pointing out their ment in Northern Ireland since Vphoto identifi cation be- photo ID, but both would be tri- the policy as “a sledgehammer disproportionately target those Tower Hamlets, whose mayor, name without having to prove 1985. fore they can vote in local elec- alled to see which was more ef- to crack a nut” and said most on lower incomes.” Lutfur Rahman, was removed who they are feels out of date The Electoral Commission’s tions next May, in a move aimed fective and effi cient. instances of electoral fraud were Liberal Democrat MP Tom from offi ce and a poll declared when considering other safe- chief executive, Claire Bassett, at combating voter fraud but The move towards voter ID, isolated and could be tackled lo- Brake called the change “a com- void after he was found guilty of guards to protect people’s iden- said the pilot was a “positive fi rst which Labour and the Liberal which was pledged in the Con- cally. pletely unnecessary move that electoral fraud, will also pilot a tity,” he said, pointing out that step” towards implementing the Democrats have warned could servative manifesto, has been Labour’s shadow minister for risks undermining our democra- new postal voting system, with “it is harder to take out a library organisation’s recommenda- disenfranchise thousands of recommended by the Electoral voter engagement, Cat Smith, cy by preventing millions of peo- tighter security and additional book or collect a parcel at a post tions. people. Commission since 2014, as well said that although voter fraud ple from voting” and said there guidance provided in postal vot- offi ce than it is to vote in some- Bassett said the commission Voters in Woking, Gosport, as in a report into electoral fraud was a serious crime, there was no was widespread evidence it led to ing packs. one’s name. would publish an independent, Bromley, Watford, and Slough by former Conservative cabinet evidence that any particular type even lower turnouts from young Chris Skidmore, a Cabinet “I am very hopeful that by tak- statutory evaluation of the pilot will be asked to show ID at poll- minister Eric Pickles in the wake of fraud was widespread. voters and minority groups. Offi ce minister, said the change ing a careful evidence-based ap- schemes, which would be pub- ing stations before being issued of an election malpractice scan- “Introducing restrictive ID The trial in May next year is was needed in order for people proach in these pilots we will be lished in the summer of 2018. Gulf Times Sunday, September 17, 2017 15 EUROPE

Schulz rallies SPD amid warning against coalition ‘experiment’

By Martina Rathke and Christian Democrats (CDU) at should not allow ourselves to en- Juergen Ruf, DPA 37%. ter into experiments at this time.” Freiburg, Germany “I’m not fi ghting against poll- With nine days to go before the sters and surveys,” Schulz said. election that she is projected to “I’m fi ghting for what I believe win, Merkel criticised the SPD ngela Merkel’s chief rival in. I’m fi ghting for my principles for failing to adopt a clear stance in Germany’s upcom- – for our principles.” on the three-way coalition. Aing national elections has The SPD, Germany’s second- “We have not had an answer come out swinging against dis- largest party, could still gain to that question – would they be A man holds a placard reading ‘Merkel must go’ during a protest mal polling numbers for his cen- ground in the fi nal days of the prepared to enter into a red-red- at the chancellor’s election rally in Binz. tre-left Social Democrats (SPD), campaign, Schulz added. green coalition or not?” she said, soldiering on in his bid to claw Merkel also hit the campaign referring to the left-wing parties’ voter support away from Mer- trail yesterday, warning that an offi cial colours. kel’s conservatives in the run-up SPD-led, leftist coalition with- Merkel’s appearance in Binz to September 24. out the CDU was an experiment was met with a few isolated ‘Get lost!’: How some SPD leader Martin Schulz told that Germany could not aff ord. whistles of disapproval. supporters in the city of Freiburg In order to remove the CDU The CDU addressed 5,000 yesterday that he would not be from government, the SPD would spectators at the rally, with the Germans hope to disheartened by the party’s per- need the support of far-left Die speakers’ comments also relayed formance in the polls, one of Linke party and the environmen- to an audience in a neighbouring which showed support for the talist Greens, an alliance with no square via a video link. shout down Merkel SPD hitting an eight-month low precedent at the national level. The latest polls show Merkel’s A supporter holds a sign depicting Schulz and reading ‘now of 20%. “We live in uncertain times,” CDU on 36% of the vote. chancellor’ during an election campaign in Potsdam for the SPD’s The same ARD-Deutsch- Merkel said during a rally in The SPD is in second place By Hui Min Neo, AFP show their disapproval of the candidate for chancellor. landtrend poll showed Merkel’s the seaside resort of Binz. “We with 23%. Ostseebad Binz, Germany establishment’s programme. But there is also a second motive – to gain media atten- hancellor Angela Mer- tion. kel may appear to be “If the media is not report- Ccruising to a victory in ing about us, then we should next week’s elections, but her go and protest loudly, so that campaign rallies across Ger- people will report about us,” many have been plagued by Springer said. rowdy protesters who jeer, boo A handful armed with AfD and even throw tomatoes at posters turned up at Merkel’s Catalan mayors defy her. rally yesterday at her constitu- From the western univer- ency’s Baltic Sea resort of Binz, sity town of Heidelberg to the whistling during her speech, picturesque southern city of but they were too far away to Rosenheim and the eastern make themselves heard. heartland of Torgau, unhappy Helmut Michel, who was voters hold banners saying holding an anti-Merkel poster, “Get lost” or “Merkel must go”, complained that the chancel- courts ahead of vote laying bare their frustration. lor “gives the impression that Similarly-minded chants she has everything in control Reuters streets had been cut off they seek to drown out the chancel- but that is not true”. Barcelona started coming over with ban- lor’s speeches. Citing the refugee crisis, ners, they handed out roses to the The unruly protests have Michel said it was too diffi cult police – the street turned into a jolted awake a snoozy cam- to integrate so many newcom- ore than 700 mayors party,” said Fabregas. paign and tarnished Merkel’s ers as “life is already hard in from across Catalonia For some supporters of the image of invincibility, even Germany”. Mgathered in Barcelona independence movement, the though her conservative alli- “There is exploitation of yesterday to confi rm their sup- search for the ballot boxes and ance is commanding a strong working people, there is edu- port for a planned independence voting papers has become a sym- double-digit lead in opinion cation misery, problems with referendum that Madrid has de- bol of what they see as state re- polls. our own youths,” said Michel, clared illegal. pression. The demonstrations also who refused to say who he is The Catalan government plans Images of the Catalan police come at a time when the anti- voting for but insisting that to hold a referendum on self-rule force – the Mossos d’Esquadra immigration and anti-Islam none of the established par- for the wealthy northeastern re- – seizing what for many are Alternative for Germany (AfD) ties represent policies that he gion on October 1, despite strong symbols of democracy would be party has been gaining in the believes in. opposition from government highly infl ammatory, police say. polls in the fi nal stretch before AfD, whose leading politi- which has challenged the vote in The Mossos report to the Cat- the September 24 vote. cians have come under fi re the Constitutional Court. alan regional government and The disquiet has sparked for making racist comments, The mayors met with Cata- are highly regarded by Catalans, questions about the source of is expected to win seats in the lonia’s regional head Carles Pu- particularly after their handling the pent-up anger, particularly German parliament for the igdemont in a show of defi ance, of the religious extremist attacks as the divisive issue of 2015’s fi rst time. following Spanish prosecutors in the region in August that killed mass refugee arrivals had With opinion polls putting warning earlier this week that 16. seemingly faded as the infl ux its support at between 8% and offi cials engaging in any prepa- But Spanish state prosecutors eased last year. 12%, the group could become rations for the vote could be have ordered all police – includ- “The rage is not fuelled only the country’s third-largest charged with civil disobedience, ing the Catalan force – to act. by Merkel’s refugee policy, but party. abuse of offi ce and misuse of “What no one wants is the im- also by powerlessness, from Nico Siegel, who heads the public funds. Catalan pro-referendum mayors gather yesterday at the Catalania regional government headquarters in age of the Mossos taking away the feeling of not being taken Infratest Dimap polling insti- On Wednesday, Spanish pros- Barcelona. More than 700 of the 948 mayors of Catalonia, threatened with judicial inquiries for the ballot boxes,” said Castejon seriously by ‘them up there’,” tute, described the AfD as a ecutors summoned for ques- supporting a referendum on self-determination banned by Spanish justice, shouted ‘we will vote’ and of the police union. “That would the weekly magazine Spiegel “vacuum cleaner of the unsat- tioning more than 700 mayors ‘independence’ during the demonstration gathering. lead to a lot of anger and even said. isfi ed”. who had said they would allow civil unrest.” Timo Lochocki, a political With mainstream parties municipal spaces to be used for to “rationality and legality” and to prevent the ballot from going or how the government was go- Madrid has the constitutional analyst at the German Marshall all shunning the AfD, its sup- voting. promised to block the vote. ahead, amid fears that a vote to ing to get them out of hiding to power to take over a regional Fund, said that anger had been porters have been particularly If the mayors do not respond “The only thing I ask of (Cata- break away could trigger a politi- voting stations on October 1. government or send in the po- “long in the making” because vocal. to the order, police should arrest lan) mayors is that they comply cal crisis even if Spain does not On Friday, police confi scated lice to force Catalonia to drop the ruling coalition of Merkel’s “The angry voters feel dis- them, the order said. with the law, and as such don’t recognise the outcome. 100,000 campaign leafl ets in a the vote, but either step would “CDU (Christian Democratic empowered as they know that Meeting in downtown Barce- participate in an illegal referen- On Friday, the government raid in Catalonia, the interior rock Spain’s decentralised model Union) and the Social Demo- even if they voted for the other lona in front of hundreds of fl ag- dum,” Rajoy said. passed measures to tighten con- ministry said, without saying of government where power is cratic Party do next to nothing smaller parties, they won’t get waving pro-independence pro- The Scottish government lent trol over the region’s spending to where. devolved to 17 self-governed re- to appease these voters”. rid of Merkel,” said Lochocki, testers, the mayors gave speeches its support to the Catalan refer- stop it from using state cash to Catalonia’s top court issued a gions. “Over the last three to four of the German Marshall Fund. in which they promised contin- endum. pay for the ballot, and earlier this warning on Friday to seven news- Although polls show less than years, the anti-establishment “This is basically why people ued support for the referendum Cabinet Secretary for Exter- week Madrid summoned over papers, many of them online, not half of Catalonia’s 5.5mn vot- voters, plus disillusioned con- fl ock to the AfD, and why they amid chants of “we will vote” and nal Aff airs Fiona Hyslop said that 700 Catalan mayors for ques- to publish campaign notices for ers want self-rule, most in the servatives fed up with the eu- take to the streets, because this “independence”. Scotland’s 2014 referendum on tioning over their support for the the referendum, a court spokes- wealthy northeastern region rozone rescue and migration is the only way to express their Barcelona mayor Ada Colau, self-rule, which was agreed to vote. man said yesterday. want the chance to vote on the deal, are shifting more and discontent.” who has reached an agreement by both Westminster and Edin- “They’ve lost the plot,” said At the offi ces of Catalan news- issue, causing unease that is be- more to the right,” he said – Merkel has vowed to press with the Catalan regional gov- burgh, was a positive example of Albert Batet, mayor of the town paper El Vallenc in Valls, some ginning to be felt in fi nancial and straight into the arms of on with her rallies, saying that ernment to allow voting in the how to resolve such disputes. of Valls and one of those sum- 50km west of Barcelona, six markets. the AfD. “there is always a majority of city, criticised Madrid’s response “All peoples have the right to moned for questioning. “They armed police knocked on the The budget ministry said that Far from being a spontane- people who are listening and to the crisis in a short speech in self-determination and to choose are persecuting mayors, the door last Saturday with a warrant uncertainty created by the stand- ous outpouring of fury, the who want to be democratically the city hall. the form of government best press, printers. They are stretch- to search the offi ces, said its edi- off could damage the economy protests are highly organised. informed”. “It’s a disgrace that we have a suited to their needs, a princi- ing the limits of democracy.” tor, Francesc Fabregas. and push up sovereign borrowing Many of the so-called en- “It is important for me government that is incapable of ple which is enshrined in the UN Puigdemont, who faces crimi- The search lasted fi ve-and-a- costs. raged citizens (“Wutbuerger” to visit not only comfort- dialogue and instead dedicates Charter,” Hyslop said in a state- nal charges for organising the half hours. Some investors sold Spanish in German) arrive with AfD able places,” she added. “Every itself to pursuing and intimidat- ment yesterday. referendum, says that he has “They didn’t say what they government bonds and switched posters, refl ecting the party’s event is also an encouragement ing mayors and the media,” Colau The “No” side won in the Scot- over 6,000 ballot boxes ready were looking for,” Fabregas told to Italian debt earlier this week. success in tapping into outrage to those who stand up against said. tish independence referendum. to deploy next month, but their Reuters, adding that he had not Puigdemont has shown no over the arrival of more than hate.” So far, 740 of 948 municipal Spanish police have raided whereabouts are a secret. printed any voting papers. signs of backing down. 1mn refugees to Germany since Helmut Wessling, a retiree leaders have said they would al- several print shops and news- “Right now, we have no idea The raid led to an impromptu “Does anyone think we’re not 2015. from Sassnitz, sided with Mer- low municipal spaces to be used paper offi ces in recent days in where they are,” said Toni Caste- crowd gathering outside the going to vote? What kind of peo- Rene Springer, an adviser kel and said the CDU will get for the referendum, according to a hunt for voting papers, ballot jon, spokesman for the Catalan building, with people singing the ple do they take us for?” he had to AfD candidate Alexander his vote. the Association for Municipali- boxes and leafl ets to be used for police force union. Catalan anthem and waving slips said to cheering crowds from a Gauland, told Die Zeit weekly “Those who throw tomatoes ties for Independence (AMI). the referendum. A spokesman for the Catalan of paper chanting: “Where are stage in a bull-ring in Tarragona that it was “compulsory for act like they are in the kinder- Yesterday Prime Minister The searches are part of a con- regional government declined to the ballot papers?” to launch the referendum cam- AfD members to go to events of garten,” he said, complaining Mariano Rajoy called for a return certed eff ort by the government say where the ballot boxes were “When people saw that the paign on Thursday. government politicians” and that “they bring no solutions”.

