BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Captain al-Haydos shines as Qatar, US chambers Qatar beat seek to strengthen trade co-operation Palestine 3-0 published in QATAR since 1978

WEDNESDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 10939 September 12, 2018 Moharram 2, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Deputy Amir meets Russian chief justice Egypt freezes assets of

In brief Brotherhood charities

AFP Hundreds of others were given Cairo lengthy prison terms in one of Egypt’s largest mass trials since the country’s 2011 uprising, with 739 defendants fac- ARAB WORLD | Diplomacy n Egyptian judicial committee ing charges. Qatar vows to back Syrian, yesterday announced an asset The United Nations said the death Afreeze of more than 1,000 chari- sentences were the result of an “unfair Palestinian peoples ties tied to the banned Muslim Broth- trial” and warned if they were carried Qatar reiterated its rejection of all erhood, as well as those of hospitals out would “represent a gross and irre- steps aimed at obstructing and and individuals. versible miscarriage of justice”. weakening the United Nations Relief The funds of 1,133 charities were The mass trial has been widely con- and Works Agency for Palestine to be frozen, the committee said in a demned by human rights organisa- Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), statement, as well as numerous oth- tions, with call- reaff irming its commitment to stand er entities it said were owned by the ing it a “grotesque parody of justice.” by the Palestinian people and to Brotherhood. The 739 defendants were arrested provide for their basic needs. The The decision came after a law was and tried for participating in a month- State also stressed its support for the passed earlier this year to oversee the long sit-in at Rabaa al-Adawiya and al- Syrian people, demanding that the freezing of assets of “terrorists” and Nahda squares in Cairo to the international community shoulder “terrorist groups”. removal of Mursi. its responsibilities to protect civilians His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani met at his Amiri Diwan off ice yesterday with the Chief The Muslim Brotherhood was out- The protest culminated in mass vio- and stop the crimes of the Syrian Justice of the Russian Supreme Court, Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Lebedev, and his accompanying delegation. The meeting lawed and designated a terrorist or- lence, when Egyptian security forces – regime. Page 2 reviewed ways to develop bilateral co-operation, especially in the legal and judicial fields. ganisation in Egypt in December 2013, under the command of now-President months after the military ousted Is- Abdel Fattah al-Sisi – attempted to AMERICA | 9/11 anniversary lamist president Mohamed Mursi fol- clear thousands of demonstrators by lowing mass against his rule. using automatic weapons, armoured Trump pays tribute to The judicial committee additionally personnel carriers and military bull- ‘heroes’ of Flight 93 announced the assets of 1,589 Broth- dozers. Hundreds of people were killed. President paid tribute erhood members would be frozen, in- Among those sentenced to death yesterday to the “heroes” who cluding some of the movement’s lead- Saturday at the Cairo Criminal Court fought back against hijackers on ers. were prominent Muslim Brotherhood September 11, 2001, vowing he would Aspetar, US group Some 118 companies, 104 schools, members Essam El-Erian, Mohamed do whatever it takes to keep America 69 hospitals and 33 websites and satel- Beltagy, Abdel-Rahman al-Bar and safe. Under a grey sky in Shanksville, lite channels were also hit with an asset Osama Yassin. Pennsylvania, Trump praised the freeze. Although the verdict is considered courage of the 40 men and women Brotherhood members were among fi nal, the defendants can still appeal. aboard Flight 93 who rushed the four 75 people, including journalists whose Another 56 defendants were sen- hijackers who had seized control of to set up medicine death sentences were upheld on Satur- tenced to life imprisonment, including the plane and diverted it towards day over clashes in 2013 between secu- Mohamed Badie, leader of the Muslim Washington. Page 11 rity forces and Mursi supporters. Brotherhood.

PAKISTAN | Mourning Jailed ex-PM Sharif to centre in Texas attend wife’s funeral The cancer-stricken wife of Pakistan’s By Joseph Varghese expressed his admiration of the high ternational destination for football UN chief pushes for safety jailed former prime minister Nawaz Staff Reporter level of facilities and expertise at Asp- players and sports people with injuries Sharif died in London yesterday while etar. Donohue stated that the collabora- or those who want to improve their her husband and daughter were tion between AZF and THR was brought training. We hope, they will bring of civilians in Syria’s Idlib in prison, off icials said. Pakistan’s spire Zone Foundation (AZF) through a group of visionaries in Qatar. this expertise to our group of physios government later decided to release has signed a memorandum “They have a rich background in sports and physiotherapists in Texas,” said Dr O Agencies warn of worst humanitarian tragedy of century Sharif and his daughter Maryam Aof understanding (MoU) with medicine, surgeries and rehabilitation Singleton. Nawaz on parole to attend the Texas Health Resources – Dallas (THR) and put all that together to build such an “As North America is hosting the nited Nations Secretary-Gen- Idlib risks creating the worst humani- funeral. Information Minister Fawad to create a joint centre of excellence for example of world class facility,” he said. FIFA World Cup 2026, football is one eral Antonio Guterres yesterday tarian tragedy of the 21st century, UN Chaudhry said the former prime research, training, performance and “We are extremely proud that THR of the rapidly growing games in the US Uappealed to Russia, Iran and aid agencies have said, amid concerns minister and his daughter would be sports medicine in North Texas, Unit- is interested to collaborate with us to and the young population in Texas is Turkey to “spare no eff ort to fi nd solu- that a severe funding shortfall threat- freed for 12 hours on the day of the ed States. establish an Aspetar-like orthopaedic fast growing. Our hope is that we will tions that protect civilians” in Syria’s ens the most vulnerable victims of the funeral. Kulsoom Nawaz Sharif, 68, “This is an opportunity for Aspetar, hospital in Texas which is a new indi- have completed the facility in Texas Idlib and said it was “absolutely essen- confl ict. died after months in a coma. Page 20 the world’s leading specialised ortho- cation of the profi cient level that As- within two to three years. We will have tial” a full-scale battle was avoided. “We as humanitarian advocates paedic and sports medicine hospital to petar has reached in the fi eld of sports some of the physios of Aspetar work- “This would unleash a humanitar- must raise our voice,” said Jens Laerke have a joint venture with THR. With medicine and the international repu- ing with us and some of our doctors ian nightmare unlike any seen in the from the Offi ce for the Co-ordination this MoU, we are planning to estab- tation it has gained through its unique are coming over here to work with As- blood-soaked Syrian confl ict,” he told of Humanitarian Aff airs (OCHA). “We lish a Sports Medicine Centre of Ex- expertise,” explained al-Suwaidi. petar,” said Dr Singleton. reporters are saying that this has the potential to cellence in the US. Now we are taking “We see this collaboration as an- The MoU paves the way for three An estimated 3mn people live in be the worst crisis - humanitarian cri- our expertise to other places and it is other sign of the strong and deep re- core elements of collaboration through Idlib - the last major stronghold of sis - in the 21st century, because that just the beginning,” Mohamed Khalifa lationship between Qatar and the USA the new affi liation: a research pro- active opposition to President Bashar is frankly what it looks like, if it goes al-Suwaidi, CEO of AZF and director on diff erent levels, and the timing gramme to advance the science of al-Assad. The UN has described it as a ahead with a full-scale military opera- general of Aspetar told Gulf Times. couldn’t be better with Qatar being the sports medicine and to promote and “dumping ground” for people evacu- tion.” The MoU was signed yesterday by Dr host of the FIFA World Cup 2022 and propagate the services of the centre ated and displaced from elsewhere in Since September 4, an uptick in vio- Abdulaziz al-Kuwari, CEO of Aspetar North Texas being a site for matches of excellence; an outreach/sports per- Syria during the seven-year war. lence has killed scores of civilians and and Dr Steven Singleton, chief medical when the US hosts the World Cup in formance programme to provide serv- Senior offi cials from Russia, Iran displaced more than 30,000 people, offi cer at THR on the occasion of the 2026. For us, this collaboration fur- ices to and meet the unique but related and Turkey met with UN Syria envoy Laerke said. visit to Aspetar by Thomas Donohue, thers our progress towards achieving needs of professional athletes and Staff an de Mistura in Geneva yesterday. Regional Humanitarian Co-ordina- president and CEO of US Chamber of AZF vision to become the Reference teams, and collegiate and high school The presidents of Turkey, Iran and Rus- tor for the Syria Crisis Panos Moumtzis Commerce, and a delegation from the in Sports Excellence world-wide by athletes; and clinical services to sup- sia met in Tehran on Friday but failed to noted that aerial and ground-based US Chamber of Commerce and THR. 2020,” al-Suwaidi added. port the research, outreach and sports agree on a ceasefi re in Idlib. bombardment had struck northern ru- During his tour of Aspetar, Donohue “Aspetar is a very well known in- performance programmes. Page 7 A full-scale military off ensive on ral Hama governorate. Page 10 ‘Qatari investment in Germany to spur private sector growth’

By Peter Alagos many, especially with the 2022 FIFA World Cup Dr has added huge support to ergy, who spoke at one of the forum’s panel dis- Business Reporter coming to Qatar. this event. cussions. “I think there is a lot to learn from German He said Germany had “promising” invest- manufacturers – they are superb and are lead- “We think this €10bn investment ment sectors that need Qatari investments to atar’s pledge to pour €10bn worth of in- ers in all things related to technology whether will enhance the relations of the two stimulate growth, particularly in the small- and vestments into Germany over the next for security, stadiums, and logistics. Not only countries. Germany is a very vibrant medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector, which is Qfi ve years will help spur economic de- will we learn from them but there are many ar- economy and from our perspective, it regarded as the backbone of the German econ- velopment and private sector growth for both eas that Qatar could co-operate with Germany,” is one of the most rewarding and well- omy. countries, according to Alfardan Group presi- Alfardan stressed. structured economies in Europe” According to Alfardan, the group has been as- dent and CEO Omar Hussain Alfardan. He also pointed out that the impact of the new sociated with the German business sector, par- Speaking to Gulf Times on the sidelines of the investments from Qatar would be “reciprocat- “We think this €10bn investment will en- ticularly with fi rms such as BMW for the past 25 ‘9th Qatar-Germany Business and Investment ing investments of bilateral nature,” adding that hance the relations of the two countries. Ger- years. He said Alfardan Group also enjoys strong Forum’ held recently in Berlin, Alfardan stressed he is confi dent that “these kinds of investments many is a very vibrant economy and from our business ties with Continental, Germany’s that the fresh round of Qatari investments for will continue”. perspective, it is one of the most rewarding and leading automotive manufacturing company. Germany will off er new opportunities “from all “We have been participating in the forum well-structured economies in Europe,” Alfardan Asked about expansion plans for Qatar and perspectives”. for the past 10 years, and in every forum that emphasised. abroad, Alfardan said the group has a strategic “From the automotive industry to the hos- Qatar has organised in Germany. The pres- Alfardan’s views were refl ected by Dr Ulrich expansion plan for the next fi ve and 10 years in pitality sector, I think there is a lot we can learn ence of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim Nussbaum, Germany’s State Secretary at the the country, Europe, and the Gulf region, spe- from the partnership we are looking for in Ger- bin Hamad al-Thani and German Chancellor Federal Ministry for Economic Aff airs and En- Omar Hussain Alfardan. cifi cally in Oman. Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, September 12, 2018 QATAR Palestinian, security FM Meets UNIDO director general issues on agenda as Arab League meets

QNA Cairo HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin he 150th session of the Abdulrahman al-Thani met yesterday with director general of the United Nations Industrial Arab League Ministerial Development Organisation (UNIDO) LI Yong, during an off icial visit to Austria. During the TCouncil kicked off yes- meeting, they discussed ways to promote the relations between Qatar and UNIDO. They terday, under the presidency of also discussed increasing technical co-operation between Qatar and UNIDO in the industrial Sudan and with the participa- development field. tion of Arab foreign ministers and their representatives and in the attendance of Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit. Qatar participated with a del- egation led by HE the Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs Sultan Unilateral procedures bin Saad al-Muraikhi. The ministers were to dis- cuss a number of issues, most prominently following up on the political development of the lead to gross violation Palestinian cause, activating Arab peace initiative and the vi- olations taking place in occupied HE the Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi at the meeting of Arab League Jerusalem. foreign ministers. The session will also discuss of rights, says envoy rejecting the Israeli racial law, on the international issues es- fairs related to the Fourth Arab fi nancial support threatening the its impact on the historical and pecially the threats of the Israeli Water Forum. United Nation Relief and Works political rights of the Palestinian armament on the Arab national The participant will also dis- Agency for Palestine Refugees QNA ery”, its causes, consequences comes the visit of the Special people. In addition, the session security and international peace, cuss issues related to legal af- (UNRWA). Geneva and the independent expert Rapporteur on contemporary will discuss supporting Pales- as well as Arab relations with fairs and human right such as The meeting is held at the re- on establishing a democratic forms of slavery to Doha, ex- tine’s budget and promoting its regional groupings, including international terrorism and ways quest of Jordan to discuss the re- and equitable international or- pressing his hope that the visit people’s resistance, Arab water Arab-African relations and rela- to combat it. It will also discuss percussions of the severe fi nan- atar said that the il- der, which is part of the 39th would achieve its intended security and Israel’s theft of wa- tions with China and India. The maintaining Arab national se- cial shortage faced by UNRWA in legal use of unilateral session of the Human Rights goals. ter in occupied Arab territories, session will also review the Arab- curity and combating terror- its various areas of operation. Qprocedures by certain Council. With regards to the man- the occupied Syrian Arab Golan. Russian Co-operation Forum, ism, and the development of the In May, Qatar signed an countries and imposing siege in Al-Nuaimi said Qatar reiter- date of the independent ex- The ministers will also dis- the Arab relations with Pacifi c Arab counter-terrorism system. agreement with UNRWA. Un- contravention of the Charter of ates the need for countries to pert tasked with establishing cuss Arab issues which include and South American countries The session will also discuss the der the agreement, Qatar will the United Nations and inter- adhere, in its foreign relations, a democratic and equitable solidarity with Lebanon, devel- and the co-operation between results of the open-ended Arab donate $50mn to protect Pales- national law, such as the siege to principles of international international order based on a opments in Syria, Libyan and the Arab League and United Committee on the Development tinian refugees’ access to basic imposed by the neighbouring law concerning friendly rela- holistic approach considering Yemeni situation. They will also Nations. of the Arab League at the level of education in 2018. The dona- countries on Qatar, aims to tions and co-operation between all human rights, he said that discuss supporting peace and The participants will also look Permanent Representatives and tion will be used immediately to undermine international order them as well as full respect for Qatar has taken note of the vi- development in Sudan, Soma- into a number of social issues the groups emanating from it, as sustain the agency’s education- and leaves serious violations sovereignty and territorial in- sion and priorities identifi ed lia, Comoros, a peaceful solution such as supporting internally well as appointing a chairman for al services in all fi ve UNRWA of human rights, wondering tegrity and political independ- by the independent expert that for the Djibouti-Eritrean border displaced person in Arab coun- Arab Permanent Committee on regions – Jordan, Gaza and the how the use of unilateral coer- ence according to the Charter will be focused on during im- dispute and supporting Iraq’s tries, especially displaced Iraqis. Human Rights and two new as- West Bank, including East Je- cive measures in international of the UN and other related plementation of his mandate in eff orts to demand water quotas The sessions will also discuss sistant secretary generals. rusalem, Syria, and Lebanon, relations would undermine international conventions. the next phase. from neighbouring countries. issues on information and com- Earlier, Arab League foreign during the period between June a democratic and equitable He also highlighted the im- Al-Nuaimi said Qatar also The session will also touch munication and economic af- ministers discussed the lack of and October 2018. international order. portance of refraining from the reiterates the importance of These remarks were made use of unilateral coercive meas- this mandate in promoting and by Deputy Permanent Repre- ures that would have long-term instilling the meaning of inter- QMC CEO meets sentative of Qatar to the UN in negative consequences for hu- national order that is based on Geneva, Abdullah al-Nuaimi, man rights, causes obstacles comprehensive respect for hu- GCC institution France honours Qatari envoy during an interactive dialogue for trade relations and impedes man rights, international soli- off icial with the Special Rapporteur on the full right to development. darity, justice, peace, rule of “contemporary forms of slav- Al-Nuaimi said Qatar wel- law and development. HE Chief Executive Off icer of Qatar Media Corporation Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad al-Thani met yesterday with director general of the Joint Programme Production Institution of the Gulf Qatar pledges support to Co-operation Council Ali Hassan al-Rayes. During the meeting, they discussed relations between rights of older persons the two sides and means of enhancing them. atar has affi rmed its in- the cohesion and integration the family constitutes the natu- terest in the rights of of older persons in society as a ral environment for the life of Real estate Qolder persons based on whole. any person, the State has devot- fundamental principles, the He said the promotion and ed attention to building a strong business exceeds most important of which are re- protection of the rights of older and cohesive family which re- QR211mn ligious duty and cultural values persons have two aspects: one mains the pillar of the protec- that emphasise the reverence is a moral and value aspect that tion and promotion of the rights The trading volume of registered and protection of older persons is to recognise the older per- of all its members, in particular real estates between August as well as the promotion of their sons’ contributions, capacities the older persons.” 26 and August 30 at the rights. and rights to live in dignity and He pointed out that Qatar Ministry of Justice’s real estate This was stated in Qatar’s independently, while the other has passed legislations guar- registration department stood at statement delivered by second is a material one that is to pro- anteeing the elderly all rights QR211,448,256. secretary at Qatar’s Permanent vide adequate resources that re- such as social security, hous- The department’s weekly Delegation to the UN Offi ce in spond to the special needs of the ing, work and legal protection. report said that the trading Geneva, Abdulla Khalifa al-Su- older persons. At the same time, it established included empty lands, residential waidi, before the 39th session Al-Suwaidi pointed out that specialised institutions, topped units, multipurpose buildings, of the Human Rights Council in line with this concept, Qatar’s by the Centre for Elderly Em- residential buildings and on interactive dialogue with interest in the rights of older powerment & Care (Ehsan) of multipurpose empty lands. UN independent expert on the persons has been based on fun- the Qatar Foundation for Social Most of the trading took place enjoyment of all human rights damental principles, the most Work which provides the older in Al Rayyan, Doha, Al Wakrah, by older persons and UN spe- important of which are religious persons with health, social and Umm Salal, Al Khor, Al Daayen, Al cial rapporteur on the human duty and cultural values that psychological services through Thakhira and Al Shamal. French President Emmanuel Macron granted Qatar’s ambassador to France Khalid bin Rashid rights to safe drinking water and emphasise the reverence and a variety of services and pro- The trading volume of registered al-Mansouri the National Order of Merit with the rank of Commander on the occasion at end of sanitation. protection of the older persons grammes, including residential Real estates between August 12 his tenure. Al-Suwaidi said social exclu- as well as the promotion of their care, day care, mobile home care and August 16 was QR811,016,038. sion aff ects the quality of life, rights, adding: “Convinced that and aftercare, he said.

Qatari ambassador presents credentials Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency Chairman Silatech provided 1mn job Bakir Izetbegovic received the credentials of Sultan bin Ali al-Khater as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Qatar to the country. During the meeting, the ambassador conveyed the greetings of His openings in 16 countries Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to Bosnia and Herzegovina presidency QNA nors Forum in London, entitled latech was born out of a vision of jobs for needy youth in more chairman and His Highness’ wishes of health London “Building Resilient Ecosystems Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint than 16 countries. and happiness to the president and the Philanthropy Response to In- Nasser, that supporting the fu- He also presented the experi- government, as well as wishes of further ince its establishment, equality and Societal Tensions”. ture of youth supports all society. ence of Silatech in designing and progress and prosperity to the people of Silatech has been able The forum saw a wide partic- He said that Silatech was developing innovative youth em- Bosnia and Herzegovina. For his part, Sto provide 1mn jobs for ipation of representatives from working closely with its part- ployment programmes in line with Izetbegovic conveyed his greetings to HH needy youth in more than 16 governments, fi nancial institu- ners from governments, non- the goals of sustainable develop- the Amir, wishing the Qatari people further countries, in co-operation with tions and academics, charity governmental organisations ment, and providing innovative prosperity and development. He wished the its governmental and non- counsellors, humanitarian and or multilateral and bilateral technological solutions to help ambassador success in his duties and his governmental partners. relief organisations and others. organisations in order to mo- young people who need support to eff orts to support and promote the friendly This came during a presen- Al-Emadi gave a brief over- bilise co-fi nancing for the im- establish their own businesses. relations and co-operation between Qatar and tation by Silatech executive view of Silatech and its journey plementation of large-scale Silatech’s mission is to connect Bosnia and Herzegovina. director Faisal al-Emadi, at the which was launched in 2008, employment programmes. Sal- Arab young people with employ- eighth session of the Global Do- saying the idea to establish Si- itech has provided nearly 1mn ment and enterprise opportunities. Gulf Times Wednesday, September 12, 2018 3 QATAR Qatar promotes cultural exchanges with Russia at Moscow book fair atar participated in the The Qatari participation in Qatar ambassador to the Rus- the Qatar-Russia 2018 Year of 31st edition of the Mos- the exhibition included a pavil- sian Federation Fahad bin Mo- Culture”. Qcow International Book ion of the Ministry of Culture hammed al-Attiyah said Qatar is The Qatari pavilion at the Fair and its participation was an and Sports in co-operation with making great eff orts to develop book fair witnessed a public in- opportunity to promote cultural its partners - Qatar Museums, the publishing industry, and teraction with the events organ- exchanges and enhance cultural Hamad Bin Khalifa University “we are pleased that the Qatari ised during its participation in relations with the Russian Feder- Press, Rosa Publishing House books are available in Russian the fi ve-day exhibition, attract- ation as well as celebrate the rel- and Lusail Publishing House. It language, which contributes to ing visitors who confi rmed that evant ties through partnerships was within the framework of the increasing cultural exchange they contributed to their knowl- between the major Qatari and Qatar-Russia 2018 Year of Cul- between the two countries and edge of aspects of the cultural Russian cultural organisations. ture. achieving the main objective of landscape in Qatar. Off icials mark the occasion.

Ministry official meets with Syrian envoy

Ministry of Foreign Aff airs Secretary-General Dr Ahmed bin Hassan al-Hammadi met yesterday with of Syrian ambassador to Qatar Nizar al-Haraki. They discussed bilateral relations and means of supporting and developing them as well as issues of mutual concern.

Qatar Post receives three international accreditations atar Post has been accordance to the Inter- recognised for its national Organisation for Qquality perform- Standardisation (ISO). ance and awarded three ISO Faleh Mohammed al- certifi cations in the cat- Naemi, chairman and man- egories of quality, environ- aging director, Qatar Post, ment and health and safety hailed the ISO certifi ca- management by the UK’s tion as a great achievement accreditation body Bureau stating that Qatar Post has Veritas. invested heavily over the The international ac- past years to improve the creditations were granted quality of its operations and for Qatar Post’s integrated customer services. “We are management system, which pleased with the outcome included three ISO certi- of the comprehensive audit fi cations in Quality Man- and accreditation process agement System ISO9001, applied to our administra- Environmental Manage- tion systems to measure our ment System ISO14001, capacity in providing basic and Health, and Safety Postal services, fi nancial Management System ISO services, e-commerce, and OHSAS 18001 Assessment e-government,” he added. Series, according to a state- The accreditation covers ment issued by Qatar Post. various areas of postal op- The certifi cates have erations including quality, been awarded following health, safety, environment, a comprehensive and ex- sales, marketing, transfor- tensive external audit that mation, strategy manage- demonstrated the compli- ment, human resources, ance of Qatar Post to these fi nance, Security, IT, pro- three systems with recog- curement, processing, nised standards globally in delivery, and ports.

A top Qatar Post off icial receiving the ISO certification.

‘Qatari investment cornerstone for Jordan’s economy’ ordan’s Minister of State fi elds by amending laws and for Investment Aff airs legislation and signing Arab JMuhannad Shehadeh un- and international agree- derlined that the Qatari in- ments that opened new vestments in Jordan plays an export markets and macr- important role in supporting oeconomic, monetary and the national economy. fi nancial policies that kept In a statement to Qatar up the development of the News Agency (QNA), the Jor- Jordanian economy. danian minister said that Qa- “The two sides are dis- tari authorities are interested cussing ideas and projects in implementing projects in in the transport and health the tourism and energy sec- sectors and are currently tors in the kingdom. preparing a package of He praised the distinguished available projects in these relations between Amman and two sectors,” he added. Doha “which must be invested In June, Qatar pledged to bring more economic and support to Jordan by pro- trade benefi ts to the Jordanian viding 10,000 jobs for Jor- and Qatari people. danians in the country, as Minister Shehadeh noted well as a package of in- that the Jordanian legisla- vestments targeting infra- tors worked on developing structure projects worth legislation in the economic $500mn. Gulf Times 4 Wednesday, September 12, 2018 QATAR

FM sends message to Bulgaria deputy PM HE the Deputy Prime Minister QFFD funds Somalia’s and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani has sent a written message to Deputy Prime Minister in rehabilitation project charge of the judiciary reform and Minister of Foreign Aff airs of Bulgaria Ekaterina omalia Prime Minister Economic Development Zakharieva, pertaining to Hassan Ali Khayre laid Gamal Mohamed Hassan, bilateral ties and means to Sthe cornerstone for Somalia’s Minister of Edu- support and develop them. the rehabilitation and build- cation, Culture and Higher The Qatari ambassador to ing project of the ministry Education Abdullahi Godah Bulgaria, Rashid bin Ali of planning, investment and Barre, Qatar ambassador to al-Khater, handed the economic development of Somalia Hassan bin Hamza message during a meeting the country funded by Qa- Hashem, and a number of with the Bulgarian deputy tar through Qatar Fund For senior offi cials in Somalia prime minister in Sofia Development (QFFD). attended the ceremony. yesterday. This project is one of During the ceremony, the development projects the Somali prime minis- provided by Qatar to So- ter thanked Qatar for its malia in accordance with continued support and the agreement signed by expressed hope that the the two sides in November ministry building would be 2017 for the implementation rebuilt within a year and of a number of projects in called for Somali people to Somalia. co-operate in the rehabili- Somalia’s Minister of tation of federal government Qatar ambassador to Somalia Hassan bin Hamza Hashem Planning, Investment and buildings. (QNA) among Somalia off icials at the ceremony. Vodafone sponsors ‘Qatari Success 2’ fest odafone Qatar has an- support Qatar’s progress. a pivotal role in this jour- nounced that it will be Using an Augmented Re- ney by providing a world- Vthe Platinum Spon- ality showcase, people will class telecommunications sor of the ‘Qatari Success experience a number of infrastructure and deliv- 2’ festival taking place from possible applications of 5G ering technological break- September 13 to 15 at Qatar technology in sectors such throughs that will ensure National Convention Centre. as healthcare, sports, agri- Qatar is one of the most Now in its second edition, culture and transportation. connected countries in the the festival supports Qatari Vodafone Qatar External world.” youth and Qatari small and cludes a debate by Qatar’s Aff airs director Mohamed Festival organiser Faisal home businesses by show- leading social media infl u- al-Yami said, “Vodafone al-Otaibi added, “We thank casing their talents, suc- encers, poetry recitals, and Qatar is proud to support Vodafone Qatar for being cess stories, and products. stand-up comedy shows, our country’s youth at such the sole telecommunica- Banking on the trends, the among others. a great showcase of Qatari tions company to sponsor festival will feature local Following the switching on determination, hard work two consecutive editions of coff ee shops and an exhibi- of its 5G network last month, and success. the Qatari Success festival. tion area where more than Vodafone Qatar will also “Technology and innova- We are grateful for all their 90 small and home busi- give visitors to the festival tion will play an important cooperation and the pro- nesses will display their a glimpse into the future of role in realising the Qatar vision of fi nancial, moral products for three days. how 5G will enhance the lives National Vision 2030 and and publicity assistance to The festival’s forum in- of the country’s residents and we are committed to playing Qatari youth.” Gulf Times Wednesday, September 12, 2018 5 QATAR EAA’s moving exhibition lands at HIA he Education Above All Foun- global education crisis, and we want Committee (IRC), the Nuclear Regula- The EAA exhibition at the HIA. dation’s (EAA) moving exhibi- the millions of passengers passing tory Commission (NRC), and the Save Ttion, Reaching 10 Million Out of through the airport during this time, the Children Fund. School Children, has landed at the Ha- to help us raise awareness, learn about The exhibition allows visitors to ex- mad International Airport (HIA). the diff erent barriers to education the perience the journey of refugee chil- The exhibition marks the achieve- world’s children are facing and become dren, highlighting the signifi cant chal- ment of securing commitments to en- advocates for the protection of educa- lenges they face on route, and when rol 10mn out-of-school children in 50 tion during times of confl ict and inse- accessing quality primary education countries around the world. curity.” after being uprooted from their homes, The exhibition is taking place in the The latest installment of the exhibi- families, friends and communities. departure’s terminal Concourse C, at tion focuses on the support for refugee “With an average of 8,700 pas- HIA until September 23. and displaced children. sengers per hour passing through the The travelling exhibition, previously The world today is confronted with HIA, the airport is a prime platform held at the Qatar Academy and the W a refugee crisis, with 68.5mn people for engaging local and international Doha, showcases the barriers to edu- forcibly displaced from home. communities and encouraging them cation that more than 63mn children Since the EAA was founded in 2012, to actively learn more about this pro- around the world face, and highlights it has committed to enrolling more gramme,” said HIA vice-president the work the EAA and its partners are than 1.9mn out-of-school children (commercial and marketing) Abdulaziz doing to overcome these barriers. and refugee and IDP (internally dis- al-Mass. “We all hold a responsibility Leena al-Derham, senior education placed persons) children in 18 coun- to raise awareness around the valuable specialist at the Educate A Child pro- tries, partnering with the UN High work and outreach for young children gramme, said: “Bringing this exhibi- Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), struggling to access primary educa- tion to Hamad International Airport, the UN Children’s Fund (Unicef), the tion. helps us reach and engage with people US, the UN Relief and Works Agency “Education is a powerful instru- from diff erent walks of life simultane- (UNRWA), the UN Educational, Sci- ment that can empower out of school ously. entifi c and Cultural Organisation children worldwide and greatly im- “Everyone has a role to play in the (Unesco), the International Rescue proves their quality of life.” Foundation slams bomb attack near school in Afghanistan

he Education Above All Foun- double bombing that occurred outside destroy its infrastructure and weaken dation (EAA) has condemned a Malika Omaira girls’ school in Jala- its ability to ever truly recover,” Malik Ttwin bomb attack near a school labad,” said Professor Maleiha Malik, added. “In order to build a peaceful in Afghanistan. executive director of the Protecting world, we must strengthen global gov- The attack left a small boy dead and Education in Insecurity and Confl ict ernance and hold accountable all those injured four others. (PEIC) programme of the EAA, in a who unleash violence against children “Another attack on education, an- statement yesterday. and education.” other innocent young life that has “The deliberate and continued The PEIC was created to promote been lost to this horrifi c tragedy. targeting of students, teachers and and protect the right to education in “The Education Above All Foun- educational institutions is an active areas aff ected by crisis, confl ict and dation strongly condemns the latest attempt to destabilise Afghanistan, insecurity.

