BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Sheikh Ali, Bassem triumph on DOW JONES QE NYMEX Commercial Bank glorious day 23,316.00 7,825.77 56.55 embarks on digital -108.00 +64.52 +2.56 transformation for Qatar -0.46% +0.83% +1.41% Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

SUNDAY Vol. XXXVIII No. 10642 November 19, 2017 Rabia I 1, 1439 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Emir greets Oman celebrates National Day Sultan Qaboos on Oman’s FM: Qatar National Day His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, His Highness the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin committed Hamad al-Thani and HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani sent yesterday cables of congratulations to HM Sultan Qaboos bin Said on Oman’s National Day. Oman to resolving celebrated its 47th National Day with a number of ceremonies including military parades and other events. Emir congratulates GCC crisis King of Morocco His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim zTerrorism a bigger threat in region bin Hamad al-Thani and His Highness the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah HM Sultan Qaboos bin Said of the Sultanate of Oman presiding over the 47th National Day parade, which was staged at the HQ zDoha has full US support to end siege bin Hamad al-Thani sent yesterday of the Police Special Force in the wilayat of A’Seeb in the Governorate of Muscat yesterday. The military parade, organised by cables of congratulations to HM Royal Oman Police (ROP), was attended by members of the State Council and members of Majlis A’Shura, the undersecretaries, z‘Iranian issue’ must be addressed peacefully King Mohamed VI of Morocco on the governors and other dignitaries (ONA). the anniversary of his country’s QNA dren in East Asia and Central Asia. Independence Day. HE the Prime Doha On the strength of bilateral ties with Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh the US, the foreign minister said Qa- Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa tar has always been a strong partner al-Thani also sent a similar cable E the Deputy Prime Minister and ally to the United States in its fi ght to Moroccan Prime Minister Dr UN team probes rights violations and Foreign Minister Sheikh against terror. “This is evident from the Saadeddine Othmani. HMohamed bin Abdulrahman al- fact that Qatar hosts between 11,000 Thani stressed yesterday that Qatar was and 12,000 American troops at Al Annual development QNA Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) developments in the humanitarian sit- still committed to resolving the GCC cri- Udeid Airbase, through which the US Doha countries. uation monitored by the NHRC in this sis because “there is a bigger threat in the carries out its missions against ISIS.” aid stands at $2bn The meeting was part of a series of regard. region, which is terrorism”. The minister added that the US has The share of assistance from Qatar has meetings that the delegation will hold Speaking at a hearing organised by In an interview held with US TV net- always expressed its appreciation for exceeded the official development hairman of the National Hu- with governmental, non-governmental the British parliament in London for work MSNBC, Sheikh Mohamed said that partnership. “Qatar also highly assistance (ODA) of developed man Rights Committee (NHRC) and civil society organisations as well the NHRC and Amnesty International the propaganda waged against Qatar appreciates the partnership and is countries in the North, as Qatar’s CDr Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri met as some of the victims aff ected by the last week, al-Marri called for more accusing it of terrorism was baseless. working with the US on developing co- annual foreign and non-government yesterday with a delegation from the siege. pressure from the British govern- He stressed that Qatar was a leader operation further.” assistance stands at almost $2bn, Technical Mission of the Offi ce of the During the meeting, the delegation ment to curb the increasing violations in countering terrorism and extremism, On the American position on the HE the Minister of Finance Ali Sherif High Commissioner for Human Rights briefed the NHRC chairman on the against the citizens and residents of the highlighting that the country hosts the siege of Qatar, he said Doha was getting al-Emadi said yesterday. He was (OHCHR). nature of their mission, which will be Gulf region, which escalate everyday central command for the global coalition. full support from the US for putting an speaking at the opening session The international delegation concluded by submitting a report to the due to the siege of Qatar. “Qatar is a frontrunner in combating ex- end to the blockade, “whether it was US of the ‘High-Level Conference on started a visit to Doha on Friday to High Commissioner for Human Rights. Al-Marri said civilians should not be tremist ideologies when it establishes President Donald Trump or members Financing for Development and the gather information about the re- Al-Marri explained to the delega- involved by the siege countries in the schools and provides high-quality edu- of his administration such Secretary Means of Implementation of the 2030 percussions of the siege on human tion the impacts of the siege on citi- confl ict with Qatar, stressing that these cation to vulnerable societies and poor of State Rex Tillerson and Secretary of Agenda for Sustainable Development’. rights for citizens and residents of zens, residents and citizens of the GCC countries should not use people as hu- countries abroad,” he said adding that Defence James Mattis among others”. Page 2 the country as well as citizens of the countries and the latest violations and man shields to achieve political gains. Qatar provided education to 7mn chil- To Page 28 Gulf Times 2 Sunday, November 19, 2017 QATAR

OFFICIAL PM meets UNDP director Qatar’s annual

Emir sends greetings to Latvia president development aid His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, His Highness the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al- Thani and HE the Prime Minister HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin and Interior Minister Sheikh Khalifa al-Thani met yesterday with the Director of the United Nations Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Development Program (UNDP), Achim Steiner, who is currently visiting Doha stands at $2bn, al-Thani sent yesterday cables to participate in the high-level meeting to prepare for the Economic and Social of congratulations to Latvian Council Forum on Follow-up to Financing for Development. They discussed President Raimonds Vejonis on aspects of co-operation between the two sides and means of enhancing them. his country’s National Day. says minister

By Peter Alagos and development projects UN offi cial praises Qatar’s commitment Business Reporter and programmes. Qatar has focused on the education sector at the forefront of the to sustainable development agenda he share of assist- sectors receiving aid from ance from Qatar has the total development as- Texceeded the offi - sistance in order to activate QNA He noted that the confer- stressed that the Doha meet- below the poverty line. cial development assist- the fourth development ob- Doha ence was held at the height ing is rich in successful local He stressed the impor- ance (ODA) of developed jective, the minister noted. of the global economic cri- and national experiences, tance of international co- countries in the North, as As part of its eff orts to sis and managed to mobilise which can become global operation to meet the cur- Qatar’s annual foreign and fulfi l its commitment to the atar has shown the international commu- trends, noting that progress rent global challenges. non-government assistance implementation of the 2030 strong commitment nity on the fi nancing agenda in a given country may posi- The Development Agen- stands at almost $2bn, HE sustainable development Qto the implementa- for development despite all tively aff ect other countries. da 2030 and the Addis Aba- the Minister of Finance Ali plan, HE al-Emadi said Qa- tion of the 2030 Agenda for the diffi culties facing the ba Plan of Action provide Sherif al-Emadi said yes- tar presented the voluntary Sustainable Development, world at that time. “The development a general framework for terday. national review during the as well as the Addis Ababa “The development scene scene since the Doha moving forward, he said, Speaking at the opening 2017 High-Level Political Action Plan, said Liu Zhen- since the Doha Conference Conference witnessed noting that the Third Fo- session of the ‘High-Level Forum on Sustainable De- min, Under-Secretary- witnessed many changes. many changes. rum of the Economic and Conference on Financing for velopment, which provided General for Economic and However, the spirit of co- However, the spirit Social Council on Follow- Development and the Means a transparent picture of its Social Aff airs of the United operation and respect re- of co-operation and up to Financing for Devel- of Implementation of the development eff orts and its Nations has said. mained a legacy of that respect remained opment scheduled for April 2030 Agenda for Sustainable HE the Minister of Finance Ali Sherif al-Emadi at the event. eff ective role at the interna- Speaking at the opening conference”, he added a legacy of that next year will review the Development’, HE al-Emadi PICTURE: Shemeer Rasheed tional level. session of the high-level He said: “This meeting conference”, progress and challenges at pointed out that while Qa- HE al-Emadi said he meeting to prepare for the aims at recalling the action the level of sustainable de- tar is not “legally obliged” Committed to strength- ternational community,” HE hopes that a voluntary na- Economic and Social Coun- plans, enhancing confi- He pointed to the risks velopment plans. to pay the amount, the State ening regional and interna- the minister said. tional review would be pre- cil Forum on the Follow-Up dence, co-operation and facing the global economy He noted that the provides it out of its belief in tional partnerships, he said According to HE al- sented next year to shed of Financing for Develop- joint action in the current and the challenges of re- achievement of the 2030 the importance of support- Qatar would continue to Emadi, 30% of the aid more light on the alignment ment, Liu Zhenmin praised international environ- covery despite the positive development goals rests ing the agenda of the South- play “a prominent and in- comes from external sup- of Qatar’s national pri- Doha for hosting several ment, besides exchanging economic scene in some with national governments, South Co-operation (SSC) creasingly important role” port in the form of dona- orities with the goals of the conferences, forums and expertise and developing areas, referring to the ma- thus enhancing dialogue and Triangular Co-opera- in providing development tions from charitable and 2030 sustainable develop- international development action plans at the local jor humanitarian crises, among policy makers and tion (TC), and fi nancing for and relief assistance to humanitarian organisa- ment plan. mechanisms, including the and international levels.” natural disasters, water all frameworks and depart- development agenda. countries facing economic tions, Qatari donor insti- Further, he stressed that 2008 International Confer- The United Nations Un- shortages and other chal- ments at the local level to “The provision of such and humanitarian crises tutions, whose work fol- Qatar would continue its ence on Financing for De- der-Secretary-General for lenges that hinder growth achieve comprehensive sus- assistance is positively re- and natural disasters, in ad- low “the best international eff orts as an active partner velopment. Economic and Social Aff airs and push millions of people tainable development. fl ected on the achievement dition to the ODA provided standards”, and in partner- in the international com- of international peace and by the State voluntarily. ship with specialised inter- munity despite regional security, human rights and He said Qatar has also national agencies, as well as and global challenges “to development for all, in or- provided international as- institutions at the regional achieve the common objec- der to achieve peaceful, sistance to friendly coun- and sub-regional levels and tives desired by all and meet integrated and non-mar- tries among 13 sectors for other international coun- the challenges in all areas of ginalised societies, based various global humanitar- terparts. common interest in accord- on strong institutions that ian and development initia- He stressed that in the ance with the objectives and are more accountable and tives. “Government support past years Qatar had ex- Charter of the United Na- effi cient and more resilient for aid reaches more than panded its external assist- tions”. to addressing the scourge 70% of foreign aid com- ance, both geographically He noted that Doha of extremism and the threat pared to non-government and sectorally, in the form would remain “a platform of terrorism, in accordance assistance, indicating the of donations, grants, mate- for co-operation between with Millennium Develop- political will towards ful- rial or technical grants, or all countries and parties ment Goals 11 and 16, which fi lling Qatar’s external soft loans “that are often that believe in the impor- are the focus of Qatar’s de- commitments in line with written off ”. tance of joint action to meet velopment policy,” HE al- its role as an active and re- These eff orts also includ- the challenges facing the in- Emadi said. sponsible member of the in- ed support of humanitarian ternational community”. International co-operation ‘integral part’ of national plan, says offi cial

By Peter Alagos participants of the confer- speech of HE the Minister of Business Reporter ence “not to overlook the Finance Ali Sherif al-Emadi discussions” on the im- during the conference yes- portance of fulfi lling the terday, Dr al-Hammadi said commitments made by Qatar had provided aid to atar’s eff orts in the member-countries, es- friendly countries among fi elds of interna- pecially developed coun- 13 sectors across various Qtional co-operation tries, towards this plan, and international humanitarian and foreign aid are an “in- monitor and evaluate the initiatives. tegral part” of the country’s progress made in the imple- He said government sub- national plan, according to mentation of international sidy represents 70% of Qa- the Secretary-General at agreements. tar’s foreign aid compared the Ministry of Foreign Af- He also stressed the need to non-government assist- fairs Dr Ahmed bin Hassan Dr Ahmed bin Hassan al- for each State to establish ance, which “refl ects the al-Hammadi, who under- Hammadi. “necessary mechanisms” political will to meet Qatar’s scored the importance of PICTURE: Shemeer Rasheed to achieve sustainable de- external commitments in strengthening regional and velopment internally and to line with its role as an active international partnerships achieve sustainable devel- consider the role of national and responsible member of for development. opment in the social, eco- plans to help other States the international commu- In his speech during the nomic and environmental “not to lag behind”. nity”. ‘High-Level Conference on fi elds only through funding The secretary-general Dr al-Hammadi also Financing for Development of their national plans in the said Qatar had integrated pointed out that the con- and the Means of Implemen- areas of the 16 development the 2030 sustainable devel- tributions of charities, hu- tation of the 2030 Agenda for goals and by activating the opment plan into the ‘Sec- manitarian institutions, and Sustainable Development’, 17th goal. ond National Development donor countries amounted Dr al-Hammadi said the im- He stressed the impor- Strategy 2017-2022’, and to 30% of the value of Qa- plementation of 2030 sus- tance of reviewing com- that the State’s eff orts in tar’s external support. tainable development plan mitments and emphasising the area of international co- He added that Qatar had “depends mainly on political them in the areas of activat- operation, including foreign focused its foreign aid on the will, resource mobilisation at ing the international part- aid, became an integral part education sector, “which the national and internation- nership for development of its national plan, in line has been at the forefront al levels, and the eff ective use and the activation of the with its responsibility and of the sectors receiving aid of this potential”. South-South Co-operation commitment to strengthen from the total development He noted that develop- (SSC) and the Triangular its regional and interna- assistance in pursuance of ing and least developed Co-operation (TC). tional partnerships. the fourth development countries would be able to Dr al-Hammadi urged Reiterating the opening goal”.

Lekhwiya cultural season concludes

Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya) has concluded the cultural commemorative shields and certificates of appreciation to season 2016-2017 by honoring participants and supporters of the honorees in recognition of their eff orts in making various the cultural programmes and events, and winners of various events successful. competitions organised by the Cultural Committee during the Commenting on the occasion, Chairman of Lekhwiya Cultural year. Committee Brig Ibrahim Khalil al-Muhannadi praised the The ceremony was held in the presence of Brig Gen Abdulaziz unlimited support of HE the Commander of Lekhwiya bin Faisal al-Thani, Deputy Commander of Lekhwiya, a number Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani which was of group leaders at Lekhwiya, and off icials of state institutions an important factor in Lekhwiya’s success. He added that participating in the activities. the Committee was keen on providing a variety of activities Brig Gen Abdulaziz bin Faisal al-Thani handed handed over suitable for all groups, whether military or civilian.

Gulf Times 4 Sunday, November 19, 2017 QATAR

Chance of light rain in parts of country There is a chance of light is likely to intensify today including light rain, are rain in parts of the country and the chances of rain will expected in off shore areas, today, the Qatar Met also improve. too. Minister highlights steps taken department has said. The detailed forecast Meanwhile, a minimum In a post on social media, for inshore areas today temperature of 16C is the weather off ice said also says hazy to misty likely today in Abu Samra, low-level clouds had conditions are likely in while in Doha it will be been detected over some some places in the early 24C. The maximum, on the by govt to protect environment off shore areas lying to the hours of the day, along with other hand, will be 30C in north and east of Qatar cloudy conditions at times. Mesaieed and Wakrah, and yesterday. The cloud cover Similar conditions, 29C in Doha. QNA Bonn

E the Minister of Munici- pality and Environment HMohamed bin Abdullah al-Rumaihi has highlighted the measures adopted by Qatar to face the challenges posed by climate change. Addressing the 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 23) to the UN Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which conclud- ed in Bonn on Friday, the minister highlighted Qatar National Vision 2030, announced by His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, which emphasises that environmental development and economic development are funda- mental objectives that cannot be sacrifi ced at the expense of each other. In this regard, he noted that Qatar has completed projects for recycling and utilisation of house- hold waste and waste generated by the construction sector and in- dustry, 100% sewage treatment, rationalising energy consump- tion, solar energy, reducing fl ame gas, introducing modern tech- niques at natural gas power plants, and stopping burning of oil and HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment Mohamed bin Abdullah al-Rumaihi led the Qatari delegation to the fossil material. UN Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Bonn. In October, Qatar signed the establishment of the Global Dry- change are among the most serious, building, fi nancing, development for its eff orts in organising the con- land Alliance, which started as an given their economic, environmen- and transfer of technology. ference, thanked Germany for its initiative of the State, the minis- tal and social dimensions, and their He also stressed that everyone eff orts in convening the conference, ter said, indicating that its main repercussions particularly in the believes that adaptation is the key and congratulated Morocco on its objective is to maintain food developing countries. to achieving sustainable develop- success in organising its previous security. The minister stressed that there ment, as it automatically reduces session. HE al-Rumaihi praised Qatar’s is still a lot of work that needs to emissions of greenhouse gases. HE al-Rumaihi led Qatar’s del- important role in the negotia- be done by States parties to achieve He added that adherence to the egation to the conference which tions process that contributed to the objectives and principles of the principles of equity, shared re- discussed several issues related to reaching the Paris Agreement. UN Convention on Climate Change sponsibility but diff ering burdens climate change, the most impor- Doha hosted the COP18 in 2012 (UNFCCC). and the provision of support from tant of which are how to implement and welcomed the invitation of The minister highlighted the col- developed countries to develop- the Paris Agreement, issues related French President Emmanuel Ma- lective desire of the participants to ing countries in a transparent and to the mitigation of emissions and cron to the summit meeting on make tangible progress in meet- balanced manner, is the best way adaptation to the eff ects of climate December 12, 2017. ing the pre-2020 commitments by towards safety. change and on fi nancing, technol- He said that challenges and risks providing the necessary support to The minister expressed his deep ogy development and transfer and facing the world due to climate developing countries in capacity gratitude to the government of Fiji capacity building. Gulf Times Sunday, November 19, 2017 5 QATAR Sticking to principles is most important, says GCO director

overnment Com- munications Offi ce G(GCO) director HE Sheikh Saif bin Ahmed al- Thani, in a public interview at Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q), has called for principled communi- cations, greater govern- ment transparency and the willingness to cope with external scrutiny. Commenting on the blockade of Qatar in the context of the country’s longstanding commitment to international outreach, he argued that continued dialogue – at home, in the Middle East and globally – is a central pillar of Qatar’s communication strategy. HE Sheikh Saif said the GCO’s focus has remained HE Sheikh Saif bin Ahmed al-Thani during an interview at Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q). constant. “Sticking to our principles is most impor- and have been on the ground tion. “Whether that’s re- blockading countries has tant to us,” he said. “Put fl oor in helping develop garding labour practices or been more one-sided and simply, the GCO’s role is to “this new and imaginative foreign aff airs, scrutiny has sometimes a purveyor of co-ordinate communica- agency”. helped shape policy. If we fake news. tion strategies across each Since the blockade start- disagree with a piece of cov- Dean Dennis observed a ministry and communicate ed, HE Sheikh Saif said, it erage, we may not get a cor- greater public commitment the facts and engage exter- has become clear that en- rection, but it’s important to freedom of expression nally, whether in Qatar or gagement and dialogue are that we remain tenacious in since the blockade began elsewhere.” the most constructive way speaking to the media and and asked whether remarks In his opening remarks, forward. presenting the facts,” he by His Highness the Emir Everette E Dennis, NU-Q He said the GCO and said. and HE the Foreign Minis- dean and CEO, who mod- other ministries “continue When asked to assess the ter respectively on CBS 60 erated the session com- to intensively engage with quality of media reporting Minutes and at London’s mended the GCO director media”, adding, “We remain around the globe, HE Sheikh Chatham House would for developing an offi ce clear that we do not fear the Saif pointed to coverage in hold after the blockade. HE that departs from more boycott, and we are willing the US and European media Sheikh Saif agreed that cov- controlling ministries of to sit at the table and build a where he said journalists erage of the blockade had communication, com- dialogue.” “report both sides”. Inter- highlighted trends that were mon in some states that Speaking to an audience national media coverage, already under way. “most often constrain, of students, faculty and he said, has been robust as He said Qatar does not rather than enhance public staff , he was asked by the it has followed the path of censor social media. “We are understanding”. dean about Qatar’s attitudes the blockade. Similarly, he not very sensitive, regard- He noted that several towards freedom of speech, said, local media in Qatar ing various issues, whether NU-Q graduates serve in and said the media has been have been fulsome in their the World Cup or foreign positions with the GCO, important to Qatar’s evolu- coverage, while media of the policy,” he said. Gulf Times 6 Sunday, November 19, 2017 QATAR 116 bids compete for 11 plots of land for private schools The project is expected to off er 12,000 seats for he Ministerial Group for relations and communication de- vestors) with priority given to the development and operation of tors to invest in private education. students of diff erent grades and levels with a view to the encouragement and partment at the Ministry of Edu- national curriculum, Egyptian, the project as well as briefi ng the Besides, the ranking of Qatar as meet the increasing demands for education Tparticipation of the private cation and Higher Education, said Indian and American curricula. investors about the procedure the world’s top fi fth place in terms sector in the economic develop- the distribution of land vouch- Considering the importance and standards adopted for the of quality education and 11th in ment projects of Qatar, chaired by ers in various regions took into of investors’ and stakeholders’ evaluation of the tenders. the index of school Internet con- HE the Prime Minister and Minis- consideration population density opinions on the project, the Min- In this context, the Ministry of nectivity, according to the Global ter of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin growth and cultural diversity in isterial Group earlier conducted Education and Higher Education Competitiveness Report 20162017 Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, has conformity with the set guidelines a survey through the Ministry of said that the high demand of in- published by the World Economic announced that 116 bids have been of the State’s future development Economy and Commerce and in vestors to invest in the education Forum in Davos and other indica- submitted by investors to compete plan. co-operation with the Ministry of and training sector is due to Qatar tors have played an important role for 11 land lots for the construction Al-Mohamedi noted that 10 in- Education and Higher Education National Vision 2030 and its clear in attracting investors. The facili- and operation of private schools. vestors are competing for winning during the period from November objectives, the informed political ties provided by Qatar to the pri- This follows a tender invitation a bid for construction and opera- 15 to December 15, 2016. The sur- will and support of the State to- vate sector for investment, namely and examination of the eligibility tion of one school in the area of vey also aimed at developing clear wards the education and training customs exemptions, exemption of the bids for consideration. The Umm Qarn, with a priority of the perceptions on the mechanisms of sector, as well as the high annual from electricity and water bills, evaluation of the off ers and inter- American educational curriculum, land allocation for such projects. budget for the education sector, granting land for incentive fees views is being conducted pending another private school in Rawdat The survey paved a ground of amounting to 10.4% of the total and the provision of educational the announcement of the winning al-Hamam area (16 investors) with transparency between the govern- expenditures for the fi scal year resources and vouchers to Qatari bidders of the competitive tenders. a priority of the national curricu- ment and private sectors and a key 2017. Confi dence among inves- students to broaden their school The land project for the con- lum for girls, and a third private element for the development of tors towards Qatar’s diverse and choices for optimal academic are struction of private schools is part school in Al-’Ab area (20 inves- the general policies of the project, dynamic economy achieving high yet other reasons that encourage of similar projects in a number of tors) while priority is given to the preparation of the documents re- growth rates despite the condi- investment in education. sectors that Qatar plans to launch Filipino or Indian curriculum. lated to the call for tenders, and tions of the blockade is yet anoth- The Ministry of Education and on the directives of His High- One private school is allocated understanding the criteria for er reason behind investing in the Higher Education stresses that the ness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin in the al-Thameed area, which evaluating the tenders, the Min- sector of education and training. education and training sector is Hamad al-Thani to provide qual- is contested by 13 investors with isterial Group said in a statement The ministry pointed out that capable of shifting to knowledge- ity education for everyone in the priority for the British curricu- yesterday. the increasing demand for pub- based economy through human country. The project is expected lum, while another private school Earlier in May, the Ministry lic education is caused by the development. It is one of the four to off er 12,000 seats for students is allocated in Sumaisma area (10 of Economy and Commerce or- increase in population rates, as pillars of Qatar National Vision of diff erent grades and levels with investors) with priority to either ganised a workshop for investors Qatar has become a professional 2030 covering half the number of a view to meet the increasing the national or British curriculum. on the creation and operation of attraction for residents of diff er- students across Qatar with 23 ed- present and future demands for Eighteen investors are competing private schools. The workshop ent nationalities working for en- ucational curricula. The sector is education. for two private schools in Al Khor reviewed the procedures for the tities that off er a number of ad- in line with the role of the private In a statement, Hassan Abdul- region and four private schools are submission of tenders and the vantages, including education of sector in the realisation of devel- lah al-Mohamedi, director, public allocated in Al Wukair area (29 in- technical requirements for the children, which encouraged inves- opment projects. (QNA) Qatar plays key role in support of development at global level: envoy

atar’s Permanent to fi nancing for develop- Representative to ment and following up on Qthe United Nations international commit- HE Sheikha Alia Ahmed ments in this area. “This bin Saif al-Thani said that meeting is an affi rmation Doha’s hosting of the high- of Qatar’s leading role in level meeting to prepare for development assistance the Economic and Social issues and issues related to Council Forum on Financ- fi nancing for development Dignitaries and off icials at the event. ing for Development refl ects and tangible achievements Qatar’s pioneering role in at the level of developing supporting development countries,” she added. at the global level. Sheikha Alia said that In remarks to report- Qatar, despite the unjust ‘Case Day’ event sheds light ers on the sidelines of the blockade, remains com- meeting, Sheikha Alia mitted to achieving the said that the interna- development goals, stress- tional event being held ing that this meeting con- on construction equipment in co-operation between HE Sheikha Alia Ahmed fi rms in its content this Qatar and the United Na- bin Saif al-Thani commitment. tions to discuss develop- “Qatar is one of the asser Bin Kha- major portion of the earth- A spare parts booth and ment issues, noting that this meeting is held on the leading countries in the led (NBK) Heavy moving equipment market heavy equipment service Qatar hosted in 2008 the 10th anniversary of that implementation of its in- NEquipment and in Qatar,” the statement vans were on display at the International Follow-up important international ternational development Case Construction organ- noted, adding that the event venue. Conference on Financing conference. commitments, and it also ised the ‘Case Day’ custom- walk-arounds demon- Eyad Rashid, general for Development to review She noted that the In- has a prominent humani- er event in Doha recently. strated the effi ciency of the manager, Heavy Equipment the implementation of the ternational Conference has tarian role in all parts of the The event was held with machines and their various Division, said: “We are al- Monterrey Consensus and set strategic goals related world,” she added. (QNA) the aim of ensuring brand features and benefi ts. ways willing to explore new awareness in Qatar’s con- Sheikh Khalid bin Nawaf ways to improve our rela- struction sector and dem- al-Thani was present at the tionship with the local cli- onstrating how the right event and spent some of his ent base. Our strength is our equipment could further time meeting with the cus- staff and this is what leads enhance productivity and tomer base. Sheikh Khalid’s to our success.” increase profi tability, ac- involvement generated good- Franco Invernizzi, Case’s cording to a statement. will and prospective custom- regional director, added: Models from the Heavy ers were happy to spend a few “We are very pleased to Line and Compact Line moments with him. showcase our full range of were on display at the event. Representatives of Case construction machines for These included Case 821F from Italy and the Middle the second year in a row in Wheel Loaders for the ag- East regional offi ce inter- the Qatar market.” gregate sector, SR150 and acted with the client base NBK Heavy Equipment is SR130 Skid Steer Loaders and provided visitors with keen to play a positive role to and 20-tonne and 37-tonne the opportunity to discuss “support the construction excavators. Also on display in detail the productivity of sector in Qatar by ensuring were Backhoe Loaders 570T Case equipment. A profes- that equipment from Case and 580T and Telescopic sional trainer was fl own in is always on stock for a wide Handlers TX170-45. from Italy to educate the range of requirements”, the “This line-up makes up a clients. statement adds.

Models from the Case Heavy Line and Compact Line were on display at the event. Gulf Times Sunday, November 19, 2017 7 QATAR Preparations for Qatar-Russia 2018 Year of Culture discussed

inister of Culture and Sports HE Salah bin Ghanem bin MNasser al-Ali, paid a formal visit to Russia from November 15 to 17. The minister’s visit was to partici- pate in the VI St Petersburg International Cultural Forum and to sign with his Rus- sian counterpart Vladimir Medinsky a joint declaration for co-operation be- tween the Qatari Ministry of Culture and Sports and the Russian Ministry of Cul- ture on preparation for Qatar Russia 2018 Year of Culture. The visit followed an invitation from the organising committee of the VI St Peters- burg International Cultural Forum. In this context, the minister empha- HE Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali with Vladimir Medinsky. sised that Qatar was keen to co-operate with the Russian side to make the Year cultural institutions to bring people cultural lectures. Al-Ali also met with of Culture a basic pillar of friendship closer and to spread mutual under- Vladimir Gusev, director of the Russian between the peoples of the two coun- standing, as well as common humani- Museum, and discussed with him ways tries, in response to instructions by His tarian values, the Ministry of Culture of co-operation between the Russian Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin and Sports said in a statement. Museum and Qatari museums to hold Hamad al-Thani to have stronger rela- The minister met Mikhail Piotrovsky, artistic exhibitions featuring Russian art. tionships with Russia at the State and director of the State Hermitage Museum, The minister stressed that the Qa- public levels. and discussed with him preparations for tari Ministry of Culture and Sports was On the sidelines of the forum, HE the Year of Culture. Piotrovsky expressed keen to develop societal awareness of al-Ali held several events with leaders his full support for the Year of Culture the common values of peoples from of participating delegations and ex- event, which will be titled, ‘Qatar in the diff erent cultures, praising the Russian changed views on modern cultural is- Hermitage’ in Russia and ‘The Hermit- culture and its impact on human civi- sues and the role to be played by offi cial age in Qatar’. The event will consist of lisation.