Children die in Ukraine camp fire

A fire swept through a children’s camp in Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Odessa, killing two girls and leaving a third one missing, authorities 184th Oktoberfest opens in Munich said yesterday. The fire broke out late on Friday in the camp’s wooden two-storey building where children slept in the resort city of Odessa some AFP lost friends – which will be useful as have been added and a new loudspeak- 440km south of the Ukrainian capital Kiev, emergencies services Munich the largest tent fi ts 10,000 people. er system can now be used to alert visi- said. Drinkers will face higher beer prices tors in three languages: German, Eng- After the blaze was put out three girls aged between eight and 12 – a litre of beer will cost up to €10.95 lish, and Bavarian. years were unaccounted for and later “fragments of two burned he drinking has begun as wet ($13), 25 cents higher than last year, Germany was rocked by a number of children’s bodies were found” during work to clear the debris, a weather and enhanced security when 6.6mn litres of beer were guzzled attacks last summer. services statement said. Tdid not dampen the spirits of over the two weeks. In Munich, an 18-year-old shot nine beer enthusiasts at the 184th Oktober- Oktoberfest is hoping more people people dead at a shopping mall before fest which opened in Munich yesterday. will come to the festival this year after turning the gun on himself. Lorry hiding 51 migrants stopped Six million people from all over the attendance in 2016 dipped in part due In the southern region of Bavaria, Some 51 illegal migrants, including around 17 children, were found world are expected to visit the world’s to concern over terror attacks. where Munich is located, two other at- in the early hours of yesterday, hidden in a lorry near the German largest beer festival, which runs until Security has since been bolstered at tacks were claimed by the Islamic State border with Poland, German police reported. October 3. the festival, with backpacks as well as (IS) group: a failed Syrian asylum- The nationality of the migrants and whether they are refugees was This year, visitors will be able to large bags now being banned. seeker blew himself up at a music fes- not clear, police said. download an app that shows nearby The entrances will be watched over tival, wounding 15, and a 17-year-old The driver of the lorry, a 46-year-old Turkish national, has been tents with available space. by more than 650 security guards, up Afghan refugee injured fi ve in an axe Visitors ride a carousel during the opening day of detained on suspicion of human traff icking. It will also help festival goers fi nd by 200 from last year, CCTV cameras attack. the 184th Oktoberfest in Munich. Gulf Times 16 Sunday, September 17, 2017 INDIA

TRAGEDY INITIATIVE POLICY SNAG AVIATION Two boys end life; police Army destroys old files Guwahati to be made Metro rail doors fail Air India starts non-stop probe ‘Blue Whale’ links under cleanliness drive gateway to southeast Asia to open, services hit flights to Copenhagen

Two teenaged boys committed suicide in Thousands of old, unclassified files, CDs and In sync with the central government’s Act A Dum Dum-bound train caused panic among Air India yesterday launched its non-stop flight Datia district of Madhya Pradesh, police said other materials have been destroyed by East Policy, Guwahati, the largest city in Metro railway commuters when its doors failed service from New Delhi to Copenhagen. It is Air yesterday. One of them is suspected to have diff erent departments of the army as a part of its northeastern India, will be developed as the to open in a non-AC compartment at Shahid India’s third non-stop flight launched this year. fallen prey to the infamous Blue Whale game, cleanliness mission, sources said. The exercise gateway to southeast Asia, Assam Chief Minister Khudiram Station yesterday, off icials said. Earlier, the airline had launched its services they said. Sagar,17, of Mudian Ka Kuan area, under the newly launched ‘Swachhta Hi Sewa Sarbananda Sonowal said yesterday. “Guwahati “Everything is fine now. We have sent back the old from New Delhi to Washington and Stockholm. ended his life by hanging himself on Friday. “As Hai’ mission saw heaps of redundant materials has always been seen as the gateway to the rake for a thorough check and repair if necessary,” Air India’s chairman and managing director there are injury marks on his arm, we suspect it being destroyed. The Military Intelligence wing, northeast,” Sonowal said while inaugurating the a spokesman said. There was tension among Rajiv Bansal said: “With this new service, to be a case of death due to Blue Whale game. at its South Block off ice alone destroyed around Northeast Students and Youth Summit 2017 in passengers who were stuck during morning hours. we expect to cater to the majority of traff ic He was probably trying to finish the task of the 3,000 CDs, 850 video cassettes, 32 computers New Delhi. “But now, through the Act East Policy, “It was hard on us as the humidity is very high today between Copenhagen and Delhi... We have also game and we are investigating on this very line,” and large number of other documents. The we have envisaged making Guwahati the hub and the metro was non-AC. There was panic too received good cargo load for the sector.” The the police said. In the same are, Class XI student sources added that destroying old items which of southeast Asian connectivity,” he said. He as we have never encountered such an incident national passenger carrier aims to serve around Shiv Dangi also hanged himself. The initial probe are not of use any longer is a routine exercise, said that his government has prioritised Prime before,” a passenger said. Senior off icials came for aid 40,000 passengers one-way for the entire suggests he ended his life over some monetary but the ‘Swachhta Hi Sewa Hai’ mission launched Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making the immediately along with technicians who managed to 2017. The airline will operate the thrice-a-week dispute, according to the police. on Friday gave it a bigger push. northeast the new engine of India’s growth. open the doors to help passengers come out. service on Tuesdays,

Reality show set gutted in major fi re at Murder trial R K Studios

IANS Mumbai of Dera chief major fi re broke out in the iconic R K Films and AStudios in Chembur in Mumbai yesterday, offi cials said. At least 11 fi re tenders and am- bulances rushed to the sprawl- ing studio in north-east Mum- to continue bai and brought the blaze under control after an hour. Rishi Kapoor, son of the stu- dio’s founder, the legendary Raj Kapoor, tweeted: “Sad. A major fi re broke out at R K Studios. We have lost the iconic Stage 1. Thankfully no casualties, nor tomorrow injuries. All your concerns ap- preciated.” IANS tary forces and Haryana police, verged in the town and indulged The blaze gutted one of the Panchkula/Chandigarh was in place in Panchkula town, in large-scale violence after his main shooting venues – the set especially around the court conviction. of dance reality TV show Super complex in Sector 1. Security Violence also broke out in Sir- Dancer Season 2. he hearing of two sepa- arrangements were tightened sa at the time, leaving 38 people But at the time of the incident rate murder cases against around the prison complex near dead and 264 injured. Isolated there was no shooting. Tcontroversial Dera Sacha Rohtak and in Sirsa district, incidents of violence were also The fi re was confi ned to elec- Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Ra- where the headquarters of the reported from Delhi and several trical wiring and installations on him Singh and others will con- sect are located. other places in Punjab. an 800sq ft ground fl oor area of tinue next week, court sources The hearing related to the Meanwhile in another case, a the 70-year old studio. said. murder of Sirsa-based journal- self-styled godman allegedly in- A source from the set of the The hearing, which began in ist Chhatrapati and former Dera volved in the 2013 murder of Ba- Sony Entertainment Television the Central Bureau of Investiga- manager Ranjit Singh, allegedly hujan Samaj party leader Deepak channel show said: “No one tion (CBI) special court in Pan- by followers of the sect, was list- Bhardwaj was arrested in Uttar was present on the set when the chkula yesterday amid tight se- ed for fi nal arguments yesterday Pradesh’s Ghaziabad district af- studio caught fi re. There is no curity, saw the sect chief taking in the court of special CBI judge ter eluding police for four years, casualty or injuries whatsoever. part through video conferencing Jagdeep Singh. police said. The cost of damage is not ascer- from the Rohtak District Jail, It was the same judge who on Machhendra Nath alias Baba tained yet.” where he is lodged following his August 25 convicted Ram Rahim Pratibhanand, with a Rs100,000 The source added that the last conviction in two rape cases on on two counts of rape of his fe- bounty on his head, was arrested shooting at the location took August 25. male disciples and sentenced from the railway station Ghazia- place last week, and the next Seven others accused in the him to 20 years of rigorous im- bad on Friday night. shoot was scheduled for Sep- murder cases were present in the prisonment on August 28. Police swooped in on Pratib- tember 29 or 30. court. Final arguments in the Chhat- hanand, a resident of Maharash- The second season of the The sect chief’s counsel S K rapati murder case were being tra’s Beed district, on a tip-off show, which will feature actress Garg told reporters that the hear- held yesterday. The journalist about his presence. Shilpa Shetty, ace choreogra- ing of the Ranjit Singh murder was shot in October 2002 and A .32 bore pistol and cartridg- pher Geeta Kapur and fi lmmaker case will be held tomorrow and died in November. es were seized from him. Anurag Basu as judges, is slated that of journalist Ram Chander Ranjit Singh, who was be- Pratibhanand confessed that to go on air on September 30. Its Chhatrapati murder case will be lieved to be privy to a number of while selling ayurvedic medi- promos are already on air. held on September 22. wrong things going on inside the cines at a temple, he had met The source added that the Garg said the fi nal arguments sect headquarters, was shot dead lawyer Baljeet Sahrawat, through audition episodes have already will take some time to complete. in July 2003. whom he came in contact with been shot. Meanwhile, the sect chief’s The sect chief is an accused in Bhardwaj’s younger son Nitesh. “The fi re accident will not former driver Khatta Singh both murder cases, along with Nitesh and his mother were not delay the show, and its premiere moved an application before the others, as these were carried out good relations with Bhardwaj date will remain the same,” the CBI court saying that he wanted allegedly at his orders. and hired Pratibhanand to kill source said. to record a fresh statement in the Ahead of the hearing, Haryana him for Rs50mn. R K Studios, the headquarters murder case. His application will Director General of Police B S Out of this, Rs5mn was paid of the fi lm production company be taken up next week. Sandhu had said on Friday that in advance to buy weapons and R K Films, was founded and Khatta Singh had earlier given adequate paramilitary and Har- other items like vehicles for the named after Raj Kapoor in 1948. a statement in favour of the sect yana police personnel had been assailants. Pratibhanand got Its inaugural banner fi lm Aag chief in the murder cases but stationed in Panchkula. his driver Purshottam Rana and that year crashed at the box of- now claimed that he did it under However, this time, no Dera others to eliminate Bhardwaj, fi ce, but the next year proved to threat and pressure from Ram followers assembled in Pan- who was shot dead at his 34-acre be a good omen when its produc- Rahim. chkula ahead of the hearing, un- Nitesh Kunj farmhouse near the tion Barsaat, starring Raj Kapoor Tight security, including like the rape case hearing where toll plaza in Gurugram on March and Nargis became a super hit. Smoke billows from the iconic R K Films and Studios in Chembur in Mumbai yesterday. the deployment of paramili- over 100,000 followers con- 26, 2013. CBSE issues notice to Ryan Film promo Dileep’s wife seeks school over boy’s murder anticipatory bail

IANS administration promising that Khattar, who visited Pradhu- IANS New Delhi it will rectify defi ciencies in its man’s distraught family on Fri- Kochi functioning on the basis of its day, also announced the school inquiry report. will be taken over by the Gu- he Central Board of Sec- “We will be taking over the rugram district administration alayalam actress ondary Education (CBSE) administration of the school and for three months and that the Kavya Madhavan, Tyesterday issued a show we would like to open the school deputy commissioner will be in Mthe wife of actor cause notice to Ryan Interna- on Monday itself so that children charge of running it. Dileep, yesterday applied for tional School over the murder don’t have any issue with aca- Meanwhile in Mumbai, Ma- anticipatory bail in the abduc- of a seven-year-old boy in the demics,” Gurugram Deputy Com- harashtra Navnirman Sena Pres- tion and molestation case of a school in Gurugram. missioner Vinay Pratap Singh told ident Raj Thackeray expressed fellow actress in February. The board asked the school to CNN-NEWS 18 channel. his “anger” over the murder and The Kerala High Court said respond within two weeks to the Singh said they will take con- similar incidents in public and it would hear her appeal to- murder of Pradhuman Thakur. trol of the assets and liabilities of private schools. morrow. “A report on Ryan Interna- the school. In a letter to principals and The court also will rule to- Kavya: fears arrest tional School has been received “We’ll make sure that whatev- managements of all schools in day Dileep’s bail appeal, his by the board and is being exam- er defi ciencies which were high- Maharashtra on the question fourth. All his earlier bail pleas after the actress was abducted ined in the light of prescribed lighted in the (inquiry) report, of overall safety of students, have been rejected by the on February 17 on her way guidelines and violations there- we correct them,” he said. Thackeray said: “I am writing court. from Thrissur to Kochi. She of,” a CBSE offi cial said. Singh also said they held a to you in an extremely resentful Dileep was arrested for his was dumped outside fi lm di- “A show cause notice to the meeting yesterday with parent and angry state of mind as I am alleged involvement in the rector Lal’s residence. school has been served to be re- bodies, managements and prin- seeing an increase in incidences conspiracy behind the kid- The police traced the con- sponded within a fortnight. Next cipals of schools in the district. of molestation of students, both napping of the actress. spiracy to Dileep and he was action will be taken accordingly.” “All guidelines regarding the boys and girls.” The superstar has been arrested. The CBSE had set up a com- safety of schools were reiterated He said it was sad how chil- lodged in the Aluva sub-jail Ahead of Dileep’s arrest, mittee to investigate the murder and they were directed to comply drenare not safe in their own since July 10. the police probe team had of the Class 2 student who was with them,” he said. schools. Kavya’s “hurried” move also questioned Kavya and her found dead on Friday by a school The Haryana government has Such incidents refl ect the Bollywood actors Siddhanth Kapoor (left), Shraddha Kapoor comes amid speculation that mother. staff er in the washroom with his asked for a Central Bureau of in- carelessness of both the school (centre) and Ankur Bhatia pose for a photograph during a she too might be arrested. Dileep was earlier mar- throat slit. vestigation probe into the brutal administration and the govern- promotional event for the forthcoming Hindi film Haseena The prime accused in the ried to actress Manju Warrier, The school is likely to reo- murder of Pradhuman. ment towards students’ safety, Parkar in Mumbai yesterday. case, Pulsar Suni, and his ac- while Kavya was married to a pen tomorrow with the district Chief Minister Manohar Lal he added. complice were arrested a week computer engineer. Gulf Times Sunday, September 17, 2017 17 INDIA Acid attacker wants me to ‘let him go’, says survivor

IANS fourth edition of Crocs Mysore When he saw me, he told his that back, then we will let you She says people often feel and then, after two months, the by her and gain confi dence and Mysuru Fashion Week as the showstop- lawyer and people, ‘She has be- go,” Reshma added. sorry that she suff ered when her NGO Make Love Not Scar, Ria courage for their own battles. per. The catwalk is not new to come so big and a model, she is The daughter of a Mumbai taxi sister was the real target. But she Sharma and Tania Singh came in Reshma hopes that someday her – she took to the New York in a good place, so please release driver, Reshma’s life changed in adds, “Even if it had happened to and helped me... Now people know there will be a fashion show solely eshma Qureshi, an acid at- Fashion Week ramp last year. me or help me out’,” Reshma said. 2014 when, during a visit to her her (sister), she would have been me because of them,” she said. for acid attack survivors who are tack survivor who has been Asked Reshma whether the “His family does see me in hometown in Uttar Pradesh, her in the same kind of agony. So, Reshma does not like to be scared to step out of their homes. Rvocal about her struggle and attacker or his family was in the news and people do say that brother-in-law and his friends how does that change anything? called an acid attack “victim”. “They are no less than celeb- has featured on the fashion ramp, touch with her, she said: now that you have become big, assaulted her at a railway station The statement is unsettling.” “We are not and we should not rities. We have to muster tonnes says her attacker and his family “I haven’t spoken to the at- why don’t you let him go... But and threw acid on her face. After the attack, which left her be called that... I am a survivor.” of courage to face the world as we want her to “let him go” now that tacker or his family as such, but why should I let him go? He did Reshma’s brother-in-law not just with physical but emo- She continues to take up off ers go through a lot... The fi rst time she has become “famous”. I met him two months back in wrong, so why should I? My mistook her for her elder sister, tional scars too, Reshma tried to to walk the ramp as she feels a lot that I walked the ramp, I was Reshma was here to walk the court. I instinctively wanted to mother clearly says that the way since both were wearing burqas. commit suicide thrice. of women who have been or are scared to the bones, but the peo- ramp for designer Jaheena at the rip his throat out, to be honest... my daughter was earlier, bring She was only 17 at the time. “But my parents supported me being victimised will be inspired ple in New York cheered me up.” Minister comes BJP workers stage protest under attack over remarks on fuel prices

