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MONDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 10965 October 8, 2018 Moharram 28, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Enable wins Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Qatar’s trade

In brief with countries

QATAR | Infrastructure taking part in Lusail Expressway wins Best Project award Lusail Expressway has won the IPEC totalled Engineering News Record (ENR) award for 2018 Global Best Project in the Roads/Highways category. The projects that have won the award are considered examples of QR20bn in ’17 innovation, safety, performance. They overcame challenges during their designing and building phases, atar’s trade volume with 11 Partnerships (PPP) opportunities, and met the construction quality countries that are participat- among others. with a special emphasis on the Qing in the International Prod- The conference will also be a launch- diversity of the global project teams ucts Exhibition and Conference (IPEC), pad for new projects, initiatives, and and their collaboration. Page 3 His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani (centre) presents the trophy to Prince Saud bin Khalid bin Abdullah al-Saud which begins today, totalled nearly strategies that serve Qatar’s National (right), son of Prince Khalid bin Abdullah bin Abdulrahman al-Saud, Enable’s owner, as French Agriculture Minister Stephane QR20bn in 2017, offi cial fi gures show. Vision and promote mutually-benefi - EAST ASIA | Disaster Travert looks on after the filly won the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp racecourse in Paris yesterday. Sport The three-day event is being held cial economic co-operation. Pages 1, 2 under the patronage of HE the Prime The event will highlight the most Indonesia tsunami death Minister and Minister of Interior important investment opportunities toll climbs to 1,763 Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa and explore ways to overcome the chal- Indonesia’s disaster agency said that al-Thani, at the Doha Exhibition and lenges of expanding investments in the the death toll from the earthquake Convention Centre. region. and tsunami that struck Sulawesi The participating countries are; Organisers said the exhibition will island has risen to 1,763, with more Turkey (two-way trade volume of open up new horizons for diverse busi- than 5,000 feared missing. The Kahramaa set to award QR4.9bn), Pakistan (QR5.86bn), Oman nesses in Qatar and allow investors di- agency said that off icials are trying (QR4bn), Kuwait (QR3bn), Jordan rect access to projects in the country. A to confirm the number still missing (QR1.07bn), Iran (QR357mn), Morocco large number of politicians, business in several villages obliterated when (QR330.5mn), Tunisia (QR208.8mn), leaders and government offi cials from the quake caused loose soil to liquefy, Algeria (QR166.5mn), Tajikistan across the Middle East and North Afri- sucking houses into deep mud and solar power plant tender (QR1.5mn) and Azerbaijan (QR9.5mn). ca (Mena) will participate in the event. burying occupants. The number of IPEC will host a specialised confer- The exhibition will host a Qatari pa- fatalities is likely to increase once the ence that brings together representa- vilion that will bring together repre- level of damage has been assessed in QNA power plant, with a total capacity tives of participating countries, busi- sentatives of several ministries and gov- rural areas. Off icials also said they will Doha of at least 700MW. ness associations, private business ernment bodies as well as a number of also stop searching for the bodies of The project will be based on Public- owners, and entrepreneurs, with Qatari local companies supervised by the Qatar victims among the ruins of buildings. Private Partnership (PPP) concept for private and public bodies, to examine Chamber and Qatar Development Bank. Page 13 atar General Electricity and the encouragement of investment in Qatar’s achievements, projects, and The Ministry of Economy and Com- Water Corp (Kahramaa) an- large-scale projects. plans towards the Qatar National Vi- merce is among the major participants AMERICA | Accident Qnounced a public tender to The project is structured as Build sion 2030. of IPEC 2018. The ministry’s par- establish Qatar’s fi rst large-scale solar Own Operate Transfer (BOOT) for 25 The conference will touch upon ticipation refl ects Qatar’s keenness to 20 killed in upstate Photovoltaic (PV) power plant will be years, where the ownership will be fundamental topics including; the re- strengthen economic co-operation New York limo horror released before 2018-end. transferred to Kahramaa after the end cently drafted National Development and bolster bilateral trade with its key Twenty people have been killed after The President of Kahramaa Eng. of the term. Strategy 2017-2022, requirements to partners around the world while con- a limousine careened out of control Essa Hilal al-Kuwari announced in a Siraj Power Energy participates in the facilitate investment in Qatar, initia- tributing to eff orts to bolster the role of in what investigators described press release that the corporation at- project as a strategic national investor. tives and agreements with interna- the Qatari private sector in building ef- yesterday as the most deadly tracted international companies and Under this project, competitive tional partners, as well as the Qatari fective partnerships with counterparts transportation accident in the