Clean-up campaign

he Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME)’s TGeneral Cleanliness Depart- ment, along with Al Sheehaniya Municipality, has conducted a clean-up drive in various outer are- as and urged people to bring garbage bags while visiting such places. A large quantity of garbage and debris were removed during the campaign, and the director of the municipality said such initiatives would continue to preserve the environment. The clean-up drive was held to preserve the environment. Gulf Times 8 Sunday, November 19, 2017 QATAR Ooredoo sponsors healthcare conference oredoo is the offi cial tel- ing, and more. Ooredoo is a key ecommunications spon- supporter of Qatar National Osor of the International Vision 2030 and is working to Conference on Primary Health develop its own Digital Health Care, which is being held in Strategy that aims to enrich Doha until today under the pa- people’s lives through smart tronage of HE Dr Hanan Mo- home solutions connected to the hamed al-Kuwari, Minister of fastest networks. Public Health, and the Ministry An example of this strategy of Public Health. in action is Ooredoo’s ongoing The conference brings to- partnership with Hamad Medi- gether speakers and experts cal Corporation to develop a from around the world to share remote care service for diabetes knowledge around the theme management and long-term pa- “Healthy Communities and a tient conditions. Brighter Future” and includes This solution is based on sessions, exhibitions and work- Ooredoo’s Fora A Telehealth shops. service, which will also be avail- As a key sponsor, the compa- able for demonstration at the ny is represented by a delegation event. of Ooredoo employees who are Manar Khalifa al-Muraikhi, attending the event and hosting director of PR and Corporate an Ooredoo booth that demon- Communications, said: “Oore- strates the company’s growing doo continues to invest in the healthcare solutions, according latest technologies to make to a press statement. sure Qatar and its people enjoy The Ooredoo booth showcas- the most innovative healthcare es a range of available products solutions in the world. We’re in Qatar, such as CloudClinik — happy to support this impor- Ooredoo’s Electronic Medical tant conference and showcase Record solution, Intrihealth— a our solutions to participants and solution for X-ray image shar- visitors. We wish everyone at- ing, SuperWire — an assistive tending the conference the very technology solution designed to best of luck and hope amaz- better care for disabled/elderly ing results and partnerships are patients who require monitor- achieved.” HE Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari visiting the Ooredoo stand with senior company executives.

Ras Laff an Hospital, health centre to be handed over to HMC on Tuesday

The Private Engineering Off ice will the country. The facilities included m and consists of an underground to accommodate the expected hand over on Tuesday a hospital Abu Nakhla General Hospital floor and a ground floor and two high density of workers and other project and a health centre in Ras Hospital, which was handed over to upper floors with a capacity of 118 facilities. The construction of the Laff an City to Hamad Medical HMC about a year ago, Ras Laff an beds. hospital took three and a half years Corporation (HMC), in co-ordination Hospital and Mesaieed Hospital to The total area of the hospital and was built according to the with the Ministry of Public Health. be delivered by the end of this year. includes a Primary Health Care approved standard specifications, After receiving the hospital and These three hospitals contribute Centre with an area of 7,200sq m, as especially in terms of construction the health centre, HMC will provide to improving the level of health well as the services of the National of green buildings. the necessary equipment for the services in general as a result of Medical Centre in order to reduce The construction of the second operation of these two health their absorption into the workforce pressure on the health centres in the labour hospital in Qatar is part of facilities. in the areas they serve, thus vicinity of Ras Laff an City. the State’s interest in providing The hospital is one of the three reducing pressure on hospitals in The project has supporting service high quality health services to all hospitals to be implemented by Doha. facilities, including a mosque for segments of society within the the Private Engineering Off ice to Ras Laff an City Hospital is located on 400 worshippers and a cafeteria framework of Qatar National Vision strengthen the health sector in an area of approximately 200,000sq with a total area of about 1,300sqm 2030. — QNA Doha Bank donates to Special Needs cause

oha Bank recently made a donation to the Qatar Society for Rehabilitation of Special Needs, a lo- Dcal humanitarian organisation that aims to sup- port and develop the skills and capabilities of people with disabilities. Ahmed al-Henzab, head of Administration & Properties at Doha Bank, handed over the donation to Taleb Abdullah Afi fa, board member of the Qatar Society for Rehabilitation of Special Needs. The donation will be used to purchase medical equip- ment for the local establishment, Doha Bank has said in a statement. “As part of our extensive corporate social responsi- bility programme, Doha Bank has been supporting tar- geted social programmes for diff erent communities in the country. We envision building a world that provides equal opportunities for all, and developing and nurtur- ing skills and capabilities of diff erently-abled people is a major step towards achieving the goal. We are very proud to support and work closely with the Qatar Society for Rehabilitation of Special Needs to promote non-dis- Ahmed al-Henzab hands over the donation to Taleb Abdullah Afifa. crimination and inclusive growth,” al-Henzab said. Afi fa lauded Doha Bank for its fi nancial support and described the donation as “a unique initiative” on the part of the bank’s management in line with its corporate social responsibilities, making it a model for other insti- tutions, banks and companies in support of the groups that need community care such as people with disabili- ties. He also wished that the fruitful co-operation between the association and Doha Bank would continue “in the best interest of disabled people”, with a view to achieving the goals of the association, which seek to rehabilitate, empower and integrate people with disabilities into so- ciety, thus providing them with decent prospects in life. Doha Bank’s corporate social responsibility initiatives to champion social and environmental causes have been constantly recognised by the industry leaders. Most recently, the bank was awarded the ‘Golden Pea- cock Award for Sustainability in the Financial Sector 2017’ presented by the Institute of Directors —India at a ceremony in London. Gulf Times Sunday, November 19, 2017 9 QATAR Educating teachers is key to managing kids with diabetes

ommunity support is an it is important that teachers necessary tools, such as a glu- Qatar University showcases its wealth of programmes and achievements at WISE 2017. essential part of well- and other school staff have the cose metre, insulin, and glucose Cmanaged diabetes care in information and training they tablets,” said Prof Abou-Samra. children. need to support the child while He added that parents should According to Professor Ab- under their care. He empha- discuss playtime and physical dul-Badi Abou-Samra, chair- sised that a diabetes diagnosis activity with teachers, noting QU’s info man of Internal Medicine at should not prevent a child from that exercise should be encour- Hamad Medical Corporation performing well at school but aged. Children with diabetes (HMC) and director of the Qatar that it is crucial for teachers and need to be physically active and lounge a Metabolic Institute (QMI), this other school staff to know spe- exercise can make it easier to means educating a child’s en- cifi c signs to look for in the case control blood sugar levels be- tire support system about their of a diabetic emergency. cause it increases insulin sen- big draw at condition. Successfully man- “Parents with diabetic chil- sitivity. However, school staff aging the health of a child with dren need to do their own should be educated about the diabetes requires ongoing sup- homework. They should fi nd a potential need for additional WISE 2017 port from paediatric healthcare school that off ers at least the blood glucose monitoring and providers and individuals in the minimum level of healthcare. access to snacks before and dur- child’s social network, includ- They should plan to meet the ing physical activity. He added atar University (QU) has said its ing family, teachers and other school doctor or nurse as well as that the psychological and emo- participation in the World Innova- school staff . the child’s teachers and ensure tional well-being of the child Qtion Summit for Education (WISE) This support is particularly they have detailed information must also be an integral part of 2017, held recently at the Qatar National important for young children about the child’s diet and medi- the diabetes care plan. Convention Centre (QNCC), saw very high with Type 1 diabetes, as lim- cation. It may be necessary for In recognition of World Dia- visitor interest in its information lounge in ited communication and motor parents to demonstrate how to betes Day, held annually on No- the Meet Qatar Zone exhibition area. skills, cognitive abilities and administer their child’s medi- vember 14, HMC has planned a Exhibiting alongside a large number of emotional maturity can chal- cation. Parents are their child’s full month of activities to high- local education institutions partnering lenge their ability to manage advocate and it is important light the importance of diabetes with WISE, it was an opportunity for QU the disease, HMC has said in a for them to take an active role awareness, education, and re- to “showcase its wealth of programmes statement. in ensuring the school has the search. and achievements and strengthen its “When a child has diabetes, growing reputation as a key partner in preparing for school requires a driving forward Qatar’s stated ambitions little more planning. Children towards excellence in education”, QU said spend nearly half of their wak- in a press statement. ing hours in school, so reliable QU representatives were on hand at the diabetes care during the school lounge to brief the large number of lo- day is extremely important to cal and international delegates and other ensure the child is safe and re- visitors on the organisation’s vision and mains healthy,” said Prof Abou- mission, degree programmes, research, Samra. scholarships and academic grants, ac- While middle-school stu- creditation and its campus facilities and dents may have the skills neces- resources. sary to perform their own blood QU president Dr Hassan al-Derham glucose monitoring and insulin said: “By participating in the World In- injections, some supervision is novation Summit for Education 2017, Qa- usually required. In the case of tar University demonstrates its role as the younger children, adults will country’s largest national institution of need to provide most, if not all, higher education committed to advancing of the care. Successfully managing the health of a child with diabetes requires quality education and research excellence Professor Abou-Samra says support from teachers. in Qatar and the region.” Gulf Times 10 Sunday, November 19, 2017 QATAR HBKU holding Graduate Studies Open House

amad Bin Khalifa University and answer questions about the uni- will be the shared experiences of some the globe,” said Dr Letaief. clude the Master of Arts in Digital Hu- ence and Engineering, which provide, (HBKU), a member of Qatar versity’s graduate programmes and of HBKU’s alumni and students, who “It will be a great opportunity for manities and Societies degree, which in a “region’s fi rst”, an advanced cur- HFoundation for Education, Sci- admissions, according to a press state- will speak about their studies at the them to learn about our unique in- blends digital tools and computing riculum in the life sciences, integrat- ence and Community Development ment. university and how their education has novative interdisciplinary academic methodologies with the study of hu- ing an extensive approach to hands-on (QF), is hosting a Graduate Studies The Graduate Studies Open House helped them thrive both personally and programs and meet our highly accom- manities. Also at the College of Hu- research. Open House for students who are inter- will open with an introduction from professionally. plished students, faculty and alumni.” manities and Social Sciences, a Master With graduate degrees in the fi elds of ested in pursuing master’s and doctoral HBKU Provost Dr Khaled B Letaief, who The Graduate Studies Open House This academic year, HBKU has intro- of Arts in Women, Society and Devel- cyber security, data science, computer degrees. will provide attendees with context is one of several planned events that duced three new graduate programmes opment degree was introduced to focus science and engineering, sustainability, The open house will be held on No- about the university’s interdisciplinary focus on welcoming potential stu- – a “testament to the university’s con- on issues related to women in the con- biological and biomedical sciences, law, vember 22 at 5.30pm at the Education approach to its academic curriculum as dents to HBKU. “We encourage indi- tinuous eff orts to pursue excellence, as text of socio-economic development in translation studies, audiovisual trans- City Student Centre. well as an overview of the various col- viduals who are interested in gradu- well as its mandate to bring world-class the Middle East. lation, Islamic studies, Islamic fi nance, HBKU’s provost, deans, faculty leges and programmes. ate studies to attend this event and education to Qatar”, the statement Master of Science and PhD degrees in and energy and resources, HBKU con- members and admissions staff will be An anticipated highlight of this hear fi rst-hand about how HBKU is notes. Genomics and Precision Medicine are tinues to off er academic programmes available to meet prospective students year’s Graduate Studies Open House making an impact across Qatar and The new graduate programmes in- now being off ered at the College of Sci- that are both relevant and distinctive.

Gulf Times 12 Sunday, November 19, 2017 QATAR WCM-Q hosts world experts in Enhanced capacity patient blood management

ore than 40 physicians and other healthcare professionals met at MWeill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) for fi ve days of seminars, work- shops and panel discussions about the man- agement of bleeding in patients undergoing surgical procedures. The Perioperative Bleeding Management – Patient Blood Management symposium, a collaboration between WCM-Q, Hamad Medical Corp (HMC) and Danube Univer- sity Krems, Austria, addressed topics such as blood management in trauma and critical care patients, as well as in patients undergo- ing cardiac, liver or orthopaedic surgery. The symposium also discussed bleeding management in paediatric surgery, the eff ects of drug treatments and inherited disorders on bleeding and coagulation, iron therapy, thrombosis and the role of red blood cells, plasma and platelets in blood transfusions. The event, which was co-ordinated by WCM-Q’s Division of Continuing Profes- The Government Communications Off ice (GCO) has sional Development, was attended by some of issued infographics highlighting the performance, and the world’s leading physicians and healthcare various vital aspects, of Hamad International Airport professionals in their fi elds, which included an- (HIA) and Hamad Port. Stressing the importance of aesthesiology, intensive care, internal medicine, HIA and Hamad Port, the GCO said on Twitter that surgery, transfusion medicine and blood bank- “Hamad International Airport is one of the world’s ing, according to a press statement. largest airports, which enables the country to play an Eff ective blood management is a crucial active role in supporting air traff ic and enhancing its element of perioperative care, which covers position in the global air travel sector”, while “Hamad the three phases of surgery: preoperative, Some of the participants at the WCM-Q symposium pose for a group photo. Port is considered one of the largest ports in the intraoperative and postoperative. Middle East with integrated infrastructure and As such, medical practitioners are work- we are able to impart that knowledge here in Maria University Hospital, Udine, Italy; and Clinical Paediatrics and professor of Clini- world-class services”. ing to develop new and enhanced blood Qatar to help with the continuous process of the Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, cal Anaesthesiology at WCM-Q; and Prof management processes to maximise health- enhancing healthcare outcomes.” Romania. Marco Marcus, chairman of the Department care outcomes. Other speakers at the event included one The event was accredited locally by the of Anaesthesiology, ICU and Perioperative Dr Marcus Lancé, senior consultant in of Europe’s foremost anaesthesiologists, Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners- Medicine at HMC and adjunct professor of the Department of Anesthesiology, ICU & Dr Donat Spahn, professor and chairman at Accreditation Department and internation- Clinical Anaesthesiology at WCM-Q. Perioperative Management, HMC, said: “In the Institute of Anaesthesiology, University ally by the Accreditation Council for Con- Dr Crone said, “This was an extremely Europe and the US, the medical profession Hospital of Zurich, Switzerland. tinuing Medical Education. important and highly eff ective event that is moving towards a more standardised ap- Other leading medical institutions repre- Instrumental in the co-ordination of the brought some of the fi nest medical profes- proach to perioperative bleeding manage- sented by speakers at the event were HMC; collaborative event were the WCM-Q Divi- sionals in their respective fi elds to Doha to ment with established best practices based Glenfi eld Hospital, University Hospitals of sion of Continuing Professional Develop- share their expertise with a cadre of inter- on very good data. Leicester NHS Trust, UK; Maastricht Uni- ment, Dr Lancé, Dr Robert Crone, vice-dean ested physicians from the region and around “The benefi t of this symposium is that versity Medical Centre, Netherlands; Santa for Clinical & Faculty Aff airs, professor of the world.”

Aspetar sheds light on latest radiography developments

spetar – the Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital — has held a Asymposium that explored topics re- lated to radiography, its development and its evolving uses in the medical fi eld given radiography’s pivotal role in the develop- ment of the global medical industry. The symposium was organised to mark World Radiography Day, which is celebrat- ed on November 8 every year. Held for the seventh consecutive year, Some of the workshop participants photographed at the event. the symposium consisted of four partici- pant-led sessions and workshops, during which attendees, comprising radiology specialists and researchers from a number of local institutions, engaged directly with MoTC training sets QU hosts workshop on tissue speakers through interactive Q&A panel discussions. The sessions focused on the latest de- sights on chief engineering, stem cell tech velopments in the fi eld of radiography in athlete screening. It highlighted the important role of im- technology offi cers ore than 150 healthcare practi- Health Sciences dean and BRC director Dr aging in the patient pathway including in A speaker addresses the World tioners, academics, students, Asma al-Thani said: “The discussed top- instances such as Anterior Cruciate Liga- Radiography Day symposium. Mresearchers and pharmacists at- ics refl ect the support of higher education ment surgical reconstruction for athletes he Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) tended the Continuous Professional De- institutions to the health sector in keeping and post-surgical aftercare, and recognis- reduce the potential for adverse events and recently launched its Chief Technology Offi cers (CTO) velopment (CPD) accredited workshop, abreast of new technologies and medical ing the infl uence of Magnetic Resonance loss of life due to Sudden Cardiac Death TTraining Programme with the participation of 26 CTOs which was recently held by the Biomedical development in Qatar.” Imaging (MRI) in cardiac screening of ath- (SCD). MRI-based screening helps detect representing 22 ministries and government entities. Research Centre (BRC) at Qatar University QU-Health Continuous Professional De- letes. pre-existing heart defects and minimise The initiative is a partnership between the Qatar Digital (QU), QU-Health and Qatar National Re- velopment for Health Care Practitioners Participants also discussed the impor- the risk of SCD among athletes. Government Training Programme and HEC Paris, and aims search Fund (QNRF). co-ordinator Dr Hiba Bawadi said, “This tance of radiation protection in Computed World Radiography Day is an annual to provide an “intensive and immersive learning experience Themed ‘Tissue Engineering and Stem workshop contributes to fulfi lling the need Tomography scans – a diagnostic imaging event that promotes the role of medical for the CTOs and develop senior leaders’ strategic levels Cell Technologies’, the event aimed to dis- of healthcare providers to continuous edu- test used to create detailed images of in- imaging in modern healthcare. of acumen and execution, as part of the implementation of cuss tissue engineering and stem cell tech- cation and awareness of the recent technol- ternal organs, bones, soft tissue and blood It is celebrated on November 8 each year, the objectives of the Qatar Digital Government (QDG) 2020 nologies, a popular area of research with ogies in medicine.” vessels, recreated in 3D reconstruction. and coincides with the anniversary of Wil- Strategy”, the ministry said in a statement. the potential to cure serious diseases – in- BRC assistant professor of Metabolic Dis- Salwa Allenjawi, director of Medical helm Conrad Rontgen’s 1895 discovery of The six-month programme covers a number of learning cluding cardiovascular, orthopaedic and eases and Cardiovascular Research Dr Hu- Imaging at Aspetar, said: “This annual X-rays, which eff ectively laid down the modules: risk and strategy in a volatile and uncertain world, neuronal disorders. The event’s programme seyin Yalcin added, “Regenerative medicine symposium is yet another part of our con- foundation for the new medical discipline big data, digital transformation & innovation, change man- included lectures delivered by local and in- is a very popular fi eld of research for gen- tinued eff orts to share our developments of radiography. agement, advanced project and contract management, op- ternational experts in the fi eld of tissue en- eration of live tissue replacements that have and expertise, and contribute to the global This symposium has been planned and timising decisions and negotiations and leading high-per- gineering and stem cell technologies. They the potential to cure today’s many serious sports medicine industry.” implemented in accordance with the ac- forming teams, in addition to a case study group activity to provided a brief on their area of research and health conditions. We expect to see tissue- Medical screenings are vital to the health creditation requirements and policies of be completed. fi ndings in stem cells. engineered, stem cell-seeded products in of the athlete and can identify pre-existing the Qatar Council for Healthcare Practi- The programme off ers its participants an opportunity to un- Commenting on the event, QU College of clinical practice in the near future.” cardiovascular abnormalities and thereby tioners. derstand best world practices in these fi elds, in addition to the exchange of expertise through participation and group work. The initiative comes within the framework the QDG Training Programme launched by HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, dur- ing the fourth edition of Qatar’s ICT conference, Qitcom 2017. To date, the programme has trained some 2,050 profes- sionals through 150 training courses, the statement notes. HEC Paris has worked closely with the MoTC to customise the executive CTO Training Programme. The participants will benefi t from the knowledge and exper- tise of the HEC Paris faculty, led by the programme’s academic director, Prof Joseph Nehme, affi liate professor in Operations Management and Information Technology at HEC Paris. With a focus on strategy, big data, change management, project management and leadership, the programme, which runs until April 2018, will enhance the management skills of CTOs and IT directors, the statement adds. In parallel, the participants will work on projects that are relevant to the country’s digitisation, enabling them to adapt their learnings of the programme to their specifi c roles.

Participants attend a training programme. Gulf Times Sunday, November 19, 2017 13 REGION/ARAB WORLD

Saudi recalls envoy to Hariri to clarify position Germany

Reuters Cairo on return to Lebanon Reuters crisis. Aoun has called Hariri audi Arabia has summoned Paris a Saudi hostage and refused to its ambassador in Ger- accept his resignation unless he Smany home for consulta- returns to Lebanon. tions over comments by German aad al-Hariri, who re- Saudi Arabia and Hariri say Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel signed as Lebanon’s prime his movements are not restrict- about the political crisis in Leba- Sminister this month while ed. non. in Saudi Arabia, said yesterday Hariri, is a long-time ally of The Saudi foreign ministry he would clarify his position Saudi Arabia. Aoun, is a politi- said the government also handed when he returns to Beirut next cal ally of Hezbollah. Germany’s representative in Ri- week. Hariri’s government, a pow- yadh a protest note over what it Hariri’s resignation on Nov er-sharing coalition formed last said were “shameful” comments 4 threw Lebanon into political year, includes Hezbollah. Gabriel made after a meeting crisis and put it centre-stage in France, which controlled with his Lebanese counterpart. Middle East’s tensions. Lebanon between the world After a meeting in Berlin with “With regard to the political wars, has sought to play a key Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran situation in Lebanon, I will go to role in defusing tension with Bassil, Gabriel told reporters that Beirut in the coming days, I will Macron personally getting in- Europe “could not tolerate the ad- participate in the independence volved and putting him at the venturism that has spread there”. celebrations, and it is there that heart of a regional power strug- It was not clear from a Reuters tel- I will make known my position gle that will test his diplomatic evision recording that the remark on these subjects after meeting skills. was targeted at Saudi Arabia. President (Michel) Aoun,” Har- That was evident since the Lebanese Prime Minister Saad iri said after holding talks with outbreak of the Lebanese cri- al-Hariri resigned while in Saudi French President Emmanuel sis over the last week with a Arabia on Nov 4. Macron in Paris. surprise visit to Saudi Crown “Such remarks provoke the Hariri declined to take ques- Prince Mohamed bin Salman in surprise and disapproval of the tions, but is set to return to Bei- Riyadh, followed by a fl urry of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which rut by Wednesday when Leba- calls, sending his foreign min- considers them as aimless and non celebrates its independence ister to Saudi Arabia and then based on false information that day. the invitation to Hariri, which would not help bring about sta- He thanked Macron, who caught many diplomats una- bility in the region,” the Saudi has been mediating as part of wares. ministry said. French eff orts to try to ease ten- While undoubtedly a diplo- The ministry later said on its sions across the region, for his matic coup for Macron, some Twitter account it had sum- help. regional and French diplomats moned the German ambassador Macron had leveraged have cautioned that his strategy in Riyadh and handed him “a France’s close relations with to try to appease all sides in the protest memorandum over the both Lebanon and Saudi Arabia French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron, Saad al-Hariri, who announced his resignation as Lebanon’s prime region may backfi re. shameful and unjustifi ed re- to secure a deal that saw Hariri minister while on a visit to Saudi Arabia, his wife Lara and their son Houssam are pictured at the Elysee Palace in Paris, yesterday. Paris has intensifi ed its rhet- marks made by the German For- travel to Paris and open the door oric over Iran’s regional activi- eign Minister Sigmar Gabriel.” to a resolution of the crisis. it’s important Hariri comes to and continued stay in Saudi parliament for Hariri’s Future to function and that it was im- ties. Iran has responded by ac- Hariri’s abrupt resignation Hariri, who arrived at his Paris for us to work with him on Arabia has caused fears for Leb- Movement, said after Hariri’s perative it remained “disassoci- cusing France of taking sides has raised concern over Leba- residence in Paris in the early the best way out of the crisis,” anon’s stability. visit to France he would have “a ated” from regional crises. and Macron on Friday said Iran non’s stability. He met French hours of the morning, told said a senior French diplomat. He visited France with his small Arab tour” before travel- The source said Macron should clarify its ballistic mis- President Emmanuel Macron in Aoun in a phone call from Paris “We’re trying to create the wife and one son, which is seen ling to Beirut. would continue to be active on sile programme. That was met Paris yesterday, several hours af- that he would be in Lebanon on conditions for a de-escalation as part of a possible way out A French presidential source the dossier in the coming days by a rebuke in Tehran. ter he left Saudi Arabia. Wednesday for the celebrations, in the region. We want to avoid a of the crisis, although two of said Macron had reiterated that and that France was considering Yesterday, Ali Akbar Ve- The German foreign minis- the Lebanese president said on proliferation of crises that could his younger children remain in Paris wanted Hariri to return to whether to host a meeting of the layati, a senior adviser to Iran’s try welcomed Hariri’s departure Twitter. get out of control.” Saudi Arabia. Lebanon to ensure the coun- International Lebanon Support supreme leader, said Macron from Saudi Arabia for Paris. “Lebanon is being shaken so Hariri’s abrupt resignation Okab Saqr, a member of try’s political system continued Group to discuss the political should stay out of its aff airs. Syria troops retake most of last IS-held town UN envoy for Libya sets

AFP monitor said the fresh push came Beirut with heavy bombing raids by re- gime ally Russia, and that troops his sights on institutions were advancing more “carefully” yrian troops and allied than in their previous assault to AFP ya’s institutions means stepping away from “the fi ghters advanced yes- ensure their gains would not be United Nations basic competition between individuals, who tell Sterday to capture most of rolled back. you they represent big tribes until you discover Albu Kamal, a monitor said, in A string of territorial de- that they represent very little.” a tug-of-war over the Islamic feats across northern and east- ive months after he was appointed to lead Under Gaddafi ’s four decades of authoritarian State group’s last urban strong- ern Syria left Albu Kamal, near UN peace eff orts in Libya, Ghassan Salame rule, Libya was devoid of functioning state in- hold in the country. the border with Iraq, as the last Fsays he is focused on building institutions stitutions as the leader “cemented his power by The town in Syria’s oil-rich signifi cant town held by IS in as a way to unite the country. systematically destroying institutions.” Deir Ezzor province has changed the country. Losing it to regime The 66-year-old Lebanese-born academic said In his action plan, the UN envoy hopes to set a hands several times, with gov- forces would cap the group’s re- in an interview that if state institutions can begin course to elections, by beginning voter registra- ernment troops announcing its version to a guerrilla organisa- to work, Libya will fi nally change course after years tion in December and convening a national con- capture but losing it to a blis- tion with no urban base. of chaos since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. ference in February to draw a consensus about tering IS counter-attack a week Smoke rises following an air strike on the rebel-held besieged town of Arbin, Yesterday, Syrian state tel- “The key to my approach is institutions,” Salame elections. ago. Syria’s army and Lebanese, in the Eastern Ghouta region on the outskirts of Damascus, yesterday. evision aired live footage from said. “If in a year or two, we can began to reunite, It remains unclear whether Libya will hold Iranian and Iraqi loyalists re-en- Albu Kamal, showing plumes of revive and liberate institutions, then the country presidential, legislative and local elections at the tered Albu Kamal two days ago ary Guard, and Iraqi militias Rami Abdel Rahman. smoke rising over the city’s sky- will be on a diff erent path.” same time and no timetable has been set for the and by yesterday had taken most seized control on Saturday of “IS was pushed back to the line as explosions echoed in the A UN-mediated political deal in 2015 was sup- polls. “I haven’t decided yet,” said Salame. “The of it from IS, said the Syrian Ob- more than northern and northeastern sec- background. posed to unite Libya, but the country remains country is not ready for any election. For elec- servatory for Human Rights. 80% of Albu Kamal, after a tors of the city. It said the army was preparing divided between a government in Tripoli that tions to be held, there are technical, political and “Syrian regime forces, Hez- huge attack that began Friday Clashes are ongoing,” Abdel to “storm the remaining areas” enjoys UN support and a rival authority based in security conditions that have to be met. None of bollah, the Iranian Revolution- night,” said Observatory chief Rahman said. The Britain-based held by IS in Albu Kamal’s east. Tobruk in the east. Salame said shoring up Lib- these are currently there.”