IANS it was an atrocious statement. Thiruvananthapuram “This is how bureaucrats, who come to politics, have no under- standing of people’s problems. ureaucrat-turned-federal Many of the ministers in Modi’s minister K J Alphons yes- government are like this.” Bterday stoked a contro- He said during the Congress versy when he said that people government, the benefi t of low who own bikes and cars are not crude prices was passed on to starving and can aff ord to pay consumers. “Anti-incumbency higher prices for fuel, remarks has set in against the govern- that drew sharp criticism from ment,” he said. political rivals. Telangana Rashtra Samithi His comments coming at a spokesman Bhanuprasad de- time when fuel prices are at a scribed Alphons’ statement as three-year high though inter- shocking. The government is national crude prices are down, still fl eecing people when crude Workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party burn an effigy of Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh during a protest in Amritsar yesterday. were described by opposition prices have come down, he said. parties as insensitive to the Another Congress spokes- common man’s problems. person, Brajesh Kalappa said the “So we are going to tax people minister’s comments have added who can aff ord to pay. Somebody pain to people at a time when they who has a car, bike; certainly he have lost jobs and business is fall- is not starving. Somebody who ing. “Just because somebody has can aff ord to pay has to pay. Six- a bike or a car can you say they ty-seven percent of the people have a life of luxury? This kind of in the country do not have toi- statement is shocking and insen- lets, new homes have to be built sitive and the prime minister has I was not mistreated, and for all such things lakhs and to ask for his resignation.” crores of money is required and The main opposition party hence this money is raised by termed the government a ‘fu- hiking the price of fuel” he said, el-loot sarkar’ and demanded while speaking to reporters at withdrawal of the excise duties the state Bharatiya Janata Party on petrol and diesel. headquarter here. “Burning holes in the pocket says rescued priest This was Alphons’ fi rst visit of common people have become there after being sworn in as the benchmark of governance Agencies home operated by Mother Ter- in Yemen, said he had been ab- Uzhannalil also expressed his minister of state for tourism, and for the BJP government,” said Rome esa’s Missionaries of Charity in ducted essentially for being in the thanks to the Indian govern- the entire state leadership and Congress spokesperson Randeep the southern port city of Aden wrong place at the wrong time. ment for its concern to secure top leaders were present to re- Singh Surjewala. which killed 16 people, includ- “They did not know me. I hap- his release. ceive him. “Arrogance of BJP has crossed Kerala priest kidnapped ing four nuns. pened to be in that place,” he said, “I am thankful to the Presi- The state unit of the BJP had all proportions when Tourism last year during a deadly Muscat said on Tuesday that adding that the attackers “left me dent (Ram Nath Kovind) and come under severe criticism as Minister K J Alphons said if you Aattack by militants in it had “co-ordinated with Yem- in peace and killed the others – the Prime Minister (Narendra on the day Alphons was sworn have a scooter, motorcycle or a Yemen yesterday thanked all eni parties” to mediate the re- perhaps they wanted money.” Modi) and all the ministers con- in, the state party headquarters small car, then you can aff ord those involved in his release, lease of Uzhunnalil, a Salesian “After the killing of the sisters cerned whoever has (expressed) wore a deserted look and the to pay the high prices of petrol and even had a kind word for his priest who had last appeared they put me into the car. They concern,” Uzhannalil said. only noticeable celebrations was and diesel,” he added. “Looting abductors for not harming him. in a video circulated online in Tom Uzhunnalil smiles during spoke Arabic, I didn’t under- “Thanks to the country lead- at his hometown in Kanjirapally people by the BJP by collecting “I thank in the name of the December 2016, in which he a press conference in Rome stand them,” he added, but “I was ers and countrymen. May God in Kottayam district. excise duties of Rs250,000 crore Lord God even my keepers, appealed to Prime Minister yesterday. not afraid. I was not trembling. I bless all of them for their re- As his remarks came under at- has become the new normal. who have been understanding Narendra Modi and Pope Fran- prayed to God to be merciful.” sponse,” he added. tack, Alphons who had a recently “No wonder BJP is called the to me and who have not hurt cis to secure his release. has yet claimed responsibility “I was not mistreated. They External Aff airs Minister Su- stirred the hornet’s nest by mak- fuel-loot sarkar as crude oil me. It’s God’s intervention,” an The Vatican has said that for the abduction. have not injured me at all,” added shma Swaraj had earlier this ing contradictory remarks on prices plummet, the petrol and emotional Thomas Uzhunnalil, Uzhunnalil, a diabetic who lost Al Qaeda, which is also active Uzhunnalil, who said he did not week tweeted about the release beef, sought to justify his state- diesel prices skyrocket and that 59, said after emerging from 18 30kg during his ordeal, will in the area, has appeared to dis- know if a ransom had been paid. of the priest. ment on the petroleum prices. is the new reality of New India,” months in captivity. spend time recuperating in tance itself from the mass shoot- He also said that the apparent Meanwhile, the Catholic “The prime minister has a huge he added. “The best weapon against Rome after a medical check-up. ing, saying it was not involved. aggression towards him in the Bishops’ Conference of India dream for the poor of India. What “We demand that the BJP any enemy is love and prayer,” He met on Wednesday with The internationally recog- video he appeared in was seem- has lauded the role Swaraj in se- is that dream? It is very simple – forthwith withdraw the 400% Uzhunnalil said at a press con- Pope Francis, who had de- nised government in war-torn ingly for show. curing the release of the priest. 30% of Indians go to bed without and 135% excise that they have ference in Rome after an inter- scribed the Aden attack as Yemen is grappling with both He said that his attackers, CBCI secretary general Bish- a full meal a day,” he said. imposed on diesel and petrol and vention by the authorities in “senseless and diabolical”. an Iran-backed rebellion and a rather than abuse him, “didn’t try op Theodore Mascarenhas said Congress leader and former give relief to common man against Oman to secure his release. Yemeni authorities blamed growing militant presence. to force me – but they said ‘when the minister had done a marvel- petroleum minister Veerappa the spiralling prices of petrol and He was abducted in March the Islamic State group for last Uzhunnalil, who had been you are free, back home, read the lous work by undertaking the Moily attacked Alphons saying diesel,” the spokesperson added. 2016 during an attack on a care year’s attack, though no group running three Catholic churches Qur’an and become a Muslim’.” matter of Uzhannalil. Arjan Singh, Marshal of Goa Congress leader Indian Air Force, dies accused of corruption IANS purchased in the state of Ker- Panaji ala. Kavlekar and his wife have IANS a distinguished air warrior and amassed disproportionate New Delhi fi ne human, Marshal of the IAF asserts to the tune of Rs4.78 Arjan Singh,” Modi said. eader of Opposition in the crore, which is around 59.21% Singh was hardly 44 when he Goa assembly and Con- above their known source of arshal of Indian Air took over as the chief of a young Lgress legislator Chan- income,” George said at a press Force Arjan Singh, died IAF in 1964. drakant Kavlekar and his wife conference in Panaji. Myesterday aged 98. In recognition of his serv- Savitri were yesterday booked He said the properties were He was earlier in the day ad- ices, he was conferred the rank in connection with a 2013 dis- purchased in between January mitted to Army Hospital here Singh: hero of 1965 war of the Marshal of the Air Force proportionate assets case, even 2007 and April 2013, during after he suff ered a heart attack. in January 2002, thus becoming as offi cials of Anti-Corruption which Kavlekar held the post The end came at 7.47pm, a de- forget the excellent leadership of the fi rst and the only “Five Star” Bureau raided the residence and of chairman of the Goa Indus- fence offi cial said. Marshal of the IAF Arjan Singh rank offi cer with the IAF. offi ce of the couple. trial Development Corpora- Prime Minister Narendra in 1965, when the IAF saw sub- In his many fi rsts, one was According to Superintend- tion on three occasions. Modi, Defence Minister Nirmala stantial action,” Modi said in a leading the fl y-past over the Red ent of Police (ACB) Bosco The ACB raids yesterday Sitharaman and the three serv- series of tweets. Fort on August 15, 1947 – on the George, a fi rst information were conducted at the couple’s ice chiefs had earlier visited the Modi also remembered the morning of the day India got in- report (FIR) has been fi led residence at Betul, in Quepem hospital’s Intensive Care Unit late Marshal’s “soldier disci- dependence. against Kavlekar, while his sub-district and their offi cial (ICU) where he was undergoing pline”, saying that despite his ill Interestingly, the man almost wife Savitri, who unsuccess- premises in Margao town, lo- treatment. health, Singh tried to get up to got himself court-martialled in fully contested assembly polls cated 35km from Panaji. Modi said India will never for- salute the prime minister when 1945 during World War II. on a Congress ticket this year, Reacting to the raids, Kavle- get Singh’s “excellent leadership” he met him some time back. According to an account by a has been booked for abetting kar told reporters that he had in the 1965 war with Pakistan. “Arjan Singh’s determined retired IAF offi cer, Singh, then the crime. done nothing wrong. “I have “India mourns the unfortu- focus on capacity building in a fi ghter pilot, went on a routine Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets the family of Arjan Singh “The raids were conducted been co-operating with the nate demise of Marshal of the the IAF added great strength sortie with a corporal in Kerala. at Army Hospital in New Delhi yesterday. Modi, Defence Minister in the morning, in connection ACB and yet this is the fourth Indian Air Force Arjan Singh. We to our defence capabilities. My He fl ew very low over the houses Nirmala Sitharaman and the three service chiefs visited the hospital’s with the disproportionate as- occasion when I have been remember his outstanding serv- thoughts are with his family and that were said to be that of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) where Singh was admitted after he suff ered sets case where 14 properties raided. I know I have not done ice to the nation. India will never those mourning the demise of corporal and his relatives. a heart attack. worth crores of rupees were anything wrong,” he said. Gulf Times 18 Sunday, September 17, 2017 LATIN AMERICA

Guatemala president Rock in Rio faces I-day protests

Agencies Morales himself had late Guatemala City last month tried to expel the head of the UN body, the International Committee treet protests demand- Against Impunity in Gua- ing President Jimmy temala (CICIG), only to be SMorales step down overruled by the country’s erupted across Guatemala on top court. Friday, as the country cel- The CICIG and prosecu- ebrated its 1821 independence tors want to investigate al- from Spain. legations Morales had failed The demonstrations come to declare $1mn in campaign after months of opposition funding to his party in 2015, directed at Morales and sev- the year he was elected to of- eral lawmakers who are under a fice. cloud of corruption suspicions Morales, a former TV comic being investigated by a UN- with no previous political ex- backed commission. perience, became president on They were also spurred by promises to clean up corrup- changes the country’s congress tion. had tried to make to criminal His predecessor, Otto Pe- laws on corruption that would rez, was forced to stand down allow convicted politicians to because of scandal revealed avoid prison. by the CICIG in which he and In the capital, some demon- other offi cials allegedly re- strators yelled that “Guatemala ceived bribes to help busi- is in mourning because of these nessmen avoid paying import corrupt people”. duties. Under the legislative chang- Guatemala’s Congress on es adopted on Wednesday, Friday repealed a controver- politicians would be shielded sial bill it had passed only two from charges of illegal fund- days earlier, which critics had ing, and any convicted of cor- blasted as a setback in the ruption and sentenced to up to fight against political corrup- 10 years would have the option tion. of paying bail to stay out of Prosecutors have accused prison. President Jimmy Morales and But a court on Thursday the main political parties of suspended the changes, which illegal campaign fi nancing, Spectators at the World Stage watch fireworks go off on the first day of Rock in Rio, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Running for seven days in all – Friday through Sunday and then many citizens denounced as so opponents were outraged September 21 to 24 – Rock in Rio is being welcomed by the city as a chance to put the huge facilities built for the 2016 Olympic Games back in use. They have hosted only a “pact for the corrupt”. And when Congress on Wednesday sporadic events since the Olympics ended in August of that year. While Brazil is only starting to emerge from a painful recession, the 700,000 tickets to the event sold out late Friday, congress withdrew passed a “national emergency” months ago and city hotels are hoping to be nearly full, reversing a prolonged post-Olympic slump. the controversial reforms, ac- decree to curb penalties for the cording to the speaker, Oscar off ence. Chinchilla. The legislation sought to Public indignation at the make party accountants re- actions of the elected offi cials sponsible for irregularities was already heightened after rather than party leaders. As lawmakers had rejected a re- public outcry mounted, Mo- quest by Guatemalan prosecu- rales said on Thursday he was tors and a UN body to have Mo- prepared to veto the legislation rales’ immunity lifted to face a if it was against the nation’s in- corruption probe. terest. Temer faces charges Caracas denounces Trump’s crisis talks with stronger hand President Temer is using his backing Two of the six political heavyweights lature’s support for him in defeating the ecutors, after admitting their company AFP “You have nothing to evalu- in the legislature to avoid facing the charged along with Temer were his chief June indictment. had bribed nearly 2,000 politicians. Washington ate President Trump...evaluate Supreme Court of staff Eliseu Padilha and close confi dant As Brazil begins to grapple success- Joesely Batista said he had secretly re- your internal problems,” Foreign Moreira Franco, who holds a ministerial fully with recession, infl ation is also eas- corded Temer allegedly discussing pay- Minister Jorge Arreaza told jour- AFP level administrative post in the presiden- ing, which has allowed the Central Bank to ment of hush money to prevent former al- aracas on Friday de- nalists, lambasting the planned Rio de Janeiro cy. continue cutting interest rates. lies testifying against him. nounced President Don- meeting as “rival dialogue”. He also accuses Temer of allegedly try- All that despite only a fi ve per cent ap- But Temer’s lawyers challenged the plea Cald Trump’s plans to meet Offi cials from both the Ven- ing to bribe businessman Lucio Funaro, an proval rating for the Temer, who remains deal, along with much of the prosecution’s with Latin American leaders ezuelan government and the hree months after political al- alleged middleman in the scandal, to pre- deeply unpopular with voters. evidence, at the Supreme Court this week concerning Venezuela’s ongoing opposition began exploratory lies rescued him from a bribery vent him from turning state’s evidence in a “Political instability has very negative amid allegations that Batista withheld in- crisis, branding the talks as “ri- talks Wednesday, mediated by Tcase, Brazil’s President Michel Te- plea deal with prosecutors. eff ects on the economy and by Temer and formation from prosecutors. val dialogue”. Dominican Republic President mer is facing his latest indictment with a Temer’s defence team has accused Janot his economic team continuing, it allows Both Joesely and Wesley Batista had a Earlier in the day Trump’s na- Danilo Medina and Jose Luis strengthened hand. of an obsessive desire to bring down the Brazil to recover its credibility,” Favaro said. leniency agreement cancelled and both tional security adviser H R Mc- Rodriguez Zapatero, the former The president appeared at ease Friday president, and the president’s offi ce de- But the price of survival being demand- were arrested. Master had announced plans for Spanish prime minister. at an event in Rio de Janeiro — a day after scribed the allegations as “pure magical ed by his allies will be high. Temer lawyers will argue that Janot’s a “working dinner” on Monday The opposing sides agreed Prosecutor General Rodrigo Janot charged realism”. “Temer managed to bury the fi rst pros- accusations in the obstruction of justice that will convene several Latin Thursday to a commission of him with leading a criminal group and ob- Janot had already charged Temer with ecution by buying his way to victory and case are fl awed, being based on the dis- American leaders in New York, “friendly countries” — Mexico, structing justice in a huge kickbacks case bribe-taking in June but the case never he will have to do the same again,” said credited brothers’ confessions. as the UN General Assembly gets Chile, Bolivia and Nicaragua — rocking Brazil. went to trial, as the lower house of the leg- Sylvio Costa, who heads political website The Supreme Court will decide underway. tasked with assisting negotia- Temer made no reference to Thursday’s islature voted overwhelmingly to throw it Congress in Focus. Wednesday whether that will invalidate During the dinner Trump ex- tions to emerge from the crisis. bombshell announcement, which could out and prevent him from being tried in He said Temer will have to allocate some their evidence. pects to “discuss the crisis in Arreaza also appeared to re- theoretically send him to prison. the Supreme Court. 15bn reals ($4.8bn) “to free up resources The criminal charges must fi rst be ac- Venezuela, as well as the strong spond to Trump’s threat last Instead, he joked that his time in gov- “The president has already shown that for his allies among his political support cepted by the court before being sent for economic ties and extraordinary month of a “military option” in ernment was running out, having “maybe he has suffi cient support in the legisla- base”. debate in the lower house. success of like-minded Latin Venezuela. a year and a half more” before his term ture to block the complaint and everything The general feeling that Temer will “This indictment is broader and more American nations in recent dec- “Anyone who dares to attack ends on January 1, 2019. indicates that this support will be main- survive was bolstered when his lawyers consistent than the fi rst, but it is made by a ades,” McMaster told journalists, Venezuela will suff er the con- Janot — whose own term as Brazil’s top tained,” Thomaz Favaro of consulting fi rm challenged plea-deal evidence by Joesely prosecutor weakened by the problems that without elaborating on which sequences,” he said. Though the prosecutor ends today — fi red a parting Control Risks told AFP. Batista, one half of a duo of brothers who were caused by the JBS issue, while the leaders the talks will include. White House did not say who shot at the president on Thursday, fi ling The markets have paid little heed to the run the world’s largest meatpacking com- government is celebrating positive eco- But having just begun ex- would attend tomorrow’s talks, charges that accused Temer of being the political furore, which has rising to record pany JBS. nomic data and has a majority,” said Costa. ploratory talks with opposition Arreaza mentioned Colombian “leader of a criminal organisation” of po- levels in recent months — buoyed by Tem- The brothers added fuel to the fi re con- “For this indictment to fi nish Temer off delegates this week, Caracas met President Juan Manuel Santos is litical allies that took almost $190mn in er’s reforms aimed at reeling in a runaway suming much of Brazil’s political class would require a popular mobilisation that the news with scorn. among those invited. kickbacks for awarding state contracts. budget defi cit, not to mention the legis- when they agreed to co-operate with pros- right now does not exist.”