Al Rayyan authorities conduct 476 inspections in August

l Rayyan Municipality conduct- ed 476 food health inspection Atours in August in addition to 41 fi eld reviews to issue new commercial An inspectors checking on the condition of a fryer. licences. In addition, the municipality con- were issued pertaining to food safety. These included 31 full carcasses of ducted two surprise inspection cam- During the same period, food items slaughtered sheep. paigns jointly with other relevant enti- that were off ered in some establish- Meanwhile, health inspectors su- ties, the Ministry of Municipality and ments within the municipality were pervised the slaughtering process of Environment said in a statement. destroyed by reason of being deemed 5,100 sheep at abattoirs. Fines col- Accordingly, two violation reports unfi t for human consumption. lected amounted to QR22,500.

Surprise crackdown at souq

ffi cers from the Ministry of Economy and Commerce O(MEC), in co-operation with the Ministry of Interior, have con- ducted a surprise inspection campaign targeting street vendors at Souq Haraj in the Najma area of Doha. The surprise campaign resulted in the issuance of 13 violation reports and 136 warnings to street vendors who were carrying out their trade activities without having a valid commercial li- cence. Accordingly, the violators were re- ferred to the security department con- cerned for legal action. The campaign was carried out to ensure the compliance of suppliers with their obligations under Law No 5 of 2015 on industrial, commercial and similar public shops, and street ven- dors, as well as their commitment to Ministerial Decision No 243 of 2016 on licences and regulations for street Off icials issued 13 violation reports and 136 warnings to street vendors. vendors. Gulf Times 6 Wednesday, September 12, 2018 QATAR 2022 World Cup ‘will set the Herpes type 1 virus emerging as main cause of genital disease benchmark for future events’ esearchers at Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar (WCM-Q) found that trans- Rmission patterns of herpes simplex he 2022 FIFA World Cup will Qatar’s World Cup preparations to virus type 1 (HSV-1) are changing in Asia in a be a benchmark for future date. striking way, and that this virus is emerging Tevents from a legacy perspec- German fi rms have been involved as a key sexually transmitted infection. tive, Supreme Committee for Deliv- in the development of major tourna- According to fi ndings published yesterday ery & Legacy (SC) secretary-general ment infrastructure, including fi ve in the high impact and prestigious Journal of Hassan al-Thawadi has stressed. of the eight stadiums planned for the Clinical Infectious Diseases, 20% of genital He made the observation while tournament, he noted. herpes cases and 6% of genital ulcer cases are speaking at a panel discussion dur- He concluded his remarks by em- now caused by HSV-1. HSV-1 is one of the most ing the recently held Qatar-Germa- phasising the positives off ered by widespread infections globally. It is normally Prof Abu-Raddad (second left) and his team. ny Business and Investment Eco- Qatar’s compact hosting concept, transmitted orally leading to blisters and lesions nomic Forum in Berlin, Germany, in which will provide players with around the mouth known as oral herpes. that 75% of adults are infected with the vi- which the SC participated. more time for rest and recovery be- Recent data from the United States and rus, through both the oral and genital routes. His Highness the Amir Sheikh tween games while enabling fans to Western Europe, however, showed that HSV- “It was striking for us to discover this shift Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani opened enjoy the tournament from one ac- 1 can also be transmitted sexually leading to in HSV-1 transmission patterns from oral to the event, announcing plans for in- commodation location. genital herpes and genital ulcer disease. The genital infection in Asia,” said Manale Har- vestments worth €10bn in Germany Alongside the SC, numerous pub- data also indicated that the rate of genital fouche, joint fi rst author of the study and over the next fi ve years in recogni- Hassan al-Thawadi during the panel discussion. lic and private sector Qatari organi- infection is increasing in Western countries. senior research specialist at WCM-Q. “This tion of the strength of the German sations participated in the forum, Nonetheless, it was unknown whether is an intriguing transition for an infection economy and its preeminent posi- hamed al-Kuwari, Qatar Tourism ticularly inspirational for us because including QTA, Qatari Diar, Qatar this newly emerging trend is happening in known historically only as an oral infection. tion in Europe. Authority (QTA) acting chairman the legacy of that tournament is still Petroleum and the Qatar Free Zones other parts of the world. However, the study, It remains to be seen whether this transi- He further recognised Germany’s Hassan al-Ibrahim, FC Bayern Mu- being felt today. We adopted the Authority. conducted by the Infectious Disease Epide- tion is also happening in other parts of the “principled” support for Qatar since nich executive board member An- same approach with our prepara- It was the ninth Qatar Business miology Group (IDEG) at WCM-Q, demon- world.” Lara Khadr, joint fi rst author and re- the onset of the illegal blockade. dreas Jung, German Hotel and Ca- tions: planning for legacy begins the and Investment Forum organised to strated that this is also the case in Asia. The search intern at WCM-Q added. The forum sought to develop tering Association Berlin president moment you win the right to host highlight the 2022 FIFA World Cup study found that although HSV-1 remains Laith Abu-Raddad, principal investiga- commercial relations between Qa- Christian Andresen and Marc Nolla the tournament. From demount- hosts’ commitment to economic di- mostly orally transmitted, the virus is in- tor of the study and professor of healthcare tari organisations and businesses Harvey, director, Digital Transfor- able stadiums to promoting healthy versifi cation, according to the sc.qa creasingly being transmitted sexually. policy and research at WCM-Q, concluded, and their German counterparts. mation Offi ce — SAP EMEA South. living, I’m confi dent the 2022 FIFA report. The study, which provided a comprehen- “These fi ndings demonstrate the criticality During the event, al-Thawadi The SC secretary-general dis- World Cup will be a benchmark for By promoting outward and inward sive characterisation of HSV-1 infection pat- of accelerating HSV-1 vaccine development participated on a panel titled ‘Tour- cussed the lessons Qatar has tak- future events from a legacy perspec- investment into industries such as terns in Asian countries, also estimated that to control transmission and to prevent the ism, Health and Sports: The Road to en from previous mega-sporting tive.” sports, tourism and manufacturing, about 50% of children are infected with the medical and psychosocial disease burden World Cup 2022’, sc.qa reported. events, including World Cups and The SC secretary-general also the forum plays a vital role in diver- virus, all of whom are infected orally, and that is emerging from this infection.” He spoke alongside HE the Min- Olympic Games, among others. discussed the vital role that over 30 sifying Qatar’s economy in line with ister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mo- He said, “Germany 2006 was par- German companies have played in Qatar National Vision 2030.

Multiple sclerosis programme caring for over 700 patients

merging treatments are helping Over the last four years, almost raising awareness of the prevent relapses and halt the 45% of those diagnosed have been condition and the impor- Eprogression of multiple sclero- Qatari, with the majority of patients tance of early diagnosis sis (MS) in most patients, says a spe- being women aged between 31 and 40. and treatment,” said Pro- cialist at Hamad Medical Corporation “MS is one of the most common fessor Dirk Deleu, director (HMC). disabling neurological conditions af- of HMC’s MS programme. However, he adds that the neuro- fecting young people, but it is also Prof Deleu says early logical condition remains one of the one of the most misunderstood. diagnosis and treatment most misunderstood diseases. No two patients with MS experi- are critical to preventing The MS Programme at Hamad ence the same symptoms or have the relapses and may help de- General Hospital is currently caring same journey. This makes under- lay or prevent irreversible for more than 700 patients, diag- standing MS all the more diffi cult. damage. Professor Dirk Deleu nosed with the disease. It also highlights the signifi cance of “We are able to help many patients with MS eff ectively manage their symptoms and these pa- tients are able to live full and active lives. However, early detection is the key to getting the disease under control. If symptoms are ignored or discounted and a person has several at- tacks, we may have lost the critical window for treat- ment,” said Prof Deleu. MS is a potentially dis- abling disease that aff ects the brain and spinal cord. The symptoms of MS can vary widely and de- pend on the amount of central nervous system tract damage and which tracts are aff ected. Prof Deleu says the ini- tial presenting symptoms often include blurred vi- sion, numbness or loss of sensation, incontinence, weakness in the extremi- ties, co-ordination prob- lems, and double vision. The disease is more common in women than men and while it is not believed to be hereditary, family members have a slightly higher risk of de- veloping the disease. “The causes of MS are not well understood. There is no cure, but there are eff ective medications and therapies that modify the disease outcome. We are continuing to learn more about what causes MS and are zeroing in on ways to prevent it,” said Professor Deleu. Most patients with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40, although it can occur in children as well as in older adults. “The average age of di- agnosis among the Qatari population is 35 years old. There is a clear female pre- ponderance with the fe- male-to-male ratio being 1.83,” added Prof Deleu. MS is rarely fatal, but a lifelong condition that requires careful monitor- ing and ongoing manage- ment. Prof Deleu explains that treatment plans are indi- vidualised and designed around the patient. “Early diagnosis and treatment are important for MS. A neuro-infl am- matory disorder like MS leaves a lot of lesions in the central nervous sys- tem and with every lesion there is a potential loss of function,” added Prof De- leu. Gulf Times Wednesday, September 12, 2018 7 QATAR

Aspetar, US group to set up sports medicine centre QRCS preparing for IDP infl ux in northern Syria

atar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has said it is devel- Qoping an emergency re- sponse plan to deal with a potential mass displacement movement in the northern parts of Syria. Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) off icials and the US delegates after AZF signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with In a report issued in August on Texas Health Resources – Dallas (THR) to create a joint centre of excellence for research, training, performance and sports the humanitarian impact of any medicine in North Texas. PICTURE: Shameer Rasheed military escalation, the United Na- tions (UN) estimates that around 900,000 civilians would be dis- placed in the next six months, in- cluding 700,000 in Idlib alone. Developed by QRCS’ represent- Sign of the times ative mission in Turkey, the plan involves a set of relief and medical interventions guided by the overall relief plan adopted by UN agencies and other humanitarian providers in Syria. Under the scheme, QRCS will The QRCS representative mission. secure makeshift shelter materi- als, pay for housing rentals in safe to treat the patients at shelter cen- According to OCHA’s latest de- areas for three months, install more tres, IDP congregations, and areas mographic statistics in May, nearly tents at existing shelter camps, of military action. 3mn people have been dispersed and establish new camps in co- Three mobile medical clinics will across Idlib, western Aleppo, north- ordination with the UN Camp Co- be deployed to off er treatment and ern Hama, and eastern Latakia. ordination and Camp Management medication free of charge. Idlib received almost 1.4mn (CCCM) Cluster. QRCS noted that ambulance ve- newcomers from Eastern Ghouta, A temporary reception centre hicles and health facilities in target Homs, Hama, Daraa, and Aleppo, will be created to serve up to 2,400 areas will be supplied with medical in addition to the governorate’s internally displaced people (IDPs) equipment and medicines to meet 1.6mn population. per day with shelter, protection, an increasing demand. “Recent weeks have seen a fur- water and sanitation, food and QRCS’ mission in Turkey will be ther serious deterioration of the nonfood aid, and medical care. working closely with the UN Offi ce humanitarian situation in the In addition, an emergency ca- for the Co-ordination of Humani- north-west, with intense aerial tering hub will be opened to pre- tarian Aff airs (OCHA), as well as bombardment and shelling report- pare and distribute daily meals and other non-governmental organisa- ed in parts of Idlib, Aleppo, Hama, bread bundles at IDP congregation tions such as the Turkish Red Cres- and Latakia governorates,” said areas. cent and the Disaster and Emergency OCHA’s operations and advocacy QRCS will also support health Management Presidency of Turkey. director John Ging in a briefi ng to facilities, which off er emergen- Since November 2017, the mili- the Security Council on the hu- Qatar Society for Rehabilitation of Special Needs is organising a training course on sign language for personnel from the cy services and provide primary tary operations in southern Idlib manitarian situation in Syria. Traffic Department. The course will continue for two weeks. Experts in the field are training the participants on the proper health care, particularly in mater- and northern Hama countryside In a statement, he warned ways of communicating with people with hearing disability to help them benefit from the various services offered by the nal and child health, fi rst aid, and have caused a huge infl ux of peo- against a worst-case scenario in Traffic Department without any difficulty. referrals to reduce morbidity and ple to neighbouring towns, making Idlib, currently home of millions of mortality rates. extra pressure on the already over- local community and IDPs who live A fi eld hospital will be operated populated and underserved region. in terrible conditions.

Oshkosh B’gosh at Landmark Qatar Biobank attains milestone

atar Biobank, a member of Qa- scientifi c manager and acting director tar Foundation (QF), recently of Qatar Biobank, said: “Qatar Biobank Qmarked a major milestone with serves as a large-scale biomedical re- the screening of its 15,000th participant, search initiative that is based on popu- as part of its medical health research ini- lation in the Arab world, thus ensuring tiative to improve the health of the local far more accurate and eff ective targeted population through personalised medi- medical treatments. We encourage the cine. people of Qatar who are eligible and have Through providing biological samples not yet been screened to participate in and information, volunteer participants this vital initiative – the success of which help Qatar Biobank enable medical re- is dependent on large-scale participation The AAB management team with representatives and a medical team searchers and healthcare professionals by the local population, particularly Qa- from HMC. to form a clearer picture of the prevalent tari youth.” health-related issues in Qatar and the re- A regular visit to the Qatar Biobank AAB organises blood donation drive gion. includes standard medical tests such as Dr Asmaa al-Thani, chairperson of the blood pressure and lung function. bdullah Abdulghani & Bros dustrial Area and Al Abdulghani Qatar Genome Programme (QGP) Com- However, the tests carried out also Co (AAB), the exclusive Tower, the statement noted. mittee and board vice-chairperson of include new screenings that are not in- Adistributor of Toyota and All volunteers underwent the Qatar Biobank, said: “We are delighted cluded in other large-scale biobanks, in- Lexus in Qatar, has conducted the mandatory screening conducted to celebrate the screening of our 15,000th cluding advanced imaging techniques to second blood donation campaign by HMC staff before reaching the participant – a milestone that represents measure whole-body composition and for this year. actual number of accepted do- the local population’s eagerness to con- the health of carotid arteries, and a tread- With this, AAB “carries on its nors. tribute to their improved health. Qatar mill test to measure physical fi tness. commitment to promote the spir- R K Murugan, acting CEO; Biobank is an important initiative that Qatar Biobank welcomes Qataris over it of voluntary blood donation” in Rami Fani, acting HR director will play a pivotal role in contributing to a the age of 18 and adult expatriates who support of Hamad Medical Corp and Administration manager; healthier local population for generations have lived in Qatar for at least 15 years to (HMC), the company has said in and Muthusamy, senior manager, to come.” take part in this pioneering medical re- a statement. A good turnout of National Service, welcomed the Researchers at QGP, another member search endeavour. volunteers made the campaign a medical team from HMC on be- of QF, are already using Qatar Biobank’s All participants receive feedback in ap- success, AAB said. half of AAB. samples to gain important insights into proximately two weeks after their initial The new Oshkosh B’gosh store at Landmark shopping mall has been A signifi cant contribution was “AAB is dedicated in reaching the health of the local population, includ- visit, however, Qatar Biobank immedi- inaugurated by mall manager Walid Khoury in the present of Ramesh made to the blood bank as a result out to the community and hold- ing the prevalence of diabetes, obesity, ately notifi es participants who are found Bulchandani, general manager LTC – Qatar and other off icials. Oshkosh is of a good number of volunteers ing the blood donation campaign and vitamin D defi ciency. to have serious or life-threatening condi- a leading global brand of baby and children’s apparel. and accepted donors coming from annually manifests this commit- Dr Nahla Maher Afi fi , education and tions. various business units in the In- ment,” the statement adds.

Education City Golf Club gets new staff

he Education City Golf and golf development along with Nico is originally from South of Braidwood, al-Naimi, Rhys Club (ECGC) has wel- his team. Africa and has a wealth of expe- Beecher (director of golf) and Tcomed four new members This fundamental role will aim rience from other notable golf Darren Smith (golf course super- to its team in the build-up to the to develop golf within the com- clubs in the Middle East and intendent). opening of the 33-hole facility. munity of Qatar in line with the South Africa. Nico is also a PGA- “We welcome our new team “A robust recruitment drive has vision of ECGC. qualifi ed golf professional. members to Education City Golf been conducted over the past six Taking care of the clubs mem- Along with the Golf Opera- Club and wish them every success months to ensure the right can- bers will be Helena Martins from tions department welcoming in their new roles and new life in didates match the vision of this Portugal and she joins as the new staff , the Marketing depart- Qatar. It is fantastic to have three impressive facility,” ECGC said in memberships manager. ment has also welcomed a new PGA qualifi ed professionals join a press statement yesterday. Her role is to look after the club team member. the team who will bring with them The recruitment drive covered members’ needs — from orienta- David White joins as the Sales extensive knowledge and experi- a number of interviews, aptitude tion to running events for them to & Marketing director, com- ence as we aim to grow the game tests and presentations that were ensuring that they derive maxi- ing from Oman where he was of golf here,” said Braidwood. reviewed by Michael Braidwood, mum satisfaction from the club. promoting and managing their “One of our criteria was to en- general manager, and Mohamed Helena speaks seven languages European Tour event, the NBO sure that our team members had al-Naimi, deputy general manager. and will be a great asset to the Oman Open and promoting all invested in their own personal Heading up ECGC’s Centre team from a membership en- Oman as an international tour- developmental training over of Excellence is head golf pro- gagement and tourism perspec- ism destination. their careers. In addition to hav- fessional Anthony Caira, who tive. David will work closely along- ing the PGA qualifi cations, Hele- comes from the ‘Home of Golf’, ECGCs Golf Operations team side the corporate and hotel sec- na, David and Anthony have the Fife Scotland, with over 30 years will be led by Nico-James Visser. tors to promote golf within and Club Managers Association of of experience in the golf industry. Nico joins as the Golf Opera- outside of Qatar. David is also a Europe’s Club Management Di- He will deliver golf tuition as tions manager and will look to PGA-qualifi ed golf professional. plomas while Anthony has gone well as managing the Centre of drive and maintain guest experi- All four join the existing pre- one step further and passed the (From left) Nico-James Visser, Helana Martins, David White and Anthony Caira. Excellence, tuition programmes ence for members and visitors. opening management team Certifi ed Club Manager exam.” Gulf Times 8 Wednesday, September 12, 2018 QATAR

Qatar welcomes judicial delegation from Russia QNB is national sponsor of FINA Swimming World Cup Doha 2018 NB Group has present at one of the big- announced its gest FINA events, while Qsponsorship of enhancing its ongoing the Doha edition of the sponsorship of various FINA Swimming World national and interna- Cup 2018. tional sporting events The event is being or- and championships in ganised by Qatar Swim- Qatar and abroad within ming Association (QSA) its CSR programmes and at Hamad Aquatic Centre initiatives. from September 13-15. QNB Group’s presence Sponsorship of the event through its subsidiaries for the third consecutive and associate companies year “comes as part of extends to more than 31 the bank’s commitment countries across three to support major sports continents, providing a events hosted by Qatar comprehensive range of annually in line with Qa- advanced products and QICDRC has received a visit from a Russian judicial delegation headed by Professor Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Lebedev, tar National Vision 2030, services. president of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation. During the meeting, they discussed means of enhancing in which sport plays a key The total number the legal and judicial relations between Qatar International Court and the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation. As role,” the bank has said in of employees exceeds part of the visit, Qatar International Court CEO Faisal bin Rashid al-Sahouti gave a detailed explanation of the successful a press statement. 29,000 operating attempt by Qatar to establish its specialised judiciary through the establishment of the Qatar International Court. Qatar As a national spon- through more than 1,100 International Court is the first specialised court in the state to look into commercial and investment disputes that may sor of this year’s edition, locations, with an ATM arise from the transactions of international financial companies which operate through the Qatar Financial Centre. QNB has said it is keen to network of more than ensure that its brand is 4,400 machines. Fifty One East named Ricoh’s Partner of Year in MEA region ifty One East was re- solutions, apart from other cently named Offi ce innovative and customised FAutomation Partner services requested by its cli- of the Year 2018 in the MEA ents,” the statement adds. (Middle East and Africa) re- “We are honoured to be gion by Ricoh, a global tech- awarded Ricoh’s Offi ce Au- nology company specialising tomation partner of choice in in offi ce imaging equipment, 2018, an award that recognis- production print solutions, es Fifty One East’s renowned document management sys- managerial strategy as well as tems and IT services. its continuous commitment The Ricoh 2018 Offi ce Au- in delivering astounding in- tomation Partner of the Year novative products and serv- award “is yet another addi- ices to its clients,” said Bader tion to Fifty One East’s long Abdullah al-Darwish, chair- list of industry accolades”, a man and managing director press statement notes. of Fifty One East. “We take This award is the latest of pride in our long and close many received by Fifty One partnership with Ricoh since East from Ricoh over the past more than 25 years, providing 25 years “in recognition of the unparalleled service to our outstanding business devel- clientele through the excep- opment” with major clients tional after-sales team that in the government, education caters to all the customer’s and banking sectors in Qatar. needs. “In addition to the excep- “We are considered as tional sales growth of multi- an exemplary operation for function printers, copiers and Ricoh in the region, and this scanners, Fifty One East has award marks yet another tes- From left: Mitomo Takahashi, Ricoh general manager, Business Development Department; Samer Bou Karroum, demonstrated remarkable timony that further supports Fifty One East Off ice Automation manager; Henning Rudbech, CEO of Ricoh International & Ricoh Emerging Markets; capability in developing and our position at the forefront Dharmendra Lalai, Fifty One East Consumer Electronics Group manager; Barry Cook, Ricoh Commercial director - implementing managed print of the industry.” Operational Business; and Nicola Downing, COO of Ricoh Europe. Bosch, brand of NBK and Sons, honours top dealers

osch, a brand of Nasser Bin Khaled (NBK) and Sons, has Bpresented the third Bosch Service Awards in Qatar at a gala dinner in Doha. The Bosch Awards honours customers with the best perform- ance in diff erent categories, as well as distinguished employees in the company who have added great value to overall performance during the past year. “Nasser Bin Khaled and Sons, the authorised distributor of Bosch Services in Qatar, reiterates its commitment to supporting lo- cal events and boosting the local economy and companies working in Qatar,” the company said in a statement. During the event, Bosch and NBK and Sons’ representatives presented the winners with their awards and congratulated them for their performance. Sheikh Faleh bin Nawaf al-Tha- ni, Operations director at NBK Off icials with representatives of winning companies. Holding, said: “NBK Holding is honoured to support this special “It is the time when we all formance – 2017: Global Auto Parts; Best Workshop Perform- Enjazat Technical Works; Loyalty event and link its name with a should back up our economy and Parts; Best Truck Parts Perform- ance – 2017: Garage Al-Taqwa; Engagement Award 2017: Central prestigious brand like Bosch. The country and show the true image ance – 2017: Popular Trading & Best Corporate Performance – Auto Parts; and Best Performance Bosch Awards acknowledges cus- of Qatar.” Transport Co; Best Performance 2017: Qatar Fuel (Woqod); Best Bosch Garage Equipment – 2017: tomers with a proven record over Representatives of the winning Bosch Batteries – 2017: Al Mu- Core Business Field Performance Planet Trading & Transportation. the past year, and it is part of our companies received their awards nir Spare Parts & Auto Electri- – 2017: Falcon Trading & Con- In addition, Bosch presented mandate to acknowledge their ef- during the ceremony. The results cals; Best Performance Highest tracting; Best Performance Work- special awards for best employees fort. are as follows: Best Overall per- Growth – 2017: Mix Max Auto shop Services Concept – 2017: Al in diff erent departments. MEC announces recall of Dodge Ram model of 2015

he Ministry of Economy compatible with the manufactur- dealers followed up on vehicle de- necessary repairs are carried out. and suggestions, through the call and Commerce (MEC), in er’s specifi cations. In a statement fects and repairs. The ministry has The MEC has urged all customers centre: 16001, e-mail: info@mec. Tcollaboration with United yesterday, the MEC said the recall said it will co-ordinate with the to report violations to its Con- gov.qa, Twitter: @MEC_Qatar, In- Cars Almana, has announced the campaign came within the frame- dealer to follow up on maintenance sumer Protection and Anti-Com- stagram: MEC_Qatar and the min- recall of Dodge Ram model of 2015 work of its ongoing eff orts to pro- and repair works and communicate mercial Fraud Department, which istry’s mobile app for Android and because the transmission is not tect consumers and ensure that car with customers to ensure that the processes complaints, inquiries iOS: MEC_Qatar. Gulf Times Wednesday, September 12, 2018 9 QATAR Qatar National Vision 2030 Nespresso’s Master supports ‘dialogue of Origin collection civilisations, co-existence’ now in local market

QNA he new Master Origin col- Doha lection from Nespresso is Tnow available in Qatar, it has been announced. he Secretary-General of The Master Origin coff ees are the Ministry of Foreign available at Blue Salon and Ne- TAff airs Dr Ahmed bin spresso stores in Doha Festival Hassan al-Hammadi has un- City, The Pearl-Qatar and Mall derlined that the State of Qatar of Qatar. pays special attention to the is- “What happens when fi ve sue of Alliance of Civilisations, incredible landscapes come noting that the Qatar National together with fi ve specialised Vision 2030 affi rmed the pa- processes, all orchestrated hand tronage and support of dialogue in hand with local coff ee farming of civilisations and co-exist- experts? The result is the new ence among diff erent religions Master Origin collection from and cultures. Nespresso – fi ve distinct cof- Speaking during his meeting fee sensations all inspired by the with the United Nations Alli- land,” a press statement noted. ance of Civilisations delegation here yesterday, Dr al-Hammadi “Processing techniques said “Qatar’s support for the di- play a hugely important alogue of civilisations, culture role in the fi nal coff ee of dialogue and confl ict resolu- profi le and, with the Master tion is refl ected in its successful Origin coff ees, we wanted initiatives to resolve disputes to toy with this idea and and mediation in several issues, see how we could use a mix From the Master Origin collection. including the Darfur issue, the of traditional, new case of the Bulgarian nurses and adapted methods...” hour by hand to ensure even natural occurrence when coff ee, during the period of Gaddafi in drying. In Colombia, the typi- transported via boat, took on a Libya, the transfer of Catholic Each of the Master Origin cal harvest time was pushed to high level of moisture from the hostages in Syria to Lebanon, Off icials at the meeting with the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations delegation. coff ees has been on a “unique the limit – each coff ee cherry ocean, making the beans swell the mediation between Eritrea journey of discovery”. “The Ne- was left on the tree, risking fer- and reveal a unique new fl avour. and Djibouti and other diplo- peoples on the basis of the val- for humanitarian response by resource mobilisation through spresso coff ee experts scoured mentation, until it was exactly For the Master Origin India, this matic mediation eff orts of the ues of justice and equality, in highlighting humanitarian cri- the activities he had under- the world to discover the fi nest the right shade of deep purple process was brought into the 21st State of Qatar.”, he added. order to achieve the lofty goals ses, drawing the attention of taken through two major coff ee sourcing regions, from the to be picked. Over in Sumatra, century and Robusta beans were Dr al-Hammadi referred to of human society. governments and non-govern- initiatives represented in the forested mountains of Sumatra Indonesia, farmers used a tra- ‘monsooned’ rather than the the message of the Qatari Com- For his part, the UN Envoy for mental organisations to those initiative to promote bilateral through to the highland vales of ditional and exceptionally local more typical Arabica. mittee of the Alliance of Civili- Humanitarian Aff airs Dr Ahmed crises and increasing their par- United Nations engagement Nicaragua. Within each select- wet-hulling method, whilst in Karsten Ranitzsch, head sations, which was established bin Mohamed al-Muraikhi met ticipation in the international with targeted stakeholders ed region, Nespresso formed a Nicaragua, a sweet approach was of coff ee at Nespresso, said: in 2010, to enhance the role of with the visiting UN Alliance of humanitarian community. and tripartite participation partnership with the local farm- taken, using the ‘black honey’ “Processing techniques play a the State of Qatar in highlight- Civilisations delegation. He noted the completion of with stakeholders, as well as ing experts and embarked on a method which involves leaving hugely important role in the fi nal ing the contribution of the Is- Dr al-Muraikhi briefed the 35 initiatives during the first activities under the agency’s mission to test innovative and the coff ee bean in its natural fruit coff ee profi le and, with the Mas- lamic civilisation, as well as its delegation on the role of the six months of 2018, and sig- partnership initiatives, while demanding farming practices, layer while it is drying allowing ter Origin coff ees, we wanted to role in promoting dialogue, re- humanitarian envoy in ensur- nificant progress in achieving building partnerships with all with the goal of crafting in- the coff ee bean to soak up the toy with this idea and see how solving confl icts, emphasising ing the strengthening of ties the objectives of the General the private sector to influence credible new coff ee aromas and natural sugars. we could use a mix of traditional, the values of tolerance, solidar- between the United Nations Strategy for Humanitarian Af- policy and the leadership role tastes,” the statement explained. The coff ee sourced in India new and adapted methods to ity and peace, and sharing ex- and the States of the region, fairs. of the humanitarian envoy. In Ethiopia, the coff ee beans experienced an age-old ‘mon- produce fi ve distinct and origi- periences and benefi ts among supporting multilateral eff orts He highlighted his focus on had a meticulous raking every soon’ technique that was once a nal coff ees.” Cole Haan launches ‘next generation’ footwear

ole Haan, an innovative American lifestyle brand and retailer, has released 3.Zerøgrand - the next Cgeneration of Zerøgrand footwear for men and women. The 3.Zerøgrand footwear line is available at Blue Sa- lon and Cole Haan stores in Doha Festival City and Mall of Qatar. “For Fall 2018, Cole Haan isn’t pushing boundaries, it’s breaking them. The newest disruptor in the staid world of dress footwear, 3. Zerøgrand, focuses on creating a unique anatomical fit experience from heel to toe that highlights the lightweight, flexibility and cushioning that they’re known for,” a press statement noted. “We are thrilled to introduce the 3.Zerøgrand,” said David Maddocks, chief marketing officer and general manager of Business Development at Cole Haan. “Since introducing the Zerøgrand in July 2014, we’ve continued to push boundaries and create footwear that is designed and engineered for modern on-the-go people who de- mand stylish and versatile products that don’t sacrifice performance and comfort.” With silhouettes for both men and women, all styles feature the Grand Fit Chassis that provides support, ri- gidity, flexibility and cushioning where the foot needs it most. Underfoot, Cole Haan’s Grand Energy Foam pro- vides heel-to-toe cushioning and multi-directional trac- tion. “Our favourite thing about the design of 3.Zerøgrand is that it stays true to what made the Zerøgrand an icon – 360° design that solves the needs of our Cole Haan cus- tomers while disrupting the status quo of what’s accept- able to wear from dress to casual, work to weekend,” said Cole Haan’s chief creative officer, Scott Patt. The Grand Fit Chassis is “uniquely anatomic and craft- ed for the functional needs of men and women”. “It pro- vides hugging and contouring support from midfoot to heel, natural forefoot flexibility, and exceptional under- foot cushioning for an incredibly holistic fit experience. From the 3.Zerøgrand collection. These innovative functional elements blended with su- preme craftsmanship result in yet another step forward in at City Center Doha and The Mall. Cole Haan’s long tradition of untraditional shoemaking,” “Cole Haan has always emphasised its growing pres- the statement explained. ence in the Middle East, particularly the Qatari market, The new 3.Zerøgrand collection for the fall of 2018 which is based on an exclusive partnership with Abu Issa can be found at Cole Haan shops in Doha Festival City Holding, one of the leading retail companies,” the state- and Mall of Qatar as well as Blue Salon and Highland ment added.