Warning to freeze US Gaza border opened for fi rst time since unity deal ties if PLO offi ce closed AFP So far this year the border has Gaza City been open on 14 days, according to the Hamas-run interior min- AFP ians have entered into direct, istry in Gaza. Under the terms Jerusalem/Ramallah meaningful negotiations with gypt opened its largely of a Palestinian reconciliation Israel”. sealed border with Gaza agreement reached last month, In a video on Twitter, Erekat Eyesterday after a recon- Gaza’s rulers Hamas are sup- he Palestinians will freeze called the decision “very unfor- ciliation agreement with Hamas posed to cede civil power to the their ties with the US if tunate and unacceptable”, blam- gave the Palestinian Authority West Bank-based Palestinian Tit follows through on a ing it on pressure exerted by the control over the crossing for the Authority by December 1. threat to close the Palestine Lib- government of Israeli Prime fi rst time since 2007. As a fi rst step, they handed eration Organisation’s offi ce in Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A Palestinian offi cial at over control of its border cross- Washington, a senior PLO offi - “At a time when we are trying the Rafah crossing said it had ings on November 1. cial warned yesterday. to co-operate to achieve the ul- opened at 0700 GMT and was The Egypt-brokered deal is The organisation’s Secretary- timate deal they take such steps expected to stay open for three expected to lead to more regular General Saeb Erekat said it had which will undermine the whole days. opening of the Rafah crossing. offi cially informed the US that peace process,” Erekat said. “Egypt will open the crossing Mufeed al-Husayneh, Gaza if it indeed shuttered the of- Palestinian president Mah- for humanitarian cases regis- minister of public works and fi ce, “we would put on hold all moud Abbas’ latest speech at the tered with the interior minis- housing, said the opening yes- our communications with this UN General Assembly, in which try,” the offi cial said, adding terday was “the fi rst work of the American administration.” he suggested taking the issue of that civilian and security per- government of national recon- The PLO, which the interna- Israeli settlements to the ICC, sonnel on the Palestinian side ciliation taking over its func- tional community sees as rep- may have been behind the US were all employees of the rec- tions at the Rafah crossing.” resenting all Palestinians, must stance. onciliation government headed “The unity government is have its permission to operate its In 2015 Congress introduced a by prime minister Rami Ham- ready to carry its responsibili- premises in the American capital provision that Palestinians may dallah. ties and roles,” he said. renewed every six months. not try to wield infl uence over Up to 20,000 people from Palestinians sit in a basketball court in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza strip yesterday as they await The head of the Palestinian The US State Department said the ICC concerning investiga- Gaza have applied to enter clearance to take a bus to travel through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, after it opened for three Authority’s security services it had refused to renew it in re- tions into Israeli nationals. Egypt. days for the first time since the reconciliation deal. Majid Faraj held talks with sen- sponse to the Palestinians’ ini- The declaration does not au- Ten buses had crossed over in ior Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar tiative to take the issue of Israeli tomatically mean the mission the fi rst four hours. for 11 years.” “All our (medi- border crossing would remain he said. Egypt’s border with in Gaza on Friday. settlements to the International will close. Iyad Abu al-Kheer, 46, who cal) treatments and such things open for good. the Gaza Strip had been totally All Palestinian factions are Criminal Court. US President Donald Trump was travelling to Romania have to go through this cross- “Things are going well and sealed since August, and was due to meet in Cairo next week The decision could be reversed now has a 90-day window to through Egypt, said that Gazans ing,” he said. everyone can travel and start largely closed for years before to discuss ways to move the rec- within 90 days if “the Palestin- decide. were “suff ering from a blockade Kheer expressed hope the their business and their lives,” that. onciliation deal forward. Gulf Times 14 Sunday, November 19, 2017 AFRICA

Trump reverses Party set to sack Mugabes elephant trophy Reuters decision, keeps Harare ban in place imbabwe’s ruling ZANU- PF party will meet today to Zdismiss President Robert AFP Mugabe and reinstate the vice- Washington president he dismissed, Emmerson Mnangagwa, two party sources told Reuters yesterday. S President Donald Trump said on Friday he The sources said a party cen- will uphold a ban on importing trophies of tral committee meeting scheduled Uelephants hunted and killed in Zimbabwe, for 10.30am would also dismiss pending further review, reversing his own admin- 93-year-old Mugabe’s preferred istration’s decision from just a day earlier after a successor, his wife Grace, from her public outcry. “Put big game trophy decision on role as head of the ZANU-PF Wom- hold until such time as I review all conservation en’s League. facts. Under study for years. Will update soon with Mugabe’s 37-year rule has been Secretary Zinke,” Trump tweeted. eff ectively at an end since the army Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said the pair came seized control on Wednesday, con- to the decision after they “talked and both believe fi ning him to his residence, saying that conservation and healthy herds are critical.” it wanted to target the “criminals” Just hours before, Trump’s spokeswoman Sa- around him. rah Sanders had defended the US Fish and Wild- Shortly after the sources revealed life Service’s move to end the 2014 ban initiated the meeting, a motorcade left Mu- under Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama. The gabe’s offi cial residence in the capi- service said on Thursday that it would begin issu- tal Harare to boos and jeers from ing permits to import “sport-hunted trophies from onlookers, although a security said elephants hunted in Zimbabwe” between January Mugabe was not inside. 21, 2016 and December 31, 2018. Zambia would also Hundreds of thousands of people have been covered under the revised rule. had fl ooded the streets of Harare The move was met with a barrage of criticism singing, dancing and hugging sol- from animal rights groups and activists. It also diers in an outpouring of elation came on the same day that the US State Depart- at Mugabe’s demise, while others ment presented to Congress its fi rst annual report marched towards his residence. on wildlife traffi cking which, it said, “remains a se- In scenes reminiscent of the rious transnational crime.” downfall of Romanian dictator According to the Great Elephant Census project, Nicolae Ceausescu in 1989, men, African Savanna elephant populations fell by 30% women and children ran alongside between 2007 and 2014, while Zimbabwe saw a the armoured cars and the troops People cheer a passing Zimbabwe Defense Force military vehicle during a demonstration in Harare yesterday. drop of 6%. Despite an overall fall in poaching, Af- who stepped in this week to oust rica’s elephant population has declined in part be- the only ruler Zimbabwe has known where a number of entrenched For some Africans, Mugabe re- the region and should resign at once. At least 3mn Zimbabweans emi- cause of continued illegal killing, said a report this since independence in 1980. strongmen, from Uganda’s Yoweri mains a nationalist hero, the con- In a sign of the depth of his de- grated in search of a better life, most year by CITES, the Convention on International Under house arrest in his lav- Museveni to Democratic Republic tinent’s last independence leader mise, Mugabe’s ruling ZANU-PF of them to neighbouring South Af- Trade in Endangered Species. ish ‘Blue Roof’ compound, he has of Congo’s Joseph Kabila, are facing and a symbol of its struggle to throw called on Friday for him to go, ac- rica. A provision in the Endangered Species Act says watched support from his ZANU- mounting pressure to step aside. off the legacy of decades of colonial cording to The Herald, the state After stabilising briefl y when the import of such trophies can be legal if accom- PF party, security services and peo- The secretary-general of Zimba- subjugation. newspaper that has served as a loyal Mugabe was forced to work with panied by proof that the hunting benefi ts broader ple evaporate in less than three days. bwe’s War Veterans Association, Vic- But to many more at home and mouthpiece for nearly four decades. the opposition in a 2009-2013 uni- conservation of the species. Mugabe’s nephew, Patrick Zhu- tor Matemadanda, called on those abroad, he was reviled as a dictator ZANU-PF branches in all 10 ty government, the economy has wao, told Reuters the elderly leader at an anti-Mugabe rally to march on happy to resort to violence to retain provinces had also called for the collapsed again, this time due to a and his wife were “ready to die for Mugabe’s residence, and live televi- power and to run a once-promising resignation of Mugabe’s wife Grace, chronic shortage of dollars in the 10-year-old boy found dead what is correct” rather than step sion footage showed hundreds of pro- economy into the ground. the fi rst lady whose ambitions to country of 16mn people. down in order to legitimise what he testers marching in that direction. Although Mugabe had been dig- succeed her husband outraged the In October, monthly infl ation after Malawi crocodile attack described as a coup. “Let us now go and deliver the ging in his heels in the face of army military and much of the country. leapt to more than 50%, putting ba- Speaking from a secret location in message that grandfather Mugabe pressure to quit, he appeared to have To many Zimbabweans, Grace is sic goods beyond the means of many he body of a 10-year-old boy who was at- South Africa, Zhuwao said Mugabe and his typist-cum-wife should run out of road, devoid of domestic more familiar as “Gucci Grace” on in a country with 90% unemploy- tacked by a crocodile was discovered in the had hardly slept since the military go home,” Matemadanda told the or international support. account of her reported dedication ment. TSouthern African country of Malawi, police took over but his health was other- crowd in the Harare township of Political sources and intelligence to shopping, or — in the wake of the Mugabe’s only public appear- said yesterday. Owen Sanudi was attacked by the wise “good”. Highfi eld. documents seen by Reuters said alleged assault in September on a ance since the military took over reptile while he was swimming with friends in the On Harare’s streets, Zimbabwe- The crowds in Harare have so far Mugabe’s exit was likely to pave the South African model — “Dis-Grace”. on Wednesday was at a univer- Shire River, which passes through Liwonde Na- ans spoke of a second liberation for given a quasi-democratic veneer way for an interim unity govern- The scenes in Harare refl ect the sity graduation ceremony on Friday tional Park, police spokesman Davie Sulumba said. the former British colony, alongside to the army’s intervention, backing ment led by Mnangagwa, a life-long anger and frustration that has built morning. “The deceased was attacked by a hungry their dreams of political and eco- its claims that it is merely eff ecting Mugabe aide and former security up in nearly two decades of eco- Decked out in blue and yellow ac- crocodile and he drowned in the river,” said nomic change after two decades of a constitutional transfer of power, chief known as ‘The Crocodile’. nomic mismanagement that started ademic gowns, he appeared tired, at Sulumba.”Post-mortem results from Machinga deepening repression and hardship. which would help it avoid the dip- Stabilising the free-falling econ- with the seizure of white-owned one point falling asleep in his chair. District Hospital proved that the death was due to “These are tears of joy,” said Frank lomatic backlash and opprobrium omy will be the number one priority, farms in 2000, the catalyst of a wid- A senior member of the ZANU- loss of blood and suff ocation.” The incident was the Mutsindikwa, 34, holding aloft the that normally follows coups. the documents said. er collapse. PF ruling party said it was only a second death caused by a crocodile in the district Zimbabwean fl ag. The military had been prompted The United States, a long-time The central bank tried to print its matter of time before he agreed to within three months, a situation linked to lack of “I’ve been waiting all my life for to act by Mugabe’s decision to sack Mugabe critic, said it was looking way out of trouble by unleashing his own departure. prey for the crocodiles, Sulumba told DPA. this day. Free at last. We are free at Mnangagwa, Grace Mugabe’s main forward to a “new era” in Zimba- a fl ood of cash but that only made “If he becomes stubborn, we will Reports have suggested that Malawi’s decision to last.” rival to succeed her husband. bwe, while President Ian Khama of matters worse, leading to hyper- arrange for him to be fi red on Sun- join the International Convention on Endangered Mugabe’s downfall is likely to The next presidential election is neighbouring Botswana said Mu- infl ation that topped out at 500bn day,” the source said. “When that is Species (CITES), which limits the culling of croco- send shockwaves across Africa, due next year. gabe had no diplomatic support in percent in 2008. done, it’s impeachment on Tuesday.” diles, has led to a rise in their numbers.

Showtime! Ghana’s maritime boundary victory to spark oil bounty

By Stacey Knott, AFP “That is really what was at stake in this rul- Accra ing,” said Acheampong, from analysts IHS Markit. And with the area already known for being hana’s “long and arduous journey” to rich in oil and gas resources, he said there was boost off shore oil exploration and ex- likely even more to be discovered. Gtraction will be fuelled with billions of Compared with other oil-producing nations extra dollars after a key court victory earlier in Africa such as Nigeria and Angola, whose this month over Ivory Coast. output is upwards of 1.5mn bpd, Ghana’s pro- Thanks to eff orts by successive govern- duction is still low. ments and conquering lawyers at the Interna- Acheampong said as a result, the extra bil- tional Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) lions expected after the tribunal ruling would over a disputed maritime boundary with Ivory still not necessary lead to a turnaround in the Coast which resulted in a ruling in Ghana’s fa- country’s economic fortunes. vour, the money will soon will be pouring in. Ghana’s economy in 2011 soared with rates Ghana has produced oil commercially since of growth topping 14% but then slowed, infl a- 2010, leading to a burst of growth that trans- tion soared and public sector debts spiralled. formed it into an emerging economy, piquing The government took a $918mn Interna- the interest of global investors. tional Monetary Fund loan in 2015 on condi- But new exploration and production was tion of reform, tighter fi scal discipline, lower halted in 2014 when Ivory Coast said drilling infl ation and stronger public fi nances. off Ghana’s western coast had strayed into its Recovery is expected to continue this territory. year and next with estimates of 7.1% and 8% Fruitless talks saw the issue taken to the IT- growth, according to the African Development LOS, which in September said Ghana had not, Bank. in fact, breached its neighbour’s sovereignty. That depends on “new hydrocarbon wells Staff of Kajiado county government prepare traditional Maasai tribe accessories for their cultural performance yesterday in Kajiado, Kenya. In October, President Nana Akufo-Addo coming on stream and the timely resolution of said the tribunal ruling opened up “possibili- technical issues that led to disruptions in the ties of development, progress and prosperity”. Jubilee oil and gas fi eld in 2016”, it added. Expected oil revenue will likely mean more Since oil production began in 2010, some funding towards roads, schools and hospitals, $3.5bn in oil money has gone towards funding he said. development projects, new roads and hospi- Operator Tullow Oil said output from its tals. E Guinea ruling party maintains grip on power Twenboa, Enyenra and Ntomme (TEN) fi elds Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara was currently about 50,000 barrels per day meanwhile visited Accra in October in what (bpd) and will be maintained until the end of was interpreted as a sign to investors that ties AFP posts and 99 of the 100 seats in the Just one opposition MP, a member to reach polling stations — often the year. remained strong between the neighbours. Malabo Chamber of Deputies, the lower of the Citizens for Innovation party located very far from their homes Exploratory drilling will then resume, even- Benjamin Boakye, executive director for the house of parliament, the results (CI), was also elected to the lower — which were mostly closed by tually allowing production to increase towards African Centre for Energy Policy, said instead released late on Friday showed. house, in the capital Malabo, accord- 1700 GMT, one hour before the of- the 80,000 bpd capacity on its fl oating pro- of souring relations, the tribunal case ap- he ruling party in Equato- The PDGE has dominated the ing to the electoral commission. One fi cial end of polling. duction storage facility. peared to have strengthened ties. rial Guinea has maintained parliament of the tiny oil-rich CI councillor was also elected. Internet access was also com- TEN fi eld reserves are estimated at 306 mn That bodes well for any possible discovery Ta fi rm grip on power after country since single-party rule Offi cials from opposition parties pletely cut on the day of the vote barrels of oil while the wider Tano Basin, which of oil that straddles both sides of the border, sweeping to another landslide vic- was scrapped in 1991. have denounced the result, citing and Facebook has been inaccessi- was the subject of the boundary dispute, holds he added. tory in elections widely criticised It is the party of President Teo- multiple cases of fraud and irregulari- ble since the end of October. the equivalent of 3-4bn barrels. “Given the number of discoveries on both by the opposition as fraudulent, doro Obiang Nguema, Africa’s long- ties on the day of the vote, last Sunday. Opposition groups say their web- At current prices of around $55 per barrel, sides of the border, it could be possible that at according to offi cial results. est-serving leader, who has ruled Then security forces were de- sites have also been blocked since the TEN fi eld has the potential to generate some point the countries will have to unitise The Democratic Party of Equa- the former Spanish colony for 37 ployed and private vehicles banned 2013 and that they had no access to $16.7bn in revenue and the Tano Basin $165bn, one discovery or the other,” he said. “So there torial Guinea (PDGE) and it’s allies years and been repeatedly accused from the roads. Residents com- state media, which regularly broad- said petroleum economist Theo Acheampong. is need for that kind of cooperation to exist.” won all 75 senate seats, mayoral of abuses by human rights groups. plained that this left them unable cast campaign ads by the ruling party. Gulf Times Sunday, November 19, 2017 15 AMERICAS Ex-cops get into the marijuana business

Reuters member of parliament — are Toronto promoting their company Aleafi a, which provides pa- tients with authorisations for former Canadian po- medical marijuana, as well lice chief and several as other medical services. Acolleagues who fought Medical marijuana is already against making marijuana use legal. legal have switched sides and Fantino said he would “ab- embraced the looming legali- solutely” be pursuing the sation of cannabis with a leap business even if Canada was into business. not legalising the lucrative With Canada’s legalisation recreational industry. But his of a multi-billion dollar mar- change of heart has met with ijuana industry set for next scepticism in some circles. year, former police offi cers Toronto Star newspaper who once argued for manda- columnist Royson James tory jail time for minor mari- wrote “the hypocrisy stinks juana off ences are among to high heaven”. On Twit- those in line to capitalise on ter, pot activist Jodie Emery the change. called the news “infuriating”. The most high profi le is Ju- The Canadian Broadcast- lian Fantino, a former Toronto ing Corp introduced an inter- police chief and Conservative view with Fantino by noting cabinet minister who fought he had “once compared weed Celebratory fireworks for the road in Tuktoyaktuk, Canada. against the legalisation of pot to murder”. and who said he now sees the Fantino said the quote was value of a legal medical pot taken out of context and he industry. “did what I could to apply the “For a lot of us, until you laws of the land with con- get into this thing, all we science”. know is the stigma associated Other ex-cops are get- with marijuana. ting into the business side of And there is that, of course, marijuana. Canada throws lifeline but...it’s only a matter of Former deputy Toronto po- time, before it becomes a lice chief Kim Derry has been recognised, therapeutic, pre- involved in medical marijua- scribed drug,” Fantino said in na businesses since 2012. an interview. Derry is president of Met- Canadian Prime Minister Scan Canada, which he said Justin Trudeau promised to provides security for about to isolated hamlet legalise recreational mari- half a dozen marijuana grow- juana use in his 2015 election ers. He expects that number The road promises to open we were working in very extreme campaign and new legisla- to grow once recreational the path for extraction of oil temperatures ranging from -15 to tion will let adults grow, buy production becomes legal. and gas -57, 24 hours a day,” he told AFP. or possess small amounts of “From a background of At the opening ceremony, Bob marijuana as of July 1, 2018. criminal activity, I certainly AFP McLeod, premier of the North- Under the new law, private know how (grow operations) Tuktoyaktuk, Canada west Territories, paid tribute to or government retailers will operated in the past,” Derry the crews who worked day and be able to sell marijuana and said.”I know all the pieces, night to complete the project. licensed producers will be through a chain of supply, ife can be tough in Tuk- In the frozen tundra, a speed able to grow it. where there’s weaknesses.” toyaktuk, a Canadian ham- limit of 70kph has been set to The Canadian cannabis The government’s eff ort to Llet on the Arctic Ocean keep drivers from slipping into a black market is estimated legalise marijuana is headed where one in three are jobless. snowy ditch. to be worth between C$7bn up by another former Toronto But things are looking up Darrel Nasogaluak, the mayor ($5.77bn) and C$10bn a year, police chief, Bill Blair, who thanks to a new highway linking of Tuktoyaktuk, touted this new with rates of youth use among succeeded Fantino in 2005 the tiny community to the rest of lifeline to the south with speech- the highest in the world. An- before they both turned to the country and bringing with it es, handshakes, a few words for alysts expect it will take time politics. the promise of tourism and jobs. everyone, hoping it will lead to a for legal trade to push aside Blair said retired police of- Long hoped for but widely better quality of life for northern unsanctioned competition. fi cers have been getting calls seen as a far-fetched idea, the residents. Fantino and his partners for advice on medical mari- highway was feted this week To celebrate, there was a — a former Royal Canadian juana production since re- at a ribbon-cutting ceremony community feast consisting Mounted Police offi cer, a lated laws came into eff ect in where fi reworks lit up the faces of traditional Inuit game and former fi re chief and a former 2013. of locals and dignitaries — tightly seafood including caribou and wrapped in hats and scarves to muktuk (beluga whale skin and brave the extreme sub-freezing blubber). Destroyer damaged in collision temperatures. “You know, we’re going to “It’s really overwhelming to- have better access to health care, A US guided-missile destroyer, USS Benfold, sustained slight day. We’re happy and people are Cars on the Inuvik Tuktoyaktuk highway. better access to healthier (and) damage when a Japanese tug drifted into it during a towing excited,” said Tuktoyaktuk resi- fresher foods,” Nasogaluak told exercise off central Japan yesterday, the US Navy said. dent Ella Jean Nogasak, her red ago when, with construction ployment rate is more than 30%, layer of soil that remains frozen shoppers at the only grocery “No one was injured on either vessel and Benfold sustained anorak visible from afar against already underway, the Liberal and living conditions for the 930 throughout the year. store in Tuktoyaktuk, where a minimal damage, including scrapes on its side, pending a full the snow. The 72-year-old has government of Prime Minister inhabitants are diffi cult. Project manager Dean Ah- liter of milk costs almost twice damage assessment,” a statement from the US Seventh Fleet said. waited a long, long time for year- Justin Trudeau imposed a fi ve- “You see, we don’t have a ho- met describes building the as much as in Vancouver, 3,800 “Benfold remains at sea under her own power. The Japanese round road access to her commu- year moratorium on drilling in tel, we have limited stores, and Can$300mn ($235mn) road kilometres to the south. commercial tug is being towed by another vessel to a port in nity, which lies well north of the the Arctic. limited opportunities within the through a region pocked by lakes With a bright sun forecast in Yokosuka. The incident will be investigated,” it said. Arctic Circle. But residents of the isolated community,” said Tianna Gor- and rivers as no less than a feat of a few months, will the tourists The incident was the latest mishap involving a US warship in Asia. After years of procrastination, hamlet still welcome the 138km don-Ruben, who hopes the road engineering. fl ock to Tuktoyaktuk? Nasogalu- The US Navy announced a series of reforms this month aimed at Canada’s former Conservative gravel road from Inuvik to Tuk- will bring down food prices and The permafrost was too soft in ak hopes so. restoring basic naval skills and alertness at sea after a review of government in 2014 fi nally gave a toyaktuk, which they hope will help create jobs in the commu- summer to support heavy con- “I’d just like to invite eve- deadly ship collisions in the Asia-Pacific region showed sailors green light for what was dubbed end their winter reliance on cost- nity. struction equipment, so most rybody in Canada, southern were under-trained and over-worked. a “road of resources”, intended as ly air transport for food, supplies, About 10m wide, the conti- of the construction — involving Canada and all over the world to Seventeen sailors have been killed this year in two collisions with a conduit for fi rms wanting to tap equipment and travel. It is also nent’s northernmost route con- just over 600 workers — had to come share our rich culture and commercial vessels involving guided-missile destroyers, the oil and gas riches believed to be expected to bring tourists to the sists in some places of a four- be done during the seven or eight incredible scenery. Fitzgerald in June off Japan and then the John S McCain in August hidden beneath the Beaufort Sea. far north. meter high embankment atop the winter months. “Our doors are open, you as it approached Singapore. That prospect dimmed a year In Tuktoyaktuk, the unem- permafrost — a thick subsurface “It was a challenge because know, we’re willing to share.” Pro-trade Republicans jittery about Nafta talks

Reuters manage global operations. dos,” Sessions said. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa Mexico City Hershey operates candy plants in Still, congressional apprehension said Lighthizer in a recent meeting Monterrey and Guadalajara, Mexico. about Trump’s stance is far from unan- agreed that a withdrawal from Nafta Some 74 House of Representatives imous. The signers were largely Repub- would be hard on US agriculture, ro-trade Republicans in the US members signed a letter this week op- licans, with no Democrats from auto- which has largely benefi ted from the Congress are growing worried posing US proposals on automotive intensive states such as Michigan and trade pact. Pthat US President Donald Trump rules of origin, which would require Ohio signing. US agricultural exports to Cana- may try to quit the Nafta free trade deal 50% US content in Nafta-built vehicles Some pro-labor Democrats have ac- da and Mexico quintupled to about entirely rather than negotiate a com- and 85% regional content. tually expressed support for US Trade $41bn in 2016 from about $9bn in promise that preserves its core benefi ts. They warned that this would “elimi- Representative Robert Lighthizer’s 1993, the year before Nafta went into As a fi fth round of talks to modernise nate the competitive advantages” that tough approach. eff ect, according to US Commerce the North American Free Trade Agree- Nafta brings to US automakers or lead “Some of those demands are in tune,” Department data. ment kicked off in Mexico on Friday, to a collapse of the trade pact. said Representative Bill Pascrell of New Grassley said, however, that Light- several Republicans interviewed by Re- Representative Pete Sessions, a Jersey, the top Democrat on the House hizer’s approach was “taking eve- uters expressed concerns that tough US Texas Republican who has long been Ways and Means trade subcommittee. rybody to the brink on these talks”. demands, including a fi ve-year sunset a supporter of free trade deals, said he “We don’t want to blow it up, Repub- Other Republicans are taking a wait clause and a US-specifi c content rule, disagreed with the Trump approach of licans don’t want to blow it up. But we and see approach to the talks. will sink the talks and lead to the deal’s “trying to beat someone” in the Nafta want substantial changes in the labour, Representative Frank Lucas of collapse. talks. the environmental, the currency, on Oklahoma said he was willing to give Business groups have warned of Speaker of the House Paul Ryan celebrates the passage of the ‘Tax Cuts and Jobs Texas is the largest US exporting how you come to an agreement when Trump “the benefi t of the doubt” on dire economic consequences, includ- Act’ with Representative Kevin Brady (R-TX) during a news conference at the US state with nearly half of its $231bn in there’s a dispute, and on problems of Nafta talks, adding that farmers and ing millions of jobs lost as Mexican and Capitol in Washington. exports last year headed to Mexico and origin.” ranchers in his rural district were Canadian tariff s snap back to their early Canada, according to Commerce De- Farm state Republicans are espe- strong Trump supporters in the 2016 1990s levels. Charlie Dent, a moderate Republican it diffi cult for companies in his district, partment data. cially concerned that a collapse of election. “I think the administration is play- from eastern Pennsylvania. ranging from chocolate giant Hershey “We need to off er Mexico a fair Nafta would lead to the loss of crucial “The president’s a practical fellow. ing a pretty dangerous game with this He said putting Nafta under threat of Co to small family owned manufactur- deal. If we want them to take our export markets in Mexico and Canada When push comes to shove, he under- sunset provision,” said Representative extinction every fi ve years would make ing fi rms, to invest in supply chains and cattle, we need to take their avoca- for corn, beef and other products. stands the base,” Lucas said. Gulf Times 16 Sunday, November 19, 2017 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

TOURISM WEEK SHOOTING INCIDENTS VOTE NATURE DISEASE Freeport mine worker Sacked premier’s party Strong quake rattles Tibet, Fresh outbreak of bird flu families to be evacuated dominates Tonga election minor damage reported detected in South Korea