consortiums with wide experience in power generation prices are expected market’s benefits and Public Private around the world. To Page 9 United States for nearly a decade. the development of solar plants, and Eng. Essa Hilal al-Kuwari to save natural gas used in traditional All 18 occupants of the SUV-style 16 international developers have been power generation, along with reduc- stretch limo died along with two prequalifi ed. “As a first stage, 350MW will be ing carbon emissions and preserving pedestrians on Saturday afternoon He added that the project comes in connected to the grid by 2020 in the environment. in upstate New York, police deputy implementation of the directives of achievement of the strategic objec- It is one of the objectives of the na- superintendent Christopher Fiore His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim tive set in Qatar National Develop- tional programme for conservation told a news conference. He said bin Hamad al-Thani to reduce de- ment Strategy (QNDS) 2018-2022,” and energy effi ciency “Tarsheed” for Erdogan closely the 2001 Ford Excursion had pendence on oil and gas to achieve the he said. the reduction of 7% of harmful carbon failed to stop at an intersection economic diversity, and in line with He added that a 10sq km plot of emissions in Qatar. and continued into a parking lot, the economic and environmental de- land located in west of Doha near Since it was launched by Kahramaa ultimately crashing into a parked velopment pillars of Qatar National Al-Kharsaah area has been allotted in 2012, Tarsheed managed to reduce following case of car. Page 12 Vision 2030. for the construction of the solar 10.6 tons of emissions. To Page 2 Saudi journalist

QRCS joins Qatari peers to launch Gaza projects Reuters Ankara atar Red Crescent Society for conducting surveys of hearing dis- (QRCS) has joined hands with order treatment among infants from 0 urkish President Recep Tayy- Qa number of Qatari institutions to 5 years of age, estimated at 50,000 ip Erdogan said yesterday he in a fundraising campaign supervised children per year, will be made available. Twas closely following the case by the Regulatory Authority for Char- Some 100 medical professionals of missing Saudi journalist Jamal itable Activities (RACA) to mobilise will also be trained in early detection Khashoggi after Turkish offi cials said national and international support for of hearing disability and hearing aids they believed he had been killed at the Gaza. will be provided for 600 children, Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Under the theme of “Gaza Deserves apart from cochlear implants for 300 Erdogan told reporters that authori- to Live,” the drive is aimed at pushing children found to have congenital ties were examining camera footage forward the development and recon- hearing disability. The expected budg- and airport records as part of their struction of Gaza, whose 2mn popu- et amounts to QR24,375,000. investigation into the disappearance lation live in a severe calamity amid Part of QRCS’ projects include rain- last week of Khashoggi, who had been Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi blockade and closure of border cross- Off icials announcing the initiative in Doha. water collection ponds in western increasingly critical of Saudi Arabia’s ings for 10 years now. Khan Younus, which will serve 80,000 rulers. was deliberately killed inside the con- The participating organisations are QRCS’ representation mission in Gaza ment will cost QR1,470,500. population (QR2,182,700); rainwater A former newspaper editor in Saudi sulate, a view echoed by one of Erdog- QRCS, Qatar Charity, Silatech, and Edu- outlined a plan of major development Some 10 dialysis machines for the collection and purifi cation systems Arabia and adviser to its former head of an’s advisers, Yasin Aktay, who is also a cation Above All Foundation. Each or- projects totalling QR52mn in value. Al-Shifaa Hospital’s Dialysis Unit, at a (QR11,362,450) to secure irrigation intelligence, Khashoggi left the coun- friend of the Saudi journalist. ganisation will do some aspects of hu- One of the projects include multi- cost of QR1,084,500, will also be pur- and household water for 227,294 peo- try last year saying he feared retribu- “My sense is that he has been killed... manitarian intervention based on its fi eld specialty surgical operations (open chased, as well as basic medicines for ple; sewage network in the neighbour- tion for his criticism of Saudi policy in in the consulate,” Aktay said. of specialty and the needs of the people of heart surgery, urology, haematology 650 kidney patients for six months, at hood of the sewage pumping station to the Yemen war and its crackdown on Erdogan said he was personally fol- Gaza. and oncology, preterm birth), which a cost of QR867,300. serve 150,000 people (QR2,208,250); dissent. lowing the issue, without saying what he QRCS will focus on the healthcare will benefi t a total of 11,960 patients at QRCS will also take care of spare and development of the solid medical On Tuesday he entered the Saudi believed had happened to Khashoggi. and water and sanitation sectors, two a cost of more than QR4mn. parts for ambulance vehicles and pow- waste management system at 32 pri- consulate in Istanbul to get documents “Entries and exits into the em- mandates in which it has a good track QRCS will also donate ultrasound er generators, at a cost of QR420,000, mary healthcare clinics (13 clinics of for his forthcoming