Turkish delegation briefed on Interior Ministry’s technological systems

A delegation from the Scientific and Technological Research He added that these visits aim to exchange experiences Council of Turkey reviewed the advanced technological between the Turkish and Qatari sides in the field of technol- systems at the Ministry of Interior during a visit to the Com- ogy and to achieve co-operation between the two parties for munications Department at the Ministry, during its current research, information technology, and network security. visit to Qatar. Vice-President of Business Development at Turkish Council The delegation listened to an explanation about the techni- Orhan Muratoglu expressed his pleasure over his visit to the cal sections of the Communications Department and the State of Qatar, adding that in light of the development of services provided in the field of communications in various relations between the two countries, Turkish Council seeks to departments of the Ministry of Interior and the advanced enhance co-operation in the field of communications. technologies used. He noted the development of communications technologies The Turkish delegation made a presentation about its du- and systems at the Ministry of Interior. The Communications ties. Assistant Director of Communications Department at Department of the Ministry of the Interior of Qatar has sev- the Ministry Brig. Khalifa Sultan al-Harami said that the visit eral advanced technological systems, which provide good comes as a complement to the visit made earlier by a del- communication services in the ministry and the security egation of the Ministry of Interior engineers to Turkey. services in Qatar, he added. (QNA) Gulf Times 10 Wednesday, September 12, 2018 AFRICA/REGION/ARAB WORLD

PLEA UNREST POLLS DIPLOMACY CONFLICT Car firms urged to support Militants claim deadly Iraqi Kurds gear up for Ethiopia-Eritrea land borders Palestinians renew ICC detained Saudi activists attack on Libya oil firm elections to end turmoil reopen after 20 years push against Israel

Human Rights Watch (HRW) launched a cam- The Islamic State group claimed responsibility Campaigning began in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Two land border crossings between Ethiopia and The Palestinians announced a fresh push against paign yesterday urging major car companies to yesterday for a suicide attack a day earlier against Kurdistan yesterday for parliamentary elections that Eritrea were reopened yesterday for the first time in Israel at the International Criminal Court yesterday. call on Saudi Arabia to release women activists the headquarters of Libya’s National Oil Corp which Kurds hope will help end months of turmoil, a year 20 years, crowning a rapid reconciliation between Saeb Erekat, secretary-general of the Palestine who fought for the right of women to drive in killed two employees, according to a US-based after the region of 6mn made a failed bid to break the former bitter enemies. Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Liberation Organisation (PLO), said it had submitted the kingdom. A ban on women driving was lifted monitor. Three attackers died in the assault on the away from the rest of the country. The mood was Abiy Ahmed and Eritrea’s President Isaias Afwerki a new complaint over an Israeli “war crime” against in June as part of Crown Prince Mohamed bin NOC’s off ices in the Libyan capital Tripoli, IS said in a unusually subdued across the region as the two attended ceremonies at the eastern and western ends a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank, Salman’s bid to transform the economy of the statement published by the SITE Intelligence Group. dynastic parties which dominate Kurdish politics of the border, Eritrean Information Minister Yemane expected to be demolished by the Israeli army in world’s top oil exporter and open up its cloistered IS said it hit the “economic interests of the pro- held rallies in their respective strongholds in an Gebre Meskel said on Twitter. Fitsum Arega, Abiy’s chief the coming days. The dossier “included a focus on society. Many automobile manufacturers cel- governments of the tyrants of Libya”, describing the attempt to whip up support for the Sept 30 vote. of staff , said: “Road links between Ethiopia and Eritrea the war crimes facing Khan al-Ahmar, specifically the ebrated the decision with advertising campaigns. oil company as a legitimate target which funds “the Massoud Barzani, who last year stepped down from will be operational, opening the gate for cross border crimes of forcible displacement and the destruction But the lifting of the ban was accompanied by war on the holy warriors”. Libyan security services the region’s presidency but maintains a respected movement.” Yesterday, Abiy and Isaias, dressed in mili- of civilian property,” Erekat said. He added that the fresh arrests of some of the very female activists said on Monday the remains of two suicide bomb- position within his Kurdistan Democratic Party tary fatigues, paid a joint visit to the disputed eastern PLO had also asked the ICC’s prosecutor to speed who campaigned against it for years. ers were found inside the NOC building. (KDP), addressed a crowd in Erbil. border zone that both countries have claimed. up a preliminary probe into other Israeli war crimes.

Turkey at UN seeks support for Idlib truce Turkey yesterday appealed for US-backed forces launch fi nal international backing for a cease- fire in Idlib, telling the UN Security Council that an all-out assault on Syria’s rebel-held province will trigger a massive wave of refu- gees and could threaten Europe. off ensive against IS in Syria Russia called for the council meeting to brief members on DPA an Union, as well as Russia and a summit it held with Iran and Geneva Iran, to prevent a full-scale Turkey on military plans to army assault on the north- re-take Idlib, the last major rebel western region, which borders stronghold in Syria. “There is S-backed Syrian forces Turkey. no doubt that an all-out military said yesterday they have “The consequences of inac- operation would result in a major Ustarted the fi nal stage of tion are immense. We cannot humanitarian catastrophe,” Turk- their campaign against Islamic leave the Syrian people to the ish ambassador Feridun Sinirli- State militants in the north- mercy of Bashar Assad,” Erdog- oglu told the council meeting. eastern province of Deir al-Zor. an wrote in an opinion piece for Air strikes and bombings will trig- The Kurdish-led Syrian . ger a “massive wave of refugees Democratic Forces (SDF) said In New York, UN Security and tremendous security risks the off ensive will focus on sev- Council members used a meet- for Turkey, the rest of Europe and eral towns, including Hajin and ing called by Russia to echo beyond,” he warned. Al-Shaafa, near the borders Turkey’s concerns and urge Turkey, which has sent troops with Iraq. Moscow to stop a full-scale mil- to Idlib and supports some of “The international coalition itary attack on Idlib. the armed groups, called for “an and the Iraqi army are providing “We have heard a narrative immediate ceasefire” and urged artillery support to our forces that restoring full Syrian con- “the international community to by targeting the fi xed targets of trol over its territory is synony- vocally and actively support our the terrorists,” the SDF said in a mous with fi ghting terrorism, eff orts to this end.” Russia and statement. and that is not the case,” said Iran rejected Turkey’s call for a The SDF has played a major Britain’s UN ambassador Karen ceasefire at the summit in Tehran role in fi ghting Islamic State in Pierce, as she called for further on Friday. US ambassador Nikki Syria, taking over most of the talks of the 15-member council Haley said Syrian forces, backed extremist militia’s strongholds in the coming days to avert an by Russia and Iran, had already of Al-Raqqa and Deir al-Zor attack. launched 100 air strikes on Idlib provinces. Dutch ambassador Karel Van this month and that their sole Islamic State militants con- Oosterom echoed Pierce, say- aim was “a bloody military con- tinue to control pockets in east- ing that Idlib is “not a hotbed of quest of Idlib.” Haley warned that ern and southern Syria. terrorism.” “the consequences will be dire” if Clashes between government Russian Ambassador Vassily the assault goes ahead and there forces and their allies against Nebenzia said Russia, Iran and are mass casualties. “The world Islamic State in southern Syria Turkey were ready to continue will hold them responsible,” she have also intensifi ed in the past to moving towards the “defi ni- added. Britain and France backed 24 hours, according to the Syr- tive elimination of terrorism in the call for a ceasefire, recalling ian Observatory for Human Members of the People’s Protection Units (YPG), part of the of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), gather in the town of Shadadi, about Syria.” that these had been agreed Rights. 60 kilometres south of the northeastern Syrian city of Hassakeh, yesterday. Russia has previously justi- under arrangements for a “de- At least 21 government fi ght- fied military action in Syria by escalation zone” in Idlib that were ers and eight Islamic State senior offi cials from Russia, Iran which support Syrian President meeting was overshadowed by Up to 30,000 people have saying it is targeting terror- overseen by Russia, Iran and militants were left dead after and Turkey yesterday to win the Bashar al-Assad, and from An- military developments in Syria’s already been forced to fl ee this ists. Turkey. Russia and Iran insisted clashes in the hilly town of Al- regional powers’ backing for kara, which backs rebels, to start last rebel-held region of Idlib, month from Idlib, according to Idlib is currently home to that a military off ensive in Idlib Safa, south-east of talks between Syria’s warring peace negotiations, including which has faced attacks from the United Nations. 3mn civilians and is largely con- would be a counter-terrorism Damascus. parties. talks on a new Syrian constitu- Syrian government forces and Turkish President Recep trolled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham operation and that measures will In Geneva, UN Syria envoy De Mistura is seeking sup- tion. its military ally Russia in recent Tayyip Erdogan urged the (HTS), an alliance led by an Al be taken to spare civilians. Staff an de Mistura met with port from Moscow and Tehran, The political agenda of the days. United States and the Europe- Qaeda-affi liated group.

Iran opens new consulate Zimbabwe declares cholera emergency in Iraq’s Basra after attack in capital after death toll rises to 20

AFP in the capital. The health min- Basra Harare ister said the selling of meat and fi sh by vendors in the aff ected suburbs had been banned and ran’s ambassador to Iraq imbabwe declared a chol- the police had been asked to en- opened a new consulate for era outbreak in the capital force the ban. Ihis country in the southern ZHarare after 20 people Moyo said the government city of Basra yesterday, four days died from the disease and more had suspended classes at some after its old mission building was than 2,000 were infected by schools in the suburbs at the torched by protesters. drinking contaminated water, epicentre of the outbreak after Basra has seen a surge in dead- new Health Minister Obadiah two students died. ly protests in the past week, with Moyo said yesterday. Harare has also asked for help demonstrators angry about poor Harare city council has from United Nations agencies public services setting alight struggled to supply water to and private companies to sup- several key buildings. Iranian ambassador in Iraq Iraj Masjedi gives a press conference outside some suburbs for more than a ply portable water. “I’m here to inaugurate the the new building of the Iranian consulate in the southern city of Basra, decade, forcing residents to rely World Health Organisation new premises of our Iranian yesterday, after the old building was set ablaze by protesters. on water from open wells and (WHO) spokesman Christian consulate in Basra...because we community boreholes. Lindmeier said the agency was don’t want lose a single day of ing Iraq, along with the United ments and equipment going up Zimbabwe suff ered its big- working closely with Harare services for the people of Basra,” States. in smoke. gest cholera outbreak in 2008 at authorities to control the out- said ambassador Iraj Masjedi. Many pilgrims from Iran None of its staff were injured. the height of an economic crisis Patients await treatment at a makeshift cholera clinic in Harare. break and discussing a possible The envoy was speaking at a are expected to travel to Iraq in Iran said the responsibility for when more than 4,000 people vaccination programme. news conference before the Ira- around 10 days for the Ashura any negligence over the incident died and another 40,000 were holes and open wells, which are gency for Harare. This will “Partners are already there nian fl ag was hoisted outside the rituals and in October for the lies with the Iraqi government, treated after being infected. used by residents, said Moyo, enable us to contain cholera, and are establishing a cholera building now operating as the Arbaeen commemorations. which announced an investi- The latest cholera outbreak who was fl anked by Harare’s typhoid and whatever is going treatment centre. WHO is pre- Islamic republic’s consulate in The Iranian consulate building gation into the security forces happened after burst sewers in new mayor and other health of- on. We don’t want any further paring material for patients care the city. Iran is one of two major in Basra was torched by demon- responsible for protecting the Budiriro and Glenview suburbs fi cials. deaths,” Moyo said after tour- as well and is mobilising cholera powers present in neighbour- strators on Friday, with its docu- mission. contaminated water in bore- “We are declaring an emer- ing a hospital treating patients experts,” Lindmeier said. Ahead of funeral, Ghanaians bid farewell to Kofi Annan

AFP sub-Saharan Africa, died on August 18 ranks. Now retired and back living in was widely respected, humble and an respects wore black and red mourning our country, he did his best,” she said. Accra after a brief illness. He was 80. Ghana, he said Annan had taught him inspiration to his colleagues. clothes, passing under large posters of Anyekai Oddoye, who works in Gha- Draped in Ghana’s red, green and “the benefi t of humility, the benefi t of She pledged to “keep the torch burn- the late diplomat to the sound of pul- na’s cocoa sector, said he whispered gold fl ag, his coffi n was guarded by honesty, the benefi t of decisiveness, ing” on gender equality, an area where sating drums. a prayer as he passed his coffi n and steady stream of mourners yes- senior military offi cers in ceremonial and diplomacy from the grassroots”. he showed great dedication. Cleaner Akwo Kwame Johnson, wished him well. terday paid their respects to the uniform at the Accra International Annan’s role as the UN’s fi rst black Af- “He made the whole world under- from neighbouring Ivory Coast said he “Everyone respects him,” she said, Aformer UN secretary-general Conference Centre. rican leader was “an honour for Gha- stand promoting equality between wanted to pay his last respects to “our adding that the state honours were no Kofi Annan as he lay in state in the cap- There were traditional dances and na”, Kitcher said. men and women is not an issue of great father”. Whenever he saw Annan more than he deserved. ital of his native Ghana. a choir sang hymns as the public fi led “It was marvellous in our eyes, it was women only, but it’s an issue for sus- in the news, Johnson said he felt like he “It shows the extent of how we hold The diplomat’s body was fl own back past, taking their chance to say a proud one of these things that we can only tainable development,” she said. was watching a family member. him up here,” she added. from Switzerland on Monday ahead of farewell to one of the country’s most dream...he lifted Africa and showed “There are a lot of Ghanaians who “He was a president to all the world,” Scores of world leaders past and a state funeral and private burial in Ac- famous sons. Fritz Kitcher, who spent that we are also able to do great things,” can take on the mantle and do similar, he added. present, as well as royalty, are expected cra tomorrow. his career working in human rights for he said. like he did, but not like him because he Pensioner Joyce Atiase said she was in Accra for Annan’s funeral tomor- Nobel peace laureate Annan, who the United Nations in Geneva, said he Jennifer Asuako, a programme ana- is a unique individual.” mourning the loss of a “great man”. “We row. A private burial service will then was the world body’s fi rst leader from had watched Annan rise through the lyst with the UN in Ghana, said Annan Most of those queuing to pay their all loved him. He played a major role for be held in the city’s military cemetery. Gulf Times Wednesday, September 12, 2018 11 AMERICAS

California commits to Carolinas brace for 100% clean electricity By Marlowe Hood, AFP how signifi cant it is for a state as Los Angeles large and infl uential as California to commit to 100% clean energy,” said Sierra Club executive director alifornia Governor Jerry Michael Brune. Brown signed landmark “California is showing the world Clegislation Monday com- that a transition to 100% clean en- ‘direct’ Florence hit mitting his state to a 100% clean ergy is within reach.” electricity grid by 2045. But Brown cautioned that reduc- By Jason Ryan, AFP were ordered to evacuate by 8am yester- At least 20 countries and twice as ing emissions enough to meet the Charleston day including from the Eastern Shore, many large cities have made similar Paris goal of capping global warm- another popular beachfront getaway pledges, but California — the fi fth ing below two degrees Celsius re- destination. largest economy in the world — is mains a daunting task. urricane Florence would de- “Hurricane Florence has the potential by far the biggest jurisdiction to do “Have no illusions,” Brown said. liver a “direct hit” to the US to cause catastrophic fl ooding, especial- so to date. “California and the rest of the HEast Coast, emergency offi cials ly in our coastal areas,” Virginia Gover- “This bill and the executive order world have miles to go before we warned yesterday, urging residents to nor Ralph Northam said, activating the put California on a path to meet the achieve zero-carbon emissions.” heed evacuation orders and seek shelter National Guard. goals of Paris and beyond,” Brown As the measure was unveiled, from the potentially catastrophic storm. In neighbouring Maryland, Governor said at a signing ceremony in state UN Secretary General Antonio Gu- More than 1mn people in North Caro- Larry Hogan said his state was readying capital Sacramento. terres warned of a “dark and dan- lina, South Carolina and Virginia have for potentially “historic and catastroph- “It will not be easy. It will not be gerous future” under threat by glo- been told to fl ee their homes as the hur- ic rainfall, life-threatening fl ooding, and immediate. But it must be done.” bal warming. ricane churns across the Atlantic Ocean high winds.” On the international stage, Cali- “If we do not change course by towards the coast. “This is one of the worst storms to hit fornia has emerged as a leader on 2020, we risk missing the point The Miami-based National Hurri- the East Coast in many years,” Presi- climate action as US President where we can avoid runaway cli- cane Center (NHC) said that Florence dent Donald Trump warned on Twitter. Donald Trump has opted out of the mate change,” he said in a speech at remained a Category 4 hurricane as of “Please be prepared, be careful and be landmark 2015 Paris climate treaty UN headquarters in New York. 11am, packing deadly winds of 215kph. SAFE!” and moved aggressively to disman- Scientists estimate that the glo- “This storm is not going to be a glanc- Trump approved emergency declara- tle the policies of his predecessor, bal economy will have to become ing blow,” said Jeff Byard, associate ad- tions for the Carolinas, a standard move . “carbon neutral” — removing any ministrator for response and recovery Locals secure plywood over the windows of their business ahead of the arrival of allowing the release of federal funds and “California, as a very prosperous additional CO2 put into the atmos- at the Federal Emergency Management Hurricane Florence in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. equipment to aid in protection and re- economy, is taking aggressive ac- phere — by mid-century or shortly Agency (FEMA). covery eff orts. tion on climate change,” Brown told thereafter to avoid catastrophic “This storm is going to be a direct hit,” have the resources we need to prepare.” pered her with their concerns during the On the fi ve-level Saffi r-Simpson hur- AFP by phone when asked if the climate impacts, including deadly Byard told a press conference in Wash- The last time the US capital declared a last 24 hours. ricane wind scale Florence is a Category new measure will inspire others. heatwaves and superstorms en- ington, warning of the potential for state of emergency was in January 2016 “I have had 10 people text me, worried 4, meaning it is capable of causing “cat- “So I hope it gets France and gorged by rising seas. massive damage, fl ooding, power out- when a winter storm dubbed “Snowzil- about whether I’m staying or evacuat- astrophic damage.” Germany to up their own ambition, Utility and oil companies resist- ages and loss of life. la” blanketed the capital region in knee- ing,” she said. At 1500 GMT, Florence was 625km because we all have to do more than ed the legislation, arguing that it Urging residents to evacuate, Byard deep snow. Tyler Szekalski said he and his girl- south of Bermuda moving west-north- we are currently doing.” would lead to electricity price hikes said Florence was “the strongest storm In Charleston, South Carolina, resi- friend live in a fourth-fl oor apartment west on a path directly towards the The power sector represents 16% for consumers and have negligible to target the Carolinas and this part of dents were yesterday making prepara- and were planning on staying put with Carolinas at 26kph. of the state’s greenhouse gas emis- impact on cutting CO2 emissions. the country in decades.” tions to leave while others planned to their dog Moose. By Saturday, total rainfall could accu- sions. The new bill mandates that least The NHC said Florence is expected to ride out the storm. He said they purchased a few sup- mulate to 51cm in parts of the Carolinas More broadly, California has set 60% of electricity will have to begin “re-strengthening later today and Streets were quiet with schools and plies in preparation.”Just a bunch of and Virginia, the NHC said. ambitious goals to slash green- come from renewable energy, es- continue a slow strengthening trend for many offi ces and businesses closed. groceries, water, gas in the truck,” said The US Navy was sending about 30 house gas emissions 40% by 2030, pecially solar and wind. the next day or so.” Michael Kennedy, an engineer at Boe- Szekalski, an assistant project manager ships stationed at its major bases in Vir- compared to 1990 levels. This leaves the door open to It said Florence is expected to be an ing, said he planned to leave for his par- with Mashburn Construction. ginia out to sea. Later this week, Brown will host carbon-neutral power generated “extremely dangerous major hurricane” ents’ home in Atlanta, Georgia. South Carolina Governor Henry Mc- The vessels would get underway from subnational governments, cities by nuclear reactors, geothermal when it makes landfall in the Carolinas But his partner, Emily Whisler, said Master on Monday ordered the manda- Naval Station Norfolk and Joint Expedi- and businesses in San Francisco for sources or even natural gas, if CO2 tomorrow, bringing life-threatening she will remain behind at the university tory evacuation of one million coastal tionary Base Little Creek to avoid poten- the three-day Global Climate Ac- emissions are converted into fuel storm surge to coastal areas. where she is a resident in the psychiatry residents. tial damage from winds and tidal surges, tion Summit. or siphoned off into secure storage A state of emergency has been de- program. Schools in 26 of the state’s 46 coun- said Colonel Rob Manning, a Pentagon Among the co-chairs is China’s underground, a technology known clared in Maryland, North Carolina, “They told me to bring a pillow and ties were ordered closed from yesterday. spokesman. former chief climate negotiator, as carbon capture and storage. South Carolina, Virginia and Washing- blanket,” Whisler said over breakfast The governor of neighbouring North At this height of the Atlantic hurri- Xie Zhenhua, refl ecting the strong The outgoing governor, 80, fi rst ton amid concern over potential torren- at Brown’s Court Bakery. “I’ll be living Carolina ordered an evacuation of the cane season, Florence was being trailed ties that California has forged with proposed renewable legislation tial rain and fl ooding. there for a few days.” Outer Banks, barrier islands that are a on east-to-west paths by two other the world’s largest carbon polluter four decades ago during his fi rst Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser Whisler, who is from California, said popular tourist destination, and parts of storms, Hurricane Helene and Tropi- — at the national and provincial stint as California chief executive, said the emergency was “eff ective im- this is her fi rst hurricane and friends and coastal Dare County. cal Storm Isaac, but neither packs the level — around climate action. earning him the nickname “Gover- mediately” and “ensures that we will family from the West Coast have pep- In Virginia, 245,000 coastal residents deadly punch of Florence. “It’s impossible to overstate nor Moonbeam.”

Canadian jailed for telemarketing scam First two US troops from N Korean remains will be identifi ed soon: offi cials Canadian man was sen- fact that the victims targeted were tenced to more than 11 years mostly elderly people. Ain prison Monday by a Cali- Prosecutors argued that between Reuters tration has hailed the handover of the forensic anthropologists are combing tlegrounds near the Chongchon River in fornia judge for running a telemar- 1998 and 2001, Wilson and his Pearl Harbour remains as evidence of the success of his through the remains handed over by what is present-day North Korea. keting operation that defrauded at telemarketers sold non-existent summit with North Korean leader Kim Pyongyang in July. US troops suff ered heavy casualties least 60,000 people, most of them protection for about $300 each to Jong Un in June. Byrd and his colleague Jennie Jin, who there against Chinese forces. elderly, out of more than $18mn. more than 60,000 victims in 37 US he US military is close to identify- The White House said on Monday leads the agency’s Project, “It’s a huge battle,” said Jin, who es- Mark Eldon Wilson, 57, of Van- states, including California. ing the fi rst two American troops it was looking at scheduling a second spent more than an hour explaining the timated that 1,700 of the missing US couver, British Columbia, was sen- Wilson used part of the money to Tfrom the 55 boxes of human re- meeting. Critics, however, say the sum- painstaking process of identifying the forces from the Korean War came from tenced by US District Judge S James fund a lavish lifestyle that included mains from the 1950-53 Korean War that mit has so far failed to deliver on prom- remains, which include methods for that fi ght alone. She spoke above tables Otero following a fi ve-day trial in buying luxury boats, a fl eet of cars were handed over by North Korea in July, ised steps to get Kim to abandon his nu- fi nding DNA in bone fragments. of bone fragments, still separated with March. and gambling trips to Las Vegas. US offi cials leading the forensic analysis clear weapons program. Some bone fragments from the batch numbers corresponding with 55 boxes The jury found him guilty of mail He also set up an off shore bank said on Monday. The latest identifi cations will chip handed over in July are as small as a used by North Korea to deliver them to and wire fraud for having master- account in the South Pacifi c to hide “The IDs will be made offi cially in the away at the 7,699 US troops who the US quarter. Others bones have decayed to the United States. minded a cross-border scheme that a portion of the money, prosecutors next couple of days,” said John Byrd, the military says remain unaccounted for the point where they are not much long- Other tables included personal ob- targeted American victims by sell- said. director of scientifi c analysis at the US from the Korean War. About 5,300 were er than a pencil. jects from soldiers that don’t have any ing them a bogus credit card pro- Wilson fought extradition from Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. lost in what is now North Korea. However, the sets of bones from the identifi cation on them, including but- tection service. Canada to the United States for The families of the dead would be no- A small group of journalists was given two soon-to-be-identifi ed American tons, canteens and old boots. Byrd ac- In sentencing Wilson to 135 more than 10 years and was fi nally tifi ed fi rst, he said. access on Monday to a secure facility on troops are far more complete. knowledged that it could take months months in prison, Otero noted brought to the US in February of President Donald Trump’s adminis- Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, where Both came from the same 1950 bat- for the next round of identifi cations. the scope of the scheme and the last year. On 9/11 anniversary, Trump salutes ‘heroes’ of Flight 93