Student protest Peru’s Kuczynski ‘eyes VP for premier’ after cabinet ousted

Reuters ans in a televised speech that he would keep working Lima to better their lives. “That’s the mandate I have until July 28, 2021 and I won’t retreat one millimetre in that goal,” said Kuc- eru’s centre-right President Pedro Kuczynski zynski, a former Wall Street banker who narrowly is considering appointing Vice President Mar- won last year’s election. Kuczynski did not announce Ptin Vizcarra as his new prime minister in a new any cabinet appointments. cabinet he will swear in today to replace the one con- While he cannot rename outgoing Prime Minister gress ousted, two government sources said Friday. Fernando Zavala as prime minister, Kuczynski can Kuczynski is also eyeing Claudia Cooper as his reappoint other cabinet members. new fi nance minister, one of the sources said. Zavala, who faced criticism that he was too much A third source also confi rmed Cooper, currently of a technocrat, has doubled as fi nance minister deputy economy minister, was being considered. since Congress ousted the previous fi nance minister The sources spoke on condition of anonymity be- in June. cause a fi nal decision had not been made. Lawmakers with the opposition party Popular Early on Friday, the opposition-ruled Congress Force warned Kuczynski not to fi ll his cabinet with voted 77-22 to dismiss Kuczynski’s cabinet in a mo- old faces. tion of no-confi dence, deepening a political standoff The right-wing populist party has a majority in that could lead to new legislative elections if law- Congress and is led by Kuczynski’s defeated electoral makers reject the next cabinet. rival, Keiko Fujimori, the eldest daughter of jailed The crisis forced Kuczynski to cancel his trip to former autocratic president Alberto Fujimori. New York City, where he planned to dine with US Appointing Vizcarra, a former governor of a min- President Donald Trump and deliver a speech at the ing region, could gratify lawmakers who have called Highschool students holding banners take part in a march on the 41st anniversary of the “The Night of the Pencils” and in protest against United Nations General Assembly. for a cabinet with more political experience. an educational reform in Buenos Aires. “The Night of the Pencils” was a series of kidnappings and forced disappearances, followed by the It also threatens to stifl e a nascent economic re- But it might also anger Popular Force after the torture, rape, and murder of a number of young students in September 1976, during the last Argentine dictatorship. The controversial covery in the world’s No 2 copper producer following party pressured Vizcarra to resign as transportation educational reform in secondary schools in the Argentine capital, includes compulsory labour practices and prompted student protests a sharp slowdown early this year. minister over a proposed change to an airport con- that have included occupation of their schools, raising concern about the possible intervention of security forces. Accusing the opposition of undermining his poli- tract. Cooper was also criticised by the opposition in cies, especially on education, Kuczynski told Peruvi- the controversy. Gulf Times Sunday, September 17, 2017 19 PAKISTAN

Biometric PML-N, PTI key contestants machines to be used in Lahore by-election today for trial Internews Internews evident in UC-59 where Guj- Lahore Lahore jar and Malik castes are fully supporting the PML-N. The situation is a bit diff er- he Election Commission akistan’s National Assem- ent in UC-58 and parts of UC- of Pakistan (ECP) is all bly constituency of NA- 57 as former governor Punjab Tset to test biometric voter P120 in Lahore, which has Mian Azhar once a close aide verifi cation machines (BVMs) in been a stronghold of PML-N, of Nawaz Sharif is now sup- the NA-120 by-election and says has witnessed a massive cam- porting PTI. Likewise over the all 44 candidates in the fray have paigning ahead of today’s by- years, PTI succeeded to attract been taken on board to conduct poll with PML-N and PTI being many former workers of PML-N the experiment. the main contestants. in UC-74. The exercise will not impact While the workers of the two This UC has a history of af- the vote count. The BVMs will parties have been out canvass- fi liation with PML-N with be used as a pilot project without ing for their respective par- both Nawaz Sharif and Shah- slowing down the voting process ties door-to-door, the PML-N baz Sharif visiting the area on as these machines have capabil- seems to have the edge over PTI various occasions in the past. ity to verify each voter within 15 in campaigning by particularly One of the infl uential fami- to 18 seconds and that the voters focusing the female voters this lies, the Dar family is still die- will be asked for biometric verifi - time. hard supporter of the party and cation at selected polling stations Historically, the female vot- the fi rst among others to open only after casting their votes, the ers’ turnout had been low and the party offi ce immediately ECP assured the contestants. the fresh voters’ stats of the after the disqualifi cation of the Each machine costs Rs77, 000 Election Commission of Paki- premier. only and is a state-of-the-art stan (ECP) show female vot- For Muhammad Waseem product with a Hardware Securi- ers constitute 44% of the total Qureshi, from Outfall Road area, ty Module and sensors to protect registered voters in NA-120. no party could dare challenge the data received from Nadra. Besides, Maryam Nawaz her- PML-N in NA-120. “We have a A release issued yesterday said self holding at least two women history of supporting PML-N”, the electoral top watchdog ar- conventions including one ex- he said. To a question he said ranged a session to train the NA- clusive women workers meet- “People of the area have already 120 polling staff about the use of ing recently, other party leaders rejected the disqualifi cation of BVM. especially MNA Shaista Pervaiz the premier, so this is not going An ECP spokesperson said the Malik has been quite active on to impact the election results.” trained staff have been deputed the front. She has been visiting Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) at 39 out of 220 polling stations diff erent Union Council (UCs) which ruled this constituency of NA-120 where 100 biometric falling in the NA-120 limits and in 1970s has a particular vote machines would be used for the holding meetings with female bank in NA-120 which, however, polling process. voters. has got smaller over the years The staff will also apprise the The other advantage PML-N as evident from diff erent past voters of the use of these machines. has over the PTI in terms of sup- elections in this constituency. The success of the pilot project port is caste system. A particular PPP’s candidate from this will pave the way for gradual use clan in a UC is fully supporting constituency could bag only of the BVMs for voting in the Kalsoom Nawaz Sharif in NA- 2% of the total votes in the 2013 Army soldiers help polling off icers carry election materials received from the election commission off ice in Lahore yesterday, for the by-election general elections in the years to 120. This aspect is particularly general elections. of the parliamentary seat held by Pakistan’s ousted former prime minister. come, the spokesperson added.

Resolution council Tribal areas to be settles 7,179 disputes The Dispute Resolution Council Punjab bans foreign visits (DRC) has settled 7,179 petty disputes during the last year under SC’s writ and referred 1,465 cases to other Internews measures for 2017-18 to ob- tractors, dumpers, water bows- chase of generators required relevant forums for legal action. Lahore serve fi nancial discipline in the ers, fi re-fi ghting vehicles, fl ood for sewage disposal and water The DRC was established in province by judiciously reduc- relief and solid waste manage- supply schemes and running of Internews Court and the Islamabad High Peshawar in 2014 to bring about ing expenditure but aligning ment equipment and vehicles. tubewells. Islamabad Court should be extended change in crime reporting system he Punjab province gov- with the organisational goals The Punjab government has to such areas for safeguard- and ensure that petty public ernment has banned for- to make them target-based and The provincial directed the administrative ing their rights and providing disputes are settled promptly. As the Teign visits and treatment cost-effi cient. government has departments to stay limited he government of Pa- them proper administration of council was widely successful, the abroad on state expenses by any Aimed at eff ective and eco- directed secretaries, to their budgetary allocations kistan yesterday in- justice in accordance with the need arose to replicate it in other minister, MPA or offi cial. nomic use of public money, the commissioners, to minimise the incidence of Ttroduced a bill in the constitution,” the bill says. parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP). It has also slapped ban on Punjab government has banned deputy supplementary grants. National Assembly to extend Shortly after the bill was Hence these councils were recruitment against vacant foreign air travel of ministers, commissioners, In case of unavoidable cir- jurisdictions of the Supreme laid, Achakzai pointed out the established in all districts and posts and upgrade of posts be- MPAs and government offi cials heads of attached cumstances, the department Court of Pakistan and the Is- lack of quorum. “If the gov- they have been accommodating sides procurement of locally through government funding. and autonomous concerned would be required lamabad High Court (IHC) to ernment wants to introduce many people and resolving their assembled and imported new Similarly, no offi cial or elected bodies and other to seek approval of the pro- the Federally Administered this bill then I would point out issues. Cricketer Yasir Shah, who vehicles out of the current and representative will be allowed offi cials concerned vincial cabinet and the cabi- Tribal Areas (Fata), with a view quorum,” Achakzai addressed belongs to Swabi, has also joined development budgets. treatment abroad at govern- to remain restricted net committee on fi nance and to mainstreaming the region. the chair. DRC as a volunteer and promised The provincial government ment’s expense during the to their budgetary development. The tabling of the bill, by The chair ordered for count to help people settle matters in has directed all administrative current fi scal. allocations With regard to the placement Law Minister Zahid Hamid, in the House, and on insuffi - the most civilised way possible. secretaries, commissioners, Banning recruitment against of funds in bank accounts of en- appeared to be unwelcomed by cient presence, adjourned the The main reason to make such deputy commissioners, heads vacant posts, the government In case of purchasing ve- tities, the government has in- Mahmood Khan Achakzai of sitting until Monday. a body was to ensure swift and of attached and autonomous has rested the power to recruit hicles, the respective de- structed all departments con- the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Currently, the 46th session free justice for the people. DRC bodies and other offi cials con- offi cials with the approval of partments will have to seek cerned that parking of public Party (PkMAP) a government of the Lower House of the Par- not only comes up with amicable cerned to remain restricted to the chief minister alone. The prior concurrence of the Aus- funds, provided by the provin- ally who pointed out a lack of liament is in progress, which is solutions to disputes but also their budgetary allocations ban on upgrade of posts, how- terity Committee and sub- cial government from its budg- quorum, forcing the chair to expected to continue until 21st. functions as a fact finding and observe utmost auster- ever, will not be applicable to sequent approval of the chief etary allocation, is not allowed adjourn the sitting for the day. Yesterday’s was the fi fth sit- body and a jury in the case of ity in use of public money the powers delegated under the minister through submission of in commercial bank accounts of The Extension of Jurisdic- ting of the ongoing session but contested investigations. through prudent fi nancial Delegation of Financial Powers summary. companies, authorities and au- tions to Federally Adminis- it was the fourth consecutive During the last year 10,386 cases management. Rules, 2016. The Punjab government tonomous bodies. Instead, the tered Tribal Areas Bill, 2017 day when the proceedings were were received by the DRCs, out It instructed its offi cials to In order to check expendi- has also sustained its previ- fi nance department will release aims to bring the people of adjourned over lack of quorum. of which 7,179 were resolved and strictly curb the waste of re- ture, the government has im- ous year’s decision of keeping funds to such entities in rel- Fata into the mainstream. Achakzai, along with another 1,465 were referred to relevant sources and leakage of funds. posed complete ban on pro- the ministers’ discretionary evant SDAs or through normal Under the bill, the Supreme government ally, Maulana Fazlur legal forums while 1,742 cases are The strict compliance of curement of locally assembled and house furnishing grants release code. Court would have the same Rehman of the Jamiat-Ulema- still being worked upon. austerity measures will also and imported new vehicles out withdrawn. These funds will be further jurisdiction in Fata as it has e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), have been Each district has at least one be applicable on the local of current and development Banning procurement of du- transferred from SDAs into in the Islamabad Capital Ter- opposing Fata reforms whenever functioning DRC while there are governments as well. budgets except ambulances and rable goods including genera- commercial bank accounts of ritory (ICT). Similar would be any move is made in the National two in Peshawar, four in Mardan, Superseding the Sept 19, operational vehicles for hospi- tors and air-conditioners ex- such entities as per cash fl ow the case with the IHC. Assembly. Fazl had opposed the three in Charsadda, four in 2016, letter, the Punjab fi - tals (except cars and jeeps). cept with the prior approval of requirements of entities to “It is necessary that the Fata reforms package in the Na- Nowshera, four in Swabi and four nance department has issued The departments concerned the Austerity Committee, the avoid unnecessary parking of jurisdiction of the Supreme tional Assembly in May. in Swat. fresh austerity and economy will also be allowed to purchase government has allowed pur- funds.