US miner Freeport-McMoRan Inc is evacuating The Democratic Party of sacked Tongan prime An earthquake of magnitude 6.3 yesterday struck South Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and spouses and children of workers from its minister Akilisi Pohiva is poised to return to a remote part of Tibet, the United States Geological Rural Aff airs said yesterday it had detected a fresh giant Indonesian copper mine after a string of power without the aid of independents after Survey (USGS) said, but there were no immediate outbreak of bird flu at a farm in the country’s shootings in the area raised security concerns. a Commonwealth Observer Group yesterday reports of significant damage or injuries. The quake, south and ordered the culling of 12,300 fowls as The move follows eff orts by Indonesian declared itself satisfied with the general election. initially reported as a magnitude 6.7, struck at a preventive measure. South Korean authorities authorities on Friday to evacuate villages near The Democrats won a resounding 14 of the 17 6.34am at a shallow depth of 10km on the Tibetan said they were carrying out epidemiological Freeport’s Grasberg mine in the eastern province seats elected by the people in Thursday’s ballot, Plateau, the USGS said. It struck in the Nyingchi investigations in the aff ected farms, situated of Papua that authorities said had been occupied five more than in the 2014 election, to dominate region of Tibet. The Nyingchi government said some 300km southwest of Seoul, to determine by armed separatists. Since August at least 12 the 26-seat parliament in which nine seats are in a statement on its microblog that the quake’s whether the detected H5 strain was highly people have been injured and two police off icers taken by hereditary nobles. “The results reflected epicentre was in an uninhabited region and that it pathogenic. The results were expected to come have been killed by gunmen with suspected the wishes of the people,” the observer group had yet to receive any casualty reports. Xinhua said in by Tuesday, Yonhap news agency reported. Dancers from Banten performing during links to separatist rebels. Freeport has asked said. Tongans went to the polls after King Tupou the earthquake caused power outages and damage The Agriculture Ministry has advised people to Banten Tourism Week 2017 on Kuta beach on family and household members of employees to VI dissolved parliament and dismissed Pohiva, the in villages near Nyingchi, and that emergency refrain from visiting the poultry farms or wild bird Indonesia’s resort island of Bali. prepare for a temporary relocation. first commoner to serve as prime minister. response staff had been mobilised to investigate. sanctuaries in the area, Efe news reported. China sends Flooded! By-election could end slim majority an envoy to for Turnbull

AFP Pyongyang Melbourne ustralia’s conservative coalition government Reuters is at risk of losing power after a new poll re- Beijing Avealed the opposition Labor Party is neck- and-neck in a knife-edge by-election triggered by a constitutional crisis. raditional friendship between China and North A by-election is being held in the Sydney seat of Korea represents “valuable wealth” for their Bennelong after government member of parliament Tpeople, China said after its special envoy yes- John Alexander was forced to resign after he declared terday met a high-ranking North Korean offi cial, but he held dual British citizenship. there was no mention of the crisis over North Korea’s Under the Australian constitution, dual citizens weapons. Song Tao, who heads the ruling Chinese cannot hold federal offi ce. Communist Party’s international department, is visit- Alexander is among eight Australian politicians ing Pyongyang to discuss the outcome of the recently- who have left parliament because of dual citizen- concluded Communist Party Congress in China, at ship. which President Xi Jinping cemented his power. The coalition government is hanging onto power In a brief statement dated Friday but reported by by just one seat. Chinese media yesterday, the international depart- If it loses the Bennelong by-election, it will be ment said Song, who is there representing Xi, reported plunged into minority government. to North Korean offi cial Choe Ryong-hae the outcome A second by-election is being held in Queensland of the congress. state but the government is widely expected to win Song and Choe also talked about relations between that one. their parties and countries, the department said. Alexander has renounced his British citizenship “They said that the traditional friendship between and is standing in the December 16 by-election for China and North Korea was founded and cultivated his old seat. by both countries former old leaders, and is valuable Labor candidate Kristina Keneally, a former high- wealth for the two peoples,” it said. profi le New South Wales premier, is polling 50-50 “Both sides must work hard together to promote the with him in two-party preferred polls. further development of relations between the two par- Alexander, a former tennis champions, is leading ties and two countries to benefi t their two peoples.” by just three percentage points in the primary vote; The department made no mention of North Korea’s that is more than 8% down on his primary vote when nuclear or missile programmes, which are strongly op- he won the set in a general election in July last year. posed by China. The poll, published in the Telegraph yesterday, The North’s offi cial KCNA news agency said Song showed the Labor Party snatching a 10% swing, informed Choe about China’s 19th National Congress meaning it could win the seat and be in striking dis- “in detail”, and stressed China’s stance to steadily de- tance of being in a position to form a government. velop the traditionally friendly relations between the Labor Party leader Bill Shorten has declared the two parties and countries. by-election a referendum on the government’s per- Song arrived on Friday but it is not clear how long he Passers-by try to walk in the flooded Flinders Street Station in Melbourne yesterday after the region was lashed with heavy formance, which has been hit by internal fi ghts, poor will be in North Korea. rains over the weekend. poll performances and widespread criticism over its China has repeatedly pushed for a diplomatic solu- handling of policy on asylum seekers. tion to the crisis over North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons and missiles to carry them, but in recent months it has had only limited high-level ex- changes with North Korea. The last time China’s special envoy for North Korea visited the country was in February last year. Song’s trip comes just a week after US President Donald Trump visited Beijing as part of an Asia tour, where he pressed for greater action to rein in North Korea, especially from China, with which North Korea Cambodia court charges does 90% of its trade. The infl uential state-run Chinese tabloid the Global Times said in an editorial that it was unwise to expect too much from his trip, saying his key mission was to inform North Korea about the party congress in Beijing. “Song is not a magician,” the newspaper said. “The key to easing the situation on the peninsula lies in the journalists with spying hands of Washington and Pyongyang. If both sides insist on their own logic and refuse to Reuters groups and independent media. The two were charged with “pro- intimidation worthy of despots rested on September 3 and charged move in the same direction, even if Song opens a door Phnom Penh The United States announced it viding information that is destruc- and dictators,” RFA spokesman Ro- with treason for an alleged plot to for talks, the door could be closed any time.” was ending funding for the elec- tive to national defense to a foreign hit Mahajan said in emailed com- take power with US help. He denied It is not clear whether Song will meet North Korea’s tion, and promised more “concrete state”, when they were caught fi ling ments. any such pot. leader Kim Jong-un. Cambodian court yesterday steps”, after the Supreme Court stories to RFA, said Ly Sophana, a A lawyer for the two said the The US State Department called Kim and President Xi exchanged messages of con- charged two journalists with dissolved the main opposition spokesman at Phnom Penh Mu- charges were too serious and they had on Friday for Cambodia to release gratulations and thanks over the Chinese party con- A espionage for fi ling news re- Cambodia National Rescue Party nicipal Court. merely been doing their jobs as jour- him and reverse the decision to ban gress, but neither leader has visited the other’s country ports to a US-funded radio station, (CNRP) on Thursday at the request “They will be sent to an inves- nalists. “This is not dangerous to the his party. since assuming power. which can carry a prison term of up of the government, on the grounds tigating judge for further proce- country,” said the lawyer, Keo Vanny. Western countries, which for Song’s department is in charge of the party’s rela- to 15 years. it was plotting to seize power. dures,” Ly Sophana told Reuters. The charges carried up to 15 years decades supported Cambodia’s tions with foreign political parties, and has tradition- Prime Minister Hun Sen, the The party denied the accusation. RFA has said it had had no ties to in prison if the men were convicted, emergence from war and isola- ally served as a conduit for Chinese diplomacy with strongman who has ruled Cambo- The two journalists, Uon Chhin the two journalists since it shut its he said. Hun Sen has been fi ghting tion, have shown little appetite North Korea. dia for more than three decades, and Yeang Sothearin, had in the Phnom Penh offi ce in September. a deepening war of words with the for sanctions in response to the China’s new special envoy for North Korea, Kong has taken a strident anti-American past worked for the Washington- “In charging two former RFA US embassy and State Department government’s crackdown, but the Xuanyou, who took up his position in August, is not line in an increasingly tense run- based Radio Free Asia (RFA) which journalists with espionage, Cam- over his government’s crackdown European Union has raised the pos- believed to have visited the country since assuming the up to a 2018 election and there has broadcast in the Khmer language bodian authorities have opened on the opposition. sibility of Cambodia losing vital job. been a crackdown on critics, rights until it shut down in September. the door to more serious forms of CNRP leader Kem Sokha was ar- trade preferences. Medical group wants access to asylum seekers on Manus

Reuters tors, have left, leaving the men being of these men, and provide dismantle the centre’s perimeter Melbourne without suffi cient food, clean them with safe and hygienic liv- fences and food was running low. water, power or medical care. ing conditions.” “We are waiting drinking from Members of the Austral- Government spokesmen were the rainwater...it’s tense feel- ustralia’s main medi- ian Medical Association (AMA) not immediately available for ing, we don’t have any idea what cal association yesterday yesterday voted unanimously to comment. PNG will do to us. Their attitude Acalled on the government call on the government to grant Australia’s “sovereign bor- toward us they are really aggres- to allow independent doctors and access to the centre so doctors ders” immigration policy, under sive,” Aziz said. other health experts to help more could assess the men’s health, which it refuses to allow asylum PNG’s Supreme Court ruled than 400 asylum seekers lan- well-being and living conditions. seekers arriving by boat to reach last year that the centre breached guishing inside a recently closed “The AMA has made many its shores, has been heavily criti- its laws and fundamental human detention centre in Papua New representations on this mat- cised by the United Nations and rights, leading to the decision to Guinea. ter, both publicly and in private human rights groups but has bi- close it. The asylum seekers have shut but, with a worsening and more partisan political support in Aus- New Zealand has off ered to ac- themselves inside the Austral- dangerous situation emerging tralia. cept 150 of the men, but Australia ian-run Manus Island Centre on Manus, the federal council The 421 asylum seekers on has declined the off er saying the for the past 18 days, defying at- strongly believes that urgent ac- Manus island say they fear vio- priority was an existing refugee tempts by Australia and Papua tion and answers are needed,” lent reprisals from the communi- swap deal negotiated with former New Guinea (PNG) to close it in AMA president Michael Gannon ty if they move to transit centres, US president Barack Obama last a standoff the United Nations said. pending possible resettlement to year. Under that deal, up to 1,250 describes as a “looming humani- “It is our responsibility as the United States. asylum seekers could be sent to tarian crisis”. a nation with a strong human Sudanese refugee Abdul Aziz the United States and Australia Refugee advocates hold placards as they participate in a protest in Sydney yesterday against the Australia has shut access to the rights record to ensure that we said via text message on Saturday will in turn accept refugees from treatment of asylum-seekers at Australia-run detention centres located at Nauru and Manus Island. centre, and staff , including doc- look after the health and well- that PNG offi cials had started to Central America. Gulf Times Sunday, November 19, 2017 17 BRITAIN Leonard wins Scottish Labour

party leadership Richard Leonard

Guardian News & Media in Scottish politics and would sources confi rmed she faced dis- his deputy leader, Alex Rowley, Against Sarwar, Leonard won the party after a bruising con- contest, there is a debate of ideas, London transform the party’s fortunes. ciplinary sanctions because she was suspended by the party last both the trade union affi liates test that exposed factional divi- there is a debate about direction, “Richard’s campaign has of- had failed to seek approval from week when it emerged police vote by a resounding 77% to 23% sions within the Scottish party. and that is what we have seen,” fered a challenge to the rigged party business managers to be had told him in October of abuse and the membership vote by 52% Despite winning the support of Leonard said. eremy Corbyn has strength- system that has benefi ted a out of the UK. She will donate complaints against him by a to 48%. A membership drive or- a majority of trade unions, he “One of the things that has ened his grip on the Labour wealthy elite and showed how her MSP’s (Member of the Scot- former partner. chestrated by Unite, which backs commanded only a handful of emerged in the course of this Jparty after Scottish members he will lead Scottish Labour to tish Parliament) salary to charity, Widely disliked by Sarwar’s Corbyn, pushed up Scottish La- votes amongst Labour MSPs at long nine-week campaign is a elected a leftwing trade unionist, transform society,” Corbyn said. but one ally said he was “pretty supporters, Rowley had backed bour’s membership to 35,000. Holyrood. new consensus around where the Richard Leonard, as their seventh Labour’s popular support has horrifi ed” by her decision. Leonard’s leadership bid while Turnout in the ballot was 62%. He described Sarwar, whose Labour party needs to sit politi- leader in the past decade. nearly doubled this year, from Leonard said he supported a serving as interim leader: his Although Leonard has resisted leadership campaign was hit hard cally … which is about extending Unveiled to cheering support- 13% last winter to 27% in June’s bill barring MSPs from second daughter Danielle Rowley, a being pulled into the Campaign by attacks on his £4.7mn share- public ownership, which is about ers in Glasgow, Leonard won a general election where it won six jobs but his initial reaction was recently elected Labour MP, for Socialism, a 23-year-old holding in his family’s cash and ending austerity, which is about decisive victory over his rival new Westminster seats. not to suspend Dugdale. He said chaired Leonard’s leadership grouping inside Scottish Labour carry business, and for send- investing in public services and Anas Sarwar, a former Scottish But Leonard’s victory, with the Labour group at the Scottish campaign. that vigorously backed his candi- ing his children to a fee-paying which is about seeing a shift in deputy leader, after a fractious nearly 57% of the vote, was over- parliament needed to consider Corbyn’s allies in Scottish La- dacy and also backs Corbyn, his school, as a “friend and a com- power from the few to the many.” contest between the party’s left shadowed by a bitter row inside what action to take. “I was a bit bour are nonetheless celebrating victory increases Corbyn’s con- rade”. He said Sarwar was too tal- Sarwar said he would happily and its centrists in which the the party over the decision by disappointed,” he said of his re- a signifi cant victory for the par- trol of Labour’s ruling national ented and experienced not to get serve in Leonard’s team at Holy- Unite union played a signifi cant Kezia Dugdale, the former Scot- action to the news. ty’s left wing. Scottish members executive committee. a frontbench post at Holyrood. rood. role. tish Labour leader, to appear on Corbyn said that Dugdale have traditionally rejected the In a reform pushed through by “The party will, in my view, “This was clearly not a ref- Corbyn remained silent dur- the ITV reality show I’m A Ce- should not be suspended from left, backing centrist candidates Dugdale, the Scottish and Welsh come together because we have erendum on Jeremy Corbyn’s ing the campaign despite open lebrity … Get Me Out Of Here next the party for appearing on the re- in previous leadership contests party leaders are automatically no choice. We are in third place leadership but now we have the support for Leonard from his al- week. ality show. and voting last year for Owen given seats on the NEC. (in Holyrood). We do not have result I give my full and unswerv- lies, but he said yesterday Leon- With Dugdale’s allies openly It added to an unrelated crisis Smith when he challenged Cor- Leonard acknowledged his the luxury of continuing splits ing support to Richard Leonard,” ard’s victory was a turning point attacking her decision, party for the new Scottish leader after byn for the UK leadership. immediate task was reuniting and divisions. In any leadership he said. Call for Mugabe’s ouster Landlady left with £9,500 rent arrears on universal credit

Guardian News & Media the tenancy agreement, also The landlady says she is owed London signed by a staff member. The around £9,500 in rent and has landlady says all was well until had to spend £2,500 on repairing January this year when the rent damage to the fl at. “The whole Croydon-based landlady was not paid for the fi rst time. thing has been dreadful and I feel has vowed never again to When she approached the lo- let down,” Khan says. “The coun- Alet her property “to any- cal authority she was told that it cil who got me the tenant can’t or one on universal credit” after the was no longer paying her tenant’s won’t help, and dealing with the tenant installed by the council rent as the tenant was claiming new people is terrible. I know one was switched to the new ben- universal credit. But the tenant thing – I will never have anything efi t and disappeared owing her told Khan her payments had been to do with anyone on universal around £9,500 in rent. delayed. credit again. I feel really angry Amira Khan (name changed) At this point, the health of about it all.” says she feels let down, angry and Khan’s husband, for whom she A Croydon council spokesman “in debt to everyone” as a result had been a long-term carer, said: “Housing benefi t rules al- of Croydon council being one worsened and he died a few low councils to transfer tenants’ of the fi rst to adopt the govern- weeks later. While trying to cope payments direct to private land- ment’s fl agship universal credit with his death, she says she tried lords to help prevent arrears. As scheme, whose rollout is proving to chase the rent arrears but to no in this case, councils are not al- controversial. avail. The council who got me the lowed to get involved in rent pay- Until now, much of the criti- tenant can’t or won’t help, and ments once the tenant moves to Demonstrators protest outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in London, yesterday. Thousands of protesters flooded Zimbabwe’s streets cism of the benefi t has focused dealing with the new people is universal credit, which is run by demanding Robert Mugabe’s resignation yesterday in a movement organised by independence war veterans and backed by ruling on tenants being evicted for rent terrible the DWP.” party barons and the army. The mass turnout came after an unprecedented week which saw the army’s top brass seizing power and arrears following delays in pay- In May her lawyer sent the ten- The council says it has suff ered putting Mugabe under house arrest in response to his sacking of Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa. ments. But Khan’s case shines a ant a formal request for payment its own rent arrears problem since light on the damage the rollout of arrears and, after no response, the new benefi t was introduced. could infl ict on landlords and an eviction notice was sent. The In February it said its rent collec- their future willingness to accept tenant countered this by say- tion rates had fallen from 91% to tenants in receipt of it. ing she was being harassed and 59% for claimants. It has warned This week, Lincolnshire prop- threatened to call the police. that without changes the system erty company GAP Property In June, Khan learned that the could have a devastating eff ect as AC/DC co-founder Malcolm Young dies threatened all its tenants with tenant had been paid the back it is rolled out over the next few eviction if they failed to pay their rent by universal credit staff . As months. rent because of delays in univer- it had not been passed on to her, Heather Spurr, lead policy of- AFP felt sadness that AC/DC has to went on to produce 17 studio al- was unique and very special. sal credit payments. The scheme Khan was told to fi ll in a UC47 fi cer on universal credit at Shelter, Paris announce the passing of Mal- bums, selling more than 200mn “He leaves behind an enormous is about to rolled out in the area. form that allows landlords to says the homeless charity fears colm Young,” a statement on the records. legacy that will live on forever. Khan, who owns two fl ats and claim rent arrears from the De- more landlords will follow Khan’s band’s website said. Malcolm had been suff er- “Malcolm, job well done.” says the rent they generate is her partment for Work and Pensions, lead and refuse to take tenants C/DC guitarist Malcolm “With enormous dedication ing from dementia for the last Elder brother George, who only source of income, took on which administers the benefi t. who receive the credit. “Land- Young has died aged 64, and commitment he was the three years, and was replaced in the band described as a mentor, the tenant – a single mother – in She says she sent this in twice, lords refusing to take tenants in Athe band announced driving force behind the band. the band by his nephew Stevie died earlier this year. The three 2013 after being given verbal as- but was later told it had not been receipt of housing benefi t isn’t yesterday. Young founded the “As a guitarist, songwriter and Young. His brother Angus paid brothers were born in Scotland. surances by Croydon council staff processed as staff did not have a new phenomenon, but there is Australian rock group with his visionary he was a perfectionist tribute, saying: “As his brother They emigrated to Australia that the rent of £868 per month the tenant’s national insurance evidence that problems around brother Angus, who said he will and a unique man.” Best known it is hard to express in words as children with their family, would be covered by housing number. Then the tenant dis- the credit are exacerbating this,” leave “an enormous legacy”. for their hit song Highway to what he has meant to me dur- although their eldest brother benefi t. appeared, leaving the fl at in a she says. “More landlords are de- “Today it is with deep heart- Hell, AC/DC formed in 1973 and ing my life, the bond we had remained in the UK. She says the council drew up dreadful state, according to Khan. ciding they don’t want the hassle. King’s Cross fi re victims honoured in memorial service, 30 years on Memorial service takes place and about 60 were injured as a how come back again.” A few feet on so much has changed – both fi ghters to arrive at the scene physically and psychologically by placed and staff were trained in at London tube station for result of an escalator fi re thought away stood Roger Kendall, who in terms of safety on the under- on 18 November 1987, recalled a many people, even 30 years on, what to do in the event of a fi re. families, survivors and emer- to have been caused by a dropped in 1987 was a young fi refi ghter ground, fi re regulations and in feeling of “fearing for your life”. and it’s so important that we take Among the dead was a London gency services staff from 1987 match. in Soho and was one of the fi rst the way the fi re service operates Once the fi re was extinguished, the time to acknowledge this and fi re brigade station offi cer, Colin blaze “I feel like I am among my own on the scene of the incident that and is equipped. The fi re was a he said, “everywhere was black to remember.” Townsley. Guardian News & Media family here,” said Anila Mushtaq, killed his station manager, Colin big event that changed every- and charred. All the paint had London Underground’s man- He was in charge of the fi rst London who lives in Tottenham but was Townsley. thing.” been burned off the metal ticket aging director, Mark Wild, paid fi re engine to arrive, shortly af- a 13-year-old in Pakistan at the Sadiq Khan, the mayor of Lon- machines. tribute to the bravery of the sta- ter 7.30pm, and was in the sta- time of the blaze in which her London Underground’s don, and Mike Brown, the Trans- That was where a lot of the tion staff , train drivers and emer- tion when the fi reball erupted. ilence descended on a cor- brother Mohamed Shoaib Khan, managing director, Mark port for London commissioner, casualties were. They were gency services and said Satur- Townsley was posthumously ner of one of London’s bus- a student, died. Wild, paid tribute to the laid wreaths under a plaque in caught in the fl ashover. It was day’s service would provide a awarded a certifi cate of commen- Siest underground stations “Whenever I pass through the bravery of the station the ticket hall near where the such a horrible situation.” “serious point of refl ection”. dation for his bravery. for a minute yesterday as victims’ station I always stop at this spot staff , train drivers and fi re took hold. Leading the short Paul Crowther, now British “The really key thing out of Mick Cash, the general sec- families and survivors gathered and touch his name on the me- emergency services and service, the Rev Ian Black, the Transport Police chief consta- King’s Cross is it instilled a safety retary of the Rail, Maritime and to remember those who died in morial, but today there is some- said the service would London fi re brigade chaplain, ble, was a sergeant on duty on culture in London Underground Transport union, said the King’s the King’s Cross fi re 30 years ago. thing special among being among provide a “serious point of said of those aff ected: “We will the night of the fi re. He described of continuously improving,” he Cross fi re stood alongside the Huddled together just below the other families and supporting refl ection” remember them in silence in our the “utter devastation” he wit- said. “Even though that risk has disaster at Grenfell Tower this street level, emergency services each other,” she said. hearts.” nessed. been eliminated, we’re always year as a reminder that “safety personnel who responded to the “He was the eldest son, and my “We knew him as ‘Tonka’. He The fi re-damaged escalators “I will never forget the sights, alert to future ones.” and regulation must remain our blaze were among those attend- mother, who passed away a few was robust, strong and a leader of in the station. Speaking earlier the sound and the smell of the Smoking was banned through- watchwords regardless of what ing the memorial service at the years ago, never really gave up on men who inspired those around in the week, Dave Flanagan, 56, terrible event,” he said. “I know out the network after the disas- the bottom line says on a set of station. Thirty-one people died the thought that he would some- him,” said Kendall. “Thirty years who was among the fi rst fi re- the impact of the night is still felt ter, wooden escalators were re- accounts”. Gulf Times 18 Sunday, November 19, 2017 EUROPE Ban on children’s Bonn climate meet ‘smart’ watches Reuters The decision follows the Berlin agency’s decision in February to ban distribution of a talking doll, saying its software could ermany’s telecoms be hacked. regulator said on Friday The agency’s actions re- agrees on funding Gthat it was banning the fl ect growing concerns about sale of “smart watches” that the security and privacy risks DPA cleared the way for the Adapta- to be measured and reported in edented natural calamities that Celsius above pre-industrial lev- can be used by parents to check associated with the explod- Bonn tion Fund, which was established the future. hit homes, families and econo- els. on their children, saying the ing number of smart gadgets, as part of the Kyoto Protocol in The key aim of the meeting had mies in Asia, the Caribbean and Also yesterday, many a spokes- devices violated Germany’s often called the “Internet of 2001 to fi nance projects in devel- been to give fresh momentum to the Americas – these reminded man for the UN Framework Con- strict surveillance laws. things (IoT)”. op-level talks on climate oping countries, to become part implementing the Paris accord us of the urgency of our collective vention on Climate Change told The Federal Network Agency Surveillance is a particularly change in the western Ger- of the 2015 Paris accord. on reducing CO2 emissions after task,” she said. DPA that as many as 10 par- said it had already taken action sensitive issue in Germany Tman city of Bonn proved The fund provides fi nancial US President Donald Trump’s Berlin co-hosted the Bonn ticipants in the Bonn talks fi led against several fi rms that sell where East Germany’s Stasi fruitful as offi cials attending the assistance to developing coun- withdrawal from the landmark conference with the Pacifi c is- complaints of sexual harassment the watches online but did not secret police and the Nazi era two-week conference agreed on tries which are vulnerable to the agreement. land state of Fiji. during the conference. name them. Gestapo kept a close watch on funding after a night of drawn- eff ects of climate change. Patricia Espinosa, the UN’s Along with Kiribati, Tuvalu Nick Nuttall said that the al- It urged parents to destroy the population. out negotiations. How to fi nance projects for climate chief since 2016, said and the Marshall Islands, Fiji leged victims registered the in- the watches, which are widely The agency said the watches Offi cials representing 195 poor countries to cope with glo- that the Bonn conference had faces an existential threat from cidents with either the police or available on the German mar- in question include a SIM card nations, from major indus- bal warming was a main sticking shown that the fi ght against cli- global warming as the water lev- members of the UN’s security ket and target children be- and off er a limited telephone trial powerhouses to tiny island point at the talks. mate change remained “an un- els rise. personnel, who informed them tween the ages of fi ve and 12. function which can be control- states, agreed on various funding The delegations attending stoppable movement” despite Under the Paris agreement, of their legal options. “Via an app, parents can use led via an app, similar to baby issues at the end of session that the conference drafted rules to the US withdrawal. signatory nations are committed He added that there was noth- such watches to secretly listen monitoring devices. lasted until yesterday morning. implement the Paris accord, in- “COP23 in Bonn came against to reducing global warming over ing to suggest anyone would to a child’s environment. They By programming the watch- The participating countries cluding how CO2 emissions are a backdrop of severe and unprec- the longer term to well below 2° press charges. are to be seen as a prohibited es to call a telephone number, transmitter,” Jochen Homann, they can be used to secretly president of the agency, said in listen to conversations, an act a statement. “Our investiga- that is prohibited under Ger- tion has also shown that par- man law, the agency said. ents have used the watches to It urged schools to be vigi- Climate talks listen to teachers in the class- lant about the use of such room.” smart watches. struggle to Tintin drawing sells stay relevant for over €500,000