marriage. bassy, airport transits and all camera record whether in Gaza or in other machines for 17 health primary in addition to medicines and fuel for the United Nations Relief and Works Saudi offi cials say he left shortly af- records are being looked at and fol- countries. healthcare centres, which will be used hospitals at a cost of QR4,200,000. Agency for Palestine Refugees in the terwards but his fi ancee, who was wait- lowed. We want to swiftly get results,” With close co-ordination with local in maternal, paediatric, and health These provisions will serve a popula- Near East and two departments of the ing outside, said he never came out. he said, adding without explanation: and international partners and strong reproduction care, with more than tion of 30,000 in the target areas. Al-Shifaa Hospital). The development Two Turkish sources told Reuters “My expectation is still positive.” relations with the local community, 55,000 benefi ciaries. The new equip- Equipment for 25 health centres used process will need QR722,700 funding. Turkish authorities believe Khashoggi To Page 10 Gulf Times 2 Monday, October 8, 2018 QATAR

MEC spots Minister honours Qatar Threat 51 violations he inspection campaign held by representatives Tfrom the Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) in August, resulted in seizure and issuance of 51 violations. Hunters 2018 contest winners In a statement, the ministry explained that the irregulari- E the Minister of Trans- tection, computer forensics and ties varied between work of a port and Communica- malware analysis. sales promotion without obtain- Htions Jassim Seif Ahmed The competition consisted of ing the necessary licence from al-Sulaiti yesterday rewarded four phases. In the Registration the competent department, the the winners of the top three and Pre-Selection phase, inter- non-use of Arabic language in positions in the Qatar Threat ested participants were invited the data and advertisements re- Hunters 2018 Competition. to join the competition until lated to the item, the failure to This came at a special event August 7. comply with the prices of the al- held at the Offi ce of the Min- In the second phase, the Na- gebraic publication of vegetables ister in the presence of Khalid tional Semi-Finals, which took and fruits, and the description of al-Hashmi, assistant undersec- place in mid-August, a webpage the item or advertisement or dis- retary of cyber security at the was dedicated for each participat- played in a manner that contains MoTC, and team members of ing Arab country on the competi- false or deceptive data and does the Qatar Computer Emergency tion’s main website for competi- not co-operate with the judicial Response Team (Q-Cert). tors from inside each country. control offi cer. Jasem al-Sadi received the The third phase was the Na- The penalties included ad- best ‘Attacker’ award, while tional Final Round, which took ministrative closure and mon- Ahmed Aziz bagged the best place in September. In that etary fi nes which vary between ‘Defender’ award and Muath phase, Q-Cert hosted sev- QR5,000 and QR30,000 accord- Mushtaha won the best eral qualifi ed contestants who ing to the laws and decisions ‘Responder’ award. competed at the Qatar national governing the work of consumer In remarks at the event, the level. This resulted in the top protection departments. Minister said, “I am proud to three winners who were award- The inspections are part of honour these talented young ed yesterday and who would the ministry’s keenness to regu- people in the fi eld of cyberse- HE Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti and off icials with the winners. compete regionally at the level late and monitor the markets curity. There is no doubt that of Arab countries at an event to and commercial activities in the without hard work, tenacity to sharpen their skills, equip skills in the realm of cybersecurity of cybersecurity profession- for fi nding new cybersecu- be held later this month via the country with the aim of control- and learning more about infor- them with latest defence and to join the competition. als and specialists and harness rity talents and to foster the competition portal, where par- ling prices and detecting viola- mation security, they could not security tools and technologies, The national competition, their capabilities for competing development of the required ticipants from all Arab coun- tions to protect consumer rights. have reached this level of skill and raise the capabilities of the Qatar Threat Hunters 2018, is regionally and globally. cybersecurity competencies. tries would compete for the fi rst The ministry confi rmed it will and won today’s awards.” new generations in terms of part of the Arab Threat Hunter As the cybersecurity skills The competition revolves three awards. intensify its inspection cam- He said through Q-CERT, tracking, detecting and resolv- competition organised by ITU- gap continues to grow in both around several questions and Competition winners will be paigns to control such practices the MoTC “places considerable ing all types of cyber threats and ARCC for the Arab youth to de- the private and public sectors, challenges on cybersecurity awarded during the Regional and refer all violators to the en- attention on qualifying more incidents.” velop their skills and talents in cybersecurity competitions domains such as ethical hack- Cybersecurity Week 2018 for tities concerned to take appro- national professionals in the In mid-July, the MoTC had in- the fi eld. The aim is to qualify have been recognised world- ing, system exploitation, ICT the Arab Region in Kuwait, to be priate measures against them to fi eld of cybersecurity. We aim vited all Qatari talents with unique and prepare the next generation wide as an eff ective method infrastructure and system pro- held from October 21 to 25. protect the consumer. (QNA) Indonesian agency receives Qatari aid