Asia Peace Film Festival begins tomorrow Talks fail to end deadlock Internews than us who have been fighting important social and cultural screened as a part of learning Islamabad a war against terrorism for issues besides proving curriculum and case studies at decades. entertainment at the same time. the media and communication on Indus water dispute The first ever Pakistan edition “We suff ered a lot both The DG said that the APFF departments of universities as of the Asia Peace Film Festival economically and socially. Now would pave a path for the global well as at the press clubs across (APFF) will take place from we are fighting against all odds communication for peace, Asia. IANS sistance in resolving the issues Amarjit Singh and Deepak Mit- September 18 to 20 at the and the challenges confronting originating from Pakistan to APFF would maintain a Washington peacefully. tal, Joint Secretary in charge of Pakistan National Council of from the extremism and for the help develop a harmonized YouTube channel for a wider “While an agreement has not the Pakistan desk in the Exter- the Arts (PNCA) in the capital sake of our generations next. narrative for the region. dissemination of selected and been reached at the conclusion nal Aff airs Ministry, as one its Islamabad. The restoration of national Amjad Bhatti, the chief awarded films. APFF would wo days of talks between of the meetings, the World Bank members. The festival is being supported identity and dignity is a must executive of the festival, said create an endowment fund India and Pakistan amidst will continue to work with both The Pakistan team was led by by the ministry of information for us,” she said. the selected films of APFF- to establish Asia Peace Film Tthe current chill in bilat- countries to resolve the issues in secretary, water resources di- and broadcasting and national The minister said that the Pakistan Edition would be Academy (APFA) in the long run. eral ties failed to break the dead- an amicable manner and in line vision Arif Ahmed Khan along heritage. As many as 113 first ever national film and screened first at the festival Resources for APFF are lock on the design of two hydro- with the treaty provisions,” the with secretary of water and pow- documentaries and other broadcasting policy would be on September 18-19-20 in generated through institutional electric power plants in Jammu bank said in a statement. er Yousuf Naseem Kho khar. content of about 15 hour from announced next month that Islamabad; second on the other support from government and and Kashmir. “Both countries and the World The water sharing agreement 30 countries would be shown in would bring several new and festivals hosted in partner non-government organisations The September 14-15 secre- Bank appreciated the discus- - seen as one of the most suc- three days. concrete initiatives to promote countries, third in the 30 as well as through corporate tary-level talks under the aus- sions and reconfi rmed their cessful international treaties and Marriyam Aurangzeb, the film production and screening universities of Pakistan’s four sponsorships. Individual pices of the World Bank on the commitment to the preservation having survived resurgent India- minister for information, in Pakistan. provinces including Gilgit- donations and volunteerism technical issues of the Kishen- of the treaty. Pakistan confl ict - was signed in broadcasting and national PNCA director general Syed Baltistan and Azad Kashmir and also add value to the resource ganga and Ratle hydro-electric “The World Bank remains 1960 after nine years of negotia- heritage, was the chief guest of Jamal Shah said cinema is a fourth in several press clubs in base of APFF. power plants within the frame- committed to act in good faith tions between the two countries the launching ceremony of the very medium for both narrative Pakistan. As a future project, APFF has work of the 1960 Indus Waters and with complete impartiality with the help of the World Bank. festival organised by the PNCA. and documentary being the The finalists of APFF-Pakistan plans to design and conduct Treaty. and transparency in fulfi lling its The latest dispute arose over Speaking on the occasion, most accessible and eff ective Edition would be decorated short courses on ‘film for peace’ The World Bank, which is responsibilities under the treaty, the construction of the 330MW Aurangzeb said no one vehicle for promoting social with National Awards from the engaging Asian universities, also a signatory to the water while continuing to assist the Kishenganga and 850MW Ratle else could understand the change in the world. Government of Pakistan. press clubs and media sharing treaty between India countries.” hydroelectric plants on the trib- importance of peace more It addresses some very The finalist films would be academies. and Pakistan, assured the two The Indian side was led by utaries of the Jhelum and Chen- countries of its continued as- Union water resources secretary ab rivers in Jammu and Kashmir. Gulf Times 20 Sunday, September 17, 2017 PHILIPPINES

Former senator Duterte mocks rights agency Estrada released chief over focus on teen killings

Reuters investigate thousands of kill- other issues that are besetting times, said the lawmakers’ on bail Manila ings in the past 15 months, in- this country?” Duterte said, move regarding CHR’s budget cluding those of two teenagers citing the suffering of the peo- effectively abolishes the con- in August. ple in the besieged southern stitutional body. Manila Times hilippine President Ro- “Why is this guy so pre... city of Marawi. Filipinos are largely sup- Manila drigo Duterte yesterday suffocated with the issue of Critics say police are ex- portive of the crackdown as a Pasked the head of the young people, especially boys? ecuting suspects, and say the solution to tackling rampant country’s Commission on Hu- Are you a paedophile?” Du- government has what is effec- crime, which Duterte says ormer senator Jose “Jin- man Rights (CHR) if he was a terte asked, referring to CHR tively a kill policy. stems from drug addiction. ggoy” Estrada was re- paedophile for focusing on the head Chito Gascon. Duterte has rejected that, Duterte reiterated there will Fleased from the Philip- killing of teenagers in the gov- “Why are you smitten with and police say they kill only in be no let up in the campaign, pine National Police custodial ernment’s bloody war on drugs. teenagers? Are you? I’m hav- self-defence. which he said was targeted at centre where he was detained Duterte also suggested to ing my doubts. Are you gay or The CHR has long said it organised criminals traffick- for three years on plunder lawmakers using CHR’s pro- a paedophile?,” he said. lacks the manpower and re- ing drugs and not at “teenag- charges after paying P1.3mn posed 678mn pesos budget to Gascon did not immediately sources to fully investigate the ers without a sin.” bail in cash. buy the police body cameras reply to a request for com- killings, the majority of which The firebrand leader, who “I’m very, very happy, I’m if they don’t want to restore ment. activists say are of users and is also fighting communist very elated. I would like to thank funding for the agency, which Duterte also accused Gascon small-time peddlers, with few rebels following a breakdown the Lord for giving me this op- he has clashed with repeatedly Gascon: facing criticism of being a spokesman for the high-profile arrests. in peace talks with the govern- portunity. I would like to thank over his anti-drugs campaign. opposition and criticised his Vice President Leni Ro- ment, said he remained open the magistrates of the Sandi- The CHR requested a budget 678mn instead. Duterte’s al- just 1,000 pesos ($20), in what scrutiny of police anti-drug bredo, who was not Duterte’s to resuming negotiations to ganbayan for granting my peti- of 1.72bn pesos for 2018, but lies in the lower house of Con- critics of the drugs war said activities. running mate and has locked end nearly five decades of that tion for bail,” Estrada, who was the government proposed gress then voted to allocate it was retaliation for its efforts to “Why can’t you move on to horns with him numerous conflict. accompanied by his wife Precy and four children, told reporters in an interview. “I would like to thank all my family and supporters for their non-ending prayers for me,” he added. “I deny all the alle- Thousands take part gations against me. I deny all the allegations against me. I did not steal anything from the people.” in Manila Bay cleanup His lawyer, Alexis Abastillas- Suarez, said a thanksgiving mass will be held at 3pm in San Juan By Jaime Pilapil Corp, Samsung Philippines, mitment and co-operation so City, where Estrada was mayor Manila Times Republic Cement and Unilev- that we may succeed in our for nine years. er Philippines, among others. mission to rescue our oceans, Estrada is facing plunder Employees of various gov- rivers, and waterways, and and graft charges for allegedly housands of volunteers ernment offices were also preserve them for the next receiving P183mn in kick- turned up for the 32nd present as well as civic- generations.” backs in exchange for allocat- TInternational Coastal minded groups like the Rotary Held every third Saturday ing his Priority Development Cleanup (ICC) Day in Manila Clubs. Members of the Philip- of September, ICC is the larg- Assistance Fund (PDAF) or Bay yesterday. pine Navy, Philippine Coast est volunteer effort for the pork barrel on non-govern- At 9 am, 10,849 volunteers Guard and the Manila Police ocean and waterways initiated ment organisations owned or showed up at Baywalk area District also helped. in 1986 by Ocean Conservan- controlled by Janet Lim-Na- along Roxas Boulevard to pick “On behalf of Mayor cy, a non-government organi- poles whose projects turned up trash and debris from the (Joseph) Estrada and the sation based in Washington out to be non-existent. Es- shoreline, according to Belle people of the City of Manila, DC, to engage volunteers in trada filed an omnibus motion Borromeo, head of the city’s we would like to express our collecting marine debris from last year asking the court to Department of Public Services. most profound gratitude to all the world’s waterways. dismiss the plunder case and/ The volunteers mostly came volunteers who are here this About 90 countries, in- or grant him bail. from various schools, col- morning in an effort to clean cluding the Philippines, regu- Voting 3-2 in a ruling prom- leges, and universities in and our famous Manila Bay,” said larly participate in this yearly ulgated on September 15, the outside Manila and corporate Ericson Alcovendaz, city ad- event. The Philippines can- court allowed him to post bail firms such as Asian Terminals ministrator. celled its coastal cleanup day but denied his plea for case dis- Inc, Petron, Magsaysay Group With the ICC Day 2017’s activities on September 17 last missal. of Companies, Manila Hotel, theme “Together for Our year because of the declara- The trial of the plunder case Rizal Park Hotel, Toyota Mo- Ocean,” Alcovendaz called on tion of state of lawlessness by Volunteers collect garbage along the coast of Manila Bay during the annual International Coastal Cleanup starts tomorrow. tor Philippines, San Miguel Filipinos to “renew our com- the national government. Day in Paranaque city, Metro Manila, yesterday. Alleged NPA rebels shoot Environment group seeks dead Negros offi cial, lover a stop to plastic pollution

By Eugene Y Adiong Bacordo had built a makeshift house with his Manila Times lic Act 9003, or the Ecological attention to the urgent need to eration’ as required by RA 9003 Manila Times live-in-partner Saldua in Barangay Lopez Jaena Manila Solid Waste Management Act. enforce RA 9003 in all local gov- and as recommended by the that they visited from time to time, according to The group pressed for the ernment units and component United Nations,” Lucero said. Santillan. active implementation of RA barangays (villages)to curb global “A national legislation ban- municipal councilor in Salvador Benedicto, Witnesses said Bacordo went for a walk to- n environmental group 9003 as the Manila Bay Coastal plastic pollution that is killing ning single-use plastic bags and Negros Occidental, his girlfriend and a bod- wards the main highway when he encountered has asked the govern- Cleanup and Brand Audit or- the oceans,” Aileen Lucero, the mainstreaming eco-alterna- Ayguard were killed by alleged members of the armed men, prompting him to run back to the Ament, industry and the ganised by various green groups group’s national co-ordinator, tives is one of the key environ- the New People’s Army (NPA) in an upland baran- house of Piniano as the suspects were firing shots citizenry to help put a stop to began from September 11 at the said. RA 9003, among its long mental policies that the country gay (village) of Murcia town on Friday. at him. the dumping of plastic waste Freedom Islands in the cities of list of prohibitions, forbids and needs to adopt,” she added. Police said Councilor Eden Bacordo, his girl- Hearing the commotion, Saldua ran towards into waters that is destroying Las Pinas and Paranaque. penalises littering, open burn- According to the Metro Ma- friend Lea Mae Saldua and bodyguard Arnold Lari- Bacordo and embraced him. the world’s oceans. The nine-day cleanup and ing, open dumping, the manu- nila Development Authority, da had just fi nished breakfast at the house of Jinkie The suspects fired more shots at Bacordo and The EcoWaste Coalition audit was organised by the Break facture, distribution or use of the metropolis produces 9,499 Piniano in Sitio Lilo, Barangay Lopez Jaena in Mur- Saldua killing them on the spot. made the appeal in observance Free from Plastic Movement, non-environmentally acceptable tonnes of waste per day with per cia when fi red upon by bonnet-wearing suspects Before escaping, the armed men also shot Lar- of the National Cleanup Month EcoWaste Coalition, Global Al- packaging materials, and the im- capita generation estimated at using long fi rearms. ida hitting him in the head and back. and the International Coastal liance for Incinerator Alterna- portation of toxic wastes misrep- 0.265 to one kilo/person daily. The three died on the spot. Bacordo was among the 11 suspects charged Cleanup Day yesterday. tives, Greenpeace, Mother Earth resented as “recyclable.” Metro Manila’s waste is Senior Insp. Ronald Santillan, Murcia police with murder in connection with the death of To prevent plastics and other Foundation, Samahan ng mga “The national and local gov- comprised of biodegradable offi cer-in-charge, said the attack was perpetrated Charlie Boli-Boli, a leader of the Revolutionary discards from spilling from land Nananambakan sa Dumpsite ernments, businesses and in- (44.32%), recyclable (31.64%), by four armed men with M-16 armalite and M-1 Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade on July to tributaries, which can lead Area, Samahan ng Muling Pag- dustries and all other waste residuals (23.68) and special Garand rifl es and light weapons, while two others 8 in Barangay Bago, Salvador Benedicto. to the contamination of marine kabuhay Multi-Purpose Co-op- generators, including the house- (0.36%) wastes. served as lookouts. His father, former NPA commander Vicente ecosystems, the group advocat- erative, and other groups. holds, must strive for the ‘adop- Plastics constitute 17.86% of Thirty-four empty shells of M-16 and M-1 Ga- “Odi” Bacordo who joined the RPA-ABB is now ing for a zero waste and a toxic- “As we help in picking up the tion of best environmental prac- waste generated in Metro Manila rand rifl es were found at the scene of the crime by the chairman of Barangay Bagong Silang also in free Philippines called for the garbage along the polluted coast- tices in ecological solid waste based on MMDA’s Waste Analy- investigators. Salvador Benedicto. genuine enforcement of Repub- line of Manila Bay, we want to call management excluding incin- sis and Characterization Study.