By Jerome Cartillier, AFP Shanksville

resident Donald Trump yesterday paid tribute to Pthe “heroes” who fought back against hijackers on Sep- tember 11, 2001, vowing America would never fl inch in the face of evil and that he would do what- ever it takes to keep the country safe. Under a grey sky in Shanks- ville, Pennsylvania, Trump praised the courage of the 40 men and women aboard Flight 93 who rushed the four hijackers who had diverted the plane and were targeting Washington. “The passengers and crew members came together, took a vote, and they decided to act,” Trump said. “They attacked the enemy. They fought until the very end. And they stopped the forces of terror and defeated this wicked, horrible evil plan.” Young girls visit the ‘Waves of Flags’ display at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California where the A flag that flew over the World Trade Center is presented during ceremonies marking the 17th anniversary He said the “brave patriots annual display of 2,997 flags commemorates victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. of the September 11, 2001 attacks, at the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York. turned the tide on our nation’s enemies and joined the immortal “This memorial is now a service members who have been about those who died, in a cer- They plunged the United During a ceremony at the women in uniform and their ranks of American heroes.” message to the world. America killed “facing down the menace emony that takes longer than States into a chain of rolling wars Pentagon’s 9/11 memorial site, commanding offi cers the re- After calling their loved ones to will never, ever submit to tyr- of radical terrorism.” three hours. against Islamic extremists. where the names of the fallen are sources and rules of engagement say fi nal farewells, many passen- anny,” Trump said, noting that A short while earlier in Trump’s In all, four planes were hi- At the Pentagon, a huge Amer- etched into a series of bench- they need to fi ght and win where gers aboard Flight 93 are believed nearly 5.5mn Americans have native New York, at Ground Zero, jacked by Al Qaeda militants who ican fl ag was unfurled over the es, Vice President Mike Pence the perpetrators of this attack to have charged the hijackers and joined the US military since there was a minute’s silence at used them to topple the trade building’s western side at sun- touted Trump’s support for the found safe haven.” prevented it from striking the US 9/11. 8.46am, the moment the fi rst of centre’s twin towers and hit the rise, marking the spot where military. In addition to those killed on capital. “As commander-in-chief, two hijacked airliners struck the Pentagon. Flight 77 smashed into the mili- “Last year, President trump September 11, thousands of fi rst The plane crashed into a fi eld I will always do everything in World Trade Center. Flight 93 was the fourth plane. tary headquarters. signed the largest increase in our responders, construction work- in the rural Pennsylvanian town, my power to prevent terrorists In what has become an annual With 2,996 people killed and All 59 passengers and crew national defence in a generation,” ers and residents have since de- where a permanent memorial from striking American soil,” the tradition, relatives began read- more than 6,000 injured, the at- aboard the fl ight were killed, Pence said. veloped illness, many of them called the “Tower of Voices” has president added, while also pay- ing out the long list of those who tacks remain the deadliest ever along with another 125 personnel “And with that renewed sup- terminal, as a result of inhaling been erected. ing tribute to the nearly 7,000 US were killed, saying a few words on US soil. working in the Pentagon. port, we are giving our men and toxic fumes. Gulf Times 12 Wednesday, September 12, 2018 ASIA Lanka navy detains 90 on Bangladesh court denies Reunion-bound trawler bail to activist AFP Sri Lankans are known to pay Lankans were stopped by Ma- The asylum seekers were ground to a halt” and that he Colombo thousands of dollars to peo- laysian authorities as they tried transported from detention cen- heard evidence of “very brutal ple smugglers to arrange highly to head towards New Zealand tres across Australia and taken and cruel methods of torture, risky boat rides to Europe, Aus- by boat. All were returned to Sri to Perth, from where they were including beatings with sticks, photographer ri Lanka’s navy yesterday tralia or New Zealand in search Lanka to face prosecution for fl own out on a charter fl ight. the use of stress positions, as- detained 90 people ille- of better economic prospects. illegally leaving the island. The group has landed in Co- phyxiation using plastic bags Sgally travelling in a trawler However, the number of Lankan asylum seekers lombo but has not made contact drenched in kerosene, pulling AFP streets for nine straight days bound for the French territory would-be emigrants leaving the forcibly deported from with family or legal representa- out of fi ngernails”. Dhaka after two teenagers were killed of Reunion Island in the Indian island has drastically declined Australia: At least a dozen Sri tives, according to authorities. With airlines under pressure by a speeding bus. Ocean, a spokesman said. since Australia in 2013 closed Lankan asylum seekers were Returned asylum seekers are, globally over their role in forced Alam had the TV channel Commander Dinesh Bandara its borders to illegal boat people yesterday forcibly deported by without previous exception, in- deportation, the Australian gov- Bangladesh court re- that the protests were the re- said the fi shing boat was seized with a military operation and Australian authorities back to terviewed, arrested and charged ernment is increasingly using fused bail for award- sult of pent-up anger at cor- off Sri Lanka’s west coast and was zero tolerance policy. the island nation, a media report by Sri Lanka police on arrival. charter fl ights to deport asylum Awinning photographer ruption and an “unelected being escorted to Colombo with Canberra’s hardline immigra- said. Human rights groups and le- seekers it has judged do not meet and rights activist Shahidul government... clinging on by 89 men and a woman on board. tion policy sees asylum-seekers Some of the men deported had gal advocates have serious con- its protection obligations. Alam, whose month-long de- brute force” that had looted “Preliminary investigations who try to reach Australia by been in detention for more than six cerns over the safety of returned Meanwhile, the Australian tention has triggered an in- banks and gagged the media. suggest that the boat was head- boat processed in off shore com- years in Australia while others still asylum seekers. government has consistently ternational outcry, his lawyer He is being investigated ing to Reunion Island,” Bandara pounds on Nauru and Papua had challenges before Australian The UN rapporteur on coun- defended its removal processes said yesterday. for allegedly violating Bang- said. “From there, they may New Guinea, with over 30 boats courts pending. The majority were tering terrorism wrote in a report of asylum seekers, saying it ad- Alam was arrested on Au- ladesh’s internet laws, en- have planned to move to another turned back since it began. Tamil, but at least one was Sin- in July that Sri Lanka’s progress heres strictly to international gust 5 for making “false” and acted in 2006 and sharpened destination.” In May, a group of 131 Sri halese, the Guardian reported. towards peace had “virtually law, the Guardian said. “provocative” statements on in 2013, which critics say a television channel and on are used to stifl e dissent and Facebook Live during massive harass journalists. Nepal police hunt student protests in the capital Alam – whose work has Dhaka. appeared widely in Western Oil spill clean-up operation for leopard after Rights groups, UN rights media and who founded the death of child experts, Nobel laureates and renowned Pathshala South hundreds of academics have Asian Media Institute – faces Police in Nepal yesterday called for the immediate re- a maximum 14 years in jail if launched a hunt for a leopard lease of the 63-year-old, who convicted, along with others after it killed a five-year-old girl says he has been beaten in detained during the protests. having snacks near a grocery custody. The photographer told re- in the country’s southern After the country’s high porters outside court last region. court last week refused to month that he had been beaten The girl, along with her two consider the request, Alam’s so badly in police custody that sisters, was having fried noodles lawyers moved to Dhaka’s his tunic needed washing to near a bush in the village of Metropolitan Sessions judge get the blood out. Kimdanda on Monday afternoon yesterday, making another New York-based Human when the animal pounced on petition for his release on Rights Watch has demanded her, said Nawaraj Malla, a senior bail. his release, denouncing au- police off icer of Arghakhanchi “But the court rejected the thorities for targeting activ- district. bail application,” his lawyer ists and journalists instead “We have mobilised a team of Sara Hossain said, adding that of prosecuting those who policemen and forest rangers to the court did not explain the attacked students when capture the animal,” he said. reason for the rejection. last month’s protests were The other girls, who fled the Prosecutor Abdullah Abu broken up. scene, reported to the incident to said that they opposed Alam’s On Monday, the new UN their mother, he said. bail after he incited people High Commissioner for Hu- The police off icer said the mauled during last month’s protests man Rights, Michelle Bache- body of the girl was found a few by making seditious com- let, used her fi rst statement metres away from the spot. ments against the government to touch upon the attacks The leopard is believed to have and the state. and arrests of journalists in killed over a dozen children “He has said the present Bangladesh. in several years in the same government must be over- “The government should district. thrown,” Abu said, quoting do more to ensure freedom of Sri Lankan soldiers work to remove oil from a pipeline leak from the beach at Uswetakeiyawa, a coastal town north of Colombo, Conflict between humans and from the preliminary charges expression, which is indis- yesterday. The spill that started on September 8 was caused by a pipeline leak, off icials said, and the oil flow was confined to a wildlife has increased in recent police fi led against Alam. pensable for free and fair elec- approximately 5km stretch of coastline before the leak was halted. years in Nepal, raising concerns Alam’s arrest capped a tur- tions,” she said, as Bangla- about the safety of people living bulent month in Bangladesh desh prepares to hold polls in near forests. (DPA) as students poured onto the December this year. Lanka ‘women waging ‘campaign against journalists’ AFP a political campaign against were driven into Bangladesh by June 2017 after covering a “drug tantamount to a criminal off ence”. Geneva independent journalism”. a Myanmar army-led crackdown burning” ceremony in connec- In another case highlighted in It slammed the “failure of the in August last year. tion with the International Day the report, a documentary crew selling kidneys judiciary to uphold the fair trial The UN report said there were Against Drug Abuse and Illicit working for Turkish state televi- yanmar, facing inter- rights of those targeted”. many other examples of deten- Traffi cking. sion was last year charged un- national outrage over The rights offi ce pointed to tions and prosecutions of jour- The event took place in an area der Myanmar’s Import-Export Mthe jailing of Reuters the “particularly outrageous” nalists and their sources, indicat- under the control of the Ta’ang Law over their use of a drone to journalists for their reporting and high-profi le example of the ing “wider trends of suppression National Liberation Army fi lm the parliament building in to repay loans’ on a massacre of Rohingya Mus- conviction of Reuters journalists of freedom of expression”. (TNLA) in northern Shan state. Nay Pyi Taw. lims, is conducting a “political and Wa Lone, also According to the report, laws Even though the journalists While the charges were campaign” against independ- known as Thet Oo Maung. on telecommunications, offi cial were covering events unrelated dropped in the end, the report AFP of them forced to use small ent journalism, the UN said Last week, a judge jailed the secrets, unlawful association, to the armed confl ict, they were said the case illustrated the au- Colombo “microfi nance” loans to survive. yesterday. two – both Myanmar nationals electronic transactions, import- charged under the so-called un- thorities were willing to use any Local media reports have A fresh report from the UN – for seven years under a draco- export and aircraft have been lawful association act. legal provisions to block inde- said that dozens of indebted rights offi ce decried “the instru- nian state secrets act over their used against journalists in a The report pointed out that pendent reporting on critical ri Lankan war widows women in the battle-scarred mentalisation of the law and of reporting of the Rohingya crisis. number of cases. the act is “routinely used to issues in Myanmar in “fl agrant and women in former north, which is also in the grip the courts by the government Around 700,000 of the state- It pointed to one case, where allege that any contact with violation of the right to freedom Sconfl ict zones are be- of drought, have committed and military in what constitutes less Rohingya Muslim minority three journalists were arrested in an ethnic armed group is of expression”. ing forced to sell their kid- suicide. neys to pay loan sharks, a UN Bohoslavsky said that loan expert said yesterday, urging sharks are also demanding government intervention. annual interest rates of up Juan Pablo Bohoslavsky, the to 220%. UN’s independent expert on ef- Less than two months ago Drop charges against Sokha: US Thai fi lm company to fects of debt on human rights, the government waived debts said that debt collectors were for 200,000 women who were He was arrested last Septem- logue aimed at building genuine also demanding sexual favours. unable to repay loans and Reuters ber as part of a government-led national reconciliation,” she said. retell cave boys saga “Women are at times ex- capped lending rates at 30%. Phnom Penh crackdown against critics. Kem Sokha, 65, is the leader of posed to psychological and But Bohoslavsky said that “The US government has taken the Cambodia National Rescue physical violence by these col- Colombo should go further note of Sokha’s transfer to house Party (CNRP), which was dis- AFP of a movie that will be directed lectors ...,” he said in a state- and write off debts for men he United States urged arrest, which falls far short of a solved as part of the crackdown. Bangkok by Tom Waller – a Bangkok- ment after a visit to the island as well as women and impose Cambodia’s government full release, as well as the recent The crackdown came before a based fi lmmaker of mixed nation. tougher rules for lending. Tyesterday to drop all freeing of other political prison- July 29 general election. Thai-Irish descent. “I have also learned of cases Offi cial fi gures show that charges against opposition lead- ers,” US embassy spokeswoman Long-serving Prime Minister Thai-based fi lm compa- The operation to save the boys, of borrowers who have tried to total outstanding microfi - er Kem Sokha, who was released Emily Zeeberg said in an e-mail. Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s ny has joined the scram- who wandered into the cave af- sell their kidneys for money to nance loans amount to about on bail but has been placed “We continue to call on the Party won all 125 parliamen- Able to retell the dramatic ter a football training session repay loans,” he said without Rs9bn ($56.25mn). under house arrest. government of Cambodia to drop tary seats in the election, which story of the 12 young footballers and became stuck as fl oodwaters elaborating. Sri Lanka’s economy grew Kem Sokha was released from all charges against Sokha, re- the United Nations and some and their coach who were freed surged in, involved expert cave Sri Lanka is home to tens at 3.1% in 2017, its slowest prison on Monday after spending move restrictions on the political Western countries have said from a fl ooded cave, one of the divers from across the world. of thousands of war widows rate in 16 years, but is forecast more than a year in jail on treason rights of him and other opposi- was fl awed because of the lack producers said yesterday. They were found after 11 nine years after the 37-year to expand by fi ve percent this charges but remains under house tion leaders, and engage oppo- of a credible opposition, among Since the ‘Wild Boars’ team days huddled on a muddy civil confl ict ended, many year. arrest in the capital, Phnom Penh. sition leaders in an urgent dia- other factors. were extracted from Tham ledge without food or fresh Luang cave in northern Thai- water, fl oodwaters lapping land two months ago, there has ominously below them. been a frenzy of media interest An ex-Thai Navy SEAL died in the feel-good tale that cap- in the run-up to the daring ex- Snakes on a plate: Vietnam’s coiled cuisine tivated the world for weeks. traction of the group, who were Documentary makers and heavily sedated as they were Hollywood producers have carried, pulled and dragged free With their meat served up in a headaches and easing digestion. near the head with a knife and owner Duong Duc Doc. But wildlife expert Ioana Dungler tussled to get fi lms off the from deep inside the cave. wide array of dishes and blood Restaurants will cook it steamed squeezed blood out of it, dripping As for its flesh, the benefits to from Four Paws International ground, with journalists also Initially after their rescue offi - added to rice wine, snakes or fried with lemongrass and it into a cup of rice wine. eating it are numerous, said said killing wild snakes and spinning book deals from the cials imposed a blanket ban on cov- make a reputedly satisfying chilli and serve it with a rice wine “We make use of every part of snake-catcher Dang Quoc Khanh, disturbing the jungles’ ecosystem real-life rescue mission. erage, fearing for the boys’ men- – and nourishing – meal in mixed with snake blood, said chef the snake except its head and its a 35-year-old who has been is unnecessary as global meat A Bangkok production com- tal health with the world’s media Vietnam. Dinh Tien Dung, who works at a scales,” said the 32-year-old. trapping serpents in the jungle production should be suff icient. pany called De Warrenne Pic- camped up in rural Thailand. Caught in the jungles of the restaurant in Yen Bai province Locals believe that only men since he was a young boy. “The whole process of these tures is the latest to agree fi - But eff orts to shield the team north of the country, snake three hours northwest of the over 50 should drink snake “Snake meat is a very good food,” animals ending on a plate or in nancing to make their version have crumbled with TV net- flesh is traditionally believed to capital Hanoi. wine, as younger males are he said, “It’s delicious, good for a drink is very painful... and it’s called The Cave with shooting works jostling for interviews help with cooling overheated Holding a snake’s head with one likely to experience “backache your health and good for your done for purposes that are not planned for November. and the Thai junta organising body temperatures, relieving hand, Dinh Tien Dung slit its body or impotence,” said restaurant bones.” justified,” Dungler said. (AFP) “The project is already set,” a seemingly endless stream of producer Katrina Grose said, media events. Gulf Times Wednesday, September 12, 2018 13 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

Moon urges ‘bold decision’

South Korean President Moon his third meeting with the North Jae-in called for a “bold decision” Korean leader this year. by US President Donald Trump “A big vision and a bold and North Korean leader Kim decision between the leaders Trump gets Kim letter Jong-un on denuclearisation of North Korea and the US yesterday as the White House are needed again in order to said it was planning another advance to a higher level in summit with Pyongyang. “The discarding Pyongyang’s exist- complete denuclearisation of ing nuclear weapons,” Moon the Korean peninsula is an issue said. In Singapore, Trump and that should fundamentally be Kim signed a vaguely-worded seeking second meet resolved between the US and agreement on denuclearisa- North Korea through nego- tion, which was touted by the AFP tiation,” Moon told a cabinet US leader as a breakthrough Washington Abe expresses meeting. “But until talks and deal to end the North’s nuclear support for better communication between the programme. Trump-Kim ties North and the US become more Little progress has been made S President Donald active, we cannot but work to since then, prompting Trump Trump has received Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo mediate between them,” he said, to abruptly cancel Secretary of Ua “very positive” let- Abe yesterday voiced support adding: “President Trump and State Mike Pompeo’s planned ter from North Korean leader for the rapprochement between Chairman Kim have asked that I trip to Pyongyang late last Kim Jong-un seeking a follow- Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un, play this role.” month. up meeting after their historic a Japanese diplomat said, as His comments came after the But the new letter showed summit in Singapore, the White Washington considers the possi- White House said it was “in the signs that the discussions House said. bility of a new summit with North process of co-ordinating” an- remain alive despite weeks of “It was a very warm, very Korea’s leader. In a meeting with other summit between Trump apparent deadlock. positive letter,” White House South Korean Prime Minister Lee and Kim, after Pyongyang North Korea also refrained from spokeswoman Sarah Sanders Nak-yeon on the sidelines of an proposed a second meeting in a displaying its intercontinental said, adding that the message economic forum in Russia, Abe letter delivered to Trump. missiles in a massive parade showed Pyongyang’s “contin- reiterated his support for “the Moon, who brokered June’s celebrating the country’s 70th ued commitment to focus on agreement between President historic Singapore summit birthday on Sunday, which denuclearisation” on the Ko- Trump and Chairman Kim, in between Trump and Kim, will Trump called “a big and very rean Peninsula. particular, the commitment of the fly to Pyongyang next week for positive statement”. “The primary purpose of the North Korean leader towards the letter was to schedule another full denuclearisation of the Ko- meeting with the president, rean Penninsula,” said a Japanese refrained from displaying its in- for them. The possibility of an- which we are open to and are al- foreign ministry spokesman. tercontinental missiles – long other meeting between the two ready in the process of co-ordi- “Our position is that the a bone of contention in its nu- presidents obviously exists,” said nating,” she said on Monday at international community should clear tensions with Washington National Security Advisor John the fi rst White House press brief- North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un walks with US President Donald Trump during a break in talks at their push North Korea to fully and – in a massive parade through Bolton. ing in nearly three weeks. historic US-North Korea summit, at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa island in Singapore earlier this year. expeditiously implement the Pyongyang celebrating the coun- “But President Trump can’t Sanders added that the let- commitment he (Kim) made to try’s 70th birthday. The latest make the North Koreans walk ter was “further evidence of be resolved between the US and State Mike Pompeo cancelling a series of accomplishments in re- President Trump,” Japanese min- parade “for once was not about through the door he’s holding progress” in Washington’s rela- North Korea through negotia- planned trip to the North late last cent months, including a release istry spokesman Takeshi Osuga their nuclear arsenal,” Sanders open. They are the ones that have tionship with Pyongyang. tion,” Moon told a cabinet meet- month, the new letter showed of US hostages, the repatriation told AFP. The meeting took place said. Trump thanked Kim for the to take the steps to denuclearize. Trump and Kim held a his- ing yesterday. signs that the discussions remain of war remains believed to be of during an economic forum in the gesture, saying on Twitter: “This And that’s what we are waiting toric summit in Singapore in “A big vision and a bold de- alive after weeks of apparent US service members and a pause far eastern city of Vladivostok, is a big and very positive state- for.” June that raised prospects of cision between the leaders of deadlock. in North Korea’s missile and nu- with the latest round of diplo- ment from North Korea.” Bolton said in a speech to the a breakthrough on curtailing North Korea and the US are “We think it’s important and clear tests, to suggest progress matic eff orts to curb the North Sanders was asked whether Federalist Society that during the North Korea’s nuclear program. needed again in order to advance we’re glad that we’re making between the foes. Korean nuclear programme high the next Trump-Kim meeting Singapore meeting with Trump South Korea’s dovish President to a higher level in discarding progress,” Sanders said, adding Stephen Biegun, the new US on the agenda. would take place in Washington, in June, Kim committed to get- Moon Jae-in, who brokered the Pyongyang’s existing nuclear that Trump deserves the “credit” special envoy for North Ko- but she demurred, saying, “we’ll ting rid of his nuclear weapons, June meeting, vowed to continue weapons,” he added. for bringing the two parties to the rea, stressed the importance of let you know when we have fur- and later agreed with South Ko- playing the role of a mediator Moon will fl y to Pyongyang table. maintaining the momentum of Korean counterpart Lee Do- ther details.” rean President Moon Jae-in that to facilitate dialogue between next week for his third meet- “At the end of the day, ulti- dialogue with Pyongyang and hoon in Seoul, Biegun called the The letter’s arrival was con- it could be done in one year. Trump and Kim. ing with Kim this year. Despite mately, it’s always going to be said the back-to-back summits current diplomatic process the fi rmed as Trump’s top security After his speech, Bolton told “The complete denuclearisa- follow-on negotiations on de- best when you can have the two created “a tremendous opportu- beginning, adding: “So what we advisor said the White House reporters “it’s entirely possible” tion of the Korean peninsula is an nuclearising the peninsula hit- leaders sit down,” she added. The nity”. need to do is to fi nish the job.” was looking to North Korea for for the two leaders to meet by issue that should fundamentally ting a snag leading to Secretary of White House has pointed to a In a meeting with his South And on Sunday, North Korea next steps. “We’re still waiting year’s end.

NZ’s Alpine Fault SEA view overdue for large China does away with quake: scientists family planning offi ces New Zealand’s South Island is overdue for a large earthquake that could reshape the region and Reuters responsibility for “family plan- cut off more than 10,000 people, Beijing ning management and facilita- scientists warned in a new study. tion work” and for the “improve- The Alpine Fault, which runs along ment of family planning policy,” the entire spine of New Zealand’s hina’s health commission it said. Southern Alps, has a record of is getting rid of three of- “Family planning” was rupturing every 300 years. Cfi ces that were previously dropped from the commis- The last big earthquake happened dedicated to family planning, it sion’s name in March, as part of in 1717 and “there will be a similar announced late on Sunday, the a sweeping government overhaul earthquake soon,” the editorial of latest signal that Beijing may to reform government depart- a special issue of the New Zealand further reduce restrictions on ments and reduce policymaking Journal of Geology and Geophys- childbirth to combat an ageing red tape. ics released yesterday said. population. China has loosened its family Landslides and surface fault State-media has hinted in planning policy as its population ruptures could block more than recent weeks that China, the greys, birth rates slow and its 120 locations on South Island world’s most populous nation, workforce declines. In 2016, the highways, according to one of may be preparing to end its dec- government allowed couples in the studies in the journal by Tom ades-long policy of determining urban areas to have two children, Robinson from Durham University the number of children that cou- replacing a controversial one- in the UK. Some of the impasses ples can have. child policy enforced since 1979. could take more than six months Three offi ces responsible for While China’s population to clear and could force evacua- grassroots implementation of growth fell well below the world tions of large numbers of tourists family planning policies have average under the one-child – more than five times the number been removed from the new policy, Chinese policymakers aff ected by 2016’s 7.8 Kaikoura structure of China’s National have become wary of falling birth Earthquake – by sea and air, the Health Commission, according rates and a rapidly growing age- study said. Scientists have studied to an announcement from the ing population. evidence of the Alpine Fault’s commission. As of 2017, people aged 60 and last 27 ruptures over the past Instead, a new offi ce for “pop- above accounted for about 16.2% 8,000 years and calculated that ulation monitoring and family of China’s population, compared it ruptures at intervals of 291 plus development” will be responsi- to 7.4% in 1950, according to the Tourists visit the SEA Aquarium on Sentosa Island resort in Singapore. or minus 23 years producing an ble for “improving birth policy UN Population Division. earthquake of about magnitude and to organise implementation, Bloomberg reported in May 8.1. “Although Aotearoa New Zea- and to establish and improve the that China was planning to scrap land had been settled by Maori for system of extraordinary family all limits on the number of chil- about half a millennium when the assistance for family planning.” dren a family can have by the end earthquake occurred, oral histories The commission still retains of 2018. of the event are rare,” the editorial Got a problem? Ask China’s online experts states. The story was instead told by trees, sediments, and the land- Pacific island chain calls scape of the South Island’s West for typhoon emergency AFP sional experts — often self- thousands of yuan per answer, The number of people willing Coast. The fault remains of global Shanghai appointed— earn money with which is split between the ask- to pay for knowledge on Wenda importance for researchers, the each response. er, the expert and Weibo. “You or use other forms of paid con- journal noted. The governor of the Northern Mariana Islands has urged US President Gu quit his nutritionist job need to fi nd the time to go to a tent or articles doubled in 2017 Donald Trump to declare a state of emergency as a typhoon struck ave a question about at a top Beijing hospital last hospital or to buy a book. But to nearly 188mn people, it said. Singer Olivia the US Western Pacific territories overnight and caused blackouts and the US-China trade year to focus on Wenda, estab- the time and money you spend The dragged-out US-China damaged buildings. Typhoon Mangkhut passed through the US Pacific Hwar’s likely impact? Or lishing himself as a go-to guy on it are costly. But I can just trade tussle has spurred a wave Newton-John archipelago with speeds of over 100mph and a team from the Federal about whether to buy a house? for masses of young mothers give the answers to you,” Gu of questions, especially because Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was yesterday carrying out China’s online question-and- with questions on nutrition for said. China’s government – ever wary diagnosed an initial damage assessment. There were no immediate reports of answer mavens like Gu Zhongyi their babies. “I think it is more One of Wenda’s more popu- of potential social instability – with cancer casualties there nor on nearby Guam, where a US military spokesman are there for you. Gu, a nutri- meaningful to do a job that can lar experts is “Queen C-Cup”, has largely stifl ed discussion of said forces were ready to help local authorities and FEMA on the chain of tionist, is among hundreds of impact more people. Wenda is whose identity and qualifi ca- the dispute’s impact. Olivia Newton-John, the Austral- 15 islands, located between Hawaii and the Philippines. Guam is home to thousands of “experts” who a win-win,” said Gu, who sup- tions are unknown but who has “Is there any way China and ian singer who found worldwide US air force and naval bases and an estimated 7,000 troops. A two-week sell their advice in thriving plements his online income established herself with more the US may reconcile? How will fame in the hit movie Grease, has exercise “Valiant Shield” involving thousands of US personnel based Chinese Internet forums where writing pay-for-access arti- than 6mn followers. we ordinary folks be aff ected?” revealed she has been diagnosed in the Western Pacific region had been due to start on Monday. Navy they serve as web-based agony cles, and also books. Queen C-Cup has com- one Wenda user asked recently, with cancer for the third time. vessels were moved out of the path of Mangkhut, which was strengthen- aunts. Many Wenda pundits are plained of being harassed on- while countless others seek ad- The 69-year-old told Australian ing yesterday and headed towards the northern part of the Philippines, Chinese often have nowhere credentialed experts, but many line. But Wenda grants a degree vice like whether to stock up television broadcaster Channel its weather agency PAGASA said. The United States is facing severe else to turn — the Communist more become authorities mere- of anonymity to those asking now on certain goods. Seven that doctors had discovered storms on several fronts, with a tropical storm headed towards Hawaii government’s controls on infor- ly by drawing enough of a fol- questions, who seek Queen China’s rising housing prices a tumour at the base of her spine. and a million people evacuated North Carolina in preparation of its worst mation, especially on sensitive lowing. They set a rate, typi- C-Cup’s advice on everything are another top subject that has She has since undergone radiation hurricane in three decades. Northern Mariana Islands governor, Ralph topics like the trade war and sex, cally between 100-200 yuan from grappling with domes- minted countless “experts”, treatment, and is also treating the Torres, sent a letter to Trump on Monday requesting he declare a state makes some information hard to ($15-$30) per question, an- tic violence or the anguish of including Wang Sicong. An in- disease with natural therapies. of emergency to free up disaster funds, in anticipation of a typhoon with come by, and consulting profes- swering those of their choosing. forced marriages. vestor and son of a top Chinese “I’m still treating it, and I’m treating an impact that he said could be “catastrophic”. Torres was yesterday with sionals in person costs too much More money comes in via Her fees range up to several business tycoon, Wang was it naturally and doing really well, a FEMA team heading to Rota, the worst hit of the 15 islands, a spokes- for many people. “snooping”, in which other us- hundred yuan and her answers recently asked — for a fee of yeah,” she told the network late on man said by phone. Authorities on Guam were also assessing damage Around 10,000 questions ers pay one yuan each to view are heavily snooped. Wenda is 10,000 yuan — whether young Sunday from her home in Califor- after Mangkhut pulled down trees and downed power lines. Hundreds of per day were asked last year via answers to previously asked becoming an important part of urban residents should use their nia. Newton-John was diagnosed people stayed in packed emergency shelters and schools overnight. “Wenda” (“Q & A”), a function questions. Fuelled by China’s China’s knowledge economy, parents’ savings to buy homes. with breast cancer in 1992, but Mangkhut could arrive close to the Philippines in the coming days, with on dominant Chinese social ubiquitous use of mobile- Beijing-based Internet research The answer — renting may beat the disease. In 2013, she found maximum sustained winds of 215 kph, and develop into a super typhoon, media platform Weibo where phone payments, snooping of company Sootoo Institute said be a better choice, Wang said — out that she had cancer in her PAGASA said. fi nancial, health and profes- hot topics can bring in tens of in a recent report. was snooped nearly 1mn times. shoulder. Gulf Times 14 Wednesday, September 12, 2018 BRITAIN

CRIME EDUCATION CRIME INSPECTION INVESTIGATION Suspect held after Hull Almost half of student Mother-of-five Farms face increase in Man charged with city centre bank blaze loans ‘won’t be repaid’ stabbed on school run checks to halt cruelty ‘£2.5mn lottery fraud’

A man has been arrested after part of a city centre Almost half the value of student loans will A man has been arrested after a mother-of-five Farms face a rise in surprise inspections by the A man has been charged with fraudulently was left “in lockdown” when a fire was started at never be repaid, a report suggested yesterday. was stabbed in the back on the school run. Peter Red Tractor certification scheme in an attempt claiming a £2.5mn lottery payout. Hertfordshire a bank. An eyewitness described seeing a man The report expects 40% to 45% of the value Morley, 35, who is believed to be the woman’s to counter claims of animal cruelty. The UK Police said a ticket was submitted for an wielding a “cleaver” inside Santander in King of such loans in England will not be paid former partner, has been detained on suspicion of scheme sets standards for welfare, food safety outstanding lottery prize and £2.5mn was paid Edward Street, Hull, at about 1300 BST before he back, with the public sector picking up the attempted murder. The 34-year-old victim, named and environmental protection. The Red Tractor out in 2009. Edward Putman, 53, of Station Road, started a blaze. Police said they were called to cost. According to the Education At A Glance locally as Krystal Boyd, suff ered serious injuries logo on supermarket products has been seen Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, has been charged reports of a man with a bladed weapon who was report by the Organisation for Economic when she was ambushed in broad daylight as she as a badge of quality. But its reputation has with fraud by false representation. The force said carrying petrol. A man was arrested at Paragon Co-operation and Development, England has returned to her home in Woolwich, South-East been damaged by a series of undercover an investigation began in 2015 “after evidence Interchange station and remains in custody, the the largest share of students benefiting from London. Witnesses described how the pavement investigations by animal rights activists on came to light that the claim was not genuine”. force added. An area around Santander has been remission or forgiveness of loans, — 70%. was left soaked in blood after she was repeatedly Red Tractor farms. Some 46,000 UK farms are A spokesman for Camelot, which runs the cordoned off and people have been advised to England also has the highest tuition fees of stabbed in the attack on Anglesea Road at around members of the scheme and they are routinely National Lottery, said it was “not appropriate avoid it while investigations continue. “There is all OECD countries, except the US: in 2015, 9.30am. The woman was taken to hospital by inspected at least once a year. At the same for us to comment at this stage, given that nothing to suggest that this is anything other than universities charged fees of £9,000 a year for London’s air ambulance but her injuries are not time, there are about 1,000 unannounced the matter is now the subject of criminal an isolated incident,” a police off icer said. a bachelor’s degree. thought to be life-threatening. inspections. proceedings”.

Plans for N-power ‘Nothing to station on the verge of collapse fear’ from

Guardian News and Media London

lans for a new nuclear no-deal exit, power station in Cum- Pbria are on the verge of collapsing after the Toshiba- owned company behind it laid off 60% of its workforce and embarked on a final effort to sell the project. Toshiba was due to sell the say Brexiters NuGen consortium to South Korea state-owned firm Kecpo Guardian News and Media The former Brexit secretary main sticking point in discussions in early 2018, as the Japanese London Steve Baker said: “Isn’t the future with Brussels. firm exits international nuclear of this country about more than Rees-Mogg said the ERG would projects and looks to recoup personalities? This event is not today set out a proposed solution some of the £400mn it has eading Brexiters have about who the prime minister of to the border problem, which “any spent on the Moorside plant. pushed back at claims that this country ought to be, it’s about reasonable person” would accept. However, Kepco has been Ltheir campaign to “chuck policy … I’ve not much interest in It is expected to include proposals delaying a fi nal decision, due Chequers” is going off the rails who the prime minister is.” for tax inspectors conducting spot in part to the UK government as they endorsed an alternative Rees-Mogg confi rmed that he checks in factories on goods for signalling a new approach to fi - proposal that would result in the would vote against the Chequers export. He told the gathering he nancing nuclear power stations. UK crashing out of the European deal in the Commons but that he wanted to strike a deal with Brus- That forced NuGen to cut Union without a deal. hoped the government would not sels but that the government must 60 of 100 jobs yesterday, fol- Jacob Rees-Mogg, the chair of make it a confi dence matter, add- not be “snivelling and timorous lowing a six-week consultation the pro-Brexit European Research ing that to confl ate the two would and fearful” in talks. with staff . Unions said the the Group, said there was “nothing to be a mistake. The former Brexit “If you have got nothing to fear project’s problems showed the fear” from a no-deal scenario after secretary David Davis was also from leaving on a world trade deal need for the government to take the pro-Brexit economist Patrick among the leading Eurosceptics basis … then you can say we’ll have a stake in Moorside. Minford claimed it could boost who crowded into a committee a Canada plus-style deal and have Justin Bowden, the GMB Treasury revenues by £80mn a room in the House of Commons a solution to the Northern Ireland national secretary, said: “The year. Mogg said, however, that he yesterday to back the plans drawn problem.” looming collapse of this vi- would prefer the government to up by Economists for Free Trade. Baker, a key member of the tal energy project has been strike a Canada plus-style free- The prime minister has chal- anti-Chequers campaign who has depressingly predictable for trade deal with Brussels to retain lenged the Brexiters to publish claimed that 80 Tory MPs would months.” the benefi ts of leaving on “the their alternative plan to Chequers vote against the prime minister’s The skeleton NuGen team most friendly terms we can man- but ERG members have strug- plans, said: “We are all agreed is now focused on clinching a age”. The former Tory leader Iain gled to reach agreement on how it would be preferable to leave deal with Kepco by the end of Duncan Smith also said the gov- to avoid a hard border in Ireland, a smoothly into an agreement.” the year before Toshiba writes ernment could move on to World the unit off entirely at the end Trade Organisation rules or opt for Barnier confronts Raab over no-deal letters of March 2019. a “proper, substantial” free-trade Success will hinge on wheth- deal with the EU, suggesting min- Dominic Raab has been repri- to allow key trade flows to continue er Kepco buys into a new fi- isters had misled the public over manded by Michel Barnier after the in the event of the UK and the EU nancing approach for nuclear the dangers of crashing out. EU’s chief negotiator discovered the failing to come to an agreement power plants that the govern- The Brexiters tried to seize back British government had written to on leaving the union by March 29, ment is exploring, known as control of their campaign, which the 27 other member states asking 2019. The transport secretary, Chris the regulated asset base (RAB) has been overshadowed with in- for side negotiations on transport Grayling, had ordered the letters to model. terventions from Boris Johnson, in the event of a no-deal Brexit. The be sent despite being told less than Officials think it could de- who described the Chequers plan Brexit secretary was confronted two weeks ago by the European liver the government’s nuclear as a “suicide vest”, as well as his by Barnier during their most commission’s most senior trade ambitions more cheaply for tumultuous personal life. recent meeting in Brussels over off icial, Violeta Bulc, that without a consumers than alternatives. Johnson, a surprise attendee at correspondence sent in recent days deal this autumn, there would be no Failure would leave a huge the event, ducked questions over to EU capitals by the department other agreements made to protect hole in ministers’ hopes for as whether he would be prepared to for transport. The letters had asked the UK economy. Barnier is said to many as six new nuclear plants, launch a leadership bid to prevent the member states to prepare to en- have reiterated that message to as well as costing the north- Theresa May pushing ahead with gage with the British government in Raab, telling the minister: “If there is west thousands of jobs and bil- her plans. He merely pointed at a side deals on aviation and haulage, no deal, there is no trust.” lions of pounds of investment. Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson jogs near his home in Oxfordshire yesterday. colleague and said: “What he said.”