ndonesia’s National Agency for Disaster Countermeas- Iure (BNPB) has received the Qatari aid which was directed by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to be sent to those aff ected by the earthquake and tsunami in the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. A C17 aircraft of the Amiri Air Force arrived yesterday morning in Sultan Aji Muhamad Sulaiman Airport in Balikpapan, coming from Halim Perdanakusuma In- ternational Airport, east of the HE Hamad bin Nasser al-Misned during a meeting with ambassador Ajay Sharma. Indonesian capital of Jakarta, carrying the Qatari aid which in- cluded medical supplies, fi rst aid and tents, accompanied by a group of the international search and Qatar and UK to co-operate rescue team of Lekhwiya which handed over the aid to the Indo- nesian side, represented by the Qatari and BNPB off icials shake hands after the handover of aid material. BNPB which is concerned with in fi ght against corruption distributing aid to those aff ected. and humanitarian aids for ar- headed by Lekhwiya led the concerned authorities to deliver The standing committee for eas affl icted by catastrophes in task of preparing relief materi- them to the aff ected rescue and relief operations brotherly and friendly countries als and coordinating with the areas. (QNA) he Administrative Control importance of strengthening the with state agencies, and the Au- and Transparency Au- co-operation between the two thority’s interest in benefi ting Tthority Chairman HE Ha- countries in the areas of integ- from the UK’s experience in im- mad bin Nasser al-Misned met rity and transparency through plementing the anti-corruption with the United Kingdom am- training courses and conferenc- strategy. bassador to Qatar, Ajay Sharma. es, especially since the UK has Ambassador Sharma wel- ‘Screen for Life’ campaign to mark During the meeting, they dis- extensive experience in the fi ght comed the co-operation with cussed the bilateral relations against corruption. the Administrative Control and between Qatar and the UK and They also reviewed the Transparency Authority and their importance in strengthen- achievements of the administra- off ered to provide it with anti- breast cancer awareness month ing the area of transparency and tive oversight and transparency corruption and bribery pre- fi ght against corruption. authority, the future plan of ac- vention legislations applied in Screen for Life’, National cern the kids have, and the level The campaign will target year’s community outreach The chairman stressed the tion, the areas of co-operation the UK. (QNA) Breast and Bowel Cancer of awareness they have on the women aged 45-69, reminding initiative aims at engaging the ‘Screening programme, has health of their mothers. them not to delay and book a younger generation, so they launched its annual national The month-long campaign screening appointment at one will encourage their mothers to Breast Cancer Awareness cam- will incorporate a compre- of the three dedicated screening take action and get screened for paign to mark global Breast hensive range of activities in- suites, at Al Wakrah, Leabaib breast cancer. This is a step to- Cancer Awareness Month 2018. cluding intensive educational and Rawdat Al Khail Health wards raising awareness of the Guidance manuals Countryman The campaign’s tagline “Your lectures addressed to private Centres, by contacting the call whole community, so they can Life is Precious, Get Screened” and governmental entities, ac- centre at 8001112. play an active role in encour- is a message from the children tivation booths in major malls “Raising awareness of breast aging people to get screened,” on laws to be issued models of to their mothers, urging them in Qatar, distribution of educa- and bowel cancer and the said Dr Shaikha Abu Shaikha, to get screened for breast can- tional and awareness materials ‘Screen For Life’ objectives is manager, cancer programme at by year-end Mini recalled cer. It shows the love and con- in all PHCC health centres. a year-round goal for us. This PHCC. he Legal and Judicial Centre, with the participation he Ministry of Economy Studies Centre of the of Dr Faraj al-Boushi, the legal and Commerce (MEC), TMinistry of Justice has adviser at the centre. Tin collaboration with Al- started work on the second Commenting on the occa- fardan Automobiles, has an- series of guidance manuals sion, Legal and Judicial Stud- nounced the recall of Mini Coun- for Qatari laws, which in- ies Centre director Fatma tryman models of 2017-2018 clude the guide to real estate Abdulaziz Bilal said that the because the fuel pump protective lease law and settlement of centre took the responsibility plate is not fi tted. rental disputes, and a guide of explaining the law of retire- The MEC said the recall cam- to judicial control and cheque ment and pensions because paign comes within the frame- provisions. The manuals will of its importance for a large work of its ongoing eff orts to be issued before the end of segment of society. protect consumers and ensure this year. She stressed that the cen- that