Wooing customers Lacson and Trillanes belittle Faeldon plan for ethics complaint

Manila Times said his client’s would-be eth- file an ethics complaint against Manila ics complaint against Lacson has any senator. In fact, that was three grounds: fi rst, calumny; the advice to him by Sen. (Ri- second, abuse of his right and chard) Gordon when he vis- enators Panfi lo Lacson and privilege as a sitting senator; and ited him in his detention place,” Antonio Trillanes on Fri- third, for serious misconduct. Lacson said in reaction to Fael- Sday belittled the plan of Faeldon’s complaint has don’s plan. detained former Customs chief something to do with Lacson’s The Constitution, however, Nicanor Faeldon to fi le an eth- privilege speech entitled “Kita is clear on the matter, he said. ics complaint against them next Kita” last August 23 at the ses- “Thus, (Section 11) Article VI week. sion hall. states: A senator or Member of Faeldon is detained at the Sen- “Sen. Lacson laid bare the ba- the House of Representatives ate after the Blue Ribbon Com- sis or lack of basis of his privilege shall, in all off ences punishable mittee cited him in contempt for speech in his opening speech. by not more than six years im- refusing to co-operate with the What did he say? ‘The very loud prisonment, be privileged from investigation on the smuggling whispers across the four halls of arrest while the Congress is in of P6.4bn of shabu (metham- Customs.’ So, we knew, pardon session. No member shall be phetamine) from China as well the language, it’s garbage. It’s questioned nor be held liable in as the “tara” (payoff ) system at hogwash,” Dino said in a brief- any other place for any speech or Vendors sell their wares at a local downtown district of Metro Manila, yesterday. the Bureau of Customs (BoC). ing. debate in the Congress or in any Jose Dino, Faeldon’s lawyer, “It is the right of anybody to committee thereof.” Gulf Times Sunday, September 17, 2017 21 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL

Three die Bangladesh warns Myanmar in camp stampede

AFP over air space violations Cox’s Bazar

Reuters majority Myanmar, where the wo children and a woman Dhaka Rohingya are regarded as illegal were killed in a stampede migrants. Tfor aid near a Bangla- Bangladesh was already home desh refugee camp, UN agencies angladesh has accused to 400,000 Rohingya before the said yesterday amid widespread Myanmar of repeatedly latest crisis erupted on August fi ghts among Rohingya for food Bviolating its air space and 25. and clothing thrown from relief warned that any more “provoca- The Myanmar security forces trucks. tive acts” could have “unwar- and Rakhine Buddhist vigilan- The incident occurred on ranted consequences”, raising tes responded with what Rights Friday at Balukhali in Cox’s the risk of a deterioration in re- monitors and fl eeing Rohingya Bazar district where tens of lations already strained by the say the campaign of violence thousands of Rohingya have Rohingya refugee crisis. and arson by the Myanmar secu- camped for weeks after fl ee- Nearly 400,000 Rohingya rity forces and Rakhine Buddhist ing violence in Myanmar’s Muslims from western Myan- vigilantes is aimed at driving out Rakhine state. mar have crossed into Bangla- the Muslim population. “Two children and one woman desh since August 25, fl eeing a Bangladesh has said all refu- were killed in a stampede dur- Myanmar government off ensive gees must go home. Myanmar ing an unauthorised clothing against fi ghters that the United has said it will take back those distribution on the road in Bal- Nations has branded a “textbook who can verify their citizenship ukhali Pan Bazar area,” said a re- example of ethnic cleansing”. but most Rohingya are stateless. port prepared by a group of UN Bangladesh said Myanmar Bangladeshi Prime Minister agencies and two charities. drones and helicopters had vio- Sheikh Hasina was leaving yes- “Despite local regulations and lated its air space three times terday for the UN General As- the control room established, – on September 10, 12 and 14 - sembly where she would call private distributions of relief and it had called in a top Myan- for pressure to ensure Myanmar items continue,” it said, high- mar embassy offi cial in Dhaka to takes everyone back after stop- lighting chaotic aid management complain. ping its “ethnic cleansing’, her that has drawn fl ak from rights “Bangladesh expressed deep press secretary, Ihsanul Karim, workers. concern at the repetition of such said. AFP correspondents have wit- acts of provocation and demand- The confl ict has led to a hu- nessed violent scrambles for aid ed that Myanmar takes immedi- manitarian crisis on both sides at camps around Cox’s Bazar. ate measures to ensure that such of the border and raised ques- Refugee witnesses have also told violation of sovereignty does not tions about Myanmar’s path of stampedes. occur again,” the ministry said in under the leadership of Nobel A local rights expert slammed statement late on Friday. laureate Aung San Suu Kyi after the government for the chaotic “These provocative acts may nearly 50 years of strict military relief management, saying fi ghts lead to unwarranted rule. were breaking out each time consequences.” The generals still control na- an aid truck arrived and when A Myanmar government tional security policy but never- food sacks were thrown to the spokesman said he did not have theless, Suu Kyi has been widely Rohingya refugees in Jalpatoli refugee camp in the no-man’s land area between Myanmar and Bangladesh watch as Myanmar soldiers patrol refugees. information about the incidents criticised abroad for not stop- on the other side of the border, near Gumdhum village in Ukhia, yesterday. Two police offi cials said how- Bangladesh had complained ping or condemning the vio- ever that they were unaware about but Myanmar had denied lence. Ethnic cleansing is not recog- claimed responsibility for the ers have been displaced. Human its ambassador in Myanmar of any deaths of refugees due an earlier accusation. There is little sympathy for nised as a separate crime under August 25 attacks and similar, Rights Watch said satellite im- expressed his support for the to a stampede in the Rohingya The spokesman, Zaw Htay, the Rohingya in a country where international law but allega- though smaller, attacks in Octo- agery showed 62 Rohingya vil- government’s action, Myanmar camps. said Myanmar would check any the end of military rule has un- tions of it as part of wider, sys- ber. lages had been torched. media reported. “We know two Rohingya have information that Bangladesh leashed old animosities and the tematic human rights violations The government has accused The United States has called Separately, the Committee to died on Friday at Balukhali area. provided. military campaign in Rakhine have been heard in international ARSA of setting the fi res and at- for the protection of civilians and Protect Journalists has called on They included a six-month-old “Our two countries are fac- state is widely supported. courts. tacking civilians. a deputy assistant secretary of Bangladesh to release two My- baby who died of pneumonia,” ing the refugee crisis. We need to UN Secretary-General Anto- Myanmar rejects the accusa- The ARSA says it is fi ghting for state, Patrick Murphy, is due in anmar journalists detained last local police chief Mohammed collaborate with good nio Guterres and the UN Securi- tions, saying its security forces the rights of Rohingya and has Myanmar next week. week while covering the refugee Kai-Kislu said. understanding,” he said. ty Council have urged Myanmar are carrying out clearance op- denied links to foreign Islamists. China, which also vies for crisis. A police offi cial said the A 70-year-old man died of Bangladesh has for decades to end the violence, which he erations to defend against the influence in Myanmar, joined two were found to be working on natural causes, he said, adding faced infl uxes of Rohingya fl ee- said was best described as ethnic fi ghters of the Arakan Rohingya Hundreds of people have been a UN Security Council call for tourist visas and police were in- that another Rohingya man died ing persecution in Buddhist- cleansing. Salvation Army (ARSA), which killed and thousands of villag- an end to the violence while vestigating. yesterday in a diff erent place. Vaccination campaign for Rohingya children begins

IANS while kids between six-month- visiting the health facilities up 14,000 additional shelters Array/Dhaka old to fi ve-year-old will be pro- with diarrhoea, fever, cold and on some 2,000 acres of land vided vitamin A capsules, the skin diseases. near Kutupalong in Cox’s Bazar surgeon said. Led by the civil surgeon, doc- for Rohingyas. rubella and polio vac- According to United Na- tors and nurses of the public Six displaced Rohingya fami- cination campaign for tions Children’s Fund (Unicef), hospital with support from the lies would be accommodated in A150,000 children of over 200,000 of the estimated UN agencies, international and each shelter. Rohingya refugees started in 400,000 Rohingyas who fl ed national NGOs are conducting The disaster management Bangladesh yesterday as the violence in Myanmar to Bang- the programme. and relief ministry will co-or- country witnesses an infl ux of ladesh since August 25 are “We have already got all the dinate the matter with Armed people fl eeing genocide in My- children. supplies necessary from the Forces Division, Border Guard anmar. They are facing challenges of government and non-govern- Bangladesh, Risk Reduction for All the children, aged be- food, nutrition, shelter, water ment agencies, and mobilised Resilient Cities, United Nations tween six months and 15 years, and sanitation. Many of them additional health personnel High Commissioner for Refu- will be vaccinated for rubella are traumatised, malnourished from neighbouring upazilas to gees, International Organisa- (measles), Cox’s Bazar Civil and weak. conduct the vaccination tion for Migration, World Food Surgeon Abdus Salam told the Health personnel from Ro- campaign,” said Salam. Programme and other agencies Daily Star newspaper. hingya camp areas in Ukhia Meanwhile, the Bangladesh to construct these shelter cen- Children below fi ve years will and Teknaf said rising number government has taken a set of tres within 10 days, the report be administered polio vaccines of people, mostly children, are decisions, including one to set said. The off icial height of Mount Everest is 8,848m (29,029ft), first recorded by an Indian survey in 1954.

Briton in Lanka croc attack Bangladesh‘s fi rst satellite ‘drowned’ Survey to remeasure A British journalist believed to have been attacked by a crocodile launch delayed due to Irma in Sri Lanka died of drowning, police said yesterday following a Mount Everest begins post-mortem examination, AFP IANS Bangladesh was prepar- reviews are completed. reports from Colombo. Dhaka ing to launch Bangabandhu-1 The satellite was given The body of 24-year-old Paul AFP our people that Nepal is capable May over the condition of the on December 16, the Victory a green signal at a cabinet McClean, who worked for the Kathmandu of measuring Everest,” Ganesh Hillary Step – a rocky outcrop Day, this year using SpaceX’s meeting on October 21 in Financial Times, was found on Prasad Bhatta, head of the gov- and route to the summit just he launch of Bang- Falcon 9 rocket at the Florida 2015, and on November 11 Friday in a coastal village lagoon ernment’s survey department, below the peak - with an experi- ladesh’s fi rst satel- launch pad. same year, Bangladesh Tel- a day after he went missing. epal has begun remeas- said. enced British mountaineer say- Tlite Bangabandhu-1 in “It takes two months to ecommunication Regulatory British media reports said uring Mount Everest to A team of Nepali and foreign ing it had collapsed in the quake, Cape Canaveral, Florida, has prepare the pad for launch- Commission (BTRC) signed a McClean was holidaying in Sri Ncheck if the height of the experts have begun refi ning the a claim rejected by local guides. been delayed due to the dev- ing any satellite using the loan deal worth $243 million Lanka with friends. world’s tallest peak was altered methodology for the new survey, “Concerns have been raised astation caused by Hurricane SpaceX facility. The date pre- with Thales Group to buy the Authorities believe McClean was by a powerful earthquake that which is expected to take two about the height of Everest after Irma, offi cials have said. viously fi xed for Bangladesh ‘satellite system.’ dragged away by a crocodile after he struck the nation in 2015, the years, Bhatta said. the April 2015 earthquake, but it is “The Cape Canaveral now seems to be uncertain “The satellite is expected stepped into the lagoon around 360km government has said. A team of Sherpas will take not only the reason to remeasure launch pad in Florida is cur- as schedule of two other sat- to save $1.7 lakh yearly that (220 miles) east of the capital Colombo. The offi cial height of Mount measuring equipment to the the Everest,” Bhatta said. rently inactive due to the ellites has been changed,” is currently spent on renting A post-mortem examination Everest – which lies in the summit either in April, the be- Six years ago Nepal said it adverse weather. It was due Mesbahuzzaman said. foreign satellites. It will con- determined that he drowned Himalayan range, straddling ginning of the spring climbing would remeasure the mountain to launch satellites of South He added that the System tain 40 transponders; Bangla- after being bitten on his right the border between Nepal and season, or October, another after becoming embroiled in a Korea and Bulgaria but those Requirement Review and the desh will use 20 and rent out leg, without confirming if it was China – is 8,848m (29,029ft), period of good weather on diplomatic row with China, who dates have been cancelled,” Preliminary Design Review the rest,” the bdnews24 report a crocodile that grabbed him, a fi rst recorded by an Indian Everest. claimed the peak was 4m shorter a report in bdnews24.com were done for Bangabandhu-1 added. police off icial who had access to survey in 1954. In April 2015, a 7.8-magnitude than the accepted height. The quoted director of the sat- and constructions of engi- The satellite will be con- the autopsy report said. Numerous other teams have earthquake hit Nepal, causing project never got off the ground. ellite project Mohammad neering antenna, commu- trolled by two ground sta- “There were six teeth marks of measured the peak, although the widespread devastation across In May 1999, an American Mesbahuzzaman, as saying. nication and service module tions which will be build at an animal on his right leg,” the 1954 height remains the widely the country and triggering an team added 2m to Everest’s The hurricane hit Florida were also completed. Gazipur’s Joydebpur and Ran- off icial said. accepted fi gure. avalanche that killed 18 people height when it used GPS tech- last Sunday causing huge The satellite would be gamati’s Betbunia on the land “There was no specific mention “Nepal has never measured at Everest’s base camp. nology to survey the peak. That devastation and left more taken to Cape Canaveral owned by Bangladesh Tel- of a crocodile attack because Everest on its own although the Many have speculated that the fi gure is now used by the US Na- than 3.4mn people without launch pad in a special cargo ecommunications Company the JMO (judicial medical off icer) world’s highest peak lies in its quake altered the mountain. tional Geographic Society but electricity. plane after all the tests and Limited (BTCL). could not verify it immediately.” territory. So we want to prove to A heated debate erupted in otherwise not widely accepted. Gulf Times 22 Sunday, September 17, 2017 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Editor-in-Chief: Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Germany’s anti-populist Deputy Managing Editor: K T Chacko