Labour MPs ‘should Govt under fi re as child not fear party activists’ traffi cking rates soar Guardian News and Media no-confi dence motions passed London against them by local parties. Ro- sie Duffi eld, the new MP for Can- Thomson Reuters Foundation countries such as Vietnam, Sudan, sionals such as doctors, teachers terbury, was also threatened with London Eritrea, Afghanistan and Iraq, ac- and social workers lack the train- abour MPs have nothing to such a move. cording to government fi gures. ing to spot vulnerable children, fear from activists criticis- “We now have 500,000 mem- “Having no clear plan in place according to the ATMG. Ling their performance, the bers. It’s a huge, mass party now, he government is failing to to prevent child traffi cking in the Unlike adult victims, traffi cked shadow chancellor, John Mc- and of course those members protect thousands of chil- UK...should shame this govern- children have no guarantee of spe- Donnell, has said, arguing that want to get involved in discussions Tdren from being traffi cked ment,” said Anti-Slavery Inter- cialist support once identifi ed, and a recent spate of no-confi dence about policy, and also they will re- and enslaved, activists said yes- national’s chief executive Jasmine many go into the care of local au- motions is little diff erent from fl ect at times their view about the terday, criticising the govern- O’Connor, adding that simply thorities where they may end up in what has always happened in the performance of their local MP,” ment for lacking a clear strat- targeting the traffi ckers would not fresh danger, said Catherine Baker, party. McDonnell said. egy to stop girls being sexually solve the problem. policy offi cer at charity ECPAT Speaking before an address “And we’ve had a small abused and gangs using young “We need to create support net- UK. to the TUC where he will call for number of incidents that we’ve people as drug mules. works that can make children and “In the care of children’s serv- more rights for casual workers in seen – two or three – where The government’s approach to their families resilient to being co- ices, they too often go missing or the gig economy, McDonnell said parties have come together and tackling child traffi cking is frag- erced, are able to spot the worrying are retraffi cked. This marks a com- he was against attempts to impose they’ve expressed concern about mented and young victims lack signs quickly, and can provide spe- plete failure to prevent these most mandatory reselection for Labour the performance of their MP. specialist care at a time when a cialised support for children who vulnerable of victims from further MPs, but that people should not That’s happened right the way record number of child slaves are have already been traffi cked,” she harm.” Hailed as a global leader overreact to two or three incidents through the history of our party. being uncovered, said the Anti- added. The Home Offi ce did not in the anti-slavery drive, Britain at local party level. It’s nothing untoward.” Speaking Traffi cking Monitoring Group immediately respond to request last month said it would review its “I keep saying to people: don’t to reporters later after Treasury (ATMG), a group of charities. for comment. landmark 2015 law amid criticism mistake democracy for division, questions in the Commons, Mc- In Britain, 2,118 children sus- Britain last week announced that it is not being used fully to jail because that’s what democracy is Donnell declined to say whether pected to have been traffi cked — a £2mn scheme to help authori- traffi ckers, help victims, or drive all about, people get up and say: he had sought to intervene to mostly trapped in sexual exploita- ties protect vulnerable children companies to spot and stop forced this is what I feel,” he told BBC Ra- prevent the vote against Ryan. tion, domestic servitude or forced from traffi ckers and gangs who labour. dio 4’s Today programme. “I don’t want to go into private labour — were referred to the gov- rape them and force them to move Britain is home to at least He dismissed the idea that La- conversations that I’ve had,” he ernment last year, up 66% on 2016 drugs from cities to rural areas. 136,000 modern-day slaves, says bour had been infi ltrated by hard- said. and the highest annual number on Yet the government mostly fo- the Australian human rights group liners who were seeking to push It was acceptable for local par- record. About a third were British, cuses on helping children who Walk Free Foundation — a fi gure out MPs such as Frank Field – who ties to express unhappiness with many used as drug runners, while have been exploited, rather than about 10 times higher than a 2013 has now quit the party whip – and their MPs as long as it was done “in hundreds were traffi cked from prevention, while frontline profes- government estimate. John McDonnell: Labour not infiltrated by hardliners. Joan Ryan, both of whom have had a way that we’d term comradely”. Gulf Times Wednesday, September 12, 2018 15

BRITAIN Govt urged to relax rules on foreign students staying to fi nd work

Guardian News and Media In a long-awaited report, the international students. be helpful if the government correctly, would make almost no to the original visa duration – it port for the removal of overseas London committee said there was scope In his foreword, the MAC avoided sending mixed messages diff erence to the net migration currently has to be applied for students from the immigration to increase the number of inter- chairman, Prof Alan Manning, about its plans regarding inter- fi gures”. with associated costs. statistics. We have been calling national students in the UK and said: “When engaging with the national students. Theresa May has repeatedly The advisers stopped short for the removal of these students nternational students should recommended not introducing a sector, some seemed to be con- “Based on the evidence gath- rejected suggestions that the of introducing a separate post- from the immigration fi gures for be able to access skilled jobs cap. cerned the government had plans ered for this report, we do not UK should exclude international study work visa, which they ac- a long time, as the vast majority Iin the UK more easily after Amber Rudd, the then home to introduce a cap. Many do not recommend any toughening of students from offi cial migration knowledged would disappoint go home after completing their they graduate, the government’s secretary, when commissioning trust the government: when the visa requirements, so a clear fi gures. some in the education sector. courses,” she said. chief migration advisers have the report last year, said the gov- commissioning letter also wrote statement on this would also re- The committee recommended A spokeswoman for the Brit- “It’s time to scrap the caps said. ernment wanted to keep the door ‘there is no limit on the number assure. It would be better to loos- that the post-study leave-to- ish Chambers of Commerce ex- and arbitrary numerical tar- The independent migration open to “genuine” students but of genuine international stu- en visa requirements as much as remain period for master’s stu- pressed disappointment that the gets. It’s one thing to control advisory committee (MAC) rec- would crack down on the abuse dents’, they may wonder what the possible.” dents be extended from four to committee had declined to re- migration, but quite another to ommended changes to immigra- of visas by poor-quality institu- phrase ‘genuine’ means. The committee did not recom- six months. move overseas students from the use arbitrary mechanisms that tion rules that would give certain tions. “What the government means mend removing students from In addition, the committee statistics. deny businesses, universities types of students more time to The report, published yester- and what many in the sector the net migration target of tens said the 12 months leave to re- “Business communities and public sector employers the stay in the UK to look for em- day, rebuked the government for think the government means are of thousands, saying it would be main after completion of a PhD around the UK will be bitterly people they need to address im- ployment. sending “mixed messages” about not aligned. We do think it would “diffi cult technically and if done should be automatically built in disappointed not to see sup- mediate skills gaps.” NHS patients to May visits Zero Emission Vehicle Summit be put on soup and shake diet to reverse diabetes

Daily Mail and the condition is estimated to London cost the NHS £9bn a year. The British Heart Founda- tion has warned that the condi- iabetics will be given low- tion will lead to 400,000 cases calorie liquid diets under of heart disease annually by 2035, Dradical plans to beat the 30% more than now. disease. Last month the Daily Mail re- NHS chiefs hope that prescrib- vealed that children as young as ing fat-free shakes and soups for nine were being treated with Type up to fi ve months will reverse the 2 diabetes. illness. Professor Valabhji, a consult- If the trial succeeds, the treat- ant diabetologist at St Mary’s ment will be rolled out nationally. Hospital in central London, said: UK research has already found “Not only are we seeing greater that half of Type 2 diabetics on numbers, what we’re also rather the diet were in remission within frighteningly seeing is younger a year. age of onset. Details of the strategy are likely I may have been looking after to be set out in November. It is the grandfather for the last couple based on the idea that Type 2 of decades who was diagnosed at can be conquered if patients lose the age of 65, then the father came Prime Minister Theresa May is shown around by West Midlands mayor Andy Street (centre) during the Zero Emission Vehicle Summit in Birmingham, central England, enough weight. On the diet, they onto my book who was diagnosed yesterday would consume between 810 and at 48, now I’ve got the grand- 850 calories a day, depending on daughter diagnosed at 29. the fl avours of the four shakes and “I’ve got quite a lot of people soups they choose. who are in their 20s with Type 2 Many would shed the pounds diabetes which we simply didn’t very quickly after previously tak- see when I started practising. ing in as many as 3,000 calories a You’d write that up in a journal if day. The liquid diet was described you saw it back then, now we’re as an exciting development by seeing it all the time.” Jonathan Valabhji of NHS Eng- He said diabetes was the health land. crisis of our times: “Over 3.5mnn Jealous stalker jailed “The trial involved 300 people, of our population have diabetes, of those a staggering almost 50% 92% have Type 2 diabetes. As we saw their diabetes in remission,” as a population over the last seven said the professor. “Their blood decades have had greater avail- glucose levels fell into the non- ability of food and watched our diabetic range. That excites us. waistlines expand, so we have The beauty of the research is that seen higher and higher numbers for killing co-worker it was implemented in GP surger- with Type 2 diabetes. ies. It wasn’t hugely expensive.” “It’s an important issue for the Guardian News and Media In February, a few days after Jailing Corns for murder, the walk to work together but the re- In another letter police found He said the average weight loss NHS, for taxpayers and not just London sending Jordan a Valentine’s Day judge, Brian Forster QC, said he lationship was not sexual. at his home, Jordan had apolo- of 2 stone and 5lb was staggering. our health system but any health card in which he said she made would serve a minimum of 17 She told the court: “There was gised for reducing the times she The number of diabetics has system across the world. It com- his heart beat faster, Corns, 52, years in prison before being con- a darker side to their relation- was available because she had doubled to nearly 4mn in the past promises life expectancy, it’s one man has been jailed for strangled her in a park in Taun- sidered for parole. Forster told ship. Corns is a man who was wanted to do something else. 20 years. Nine in 10 have Type 2, of the commonest causes of sight life for strangling a col- ton. She suff ered bruising to her Corns: “You formed a friendship controlling, manipulative and “I had no right to do that,” she which is strongly linked to excess loss of people of working age, one Aleague after becoming arms and a leg, suggesting there with Heather Jordan. You were who was obsessively jealous. wrote. weight. of the commonest causes of kid- obsessed by the notion she was had been a struggle, the court possessive and extremely jeal- Their relationship had rules. The court heard she later mes- The illness strikes when insu- ney failure. having a secret relationship with heard. ous.” One of the rules was that they saged Corns telling him to “back lin in the pancreas does not work “It’s the commonest cause of another worker. After killing Jordan, Corns Exeter crown court heard the had to spend a certain fi xed time off and leave me alone”, adding: properly or the pancreas does not people having a limb amputated. Martin Corns, described in tried to make it look as if he she pair, who met while working as together. Corns required fi xed “I have not got anyone else. I can make enough insulin. This caus- It doubles the risk of heart attacks court as controlling and manip- had been the victim of a botched cleaners at a chemist, were in a times of Jordan to make herself only say this so many times.” es a rise in glucose levels in the and strokes, perhaps increases ulative, insisted that 34-year- robbery. But police found a “committed friendship”. available.” Corns, who denied murder, blood which, if untreated, lead to this by as much as four times, so old Heather Jordan spend a cer- ripped-up letter from Corns to Kate Brunner QC, prosecut- In a note Jordan wrote to accepted in the witness box heart disease and strokes, kidney its impact is massive.” tain amount of time with him Jordan in the park that read: “I ing, said Jordan was quiet and Corns, found at his home in that it was “creepy, strange and disease, liver failure, blindness The successful liquid diet was each week. can’t wait to spend my life with shy, lived with her mother and Taunton, there was a list of times wrong” to have stood outside and damage to nerve endings in tested in a study of 298 patients When she resisted his sexual you. Hopefully that won’t be did not have a boyfriend. She for each day of the week that she Jordan’s home. He also admit- the feet. carried out by Newcastle and advances he began stalking her, too long my darling. Remember, said Jordan and Corns would would be free to see him. At the ted he was very jealous of a work One in six patients staying in Glasgow universities backed by stationing himself outside her I love you so much and always talk on the phone, exchange text bottom she wrote: “Martin this colleague who he thought was in hospital overnight has diabetes Diabetes UK. home in Taunton, Somerset. will.” messages, go on day trips and is only an opening off er.” a relationship with her. Customer wins Peter Hall tribute Couple reject fortune to stay in job they love bookshop in raffl e Daily Mail Three times a smartly-dressed London man has come in and asked if we would like to sell them the site – Guardian News and Media Winner Takes It All played to a Van Heerden told the Tivy- the fi rst off er was £80,000, then London crowd. side Advertiser that he was “so ith delicious breakfasts £90,000 and three months ago Morris, who worked in the shocked” when he heard he had and stellar service from they off ered £120,000. book industry for years before won. “I love books and read a lot Wits husband-and-wife “Each time I told them I he UK’s newest independ- he opened his own shop, told the and just happened to be in the owners, it’s no wonder the Nice wouldn’t sell up for a million quid. ent bookseller is gearing Guardian that he had chosen to shop when a TV crew was mak- Baps cafe has been voted one of the Like much of the country, Corn- Tup to open his doors – af- take early retirement at 52 after ing a fi lm about Paul’s decision to nation’s best. wall is swamped with Costa Cof- ter winning a bookshop in a raf- his osteoarthritis worsened. raffl e it off and I bought a ticket,” The business, run from a ship- fees – do we really need another fl e. “I thought about selling it, said Van Heerden. ping container dressed up as a multi-million pound conglomer- The unusual prize was dreamed but I thought instead, let’s give He offi cially takes over the log cabin, has become Cornwall’s ate opening up? No we don’t.” up by Paul Morris, who opened someone an opportunity in life shop on November 5 and said he highest-rated eateries on TripAd- Costa Coff ee has since turned Bookends in Cardigan four years which they might not otherwise is planning to run it with a friend visor. its attention to the nearby town of ago. The shop is profi table and have had. The principle was to from Iceland, who is now moving Yet in the latest example of the Wadebridge, where its plans to set would have made an estimated make sure the shop continues in to west Wales. Although the pair huge infl uence of the big chains, up have been met with widespread £30,000 in a sale, but Morris said good hands,” he said. “(Ceisjan) have been friends online for nine owner Kevin Baker has revealed disapproval from residents. he wanted to give someone else is a regular customer and I’m years, they have yet to meet face how Costa Coff ee has repeatedly Nice Baps has only been on the chance to realise their dream really pleased it was him – he to face. “It might sound strange, begged him to sell up. Trip-Advisor for 10 months but, in of running a bookshop. wants to run it. You can make a but we are sure we can make it The chain, which is Britain’s that time, it has received nothing Over the last three months, very good living from it – far too work. It is just an amazing op- biggest coff ee outlet and boasts but brilliant reviews. anyone who spent more than many bookshops have disap- portunity,” he said. Actress Judy Dench performs from Shakespeare’s Antony and more than 3,400 outlets nation- Baker has been described as a £20 was eligible to be entered peared over the years.” Morris said that a number of Cleopatra during a service of thanksgiving for the late English wide, is desperate to take over the ‘legend’ and his food ‘a master- into a raffl e to win it. Van Heerden wasn’t at the his customers had said that they theatre, opera and film director, Peter Hall, at Westminster cafe because of its prime location class in the fi ne art of an all-day The name of the winner, Ceis- prize draw, said Morris. “So I left had always fancied running a Abbey in central London yesterday. Hall, who founded the in a layby on the A39, a popular breakfast’. The cafe has also at- jan Van Heerden, who is from the him a message, and, when he bookshop. He got into the busi- Royal Shakespeare Company in 1960 and was credited with route for holidaymakers. tracted celebrity customers, in- Netherlands, was drawn out of a phoned back, he said he’d had to ness after stumbling across a the boom of post-war British theatre, died at the age of 86, on Baker, 54, who runs the cafe with cluding David Cameron, EastEnd- hat containing 59 others at a cer- have a sit down and a cup of cof- retired bookseller selling around September 11, 2017. his wife Laura, 34, said: “They’ve ers actor Joe Absolom and the cast emony last week, as Abba’s The fee.” 18,000 books on eBay. been after us for the last two years. of Poldark. Gulf Times 16 Wednesday, September 12, 2018 EUROPE

Spy chief backtracks over Chemnitz 1mn participants in protest video doubts

Reuters Zeitung said that Maassen had Berlin written to Interior Minister Horst Seehofer saying that the video had not been falsifi ed Barcelona protest he head of Germany’s and that his comments had domestic spy agency, been misunderstood. AFP ment is “committed to imple- Tfacing calls to quit for Maassen said he had meant Barcelona menting the republic” Catalans questioning whether a vid- to express doubt about wheth- voted for in the referendum. eo showing far-right gangs er the video genuinely showed But Oriol Bartomeus, politics hounding migrants in the city people being chased, the pa- round 1mn people rallied professor at the Autonomous of Chemnitz was genuine, now pers wrote. in Barcelona yesterday, University of Barcelona, said that accepts that the footage was Lawmakers including the Abanging drums and blow- “listening to the speeches of the real, two papers reported yes- leader of the Social Democrats ing whistles in a show of support separatist leaders, it seems like terday. (SPD), who share power with for Catalan independence nearly there is no plan”. Germany’s most violent Merkel’s conservatives, called a year after a failed attempt to Opposition parties complain far-right protests in decades, on Maassen to resign if he break away from Spain. that separatists have transformed which took place in the east- failed to explain his comments, Wearing coral-red T-shirts the “Diada” into a holiday which ern city over the fatal stabbing and it is not yet clear to what and waving the red, yellow and excludes the half of the Catalan of a German man blamed on extent the new explanation blue Catalan separatist fl ag, a sea population that does not favour two migrants, have reignited will ease the pressure on him. of protesters gathered for the ral- independence. a heated debate about Chan- Maassen had appeared to ly on Catalonia’s “national day” “We Catalans should cel- cellor Angela Merkel’s 2015 contradict Merkel’s view of the which commemorates Barcelo- ebrate our national day and not decision to open the country’s events in Chemnitz. na’s fall to troops loyal to Spain’s just a call for independence that borders to more than a million She last week rebuked a con- King Philip V in 1714. is shared by less than half of the refugees. servative ally, head of the state The annual “Diada” holiday population,” Spanish Foreign Hans-Georg Maassen, who of Saxony where Chemnitz is has since 2012 been used to stage Minister Josep Borrel, who is heads the BfV intelligence located, for playing down the a massive rally calling for seces- Catalan, said in Strasbourg. agency, prompted anger from violence. sion for the wealthy northeastern A closely-watched Catalan lawmakers of mainstream Police also arrested people in region that has its own distinct government poll in July showed parties last week for telling the city for giving the Nazi sa- language. 46.7% of Catalans want an in- top-selling Bild that he was lute, an action that is illegal in However, this year’s event had dependent state, just ahead of not sure if the footage, shot in Germany. particular signifi cance as a test of 44.9% who were opposed. Chemnitz two weeks ago and Merkel and her spokesman strength after a referendum last Separatist parties won a slim circulated online, was genuine. have repeated several times October 1 deemed illegal by the majority of seats in the Catalan The Sueddeutsche Zeitung that far-right violence is unac- courts, and the Catalan parlia- parliament in a December elec- and the Frankfurter Allgemeine ceptable in Germany. ment’s unilateral declaration of tion, even though they captured independence on October 27, all just 47.5% of the popular vote. came to naught. However, there are growing Demonstrators climbed on divisions in separatist ranks be- each other’s shoulders to form tween those who want to provoke human towers, a Catalan tradi- a clash with Madrid and those Outbreak in northern tion, while others carried yellow seeking a more conciliatory ap- and black signs that read “Free proach. Catalan political prisoners now”, “If a separatist is so naive or Italy claims two lives a reference to Catalan separatist stupid to believe he can impose leaders in jail awaiting trial over independence on the 50% of Cat- last year’s independence bid. alans who are not (separatists), DPA parliament about the crisis. “We are demanding our right it’s clear that they are mistaken,” Rome As of Monday, 196 people to be a nation, in a democratic Joan Tarda, a lawmaker for sepa- were still in hospital, including and peaceful way,” Roger Pujol, ratist party ERC in the Spanish nine in intensive care, he said a 37-year-old olive oil producer, parliament, said last week. wo people have died in a statement. told AFP. The ERC has a taken softer ap- following a pneumonia One of the two casualties At the start of the rally dem- proach than its ally in the region- Toutbreak in northern was confi rmed dead as a result onstrators knocked down a sym- al government – former Catalan Italy which has aff ected more of legionellosis, he added. bolic wall decorated with separa- president Carles Puigdemont’s than 200 patients, a regional Legionellosis is a form of tist symbols, a metaphor for the Together for Catalonia. health offi cial said yesterday. pneumonia caused by the wa- power of the people to overcome Puigdemont was sacked by The outbreak concerns ter-borne Legionella bacteria. obstacles and achieve independ- Madrid after last year’s inde- the provinces of Brescia and It can be caught by breathing ence. pendence declaration and fl ed to Mantua, in an area about in contaminated water drop- City police said on Twitter that Belgium. 100-120km east of Milan and lets. around 1mn people took part, a Spain’s conservative prime stretching up to 60km south Gallera said the causes of similar amount to last year’s pro- minister Mariano Rajoy then im- of Lake Garda, a popular resort the outbreak were still being test. posed direct rule on Catalonia for German tourists. investigated, but ruled out the Organisers said that they had and called early elections. A total of 235 pneumonia possibility that the bacteria sold more than 200,000 coral- Rajoy’s successor, socialist cases, including 12 people with spread through public water red T-shirts – the colour used in Pedro Sanchez, was catapulted to legionellosis, have been con- supply systems. the ties used to secure the ballot power in June with the support of fi rmed since September 2, and Local residents have been boxes during last year’s contest- separatist parties. two people have died, Giulio told that tap water remains safe ed referendum. He has off ered the region a ref- Gallera said. to drink, because even if it were “We are starting an endless erendum on greater autonomy, Gallera, a member of Lom- infected with the Legionella march,” Catalan president Quim but this was rejected by Torra, bardy’s regional government bacteria, it is not dangerous as Torra told reporters at the end of who insists Madrid must allow who is in charge of health serv- long as there is no direct con- the rally. a legally-binding independence ices, reported to the regional tact with lungs. Further protests are planned referendum for Catalonia’s 7.5mn for an anniversary of last year’s people. banned referendum, which was “One of Catalonia’s main Spanish minister resigns over degree marred by police violence, and problems is co-existence, not on the anniversary of the failed independence. We must encour- Spanish Health Minister Carmen Monton resigned from her position declaration of independence. age dialogue amongst Catalans,” This handout picture released by the Assemblea Nacional Catalana (Catalan National Assembly) shows an yesterday after reports of irregularities in how she obtained an In a televised address on Mon- Sanchez wrote on Twitter yes- aerial view of a pro-independence demonstration in Barcelona marking the National Day of Catalonia, the academic degree, becoming the second minister to quit since day, Torra said that his govern- terday. ‘Diada’, yesterday. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez took off ice in June. Russia starts biggest war exercises since Soviet fall

Reuters sia’s Northern Fleet and a motor- of whose armies will be taking Russia broadcast footage of Moscow ised Arctic brigade were shown part in the manoeuvres later this some of 24 helicopters and six disembarking from a large land- week. jets belonging to the Chinese air ing ship on a barren shore oppo- Analysts say Moscow had to force landing at Russian air bases ussia began yesterday its site Alaska. invite the Chinese and Mongo- for the exercise. biggest war games since This activity was part of the lian militaries given the prox- Beijing has said 3,200 mem- Rthe fall of the Soviet Un- fi rst stage of the exercise, which imity of the war games to their bers of the People’s Liberation ion, close to its border with Chi- runs until September 17, the min- borders and because the scale Army (PLA) will join in. na, mobilising 300,000 troops in istry said in a statement. meant the neighbouring coun- Some experts see the war a show of force that will include It involved deploying addi- tries would probably have seen games as a message to Washing- joint exercises with the Chinese tional forces to Russia’s far east them as a threat had they been ton, with which both Moscow army. and a naval build-up involving its excluded. and Beijing have strained rela- China and Russia have staged Northern and Pacifi c fl eets. The exercise – which will in- tions. Putin and Xi cook pancakes during a visit to the ‘Far East Street’ exhibition, on the sidelines of the Eastern joint drills before but not on The main aim was to check volve more than 1,000 military “With its Vostok 2018 exercise Economic Forum in Vladivostok. such a large scale, and the Vos- the military’s readiness to move aircraft, two Russian naval fl eets, Russia sends a message that it re- tok-2018 (East-2018) exercise troops large distances, to test up to 36,000 tanks and armoured gards the US as a potential enemy signals closer military ties as well how closely infantry and naval vehicles and all Russian air- and China as a potential ally,” as sending an unspoken remind- forces co-operated, and to per- borne units – began as President wrote Dmitri Trenin, a former er to Beijing that Moscow is able fect command and control pro- held talks with Russian army colonel and direc- Presidents fl ip pancakes on and ready to defend its sparsely cedures. Chinese President Xi Jinping in tor of the Carnegie Moscow Cen- populated far east. Later stages will involve re- the Russian port city of Vladi- tre think tank. Vostok-2018 is taking place at hearsals of both defensive and vostok. “China, by sending a PLA ele- a time of heightened tension be- off ensive scenarios. Relations between Mos- ment to train with the Russians, sidelines of economic forum tween the West and Russia, and Russia also staged a major na- cow and Beijing have long been is signalling that US pressure is the North Atlantic Treaty Or- val exercise in the eastern Medi- marked by mutual wariness with pushing it towards much closer ganisation (Nato) has said it will terranean this month and its Russian nationalists warning of military cooperation with Mos- AFP the event in the Russian far east- before eating them with caviar monitor the exercise closely, as jets resumed bombing the Syr- encroaching Chinese infl uence cow.” Vladivostok ern city of Vladivostok, where and a shot of vodka. will the United States which has ian region of Idlib, the last major in the country’s mineral-rich far Putin, who is armed forces the focus has been on economic The pair earlier in the day a strong military presence in the enclave of rebels fi ghting its ally east. commander-in-chief, is expect- ties and North Korea. praised their countries’ increas- Asia-Pacifi c region. President Bashar al-Assad. But Russia pivoted east to- ed to observe the exercises this ussian President Vladimir However, the two leaders ingly close ties, with Xi saying Russia’s ministry of defence The location of the main wards China after the West sanc- week alongside Defence Minister Putin and China’s Xi Jin- found time to fl ip blini on “Far that their “friendship was get- broadcast images yesterday of training range for Vostok-2018, tioned Moscow over its annexa- Sergei Shoigu, who is overseeing Rping took a break yester- East Street”, an exhibition of the ting stronger all the time”. columns of tanks, armoured ve- 5,000km (3,000 miles) east of tion of Ukraine’s Crimea region them. day from the heavy lifting of region’s cultural and economic This is not Putin and Xi’s fi rst hicles and warships on the move, Moscow, means it is likely to in 2014 and trade links between Shoigu has said they are the international diplomacy to toss achievements. foray into batter-based cooking. and combat helicopters and be watched closely by Japan, the two, who share a land border biggest since a Soviet military pancakes on the sidelines of an Photos showed Putin and Xi, During a visit to China in June, fi ghter aircraft taking off . North and South Korea as well over 4,200km long, have blos- exercise, Zapad-81 (West-81) in economic forum. wearing aprons, pouring out bat- the Russian leader made a Chi- In one clip, marines from Rus- as by China and Mongolia, both somed since. 1981. Xi is one of the big names at ter and turning the pancakes over nese pancake, which Xi tried. Gulf Times Wednesday, September 12, 2018 17 INDIA Rafale deal biggest defence scam: Shourie, Sinha