By Marlowe Hood, AFP ment, adopted in 2015, enjoins AFP Bonn the world to cap the rise in tem- Paris perature at “well below” 2° Cel- sius (3.6° Fahrenheit), a goal here was a telling moment barely within reach that still may colour drawing of Tin- at the 23rd edition of UN not save Fiji and dozens of small tin and his faithful ca- Tclimate talks that under- island states. Anine companion Snowy scored both the life-and-death Bangladesh and other coun- sold at a Paris auction yester- stakes in the fi ght against global tries with highly-populated delta day for more than half a million warming, and how hard it is for regions are also at high risk. euros. this belaboured forum to rise to But Timoci’s second question The India ink and water- the challenge. remains open: What is he, and by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama with Timoci colour image, which went un- Twelve-year-old Timoci Nau- extension the world, going to do? Naulusala, the young Fijian who spoke at a session of the UN Conference on Climate Change in Bonn. der the hammer for €505,000 Sold for €505,000 ($595,000). lusala from Fiji, a nation disap- At fi rst, the answer – laid ($595,000), shows the intrepid pearing under rising seas, was out in the 1992 UN Convention gotiators call “the real world”. fi cials and energy company ex- David Levai, head of the climate pair in the company of a butler fi gurines, it came in under an delivering a testimonial to minis- on Climate Change – seemed “What is at stake here is the ecutives hosted a pro-fossil fuel programme at the Institute for in a royal palace. estimated price of €600,000 ters and heads of state with crisp straight-forward: humans must relevance of the COP process,” event on the conference margins. Sustainable Development and It was drawn by the Belgian to €800,000. English and irresistible charm. stop loading the atmosphere said Nicaragua’s chief negotiator Meanwhile, scientists warned International Relations in Paris. cartoonist known as Herge as “Original Tintin works are Suddenly, describing the dev- with the greenhouse gases that Paul Oquist, lamenting a point of of invisible temperature thresh- Some 7,500 cities and local the cover illustration for the today becoming more and astation wrought by Cyclone drive global warming. blockage and the generally slow olds – “tipping points” – beyond governments have set carbon 1939 newspaper serialisation more rare at auction, espe- Winston last year, his words The successful repair of the pace. “We cannot risk becoming which ice sheets would irretriev- cutting targets, and hundreds of of King Ottokar’s Sceptre. cially those from the 1930s and became measured, his voice ozone hole suggested a way for- more and more irrelevant with ably shed enough water to raise global companies are retooling Originally published in 1940s,” said Eric Leroy, car- hushed. ward: an international treaty. each meeting.” global oceans by metres. for a low-carbon world. black and white in the youth toons expert at Artcurial. “My home, my school – my But it took a quarter of a cen- The UN climate process risks “The only question is how A veteran EU climate diplo- supplement of Belgian news- Tintin creator Herge, other- source of food, water, money – tury to get one, in 2015, and even falling out of step in two key fast,” James Hansen, head of mat, meanwhile, bemoaned the paper Le Vingtieme Siecle, the wise known as Georges Remi, was totally destroyed,” he said. then it is woefully inadequate: ways, experts suggest. Nasa’s Goddard Institute for lack of dynamism in the negoti- story would become the eighth holds a string of records for “My life was in chaos. I asked voluntary national pledges to One is in relation to the un- Space Studies until 2013, told ating arena. volume of young reporter Tin- cartoons sold at auction. myself: Why is this happening? curb carbon pollution would still forgiving conclusions of science, AFP. “I’ve never seen a COP with so tin’s adventures. In November a drawing from What am I going to do?” allow the global thermometer which show that the window of The UN’s 12-day negotiations little adrenaline,” he told AFP. On sale at auction house Explorers on the Moon sold for The answer to Timoci’s fi rst to go up 3°C, a recipe for human opportunity for avoiding climate came to an end yesterday with Mads Randboll Wolff , a Danish Artcurial as part of a sale of €1.55mn at Artcurial, setting question has become frightening misery on a vast scale. cataclysm is narrowing to a slit. an agreement to hold a stocktake expert in bioeconomics – a fi eld Tintin memorabilia includ- a record for a single cartoon clear: climate change. Since Paris, the UN climate This year’s climate talks kicked in 2018 of national eff orts to cut that didn’t even exist a decade ing original drawings, toys and drawing. With only a single degree Cel- talks – known to participants as off with negotiators learning that fossil fuel emissions. ago – recalled the bitter disap- sius of global warming so far, “COPs”, or Conferences of the CO2 emissions – after remain- But the talks are falling be- pointment of the failed Copen- the planet has already seen a Parties – have focused on work- ing stable for three years, raising hind the response of cities, sub- hagen climate summit in 2009. crescendo of deadly droughts, ing out an operational handbook hopes that they had peaked – will national regions and especially “The entire world was look- Vatican opens investigation into heatwaves, and superstorms en- for the treaty, which goes into ef- rise by 2% in 2017, a development businesses, which have leaped ing up to the podium, waiting for alleged abuser who became a priest gorged by rising seas. fect in 2020. one scientist called “a giant step headlong into the transition from world leaders to strike the deal “Climate change is here. It is But as the years tick by, the backwards for humankind”. a dirty to a clean global economy. that would save us,” he said. The Vatican said yesterday that it had opened an investigation into dangerous. And it is about to get byzantine bureaucracy – where Negotiations were also reel- “For the fi rst time in the his- “One of the lessons from Co- reports that a former teenage altar boy, who allegedly repeatedly much worse,” said Johan Rock- hundreds of diplomats can ar- ing from US President Donald tory of the COPs, the heart of penhagen is that the negotiations forced a dormitory mate to have sex with him, went on to become stroem, executive director of the gue for days over whether a text Trump’s decision to pull out from the action was not in the nego- are not enough,” he added. “We a priest. Stockholm Resilience Centre, a will say “should” or “shall” – has the Paris Agreement. tiating arena but in the ‘green’ need them. But we also need civil The allegations concerning the St Pius X Institute, known as a climate change research centre. struggled to keep pace with both America sent envoys to the zone” showcasing innovations in society – people, citizens – to pre-seminary, were made in a recent book and in Italian television The 196-nation Paris Agree- the problem, and what some ne- meetings but White House of- sustainable development,” said take action.” reports. The pre-seminary is a residence inside the Vatican for altar boys who serve at masses in St Peter’s Basilica mostly presided over by priests, bishops and cardinals. At times they also participate in papal liturgies. The boys go to Italian schools while they live in the Vatican, a Death toll from Greek sovereign city-state surrounded by Rome. The reports said that despite complaints to superiors against the teenager, he was accepted into what is known as a major seminary fl ooding rises to 19 when he became an adult. He was later ordained a priest and is now serving in a parish in northern Italy, they said. AFP/DPA the fl ood toll stood at 16 dead and Athens six missing. Local authorities have begun Ukrainian lawmakers vote for tallying the damage but with the reek police and emer- emphasis still on clearing roads new Christmas public holiday gency workers recovered and searching for the missing, Gthree bodies in fl ood-hit there is no clear indication of the Ukrainian lawmakers have voted for a new public holiday on areas west of Athens yesterday, cost. December 25 in a move which they said would allow the country to bringing the death toll since The mayor of Mandra said that distance itself from Russia, which celebrates Orthodox Christmas Wednesday to 19. some 2,000 homes and busi- in January. “The bodies of three men dis- nesses had been gutted, and the Ukraine is majority Orthodox and January 7 will remain a public covered on Saturday, aged 28, Megara mayor said that another holiday in the country even though the Western Christmas day is 58, and 35, have been identifi ed 500 homes had been hit in his now off icially recognised. by their families,” Nikos Papaef- area. Oleksandr Turchynov, secretary of Ukraine’s Security and Defence stathiou, head of the National Even the local cemetery was Council, said that this was a “historic” decision. Health Operations Centre, told submerged in mud, with many “(It) will allow us to to distance ourselves from Moscow’s calendar AFP. “We are still searching for tombstones broken and strewn and Russian imperial standards,” he said. at least three people reported about. “Let us liberate ourselves from Moscow’s mental occupation and missing.” The Athens authorities and return to the family of free peoples,” parliament chairman Andriy Two of the bodies found yes- civil groups have been distribut- Parubiy wrote in a blog post following the vote on Thursday, in terday were fi shed out of the ing food and water to residents in which 238 deputies voted for the changes and eight against. gulf of Eleusis, near the town of Mandra. The law, which must be approved by President Petro Poroshenko Mandra, west of Athens, by port “For the third day, there isn’t before it takes eff ect, removes a public holiday on May 2, breaking police. a single open shop in Mandra, with the Soviet tradition of marking International Workers’ Day over The bodies were those of two we don’t have water, (and) we two days. men, aged 35 and 55, a police of- haven’t washed since Wednes- An ancient statue is partly submerged under water at an fi cial said. day,” local shop owner Evangelos archaeological site, following flash floods which hit the area, at the Meanwhile in Mandra itself, Peppas told AFP on Friday. village of Dion, Greece. Erdogan rebuff s Nato apology over ‘enemy poster’ rescue workers uncovered a third Most of the victims were body buried in the mud. drowned, carried away by the Experts have pointed out that Corrective drainage works for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has “You have seen the disrespectful behaviour at the The freak fl ood struck early on fl oodwaters and mudslides, or ill-conceived building in the area the area were approved in 2016 rejected an apology from the North Atlantic Treaty Nato drill yesterday. There are some mistakes that Wednesday the towns of Man- trapped in fl ooded cars or base- – some of it by local municipal but work has yet to begin. Organisation (Nato) military alliance after his name are done not by fools but only by base people,” dra, Nea Peramos, and Megara, ments. authorities – meant that this Stricken areas will request EU appeared on an “enemy poster” at a drill, saying Erdogan said in a speech broadcast live on some 50km west of Athens. Some local residents spoke of a was a disaster that was waiting solidarity funds, the Athens gov- that such disrespectful behaviour could not be so television. “This matter cannot be covered over Before the latest discoveries, “tsunami”. to happen. ernor’s offi ce said. easily forgiven. with a simple apology.” Gulf Times Sunday, November 19, 2017 19 EUROPE

Man shot at French border German coalition talks

AFP Barcelona

olice in Spain shot and in- go deep into overtime jured an unarmed French- Pman yesterday at a toll Reuters/AFP passed without agreement, immediate families to join them. station near the French border, Berlin forcing the conservatives to “There is the will to ensure who offi cers said was shouting promise further concessions on that this political task succeeds, “Allahu akbar”. emissions cuts to the Greens. but it cannot succeed at any The offi cers mistakenly sus- ermany’s three would-be FDP leader Christian Lind- price,” warned Alexander Do- pected that the man had a weap- coalition partners went ner said the talks now had to be brindt, a member of the CSU, on, a police statement said, add- Gdeep into overtime in wrapped up by 1700 GMT today the Bavarian party allied with ing that they do not expect to talks yesterday as they sought (Sunday). Merkel’s Christian Democratic open a terrorism investigation. enough common ground in cli- However, President Frank- Union (CDU), after arriving for The man, of Moroccan origin, mate and migration policy to Walter Steinmeier, a former for- the talks. was travelling with a woman in a form a government and stave off eign minister who now plays an All parties are anxious to avoid vehicle registered in France and the prospect of a repeat election. apolitical role, said that brink- a repeat election, which they approached the toll by the bor- Incumbent chancellor An- manship was to be expected. fear could boost the AfD, which der town of La Jonquera in the gela Merkel’s only realistic hope “Before the formal talks start, surged into parliament for the north of the country in the early of securing a fourth term after there are always attempts by fi rst time in September’s nation- hours of yesterday morning. suff ering losses in September’s parties to drive prices up,” he al election. Police said a Guardia Civil election is an awkward three- told the weekly Welt am Son- But the heterogeneous three- patrol was alerted because the way conservative-liberal-Green ntag. “What we’ve seen in the way coalition, made necessary man had a “strange” attitude alliance. past weeks isn’t so diff erent after the conservatives and the and “seemed to be manipulating But after four weeks of talks, from previous coalition negotia- centre-left suff ered punishing something inside the vehicle”. the parties remained far apart as tions.” election losses, is untested at “The police asked him to they adjourned for the night. Greens chairwoman Simone national level. get out. He fi nally got out with The biggest sticking points Peter said much that had earlier Merkel, no longer deemed something in his hands and he are climate change, where the been agreed on emissions policy invincible after her poor elec- moved towards the offi cers,” said Greens want emissions cuts that had been undone, without giv- tion result, “now faces the most a spokesperson for the Catalan the other parties see as econom- ing details. diffi cult task of her leadership police. ically ruinous, and immigration, Bavaria’s Christian Social Un- so far,” judged the Sueddeutsche Negotiators from the four parties are seen at the CDU headquarters in Berlin late yesterday. The spokesperson said that, where Merkel’s arch-conserv- ion (CSU) faces regional state Zeitung daily. according to the police offi cers ative allies in Bavaria insist on elections next year, and fears the Hours after a 15-hour red- whether or not a new govern- mutual distrust”, led by Merkel, The smaller parties, it said, present, the man “shouted ‘Al- stricter rules. far-right Alternative for Ger- eye meeting ended around 4am ment could be formed. whom he labelled the “world “are already fi ghting at the ex- lahu akbar’ (God is greatest)”. With the pro-business, tax- many (AfD) could unseat it after on Friday, Merkel, the veteran Martin Schulz of the centre- champion in vagueness”. pense of the chancellor, who “The police offi cers repeat- cutting Free Democrat (FDP) 60 years if it fails to secure tough of countless all-night EU sum- left Social Democrats (SPD) – Schulz also charged that the won’t necessarily get the credit edly asked him to stop, shot in liberals freshly returned to par- immigration rules – which are mits, said that “the task of form- Merkel’s former junior coalition odd alliance would diminish if the talks succeed, but who will the air to intimidate him but as liament after four years in the anathema to the left-leaning ing a government for Germany partner, which went into oppo- Germany’s role in the EU and certainly be blamed if this ex- he continued to move forward, wilderness, and the Greens out Greens. is so important that the eff ort is sition after a stinging election contribute to the “paralysis of periment fails”. they shot him in the hip,” he said. of offi ce for 12 years, neither is Among the CSU’s demands worthwhile”. loss – re-emerged to criticise the Europe”. Fresh elections would heap The man “then undressed” keen to give ground. are a cap of 200,000 per year Horst Seehofer, the embat- painful process. The Frankfurter Allgemeine pressure on all parties, the pa- and “appeared to suff er from A self-imposed deadline of on the number of refugees Ger- tled leader of the CSU, said that He charged that the four par- Zeitung commented that, de- per added, but especially on the mental problems”. Thursday for wrapping up ex- many will take, and an end to the “we have the goal of fi nishing by ties were searching for the “low- spite the hurdles, “Merkel can’t chancellor “because then Mer- According to the Guardia Civil ploratory talks and starting practice of allowing successful Sunday” because the German est common denominator” in aff ord to fail, because the SPD ... kel’s star will fade even more his life “is not in danger” and he formal coalition negotiations asylum-seekers to bring their people had the right to know an atmosphere of “maximum won’t come to her rescue again”. quickly, maybe even for good”. is being cared for in a hospital in Gerone. Police say an investigation is underway to establish the facts about what happened. New leader named for Macron’s party Migrant boy, 11, commits suicide AFP as he promised not to be “the than 350,000, the party has tary elections in June in which Lyon leader of the movement”, but an stagnated. En Marche won a hefty major- Austrian police said on Friday “organiser, a facilitator”. Some party activists criticised ity – marked a break in decades that they were investigating the Castaner, 51, was elected un- the decision to use a show of dominated by the traditional left suicide of an 11-year-old Afghan mmanuel Macron’s party opposed via a show of hands at hands to elect Castaner, arguing and right. migrant. named a new leader yes- LREM’s party congress in the that it would pressure voters into Both the mainstream Social- He died in a hospital near Vienna Eterday as the French presi- eastern city of Lyon, to the irri- toeing the line. ists and right-wing Republicans on Monday after being admitted dent faces the fi rst rebellious tation of some grassroots mem- LREM will be vital for Macron are currently leaderless. a day earlier, police said. grumblings in the 19-month- bers of what Macron called a at the local and regional level in Speaking anonymously, one It was unclear how he killed old movement that swept him to “citizens’ movement”. France, where future elections government minister said that himself. power. The new party chief – who for mayors and councils off er Castaner was what LREM need- The boy and his family had been Christophe Castaner, a admitted that he had not been him the chance to push his pro- ed to get through its growing living in a refugee centre in smooth-talking, ultra-loyal “dreaming” of the unpaid job – business agenda to “transform” pains, as someone who is both Baden, south of the capital, since government spokesman, takes struck a humble tone as he ac- France. close to Macron and on good last year, when a record influx of the helm of Republic on the cepted a three-year term, telling Launched simply as En terms with ordinary party faith- migrants arrived in Austria. Move (LREM) six months after party members: “Your vote gives Marche (On the Move) in April ful. Media reports said the boy felt Macron won the presidency in me no rights, only responsibili- 2016, it was a hugely eff ec- “The movement has not com- unable to cope with looking after a sensational upset for French ties.” tive electoral force with its pletely matured,” the minister his six siblings after his 23-year- politics. After widespread grumbling thousands of volunteers who said. “We need to let the leaders old elder brother left him in Macron’s handpicked fa- in private, a small group of 100 Castaner: elected unopposed via a show of hands at LREM’s party knocked on doors, fl ocked to ral- emerge – those who are already charge. vourite, Castaner is a former followers went public this week congress in the eastern city of Lyon. lies and distributed leafl ets. in the government and parlia- According to public broadcaster Socialist MP who joined the with an open resignation letter Many were drawn to Macron’s ment – and the best person to Oe1, off icials had been made 39-year-old’s centrist, pro-Eu- that claimed the party had no in- The complaints are one of a who accuse him of favouring the promise to do politics diff erent- get them to emerge is Castaner.” aware of the family’s precarious ropean campaign early in his run ternal democracy and was con- number of challenges faced by rich with his tax policies. ly, with local committees invited Castaner’s appointment will situation but failed to react. for presidency. sumed by political scheming. Macron, who needs a support Even senior fi gures have ad- to brainstorm and contribute to prompt a mini re-shuffl e early Authorities have rejected the “It’s not a dream, it’s not an The anonymous rebels said in base as he battles opponents in- mitted that, since tasting glory the party’s manifesto. next week as he will have to step accusations, saying that they had ambition, it’s a chance, an hon- the letter that LREM was guilty cluding trade unionists opposed over the summer with a mem- Macron’s rise to the presiden- down as government spokes- noticed “nothing unusual”. our, it’s a duty,” Castaner said, of “contempt and arrogance”. to his labour reforms and leftists bership that swelled to more cy – and subsequent parliamen- man.

Catalan leaders get pride of place in poll lists Spain police suing Pensioner

AFP satirists for ‘insults’ wins big Madrid

AFP tion against satirists in Catalo- DPA mprisoned and exiled fi gures Barcelona nia since the October 1 referen- Moscow from Catalonia’s separatist dum, where offi cers in Spain’s Imovement feature promi- national service received wide- nently in party lists unveiled by panish police are pursu- spread condemnation for using 63-year-old pensioner the region’s pro-independence ing legal action against force against peaceful civilians. has won 500mn roubles factions, ahead of elections Ssatirists for insulting In an article on October 5, A(€7.2mn) in the lottery, called for December 21. the thousands of offi cers that the satirical El Jueves published the largest-ever win in Russian Of the 14 members of the were sent to Catalonia to pre- a piece joking that the Span- history, the TASS news agency Catalan government who were vent last month’s banned in- ish police offi cers “had used reported yesterday. dismissed by the central gov- dependence referendum, the up all of Catalonia’s cocaine State-run lottery company ernment in October, 12 are on comedians have told AFP. reserves” while policing the Stoloto said that Natalya Vlass- the two main separatist lists, the Eduard Biosca, a comedian referendum. ova from the Voronezh region of “Together for Catalonia” group on Catalonia’s RAC1 radio sta- Author Joan Ferrus appeared Russia, some 600km south of of sacked president Carles Puig- tion, told AFP on Friday that in front of a judge on Thursday, Moscow, found out that she won demont and the Republican Left he had received a summons several days after his publisher about one week after it was fi rst of Catalonia (ERC), led by his to appear in front of a judge in Guillermo Martinez-Vela. announced. vice-president Oriol Junqueras. January after he used a satiri- “It’s a humorous article. All In a video on Stoloto’s website, Seven of the former offi cials, cal character to refer to police our readers know it’s fi ction Vlassova said that her grand- including Junqueras, are current- A woman holding Spanish and Catalan Senyera flags shouts slogans during a demonstration organised as “rats”. and they don’t see that we have daughter had initially checked ly jailed pending an investigation yesterday by fascist movements in Barcelona’s Artos Square on the sidelines of an anti-fascist “The fi rst 10,000 rats have insulted anyone,” Martinez- her lottery numbers and thought into charges of rebellion, sedition counter-protest. Police dispersed both sides before any incident. arrived from Madrid,” he said Vela told AFP. them unsuccessful. and misuse of public funds, while referring to a ferry carrying na- But a spokesman for Spain’s Only when media reports said Puigdemont and four others are Junqueras and the others being region’s last elections in 2015, ter Mariano Rajoy’s Popular Par- tional police offi cers to Catalo- main police union didn’t see that someone in her region had in Belgium fi ghting an extradi- held may be released before the when the pro-independence ty (PP), the centrist Ciudadanos nia. the funny side. won did Vlassova look at her tion request fi led by Spain. election. camp secured a majority of 72 and Catalonia’s Socialist party. “I play someone who props “Limits on free speech were ticket again. Prosecutors in Brussels asked Puigdemont presented on seats in the 135-seat parliament. Madrid has imposed direct up the bar, who’s talkative and surpassed,” he said, adding “Something unbelievable is a judge on Friday to extradite Pu- Twitter the lists backed by his But the ERC rejected a joint rule on the once semi-autono- silly and gets everyone’s back that the article appeared with- happening,” she recalled think- igdemont and the others, and a conservative PDeCat party, say- ticket, and opinion polls suggest mous region since the independ- up,” Biosca told AFP. “I’ve done in “a very delicate context” ing at the time. new hearing has been set for De- ing that the candidates support- that while it is leading in the cur- ence declaration made after a him for 10 years and I’ve never amid Catalonia’s independ- Though the win is relatively cember 4. ed “independence, the republic rent campaign, which offi cially banned referendum on October 1, used him to speak in my voice ence crisis. small in comparison to US or But a fi nal decision could still and freedom”, as well as the res- opens on December 5, the inde- and called the new elections in a on the show.” Rights groups say that police European jackpots, half a billion be months away, as both sides are titution of the regional govern- pendence coalition as a whole bid to “restore normality”. A police source confi rmed used excessive force to try and roubles is a huge sum of money expected to appeal if the judge ment and “a return of political could lose its absolute majority. Regional authorities said 90% that it was pursuing a com- stop the referendum, includ- for the average Russian pension- rules against them, which means prisoners and exiles”. The polls indicate a tight race chose to split from Spain, though plaint of “insult” – an off ence ing allegedly charging peace- er, who receives about €200 per Puigdemont might be out of the He had hoped to form a unit- against the “Constitutionalist” less than half of eligible voters punishable by a fi ne – against ful protesters without warning month from the state. country when the Catalonia vote ed separatist front for the new bloc which favours Spanish uni- turned out in a region deeply di- Biosca. and using batons and shields to Vlassova plans to donate some is held. elections, as was the case in the ty, which includes Prime Minis- vided on independence. It is the second such legal ac- hit them. of her prize money to charity. Gulf Times 20 Sunday, November 19, 2017 INDIA

HEALTH DEFENCE ACADEMIA EDUCATION POLITICS Odisha to launch Indian, Myanmar armies Educational institutions Delhi college renamed Mayor injured in vaccination campaign to hold joint exercise need to innovate: Kovind Vande Mataram scuff le, hospitalised

The Odisha government will launch a Indian and Myanmar armies will conduct their Calling for an “inter-disciplinary” approach to Delhi University’s Dyal Singh College (Evening), Thiruvananthapuram Mayor V K Prasanth, owing major vaccination drive to combat the maiden joint exercise in India’s northeastern state answer the requirements of the future, President which since the past few months has been allegiance to Communist Party of India (Marxist), killer Japanese Encephalitis (JE) disease of Meghalaya, an army off icial said yesterday. The Ram Nath Kovind yesterday said leading functioning as a day college, has decided to suff ered injuries in a scuff le that broke out between in 13 districts of the state, an official five-day exercise starting on November 20 will educational institutions will need to adapt to the rename itself as Vande Mataram Mahavidyalaya. the CPM and Bharatiya Janata Party councillors said yesterday. The campaign, starting be held at the newly-inaugurated state-of-the-art changing technologies. Speaking at the 94th Amitabh Sinha, chairperson of the governing body during a special sitting of the corporation to mark on November 27, will run for 20 days. Joint Training Node at Umroi Cantonment, about annual convocation of the University of Delhi, the of Dyal Singh College, said yesterday the decision its second anniversary. He was taken to hospital. In Over 7mn children in the age group of 25km from Shillong, the state capital of Meghalaya. president also said that universities would need was taken to overcome the confusion in the name. the 100-member Thiruvananthapuram Municipal 1 year to 15 years would be given with “IMBAX-2017” is the first-ever military training exercise to innovate in terms of academic content as well A notification to change the name was issued on Corporation, the BJP is the principal opposition one dose of the Japanese Encephalitis on UN Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKO) between as mechanism of delivery. “We are entering a November 17 and has been sent to the vice chancellor party. The trouble broke out when the BJP insisted vaccine during the campaign. The the two nations, being conducted on the Indian soil, world where Artificial Intelligence is changing for his approval. The issue became controversial on a discussion on the way the High Mast Lighting disease killed over 100 children in according to defence ministry spokesman Lt Col not just how our society ‘does’ but how it ‘thinks’. after the Congress Party’ students wing, the National programme was being carried out in the capital the state last year, sources said. The Suneet Newton. He said 15 off icers from the Myanmar We are at the edge of a society of cognitive Students’ Union of India, questioned the decision city. But it was opposed by the ruling CPM-led vaccination campaign will be launched army and 16 off icers from the Indian army will jointly machines. As such, the challenges and the and accused the governing body of “disgracing the Left Front. After winding up the session, Prasanth in Balasore, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, train for six days. Newton said the aim of the bilateral opportunities before us – and particularly before legacy” of Punjab’s first freedom fighter – Sardar was leaving the Council hall on the top floor when Kalahandi, Kendrapara, Khurda, Koraput, training event is to train the Myanmar delegation for those who are graduating today – are immense,” Dyal Singh Majithia. “No one should have objection the scuff le started between the Left and the BJP Nabarangpur, Puri, Rayagada, Sonepur participation in the UN Peacekeeping Operations Kovind said. “Our leading institutions, such as the to the name Vande Mataram as it associates us councillors and in the melee, Prasanth fell injuring and Sundergarh. under the UN Flag. University of Delhi, will need to adapt as well. with our mother,” Sinha said. himself. Colourful procession Tax raid at Jaya’s home divides TN ruling party