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar exceptionalism [email protected] Telephone 44350478 (news), In Germany – even more in most Germans a cautious poll, 71% of German voters actively derided among most politicians, to 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) so than in most other centrism, rendering extremist parties distrust their government, while safeguard German jobs. Fax 44350474 unsupportable for the majority of 70% have no faith in the reporting of Given this widespread support for countries – the more voters. In Germany – even more the mainstream media. Established such positions, it is too early to say so than in most other countries – political parties fare even worse: 80% that Germany is somehow immune extreme a political party the more extreme a political party of Germans trust political parties to populism. True, historical taboos becomes, the more limited becomes, the more limited its popular “little or not at all,” and nearly 60% and a booming economy have so backing. no longer believe that they can devise far prevented popular discontent its popular backing The public response to recent solutions to pressing problems. from surging into the corridors of GULF TIMES infl ammatory statements from Moreover, in a list of “trusted power. But that discontent continues By Michael Broning prominent AfD leaders seems to professions” compiled by the Global to bubble beneath the surface – Berlin confi rm this rule. The call by Björn Trust Report last year, German manifested on social media and in Höcke, the AfD’s state leader in politicians came in dead last – well political absenteeism – and it shows Thuringia, for an “180-degree turn” behind insurance agents and advertising no signs of waning. s Germany prepares for this from the post-World War II tradition specialists. At the same time, the So, rather than taking comfort Global oil glut is of atoning for the crimes of the Nazi number of attacks – from insults to in populist parties’ relatively weak month’s federal election, the country seems remarkably era, and AfD deputy leader Alexander property damage to bodily harm – performance in this month’s election, Aresistant to the populist Gauland’s reference to “disposing of” against elected offi cials tripled in 2016. Germany’s political class should take challenge that other Western societies Germany’s integration minister of Nowadays, even public support action. For starters, political parties seen shrinking as have faced. With the right-wing Turkish origin “in Anatolia,” repelled for democracy cannot be taken for should recognise Germany’s “hidden” populist Alternative fur Deutschland voters. Likewise, Die Linke’s call granted in Germany. According to populism for what it is: a serious (AfD) and their far-left competitors to abolish Nato, together with its one recent poll, only 62% of young structural challenge. They should Die Linke both hovering at around cozying up to Russia, has left the party Germans agreed that “rule of the then redouble their eff orts to reach markets tighten 10% in the polls, a victory for politically toxic in most of western people by the people” was the best out to disgruntled voters on the left Chancellor Angela Merkel is widely Germany. form of government – hardly a robust and the right who – justifi ably or not viewed as the most likely result. But The second commonly cited cause majority. – feel economically, culturally, and Are the days of excess crude oil supplies in the global that doesn’t mean that Germans are of Germany’s resilience to populism is Beyond such general scepticism, politically disenfranchised. market coming to an end? satisfi ed. its economic strength. The country’s there is a clear and growing gap Here, post-election proceedings Although supply still exceeds demand, indications A Merkel-led government could unemployment rate is currently at between the views of ordinary citizens may prove decisive. While continuing either be a continuation of the grand a record low, and GDP has grown by and the government’s policy approach the current coalition may seem are that the oil glut was shrinking thanks to strong coalition between Merkel’s Christian nearly 10% since 2013. Add to that – the so-called “Berlin consensus.” advisable in policy terms, it could well European and US demand, as well as production Democrats and the centre-left Social a functioning welfare system, and it This is particularly apparent with strengthen the hand of advocates of declines in both Opec and non-Opec countries. Democrats or some other political is clear why the inequality-focused respect to migration: contrary to the radical political change. It may seem The Vienna-based Opec recently forecast higher constellation. In either case, it would outrage that has fuelled voter revolts view shared by virtually the entire paradoxical, but fi ghting extremism seem to imply that Germany is less elsewhere is gaining little traction in political establishment, a majority of in Germany may demand less political demand for its oil in 2018 and pointed to signs of a vulnerable to the populist temptation Germany. Germans wants to close the country’s centrism. In fact, four more years of tighter global market, indicating its deal with non- than some of its Western counterparts. But this does not mean that all is borders to refugees. “stability” in Berlin could ultimately Opec states to cut output is helping tackle a glut. This is often attributed to two quiet on the populist front. In fact, the Perhaps more surprising, there is a bring Germany’s anti-populist The International Energy Agency (IEA) expects structural causes. relatively weak support for populist similar disparity between voters and Sonderweg to an abrupt end. – Project The fi rst is Germany’s singular parties in German elections obscures political leaders on certain economic Syndicate global oil demand to climb this year by the most since historic track record of right- and an undercurrent of dissatisfaction in issues. Only about 31% of German 2015. The Paris-based IEA, which advises most major left-wing totalitarianism. And, German society that bears striking voters actively oppose kicking Greece zMichael Broning is Head of the economies on energy policy, increased its estimate for indeed, the legacy of Third Reich similarities to the anger that has out of the eurozone – something that International Policy Department of the demand growth in 2017 by 100,000 barrels a day to hyper-chauvinism and “actually fuelled the rise of anti-establishment German leaders have proved loath Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, a political existing socialism” in the eastern parties in Europe and beyond. to do. And two-thirds of Germans foundation affi liated with the Social 1.6mn a day, or 1.7%. part of the country has inculcated According to one recent opinion support protectionist measures, Democratic Party of Germany. The re-balancing of oversupplied world markets is continuing, it said, with Opec supplies falling for the fi rst time in fi ve months and inventories of refi ned fuels in developed nations subsiding toward average levels. Stockpiles of refi ned fuels in developed nations were close to their fi ve-year average in July, and could fall to or below this level “very soon,” IEA says. Crude oil inventories were steady in the same month, when they typically increase. “Based on recent bets made by investors, expectations are that markets are tightening and that prices will rise, albeit very modestly,” the agency said. Analysts at investment bank Panmure Gordon believe prices have now advanced for the last two weeks off increased demand forecasts from both Opec and the IEA combined with the near-term demand uplift expected as US oil refi neries seek to The feel-good restart operations factor seems to post-Hurricane Harvey, which hit have returned to energy-rich Texas among other North the oil market American states. Oil investors eyed further impact from increasing crude demand from US oil refi neries restarting after hurricane outages. Despite the US refi nery outages, 2017 is set to be an “extremely strong year” for oil demand growth, a key factor underpinning a rise in prices, according to analysts at HSBC. They remain convinced of longer-term upside to crude prices. With the lack of new major project sanctions, the bank analysts expect conventional non- Opec supply to start declining post-2018 and maintain On the hill above Cruz Bay on St. John Island, the house where Eugenio Santana Santana, 61, was living was completely blown away by Hurricane Irma. Nothing their 2018 and 2019 Brent price assumptions at $65 and remains. Originally from Dominica, Santana says he will stay and help rebuild the island because there is no work in his own country. $70 a barrel, respectively. Futures rose 5.1% last week in New York, settling just below the $50-a-barrel threshold that’s kept the Harvey, Irma can’t be blamed on climate change industry in thrall. The increase was buoyed by higher demand forecasts from IEA and expectations OPEC and its partners will extend output cuts beyond the By Nicolas Loris There’s only one small problem hurricane or global tropical cyclone dioxide and other greenhouse gas March expiration date of their deal. Tribune News Service with such accusations. Man-made activity.” emissions are costly non-solutions. warming did not cause Harvey and Other media outlets took a more The US could slap a $40 tax on all Nearly a quarter of US refi ning capacity was shuttered Irma. As carbon dioxide and other measured approach, claiming that carbon dioxide emissions, and the in the wake of the recent Hurricane Harvey. Two weeks n the era of fake news, greenhouse gas emissions have man did not cause Harvey and “climate benefi ts” would be hardly later, only three Gulf Coast refi neries remain shut, misinformation tends to spread increased, there have been no trends Irma but supercharged them. The noticeable. By the year 2100, the according to the US Department of Energy. quickly – especially during a in global tropical cycle landfalls. reasoning is that warmer sea surface averted warming would be less than time of crisis. The deceptions Before Harvey and Irma, with a temperatures increase moisture in the two-tenths of a degree Celsius, and Data from both IEA and OPEC therefore suggest I that have sprung up in the wake of little bit of luck, the US was in a air and, in turn, up the intensity of the the averted sea level rise would be less global oil demand will climb this year by the most since hurricanes Harvey and Irma show that 12-year hurricane drought. More hurricanes. than 2cm. 2015, amid stronger-than-expected consumption in it’s high time to separate fact from importantly, the average number But University of Washington The costs, however, would be Europe and the US. fi ction. of hurricanes per decade reaching climatologist Cliff Mass, after staggering. Because carbon dioxide- When Harvey hit landfall, a landfall in the US has fallen over the examining precipitation levels in emitting conventional fuels meet The feel-good factor seems to have returned to the oil picture of a shark allegedly on a past 160 years. the Gulf, discredited this claim. He 80% of America’s energy needs, the market and expectations are that markets are tightening, highway in Houston went viral, This comes not via “denier data,” found that “(t)here is no evidence that tax would harm families multiple and that prices will rise, albeit very modestly. fooling at least one reporter. The but from mainstream science. The global warming is infl uencing Texas times over as energy is a necessary same fake picture, which has been Intergovernmental Panel on Climate coastal precipitation in the long term component for almost everything around for years, cropped up during Change reported in its most recent and little evidence that warmer than we make and do. Between now and Irma. Yet before stopping to check scientific assessment that “(n)o normal temperatures had any real 2035, the country would experience To Advertise if the picture is real, people retweet robust trends in annual numbers impact on the precipitation intensity an average employment shortfall or share it on Facebook hundreds of of tropical storms, hurricanes, from this storm.” of 400,000 lost jobs, a total loss of [email protected] thousands of times. and major hurricanes ... have been CNN asked Bill Read, former income exceeding $20,000 for a family Display The same is true for blaming man- identified over the past 100 years in director of the National Hurricane of four, and a $2.5tn hit to the overall Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 made climate change for Harvey and the North Atlantic basin,” and that Center, whether man-made climate economy. That means less wealth to Irma. Before actually analysing the there are “no significant observed change was intensifying storms. combat future challenges, whether Classified data, one news outlet wrote, “Harvey trends in global tropical cyclone He said no, adding, “This is not an they are climate-related or not. Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 is what climate change looks like.” frequency.” uncommon occurrence to see storms Political opportunism is distracting Another called the one-two punch According to the National Oceanic grow and intensify rapidly in the from what is important: helping the Subscription of Harvey and Irma the potential Atmospheric Administration, western Gulf of Mexico. That’s as long people in Houston, Florida and the [email protected] “new normal.” Other environmental “It is premature to conclude that as we’ve been tracking them that has islands. Policymakers should focus on activists went as far as to say that human activities – and particularly occurred.” improving natural disaster response, the two natural disasters are reason greenhouse gas emissions that cause Even if man-made warming were resilience and preparedness. Blaming 2017 Gulf Times. All rights reserved to fi nally jail offi cials who “reject global warming – have already had responsible for Harvey and Irma, the man-made climate change on Harvey science.” a detectable impact on Atlantic policies that tax or regulate carbon and Irma is truly denying the data. Gulf Times Sunday, September 17, 2017 23 COMMENT The urgency of refugee education

Childhood should be stable environment for the youngest refugees. Because education not only spent learning how to imparts life skills, but also promotes read, write, count, inquire, resilience and self-reliance, and helps address the psychological and social assess, debate, calculate, needs of children impacted by confl ict, empathise, and set goals. it is a basic need for refugees. Providing educational opportunities These skills are especially to displaced young people will require important for those who long-term planning and investment; it cannot be an afterthought. Financing will be called upon to for refugee education must be sustainable, predictable, and holistic, rebuild their countries both to enable education systems when they return home in refugee-hosting countries to plan accordingly, and to ensure that By Filippo Grandi children’s schooling is not suspended Geneva when a new crisis erupts somewhere else. It is also critical that refugee he world’s refugee crisis children are incorporated into the is most often measured in national education systems where numbers. But for young they reside. Refugees, like all young Trefugees missing out on people around the world, deserve a an education, the crisis can also be quality education – one that follows tracked by an irreversible metric: an accredited curriculum, and is based the passage of time. Of the 17.2mn on a rigorous system of evaluation people that the United Nations High and advancement. Host countries are Commissioner for Refugees (the UN best suited to provide that. Where the Refugee Agency) is responsible for international community can help is protecting, roughly half are under by doing more to support educators, the age of 18, meaning that an entire Classroom learning should be given high priority, to help provide a protective and stable environment for the youngest refugees. especially teachers, by ensuring generation of young people, already suitable pay, adequate teaching robbed of their childhood, could lose inquire, assess, debate, calculate, children worldwide attend primary people around the world pursue a at ending poverty and promoting materials, and access to expert out on a future as well. empathise, and set goals. These skills school, enrolment among refugee college degree or advanced training; prosperity by 2030, is designed assistance. School-age children form a are especially important for those who children is just 61%, and falls to but, despite scholarships and other to deliver “inclusive and quality The education of refugees is a large share of the world’s displaced will be called upon to rebuild their 50% for in low-income countries, incentives, the percentage of refugees education for all and to promote shared responsibility. Last year, population. At the end of 2016, countries when they return home. where more than a quarter of the who do so is a mere 1%. lifelong learning” (SDG 4). with the New York Declaration, there were an estimated 11.6mn Moreover, education provides refugee world’s displaced people live. As In September 2016, politicians, But, despite overwhelming support governments around the world made refugees experiencing “protracted children a safe space amid the tumult refugee children get older, the diplomats, offi cials, and activists from for the New York Declaration, and for a collective promise to invest in displacement”: they have been away of displacement. And education education gap widens. Just 23% of around the world gathered at the UN the principles set out in SDG 4, young refugees and the communities hosting from their homes for more than can even help ensure the peaceful refugee adolescents are enrolled in to chart a path forward for addressing refugees remain in danger of being left them. As the UN General Assembly fi ve years and have no “immediate and sustainable development of the secondary school, compared to 84% the plight of the world’s refugees. The behind. The international community convenes for its annual meetings in prospects” of return. Of these, 4.1mn communities that have opened their globally. In low-income countries, result was the New York Declaration must now match its rhetoric with New York this week, global leaders have been refugees for at least 20 doors to displaced families. a mere 9% of refugee children are for Refugees and Migrants, signed action. must recommit to that pledge. Young years, longer than the amount of time Unfortunately, for many of the enrolled in secondary school. by 193 countries, which emphasised Education must become an integral refugees have no time to lose. – the average person spends in school. 6.4mn school-age refugees currently As for post-secondary education education as a critical element of the part of the emergency response Project Syndicate The case for refugee education under the mandate of the UN – the crucible in which tomorrow’s international response. Furthermore, to any refugee crisis. Classroom is clear. Childhood should be spent Refugee Agency, access to education leaders will be forged – the picture one of the UN’s 17 Sustainable learning should be given high priority, zFilippo Grandi is United Nations learning how to read, write, count, remains a luxury. Whereas 91% of is dismal. About a third of young Development Goals, which are aimed to help provide a protective and High Commissioner for Refugees. Weather report Custom pencil grip helps a student Three-day forecast TODAY High: 38 C modelling and design class that’s part Low : 34 C By Debbie Kelley Inshore: Hazy to misty/ foggy at places of the national science, technology, at first becomes hot daytime with some Tribune News Service clouds and humid by night. engineering and math curriculum called Project Lead the Way. y the end of the school Esch embraced the challenge. MONDAY day, nine-year-old Natalie “It was a huge connection to the real High: 38 C Quintana is worn out from world,” Esch said. “It was amazing we Low: 31 C Bwriting. were able to help a real person instead M Sunny Arthrogryposis, a congenital of a fi ctional scenario we were working condition that contracts joints and on in class.” weakens muscles, makes it hard to Students in the class learn about TUESDAY make a pencil dance across paper. designing model prosthetics, such High: 39 C But a custom-designed gripping as a therapeutic boot for a child with Low: 30 C tool that seventh- and eighth-grade cerebral palsy, and toys for disabled Sunny students at Janitell Middle School in children to improve dexterity and Colorado Springs created for Natalie’s motor skills. right hand is making a big diff erence. All 30 students in Esch’s class last Fishermen’s forecast “It helps me write,” says Natalie. “I semester brainstormed solutions for OFFSHORE DOHA like that it keeps my hand supported a pencil grip for Natalie. About one- Wind: SE-NE 03-12 KT and doesn’t keep my arm up, so I write third of the class submitted a design Waves: 1-3 Feet better.” for consideration, Esch said. INSHORE DOHA Wind: NE 05-15 KT Natalie’s disability aff ects all four Modelling clay helped develop Waves: 1-2 Feet limbs, leaving her fi ngers and wrists 4th grader Natalie Quintana, 9, a student at French Elementary, works through prototypes, and Natalie tested each curved inward. Braces help keep her a maze with a customised pencil grip that was created for her by Curtis Esch, one. A software design program and Around the region legs straight in her wheelchair. Project Lead the Way teacher at Janitell, and Jaimie Hunsicker, occupational a 3-D printer led to a fi nal product, Weather Weather The awkward positioning of her therapist, in Colorado Springs. which is still being fi ne-tuned. today Max/min tomorrow Max/min hand and arm elevates Natalie’s “We used the engineering process Abu Dhabi Sunny 37/31 Sunny 40/31 shoulder and tires her, said Jaimie Widefi eld aspires to be a meteorologist The invention can be chalked up to to attack it,” Esch said. “You go round Baghdad Sunny 46/27 M Sunny 46/27 Dubai Sunny 41/31 Sunny Hunsicker, an occupational therapist and loves to read and write. brilliant serendipity. and round until you get it perfect.” 41/30 Kuwait City Sunny 41/27 Sunny 41/27 for Widefi eld School District 3, “She “She seems to be motivated by the Hunsicker had been trying to fi nd It’s almost there, but not quite. Manama Sunny 39/31 Sunny 40/31 currently has to rotate her hand, and pencil grip,” her mom said. “It’s great a way to help Natalie overcome her “This year we’re going to try to Muscat Sunny 32/28 Sunny 33/27 we’re concerned about fatigue, as she they were able to do something for her.” struggles. make it better with some tweaks,” Esch Riyadh Sunny 42/25 Sunny 42/26 gets older and has to write more at Over the summer, Natalie practised “We went through a lot of said. “We’re also going to work on Tehran M Sunny 31/19 Sunny 29/18 school,” said Hunsicker. “That’s why with the plastic purple instrument commercial grips, but they didn’t other therapeutic devices for children we’re trying to deal with this now.” that has a ring for her thumb and work,” she said. with special needs.” Despite her physical limitations, space for her index and middle fi nger Hunsicker was talking about her Hunsicker said Natalie is still in Natalie’s spirits are high. to rest on top. frustration at dinner one night, when “the practising phase,” being given the “She’s a little diva,” jokes her mom, Using a pencil held in the grip, her daughter, who was an eighth- option of using the pencil grip or not Michelle Castillo. she’s been fi nding her way through grader at Janitell, suggested running in class. Natalie, a fourth-grader at French mazes on paper and doing other fun the problem by one of her teachers, Natalie said she likes it a lot. Elementary School in Security/ activities. Curtis Esch. He teaches an elective “I feel happy,” she said. Live issues Is diet soda that bad for you? Maybe not