IANS had “spun a web of lies to protect caping that fact. Every explana- of planes from 126 to 36 and Modi’s deal was given by DAC on rie and Bhushan said “MoD’s Parrikar in 2015 told Doord- New Delhi Modi’s culpability in the largest tion they put out ensnares the remove Make in India under May 13, 2015, more than a month total abdication of duty while arshan that the Congress gov- defence scam” the country had government in the web of lies Transfer of Technology by Hin- after the prime minister had an- granting approvals for off set ernment-negotiated price for ever seen. they have spun. This means they dustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) nounced the new deal. contracts in the Rafale deal was 126 Rafale combat aircraft would wo former Bharatiya Ja- Addressing a press confer- have a lot to hide,” Shourie. despite the fact that IAF, De- Shourie along with Sinha exceptional”. have been Rs715 crore apiece nata Party ministers ence, the two dismissed the The former ministers said that fence Acquisition Council (DAC) and lawyer-activist Prashant “The question is how the while a year later Bhamre told Tyesterday alleged Prime explanations given by the gov- Modi kept the Indian Air Force and MoD had come to a reasoned Bhushan also claimed that the price of Rs670 crore per aircraft the Lok Sabha that the BJP-ne- Minister Narendra Modi’s “per- ernment and the ruling BJP in (IAF), the Defence Ministry and conclusion that 126 aircraft were choice of a private party as off set went up to Rs1,670 crore. The gotiated price would be approxi- sonal culpability” in the Rafale justifying the deal as “blatant the External Aff airs Ministry in required for the long term needs partner rejecting HAL was a “re- government has been hiding mately Rs670 crore. jet purchases, and accused him lies” and said Modi “usurped the the dark about the new deal be- and security of the country,” said sult of Modi’s personal decision”. behind confi dentiality clause. “Each new invention shows of “compromising national se- authority” and unilaterally can- fore making a sudden announce- Shourie. In the wake of the government If it is confi dential, then how that all these arguments are an curity” by unilaterally fi nalising celled the original deal for the ment in April 2015. Citing procedural require- recently rejecting a proposal come (former defence minis- afterthought to justify the scam the deal, shunning every rule of sake of his “crony capitalists”. “National security has been ment of DAC’s approval being a by Russia to make Adani Group ter) Manohar Parrikar and then through which the price per air- military procurement. “In so far what has transpired, compromised by Modi and every condition precedent for fi nalis- a partner for a joint venture to (minister of state for defence) craft has been increased from Yashwant Sinha and Arun it directly refl ects Modi’s per- rule of procurement fl outed to ing a new deal, they pointed to manufacture the modern AK- Subhash Bhamre had quoted the Rs670 crore to Rs1,660 crore ap- Shourie said the government sonal culpability, there is no es- unilaterally reduce the number the fact that the approval for series assault rifl es, both Shou- price of the jets,” asked Shourie. proximately,” said Sinha. Most NPAs BJP can’t be uprooted originated in 2006-08, from Rajasthan: Shah IANS Jaipur

says Rajan haratiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit IANS Gross NPAs accumulated in BShah yesterday said no- New Delhi the Indian banking system has body can remove the party from touched a staggering level of Rajasthan. Rs10 lakh crore. Shah, who was on a day-long ormer Reserve Bank of In- Referring to malfeasance as visit to the state, was speaking dia governor Raghuram a factor in the NPA issue, Rajan at a meeting of his party activ- FRajan has said that a big said: “Undoubtedly, there was ists. number of non-performing as- some... clearly, bankers were He attacked the Congress and sets (NPAs) originated in 2006- overconfi dent and probably did claimed that the BJP was the 08 when India’s economic too little due diligence for some only party moving ahead with a growth was strong while some of these loans. focus to build a new India. banks proved inadequate in “Unfortunately, the system The BJP chief said Congress making proper due diligence. has been singularly ineff ective in president Rahul Gandhi has Rajan was replying to a parlia- bringing even a single high-pro- been day-dreaming of winning mentary panel on NPA. fi le fraudster to book. As a result, elections in all the three states – Acknowledging corruption as a fraud is not discouraged. Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and factor, Rajan also said that though “I sent a list of four high- Chhattisgarh. he had forwarded some names for profi le cases to the PMO for co- The three states will hold as- fi ling cases against some “high ordinated action to bring at least sembly elections later this year. profi le” bank fraudsters to Prime one or two off enders to book. I am Shah said a party which is Minister Narendra Modi, no ac- not aware of the progress. This is yet to decide on their leader in tion had been taken in the matter. a matter that should be addressed Rajasthan cannot be said to be “A larger number of bad loans with urgency,” he added. ready to face elections. originated in 2006-08 when eco- According to Rajan, the RBI The Congress is yet to select nomic growth was strong, and pre- had set up a fraud monitoring its chief ministerial candidate, vious infrastructure projects such cell during his term to co-ordi- though names of state Con- as power plants had been complet- nate early reporting of such cas- gress president Sachin Pilot and BJP chief Amit Shah speaks during a party meeting in Jaipur yesterday. Also seen is the party’s Rajasthan unit chief Madan Lal Saini. ed on time and within budget. es to the investigative agencies. former chief minister Ashok “It is at such times that banks The former governor also Gehlot are doing the rounds. “Ours is a party with clear zen Register, he said: “We pre- Irani attacked the Congress in making proper due diligence. make mistakes. They extrapolate blamed public sector banks for “If you are out on road ask- policies with no confusion an- pared a list of 40 lakh infi ltrators and the Gandhi family, citing “It is my belief after read- past growth and performance inadequate due diligence before ing for votes, the innocent vot- ywhere. Our programmes are but the Congress started making Monday’s Delhi High Court ing media reports that Rahul to the future. So, they are will- and after handing out loans. ers have all the right to know clear, too. We are following the a hue and cry on the issue. Why verdict that dismissed the pleas Gandhi and his family refuse to ing to accept higher leverage in “Banker performance after the who their leader would be,” path shown by Pandit Deenday- does the party want to save these of the family against the Income answer the income tax offi cers projects, and less promoter eq- initial loans were made... (were) Shah said, adding that the party al Upadhyay. infi ltrators,” he asked. Tax notice seeking tax reas- on the basis of notice served to uity,” he said. also not up to the mark,” Rajan said. which has not yet decided on its “We have made lakhs of toi- Meanwhile, BJP leader and sessment for the fi nancial year them. I ask every Indian citi- In his note to Parliament’s Es- “Unscrupulous promoters leaders, on its policies and has lets in poor men’s houses, we Textiles Minister Smriti Irani 2011-2012 and comments made zen that can any of us defy the timates Committee on public who infl ated the cost of capi- no set agenda, has no right to are ensuring that mothers and accused the Gandhi family of by former Reserve Bank of India income tax notice when asked sector banks headed by Bharatiya tal equipment through over- win the election. infants get timely vaccination, consistently dedicating itself governor Raghuram Rajan. to come and produce answers. Janata Party leader Murli Mano- invoicing were rarely checked,” Shah said the Congress Party we want that each child gets ac- to only enhancing its “per- Rajan has said that a big Why is that Gandhi, who is har Joshi, Rajan said that global he noted. He said the RBI could was battling many challenges at cess to education, the fi elds in sonal economic strength”, and number of non-performing quick to hug the prime minister, slowdown, project cost overruns have been more proactive and this point of time. They should the country should get water in said Rahul, who is quick to hug assets (NPAs) originated in would run miles away when it and government decision-mak- “raised more fl ags about the compare the work done during time and farmers should get fair Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 2006-08 when India’s eco- comes to income tax offi cers,” ing were among other factors that quality of lending in the early the BJP’s tenure with their own price to their yield...,” he said. is running away from the In- nomic growth was strong while she said at a press conference in contributed to the process. days of banking exuberance”. work over the years, he said. Referring to the National Citi- come Tax department. some banks proved inadequate New Delhi.

Congress, TDP, CPI form alliance in Telangana

IANS State Congress chief Uttam Ku- angana unit president L Ramna and cussed with Election Commission Hyderabad mar Reddy said they would try to CPI’s state secretary Chada Venkat to hold the vote in November. bring together all opposition parties Reddy and other leaders of the three “This is against the principles to defeat the TRS. The alliance will parties took part in the talks. of democracy and against the con- n a major development, the also seek the support of all people’s Later, they joined leaders of other stitution. Holding of elections and Congress, Telugu Desam Party organisations, employees, unem- opposition parties to meet Gover- formation of government are the I(TDP) and the Communist Par- ployed and women’s groups. nor E S L Narasimhan and demand duties of the Election Commission ty of India (CPI) yesterday joined The leaders of the three parties President’s rule in the state. and not the ruling party’s,” he said. hands to form a grand alliance to met at a hotel in Hyderabad. This was They said that free and fair elec- Uttam Kumar Reddy said that take on the ruling Telangana Rash- their fi rst meeting to form an alliance. tions are not possible in Telangana Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rao tra Samithi in Telangana in the up- Chief Minister K Chandrashek- with Rao as the caretaker chief min- and Election Commission appear to coming assembly elections. har Rao last week dissolved the as- ister. be in connivance to suppress peo- The leaders of the three parties an- sembly and decided to go for early The state Congress chief later ple’s democratic rights. nounced after the fi rst round of talks elections. The polls are likely in told reporters that the opposition He said that the Election Com- that they are forming the alliance. November. The opposition parties parties have expressed their con- mission had announced the sched- This is the fi rst time in TDP’s have termed TRS chief’s action as cern over KCR abusing power for ule for revision of electoral rolls on 35-year-old history that it is joining undemocratic. the benefi t of TRS. They said KCR September 1. The entire process was hands with the Congress in a state. Uttam Kumar Reddy, TDP’s Tel- had openly claimed that he had dis- to be completed by January 4.

Ruling party faces Twitter backlash over graphic fi asco

Reuters showed the price of petrol in New BJP’s information technology cell, Past governments have usually New Delhi Delhi at Rs80.7 a litre, while using said the graphic was not being in- cut fuel taxes when international oil an arrow showing a drop of 13%, terpreted correctly and was aimed prices shot up, but Modi’s admin- rather than a rise, to compare it to a only at showing that the 13% in- istration has so far blamed global s anger grows over record fuel price of Rs71.4 four years ago. crease since 2014 was lower than in factors, such as Turkey’s economic prices, the ruling Bharatiya Titled “Truth of Hike”, the graph- previous years. crisis. AJanata Party is getting ad- ic included Modi’s picture and used “It may sound paradoxical, but The fuel price hike has also fur- vice on social media to seek lessons four bars to show petrol price rises that is what it is,” Malviya told Reu- nished ammunition for the oppo- in mathematics and graphic design since 2004, but represented the ters. sition Congress Party to criticise after it posted a bar-chart graphic current, higher price with a smaller Twitter users were unconvinced. Modi ahead of general elections that showed fuel prices lower than bar. Zaineb Hakim joked on the social next year. in previous years. The post was retweeted 2,100 network, “Based on this graph, you On Monday, protests against the Prime Minister Narendra Modi times, attracted 3,200 comments are all entitled to a full refund from high prices shut down many busi- is facing criticism for not doing and fi gured on primetime news the mathematics department of the nesses, government offi ces and enough to cut fuel taxes that ac- shows after it was posted late on school you graduated from, assum- schools. count for more than a third of retail Monday, becoming the butt of jokes ing you did attend one.” The Congress countered the BJP’s petrol and diesel prices, which have on social media, with some users Another user, Jas Oberoi, wrote, graphic with its own, showing a soared to record highs this month. questioning how Rs80 could be less “Modiji needs to spend taxpayers’ crying Bollywood actor looking at Twitter users yesterday derided than 70. money on a better infographic pro- the graphic and retweeting inverted the BJP over the graphic, which Amit Malviya, the chief of the vider. This is outrageous.” versions of the BJP chart. Gulf Times 18 Wednesday, September 12, 2018 INDIA

INVESTIGATION PROTEST MISHAP ACADEMIA DISGRACE Antiques stolen from AAP MP’s car attacked Portion of concrete Convocation venue MLAs brandish shoes museum recovered in Madhya Pradesh slab falls off bridge shifted amid protest in Haryana assembly

A golden tiff in box and other antiques stolen Aaam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP and senior leader A week after a bridge collapsed in south The convocation ceremony of Presidency Two opposition legislators waved shoes at from Nizam’s Museum in Hyderabad were Sanjay Singh was attacked by a group of people Kolkata killing three people, a small portion University in Kolkata was shifted to a film one another following a heated argument recovered yesterday by police and two suspects yesterday in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara of a concrete slab from another bridge fell complex outside the campus yesterday on the last day of the monsoon session of were arrested, Police Commissioner Anjani district. He escaped unhurt. Singh alleged that yesterday, police said. Television footage following students’ unrest. Students were the Haryana Assembly. Leader of Opposition Kumar said. The men were arrested after they attempts are being made to instigate the people showed a woman sitting under the bridge continuing their campus sit-in to protest against Abhay Singh Chautala and five-time legislator returned from Mumbai where they failed to of the state to stage “violent protests” against who sustained minor injury in the accident. the authorities’ alleged failure to shift them of the Congress Karan Singh Dalal were find buyers for the antiques, Kumar told a news the recent amendments in the SC/ST Act. He However, there was no police confirmation. back to the Eden Hindu Hostel. They locked involved in the unsavoury incident. Speaker conference. Ghouse Pasha and Mohamed was shown black flags and people shouted “A small portion of a concrete slab broke from the university preventing the entry of the vice Kanwar Pal Gujjar suspended Dalal from Mubeen are residents of Rajendra Nagar in “Sanjay Singh, go back”. They tried to open the the roof of Chetla bridge underpass. It was a chancellor and teachers. Explaining the change the assembly for one year after the ruling Hyderabad. The recovered items included doors of the car as well. The policemen at the minor accident. Our personnel have gone to in the traditional convocation ceremony, Vice Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) objected to a a three-tier tiff in box studded with precious scene made way for his car. In a video of the the place,” a police off icer said. “We have not Chancellor Anuradha Lohia said: “The students remark made by him during a discussion on diamonds and rubies and weighing about attack which went viral, the people were heard received any report of anyone being injured came to me repeatedly and said that the Hindu BPL (below poverty line) cards being made in 1,950g, a gold cup and saucer with precious saying that they will not allow anyone from in the accident so far,” he added. A portion of Hostel is inhabitable. The government was quick Haryana. While Dalal claimed that the word stones (172g) and gold tea spoon (14g). The parliament to enter Chhindwara. “My vehicle the Majherhat bridge collapsed on September with its support but everything takes time. The he used was against the government and not suspects broke into the museum on the night was attacked and someone tried to open the 4, leaving three dead and injuring at least 19. students should remember they have not come against the Haryana state, the BJP legislators of September 3 by removing a ventilator grille. door and drag me out,” Singh said. He was in Another canal bridge collapsed near Siliguri in to live in Hindu Hostel, but study in Presidency and ministers demanded action against him, They used gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints Madhya Pradesh to campaign for assembly Darjeeling district on September 7, injuring a University.” The students were adamant and did alleging that he had lowered the dignity of the and wore masks to avoid identification. elections set for later this year. truck driver. not accept Lohia’s request. entire state by using a derogatory word.

Governance in Kerala at a standstill, 55 killed as says Congress

IANS Thiruvananthapuram bus plunges ith Chief Minister Pi- narayi Vijayan away Win the United State for treatment and none given the charge of the post, governance has come to a standstill in Kerala, into a gorge Congress Party said yesterday. Speaking to reporters here, Congress leader Ramesh Chen- nithala said the state is passing through a diffi cult time as there has been no cabinet meeting ever since Vijayan left for the US in Telangana on September 2. The convention in the state Agencies could have also died due to suff o- However, as there is usually a is that the cabinet meets every Hyderabad cation,” the offi cial said. heavy rush on Tuesdays to the Wednesday. “This is happening Broken glass, slippers and lug- temple drivers prefer to take the because Vijayan has not given gage lay scattered next to lifeless road through the hilly region to charge to any other cabinet min- t least 55 people were killed bodies that were lined up at the save time and fuel. ister. This is similar to what hap- and another 33 were in- scene, as locals pulled out survi- Leaders, including Prime Min- pened in Tamil Nadu when then Ajured when a bus fell into vors from the mangled vehicle. ister Narendra Modi, expressed chief minister J Jayalalithaa was a gorge in a hilly region in the They then carried them uphill their condolences. in hospital,” Chennithala said. southern state of Telangana yes- to get medical attention. “The bus accident in Telan- He said Kerala never had to terday, offi cials said. Some rescuers climbed onto gana’s Jagtial district is shocking face such a situation before. The overcrowded state-run the bus and others tried to reach beyond words. Anguished by the While no one has been of- bus veered off the road and rolled the injured through the front loss of lives. My thoughts and fi cially given the charge, the de down the hill in the state’s Jagtial portion which was completely solidarity with the bereaved fami- facto chief minister is state In- district, 190km from Hyderabad. smashed. lies. I pray that the injured recover dustries Minister E P Jayarajan, “Witness accounts said the “More than half of those killed quickly,” Modi wrote on Twitter. as he is the one who is currently driver apparently lost control of were women, and there were at State authorities announced a accepting donations to the Chief the vehicle at a sharp curve. The least three children,” local offi cial compensation of Rs500,000 each Minister’s Distress Relief Fund, bus fell some 20frt into the gorge,” G Narendhar said. to the families of the dead and a after Kerala was hit by one of the the district’s top offi cial, A Shar- The death toll could rise further lesser amount for the families of worst-ever fl oods last month. ath, said. as at least four people were said to those injured in the crash. “We are hearing that senior “At least 20 people died on the be in a critical condition. India has the highest number cabinet ministers from CPM scene. We moved 68 people to Heart rending scenes were of traffi c fatalities worldwide, are unhappy with the unoffi cial various hospitals but 35 of them witnessed at the scene of the ac- with an average of around 135,000 handing over of the charge to have succumbed to injuries,” he cident site as some of the injured people dying per year on the Jayarajan. The CPI is also un- added. lay amid bodies crying for help. country’s roads. derstood to be unhappy over the Some of the victims were pil- Wailing relatives of the victims Common causes are bad roads, way things are moving in the grims returning from the Konda- crowded Jagtial Hospital, where non-roadworthy vehicles and state,” added Chennithala. gattu Anjaneya Swamy shrine, the medical staff struggled to deal reckless driving. While Jayarajan is a senior which draws huge crowds on with the large number of casual- India’s hilly roads are particu- member of the Communist Party Tuesdays. ties. larly prone to accidents during the of India (Marxist) which heads the Media reports blamed over- Meanwhile, locals voiced an- monsoon season that runs from ruling front, state’s Finance Min- crowding for the accident saying ger against the authorities over June to September. ister Thomas Isaac and Culture some passengers had fallen onto the poor condition of the road On July 28 a bus carrying uni- Minister A K Balan have much the driver as the driver was nego- and the alleged negligence of the versity workers plunged off a wider experience as ministers. tiating the bend, resulting in the Telangana State Road Transport mountain road into a valley in Jayarajan has only a year’s ex- accident. Corporation. Maharashtra, killing 33 people. perience. “The bus was overcrowded, The road, where the accident That vehicle was taking staff “The sanctity of cabinet is be- it had a capacity of about 60 but occurred yesterday, had been from the Dapoli Agriculture Uni- ing questioned, as decisions re- was carrying 80 people. We have closed for heavy vehicles and versity to a popular hill station for garding the rebuilding of Kerala launched an investigation into the buses a year ago after a truck, car- a picnic. in the aftermath of the fl oods is accident,” Sharath said. rying passengers, fell into a ditch The same month 48 people being taken by a sub-committee “Perhaps due to the over- and killed at least 20 people. were killed and many others badly of ministers. Such crucial deci- crowding, most passengers sus- An alternative road, connect- injured in the north of the country sions will not pass muster with tained serious injuries and were ing the Rajiv Rahadhari Highway when an overcrowded bus hur- any court, if someone contests,” Onlookers and rescuers gather around a bus that crashed in Jagtial district in Telangana yesterday. The crushed to death in the bus as it to Kondagattu temple, had been tled into a gorge in the Himalayan said the Congress leader. bus veered off the road and plunged into a valley killing at least 55 people. rolled down. Some of the people opened for buses. foothills.

Landslide cuts road link Suicides by 2 IPS offi cers in Sanctity of Aadhaar jeopardised: Congress 5 months rattle UP police IANS liot Alderson - who last month New Delhi sparked a controversy by asking the Unique Identifi cation Au- IANS 6 and died three days later. The present, fails to understand the thority of India (UIDAI) to explain Lucknow reasons for taking the extreme situation on the ground and the mid reports of alleged why its helpline number was step are not known yet, but col- diffi culties we face... it is madly breach of the Aadhaar stored on many people’s phone leagues say both were “stressed”, after results,” said another of- Adatabase, the Congress without their knowledge - also uicides, between May and albeit for “diff erent reasons”. fi cer in eastern Uttar Pradesh. yesterday said the sanctity of the joined in the conversation asking September, by two of its Director General of Police The desperation, be it personal unique identifi cation system was the UIDAI to work with the hack- Sbright offi cers - one with (DGP) O P Singh, who on Sep- or professional, “to get out of jeopardised. ers to plug the breach. the anti-terror squad (ATS) and tember 8 visited the 30-year-old the rut even if it means dying” The party’s remarks came af- “I repeat it: NOTHING IS UN- the other posted as superintend- Das at a private hospital in Kan- can be gauged from the fact that ter an investigation by Huff Post HACKABLE. It does apply for ent in Kanpur - has rattled the pur where he was battling for Das “Googled ways to die”, a col- India revealed that the Aadhaar Aadhaar. UIDAI, it’s never too Uttar Pradesh police, one of the life, conceded that the force was league said. database, which contains the bio- late. Listen and work with hack- largest such forces in the country. in a “high level of stress”. While Former DGP Vikram Singh, metrics and personal information ers instead of threatening them. It also raises the question offi cers have for long been pri- who served for three years un- of over a billion Indians, “had History is looking to you,” he said. - as it does for other non-mil- vately complaining of the “heavy der a “tough and demanding been compromised by a software According to the Huff Post re- itary forces around the nation volume of work”, “endless work Mayawati” also admitted that patch which disables critical se- port, “the patch lets a user bypass - whether the men in khaki are hours”, “ruined personal lives” high political stakes force po- curity features of the software critical security features such as overworked, stressed from hav- and “demanding bosses”, the licemen to get stressed. “The used to enrol new Aadhaar users”. biometric authentication of en- ing to meet unrealistic targets pressure on the police suddenly police, in any case, have been According to the report, any rolment operators to generate un- from political bosses and unable seems to have pushed offi cers to very overworked and growing unauthorised person from any- authorised Aadhaar numbers”. to balance their professional and the brink. crimes, shifting crime patterns where in the world can generate It also disables the GPS secu- personal lives. With the state government and modus operandi add to our Aadhaar ID using the patch which rity feature of the software allow- Rajesh Sahni, a highly-dec- setting targets for the force in a woes,” he added. is freely available for Rs2,500. ing anyone from any location to orated Indian Police Service bid to portray itself as a “diff erent He regretted that owing to a “The hack of the Aadhaar en- enrol users. (IPS) offi cer, posted as an Ad- government which hounds out host of issues like no holidays, rolment software jeopardises the “The patch reduces the sensi- ditional SP with the ATS, shot criminals”, a senior offi cer told lack of sleep, the sinking feel- Workers use excavator loaders to repair a road after sanctity of the Aadhaar database. tivity of the enrolment software’s himself dead at his offi ce in the IANS on condition of anonym- ing of failure, public treatment landslide blocked National Highway 31-C in Mongpong, We hope the authorities will take iris-recognition system, mak- upscale Gomtinagar neighbour- ity that “working was tougher of policemen with contempt, the some 32km from the eastern city of Siliguri in West Bengal, the appropriate moves to secure ing it easier to spoof the software hood of the state capital on May than ever before”. The suicides indiff erence of political bosses yesterday. Heavy rainfall overnight in the hilly area caused future enrolments and verify the with a photograph of a registered 29. Surendra Kumar Das, a 2014 were a fallout of such pressures, and almost no connect with su- a massive landslide cutting off the road link between West suspect enrolments,” the Con- operator, rather than requiring batch IPS offi cer, took an over- he added. periors has led to an alarming fall Bengal and Assam and also Bhutan. gress said in a tweet. the operator to be present in per- dose of sulfa drugs on September “The political class, past and in tolerance levels. French security expert El- son,” the report said. Gulf Times Wednesday, September 12, 2018 19 LATIN AMERICA Pro-hunting nations block Brazil whale sanctuary bid

AFP countries with 25 voting against forests, we feel highly respon- against the project, backed by ing,” much to the ire of nations Society International (HSI), said sue is a diplomatic gesture, and Florianopolis, Brazil and several countries not cast- sible for the stewardship of our commercial whaling states Ice- that are against the practice. the vote was a “bitter disappoint- it is unlikely they would want to ing a ballot, and so failed to get wealth, for the whole world, and land and Norway, as well as Rus- It would also, as Japanese for- ment” and “a genuine sign of bad be seen in either camp. the required two-thirds majority this goes for cetaceans as well,” sia. eign ministry offi cials pointed faith and continuing intrigue by However, some anti-whaling ro-whaling nations yes- from the 89-member body. Duarte said, to applause from The Japanese delegation has out at the Brazil meet, have ena- the Japan bloc, and it bodes very delegates said it showed the terday blocked a near two- Brazil’s Environment Minister delegates. pushed for a rule change at the bled the creation of the long-en- poorly for the crucial votes that lack of preparation by proposing Pdecade eff ort to create a Edson Duarte, whose country Environmental groups attend- biennial meetings that would al- visioned sanctuary. will come later this week.” countries to let potential votes South Atlantic sanctuary for has been proposing the creation ing the meeting expressed bitter low decisions to be made by sim- New Zealand’s commissioner Six member nations did not leak away due to a procedural the endangered marine mam- of the sanctuary since a 2001 disappointment at the outcome. ple majority instead of the cur- Amy Laurenson, speaking in fa- send delegations, while seven matter, adding that Japan was mals, deepening divisions at an IWC meeting, said he was disap- Co-sponsored by Argentina, rent three-quarters minimum. vour of the sanctuary, told the countries that did — most of them altogether more effi cient in pre- already fractious International pointed but would continue to Gabon, South Africa and Uru- This would make it easier for meeting it was about protecting African — have not paid their fees paring the political ground. Whaling Commission meeting enlist support worldwide. guay, it was fi rst discussed in Japan to push through its pro- whales, “not about determining and were not allowed to vote. The result perpetuates a in Brazil. “As minister for the environ- 1998 and voted on since the 2001 posal to end a 32-year morato- the outcome for other areas of Observers said that for some decades-old deadlock between The South Atlantic Whale ment in a country with 20% of meeting of the IWC. rium on commercial whaling and the world.” of these smaller countries, not pro- and anti-whaling sides at Sanctuary was backed by 39 the world’s biodiversity in its Pro-whaling Japan voted re-introduce “sustainable whal- Grettel Delgadillo of Humane voting on a highly-sensitive is- the IWC. Guatemalans protest against pressure on anti-graft body

Reuters The the International Com- Guatemala City mission Against Impunity in Guatemala was formed in 2006 to help Guatemalan prosecutors undreds of peasant farm- break a cycle of impunity that ers and indigenous Maya helped organised crime pen- Hblocked a major highway etrate government in the cen- in Guatemala’s western highlands tral American country, and it is demanding that President Jimmy credited with improving the jus- Morales reverse a policy aimed at tice system. forcing a UN-backed anti-graft Morales’ decision to end the unit to leave the country. body’s charter in Guatemala was Groups representing the pro- heavily criticised by the United testers said in a statement they Nations and European countries. planned more rallies over the The US senate committee on next two days, including in capi- foreign relations also questioned tal Guatemala City, after Mo- the move in a letter to US Sec- Fernando Haddad and his wife Ana Estela arrive to take part in an extraordinary meeting of the national directorate of the Workers Party (PT) in downtown Curitiba, southern rales announced at the end of retary of State Mike Pompeo on Brazil, yesterday. August that he would not renew Friday, pointing out that US- the mandate of the International donated military vehicles had Commission Against Impunity appeared near the CICIG head- in Guatemala (CICIG). quarters and the US embassy on Although CICIG can oper- the day of the announcement ate in Guatemala until the end by Morales, who spoke while of next year, Morales’ govern- fl anked by soldiers. ment applied further pressure The deployment of the vehi- last week by prohibiting Ivan cles “appeared intended to send a Party ‘replaces Lula as Velasquez, the head of the inves- political message,” said the letter, tigative unit, from returning to calling the move “unacceptable.” Guatemala, for reasons of “pub- Guatemala had a series of mil- lic security.” itary governments in the 1970s Morales’ predecessor is in and 1980s, and the military re- prison and standing trial for mains infl uential in politics. running a customs racket uncov- The US state department, presidential candidate’ ered by CICIG. which has backed the CICIG in Last year, the commission the past, has been more ambigu- Reuters showed him tied in third place by far Brazil’s most popular to a near fatal stabbing at a rally night presidential debate that started investigating the current ous in its comments. Curitiba, Brazil for the October 7 vote. politician. last week. his attacks on Bolsonaro would president’s family for alleged Pompeo called Morales last Lula had hoped the Supreme But he is ineligible for offi ce The Datafolha poll added that not be slowed by the latter’s corruption and supported an week and expressed “continued Court would agree to an ap- under Brazil’s “Clean Slate” Bolsonaro saw no big boost in stabbing, when he said that the impeachment of Morales. support for a reformed CICIG,” he national executive of peal for more time to switch law, which prohibits candidates ratings despite the attack. right-wing congressmen “had Morales, a former come- spokeswoman Heather Nauert Brazil’s Workers Party the head of the Workers Par- from running if they have con- The survey said leftist Ciro suff ered a wound to his stom- dian elected in 2015, denies any said on Thursday. Tyesterday decided that ty (PT) ticket after Brazil’s victions that have been upheld Gomes rose to second place, ach, but it changed nothing in wrongdoing and says the CICIG US funding is important for Fernando Haddad will be its top electoral court last week on appeal. taking 13%, up from 10%. his head.” has overstepped its remit. the CICIG. presidential candidate, replac- banned him from running due Lula’s strategy has been to Bolsonaro, a former army Environmentalist Marina Protesters in the western high- On Monday, the head of the ing the party’s jailed founder, to a corruption conviction and keep his candidacy alive for as captain who favours easing gun Silva fell from second to third lands town of Solola brandished UN human rights offi ce, former former president Luiz Inacio gave him 10 days to remove his long as possible, then work to control laws to fi ght crime, has place in the Datafolha survey, placards demanding Morales re- Chilean President Michelle Lula da Silva, a party source name. transfer his support to Haddad, stirred controversy with com- taking 11%, dropping 5 percent- sign, broadcast images showed. Bachelet, said the decisions to said. Despite appeals still pending who is barely known in many ments denigrating women, age points. “We believe the leadership end the CICIG mandate and The offi cial asked not to be before the Supreme Court, Lula parts of Brazil. gays, blacks and indigenous The business-friendly cen- of commissioner Velasquez is block Velasquez were “deplor- named because the decision has decided it was time to pass the A Datafolha poll conducted people. He has led the fi eld tre-right candidate Geraldo important for the fi ght against able.” not yet been made public to re- baton to Haddad on the dead- on Monday showed that trans- from the outset in polls that Alckmin registered 10%, tick- corruption,” said protester Josue Last week, the Guatemalan place Lula, who has been barred line set by the court and not fer has begun. excluded Lula, by tapping into ing up from the 9% he won last Chavajay by phone. government asked UN Secretary from running due to a corrup- run the risk of the votes for his Jair Bolsonaro, a far-right voter anger over political cor- month. “Guatemala has changed, it is General Antonio Guterres not to tion conviction. party’s ticket being annulled by politician running on a law- ruption. Datafolha surveyed 2,804 not the same as it was three years interfere in the country’s aff airs Support for Haddad, a former the electoral court. and-order anti-corruption Gomes, a former governor voters across Brazil. The poll ago (when Morales was elected),” after he expressed concern about Sao Paulo mayor, surged in Lula served as president platform, leads the race with of Ceara state in Brazil’s poor has a margin of error of two per- said Chavajay. the decisions. a poll done on Monday that from 2003-2010 and remains 24%, but is in intensive care due northeast, showed in a Sunday centage points. Caracas ‘to co-operate Farmers protest Chile expands gas poisoning inquiry with UN rights chief’ tions by the state-owned en- Reuters Santiago ergy company ENAP, also in the AFP rights offi ce just over a week terday if he planned to invite Quintero industrial zone, about Geneva ago. Bachelet herself to Venezuela, 90 miles northeast of Santiago. “We fully trust that the new Arreaza said “the time will hile’s environmental The company has denied re- high commissioner for human come”, but stressed that fi rst regulator has expanded sponsibility for the incident. enezuela’s foreign min- rights will always uphold her work needed to be done to “re- Cits investigation into a The SMA said in a statement ister yesterday hailed mandate and her independ- build trust” between his coun- gas poisoning incident in the that its audit of Gasmar’s opera- Vthe arrival of new UN ence,” said Arreaza, who met try and the rights offi ce. coastal town of Quintero, bring- tions had not yet detected any rights chief Michelle Bachelet privately with Bachelet on During the last session of ing charges of non-compliance pollution or harm caused to peo- following a thorny relationship the opening day of the rights the rights council in June, Zeid with environmental agreements ple living nearby. with her predecessor, vowing council’s 39th session on had called for an international against a gas plant. However, it called the charge his country would co-operate Monday. investigation of atrocities in The environmental inspec- against Gasmar “serious” and fully with her. “We very much hope that... Venezuela, blasting the gov- torate (SMA) said Gasmar, a said it was brought because the In an address to the UN she will be able to begin a new ernment’s chronic refusal to company that imports and sells company failed to mitigate its Human Rights Council, Jorge co-operation stage,” he said, probe security offi cers over the liquefi ed petroleum gas and is potentially adverse environ- Arreaza vehemently criti- adding that “the Human Rights alleged killings of civilians. part-owned by Chilean indus- mental impact. cised the former high com- Council and the high commis- He asked, in vain, for the trial conglomerate Copec, has Quintero has had several pol- missioner for human rights sioner can count on the full co- council to set up its highest- 10 days to present a compliance lution incidents in the past, in- Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, who operation of the government of level probe — a commission of plan or appeal the accusation cluding gas and oil leaks, lead- repeatedly raised concerns the Bolivarian Republic of Ven- inquiry — for Venezuela and that it failed to adhere to agreed ing to investigations and fi nes about serious rights abuses in ezuela.” said the International Criminal levels of residual gas fl aring from against companies for non- Venezuela. He said his country “will Court may need to get further its chimneys. compliance with environmental “We reject the reports of the move on as regards to the last involved. The charge against Gasmar obligations. outgoing high commissioner four years with respect to the His call came after a report comes on the heels of stricter The SMA has admitted it for human rights. These have outgoing high commissioner. by his offi ce, based on remote monitoring by SMA following a struggles to supervise the opera- been reports that are always We are moving on.” monitoring, suggested that gas poisoning incident in August tions of the 15 large-scale indus- biased, they are always against Venezuela’s announcement offi cers, who had suppos- in which hundreds of people trial plants based in the area. Venezuela, they have always that it will co-operate with the edly been tasked with fi ghting showed symptoms of gas inhala- Environment Minister Caro- put forward a political, person- UN rights offi ce marks a clear crime, may have been respon- tion poisoning, prompting on- lina Schmidt told local television al position,” he said. about-face, after it had long sible for more than 500 killings A coca grower carries a stone to block a road between La Paz going protests over the govern- station Canal 13 over the week- But he hailed Zeid’s succes- denied access to the country by between July 2015 and March and Los Yungas region and protest against the government ment’s handling of the issue. end that ENAP was not the only sor, a former Chilean president UN rights monitors. 2017, largely carried out in poor in Unduavi, Bolivia. Within days, the SMA ordered company responsible for pollut- who took the reins of the UN Asked by journalists yes- neighbourhoods. the suspension of some opera- ing the area. Gulf Times 20 Wednesday, September 12, 2018 PAKISTAN