automobile dealers fol- The series aims at creating tre will continue its eff orts low up on vehicles’ defects and a distinctive Qatari jurispru- in spreading awareness of repair them. dence that is in line with the Qatar’s legal system through The MEC said that it will co- relentless development of ju- preparing distinguished legal ordinate with the dealer to fol- rists in the world through the guidance manuals and imple- low up on the maintenance and issuance of legal and aware- menting the initiative of ex- repair works and will commu- ness books and references and plaining the Qatari legislation. nicate with customers to ensure guidance manuals. The centre, in the frame- that the necessary repairs are In this context, the centre is work of its plan to spread le- carried out. working on issuing the second gal culture and simplify the The MEC has urged all cus- series of an initiative to ex- understanding of the legal tomers to report any violations plain the Qatari legislation. A text for all sectors of society, to its Consumer Protection and book explaining law no. (24) of has issued a set of guidance Anti-Commercial Fraud De- 2002 regarding retirement and manuals, including the guide partment through the following pensions and its amendments to the works of expertise in channels: Call centre: 16001, will be issued soon. The book the Qatari law, the guide to the e-mail: [email protected], Twit- was prepared by Haya Fahad settlement of labour disputes ter: @MEC_Qatar, Instagram: al-Buainain, legal expert at law, and the guide to combat- MEC_Qatar, MEC mobile app for the Legal and Judicial Studies ing cybercrime law. (QNA) Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar Gulf Times Monday, October 8, 2018 3 QATAR Lusail Expressway wins Best Project award

usail Expressway has won it is also responsible for catego- the Engineering News rising and identifying the levels LRecord (ENR) award for of consultants and contractors 2018 Global Best Project in the globally. Roads/Highways category. The Lusail Expressway project The projects that have won the is marked by the 5/6 Interchange, award are considered examples which has the highest landmark of innovation, safety, perform- in Qatar, 100m-high arches. The ance. They overcame challenges arches consist of 54 large steel during their designing and build- pieces, which created a great ing phases, and met the con- engineering challenge starting struction quality with a special with the design of the unique in- emphasis on the diversity of the tertwined and tilted arches that global project teams and their needed extreme accuracy to be collaboration. The judges also installed correctly, to the great considered how the project has size of the arches and their lean- benefi ted the local community. ing angle. A panel of industry experts, Its architectural character is specialised in evaluating road inspired by the ancient Qatari projects, has selected the winners heritage and embodies a com- of the ENR’s 6th annual Global bination of Qatar’s past and fu- Best Projects competition from ture, given that Lusail is the main among 23 projects spread over expressway that runs along the 14 countries. Engineer Youssef waterfront that stretches to the Engineer Youssef al-Emadi and Engineer Bilal Jayyousi at the award al-Emadi, manager of the High- An aerial view of the 5/6 interchange, featuring the highest landmark in Qatar, 100m-high arches. north of Doha. ceremony in New York. ways Department, received the Lusail Expressway is one of the award in a ceremony in New York zil-Sao Paulo, Australia-Sydney, mad al-Thani, His Highness the such a reputable global award.” most important projects imple- commercial and business facili- The design focuses on en- City. In attendance were several Canada-Toronto and the United Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah The ENR is an international mented by Ashghal’s Express- ties. The project extends 5.5km hancing pedestrian safety and international organisations and States-San Francisco and Wash- bin Hamad al-Thani and HE organisation based in New York way programme. It is located in and includes three major inter- promoting a healthy lifestyle companies that represented win- ington. the Prime Minister and Interior and specialises in evaluating en- a vital area linking Doha to Lusail sections: the Pearl Intersection, through the creation of a 6.5km- ning projects in other categories, On the occasion, al-Emadi Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin gineering projects worldwide, City and includes many destina- Onaiza Intersection and the 5/6 long separate pedestrian and bi- including metros, bridges and said: “I want to dedicate this Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani. I whether in the design or the con- tions from the Pearl-Qatar in the Intersection, as well as two ma- cycle paths. Lusail Expressway tunnels from countries and cit- achievement to our govern- also want to thank each of them struction stage. Its judges come north to Katara and the Diplo- rine bridges on the southern and has reduced the travel time be- ies including Hong Kong, the ment, led by His Highness the for their continuous support from diff erent countries includ- matic Area, and a large number northern canals near the Pearl tween West Bay and the Pearl by United Kingdom-London, Bra- Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- and directives that led us to win ing the US, Europe and Asia and of residential neighbourhoods, and Lusail City. 65%.