Around the world By Karen D’Souza habits that people have that really hurt Weather Weather Tribune News Service them. If you are a couch potato or a today Max/min tomorrow Max/min smoker, the diet soda may not be the Athens Sunny 34/23 Sunny 37/24 true culprit. Beirut P Cloudy 28/25 Sunny 28/25 Bangkok Rain 30/27 S T Storms 32/26 ust how bad is diet soda for you? “Consumers of diet soda who Berlin P Cloudy 19/07 M Sunny 18/07 It may be more complicated than engage in other lifestyle behaviours Cairo Sunny 33/23 P Cloudy 34/24 you think. There may be hope for associated with poor health outcomes Cape Town Sunny 22/12 Sunny 22/13 zero-calorie consumers yet. are at a greater risk than those who Colombo T Storms 29/26 Showers 29/26 J Dhaka S T Storms 33/27 T Storms 31/26 A spate of recent studies has diet balance their intake of diet soda with Hong Kong Sunny 33/29 M Sunny 31/28 soda lovers fretting over their bubbly other healthful habits,” says Cara Istanbul P Cloudy 28/19 P Cloudy 29/20 beverages. Studies have shown that Harbstreet, R.D., of Street Smart Jakarta P Cloudy 36/26 P Cloudy 35/25 sucking down diet pop means you may Nutrition as Women’s Health notes. Karachi Sunny 35/27 Sunny 34/26 be avoiding sugar and calories but “The variables make it diffi cult London P Cloudy 18/10 M Cloudy 17/08 Manila T Storms 32/26 T Storms 32/26 overdosing on chemicals that can be to pinpoint whether diet soda Moscow Rain 17/12 P Cloudy 23/12 dangerous to your health. consumption alone is the cause of New Delhi P Cloudy 36/26 Sunny 37/26 “Just get rid of it,” says Keri have been linked to the one thing they getting cracked open, content in the negative health outcomes, or whether New York P Cloudy 26/20 Cloudy 24/20 Glassman, R.D.N., as Women’s Health are supposed to avoid: getting fat. These knowledge that there is a zero calorie it’s the culmination of a number of Paris T Storms 16/08 S T Storms 17/10 Sunny P Cloudy 29/17 reports. “It is fi lled with unhealthy sodas may lead to obesity, increased elixir to take the edge off the day. factors...I lean towards the latter, since Sao Paulo 32/16 Seoul P Cloudy 28/14 P Cloudy 26/17 chemicals, including artifi cial blood pressure and diabetes. Gulp. Some experts believe that there may nothing in nutrition or health exists in Singapore S T Storms 29/25 S T Storms 29/25 sweeteners, which actually make you But now there is a glimmer of not be a causal relationship between a vacuum.” Sydney Sunny 16/08 Sunny 23/14 crave more calories later.” hope for those of us who crave the diet soda consumption and health So maybe if you hit the gym before you Tokyo Rain 22/19 Cloudy 31/22 The worst news is that diet drinks snap and fi zz of a can of diet soda issues. It may be all the other bad down that diet soda, it’ll all even out. Gulf Times 24 Sunday, September 17, 2017 QATAR

MedFood 2017 expo Emir’s tour a success to kick off next week QNA pharmaceutical manufactur- Doha ing sectors to work towards self-suffi ciency in food and medicine in the country. atar Chamber will or- He added that the exhi- ganise an exhibition for bition will bring together a Qfood and pharmaceuti- number of leading food com- for Qatari diplomacy, cal industries in co-operation panies and local pharmaceu- with the Ministry of Energy tical factories. and Industry, from September The fi rst edition of the ex- 24 to 26. hibition will be limited to local The fi rst edition of the food companies. and medicine ‘MedFood 2017’ The next edition of the ex- expo aims at introducing na- hibition will be international tional products in food and in nature, with international say newspapers medicine and providing a plat- companies and well-known form for presenting the most brands taking part. QNA However, Qatar has been affi rmed clearly that the wise po- to present all aspects of the siege fields, which reflect their joint important companies and fac- For his part, Mohamed al- Doha steadfast and active politically litical approach adopted by His and its repercussions, ultimately positions on regional issues. It tories operating in these ac- Harqan, Director of Public and economically and at the Highness the Emir is highly ap- resulting in more international hailed Turkey’s firm position tivities, thus contributing to Relations Department at the highest levels. preciated by infl uential interna- support for Qatar, Al-Watan towards the Gulf crisis, which the achievement of food and Ministry of Energy and In- atari daily newspapers The paper highlighted the tional powers. concluded. called for dialogue and diplo- medicine security in the State. dustry, said that the MedFood underlined yesterday diplomatic success achieved by The world has witnessed the Meanwhile, Arrayah under- macy. Qatar Chamber said at 17 exhibition seeks to develop Qthat HH the Emir Sheikh His Highness the Emir’s visits to wisdom, brilliance and patience lined the political signifi cance of The Qatari paper also un- a press conference to an- local industries in two sectors Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani’s Germany and France, two of the of the State of Qatar under the His Highness the Emir’s tour in derlined Germany and France’s nounce this event that the that are of great importance to European tour, which included most infl uential capitals in Eu- wise leadership of His Highness terms of timing and the talks that solidarity with the State of Qatar, exhibition aims to support the local market. Turkey, Germany and France, af- rope and the world. the Emir, Al-Watan said, stress- dealt with key regional and inter- their support to Kuwait’s media- the national food industries, He hoped that the fi rst edi- fi rmed the success of Qatari di- The State of Qatar accepts ing the strong support of Tur- national issues. tion and rejection of the unjust achieve more self-sufficien- tion of the exhibition will plomacy in the face of the siege equal dialogue and Kuwaiti me- key, Germany and France to the Turkey, Germany and France siege. cy and reduce dependence on achieve its goals. He noted the by its neighbours – who have diation, but it will never concede Qatari leadership in spite of the have support Qatar’s position His Highness the Emir’s tour food imports. ministry’s eff orts to support long been betting on isolating its sovereignty or independence siege countries’ allegations and since the beginning and de- stressed Qatar’s leading role at Saleh bin Hamad al-Shar- activities aimed at developing Qatar regionally and interna- and will not accept any dictates ongoing attempts to worsen the manded the siege countries re- regional and international levels, qi, Director General of Qatar local industries since its par- tionally. from the siege countries, which crisis. solve the Gulf crisis through dia- and its distinguished partner- Chamber, said that the exhibi- ticipation in the fi rst edition of In its editorial, Al-Sharq was confi rmed by His Highness The affi rmation of the leaders logue and negotiations to serve ships with the world. tion refl ects Qatar Chamber’s the “Made in Qatar” exhibition newspaper said that the siege the Emir during his talks with the of Turkey, Germany and France the interests of all parties, away The tour also recognised Qa- keenness to support the na- organised by the Chamber in countries thought that closing European leaders, Al-Sharq reit- on the need to solve the Gulf cri- from the language of escalation, tar’s eff orts in combating terror- tional food and pharmaceu- 2008. land, sea and air ports and im- erated. sis through dialogue and the need threats, dictates and prejudice, ism and keenness on maintaining tical industries, increase the The event will also highlight posing a siege on Doha would For its part, Qatar daily Al- to end the siege as soon as possi- the Qatar daily said. the world’s stability and security, self-suffi ciency of the local investments in pharmaceuti- one day lead to its subordination Watan said that His Highness ble after their fruitful talks with Arrayah highlighted the de- which foiled the allegations and market and reduce depend- cals and medical supplies, and and neglect of its sovereignty, the Emir’s visits to Turkey, Ger- His Highness the Emir, demon- veloping relations between Qa- false accusations of the siege ence on food and pharmaceu- will reveal initiatives for the national decision, and inde- many and France refl ected the strated that the State of Qatar tar and Turkey in political, eco- countries against Qatar, Arrayah tical imports, in addition to private sector to achieve drug pendent policy. active political role of Qatar and has managed, with great success, nomic, investment and cultural concluded. activating the Qatari food and security. Changes in Security Council key to UN reform: Qatar

QNA to maintain world peace and security and face Japan, Jordan, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Slo- New York current critical challenges. vakia, Thailand and Uruguay. Based on Qatar’s belief in the pivotal role According to diplomatic sources, countries of the United Nations, and its commitment to will be invited to attend the meeting if they n March, the State of Qatar presented its achieving international consensus on issues sign on to a US-drafted 10-point political position on the reform of the United Na- of concern to the international community, declaration backing eff orts by UN Secretary- Itions and stressed that the success of its the statement referred to the meeting held in General Antonio Guterres “to initiate eff ec- comprehensive reform depends mainly on Doha in January on United Nations Security tive, meaningful reform”, according to a draft the reform of the Security Council, being the Council reforms. of the political declaration. main arm of the United Nations, based on Observers believe that the reform of the The draft political declaration also states: its mandate under the Charter to ensure the United Nations is diffi cult, but not impossi- “We support the secretary-general in making maintenance of international peace and se- ble, especially since the organisation has not concrete changes in the United Nations sys- curity, and being the only authority with the disintegrated and has resisted all diffi culties tem to better align its work on humanitarian binding decision-making power of all mem- and crises for nearly three-quarters of a cen- response, development and sustaining peace ber states. tury. initiatives”. Qatar’s position was presented in a state- They believe that the UN reform would be “We commit to reducing mandate dupli- ment delivered by HE Qatar’s Permanent possible in the event of an agreement among cation, redundancy and overlap, including Representative to the United Nations Ambas- the three major powers, the United States, among the main organs of the United Na- sador Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani Russia and China. tions,” the draft declaration also reads. before the UN General Assembly Intergov- Together, these countries will be the cor- Trump has complained that the US share ernmental Negotiations on Security Council nerstones of any reform that involves key of the world body’s budget is unfair, pushed Reform. issues like funding mechanism, revision of to slash funding and described it as a “club According to the statement, the United Na- certain principles and rules enshrined in its for people to get together, talk and have a tions became overburdened with challenges Charter, and establishing fair criteria for se- good time”. The United States is the biggest in light of the accelerated transformations lection of states entitled to retain permanent UN contributor, providing 22% of its $5.4bn that have occurred in the international sys- seats in the Security Council. biennial core budget and 28.5% of its $7.3bn tem and the increasing challenges, crises and US President Donald Trump is gathering peacekeeping budget. The contributions are confl icts which have changed many concepts global support for reform of the United Na- agreed on by the 193-member General As- and imposed a new reality that is diffi cult to tions when he hosts a meeting at UN head- sembly. Sheikha Alia deal with in traditional formats. quarters in New York tomorrow, in the course France announced it is “taking note with However, those changes and challeng- of his fi rst participation in the annual meet- interest” of the proposals of the US Presi- ber, said it would hold a high- and reform the United Nations organisations, non-governmen- es created many opportunities and hopes ings of the UN General Assembly. dent on the reform of the United Nations, and level meeting of the council on system”. The fi rst initiative con- tal groups, and other interme- thanks to the growing concepts of justice Trump’s speech at the meeting will be stressed the need to enhance the eff ectiveness the reform of peacekeeping oper- cerns the establishment of a new diaries involved in mediation and the rule of law, equality, human rights, closely watched by US allies and opponents of the United Nations to meet global chal- ations on the 20th of this month, high-level advisory council of 18 around the world. development, and international co-opera- who are looking to see the implications of lenges, but added in this context that it fully to be chaired by Prime Minister international personalities. The second initiative was tion. the “America First” slogan on US foreign supports the work of the Secretary-General Hailemariam Desalegn. He said that he would seek to develop a “new strategy for The statement underlined that the reform policy. and is working in this area with key partners As part of its eff orts to reform advice from the Security Coun- achieving gender parity within of the Security Council is still facing many To push the reforms forward, Washington in New York. the United Nations, the Secre- cil to support the new media- the United Nations at senior diffi culties and challenges, but such reform is has won the support of 14 countries: Britain, Meanwhile, Ethiopia, which presides over tary-General has launched two tion mechanism, and co-operate levels by 2021 and in all areas by a necessity for the council to ensure its ability Canada, China, Germany, India, Indonesia, the 15-member Security Council for Septem- new initiatives to “strengthen more eff ectively with regional 2028”. QOC a founding donating partner Mwani Qatar shines for Olympic Refuge Foundation

From Page 1 and the foundation we are launching crowns this very Addressing the session in important partnership.” Lima, UNHCR High Com- The IOC and UNHCR fi rst missioner for Refugees began their co-operation in Filippo Grandi said: “This 1994. The collaboration has foundation will mean a lot. since seen the implementa- It will mean a lot for millions tion of sports projects in more of children and young people. than 45 countries, which has It will mean a lot for young allowed for the provision of people that are among the basic sports equipment, re- most deprived in the world. habilitation of sports grounds People that have lost every- and organisation of regular thing – their homes, often recreational activities. their families, their jobs, even The Olympic Refuge Foun- their identity. dation had received pledges “Sport inspires healthy of fi nancial support from the competition in places where QOC even prior to its launch, competition is often only as well as from the Lich- about weapons, about arms, tenstein government. The about money, about drugs, foundation will fund projects and where violence pre- across the world through vails. We have seen this, we the donations from Olympic have learned this, we at UN- Movement partners, govern- Thomas Bach and Filippo Grandi following the announcement of the Olympic Refuge HCR for more than 20 years ment institutions and private Foundation. co-operating with the IOC, donations.