IANS Chief Minister O Panneerselvam cure of the growing popularity of Chennai who were responsible for the raid Dinakaran and Sasikala. We will at “Veda Nilayam”, where the late oppose his. Even if they arrest all Caparisoned elephants take part in the annual Vrischikolsavam festival, which features a colourful procession of decorated chief minister lived. our cadres then it is the violation elephants along with drum concerts, at a temple in Kochi, Kerala yesterday. ncome tax raid at the Poes Several other AIADMK lead- of human rights. Such political Garden residence of late chief ers also said it was painful that thugs and political goons should Iminister J Jayalalithaa on Jayalalithaa’s house was the be sent home,” she said. Friday night has created a major target of an IT raid but some of Jaya TV CEO Vivek Jayaraman controversy with All India Anna the ministers justified the ac- said: “We are hurt today because Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam tion saying it was due to Sasika- of these I-T raids. This is the leaders calling it “unfortunate la’s actions. place where Jaya lived. This is a and regretful” while Chief Min- Fisheries Minister D Jayaku- temple. They have taken away Vijayan defends upper caste job ister K Palaniswami blamed V K mar said it was very painful that the letters people have written Sasikala and her family for the the raid took place but blamed Jaya.” action. Sasikala and her family for that. Jayalalithaa’s niece Deepa The chief minister distanced Forests Minister Dindugal Srini- Jayakumar, claimed the “illegal” his government from the raid vasan said it was a routine action raid was a part of Sasikala’s con- quota; ‘backward’ leaders fume and said it was the result of of the income tax department. spiracy. “several mistakes” by Sasikala, However, senior leaders V “The IT did not inform us about By Ashraf Padanna litical parties, including the CPI changes,” he had said. “The ally of the opposition Congress a close aide of Jayalalithaa, and Maitreyan and K P Munuswamy the raids. They broke into our Thiruvananthapuram and Congress, against Vijay- temple boards are one such Party in the state, accused the several of her family members said whatever may be the reason property. It’s illegal. I am going to an’s Communist Party of India area.” government of diluting the spir- that resulted in the “temple” it was painful and not acceptable. take legal action against them. I am (Marxist). The backward leaders say it of affi rmative action. being desecrated. Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker the rightful heir of Jayalalithaa. It’s erala Chief Minister Pi- However, it silently crept into they remain grossly underrep- ‘‘Vijayan even stressed the Palaniswami told reporters that Thambidurai said Jayalalithaa’s conspiracy by Sasikala and family,” narayi Vijayan yesterday the election manifesto of the resented in the government jobs need for a constitution amend- the IT raid in Jayalalithaa’s house residence was a “sacred” place Jayakumar said. Kdefended his decision to ruling Left Democratic Front with the state failing to imple- ment,” IUML secretary and law- was a continuation of the searches and nothing should be done to Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam reserve 10% jobs for the eco- (LDF) that the CPM leads, and ment the quota system effi - maker E T Mohamed Basheer taking place for the last few days bring disrepute to it. leader M K Stalin waded into the nomically backward people the CPI, which is now engaged ciently, as found by a study con- said. in the residences and properties of Dinakaran, who heads a fac- controversy by seeking details from the upper caste Hindus in a stiff power struggle against ducted by the pro-government “Such an attitude is highly Sasikala and her family members tion of the AIADMK opposed to about the raids at Jayalalithaa’s under temple boards. the senior partner, has been Kerala Sastra Sahithya Parishad. condemnable as it weakens the in Tamil Nadu and elsewhere. Palaniswami and Panneersel- house and in various other places He said the government had keeping silent. The decade-old study shows spirit of social justice and con- “The Tamil Nadu government vam called the raid a conspiracy connected with Sasikala and her resolved to ensure social justice Party sources say it “ideolog- Muslims, who constitute stitutionally ensured rights of is in no way connected with the to drive him and Sasikala out of family. He also wondered what had and the upper caste job quota ically” remains opposed to any 26.58% of the population, re- backward communities.” raids, which are being done by the politics. He accused the chief happened to the raids at former was a right step in that direc- form of dilution in the caste- main the biggest suff erers with He also accused Vijayan of income tax department which minister and deputy chief min- chief secretary Rammohan Rao, tion. based quotas. a shortage of 136% in propor- appeasing the federal govern- comes under the central govern- ister of being responsible for contractor Sekar Reddy and some “The quota for the forward Briefi ng the media after the tional representation in govern- ment of Bharatiya Janata Party ment. It pains us that there has the raid. ministers earlier this year. classes would not in no way af- cabinet meeting, Vijayan had ment jobs. (BJP) “which wanted to scrap all been a raid at Jayalalithaa’s house Another AIADMK leader Ap- On Friday night, IT offi cials fect the chances of the backward listed it as one of his govern- The only community that had reservation benefi ts to Dalits, which we consider as a temple sara Reddy said the opposition recovered a laptop, a desktop and classes,” he said in Palakkad. ment’s achievements that no achieved the proportional rep- tribespeople, and minorities.” and the state government was in was insecure of the growing pop- four pen drives from two rooms Last week, the cabinet took other state had accomplished. resentation is the Hindu Ezhava The IUML, he said, is in touch the process of converting it into a ularity of Dinakaran and jailed used by Sasikala at Jayalalithaa’s the historic decision as four He also said he would “put community, while other back- with other backward communi- memorial,” he said. Sasikala. residence, said a senior offi cial. ministers of the Communist pressure” on the federal gov- ward Hindus are underrepre- ty leaders to launch a campaign He also dismissed Sasikala’s “It’s absolutely disgraceful “We received inputs that some Party of India (CPI), the second ernment to make constitution- sented by 41%, Dalits 22.6% and to protect their quotas which he nephew T T V Dinakaran, asking that a state administration is important electronic storage de- largest ruling coalition partner, al amendments to extend the tribals 49.5%. described as a benefi t they had “who is he?” cracking down a temple for all vices are going to be clandestine- staged a boycott to force the res- quota for all government jobs, However, Nairs are overrep- won through intense struggles. “He has nothing to do with the our cadres that is Jayalalithaa’s ly removed from two rooms used ignation of transport minister drawing protests from leaders of resented by 40.5% and other “It is not a means to end pov- AIADMK. We are the ones in the home. Without any summons, by Sasikala in Veda Nilayam,” the Thomas Chandy facing land- the backward communities. forward castes by 56.5%. Chris- erty and empower people eco- party for over 40 years and have without any intimation they IT offi cial said. grab charges. “But there are certain sectors tians are also overrepresented nomically. It is affi rmative ac- made sacrifi ces for it,” Palan- barged in during such odd hours According to him, it was a The issue of diluting the where the reservation for eco- by 11%. tion to bring the marginalised iswami said when asked about in the house is very suspect. They “limited mission”. caste-based job quotas had for nomically weak can be intro- The Indian Union Muslim sections to the mainstream,’’ he Dinakaran’s charge that it was want to crack down the political “We are not searching the en- many decades put all major po- duced without constitutional League (IUML), the principal said. the chief minister and Deputy opponents because they are inse- tire premises,” he said. Karnataka private doctors Shop on track Fight over symbol will resume work, treat patients continue, says Sharad IANS “arrow” symbol to the Nitish New Delhi Kumar-faction after a three- IANS nataka Private Medical Estab- two-hour long meeting between month battle between the two Bengaluru lishments (KPME) Act, 2007 to the state government and repre- warring groups of the JD-U. regulate the functioning of the sentatives of the private doctors enior socialist leader and Yadav, a former president of private hospitals, including the at Belagavi on Friday, Veeranna Rajya Sabha MP Sharad the JD-U, said the EC’s deci- rivate doctors across treatment cost, grievances re- said. SYadav yesterday ques- sion would not deter his fi ght Karnataka were back to dressal committees and impris- “As we demanded, the state tioned the Election Commis- to “save democracy”. Pwork yesterday and began onment of doctors if a patient government has agreed not to sion’s decision to grant the “We are not dismayed by treating outpatients after they dies due to their medical negli- form grievances redressal com- “arrow” symbol to the Nitish this decision. We knew the called off their five-day strike gence. mittees at the district level. Ag- Kumar-led faction of Janata fate but it does not mean that on Friday. Nearly 50,000 doctors work- grieved patients can approach Dal-United, saying “justice we should end our fi ght. Our “All the private doctors across ing in private hospitals, clinics and the District Health Offi cer (DHO) was not done” and vowed to fi ght for party symbol is a le- the state are back to their duties nursing homes were on a fi ve-day or the Karnataka Medical Coun- continue the fi ght both legally gal battle but the real issue, since morning after we called off strike with several also on a relay cil (KMC) under the existing pro- and democratically. for which we are fi ghting, is to the strike,” Indian Medical Asso- hunger strike at Belagavi, about visions of the KPME Act,” Veer- “The decision has not met- save democracy. ciation’s (IMA) Karnataka chap- 500km from here, where the 10- anna said. ed out justice. The EC’s deci- “The country runs on issues ter secretary Dr B Veeranna said day winter session of the state leg- A division bench of the Kar- sion is just asking the person and on principles. They (Nit- here. islature began on Monday. nataka High Court comprising who built the building to va- ish-led faction) have insulted “Doctors are treating pa- “Whatever our demands were, Acting Chief Justice H G Ramesh cate it. My lawyers are looking the mandate of 11 crore people tients in outpatient departments the state government has agreed and Justice P S Dinesh Kumar on into the matter and will soon of Bihar by joining hands with (OPDs) as we’ had assured the to make the amendments and ta- Friday ordered the private doc- take a decision. Our fi ght will the BJP. high court on Friday,” he said. ble the bill again on Monday,” he tors to withdraw their strike, as continue,” Yadav told report- “They have compromised The state government had in- said. the state government had agreed ers here at a press conference. with the issues and principles. corporated penal provisions in The state had agreed to the to consider their demands on the A woman shops beside a railway track in Kolkata. He was responding to the We will continue our demo- the Amendment Bill to the Kar- demands of the doctors at a amendment bill. EC’s decision to grant the cratic fi ght,” he said. Gulf Times Sunday, November 19, 2017 21 INDIA

Bhansali always kicks up controversies: Rajput leader IANS have also rubbed off in the poll- Rana said: “In the coming days in controversy? He has made a cover all major cities of the state. tress Deepika Padukone made by ing the other way and we have to Gandhinagar bound state of Gujarat. we will be reaching out to all the habit of it, and we will make him A mega convention is planned at a local artist in a mall. run around and show it at other This time the Rajput com- people in Gujarat and urge the pay for it. And why did he display the GMDC ground in Ahmedabad The ruling Bharatiya Janata forums to ‘clear’ it,” tweeted Ajit munity’s various groups are not people to boycott this fi lm. Be- it to some groups when fi rst it has on December 3 for the cause. Party too had written to the Elec- Andhare, chief operating offi cer, mid growing protests over against the fi lm’s release on De- sides we will be fi elding around a to be shown to the CBFC (Central Earlier, people associated with tion Commission seeking a ban Viacom18 Motion Pictures. the controversial fi lm cember 1 as the Supreme Court thousand people at each theatre Board of Film Certifi cation) be- Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on release of the movie till after The censor board has report- APadmavati, a leader of a has refused to stay it. in the state. We want to infl ict fore certifi cation?” and those belonging to Rajput, the Gujarat assembly elections edly sent back the fi lm’s applica- Rajput group in Gujarat has criti- But the Gaurav Swabhiman the maximum fi nancial blow to According to Shersinh Rana, Karni and Gurjar communities on December 9 and 14. tion for certifi cation, citing it is cised the fi lmmaker Sanjay Leela Sabha in Gujarat has declared a the mischievous fi lm director the group will work along with too had warned against the re- Meanwhile, the makers of the incomplete. Bhansali, alleging it was his “tac- pledge to not let the fi lm run in Bhansali.” other Hindu organisations in the lease of the fi lm that allegedly fi lm are wondering how the CBFC Meanwhile, senior journalists tic” to “always create a contro- theatres in Gujarat, as they feel When asked him about the state and hold ‘Gaurav Swabhi- tarnishes the image of Queen is “looking the other way” due to Rajat Sharma and Arnab Goswa- versy ahead of his fi lm’s release” it has been mischievous on the court verdict, Rana said: “I totally man Sabha’ in each of the three Padmavati. which they are compelled to show mi said on Friday that they have to ensure box-offi ce success. part of Bhansali to depict Rajput agree with the apex court’s deci- districts of the state. The demon- Last month, a mob of Karni the movie at other platforms. watched the movie and didn’t fi nd Protests against Padmavati are women in “degrading fashion”. sion, but why is it that every time strations and meetings will start Sena and VHP members de- “What an irony, those who anything that could hurt the senti- growing around the country, and The group’s leader Shersinh Bhansali produces a fi lm it lands from November 25 in Surat and stroyed a rangoli depicting ac- are supposed to watch are look- ments of the Rajput community. 2 former aides of Hardik Patel join BJP ahead of elections

IANS Dinesh Bamania, convener Gandhinagar of PAAS, claimed that Gujarat Congress president Bharatsinh Solanki initially had a brief ours ahead of a mega meeting with them and told rally by the Patidar An- them that there would be a de- Hamat Andolan Samiti tailed meeting again after the (PAAS) at Mansa, the Patidar Congress Central Election Com- group suff ered a blow with two mittee’s meeting got over. of its former members joining “However, even after the CEC Gujarat’s ruling Bharatiya Janata meeting got over, they have not Party yesterday. met us and Solanki is not picking Amrish and Ketan Patel, up our calls. This is an insult to former aides of PAAS leader us,” he said. Hardik Patel, who had played Later, Bamania, after speak- signifi cant roles in the Patel agi- ing to PAAS leader Hardik Pa- Miss India Manushi Chhillar smiles after she was declared the winner at the 67th Miss World contest final next to second runner-up Miss Mexico Alma Andrea Meza Carmona tations, joined the saff ron party. tel, reportedly gave an ultima- (left) and third runner-up Miss England Stephanie Jayne Hill in Sanya, on the tropical Chinese island of Hainan yesterday. Amrish Patel had also been tum to the Congress to declare charged along with Hardik for its stand on the reservation sta- sedition. He joined the BJP along tus within 24 hours or else face with his supporters at the BJP opposition. party headquarters at ‘Shree The PAAS group had earlier Kamalam’. made known its opposition to Ketan Patel too had played a the BJP in Gujarat in the coming signifi cant role in the Patel agita- elections. tion during its initial phase. But z The Chief Electoral Officer he had later turned a state wit- (CEO) of Gujarat has ordered India’s Manushi Chhillar ness against the agitation for the the cybercrime cell of Ahmeda- government. bad to probe a complaint filed On Friday, a former aide of by a rights activist about a Hardik, Chirag Patel, too joined video that has gone viral on so- the saff ron party. cial media, alleging it was made Late last month, Hardik’s with an intention to cause com- friend and PAAS convener Varun munal divide ahead of Gujarat wins Miss World crown Patel moved to the BJP camp, elections. while Reshma Patel, the female B B Swain ordered the cy- Agencies “Thank you, everyone, for Chhillar, born to doctor par- job. It is not always about cash, Miss India is a stepping stone face of the group, joined the par- bercrime cell to investigate the Sanya, China your constant love, support,” ents, studied at St Thomas but love and respect as well. A for anything you want to do, not ty in the presence of its president complaint of Govindbhai Par- and prayers she wrote on Twit- School in Delhi and Bhagat mother deserves that the most.” just Bollywood.” Amit Shah. mar, a human rights activist and ter. Phool Singh Government The medical student, who Chhillar was inching closer to Meanwhile, PAAS leaders have lawyer, who has objected to the n Indian medical student “This one’s for India.” Medical College for Women in sacrifi ced one whole year of her the Miss World crown as she had given the Congress Party a 24- video saying it was made with was crowned Miss World Chhillar’s victory rapidly be- Sonepat. education to participate in the gone straight from top 40 to 15, hour deadline to declare their the intention of spreading com- Aat a glitzy event in a Chi- came a top trending topic on the In an interview during her Miss India competition, said she during the course of the compe- stand on the reservation status munal hatred between Muslims nese resort yesterday, making social media platform in India grooming, she said: “The only grew up idolising Reita Faria, the tition. for the community. and Hindus and demanded that her country the joint-most suc- after the announcement, with thing I believe is certain in life is fi rst Indian and Asian to win the Yesterday marked the Miss As Congress leaders are under it be banned. cessful in the beauty pageant’s Manohar Lal Khattar – the chief uncertainty, and this is what is Miss World crown in 1966. World pageant’s return to Sanya, pressure and busy over selection “Yes, it’s true that a complaint history. minister of her home state of amazing about the pageant.” “Though I was a medical stu- on southern China’s Hainan Is- of candidates for the Gujarat as- has been fi led with the ECI re- Manushi Chhillar is the sixth Haryana – among the fi rst to of- She had also said that she was dent, I never had a plan B. I don’t land, for a seventh time, where sembly elections, there seems garding this and I have ordered Indian winner of the long-run- fer congratulations. confi dent of winning the crown. want to regret anything in life, the event was last held in 2015. to be trouble brewing as PAAS an inquiry,” Swain said. ning contest, following in the Chhillar was handed the Apart from the title, Chhillar so it was really important for me At the previous occasion two leaders, who had been called to The Human Rights Law Net- footsteps of Bollywood actress- crown by last year’s winner, also won the Beauty with Pur- to win this competition. My aim years ago, controversy erupt- New Delhi for talks with senior work through Govindbhai Par- es Priyanka Chopra and Aish- Stephanie del Valle of Puerto pose award. has always been to win the Miss ed as offi cials in Hong Kong leaders, are reportedly unhappy. mar has also sought action warya Rai. Rico, at the ceremony in the Chhillar had earlier this year World title.” stopped Miss Canada, Anasta- The PAAS leaders had fl own to against those who made the Her win brings India level with Chinese coastal city of Sanya won the Femina Miss India 2017. Former pageant winners sia Lin, from boarding a plane New Delhi on Friday to hold talks video, saying it can hurt the sen- Venezuela as the countries with last night. Her winning shot at the com- like Sushmita Sen, Aishwarya bound for Sanya, telling her she with Congress leaders regarding timents of the minority commu- most victories in the history of the Stephanie Hill of England and petition came with her heartfelt Rai and Priyanka Chopra have would not receive a visa. their demand of granting reser- nity. pageant, now in its 67th edition. Andrea Meza of Mexico fi nished response to the question posed carved a career in Bollywood af- The 25-year-old actress vation status to the Patidar com- The 1.15 minute-long video in Chhillar, 21, is a trained clas- as runners-up. by the judges – which profes- ter their wins. claimed the decision was due munity. Gujarati shows people of the ma- sical dancer who also enjoys Priyanka Chopra was the last sion in the world deserves the Asked if she had similar plans to her stance on China’s human However, it was unclear jority community being terrifi ed painting and hopes to open a winner from India in 2000. highest salary and why. and considered the Miss India rights record, including its per- whether the deadlock was over of Muslims. The video propa- chain of non-profi t hospitals Chhillar competed against Chillar replied: “My mother title as the stepping stone to secution of Falun Gong, a Chi- the reservation issue or over gates that women are safe under in rural areas, according to the 108 contestants from various has been my biggest inspira- Bollywood, Chhillar said, “I dis- nese spiritual group of which PAAS’ demand for seats. the BJP. Miss World website. countries at the pageant. tion, so I have to say, a mother’s agree with the notion. I feel that she is a practitioner.

Six militants, IAF commando CPM leader questions killed in Kashmir gun battle minister on Rafale deal IANS The CPM leader also ques- Agencies Meanwhile, a large number of Hind, headed by Zakir Musa. New Delhi tioned why there was no transfer Srinagar people yesterday defi ed curfew- In other developments, former of technology clause in the deal like restrictions imposed by the chief minister and National Con- for 36 jets. authorities to attend the funeral ference (NC) president Farooq ommunist Party of India “Modi boasts about ‘Make ix suspected militants and of slain militant Mugees Mir who Abdullah yesterday defended his (Marxist) leader Sita- in India’ but signs a deal with an air force commando was killed on the outskirts of the stance for internal autonomy to Cram Yechury yesterday France which includes no trans- Swere killed yesterday in main city of Srinagar during a both parts of divided Kashmir said Defence Minister Nirmala fer of technology. Is this his a fi erce gunfi ght in Jammu and brief shootout. without obliterating the Line of Sitharaman’s media statement ‘Make in India’?” Kashmir which also injured an- Authorities had imposed re- Control (LoC). on Rafale has raised more ques- Sitharaman at a press confer- other soldier, the army said. strictions in several areas in Sri- Abdullah also reiterated his tions than answers, and asked ence on Friday had dismissed The shootout began when nagar to maintain law and order. demand for grant of regional why comparative prices between the Congress’ charge of irregu- soldiers cordoned off a neigh- However, people from diff er- autonomy to diff erent regions in the earlier scrapped deal for larity in the deal for buying 36 bourhood in the northern area of ent parts of the city reached Par- Kashmir to assuage the aspira- 126 fi ghter jets and the present Rafale fi ghter jets off -the-shelf Hajin after a tip-off that armed impora area where the slain mili- tions of people. one for 36 aircraft had not been from France, and claimed it was militants were hiding there, said tant’s funeral was held. “J&K is a unique state and shared. cheaper than what was negotiat- army spokesman Colonel Rajesh Jammu Kashmir Liberation needs special dispensation in “The defence minister’s press ed under the previous multi-role Kalia. Front (JKLF) chairman Mohamed terms of regional autonomy to conference raises more ques- combat aircraft (MMRCA) deal “Six terrorists have been killed Yasin Malik has been arrested satiate the urges of various re- tions than it answers about the under which 126 fi ghter jets were in the encounter,” Kalia said. and the authorities shifted him gions,” he said. Rafale deal. Why have compara- to be bought. “One IAF (India Air Force) sol- to Srinagar central jail yesterday, Without naming the Bharatiya tive prices not been shared, as The minister however did not dier was martyred and another in addition to placing Mirwaiz Janata Party (BJP), he clammed the Modi government claims give any fi gures comparing the army soldier was injured.” Umer Farooq under house arrest. the alleged overt and covert at- it bought Rafales cheaper?” prices. “The slain rebels include A sub-inspector of Jammu and tempts being made to weaken Yechury said in a tweet. Under the MMRCA deal, 18 some top militant commanders Kashmir police, Imran Tak, was Article 370 and said demand of “Was there a CCS (cabinet Rafale fi ghters were to be bought such as Mahmood Bhai from the also killed in the shootout. autonomy was within the frame- committee on security) meet- off -the-shelf from Dassault, and Lashkar-e-Taiba group,” he said. Police said Mugees, who origi- work of the Constitution. Women mourn as people carry the remains of Mugees Mir, a ing held and approval given be- 108 were to be manufactured in The LeT is among the ma- nally operated with the LeT, had He said the NC would not al- suspected militant who according to local media was killed in an fore Modi announced buying of India under licensed production jor militant outfi ts operating in lately joined the Al Qaeda affi li- low attempts to repeal Article encounter with the security forces in Zakura, during his funeral in 36 Rafale fi ghters in Paris on his by state-run Hindustan Aero- Kashmir. ated group, Ansar Ghazwat-ul- 35-A. Srinagar, yesterday. own in April 2015,” he asked. nautics Ltd (HAL). Gulf Times 22 Sunday, November 19, 2017 LATIN AMERICA