SalamAir records ‘high demand’ for Qatar fl ights

By Peter Alagos route. Its Qatar headquarters is located tween our organisation and our part- venient timing, aff ordable travel al- Business Reporter at Building 20, Al Khaldiya Street, Na- ners in Doha,” Ahmed said. ternatives, and connectivity to a wider jma. He added: “With increasing air traf- network of destinations, the airline SalamAir, Oman’s fi rst budget air- fi c and economic activity between Qa- said. Guests can now book their tickets alamAir has recorded higher line, launched in November 2017 has tar and Oman, the demand for more on www.SalamAir.com demand for “convenient” and fi ve weekly fl ights from Muscat In- convenient and aff ordable alternative The airline added that the opening S“aff ordable” travel alternatives ternational Airport to Hamad Inter- is higher than ever and we are proud to of the Doha offi ce complements its following increased air traffi c activity national Airport. The success of the be meeting demand with our off ering. continued expansion that has resulted between Qatar and Oman, according service stemmed from strong interest “As an agile operator we will continue in increasing its frequency from and to to the airline’s CEO, captain Mohamed from passengers seeking a new route to look at how we enhance this service Doha to reach 14 fl ights a week and the Ahmed. between the two cities, as well as those which is a giant step towards achieving addition of four new destinations: Na- Ahmed made the statement in view using it as an onward connection. our vision of increasing connectivity jaf, Khartoum, Dhaka, and Kathman- of yesterday’s unveiling of SalamAir’s “The inauguration of this offi ce is a to thriving tourism and commercial du. The airline also operates fl ights to new Doha offi ce, which was opened to landmark moment in the ongoing pro- hubs in the region.” Muscat, Salalah, Sohar, Dubai, Doha, Omani ambassador Najib bin Yahya al-Balushi joins other dignitaries at the cake-cutting meet the rapid growth and continued gression and expansion of SalamAir The new route is attracting strong Jeddah, Karachi, Multan, Sialkot, and ceremony during the opening of SalamAir’s new Doha off ice yesterday. rise in interest for the Muscat-Doha and emphasises the strong bond be- interest because it off ers guests con- Shiraz. PICTURE: Thajudheen

Gulf Times Monday, October 8, 2018 5 QATAR

Ecuador Amir’s Ecuador visit historic team to play friendly

host of activities is to be held in Doha as part of the event, says ambassador AEcuadorian Week celebra- tions under the aegis of the Latin By Ramesh Mathew ments were inked during His further co-operation in such countries understand the culture American country’s embassy. Staff Reporter Highness the Amir’s visit. areas as art, culture, and herit- of each other better, besides as- While informing this yesterday, A-Baki recalled the Qatar del- age,” she said while informing sisting them to acquire skills in Ecuador ambassador Ivonne A- egation comprised seven minis- that the former ‘key exchanging’ their respective languages”. Baki said one of the major attrac- he visit of His Highness ters besides many other senior to ink the agreement was signed Answering another query, she tions of the celebrations would be the Amir Sheikh Tamim government offi cials and promi- between the His Highness the said Ecuador is exporting some the visit of her country’s national Tbin Hamad al-Thani to nent Qatari nationals. “The visit Amir and Ecuador’s President quantities of vegetables to Qa- football team to play a friendly Ecuador earlier this month was was a historic event.” Lenin Moreno. tar, besides about half a million match against the Qatari national ‘the greatest of its kind ever The ambassador said the When queried about the pieces of roses every month. team. made by a head of state from the members of the delegation were progress in the deliberations for “However, we expressed our “Our national team is arriving Middle East to the Latin Ameri- happy with the outcomes of their Qatar assisting Ecuador to build interest to export more quanti- today and they will play against can country’, ambassador Ivonne visit and more developments are a new petroleum refi nery, A- ties of vegetables to this country their Qatari counterparts at