Chief Justice Nisar thanks judges for their commitment A full court meeting was held yesterday in the Supreme Court under the chairmanship of Chief Imran to take charge of Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar. The chief justice thanked the judges for their commitment and support to advance the cause of justice. The full court reviewed the institution and disposal figure of dams, housing initiatives cases and expressed satisfaction with the overall performance. Internews In contrast, India has 5,000 daily interest liability is a whop- Khan has said that the provi- The full court noted that Islamabad dams and China has 84,000 ping Rs5bn. sion of 5mn houses, equipped during the current year from dams, including 4,000 large Meanwhile, taking ownership with all basic facilities, and January to August, 13,384 cases ones. of a programme to construct regularisation of katchi abadis/ were disposed of against the rime Minister Imran has “We need to avert the looming 5mn houses, Khan has directed slums is a priority of the Paki- institution of 15,175 cases. hinted at supervising the water crisis confronting Paki- the relevant committee to fi nal- stan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led If the court works with the same PDiamer Bhasha and Mo- stan,” Khan tweeted. ise its recommendations regard- government. pace, the disposal would reach on hmand dams project, given the The prime minister said that ing the formulation of a com- The prime minister said that more than 20,000 cases, which urgency. Pakistan is sitting on hundreds prehensive plan of action, with the housing programme would would be the highest disposal “Met Chairman Wapda to- of billions of rupees in what he delineated timelines, within two not only provide shelter to the figure in the last five years. day and emphasised urgency of called “dead capital” in the form weeks for an early roll-out of the homeless, but would gener- However, the full court observed building the Diamer Bhasha and of state land and rest houses and programme. ate huge economic activity by that eff orts should be made to Mohmand dams. I may super- offi cial residences built on that The prime minister chaired a providing millions of jobs and reduce the pendency and clear vise dams project myself, given land. meeting to review the progress boosting all related industries of the backlog. the urgency. 45 MAF is total He took to Twitter to share on the housing action plan at the housing sector. The full court deliberated upon water fl ow of Pakistan, of which fi gures extracted from data that Prime Minister’s Offi ce (PMO) Khan said that besides the diff erent strategies for eff ective 80% is in three months and only he had received regarding 90% yesterday. availability of vast state lands functioning of the court and 20% in rest of nine months,” he of government-owned land in Housing Secretary Dr Imran across the country, the utilisa- suggested ways and means so said in tweets. Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Jehanzain briefed the meet- tion of prime lands of the state that dispensation of justice can The Pakistan Water and (KP), and the federal areas, and Khan: (Pakistan is) a country that has to borrow money to pay ing about the current situation guest houses and other govern- be further improved and relief Power Development Author- buildings constructed on the es- interest on its loans (while) sitting on huge amounts of dead capital regarding annual demand and ment-owned accommodations/ can be provided to litigants. ity (Wapda) chairman, Lieuten- tates. in the form of ... government-owned land with buildings. shortfall in the housing sector. properties in Punjab and Khyber The meeting was attended by all ant General (retired) Muzammil “I have just got fi gures of 90% He also identifi ed various op- Pakhtunkhwa alone could gen- the judges of the apex court. Hussain, called on the prime of state-owned land in KP, Pun- A kanal is a unit of area in that has to borrow money to pay tions regarding ensuring avail- erate billions of rupees to fund minister and briefed him about jab and federal areas and rest South Asia, generally considered interest on its loans is sitting on ability of land, the raising of the construction of the houses. the water situation in the coun- houses/offi cial residences built equal to 5,400sq feet in Paki- huge amounts of dead capital in funds through diff erent modes, It was decided during the City authorities try and future development of on this land. The fi gures are stan. the form of this government- and undertaking administrative meeting that the prime minis- water and hydropower sectors. startling: 34,459 kanals are rural Suggesting that this money owned land with buildings”. and legal measures needed to ter would take charge of the ini- demolish 56 The prime minister also and 17,035 kanals are urban. Just could be used for other purpos- The loans that the country has encourage the private sector and tiative in order to ensure smooth illegal buildings tweeted that Pakistan has only the urban land with buildings is es of public interest, the prime been taking are burdening its the foreign investors towards the implementation and remove any 185 dams and two large ones. worth over Rs300bn!” he wrote. minister wrote that “a country future generations and that the housing initiative. administrative bottlenecks. During three-day operation, the Capital Development Authority (CDA), with assistance of the Islamabad administration and the police, demolished around five dozen illegal constructions Warrants issued for Wife of former PM Sharif dies in London built on the pavements along the Kashmir Highway in Islamabad. On third and last day of the ex-premier Abbasi DPA/Reuters/AFP operation, the enforcement Islamabad teams used heavy machinery to raze multi-storey markets, some Internews appear in all subsequent pro- sporting shops and residential Lahore ceedings. he wife of former prime rooms. The petitioner’s counsel, minister Nawaz Sharif The demolished buildings also Azhar Siddique, told the bench Thas died at a clinic in include marquees and workshops he Lahore High Court that Abbasi was reportedly in London after battling cancer in Sector G-12 facing Kashmir has issued bailable war- the city to run his campaign for for more than a year, her family Highway. Trants for the arrest of a by-election. said. She was 68. On Saturday, the crackdown was former prime minister Sha- The bench issued bailable Begum Kulsoom Nawaz was launched on Kashmir Highway in hid Khaqan Abbasi for not at- arrest warrants for Abbasi, put on a ventilator after her Sector H-13. tending proceedings of a peti- subject to furnishing bonds of condition worsened overnight A CDA off icial present at site tion, against Pakistan Muslim Rs1mn. to Tuesday but she did not sur- of the operation said that all League – Nawaz (PML-N)’s It issued fresh notices to vive, the family added. Kulsoom: would be buried in structures built inside Sector G-12 jailed supremo Nawaz Sharif, Sharif and Almeida, instruct- “Begum Kulsoom Nawaz, the Pakistan. are illegal, but so far there is no that sought action against the ing them to appear before the wife of our leader, has passed plan to extend operation. latter under treason charges for court on September 24. away,” Sharif’s political secre- held the offi ce until 2002. The off icial said that in all 56 allegedly trying to defame state Amina Malik of the Civil tary, Asif Kirmani, said. She led rallies against the buildings in sectors H-13 and institutions in an interview. Society Network had fi led the Nawaz Sharif was in London dictatorship with a handful of G-12 were demolished during the A three-judge bench, head- petition, saying that Sharif, on with Kulsoom earlier this year Nawaz Sharif with daughter Maryam: were arrested upon their workers and built a momentum operation. ed by Justice Syed Mazahar May 11, had stated “those who when the anti-corruption court return on July 13 from London, where they visited Kulsoom. for political activity. Ali Akbar Naqvi, ordered the attacked a hotel in Mumbai ac- handed him a 10-year jail term With her husband jailed by court’s offi ce to ensure serving tually belonged to Pakistan”. and sentenced his presumed of the funeral and burial, which ers left when he was ousted in Musharraf, she broke through a Ministry sets up of notices to Sharif through the The petitioner said a meet- political heir, Maryam, to seven is likely to take place in three to a coup by former military ruler police barricade set up around superintendent of Adiala Jail, ing of the National Security years in prison over the pur- four days after the body is fl own General Pervez Musharraf in her home in Lahore in July 2000 hotline on human and to journalist Cyril Almeida Council (NSC) was held to dis- chase of luxury fl ats in London back home from London. October 1999. in an attempt to prevent her rights violations through the SSP Operations, cuss Sharif’s “misleading” me- in the 1990s. Prime Minister Imran Khan, Kulsoom had been at her hus- from leading a public rally. Islamabad. dia statement, following which The father and daughter left army chief General Qamar Javed band’s side throughout his dec- She managed to get away in In a major move, the human As the bench resumed hear- then-PM Abbasi met Sharif her bedside to return to Pakistan Bajwa and political leaders ex- ades-long political career. a car, which was chased by the rights ministry has announced ing, no one appeared on behalf to convey the concerns of the to rally their followers ahead of pressed condolences to the be- “She was a brave lady,” Sid- police for several miles. the creation of a hotline for the of the three respondents, to the military leadership. July 25 elections, which their reaved family. diq-ul-Farouq, a stalwart party When police fi nally sur- people to report rights violations judges’ annoyance. Malik said Abbasi’s move party lost to the former cricket “Begum Kulsoom Nawaz was loyalist, told AFP, describing rounded the car, she locked anywhere in the country. Justice Naqvi observed that was a violation of his oath of star Imran Khan’s party. a brave lady,” Khan said in a her as well-educated and digni- herself in for several hours in The ministry requested the Abbasi should have attended offi ce as prime minister, as he Both were arrested on arrival statement issued by his offi ce. fi ed. a stand-off until police nallyfi people to call 1099 to file the court as he was present was bound not to allow his per- and have been imprisoned since. “She was a brave woman who For years Kulsoom stayed out towed the vehicle away. complaints. The hotline will be in during the previous hearing on sonal interest to infl uence his Family sources said that Kul- fought for democracy,” said of politics, focusing on the cou- The Musharraf regime even- operation 24 hours a day, seven June 29 and was supposed to offi cial conduct. soom would be buried in Paki- former president Asif Ali Zard- ple’s family and home life. tually allowed Nawaz and Kul- days a week. stan. ari. The couple have four chil- soom to leave the country, and The ministry said the initiative is The government announced “Pakistan Muslim League – dren. they spent years in exile until meant to discourage violation of that it would help the family Nawaz (PML-N) and democracy But after Sharif was fi rst im- returning in 2007 to contest human rights in society. “according to the law”. will always be indebted to Be- prisoned following a military new elections after Mushar- It said that the helpline would “We have just received a re- gum Kulsoom Nawaz,” Sharif’s coup in 1999, she stepped into raf stepped down in the face of off er free legal advice to quest from the family, and, God younger brother and now presi- the limelight, Farouq said. mass protests. complainants and help for their willing, we will be granting pa- dent of the party Shehbaz Sharif “She told her father-in-law, In 2017, she won the parlia- problems. role,” Information Minister Fa- said in a statement. ‘Dad, I have to go out,’ and he re- mentary seat vacated by her It encouraged those aggrieved, wad Chaudhry told Reuters. Though Nawaz Sharif domi- plied, ‘Daughter, you must go,’” husband in the wake of a Su- especially women, elderly, He said that the former prime nated in politics, his party was he recounted. preme Court decision in a cru- workers, disabled persons and minister and his daughter would in disarray and there were only Kulssom took over leadership cial by-election while she was transgender persons, to use the Abbasi: reportedly in Lahore to run his by-election campaign. be freed for 12 hours on the day a handful of leaders and work- of the party as president, and battling cancer in London. helpline. Pakistan army has reversed ‘The Great Game’: report

Internews Federally Administered Tribal side of the Afghan issue after deals, intelligence co-operation foreign policy against Pakistan in serve of just the Pakistani army port of the Corps Commanders, Islamabad Areas (Fata) and cleared the areas decades of mistrust.” and joint training exercises that the shape of blocking military aid and its powerful Inter-Services the executive army of the mili- of those groups fi ghting the Pa- The RUSI report noted that the are redefi ning the region. and putting pressure on the In- Intelligence (ISI). tary leadership which decides kistani state, and announced an current Pakistani military lead- “As a US led by President Don- ternational Monetary Fund (IMF) “The Taliban had always been strategic decisions as a group. leading British security end to the British-era policy of ership under Chief of Army Staff ald Trump further isolates Pa- not to grant the country more anti-Russia because of Russia’s “As the frenzy of American think tank has assessed the Frontier Crimes Regulation (COAS) General Qamar Javed kistan, the army under Bajwa is bailouts”. support for the Taliban’s erst- criticism on the Pakistani mili- Athat, for the fi rst time in under which residents of the Fata Bajwa is set to reverse the “Great shoring up its Western fl ank with It noted that the aggressive be- while enemies, the Northern Al- tary rises, senior Russian de- 200 years, the Pakistan army has are denied basic legal rights. Game” and thereby end almost the help of its erstwhile enemy, haviour was shown when in the liance, and they had also killed fence offi cials have been publicly abandoned the British raj policy “This would mean the fabled 200 years of “looking over their the Russian military.” fi rst week of August, the Ameri- nine Iranian diplomats. praising the Pakistani military’s of confronting Russia for control ‘buff er zone’ of (Lord) Curzon shoulder” and fearing the Rus- cans cancelled military training “Now, however, it is a widely eff orts against terrorism on the over Central Asia – with the army and British India would be no sian threat. The Trump administration for the Pakistani military. accepted fact in most American Afghan borders.” now seeing the Russians as stra- more, once the incoming parlia- “The Great Game” was a po- has forced Pakistan into a “It was no coincidence that as military circles that both the The report said that whilst all tegic partners. ment passes it in law in the com- litical and diplomatic confronta- policy ‘re-think’ the Americans announced this, Russians and the Iranians are the talk during the Cold War was In a detailed analysis published ing year. tion between the British Empire the Russians, for the fi rst time following the Pakistani policy of of a Russian threat to Pakistan by the Royal United Services In- “This means that, for the fi rst and the Russian Empire over Af- The report analysed that Paki- in history, announced the start supporting the Afghan Taliban,” and of it reaching the warm wa- stitute (RUSI), it has been argued time, there is no need to have a ghanistan and neighbouring ter- stan army has felt that the policy of military training for Pakistani said the report. ters of the Arabian Sea, the Rus- that Pakistan’s army, embold- tribal area. The Fata will be abol- ritories in Central and Southern of having a buff er zone with Af- military offi cers. The report mentioned how sians are now on board with the ened by Operations Zarb-e-Azb ished, and the areas on the Af- Asia, that existed for most of the ghanistan is no longer required “That Pakistan’s army sees relations between the two be- China-Pakistan Economic Cor- and Raddul Fasaad, has taken ghan border will be brought in nineteenth century. as the Russians are no longer a Russia as an ally in Afghanistan gan normalising from 2002, but ridor (CPEC). concrete steps of reforms and line with the laws of the Pakistani The report said: “Pakistan’s threat to Afghanistan – and by and Central Asia is a complete picked up signifi cantly over the It added: “Moscow’s ap- relationship that show that Pa- state. army is frantically mending default, Pakistan. turnaround from 200 years of issue of Afghanistan. proach to participating in the kistan no longer sees Russia as a “In eff ect, the Russian threat its historically weak ties with It said that while Pakistan has fearing and indeed fi ghting the “Both countries now feel that development of Gwadar Port threat, and suggests a closer de- is over. Pakistan’s army and Rus- the Russian army, and making always been a willing partner of ‘bear’ from across the River the US-led war in Afghanistan in Pakistan, seen as Pakistan’s fence relationship between the sia are sealing an ever-closer progress through defence diplo- America and fi rmly on side of Oxus. is a threat to their security. Al- economic future, is considered a former hostile powers. defence relationship which will macy at a dizzying pace by mak- the west, the Trump adminis- “Just 20 or even 10 years ago, it though Bajwa has carried out the game-changer in Pakistan. Kamal Alam, the RUSI’s Fel- have a strategic impact on the ing a pivot to Russia instead of its tration has forced Pakistan into was unthinkable that both Russia policy of rapprochement to the “The Chinese have welcomed low on defence and author of the world stage for years to come. traditionally close military ties policy re-think because “the and Iran would support the Af- Russians, there has been a slow this participation and see it as a report, wrote that Pakistan army “Pakistan’s army has also won with the US. Trump doctrine is now matur- ghan Taliban. drift away from the US by his balancer against India’s insecu- has pushed militants out of the over Moscow and Tehran to their “There are multiple military ing into a permanent aggressive “This was previously the pre- predecessors, with the full sup- rities about the project.” Gulf Times Wednesday, September 12, 2018 21 PHILIPPINES

Coup plot Trillanes’ arrest looms as top based on tip from court denies restraint order foreign

By Catherine S Valente power Manila Times

Reuters enator Antonio Trillanes Manila may be arrested anytime Safter the Supreme Court denied the opposition law- hilippine President Rod- maker’s request for a temporary rigo Duterte yesterday re- restraining order on President Pvealed what he said was a Rodrigo Duterte’s proclamation plot to unseat him hatched by the revoking his amnesty, Malaca- opposition, Maoist rebels and a nang said yesterday. group of former soldiers who had “There is no legal impedi- mounted failed coups in the past. ment now to implement Proc- In a conversation with his law- lamation 572. He (Trillanes) had yer, shown on national televi- his day in court and he failed,” sion, Duterte said he had asked Palace spokesman Harry Roque the military to “declassify” in- Jr told reporters. formation about the plot which “The Supreme Court has spo- he said was gathered by a third ken. Senator Trillanes sought to country he did not identify. restrain implementation of the “We have the evidence and we Presidential Proclamation 572. have the conversation provided The Supreme Court denied the by a foreign country sympathetic application for TRO,” he added. to us,” Duterte told Salvador Pan- Roque however noted that elo, presidential legal counsel, in Duterte had previously decided an hour-long conversation. to wait for the courts to issue He said the Communists, a warrant for the arrest of the politicians opposed to him and a former Navy offi cer. group of ex-servicemen, includ- The Department of Justice ing a senator he wanted arrest- (DoJ) had fi led urgent requests ed after revoking his amnesty, for warrants of arrest and hold- “were in constant communica- departure orders against Tril- tion”. Duterte said the “connec- lanes before two Makati courts. tion will be shown, maybe any The requests were denied, with day now”. Branch 150 of the Makati Re- Last week, Duterte withdrew gional Trial Court saying due a 2010 amnesty granted to his process must be followed and most vocal critic, Senator An- Trillanes should be allowed to tonio Trillanes, a former junior challenge naval offi cer who led two unsuc- Roque said: “There is no legal cessful coup attempts 15 years impediment but the president ago, and ordered his arrest. has previously decided that he Trillanes’ party-mate, Con- will await action of the regional gressman Gary Alejano, who also trial court but I do not want Senator Antonio Trillanes shows documents during a press conference at the Senate in Manila, yesterday, hours after President Rodrigo Duterte addressed the nation. took part in the failed coups, de- to pre-empt the president on nied the president’s accusations whatever position he may have ing the amnesty granted to him During deliberations yes- power to silence government resolution that granted amnesty wrong, it’s wrong. You cannot they were plotting his ouster, now. But that was the last posi- in 2011. terday, the high court ordered critics, saying he was giving to Trillanes in 2011. really correct it,” Duterte said. saying they were only doing their tion of the president.” “This is a test case and its respondents Offi ce of the Presi- them “the time of their lives to The amnesty was declared “Look, why? You know be- work as “members of the oppo- Asked if the military would initial decision was a welcome dent, Department of National just talk.” void since the senator suppos- cause the action now taken sition under the checks and bal- arrest Trillanes after the ruling, development because it was a Defence and the Armed Forces In a televised interview with edly failed to comply with two against him by way of a criminal ance system of our democratic Roque said in Filipino: “It is show of their independence, so of the Philippines to comment Chief Presidential Legal Coun- requirements, namely applica- complaint is a very serious one, government”. possible, but we are not saying far,” the opposition senator said. on the petition within 10 days sel Salvador Panelo, Duterte tion for amnesty and admission rebellion. Had it succeeded, it Alejano said the president was it will be done now. There is no “It was a carefully worded deci- from notice. said he had yet to sign a fresh or- of guilt. could have overthrown the gov- trying to “divert the attention more impediment if they want sion by the Supreme Court.” The Offi ce of the Solicitor der to arrest Trillanes or silence The president yesterday in- ernment. So that an act of par- of the people from the present to arrest Senator Trillanes but “They (Supreme Court as- General will represent the re- his critics. sisted that granting an amnesty don, an act of amnesty is always economic woes they themselves I’m not saying that will hap- sociate justices) could have dis- spondents. “The fact that they are doing to Trillanes was “totally wrong” an act of state which cannot be have failed to address”. pen.” missed the petition altogether Only nine justices participat- it every day only goes to show as it was approved by former done by a mere Cabinet mem- Duterte also warned soldiers Trillanes yesterday described but they knew that we presented ed in the deliberations, led by that I am giving them the time Defence secretary Voltaire Gaz- ber. against “colluding” with Tril- as an “initial victory and “test a strong case and the proclama- Chief Justice Teresita de Castro of their lives to just talk and talk min instead of then president Before Trillanes, Sen. Leila lanes’ group as coup rumours case” the Supreme Court deci- tion of. Duterte was or is badly and the ponente of the case, As- and talk,” he added. Benigno Aquino. “On Trillanes’ de Lima, who was also criti- swirled in the capital early yes- sion denying his petition to stop fl awed. But nonetheless they sociate Justice Diosdado Peral- Duterte issued Proclamation case, it’s just only two of them. cal of Duterte, was detained in terday after army trucks and ar- the implementation of Presi- gave him a face-saving way out,” ta. Duterte yesterday dismissed 572 last week, revoking the De- Solicitor General Calida found February 2017 on drug-dealing moured vehicles were seen roll- dential Proclamation 572 revok- he said. allegations that he was using his partment of National Defence’s something very wrong. If that’s charges. ing down Manila’s main roads.

Terrorist UK ‘may recruit more Disaster management panel killed Filipino medical workers’ braces for super typhoon after clash By William Depasupil expect more Filipino nurses applicants are required By Demsey Reyes Dinagat Islands and Lanao del (DA) warned yesterday. Manila Times and doctors to take advan- to attain an International Manila Times Sur, he added. Metro Manila Agriculture Secretary Em- in Sulu tage of the increasing de- English Language Testing will also be affected by the manuel Pinol said rice and corn mand in the UK health care System (IELTS) score of 7.0; southwest monsoon. that are ready for harvest may he sector,” Bello said. pass a two-part competen- he National Disaster Risk Posadas said the Department be affected if the powerful ty- By Al Jacinto (UK) has lifted its Based on the report of the cy examination composed Reduction and Manage- of Social Welfare and Develop- phoon heads for Northern Lu- Manila Times/Zamboanga City Tvisa quota for foreign Philippine Overseas Labour of Computer-Based Test, Tment Council (NDRRMC) ment has provided a standby zon. nurses and doctors, enabling Office in London, 1,446 or which is accessible in vari- yesterday said it is preparing fund for pre-positioning food The DA’s Field Operations more Filipinos to work in the 94.9% of the 1,524 Filipinos ous countries, including at Typhoon Yolanda level for a supplies amounting to P1.7bn. Office, he added, projected overnment troops UK, according to the Depart- deployed to the UK in 2017 the Philippines; and take powerful storm that is still out- Flights from and to Batanes that in a worst-case scenario, clashed with Abu Sayyaf ment of Labour and Employ- were nurses. As of December the Objective Structured side the Philippine Area of Re- Islands have been cancelled at rice crops worth P7.2bn in the GGroup (ASG) terrorists ment (DoLE). 2017, there were 75,787 Fili- Clinical Examinations, sponsibility (PAR). the request of the Provincial Cordillera Region, Ilocos Re- killing one of them in Sulu, of- Labour Secretary Silvestre pinos in the UK, mostly pro- which is done in England. According to Edgar Posadas, Disaster Risk Reduction Man- gion and Cagayan Valley may fi cials said yesterday. Bello said yesterday that the fessionals and highly skilled The Philippines is the NDRRMC spokesman, Civil agement Office. be lost. The fi ghting broke out on British government excluded workers from the healthcare largest exporter of nurses Defense Administrator Ricardo Also, 483,000 hectares of Monday in the village of Bung- foreign nurses and doctors and engineering industries. worldwide, particularly to Jalad instructed the council to “We have learned a lot aft er corn valued at P6.3bn may be kaong in Patikul town after from its Tier 2 migration Meanwhile, the Philip- the United States and Sau- make preparations for Typhoon Yolanda… But this does destroyed by Typhoon Man- soldiers encountered about 60 policy, which limited the pine Overseas Employment di Arabia. In recent years, Mangkhut similar to those it not mean that Mangkhut gkhut. A moderate projection bandits under Abu Sayyaf com- number of visas to 20,700 a Administration (POEA) is in other markets have emerged adopted when Yolanda devas- is of the same magnitude of the DA showed rice crop and manders Almujer Yadah and year since 2011, to meet the the process of discussing the including the UK, Canada, tated the country in 2013. as Yolanda. Well, anything corn fields losses amounting Idang Susukan. country’s increasing demand hybrid modes of deployment the Netherlands, Scotland, “We have learned a lot after could happen because to P3.3bn and P4.2bn, respec- There was no report of mili- for health workers. of Filipino healthcare pro- Ireland and some Middle Yolanda… But this does not it is getting stronger as it tively. The DA field offices in tary casualties, according to Lt “The British government fessionals, based on the pro- East countries. The Philip- mean that Mangkhut is of the approaches the PAR” the three regions have been ad- Col Gerry Besana, a spokesman sees the Philippines as one posed draft bilateral agree- pines deploys at least 18,000 same magnitude as Yolanda. vised to activate their disaster for the Western Mindanao Com- of the best sources of world ment provided by the Health nurses abroad every year, Well, anything could happen The local government of Ba- monitoring offices and operate mand (WestMinCom). class healthcare profession- Education England (HEE). with Saudi Arabia taking in because it is getting stronger as tanes said its supply of subsi- on a 24-hour basis to monitor He said members of the 21st als, particularly nurses. We To work in the UK, nurse- almost 10,000 each year. it approaches the PAR,” Posa- dised rice was running low. effects of the typhoon, Pinol Infantry Battalion (21st IB) were das told reporters in a news The province only has 1,700 said. They were also directed to deployed to the hinterlands of conference. sacks of National Food Author- prepare food supplies to be dis- the town after villagers reported Once Mangkhut enters the ity (NFA) rice, which could last tributed to farmers who may be that the terrorists were holding Philippine Area of Responsibil- until September 27, Governor displaced. several hostages in the area. ity, the Philippine Atmospher- Marilou Cayco said in an inter- Meanwhile, the Department “In the continuing conduct Traffi c personnel hailed for honesty ic, Geophysical and Astronom- view over radio dzMM. of the Interior and Local Gov- of military operations to res- ical Services Administration If Mangkhut prevents ships ernment (DILG) is aiming for cue the remaining kidnap vic- By Neil Jayson Servallos ing an act of honesty. It is indeed worthy of (Pagasa) will name the typhoon from delivering additional “zero casualties” from Mang- tims in Sulu, soldiers under the Manila Times emulation,” Lim said. The three responded Ompong, which could enter the stocks to Batanes, residents khut. 21st Infantry Battalion led by Lt to a road accident at 3:59 am yesterday that country today. will have to buy commercial “We are already used to 16 Col Pagala, encountered more involved a sports utility vehicle driven by the Areas affected by Ompong rice retailing for around P70 to 20 typhoons entering our or less 60 Abu Sayyaf Group he Metro Manila Development Au- victim, Thomas Dichavez, and a truck along would be the provinces of Ca- per kilo in the province, she country… Being a resilient members under Almujer Yadah thority (MMDA) yesterday lauded C5 Road in Taguig. gayan, Isabela, Apayao, Ka- added. Pagasa said Mangkhut community, this should be an- and Idang Susukan in Barangay Tthree Road Emergency personnel for The responders said Dichavez was con- linga, Abra, Ilocos Norte, Ba- was packing 170 kilometres per ticipated. Let’s aim for zero Bungkaong, Patikul, Sulu at 9 returning a sling bag containing bundles of scious but could not speak clearly when they tanes and the Babuyan Group hour winds near the centre and (casualties),” DILG Officer-in- this morning. Due to the supe- US dollars to a road accident victim in Taguig pulled him out of the wrecked SUV. of Islands. Posadas said tel- gusts of up to 210kph. Charge Eduardo Ano also told rior fi repower of the government City. A bystander who fi rst reached the scene ecommunication companies The typhoon was last locat- reporters in a chance interview. forces, the bandits were forced MMDA rescue personnel Mariel Bacho, handed the bag to the responders. have committed to provide ed at 1,845 kilometres east of Ano reminded officials of to withdraw and escape,” Besana Kristopher Concepcion and Sheena Santillan Bacho said it was not the fi rst time that emergency assistance in case of southern Luzon, and was mov- local government units to reported. returned the bag containing $79,500 or more they returned valuables to road accident vic- power outages. ing west at 25kph. be present in their area dur- He said soldiers recovered the than P4mn to the St Luke’s Medical Center in tims. “When we saw the bundles of US dol- Southwest monsoon winds It could wipe out P13.5bn ing disasters. He advised the body of the slain bandit, includ- Taguig City where the victim was rushed. lars inside the bag, it never crossed our mind will be affecting the western worth of rice and corn crops if public to stock food in their ing his M16 automatic rifl e. MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim lauded the to take it. We are also thankful to the male side of Zamboanga Peninsula, it maintained its strength and home because the typhoon is Lt Gen Arnel dela Vega, West- three for their honesty. bystander who found the bag inside the ve- Northern Mindanao and the slammed into rice-producing expected to bring heavy rains MinCom chief, praised the “We commend our employees for display- hicle,” Bacho said. provinces of Siquijor, Surigao regions in Northern Luzon, once it makes its landfall in the soldiers for their bravery. del Norte, Agusan del Norte, the Department of Agriculture country. Gulf Times 22 Wednesday, September 12, 2018 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Daily record lows: Indian rupee remains under toxic pressure