Pinochet casts long shadow over vote

AFP reforms, including the decrimi- Santiago nalisation of abortion and the in- troduction of same-sex marriage. In a largely dull election cam- e’s been dead for 11 years, paign, Kast broke a taboo with a but Augusto Pinochet speech lauding Pinochet’s rule, Hstill casts a long shadow saying he was vehemently op- over today’s presidential election posed to abortion and immigra- in conservative Chile, where the tion, and called for a relaxing of right is set to reclaim power. gun laws to allow citizens to de- Despite his iron-fi sted regime fend themselves. being responsible for some 3,200 Kast managed to momentarily dead or missing, 12% of Chileans grab the media spotlight with his still consider the military dicta- direct views during the campaign tor one of the “best leaders” in the — including that he wouldn’t country’s history, according to a hesitate to shoot if he discovered a recent poll. burglar in his home — though his Center-right billionaire busi- party only holds around 3% sup- nessman Sebastian Pinera has port. a clear lead going into the fi rst “In the second round, every- round vote, but will probably have one should vote for Pinera, and to rely on some support from the Pinera should adopt more moder- hard right to prevail in a run-off ate positions to win. Pinochetism next month. is dead, or very marginal,” said The emergence during the Patricio Navia of New York Uni- campaign of ultraconservative versity. MP Jose Antonio Kast, who has no And yet, much of Chilean soci- qualms about professing his ad- ety continues to value Pinochet’s miration for Pinochet, has forced political and economic legacy. Pinera to the right. Twenty-seven years after the The businessman toughened end of his dictatorship, the free- up his rhetoric to the point that market economic system that he shouts of “Viva Pinochet” rang established remains almost in- out during some of his rallies. tact, as does the private pension Even though its political heft system and the constitution that has declined over the years, he backed in 1980. “Pinochetismo” remains a reality The electoral system he in- in Chile, and is still able to wield troduced — and which has long Venezuelan national Gregory Pacheco (R), 29, who works as a bicitaxi driver in Bogota, Colombia. Up to October 2017, there were 470,000 Venezuelans in Colombia, who left their infl uence in the country’s largest favoured the right — has been country to escape hardship. party, the Independent Demo- dismantled by the Bachelet gov- cratic Union (UDI). ernment, which also wants to It’s a weapon Pinera can’t easily reform Chile’s elitist education aff ord to ignore. system. “Pinera is not a pinochetist, Forced to swing his electoral but he needs pinochetismo,” said campaign more to the right, Pin- Raul Elgueta, an analyst from the era temporarily gave up the idea of University of Santiago. casting himself as the leader of a Chile’s conservatism has been political right wing free of Pino- Venezuela opposition jolted by four years of leftist Pres- chet’s legacy. Until now, he had ident Michelle Bachelet’s social always sought to distance himself. leader fl ees to Spain Ledezma is known as the pire,” Maduro said on Friday Ledezma, along with another ‘Vampire’ in regime circles evening. opposition leader, Maria Corina “The people of Madrid will Machado, has been part of the Reuters have to be careful at night, the more militant wing of Venezue- Caracas Vampire (is going) to Madrid.” la’s opposition coalition. Before boarding a private Both oppose a planned new plane to Bogota, Ledezma said political dialogue between the A Chilean soldier at a polling station in Santiago. eteran Venezuelan oppo- he was planning a “global pil- opposition and government sition leader Antonio Le- grimage” to fi ght for political scheduled for early December in Vdezma, under house arrest freedom in Venezuela. the Dominican Republic. since 2015 for alleged coup plot- He thanked Colombia’s gov- “I left my fl ag with Maria Co- ting, escaped across the border ernment, which also recently rina Machado, in whom I trust to Colombia on Friday and later gave asylum to another high- completely,” Ledezma told re- Turquoise waterfalls fl ew to Spain. profi le Venezuelan dissident, porters. With a 2018 presidential elec- former state prosecutor Luisa Ledezma won the Caracas tion looming, an array of major Ortega. mayoralty in 2008, but some of dry up after quakes Venezuelan opposition fi gures “It’s time for him (Madu- his functions and funding were are now in exile, detention or are ro) to step aside and allow a quickly transferred to a new, barred from holding offi ce. Venezuelan national Jhonger Pina, 25, sells candies and shows Boli- transition government,” said pro-government offi ce. AFP month as the water dried up They say Maduro has turned var bills as a curiosity to passengers, in exchange for local coins on a Ledezma.”Maduro cannot keep Upstaged by younger opposi- San Cristóbal de las Casas from one day to the next, mak- Venezuela into a dictatorship, bus in Bogota. torturing the Venezuelan peo- tion leaders, Ledezma was not ing them fear for the future of while the government accuses ple, he’s killing Venezuelans viewed as a future presidential a tourist attraction that draws them of joining forces with a US- “Let’s not permit that Ven- Venezuela. with hunger.” candidate. he Agua Azul waterfalls thousands of visitors a day led global plot to topple him. ezuela dies in our hands,” he also “It was my decision alone.” The Opec nation of 30mn Intelligence agents took him in southern Mexico are from around the world. Ledezma, the best-known said, adding that he would soon “Welcome to freedom!” tweeted people is suff ering a fourth year from his offi ce in Caracas in Ta playground of bright “If there are no tourists, detained opponent of leftist meet with Spanish Prime Minis- former Colombian president of brutal recession, with the February 2015. turquoise water cascading over there are no jobs,” local busi- President Nicolas Maduro after ter Mariano Rajoy. Andres Pastrana, who is close to highest infl ation in the world, He was originally held at the limestone steps. nessman Juan Manuel Hern- Leopoldo Lopez, had spearhead- The 62-year-old former Cara- Venezuela’s opposition and the shortages of food and medi- Ramo Verde military prison be- But after a powerful earth- andez told AFP. ed street protests against Madu- cas metropolitan mayor said he families of other jailed activists. cines, and many people having fore being granted house arrest. quake hit the country, they The government vowed to ro in 2014 that led to months of had gone past 29 police and army Ledezma was mocked by to skip meals or suff ering pre- Machado told reporters Le- dried up — and the area’s study the problem and seek a violence and 43 deaths. controls during a clandestine, Maduro as The Vampire, and ventable illnesses. dezma had been under increas- once-booming tourist econo- solution. “In Spain today I feel free,” overland journey that he kept se- accused by offi cials of helping Government supporters have ing pressure from authorities my along with them. But not content to sit back he said at Madrid’s Barajas air- cret from his loved ones. violent hardliners, including long vilifi ed Ledezma for sup- and had faced threats to return The state of Chiapas, where and wait, locals have taken port, where he arrived in the “I ask my wife and daughters dissident military offi cers plot- porting a brief 2002 coup and him to Ramo Verde due to his the falls trickle near the ancient matters into their own hands. early hours of yesterday. He was to understand. They have suf- ting to topple the president via accused him of corruption. opposition to the political dia- Mayan ruins of Palenque, was Using shovels and pickaxes, cheered by a small crowd includ- fered long hours of anguish with- air strikes. State media repeatedly show logue. the epicentre of the 8.2-mag- they partially restored the riv- ing his wife and two daughters, out knowing where I was,” he told Ledezma said those charges a video where a jailed student “We believe in real negotia- nitude earthquake that struck erbed to its original course, who were already in Spain. reporters in the Colombian bor- were trumped up. radical lauds him as “an old tions, but only ones that lead to Mexico on September 7, killing bringing back a trickle of the Supporters chanted the Ven- der town of Cucuta after cross- “I hope they never send him fox...the politician who most the exit of the dictatorship,” she 96 people. famously bright blue water. ezuelan anthem. ing a bridge from San Antonio in back, they can keep the Vam- supported the resistance”. told reporters. Besides fl attening houses After moving as much stone and buildings across a broad and sediment as they could by swathe of southern Mexico, hand, they have asked the au- the quake, along with thou- thorities for heavy machinery sands of aftershocks, also al- they hope will help them bring tered the bed of the Agua Azul the falls back to their full fl ow. river. Mexicans have a tradition Winds and waves hinder search The tremors — together of springing into action af- with the normal erosion of ter earthquakes, stepping up the limestone whose minerals when overwhelmed authori- give the water its bright colour ties don’t. — collapsed a portion of the After the September 7 quake and another on September 19 for missing Argentine submarine river’s left bank, said Mexico’s National Water Commission. that levelled dozens of build- That shifted the fl ow of wa- ings in Mexico City, killing 369 Reuters ed to Mar del Plata from the city channel A24. “That’s all.” ter to another branch of the people, volunteers fl ooded the Buenos Aires of Ushuaia. Messages of support have river and caused the water streets to pull survivors from “The underwater search is ob- poured in from abroad. level to drop by nearly a meter, the rubble, bring emergency viously much more complicated Pope Francis, a native Argen- leaving the falls completely dry supplies and even provide free hipping winds and 20- than the search at the surface be- tine, is praying “fervently” for in many places. legal services and psychologi- foot waves in the South cause it requires a combination of crew members to return to their Locals watched in alarm this cal counselling. WAtlantic continued to high-tech tools,” Gonzalez told a families soon, his offi ce said yes- hinder a frantic search for an Ar- news conference. terday. gentine submarine with 44 crew Poor conditions were expected Argentina accepted an of- members on board, the navy said to hold until today afternoon, fer from the United States for a yesterday, as authorities readied said a person in the navy who was NASA P-3 explorer aircraft that a mission to comb the sea fl oor not authorized to comment pub- had been stationed in Ushuaia. A for signs of the missing vessel. licly and requested anonymity. Hercules C-130 from the Argen- The German-built AR San The dramatic search has cap- tine Air Force has also been fl ying Juan submarine last reported its tivated the South American na- over the area. location 432km off Argentina’s tion of 44mn, which recently The navy has said it believed an southern Atlantic coast early mourned the loss of fi ve citizens electrical outage on the subma- on Wednesday, prompting au- who were killed when a truck rine may have caused its commu- thorities to launch an emergency Argentine submarinist Eliana Krawczyk who is aboard the missing driver plowed through a bicycle nication problems. Navy protocol search-and-rescue operation on San Juan. path in New York City. calls for submarines to surface Friday. Carlos Zavalla, a navy com- when communication is lost. But a storm with powerful Enrique Balbi told reporters. tion to comb the bottom of the mander, urged the loved ones The AR San Juan uses diesel- winds and waves 6m high con- Nevertheless, authorities were ocean, said Gabriel Gonzalez, of crew members not to give up electric propulsion and was in- tinued to disrupt visibility and doubling down on search eff orts who heads the navy’s base in the hope. “So far, the only concrete augurated in 1983, making it the The ‘Blue Water’ river main waterfall, in Tumbala municipality, eff orts to explore Argentine’s above and below the water’s sur- port of Mar del Plata. thing is the lack of communica- newest of the three submarines in Chiapas state, Mexico. southern sea, navy spokesman face and were readying an opera- The submarine had been head- tion,” Zavalla said on local TV the navy’s fl eet. Gulf Times Sunday, November 19, 2017 23 PAKISTAN 65,000 pay 79% of direct taxes Embattled minister Internews tax from them compared with Islamabad those who do fi le. These startling fi gures would bring the FBR manage- bout 65,000 Pakistanis, ment under more stress, par- constituting hardly 6% ticularly after Prime Minister Aof the income tax return Shahid Khaqan Abbasi took may leave portfolio fi lers in tax year 2016, paid 79% notice of corrupt practices in of direct taxes, according to the tax machinery. Internews A fi nal decision on who would Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) statistics of the tax directory. He has directed FBR chair- Islamabad replace Dar has not been made. chairman Tariq Pasha has started Contrary to appearance of man Tariq Pasha to prepare and Former minister Tarin said seeking approval from Dar even growth in posh housing socie- submit a report by November that he had not been contacted on minor issues like the issuance ties and luxury cars on roads, 28 on corrupt offi cials having he decision to replace em- by anyone in the government of press statements. only 2,455 Pakistanis paid more “embarrassingly compromised battled Finance Minister about this. Pasha has worked closely with than Rs10mn in income tax in reputations”. TIshaq Dar has been made He also ruled out the idea of Minister Dar and is considered a 2016, according to an analysis The maximum contribution at the highest levels of govern- becoming a fi nance minister or a close associate. of the Tax Directory 2016. was made by the people who ment, a senior government offi - fi nancial adviser. He is also likely to be replaced These 2,455 citizens paid paid income tax in the range of cial said. “I am very clear on this: I do as the new adviser would con- Rs59.4bn or 28% of total direct Rs1mn to Rs10mn. According to the offi cial, the not wish to be fi nance minister sider his own team, the source taxes in 2016. These 33,290 individuals only option the government now or an adviser,” he said, but added added. They constituted just 0.22% paid roughly Rs87bn or over has is to replace Dar. that he could consider helping Dar was indicted on Septem- of the people who fi led income 41% of total direct taxes. “The decision was taken af- out in some other capacity, “such ber 27 in a corruption reference tax returns in tax year 2016. Average per person contri- ter getting a green signal from as on some council or committee, but continues to serve as fi nance Average per person contri- bution came in at Rs2.6mn. former prime minister Nawaz Dar: accused of accumulating assets worth an estimated Rs831.7mn, but even that depends on who minister amid strong criticism bution among the 2,455 indi- Another 28,532 people paid Sharif,” he said. which is disproportionate with his known sources of income. else is going to be a member”. from opposition parties. viduals was Rs24.2mn. Rs20bn or roughly one-tenth The source added that it had “If a council is stuff ed with On November 14 an accounta- The Federal Board of Rev- of total direct taxes. not yet been decided whether likely advisers has already been The list contains other names, useless people, there is no sense bility court issued a non-bailable enue (FBR) had collected Rs- These individuals paid an adviser on fi nance would be drafted. which the source declined to re- in serving on it,” Tarin said. arrest warrant for the minister 210bn in income tax in fi scal income tax in the range of appointed or a full-fl edged min- Two of the people being con- veal. The source painted a picture of due to his repeated absence from year 2015-16, which is the tax Rs500,001 to Rs1mn. ister, who must be a member of sidered for the job are Shaukat Speculation rife in Islamabad disarray in the bureaucracy. court. year 2016. Their average contribution parliament. Tarin, who served as fi nance and in the media suggests that No bureaucrat in the fi nance The court is hearing the cor- About 65,000 Pakistanis was Rs703,152. What is most likely, he said, is minister in the PPP (Pakistan Special Assistant to the Prime ministry has the courage to move ruption reference against the fi - paid 79% or Rs166bn in in- The FBR needs to carry out that a non-elected adviser would Peoples Party) government, and Minister on Economic Aff airs any fi le, resulting in delays in nance minister, who is accused come tax that year. an independent survey to fi nd be appointed and the decision Dr Ishrat Husain, who was gov- Miftah Ismail is also on the list, major decisions, he said. of accumulating assets worth an Finance Minister Ishaq Dar out why taxpayers are not fi ling would be made public in the next ernor of the State Bank of Paki- as is Ahsan Iqbal, currently hold- “There is complete chaos estimated Rs831.7mn, which is unveiled the directory in Au- tax returns despite high rates couple of days. stan during Pervez Musharraf’s ing the ministerial portfolios of within the tax machinery as disproportionate with his known gust this year. of withholding taxes, accord- The source said that a list of regime. interior and planning. well,” he said. sources of income. Pakistan’s narrow income ing to independent tax experts. tax base has remained a big is- They said the tax base was sue for decades and successive not only extremely narrow but governments have failed to im- also shallow. prove the situation. The current dismal trend The FBR’s tax-to-gross do- of return fi ling can only be mestic product ratio was 10.7% changed by undertaking seri- in 2015-16, which further ous tax administration reforms slipped to 10.6% in the last fi s- in the FBR. cal year. A detailed report of the Tax In tax year 2016, 1.136mn Reforms Commission has re- individuals fi led income tax mained unimplemented for the returns and average per per- last around two years. son contribution came in at The tax directory showed Rs184,715. that 136,467 people paid Rs- The majority of the high net 31bn in income tax, which was worth individuals remain out- 14.4% of total tax contribution. side the tax net despite the FBR They paid income tax in the having a complete database of range of over Rs100,000 to their lavish lifestyle. Rs500,000. Under the law, every citizen About 224,000 individuals Security personnel stand guard during a protest yesterday by earning more than Rs400,000 paid Rs11bn or 5.2% of total di- members of a religious movement blocking a highway to Islamabad. annually is bound to fi le in- rect taxes. come tax returns. Their contribution ranged The 2016 tax year results between Rs20,000 and are disappointing, putting Rs100,000. a question mark over the These are largely salaried- Deadline for highway 20,000-strong FBR force, in- class people. cluding more than 16,000 per- As many as 360,354 individ- sonnel under the Inland Rev- uals paid just Rs2.5bn. protesters extended Members of the religious movement blocking a highway to Islamabad eye riot police during a protest enue Service whose sole task is But they were almost one- yesterday. to collect income tax. third of the return fi lers. The tax base remains small, About 3,200 individuals DPA a movement that supports the The protesters are demanding Friday ordered the local admin- talks in the evening to end the though the government is paid Rs160,332 in income tax. Islamabad country’s blasphemy laws have the removal of the law minister, istration to disband the protest- deadlock. punishing non-fi lers of income There were 334,000 individ- been blocking the entrance into who they accuse of blasphemy ers within 24 hours to make sure “If no agreement is reached, tax returns by charging sig- uals who fi led income tax re- Islamabad for 10 days. after he changed the text of an people could get into the city we will start our action,” Kiani nifi cantly higher withholding turns, but did not pay a penny. akistani authorities have Thousands of police and para- oath for parliamentarians in a freely. said. extended for another 24 military troops in riot gear were way they perceived as softening Nearly 6,000 police and troops Blasphemy is a sensitive issue Teams to identify new taxpayers in Karachi Phours a deadline given to ready to disband protesters yes- the offi cial stance. are deployed to take on the pro- in Pakistan. protesters blocking a major high- terday, but Interior Minister Ah- The government did not take testers, police offi cial Sajid Kiani In 2011 a governor of the cen- The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has constituted teams to iden- way into the capital to disperse, san Iqbal pulled back forces at any action against the protesters, said. tral province of Punjab was tify new taxpayers in the metropolis, and ensure filing of tax returns offi cials said yesterday. the last minute to avoid possible fearing a backlash due to the sen- The government and clerics killed by his own police guard for and wealth statements, sources said yesterday. Around 2,000 members of violence. sitivity of the issue but a court on leading the protest would hold speaking against the laws. The teams have been delegated with the powers to conduct assess- ment, audit and recovery under Income Tax Ordinance 2001, Sales Tax Act 1990, and Federal Excise Act 2005, the sources added. Sources said that the teams were constituted at the Regional Tax Off ice-II, Karachi in line with the broadening of tax base (BTB) initia- tive. Some sugars can heal, Pak-UK study shows Bodies of Tax authorities chose Karachi as a major potential avenue to identify new taxpayers and add to revenue as currently the country’s com- mercial and financial hub, housing headquarters of a number of local Internews also known as angiogenesis. fessor Sheila MacNeil said: stand how tumours stimulate migrants and foreign companies, generates around 64% of revenue for the Lahore According to a COMSATS “Throughout the world, people new blood vessels. FBR. press release, new blood vessel are living longer and unfortu- He found that a naturally- The city is also known for buzzing manufacturing and trade activities. formation is crucial for wound nately experiencing more non- occurring sugar (2-deoxy-D- found The FBR has set up zones in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad to joint study by Pakistan healing as vessels carry blood healing skin wounds associated ribose) increased when tumours broaden the tax base and get more taxpayers in the tax net. and British research- around the body, ultimately with age, poor blood supply and encouraged new blood vessels to Government directed its field departments to treat taxpayers with Aers has revealed that not supplying the body with oxygen diabetes. be made. AFP respect and attention, saying it would not tolerate any incident all sugars are bad for health, as and nutrients. “These are often diffi cult to Working with Sheffi eld Uni- Quetta involving intimidation or harassment of taxpayers. some can heal wounds such as The new way of stimulat- treat and are very expensive for versity’s MacNeil and Prof Ian “All our energies are now concentrated on finding new taxpayers diabetic and chronic ulcers in ing blood vessel formation with healthcare systems to manage. Douglas, the team then inves- through an extensive taxpayer outreach programme, which has elderly people. sugar uses a combination of “The new skin healing tech- tigated the ability of this group he bullet-riddled bodies helped us get a significant number of additional taxpayers till now The Department of Materials simple and inexpensive sugar nique using simple sugars of sugars to stimulate new blood of fi ve Pakistani migrants as compared to the corresponding period last year,” Haroon Khan, Science and Engineering and the added to a hydrogel bandage. promises to aid wound heal- vessel formation and stimulate Tbelieved headed for Eu- special assistant to prime minister on revenue, said in one statement. School of Clinical Dentistry at This method is simple and ing more simply, meaning that wound healing – both of which rope via Iran were found yester- The FBR registered 73% revenue growth in the last four years. the University of Sheffi eld, and more cost-eff ective than tradi- patients would need less treat- produced successful results. day in southwest Pakistan, in the However, despite issuing around 4mn national tax numbers across the Interdisciplinary Research tional methods. ment, clinicians could treat The new research is a key step same area where 15 bodies were the country, only 1.13mn registered taxpayers filed their returns for Centre in Biomedical Materials The new technique conceived more patients and signifi cant to developing simple, robust discovered three days earlier, of- the tax year 2016. Research at COMSATS Insti- and developed by the collabora- savings could be made by na- and low-cost wound dressings fi cials said. The estimated potential is of around 5.2mn filers. tute of Information Technology, tive research group works be- tional healthcare systems.” that can be used to treat poor- The fi ve migrants, whose Sources said the new teams would issue return filing notices to new Lahore, conducted the research cause a specifi c group of sugars COMSATS’s Dr Muhammed healing wounds, such as chronic corpses were found in the dis- taxpayers and existing taxpayers, and conduct on-site surveys. and found that sugar can help can stimulate skin healing. Yar made the initial discovery ulcers in the elderly, and dia- trict of Ketch in Balochistan in new blood vessels formation, Sheffi eld University’s Pro- during his research to under- betic ulcers. province near the Iranian bor- der, had been killed two days ago, said provincial government Pakistani peacekeepers awarded UN medals spokesman Anwaar ul Haq. As with the previous 15, they Sixty-nine off icers of the Pakistan of the challenges that may have gone were ethnic Punjabis who were Medical Contingent serving with the beyond their capacity,” he said. “Be proud Grants for 14 joint research teams illegally travelling to Iran, he UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) received of what you are doing in supporting and said. UN peacekeeping medals yesterday in maintaining peace around the world and Senior administration offi cial acknowledgement of their contribution helping other nations.” Internews in co-ordination with the Higher Ed- Congratulating the researchers, Akbar Harifal said the killings towards peace and stability in Liberia. Also present were top UNMIL and UN Islamabad ucation Commission of Pakistan. USAID acting mission director for seemed to be the work of separa- According to a message received here, country team off icials, including Deputy This is the seventh round of sci- Pakistan, Tim Donnay, said: “This tist groups. Special Representative of the Secretary Special Representative of the Secretary ence and technology research grants programme will increase the strength The army said a separatist General for Liberia Farid Zarif pinned the General for Peace Consolidation Yacoub he US and Pakistan govern- between the two countries made and breadth of co-operation and link- leader believed to have murdered medals on the recipients at a ceremony El Hillo, Force Commander Major General ments have announced the through the programme. ages between Pakistani scientists and the 15 had been killed. held at Camp Abuja in Monrovia. Salihu Zaway Uba, and Director of Mission Tawarding of science and tech- The joint research resulting from institutions with counterparts in the Baloch separatists have regu- Medals were also presented to 10 staff Support (DMS) David Penklis. nology co-operative research grants these grants will strengthen scientifi c United States. larly targeted ethnic Punjabi off icers, eight military observers, and 230 In December last year, the UN Security to 14 joint teams of US and Pakistani and technical co-operation between “Together, we will work toward workers, accusing them of ex- members of the Nigerian contingent. Council adopted a resolution that researchers. the two countries, which will support strengthening academic institutions ploiting the province. Speaking at the event, Zarif praised extended the mandate of UNMIL until These grants are a part of the US- economic development in Pakistan in and building a more prosperous and People smugglers use the the peacekeepers, saying that they March 30, 2018, and requested that the Pakistan Science and Technology Co- health, water, agriculture, and energy. resilient Pakistan.” Balochistan route to smuggle have brought pride and honour to their secretary general complete by April 30, operation Programme, co-funded by This jointly-funded programme Since 2005, the Science and Tech- workers from Punjab province to contingents and their nations. 2018 the withdrawal of all uniformed and the US State Department and the US is designed to increase co-operation nology Co-operation Programme European countries via Iran. “You have given meaning to the UN civilian UNMIL components other than Agency for International Develop- between Pakistani scientists and in- has funded 110 collaborative research Some die on the way due to services throughout the world by helping those required to complete the missions ment (USAID), and implemented by stitutions and their American coun- projects through a transparent, merit- harsh conditions or attacks by nations in distress (and) fighting some liquidation. the US National Academy of Sciences terparts. based, joint decision-making process. Baloch separatists.

Gulf Times Sunday, November 19, 2017 25 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL

Over 100 held in Lanka deploys troops to Nepal

IANS Kathmandu

olice in Nepal have arrested prevent communal riots more than 100 persons for Pindulging in anti-election AFP, Reuters clashes were admitted to hospi- 70% of the population. activities from across the country, Colombo tal in Galle city, 115km (72 miles) President Maithripala Sirise- a home ministry spokesperson south of the capital Colombo, na’s government, after came said yesterday. Most of them were according to local police who under fi re from rights groups from Maoist party, he added. ri Lanka deployed troops arrested 19 people. and diplomats for not doing Incidents of bomb attacks tar- and ordered a night-time It was not clear what trig- enough to crack down on hard- geting the candidates have been Scurfew in a southern town gered the clashes, with ac- line Buddhist groups, acted on the rise recently. to end violent clashes between counts varying between a road against anti-Muslim attackers Minister Janardan Sharma, two ethnic communities, the accident and a land dispute. in June this year. former speaker Onsari Gharti and government said yesterday. The government relaxed the That action came after more former minister Sherdhan Rai Law and Order Minister Sa- curfew yesterday morning with than 20 attacks on Muslims, are among many candidates who gala Ratnayaka said the situa- a warning that police would including arson at Muslim- were attacked with improvised tion in Gintota in Galle prov- arrest any instigators. owned businesses and petrol- explosive devices (IEDs). ince was under control, two Ratnayaka blamed local poli- bomb attacks on mosques, were Similarly, Nepali Congress days after a brawl degenerated ticians for attempting to exploit recorded in two months. candidates Ram Chandra Poudel into street violence between the unrest. Authorities said they were and Ram Sharan Mahat were also two groups - one Sinhalese, “Some political groups are keen to avoid a repeat of vio- attacked with bombs. the country’s mainly Buddhist now on a desperate mission lence seen in June 2014 when However, home ministry spokes- majority, the other from the to turn this minor brawl into a four people were killed and sev- person Narayan Prasad Sharma said Muslim minority. Sinhala-Muslim clash. I urge eral injured in clashes between though some anti-election groups “Additional police battal- the public not to be misled by the two communities in the have carried out attacks in some ions, the police Special Task their false propaganda,” the same region. places in a clandestine manner, the Force, the anti-riot squad and minister said. That unrest was blamed on local administration has been di- the military were called in last Muslims account for about a radical Buddhist extrem- rected to check such activities. night to bring the situation un- 10% of Sri Lanka’s 21m peo- ist group whose leaders are He also urged all voters to take der control,” the minister said in ple and are the second largest currently facing several court part in the voting confi dently, a statement. minority group after Tamils. cases for instigating inter-faith as law and order has been fully Six people injured in the Sinhalese make up over violence. A burned motorbike on a street following the violence in Galle yesterday. guaranteed. Lankan author wins 2017 DSC Bangladesh Prize for South Asian Literature aims to raise

IANS Arudpragasam announced he he now “hopes to become a full- In the Jungles of the Night by in 2010 and over the past seven Dhaka would donate one-third of the time writer” and that it was a Stephen Alter. years has emerged as a major lit- prize money. “great honour for him to be rec- “This year the shortlisted nov- erary award. Apart from Menon, ICT export “The jury met and discussed ognised by the best from the els were all equally exciting with an eminent feminist writer; Val- ri Lankan author Anuk the shortlisted novels in detail. fraternity”. diverse subjects which brought entine Cunningham, professor Arudpragasam’s The Sto- As all the shortlisted novels had “I am currently pursuing out the nuances and the chang- emeritus of English language Sry of a Brief Marriage - a considerable strengths and re- my PhD. I hope to return to Sri ing dynamics in South Asian life and literature at Oxford Univer- touching tale of a young man markable literary quality, decid- Lanka and become a professor in a unique and evocative way. sity; Steven Bernstein, screen- earnings trapped on the frontlines be- ing the winner was not an easy if I cannot become a full-time It must have been a tough task writer, director, author, cinema- tween the Sri Lankan army and task. However, the jury agreed writer. I had a wonderful literary for the jury members to choose tographer and lecturer based the Tamil Tigers - has bagged that Anuk Arudpragasam was agent and I got lucky perhaps in from these fi ve exceptional con- out of Los Angeles; Yasmin Al- Reuters the $25,000 DSC Prize for South the best possible choice for his publishing very easily. But I re- tenders and arrive at the even- ibhai-Brown, radio and televi- Dhaka Asian Literature 2017. outstanding novel, The Story of ally hope more and more people tual winner. We are honoured to sion broadcaster from London; Related in meditative, nu- a Brief Marriage. The novel is read this novel to explore the be invited to give the award this and Senath Walter Perera, senior anced and powerful prose, the impressive for its intensity and depths of tragedy that people in year in Bangladesh. The DSC professor in English, University angladesh aims to raise novel marks the arrival of an rich detail and for exploring the Sri Lanka have gone through,” Prize has now completed seven of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka. its export earnings from extraordinary new literary voice. tragic heart of war with such Arudpragasam said. successful years, and it remains Past winners of the DSC Prize Bthe information and Bangladesh Finance Minister quiet eloquence. It is also a tes- Apart from Anuk Arudpra- focused on recognising and include H M Naqvi of Pakistan, communications technology Abul Maal Abdul Muhith presented tament to the redemptive power gasam’s The Story of a Brief Mar- showcasing the immense talent Shehan Karunatilaka of Sri Lan- (ICT) sector to $5bn in 2021, the award to Arudpragasam at the of love, and to the human spirit’s riage, the other four novels in the writing about the South Asian ka, Jeet Thayil and Cyrus Mistry said Zunaid Ahmed Palak, magnifi cent Bangla Academy in capacity for hope,” jury chair shortlist were Aravind Adiga’s region and bringing it to a larger from India. Jhumpa Lahiri won junior minister for ICT divi- Dhaka during the closing ceremo- Ritu Menon said. Selection Day; Anjali Joseph’s The global audience,” said Surina it in 2015 for The Lowland. The sion of the ministry of post, ny of the three-day long Dhaka Speaking after receiving the Living; Karan Mahajan’s The As- Narula, co-founder, DSC Prize. winner last year was Anuradha telecommunications and in- Literature Festival yesterday. prize, Arudpragasam said that sociation of Small Bombs; and The DSC prize was founded Roy for Sleeping on Jupiter. formation technology. Junior Minister for ICT Zunaid He said the country earned Ahmed Palak. $800mn from the sector last year and that this will reach He said that to achieve the $1bn for the fi scal year ending target the ministry is working next June. to develop human resources China begins Waste from Everest region airlifted European countries, the and has been carrying out United States, Canada, Russia training for young people and and India are among the main collaborating with academic IANS nine fl ights from Lukla airport to region clean,” the airline said. buyers for the sector, he said. institutions. feasibility study Kathmandu airlift waste. The waste has been Tara Air has been providing To showcase the sector to “We have also focused on handed over to the Kathmandu service in the remote sectors of other countries, the ministry better production and devel- Municipality Corporation, who Nepal since 1998. is organising a four-day ex- oping infrastructure,” he said. s part of its corporate will distribute it to the proper “We are confi dent that this position and conference from He said that in view of the on cross-border social responsibility, recycling centres. campaign has helped in creat- December 6. country’s rapid economic ANepal’s Tara Air with The airline said that it has ing environmental awareness He said 162 organisations growth the ministry was also the help of Lukla-based Hima- been actively supporting the among the youth, local entre- from around the world would working to train up cyber se- layan Club and Sagarmatha “waste management campaign” preneurs, and tourists who visit be involved. curity experts. rail with Nepal Pollution Control Commit- in the Solukhumbu region. “In the Himalayan region. We hope “To develop the sector “The size of the economy is tee (SPCC) airlifted 11 tonnes 2016, we successfully airlifted that other private enterprises along with the policy sup- $246bn, the growth of econo- of non-biodegradable waste 12 tonnes of waste from the will also extend their hand in port, the government is also my is more than 7% for the last IANS of Nepal government of build- from the Everest region, a local Solukhumbu region. We will supporting such environmental providing a 10% cash incen- couple of years, so we need to Kathmandu ing cross-border railway line report said. continue this social initiative in campaigns in the future,” the tive and 100% tax exemption focus on cyber security,” he seriously. A team has begun The airline said it operated the future to keep the Everest airline added. facility,” the minister said. said. preliminary feasibility study,” he Chinese ambas- Yu said. sador to Nepal has Laying emphasis on Nepal- Joint military Tsaid that China has China relations, Yu said the taken the request of Kath- two countries in 2009 forged exercise mandu for building a cross- a “comprehensive partnership concludes border railway line seriously of cooperation featuring ever- US launches global food and and has begun a feasibility lasting friendship”. Joint Indo-Bangladesh Training study, the media reported Likewise, expansion of the Exercise “Sampriti 2017”, yesterday. Rasuwagadhi-Syafrubeshi which was being conducted at In an interaction with road link, resumption of Ara- Counter Insurgency and Jungle the media on Friday, am- niko Highway and construc- security strategy in Nepal Warfare School, Vairengte bassador Yu Hong also said tion of dry ports in Tatopani, in India’s Mizoram state, has Beijing is working towards Rasuwa and Yaritoo are also culminated with a validation fostering a new type of in- on Beijing’s priority list. IANS “Nepal has made hunger and reducing poverty crucial to eradicate poverty exercise, IANS reports from ternational relations and The Chinese ambassador’s Kathmandu substantial in the past few years. How- in the country. New Delhi. to build a community with interaction with the media in achievements in fi ghting ever, more than 4mn Nepalis Addressing the event, It was the seventh such exercise a shared future for man- Kathmandu comes weeks af- hunger and reducing are still in poverty,” Gonzales Geeta Bhakta Joshi, mem- in the Sampriti series. The kind, the Kathmandu Post ter the conclusion of the Chi- he United States has poverty in the past few said, adding, “GFSS solely ber of National Planning 13-day-long field training exercise reported. nese Communist Party Con- launched the Global years. However, more aims at improving food and Commission, said GFSS for commenced on November 6. Ambassador Yu expressed gress in China, enshrining “Xi TFood Security Strat- than 4mn Nepalis are nutrition security in Nepal Nepal is a model and guide- The exercise was aimed happiness over Nepal’s Jinping Thought on Socialism egy (GFSS) in Nepal. Aimed at still in poverty” by enhancing the agriculture line to collectively address at strengthening and move to join the Belt and with Chinese Characteristics partnering with Nepal for food sector.” challenges regarding food broadening the aspects of Road Initiative (BRI), and for a New Era” into the party security, nutrition and pros- Addressing the GFSS Gonzales also said that and nutrition security in the interoperability and co- said the initiative has given constitution. perity, GFSS is the US govern- launching ceremony, leaders and bureaucrats of country. operation between the Indian wider opening for countries, China will deepen rela- ment’s global hunger and food Michael C Gonzales, charge Nepal to focus on strong pol- MoAD secretary Suroj and Bangladesh armies, an including Nepal, to integrate tions with its neighbours in security initiative, local media d’aff aires of the US em- icy foundation to achieve the Pokhrel expressed his commit- off icial statement said. the economy and people- accordance with the princi- reported. bassy in Nepal, said that the goals of GFSS and food and ment to implement GFSS in The final exercise was reviewed to-people contact. Nepal ples of amity, sincerity, mu- A tri-party agreement was GFSS intends to strengthen nutrition security plans of the Nepal, in partnership with the by Major General Moshfequr signed up to Chinese Presi- tual benefi t and inclusive- signed between the ministry collaboration with Nepali country. US embassy. Rahman of the Bangladesh Army dent Xi Jinping’s fl agship ness and the policy of forging of agricultural development stakeholders to improve Similarly, Gary Linden, MoH secretary Kiran Regmi and Major General M S Ghura of BRI in May. friendship and partnership, (MoAD), ministry of health food and nutrition security acting senior deputy assist- said Nepal has made remarka- the Indian army. Yu added that Nepal and she said. (MoH) and the United States in the country and improve ant to the Administrator of ble progress in key nutrition in- “Besides promoting China are working on several “Not just the present, our embassy in Nepal on Friday for the livelihood of people in Bureau of Food Security, US- dicators in the last few decades. understanding and fronts like cross-border rail- future too is closely linked, GFSS alliance with food and Nepal through increased AID, Washington, said the “The government is committed interoperability between the way connectivity, highways which is why working togeth- nutrition security plans of Ne- agricultural production. collaboration between GFSS to scale up multi-sector nutri- two armies, it further helped in and construction of a dry port. er for a better tomorrow is a pal and help reduce poverty in “Nepal has made substan- and Nepal’s food and nutri- tion programmes by partnering strengthening bilateral ties,” the “China has taken the request must,” Yu said. the country. tial achievements in fi ghting tion security plans will be with the US,” said Regmi. statement added. Gulf Times 26 Sunday, November 19, 2017 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Editor-in-Chief: Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor: K T Chacko

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar [email protected] Telephone 44350478 (news), 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) Fax 44350474 GULF TIMES Low-cost LNG base is Qatar’s unique advantage

Qatar’s commitment to boost long-term production will solidify its position as the global leader in liquefi ed natural gas (LNG) amid supply growth in various 19-11-2017 markets. Qatar’s share of global LNG supply stood at 30.1% last year as it captured nearly 70% of the new African demand, more than compensating for the lower cargoes to Japan. Qatar remains the number one LNG player in the world despite higher supply from Australia and the US, according to researchers at QNB. As of 2016, Australia is the world’s second largest Ending the business LNG producer and accounted for 16.4% of supply last year. Qatar’s position is likely to be cemented by its July decision to boost production by 30% to 100mn tonnes per year (tpy) over the next fi ve to seven years. The production boost will come through doubling of of child labour LNG output from the new export-oriented gas project in the North Field, which is expected to be completed By Kailash Satyarthi a sinister twist to child labour and suffi ce. Serious problems confronting to come together around each within the next seven years, according to Qatar New Delhi traffi cking. This was supposed to humanity are tackled only when of the Sustainable Development be the century of empowerment for stakeholders become full participants. Goals that directly affect children. Petroleum. the most marginalised. Instead, we Successes in public health are These include Goal 8, ending forced Eff ectively, the new project would increase the North n October 1997, when global are witnessing globalisation of the instructive. For example, there was labour, modern slavery, trafficking, Field’s production of natural gas, condensate and other leaders gathered in Oslo to most perverted kind, with children a time when diseases like polio and and child labour; Goal 4, ensuring associated products by 1mn barrels of oil equivalent per strategise how to end child becoming victims many times over. smallpox ravaged millions. Through education for all; Goal 3, providing day to cumulative 6mn barrels of oil equivalent per day. Ilabour, we brought a huge Because traffi ckers can easily prey the co-ordinated eff orts of doctors, universal access to healthcare; ambition and a deep commitment amid chaos, children in confl ict zones volunteers, global institutions, local and Goal 16, stopping all forms of This new project would further enhance Qatar’s to change. Through improved are particularly vulnerable. Syria governments, and civil society, violence against children. leading position in the global gas industry, while at the collaboration and planning, we sought has commanded attention for years these diseases were tamed. Similar To succeed, UN Secretary- same time meeting its worldwide customers’ growing to protect children from exploitation, because of the horrifi c violence to collaboration is needed now to reduce General Antonio Guterres will needs for the reliable and environmentally friendly fuel. and to develop “new strategies to which children there are subjected. child labour. need to channel more resources Qatar’s renewed gas development at North Field eliminate child labour at the national, But the global rise of organised gangs The fi rst place to start is targeting toward improving children’s lives. regional, and international levels.” means that children in Asia, Africa, industries where child labour is His first course of action should would certainly give Now, 20 years later, it is time to ask: Latin America, and Europe are also present, such as agriculture. In be to call a meeting with the heads it a competitive edge how have we done? at risk. Stemming this trend requires addition to strong legal frameworks, of UN agencies and international Qatar remains after 2020, when the Poorly. Since that fi rst meeting, urgent and co-ordinated investment robust accountability mechanisms organisations, as well as world global LNG market is the world has not even halved the in education and safety wherever must be established to guarantee that leaders, to create an agenda for the number one number of children in the workforce. children are at risk – in confl ict zones, child labour is not used in supply concerted and coordinated efforts to expected to tighten. In the last fi ve years, the international refugee camps, and in areas aff ected by chains. I have found that with the right protect young people everywhere. LNG player in the The global market community has managed to reduce the natural disasters. incentives, businesses and consumers At the end of the day, only political still remains number of employed children by just I am often left wondering how we can become partners in eradicating will can disrupt the grim calculus of world oversupplied, data 16mn, the slowest pace of reduction got to this point. Over the last 37 years, child labour. child labour. We cannot build a more show. Last year, the in decades. Of the 152mn children colleagues and I have rescued more One example of this collaboration peaceful, sustainable world without working today, some 73mn are doing than 87,000 children from forced emerged from the carpet industry in ensuring the freedom, safety, and extent of oversupply had increased. jobs considered hazardous. Even labour in India. We have rescued South Asia, where children were being education of every child. A life of work Global LNG supply rose by 6.5% compared to “safe” child labour aff ects victims’ girls who were so abused that they mercilessly exploited. To force change, robs children of all three. virtually zero growth over 2011-2015. However, there physical and physiological wellbeing lost their ability to speak. Recently, we launched a movement to educate As I ponder the way forward, was a growth in demand too (by 4.2%), its fastest rate long into adulthood. we rescued children from a garment consumers in the West to compel I cannot forget a young girl I met Worse, according to the most recent factory in New Delhi, where, for more carpet factory owners to behave in Brazil, whose small hands were in the past fi ve years. data from the International Labour than three years, they had been forced responsibly. This led to the creation horribly injured and bleeding from There were four major market developments in 2016, Organisation, the world has made the to sit and work for 20 hours a day in a of a label, GoodWeave, which certifi es plucking oranges. She asked me a QNB points out. least progress in protecting two of the basement with no ventilation. When that no child has been put to work simple question, to which I did not First, supply growth was led by a surge in Australian most at-risk populations: children they were brought to Mukti Ashram, manufacturing the product. Since the have an answer: “How can the world exports. between the ages of fi ve and 11, and our transit rehabilitation centre, many label was launched more than 20 years enjoy the juice from these oranges young girls. were unable to walk or even look up at ago, child labour in the region’s carpet when children like me have to shed Second, the US began its fi rst major international The problem is not that we have the sun. industry has plummeted, from roughly their blood to pluck them?” LNG shipments in 2016. failed to learn anything during our We are proud of our 1mn to about 200,000. That is a question we all must ask Third, demand was propelled by China and Africa, four global gatherings (the most recent accomplishments. But humans’ Programmes like these are helpful, ourselves, too. - Project Syndicate more than off setting weaker demand from Japan and one, held in Buenos Aires, wrapped depravity is a source of continued but the most important changes South Korea. up earlier this month). The problem is sorrow. must come from international zKailash Satyarthi, a Nobel Peace that we have failed, and are failing, to How can we end this suff ering once efforts led by the United Nations. Prize laureate, is Honorary President of Fourth, Qatar remains the number one LNG player in take our own advice. and for all? Global gatherings, like the Ending the vicious circle of child the Global March Against Child Labour the world. Even as we talk, disturbing one that just ended, certainly have labour, illiteracy, and poverty will and the founder of Bachpan Bachao Even as Qatar increases production, and attains global developments have added a role to play. But talk alone will not require inter-governmental agencies Andolan (Save Childhood Movement). 100mn tpy over the next seven years, it is likely that the output from Australia and the US would also fl ood the market by then. But Qatar has a distinctive advantage over its competitors – Ras Laff an, which is home to Qatar’s world-scale LNG production facilities, has one of the lowest costs of natural gas production. Obviously, Qatar’s low-cost base gives it a competitive advantage over other established LNG suppliers and could benefi t the country in maintaining a competitive edge after 2020. Over the next decade, analysts expect the global LNG market to tighten as current low LNG prices are anticipated to deter investment in high cost competing projects, leading to tighter supply and better prices.

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2017 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Stemming child labour requires urgent and co-ordinated investment in education and safety of children. Gulf Times Sunday, November 19, 2017 27 COMMENT Of humorous characters and racial stereotypes

By Ian Jack comforted that the parodist was one When Teachers Against Racism London of their own (unlike in the case of Apu, protested in 1972 against Helen who is voiced by Azaria).But Scots Bannerman’s 1899 children’s book were among the top dogs then. The Story of Little Black Sambo, here are two famous Apus in Why would they worry? Even quite the publisher, Ian Parsons, replied the western world and both late into the 20th century, signs of our that their letter fi lled him with are fi ctional. top dogginess survived. “amazement, mingled with despair”. T The fi rst is the protagonist The label on the Camp Coff ee Could it be true, he asked, that of three fi lms made in the 1950s by bottle still showed a turbaned Sikh “responsible people could be so utterly the Indian director Satyajit Ray, which standing attentively with a tray, as devoid of humour, so totally without trace a boy’s journey to manhood a seated Gordon Highlander supped imagination” as to want to ban a and fatherhood, and from the paddy his morning beverage, outside a tent book that generations of children had fi elds and ponds of rural Bengal to the that fl ew a pennant with the slogan accepted as an “enchanting story, an turbulent streets of Kolkata. Ready Aye Ready. (To refl ect more enthralling fantasy … Could a tiger No fi ner fi lms have come out of equal times, the Sikh was eventually turn into butter with which to make India, and the Apu trilogy remains given a seat.) The large outline of pancakes, and could any child, black among the great landmarks of world another turban sat on the head of an or white, eat 169 of them?” cinema – beautifully composed in ear-ringed face high above Glasgow Parsons wrote sincerely, stressing black and white with a soundtrack by Central station, its neon tubes that he’d supported the cause of what Ravi Shankar, they frequently appear shining white as the night came on, to were then called race relations all his on lists of best-loved movies. advertise another Scottish comestible, life. Certainly, I include them in mine. Irn-Bru, via a little Indian boy, But his is the voice of another age. The second Apu isn’t at all like Apu, right, with his wife Manjula, and Homer and Marge Simpson in the episode Much Apu About Something. Ba-Bru, who was the companion of It was the teachers who understood the fi rst, though reportedly named kilted little Sandy in the soft drink’s that Britain was changing and that after him as an act of homage by his But have I been wrong to fi nd Kondabolu says in his fi lm, The Inauthenticity can be popular, even promotional cartoon. respect for black people needed to cinephile creators. Apu Nahasapeemapetilon funny? A Problem with Apu. “A white dude among the people who fi nd themselves It disappeared in the 1970s, by be fostered among white children Apu Nahasapeemapetilon owns the new documentary by the American created a stereotypical Indian voice, traduced. which time everyone had forgotten “in order to avoid the kind of terrible Kwik-E-Mart convenience store in standup comic Hari Kondabolu and a bunch of white writers in the Groundskeeper Willie’s real- that Ba-Bru was inspired by Sabu, race tension and separatism which Springfi eld, the American town where attacks the character as a damaging room laughed at said stereotypical life antecedent, the comic-singer the young Indian actor who shot to has occurred in the United States”. the Simpsons – Homer, Marge and racist stereotype.“Of course he’s Indian voice, and this led to the Harry Lauder, became the most stardom in Robert Flaherty’s fi lm Bannerman, interestingly enough, was their children Bart, Lisa and Maggie – funny, but that doesn’t mean this creation of my childhood bully and a internationally celebrated Scotsman Elephant Boy in 1937. a Scotswoman who had gone to India live in the eponymous cartoon serial, representation is accurate or right or walking insult to my parents.” in the fi rst half of the last century These were among our small, with her doctor husband, and there which was fi rst broadcast in 1989 and righteous,” Kondabolu told the BBC, Children need very few excuses to through his exaggeration of Scottish humorous relics of imperialism in written the story for her children over is about to reach its 625th episode. adding that it demonstrated “the explore the weakness of others: I had speech, slyness, and care with money, India. a two-day train journey. This Apu fi rst appeared in episode insidiousness of racism … because you buckteeth and, oh, how I hated Bugs helped by his trademark outfi t of kilt, Others appeared in print. The illustrations in many editions eight. don’t even notice it when it’s right in Bunny. bonnet and curly stick, to present In the 1950s, Hurree Jamset Ram showed African children, though the His catchphrase “Thank you, front of you. And satire being satire, it tends to a pawky, almost pre-industrial Singh remained the fi nest bowler text mentions Indian items: tigers, come again” is delivered in a high, It becomes so normal that you don’t deal in stereotypes. personality (though Lauder himself among the boys of Billy Bunter’s ghee, a bazaar. singsong voice; he works 96 hours at even think about it.” To pick a not entirely random started work in the mines). His Greyfriars in the long-running cartoon This blissfully ignorant combination a stretch and once deleted the sell-by His fi lm has already attracted an example, also from The Simpsons: a popularity both inside and outside series, though by then his nickname charmed people for 70 years until date on some cut-price sliced meat, unusual amount of notice. Chicagoan, Dan Castellaneta, does Britain was enormous: he made 22 “Inky” and his description “the dusky it began to seem paternalistic and poisoning the gluttonous Homer with It comes at a frail moment – when the voice of the Scottish school tours of the US sometimes by special nabob of Bhanipur” had possibly been unpleasant. salmonella. Hollywood and the entertainment groundskeeper, Willie MacDougal. train, and in his own estimation “must dropped. There can be no fi rm rule about An overdose of fertility drugs has media more generally stand accused. It was this voice that in 1995 fi rst have seen, and been seen by, more Hurree’s command of English stereotypes – it depends on their given him eight children, which in Kondabolu, the American-born uttered the phrase “cheese-eating citizens of the republic than any other was memorable. “The latefulness is expression and who makes them, an outburst of patriotism he once child of Indian migrants, was mocked surrender monkeys” to describe the man who ever lived”.Some people in superior to the neverfulness,” he might when and why. temporarily named Lincoln, Freedom, at school by fellow pupils imitating French. Scotland disapproved, contending say, meaning “better late than never”. But their harmfulness or otherwise Condoleezza, Coke, Pepsi, Manifest Apu’s voice, which was created – It sounds perpetually angry – a that Lauder had made “a fool out And smiling at that (as I do – who is usually best judged by the people Destiny, Superman and Apple Pie. like those of many other Simpsons strip cartoon would have bubbles over of Scotsmen”. But many more were couldn’t?), I sense something similar they attempt to describe. – Guardian I have sometimes cried at the Apu characters – by Hank Azaria, a white Willie’s head saying, “Grrr!” – and happy to applaud this parody, not in my reaction to Apu. News & Media Trilogy, and often laughed at his actor. “Apu refl ected how America joyously inauthentic, which is the caring that he had created what proved I can’t think that the eff ect is racist, namesake in The Simpsons. viewed us: servile, devious, goofy,” point. to be a stubborn stereotype: they were but one can never be sure. zIan Jack is a Guardian columnist Weather report More norm shattering by the Republicans Three-day forecast TODAY High: 29 C By Jonathan Bernstein had accepted the minority’s right to declared they were blockading the If they hadn’t acted, even more seats use the filibuster against individual seat; they might well have approved would have been left open; indeed, Low : 24 C Bloomberg View Inshore: Hazy to misty at places at first nominees, unlike Republicans during a different nominee, or at least the most likely result would have been and partly cloudy to cloudy at times the Bush presidency – changed the opposed him or without a filibuster. Republican blockades of more and with chance of rain at places. ow, Chuck Grassley. The rules, allowing judicial and executive But Republicans immediately more seats until Democrats fi nally Republican chairman branch nominations to be confirmed went nuclear at the first possible took action. MONDAY of the Senate Judiciary by majority vote. opportunity. Democrats are not blameless High: 30 C Committee gave away Should Democrats regret that And now Grassley is eliminating in the long march toward a strict Low: 24 C W M Sunny the game as he ploughed under decision because Republicans the traditional blue slip process, at majority-party-rule Senate, which another Senate norm – the “blue slip” have used it to confirm Trump’s least for appellate judges. Again, he’s does appear to be where everything procedure, which, until Thursday, nominees? basically doing it the very fi rst time it is heading. They did, in fact, escalate gave home-state Senators the ability Of course not. Since Democrats was used against specifi c nominees. when they filibustered some George TUESDAY to block judicial nominees from their acted, Republicans have run It’s a norm Democratic Judiciary W Bush judicial nominations. High: 29 C states. roughshod over Senate nomination Committee Chair Pat Leahy respected And Republicans haven’t always Low: 24 C “The Democrats seriously regret norms in at least three ways. In throughout Obama’s presidency, even maximised everything they could do P Cloudy that they abolished the filibuster, the last two years of Obama’s though it meant some nominees could by majority rule; that’s why their tax as I warned them they would,” presidency, Republicans used their not be confi rmed. cut is going through reconciliation, Grassley said in his floor speech. new majority to almost completely Given all of that, there’s simply with the legislative filibuster still in Fishermen’s forecast “But they can’t expect to use the shut down judicial confi rmations, no reason to believe that Grassley, place so far at least. But the blame OFFSHORE DOHA blue slip courtesy in its place. most notoriously by refusing to take Mitch McConnell, and the rest of the (or for those who want majority Wind: NE-SE 03-12/15 KT That’s not what the blue slip is up his nominee for a Supreme Court Republicans would have let the judicial party rule, the credit) is not equally Waves: 1-3/4 Feet meant for.” vacancy. It had been normal to curtail (or executive branch) fi libuster survive shared. INSHORE DOHA Wind: NE-SE 05-15/18 KT To review: In 2013, Senate nominations in the fi nal months of the fi rst few months of the Trump Republicans have been responsible Waves: 1-3 Feet Republicans, then a minority in a presidency, but a new Democratic administration. They haven’t been for the bulk of norm shattering, and the chamber, blockaded three majority in 2007-2008 confi rmed far retaliating for Democratic violations Grassley took another big step in that Around the region vacancies on the DC Circuit Court. more judges than the Republicans did of norms; they’ve been massively direction on Thursday. Weather Weather That is, they didn’t just oppose in 2015-2016. escalating the war over nominations. today Max/min tomorrow Max/min the specific people Barack Obama Then when Democrats opposed Just as they did during the Obama zJonathan Bernstein is a Bloomberg Abu Dhabi M Sunny 30/23 Sunny 29/22 had nominated, as Democrats had Neil Gorsuch based on specific presidency. View columnist. He taught political Baghdad M Cloudy 26/18 Cloudy 27/16 Dubai Sunny done against a handful of George objections to his record, Republican Indeed, thinking of the Democratic science at the University of Texas at M Sunny 31/21 31/18 Kuwait City P Cloudy 27/18 M Sunny 29/21 W Bush’s nominees. Instead, they Senators immediately eliminated the decision to go nuclear and eliminate San Antonio and DePauw University Manama P Cloudy 29/23 M Sunny 29/23 simply said that they would defeat remaining ability for minorities to those fi libusters in 2013 as an and wrote A Plain Blog About Muscat Sunny 27/18 Sunny 27/18 any Obama nominee by filibuster. defeat a Supreme Court nomination escalation is simply a mistake. It was a Politics. Readers may email him at Riyadh P Cloudy 27/13 Sunny 28/16 At that point, Democrats – who by filibuster. Democrats had not defensive action, and a necessary one. [email protected]. Tehran M Sunny 17/11 P Cloudy 18/11 Live issues Kids still get codeine despite safety warnings

Lisa Rapaport Dr Kao-Ping Chua, pediatrician Many of these overdoses happened The study wasn’t a controlled Reuters Health at University of Michigan CS Mott in kids with genetic diff erences that experiment designed to prove Children’s Hospital. made their bodies rapidly convert whether or how shifts in Many kids don’t have severe codeine into morphine in the liver, recommendations about codeine ven after warnings from pain after getting their tonsils out leading to dangerously high levels influenced prescriptions after doctors and drug regulators and can manage any discomfort of morphine in the blood that could surgery. It’s also possible that about the dangers of opioids with medicines like ibuprofen or cause suppression of breathing or even results for kids with private Efor children, 1 in 20 kids acetaminophen, Chua said. If they death. health insurance might not still get codeine after two common need something stronger, alternatives For the study, researchers represent what happened for Around the world childhood surgeries, a US study to codeine include oxycodone and examined health insurance records children with other types of Weather Weather suggests. hydrocodone. for kids up to 18 years old who had benefits or no insurance. today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Researchers examined records “Codeine prescribing in children private coverage to see how often Still, the results suggest that Athens Showers 17/11 M Sunny 17/06 for almost 363,000 children for any reason should be a zero event,” they got at least one prescription paediatric codeine prescriptions Beirut S T Storms 24/18 S Showers 21/17 Bangkok T Storms S Showers 31/24 for codeine or other opioids within persist in spite of the risks, said 32/25 who had tonsillectomies and Chua said by e-mail. Berlin Showers 07/01 Showers 06/02 adenoidectomies from 2010 to Last year, the American Academy of seven days of surgery. They also Dr Constance Houck, a researcher Cairo P Cloudy 26/14 Sunny 25/14 2015. The US Food and Drug Pediatrics recommended against any looked at how often prescriptions at Boston Children’s Hospital and Cape Town Sunny 24/14 S Showers 19/12 Administration (FDA) issued a use of codeine for children. were filled. Harvard Medical School who wasn’t Colombo S T Storms 30/25 T Storms 30/25 black box warning against use of Codeine used to be one of At the start of the study, about involved in the study. Dhaka M Sunny 31/22 Sunny 32/21 Hong Kong Cloudy 23/20 Cloudy 23/18 codeine in kids because of the risk the most commonly prescribed 31% of the kids fi lled at least one “Parents should know that there Istanbul Showers 17/10 Rain 13/06 of overdoses and deaths. painkillers for kids after prescription for codeine within 7 days are other medications to treat pain Jakarta P Cloudy 33/24 I T Storms 33/24 Following the FDA warning, codeine tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy of surgery - and about 32% of kids got such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen or Karachi Sunny 29/14 Sunny 29/16 prescribing related to these two in part because it was perceived as at least one prescription fi lled for an numbing medications,” Houck said London P Cloudy 08/06 Showers 13/10 Manila S T Storms 32/25 P Cloudy 32/25 surgeries decreased signifi cantly, by safer than higher potency opioids alternative opioid. by e-mail. Moscow S Showers 02/01 Cloudy 02/-2 roughly 13 percentage points. But by like hydrocodone and oxycodone, As of January 2010, codeine “If an opioid is prescribed, it New Delhi P Cloudy 26/11 Sunny 24/11 the end of 2015, nearly three years researchers note online November products made up 47% of should be one that does not have to New York Cloudy 14/03 P Cloudy 09/04 after the black box warning, about 16 in Pediatrics. prescriptions fi lled, while the rest be broken down in the body in order Paris P Cloudy 09/02 Cloudy 11/08 S T Storms S Showers 20/17 5% of kids were still getting codeine But between 1969 and 2012, the were hydrocodone and oxycodone. to provide pain relief,” Houck added. Sao Paulo 21/17 Seoul P Cloudy 03/-4 S Showers 07/-5 prescriptions after these procedures. FDA received 13 reports of kids who By the end of the study period, “Oxycodone and hydrocodone are two Singapore S T Storms 31/26 T Storms 30/25 “This is an unacceptable died or overdosed after taking codeine, codeine accounted for just 9% of pain medicines that are available in Sydney P Cloudy 22/17 P Cloudy 22/17 gamble given that there are better including eight who had recently prescriptions and the majority were liquid form that can be used instead of Tokyo Clear 12/07 Clear 10/05 alternatives,” said lead study author undergone these surgeries. for hydrocodone. codeine.” Gulf Times 28 Sunday, November 19, 2017 QATAR

Qatar committed to resolving GCC crisis, says foreign minister

From Page 1 As to why the siege was still in place, the minister said it was a result of the actions of Saudi Arabia and the UAE towards Qatar and the illegal measures they took against the country by shutting borders and separating families, in addition to launching an anti-Qatar propaganda cam- paign. Sheikh Mohamed however stressed that Qatar was commit- ted to reaching a resolution, be- cause “the country realises that HE the Deputy Prime Minister terrorism is a bigger threat facing and Foreign Minister Sheikh the region”. Mohamed bin Abdulrahman On ties between Qatar and al-Thani Iran, the foreign minister noted that Qatar has a unique relation- Asked whether Saudi Crown ship with Iran. “Qatar is located Prince Mohamed bin Salman was between and shares borders with a threat to Qatar’s future, Sheikh two big countries in Saudi Arabia Mohamed said there was a diver- and Iran.” sion in the policy of Saudi Ara- He noted however that there bia and the UAE from the GCC were concerns of Iran’s increas- agreement which was engage- ing infl uence in the region, but ment in dialogue. There was also stressed that those fears must a sense of unpredictability when be addressed peacefully and that it comes to the policies of Saudi is what the State of Qatar is en- Arabia and the UAE in the region, couraging other Gulf states to do. he said. This was also the decision taken The foreign minister added during the GCC summit in 2016 “there was a lot of chaos and – to engage in dialogue with Iran crises in the region, pointing out on the principle that the GCC that Qatar was part of a bigger will be one entity and Iran the strategy now seen in Lebanon other, he said. too.” Grand maritime festival comes to an end at Katara he Katara 7th Traditional Dhow Festival concluded A large number of people visited the festival. Tyesterday following fi ve days of festivities. rich maritime tradition dis- Organised by Katara – the played in such an ambiance. I Cultural Village Foundation, the urge all families to be keen about grand annual event is held with visiting Katara’s Traditional the aim of showcasing rich mari- Dhow Festival as it is benefi cial time traditions and preserving and entertaining for all family their cultural identity, Katara members.” An expatriate visitor said in a press statement. said, “The festival is very educa- The festival was held over fi ve tive as it displays the traditional days and the participants hailed dhow names that were used in from Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Iraq, the past and demonstrates the Turkey, India, Greece and Zan- maritime culture at its best.” zibar. Their pavilions featured Besides nationals and expa- food, handicrafts, documenta- triates, the festival also saw a ries and even mini-museums number of visitors from regional that refl ected their unique mari- countries such as Kuwait. time heritage, the statement “This is a wonderful ambi- noted. ance and we are truly thrilled to A race in progress. The event drew a large number A large contingent from Oman attended the Traditional Dhow Festival at Katara, highlighting the close be here in Qatar just to witness of people from various nationali- relations between Qatar and Oman. Musicians, bearing portraits of HM Sultan Qaboos bin Said, were also this festival, which successfully The festival also featured daily Dhow and Dhow Lifting’, Al ties and walks of life. The visitors seen taking part in the festival yesterday. PICTURES: Jayan Orma blends the past with the present competitions such as the tradi- Ghazl, the dhow exhibition, lauded the event and stressed its and showcases the traditions tional dhow race and the pearl- traditional performances and importance in highlighting the visiting the festival with his fam- the children, a well-organised our marine heritage. It is very with a modern touch. Well done, diving contest. crafts, a fi sh market, dhow cruis- country’s marine heritage. ily, said: “This is a great oppor- event that features traditional important for the younger gen- Katara, for this tremendous suc- Other attractions included es, a traditional cafe and an op- A Qatari national, who was tunity for me to visit, along with dhows and all aspects related to eration to grow up seeing this cess,” said one of them. Haddaq Al Seif, ‘Preparing the eretta. Over 400 volunteers undergo training for National Day celebrations

he National Day Organis- ing Committee is conduct- Ting a training programme for some 400 people involved in the organisation of the National Day celebrations at Darb Al Saai and the Doha Corniche in order to develop their skills and perform- ance. The programme is being held in collaboration with a number of training bodies and will continue until next month in the frame- work of ongoing preparations for the National Day celebrations on December 18 to commemorate the founder of the State, Sheikh Jassim bin Mohamed bin Thani, according to a press statement. The initiative seeks to “en- The training programme covers various aspects and includes 400 hance the value of National Day participants. in the hearts of citizens and stress the importance of taking respon- the abilities and sharpening the HMC. When the attendees pass sibility and improving skills on skills of trainees. eight hours of training, they will how to communicate with people The programme aims to edu- receive international licences for during the National Day activi- cate trainees on issues such as practising fi rst aid, which will be ties”, the statement notes. crowd control, confi dence, re- valid for two years. The National Day Organis- sponsibility, challenges and initi- The programme also include ing Committee, in co-ordination ond phase). The participants will ment further explains. the training courses. The Ali Bin wa, chairperson of the Training ative, in addition to teaching how courses in crisis management and with Ministry of Education and get 24 training hours before start- The committee has asked a Hamad Al-Attiyah Arena and Al and Development Committee, to deal under pressure. The train- fi re extinguishing, provided by Higher Education, has adopted ing the Darb Al Saai activities and number of trainers and bodies, Markhyia Primary Independent said the training programme be- ees will also benefi t from courses the General Directorate of Civil ‘voluntary hours’ for students of 16 hours through their participa- which have vast experience in School for Girls have been off ered ing held by the organising com- in fi rst aid provided by the Hamad Defence, and several other cours- secondary schools (fi rst and sec- tion in such activities, the state- imparting training, to conduct for this purpose. Aisha al-Muta- mittee will contribute to building International Training Centre of es in diff erent fi elds.