Hitting fresh lows nearly every day this month, the Indian rupee has sunk 11.6% so far this year against the US dollar. A widening current account defi cit, panic reaction to rising US interest rates like in other emerging mar- kets, higher demand for dollars due to improved out- look for the US economy and India’s rising oil imports bill have all contributed to the sustained pressure on the rupee. India has expressed concern about the rupee’s de- cline for the fi rst time. The fi nance ministry and the Reserve Bank of India are in touch and the central bank Since 9/11, the world is intervening in the currency market when needed, a government offi cial told reporters in New Delhi on Monday. The RBI has been selling dollars, albeit in a restrained manner, leading to a drop in India’s foreign exchange reserves to $400bn from a record high of $426bn in has never been the same mid-April. India’s CAD widened to a fi ve-year high, with little By Anthony Harwood lage of Almarj in the Bekaa Valley. dictator had anything to do with the The battle may have been won but respite in store amid a yawning trade gap, according to London Correspondent “I did not bring up my son to hate,” September 11 attacks. He was not an ally the war was far from over. The US and said his mother, Nafi sa. “He was a good, of Bin Laden. Britain had not planned well enough for data on Friday. The defi cit represented 2.4% of gross kind young man, not an evil killer.” But in 2002 president Bush had how Iraq would be ruled after Saddam domestic product, more than the 1.9% seen in the ou can see the fear in the After the interview the family off ered drawn up an ‘Axis of Evil’ list of coun- had gone and even allowed much of the March quarter, according to the RBI. fi reman’s eyes as he climbed Alex a cup of coff ee and she caught tries which America said either sup- Iraqi army to disband. India imports about 80% of its petroleum needs. The the stairs in the North Tower, sight of Nafi sa going outside to draw ported terrorism or sought weapons of What started with pockets of resist- country imposes exorbitant domestic taxes on fuel: Ywhile everyone else was com- water from the well to make the brew. mass destruction (WMDs). ance soon became a bloody insurgency ing down. By the time Alex called me she was al- Blair argued that thousands had been that would last for years, with suicide almost 100% on gasoline and 60% to 70% on diesel. When the picture of Mike Kehoe, ready being violently sick, she presumed killed on 9/11 by planes being fl own into bombings and guerrilla warfare costing The crude import bill wide-eyed and frightened, came into from the water used in her coff ee, and towers. But he said next time the num- hundreds of thousands of lives, not for the world’s fastest- the offi ce nobody knew who he was. would be laid up ill in bed for days. bers could be in the tens of thousands just of the troops but the Iraqi people Down 11.6% so growing oil user surged We didn’t know whether he was Our team of reporters joined US if terrorists were able to get their hands as well. 76% in July from a year killed when the tower collapsed – as editor Andy Lines in New York three on WMDs. A study later estimated that half a far this year, the happened to so many brave fi remen days after the attacks, fl ying to Canada A ‘War on Terror’ was launched that, million people were killed in Iraq be- earlier, highlighting the on that day as they tried to rescue the as America had closed its own airspace as well as driving Bin Laden and Al Qae- tween 2003 and 2011. rupee is Asia’s rupee’s vulnerability. trapped – or if he got out alive. and then driving through the night. da from Afghanistan, involved toppling The anarchy which prevailed in parts With a plethora of Later, Andy Lines, our US editor, Incredible stories were already the Saddam Hussein regime which had of the country when foreign troops de- worst performer problems weighing on managed to trace him from the number emerging. How some fi remen were ruled Iraq for nearly 25 years. parted led to the rise of a new terrorist sentiments, there is not on his helmet to his fi re station on killed by people falling on top of them, Saddam had been playing “cat and organisation, Islamic State of Iraq and against the dollar Staten Island. Arriving there with the forced to jump to escape the heat. mouse” with UN weapons inspectors the Levant (ISIL). much love left for the photograph he gently asked if the fi re- One was the fi re brigade’s padre, for years and the Bush administration, In June 2014, it captured Mosul, Indian currency. man had survived. Mychal Judge, who had gone into the driven by hawkish right-wingers such Iraq’s second city, marking the start India is part of the “Sure, Mike’s asleep upstairs”, he was building to perform the Last Rites to as vice-president Dick Cheney and of a new era of terror as the group, so-called ‘Fragile Five’ club - economies that are heav- told. his dying colleagues. The priest died of Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, later known as Islamic State or ISIS, Andy went upstairs and found Kehoe blunt trauma to the head as the tower decided to remove him. extended its bloody and barbaric rule ily reliant on foreign infl ows and vulnerable to ris- lying on the fl oor. “I just did my job,” collapsed, screaming “God, please make In order to convince the British across the border into Syria and its ing US interest rates. As bonds are being dumped and he said. this end!” as he was hit. parliament to support an American-led headquarters at Raqqa. stocks and currencies weaken in EMs, sentiments have Seventeen years on, my memories of The picture of his body, slumped in a invasion of Iraq, Blair’s government on At one point it controlled a third of weakened on the rupee, Asia’s worst performer this the days and weeks that followed the chair, being carried out of the rubble by September 24, 2002 published what Iraq and a quarter of Syria. September 11 attacks are hazy, but some his colleagues, went around the world. was later known as the “dodgy dossier”. The price of defeating ISIS was year. things stand out as if they were yesterday. As the days and weeks went by, This famously claimed Saddam pos- high: one-in-fi ve coalition air strikes The health of the Indian economy tends to rest on The look on President George W Bush’s funerals took place and many stories of sessed chemical weapons which could on Islamic State targets in Iraq in 2014 two great factors: monsoon rains and oil, says Mihir face as news of the attacks is whispered in bravery and heroism emerged. There be ready within 45 minutes of an order resulted in civilian deaths. Sharma, a Bloomberg columnist. While, these two are his ear as he sat with a group of children were so many victims we had to start to use them. By waging war on terrorists, Bush uncontrollable factors for India, the world’s third-larg- on a visit to a school in Florida. a fi le on each person so that reporters The right-wing newspaper, The Sun, and Blair began something which many The same man, a few days later, could see what had been already been ran a headline: ‘Brits 45 mins from doom’. claim has made the world a much more est oil consumer needs to play to its strength. standing in the rubble of the Twin done when they started their shift. At the Daily Mirror we were a lot dangerous place, with the deaths of India should see a weaker rupee as a boost for its Towers – named ‘Ground Zero’ - sur- Before long the politics was tak- more sceptical and the editor, Piers hundreds of thousands of innocents exporters where growth has been weak in recent years. rounded by burly fi remen, promis- ing over as America sought to build an Morgan, campaigned long and hard making it easy for extremists to radical- A weaker rupee would also off set competition of cheap ing to hunt the terrorists down and international coalition to go after Al against an invasion saying there was no ise young minds. imports from countries like China, which could give “smoke’em out” of their caves in the Qaeda. proof Saddam had WMDs, for which he The ‘War on Terror’ did not end when Afghan mountains, as if he was in some From the outset the British prime was ultimately proved right. Osama bin Laden was hunted down and domestic industries a much-needed boost. cowboy movie. minister Tony Blair was four-square This stance cost us a lot of read- killed by the Americans in May 2011. It has also been pointed out that the RBI should fol- I remember getting our reporter, behind president Bush, addressing ers – at one point we lost 80,000 in It did not end when Islamic State was low a hands-off policy on the rupee. The central bank Alexandra Williams, out of Israel so she Congress soon after 9/11 to talk about fi ve weeks – because many people removed from Mosul and Raqqa. was given a mandate in 2016 to meet its infl ation target could travel to Lebanon to track down the “special relationship” between the who bought the paper had children or It can still be seen every time the one of the terrorist’s families. two countries built up since the days of friends serving in the armed forces. By authorities react to a terrorist attack and maintain growth. Defending the currency at all It was to be the fi rst interview with Churchill and Roosevelt during World attacking the invasion of Iraq in March on the streets of Paris, London or New costs is not part of the brief and can only deplete its any of the families of the 19 hijackers War Two. 2003 it was very diffi cult not to be seen York when so-called “lone wolves” precious forex reserves, according to some economists. and we published it just eight days after Not only was Blair prepared to join to be criticising the troops who were launch their attacks. The government should also help by slashing red tape the atrocities took place. America in toppling the Taliban with an putting their lives on the line. Just as Ziad Jarrah was turned from a and the tariff s that keep Indian companies from inte- Ziad Jarrah had the been at the con- huge aerial bombardment of Afghani- Like the rest of the British press, we “good, kind man” into an “evil killer”, so trols of United Airlines Flight 93 when, stan, which had been granting the 9/11 had our reporters and photographers too are susceptible law abiding citizens grating with global supply chains. it is claimed, Todd Beamer and his fel- mastermind, Osama bin Laden and his embedded with British forces and our still being radicalised into becoming In a wider sense, Indian policy makers need to address low passengers heroically stormed the Al Qaeda terrorist group sanctuary to defence correspondent came ashore murderous terrorists. the structural problems aff ecting the economy. As an cockpit trying to wrest back control of plot their attacks. with the Royal Marines when they As my sister said to me the night of EM, the country should nurture a signifi cant home- the plane causing it to crash into a fi eld But the prime minister also later landed at Umm Qasr. the 9/11 attacks: “The world will never in Pennsylvania, rather than continue to supported a US invasion of Iraq to over- The Mirror was proved right when, af- be the same again.” grown investor base. Longer term, futuristic policy its intended target in Washington. throw Saddam Hussain, which was a ter Saddam was toppled just over a month initiatives and structural reforms can help the country His parents told Alex of their shock lot more controversial and for which he later, it was discovered that there were Anthony Harwood is a former Head reduce its dependence on factors beyond its control. at what their son had done when she was later blamed by the British people. indeed no WMDs in Iraq. It had all been a of News at the Daily Mirror and Foreign spoke to them at their home in the vil- There was no evidence that the Iraqi trick Saddam was playing on the West. Editor at the Daily Mail.

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© 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Front pages of the Mirror on the days following the September 11 World Trade Center attack. Gulf Times Wednesday, September 12, 2018 23 COMMENT Oslo’s bid for Mideast peace fades, 25 years on

By Mike Smith/ AFP including the Palestinian Authority, Jerusalem which has endured. As part of the agreements, the Palestine Liberation Organisation handshake on the White recognised Israel, while Israel House lawn sealing the recognised the PLO as the Palestinians’ fi rst of the landmark Oslo legitimate representative. Aaccords inspired hope that That in itself was a major Israeli-Palestinian peace could fi nally achievement at the time, following be achieved, but 25 years later, those decades of enmity. dreams have faded. In 1994, then Israeli prime minister The September 13 anniversary of Rabin, PLO chairman Arafat and Israeli the 1993 accord, symbolised by the foreign minister Shimon Peres shared handshake between and the . , will not be celebrated But since, Israelis and Palestinians by most Israelis or Palestinians, many have been scarred by further tragedy. of whom see unfulfi lled promises or a Rabin was assassinated by an Israeli process that was fl awed from the start. right-wing extremist in 1995 and the But for those who regard an Israeli fi ve-year transitional period under and Palestinian state existing side- Oslo that was supposed to lead to a by-side as the only viable solution, permanent settlement expired with no salvaging the peace process and the deal in place. achievements of the Oslo accords – a A second Palestinian intifada second followed in 1995 – is more erupted in 2000, and since Hamas took urgent than ever. control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, it has “It was a defi ning moment for fought three wars with Israel. many of us,” said Ghaith al-Omari, a Israeli settlement building has Palestinian student in Jordan at the multiplied in the West Bank – on land time and now a senior fellow at The the Palestinians see as part of their Washington Institute for Near East future state. Policy think-tank. Some 600,000 Israeli settlers “There was a lot of hope – maybe now live there and in annexed east naive hope, but certainly a lot of hope.” Jerusalem, which the Palestinians Omari, who served as an adviser to The September 13 anniversary of the 1993 accord, symbolised by the handshake between Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat, will not be celebrated by most Israelis or want as their capital. Prime Minister Palestinian negotiators in later talks, Palestinians, many of whom see unfulfilled promises or a process that was flawed from the start. Benjamin Netanyahu also now heads has no illusions about the current state what is seen as the most right-wing of the peace process. peace – but has declined to commit Such moves have delighted Israeli Abbas’s Fatah party and the Islamist “Israelis have to get rid of this government in Israel’s history. “On the long-term, there is to a two-state solution, for years the right-wing politicians, who oppose movement Hamas, which controls the leadership, which is unable to move Key members of his coalition want to no solution except the two-state focus of international diplomacy. a Palestinian state and argue that Gaza Strip and refuses to recognise towards peace, unable to adopt a two- see most of the West Bank become part solution,” he told AFP. He has also sided with Israel on the Oslo accords only led to another Israel. state formula as a basis for peace.” of Israel despite warnings that it would “In the short-term, there is core issues in the confl ict, such as Palestinian intifada and more violence. Benny Morris, a renowned Israeli But the Palestinians “have to get rid lead to an “apartheid” arrangement absolutely no chance that it’s going to recognising the disputed city of But the Palestinians, who have historian whose books include of the Hamas leadership, and the Fatah with the Palestinians there. happen.” Jerusalem as its capital, without cut off contact with Trump’s White Righteous Victims: A History of the leadership pretends to want peace, but Morris, who has spent much of his His view is widely shared, with publicly asking for any concessions in House, say Israel failed to abide by Zionist-Arab Confl ict, 1881-2001, doesn’t actually want it”. life documenting the confl ict, still Omari and others pointing to what return. the accords – notably by allowing faults Israel’s drift to the right, but The Oslo accord of 1993 stated that believes the two-state solution is the they see as Israel’s drift to the Yesterday, Palestinian offi cials said hundreds of thousands more settlers believes the Palestinians are not “it is time to put an end to decades of only way forward, but admitted he is political right, a weakened Palestinian they had been informed that the White in the West Bank, which it has prepared to fully accept a two-state confrontation and confl ict” and “strive pessimistic. leadership and US President Donald House was closing their mission in occupied since 1967. solution. to live in peaceful coexistence”. “I really don’t know,” he said. Trump’s moves. Washington over a bid to have Israel The Palestinian leadership, however, “I think something has to happen While it did not specifi cally mention “I used to think it would be achieved. Trump has pledged to reach the prosecuted for war crimes at the remains deeply divided between in the leaderships of the two people,” the creation of a Palestinian state, it led Now I’m not very optimistic about it “ultimate deal” – Israeli-Palestinian International Criminal Court. 83-year-old President Mahmud he said. to mechanisms for self-governance, ever happening.”

The real problem with free trade Three-day forecast TODAY that as trade has become freer, crisis, which cast a spotlight on the encourages excessive extraction, Maximum Temperature : 410c By Jayati Ghosh Minimum Temperature : 320c New Delhi inequality has worsened. disproportionate market power of the pollution, and environmental One major reason for this is that few and the outsize gains going to the degradation – outcomes that they THURSDAY current global rules have enabled a few top 1% of the income distribution. disingenuously present as the “price of Maximum Temperature : 420c or most critics of large fi rms to capture an ever-larger UNCTAD’s research also shows that, development.” Minimum Temperature : 310c globalisation, trade is the share of the value-added from trade. for both developed and developing Consumers also suff er. FRIDAY villain, responsible for Specifi cally, the proliferation countries, integration into global value Yes, major multinationals can off er Maximum Temperature : 410c Fdeepening inequality and of global value chains has enabled chains correlates with declining shares low prices. Minimum Temperature : 320c powerful multinational fi rms to of domestic value-added in exports. rising economic insecurity among But their massive market power Fisherman's forecast workers. control the design, production, and The share of actual production leaves consumers at their mercy in This is the logic driving support distribution of traded goods and in domestic value-added has also every sphere, from manufacturing WARNING declined, as has the share of the Inshore : Expected poor visibility for US President Donald Trump’s services, even as various segments are to fi nancial services to digital on some areas by early escalating tariff s. outsourced to smaller fi rms far from remaining value-added accrued by technologies. morning Why, then, does the message fi nal markets. labour. The more power these companies Offshore : Nil resonate far beyond the United States, These fi rms often benefi t from One potential driver of the latter have, the more they can accrue, as WEATHER Inshore : Misty to foggy at places and even the advanced economies, intellectual property monopolies, trend is that, by drastically enlarging they use their infl uence to shape by early morning, to include workers in many of the reinforced by free trade agreements the global labour supply, the economic regulatory systems, economic policies, becomes hot and rela- developing countries that are typically designed to strengthen corporate integration of countries with large and even tax regimes. tively humid daytime with some clouds at portrayed as globalisation’s main power. populations like China and India has The result is a weakened state that times, humid by night. benefi ciaries? These enable them to collect increased the bargaining power of serves the interests of the few, rather Offshore : Misty with some Free trade is hardly the only – or massive economic rents, especially at capital relative to labour. than protecting the many. clouds. WIND even primary – source of inequality the pre-production (including design) The only signifi cant exception Those who claim that redistribution Inshore : Northwesterly-North- and insecurity worldwide. and post-production (marketing and to these trends is China, which can adequately address this problem easterly 05-10 KT Surprisingly, one enduring branding) stages, where the most has designed industrial policies must address the fact that the “losers” Offshrore : Mainly Southeasterly- problem that provokes far less value-added and profi t is generated. specifi cally to increase the share of of free trade have so far received little, Northeasterly 03-12 KT popular backlash is that finance Meanwhile, increasingly intense domestic value-added and to improve if any, compensation. Visibility : 4-8/2 KM continues to dominate the world competition in the production phase workers’ conditions. Globalisation’s detractors are right economy, generating substantial drives down prices, so that the actual Ironically, it is these measures, that free trade has created serious Offshore : 1-3 FT which have helped off set some of the instability and mounting risks like producers, whether employers or imbalances. Around the region those that led to the 2008 global workers, receive diminishing shares of negative eff ects of free trade, that But a trade war completely misses Weather financial crisis. the value pie. Trump has condemned in his pursuit the point. Weather tomorrow Max/min Moreover, some countries continue The upshot of this system is of policies that will do little to protect The problem is not that free today Max/min Sunny 47/28 to pursue fi scal austerity, instead of that many developing countries workers. trade has led to too much global Baghdad Sunny 44/27 Sunny 46/31 consolidating their budgets by, say, that should have benefi ted from But the implications of allowing a competition, but rather that it has Kuwait City Sunny 46/33 Sunny 41/32 addressing large-scale tax avoidance the globalisation of value chains few global corporations to wield such enabled a few companies to secure Manama Sunny 41/32 M Sunny 34/28 and evasion by major companies and have remained confi ned to low- vast market power extend further. monopolies or near-monopolies. Muscat Sunny 33/28 Sunny 34/22 wealthy individuals. productivity activities that yield For one thing, such concentrated This has given rise to massive Tehran Sunny 37/23 And labour-saving innovations only limited economic value and do economic power makes it more inequalities, blatant rent-seeking, and continue to be developed and not even foster wider technological diffi cult for countries to industrialise, predatory behaviour. deployed, producing “technological upgrading. because local companies cannot Only by addressing these trends can unemployment” among some groups. The forthcoming Trade and expect to compete with established the benefi ts of trade be increased and Some argue that free trade is being Development Report 2018 by the multinationals. equitably shared. – Project Syndicate demonised simply because people do United Nations Conference on Trade For another, it prevents developing not understand what is in their own and Development (UNCTAD) captures countries from reaping the full zJayati Ghosh is professor of best interest. how top fi rms have steadily increased benefi ts of rising commodity prices, Economics at Jawaharlal Nehru But that is both patronising and their share of total exports, and now though they gain no protection from University in New Delhi and member simplistic. dominate global trade. price downturns. of the Independent Commission for Even if free trade is ultimately Ironically, this trend has intensifi ed The ability of large corporations the Reform of International Corporate broadly benefi cial, the fact remains since the 2008 global fi nancial to underprice natural resources also Taxation.

Around the world Weather Weather Live issues today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Athens Sunny 29/21 Sunny 28/20 Beirut Sunny 31/26 Sunny 29/25 Bangkok I T Storms 34/26 S T Storms 33/26 Bottlenecks are everywhere – so how do you beat them? Berlin M Sunny 27/12 M Cloudy 19/11 Cairo Sunny 34/23 Sunny 34/23 By Oliver Burkeman The result was less time standing system it affl icts. So fi xing a bottleneck thinking to the woolly world of Cape Town Showers 14/12 P Cloudy 15/11 New York around, and much less grumbling. delivers vastly disproportionate “creative” work, of which I self- Colombo P Cloudy 30/26 P Cloudy 30/25 Airport luggage is a classic example benefi ts. (I doubt Ching or Goldratt fl atteringly count myself a member. Dhaka T Storm 31/27 T Storm 32/27 of a bottleneck, “a resource that can’t would approve of the Houston airport But the most obvious bottleneck Hong Kong T Storm 28/24 S T Storms 27/24 ome years ago – according to keep up with the demand placed on solution, as it depends on trickery, is brains and their capacity for Istanbul S Showers 24/20 S T Storms 27/20 a story I’m fairly sure is true it”, to borrow a defi nition from The not truly speeding things up). By thinking. So it’s a better idea to focus Jakarta P Cloudy 34/24 P Cloudy 34/24 – the operators of Houston Bottleneck Rules, a recent short book contrast, if you fail to fi x a bottleneck, on safeguarding that resource – to Karachi Cloudy 29/26 Cloudy 29/26 Sairport faced a headache. by Clarke Ching, drawing on the work improving anything else may be a waste get enough sleep, to schedule time London Showers 16/08 M Sunny 19/09 Travellers on one specifi c route kept of the legendary business scholar of time: no point getting your baristas to for deep work – than discovering Manila T Storm 31/25 T Storm 31/26 complaining about how long they had Eli Goldratt. And bottlenecks are take orders twice as fast if the espresso ingenious new ways to (say) blaze Moscow Cloudy 22/15 Showers 19/07 to wait for their luggage. Extra baggage everywhere – from traffi c jams to self- machines take two minutes per coff ee through e-mails. And if you can’t New Delhi M Sunny 34/26 Sunny 34/25 handlers were hired, cutting waiting checkout machines to work meetings regardless. Indeed, “improving” things eliminate all your brain’s limitations, New York S T Storms 26/22 I T Storms 26/22 times to eight minutes, but complaints that proceed, as the saying goes, “at while neglecting bottlenecks can make you can take solace, Ching would say, Paris Sunny 28/14 P Cloudy 22/09 continued unabated. Further study the pace of the slowest mind in the matters worse. If you supercharge your in the fact that you have the right Sao Paulo P Cloudy 23/14 P Cloudy 26/15 revealed that passengers spent one room”. employees’ effi ciency, yet Gerald at head bottleneck. If you do creative work Seoul M Sunny 28/17 P Cloudy 29/18 minute walking to baggage claim, then Ching’s title is a play on words: offi ce still has to approve their every and your bottleneck is something else, Singapore I T Storms 29/26 S T Storms 30/25 seven waiting, prompting some bright he off ers rules for dealing with move, they’ll just spend more time such as your Internet connection, Sydney M Sunny 27/13 Sunny 19/13 spark to devise a solution: switch the bottlenecks, but it’s an implacable feeling frustrated. you’re letting brainpower go to waste. Tokyo Cloudy 24/19 Cloudy 21/20 arrival gate, so the walk took far longer. truth that a bottleneck rules whatever It’s trickier to apply bottleneck – Guardian News and Media Gulf Times 24 Wednesday, September 12, 2018 QATAR

The Class of 2022. Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar holds White Coat ceremony for 49 students he next generation of Qa- riculum but it is what we have all paediatrician that highlighted Turki Almutairi, from Kuwait, tar’s doctors have joined wanted to do for a long time so the importance of values that he one of those who have joined TWeill Cornell Medicine – it will make the next four years advised the students to acquire. the pre-medical programme, Qatar (WCM-Q), donning the very enjoyable.” “Today marks the fi rst step said “Both my mother and my white coat of the physician for Of the new medical students, on your lifelong, exciting voyage aunt are physicians and I was the fi rst time at a special event. 16 are Qatari and of the total that is a medical career. On this inspired to follow in their foot- A total of 49 students were number 25 are men. Countries journey, you will learn how to steps by their dedication to their presented with the coat and from which students have trav- be an exemplary leader. For that patients. their fi rst stethoscope at the elled include South Korea, Ku- you must learn the principles “I’m also very happy to be White Coat ceremony at the wait, Pakistan and Peru. of leadership, ethics, knowl- able to study in the Middle East Hilton Hotel. Dr Javaid Sheikh, dean of edge acquisition, human values, without having to go a long way The ceremony is a symbolic WCM-Q, said, “The physician’s communication skills, how to from home, but also being in a event that marks the point when white coat and stethoscope care for sick people and many new and exciting country.” students begin the four-year are recognised throughout the other critical skills that you The White Coat ceremony is medical curriculum that will world and are symbolic of being will master before you become the fi nale of WCM-Q’s orien- lead to them graduating as doc- a doctor. Putting on the white a wonderful competent doctor,” tation programme, where all of tors. coat for the fi rst time is a mem- noted Dr Janahi. the college’s new students are Sumaya al-Maraghi was one ory that doctors carry with them The ceremony also welcomed introduced to the faculty and of the students who partici- throughout their lives. It is the 60 students who are joining staff , and learn more about the pated, having spent the last two moment when they truly begin WCM-Q’s six-year medical pro- state-of-the-art facilities that years on WCM-Q’s pre-medical to learn the knowledge that will gramme, which integrates two are available to them. programme. allow them to heal the sick and years of pre-medical training The Class of 2022 will now Sumaya said, “The White make a diff erence to their com- Nasser al-Kuwari, a Qatari student, receiving his white coat from Dr Javaid Sheikh. and the four-year medical cur- spend four years training in all Coat ceremony has motivated munity.” riculum. A further 17 students aspects of medicine from faculty everyone on the pre-medical “These trainee doctors are deliver a world-leading health- Dr Ibrahim A Janahi, chair of ogy at Sidra Medicine, gave the have joined WCM-Q’s founda- members based in Qatar and also programme. Everyone is a little Qatar’s future healers. They are care system for Qatar and the medical education and division keynote speech and shared some tion class -- a pathway to entry from Weill Cornell Medicine in nervous about the medical cur- part of the generation that will region,” he added. chief of paediatric pulmonol- stories from his own life as a to the pre-medical programme. New York. Unique Bikes Gallery launched at DHFC The Fire Station hosts public

By Joey Aguilar Staff Reporter talk with international artists

oha Festival City (DHFC) he Fire Station has host- of living in an ongoing investi- to another rich season of vari- launched the Unique Bikes ed a public art talk with gation that explores the ques- ous art and culture activities in DGallery, featuring cus- Tinternational artists tions “How to live?” and “What Qatar,” he added. tomised bikes and classic cars, in Katharina Grosse and Andrea gives life meaning?” The Fire Station sits at the the mall’s Luxury Mode corridor Zittel, as part of Qatar Muse- The talk was moderated by art heart of Doha’s thriving art on Monday in collaboration with ums’ (QM) ongoing eff orts to expert and curator Tom Eccles, community, acting as a plat- the Soul Riders Club. Nine unique connect local and international who is also executive director of form where local talent can be bikes, alongside a grandly embel- artistic communities. The duo the Centre for Curatorial Stud- introduced to their internation- lished 1953 GMC truck and BMW delivered an informal presen- ies and the Hessel Museum of al peers and expand their artis- R60, are attracting hundreds of tation about their work and Art at Bard College. Eccles had tic horizons. mallgoers and automobile enthu- shared insights gathered from previously hosted a number of The Fire Station also provides siasts. their respective artistic jour- QM-supported talks including a gallery space for exhibition “We are displaying our most neys. one held last year with inter- and community interaction; iconic designs, including two Grosse is a contemporary nationally renowned artist Ai while the public spaces host a 21-karat gold-plated handmade German painter known for her Weiwei. cafe, restaurant, bookshop, art bikes. Most of the bikes that are A 1953 GMC truck on display at the gallery. PICTURES: Joey Aguilar brightly coloured acrylic paint- “QM is focused on turning supply shop, a cinema and art- showcased here have been cus- ings and installations. Made Qatar into a vibrant centre for ist facilities. tomised by me or my colleagues,” with an industrial air brush and the arts, culture and education, Earlier this week, Qatari artist Soul Riders Club founding mem- mounds of pigmented dirt, her and that includes exposing the Ahmed al-Jufairi opened a pub- ber Abdulla al-Hajjaj told Gulf work attempts to create a bod- local community to inspiring art lic talk and exhibition, marking Times. ily, psychedelic-like experi- works and thought-provoking his return from a three-month He joined founder Khalid al- ence for the viewer, submerging conversations,” Fire Station di- art residency in Paris. Hamadi at the ribbon-cutting them in a world of colour and rector Khalifa al-Obaidly said. For more information about ceremony to open the gallery, emotion. “We were pleased to host two the Fire Station’s events and which runs until September 30. The works of Zittel encom- artists of Grosse’s and Zittel’s activities, one can visit http:// The multinational bikers’ club pass spaces, objects and modes caliber and are looking forward fi restation.org.qa/ has been organising several char- ity activities and collaborates with the Ministry of Interior’s Traffi c Department to help raise road safety awareness in the country. Al-Hajjaj noted that one of the bikes on display is a win- ner at the recently held European Bike Week in Switzerland, en- thralling attendees at the prestig- ious event. Another featured bike at the gallery, al-Hajjaj said, took a month of “tattooing its whole frame (sans stickers)” while the vintage BMW car was modifi ed. Two of the bikes featured at the event. “When you fi nished the project it is very rewarding, like this truck when you click a button it will lift According to DHFC, the gallery winning lavish exhibits into our (GMC) – it took me a year (to fi n- over and elevate itself and runs provides an opportunity for fam- mall,” DHFC’s senior marketing ish) and if you look at it, you will very well with a brand-new 2016 ilies and automobile enthusiasts manager May Marzooq said in a wonder how to drive this vehicle engine,” al-Hajjaj explained. to “see and embrace the crafts- press statement. because it is too low,” he pointed He added that they want manship involved in assembling “We are constantly seeking to out. to showcase their special and the luxury bikes and cars”. “We support the local community of “So we start to explain how we award-winning bikes and cars at are honoured and proud to be artisans, displaying local herit- made it, and this seems not driv- the gallery, including the trophies able to support our local entre- age and work is something that is able, but it is, it has an airbag, the group received. preneurs and bring their award- always on our agenda,” she added. The art talk is part of Qatar Museums’ eff orts to connect local and international artistic communities.