Al A-Baki said yesterday. on the anvil in the bilateral rela- Baki said more headway would during our discussions with the Sadd Stadium on October 12,” the She was addressing a press tions between the two countries. be made on the issue later this Qatari offi cials,” said A-Baki. envoy said, adding that another conference in Doha on her re- A-Baki hoped there could year when the protocol for pro- The envoy also disclosed about friendly match featuring Ecuador turn from the Ecuadorian capi- be direct airline connectiv- tecting the investments from Ecuador’s plans to donate to Qa- and Oman teams would be played tal Quito, where she had gone to ity between Quito and Qatar Qatar would be formalised by tar some of the invaluable paint- at Duhail Stadium on October 16. oversee the arrangements prior sooner than later as her coun- Ecuador parliament. ings by Oswaldo Guayasamin, The Ecuadorians played three to the visit of His Highness the try is strategically located close She said Ecuador’s refi ning re- one of the greatest artists of the editions of the FIFA World Cup in Amir. to the Equator and is accessible quirements are growing as the Latin America, who passed away 2002, 2006 and 2014. “The visit will be remembered and reachable for other South country is now transporting the in 1999. Guayasamin’s paint- On October 15, a musical con- by the present generation of Ec- American nations. crude to other destinations for re- ings, focusing on the suff erings cert “A soul for peace” would be uadorians as the “greatest and “There were discussions to fi ning purposes. “The only existing of native Ecuadorians during the held at St Regis Doha to com- best ever” made by a leader from explore the possibility of operat- refi nery in Ecuador is too old and Spanish conquest, are displayed memorate the 20th anniversary of this region. I am really proud of ing direct fl ights even during the cannot handle our refi ning require- at some of the major cities, the end of a nearly three-year war being a facilitator to the visit of visit of the Qatari delegation in ments on its own. Ecuador needs a including Madrid, she said. between Ecuador and Peru. One such a signifi cantly higher level of Quito,” she said while recalling larger refi nery to meet its produc- She remembered that dur- of the topmost Ecuadorian sing- delegation from the Arab region that Qatar Airways has about 35 Ecuador ambassador Ivanne A-Baki speaking at a press conference tion of 550,000 barrels a day.” ing their visit to the Presidential ers would perform at the event, to my country,” said A-Baki. pilots from her country. yesterday. PICTURE: Ram Chand The ambassador also in- Palace, His Highness the Amir she said. The bilateral relations be- She said the introduction of formed that there would be more and members of the delegation A traditional Ecuadorian tween Qatar and Ecuador have direct fl ights to Quito would to attract several football fans the cities of Doha and Quito. educational exchanges between expressed their happiness at the food festival would be held on grown manifold in the last few facilitate easy travel for a large during the FIFA 2022 World Cup. “Such a tie-up would facilitate students of Qatar and those in mastery and artistry of indigenous Wednesday, at St Regis Doha, fea- years and they are bound to grow number of South Americans in The ambassador said among more travel and movement of her country and an agreement Ecuadorians, well-known for turing chefs fl own in for the oc- further, said the envoy while in- the neighbouring countries of the agreements signed during people between the two places to facilitate this was signed. “It their abilities to weave some of the casion from the South American forming that a number of agree- Ecuador besides helping Qatar the visit was one on twinning and there are possibilities for would help students of both the world’s best shawls and hats. country. QFFD, EAA attend back-to-school event at UN Ooredoo wins Dell EMC ‘Cloud Innovator of the Year’ award

oredoo has won the prestig- ious ‘Cloud Innovator of the OYear’ award by cloud infra- structure and innovative business solutions provider Dell EMC, it was announced yesterday. Qatar’s business leaders are rapidly adopting Ooredoo’s hybrid cloud so- lutions that optimise their business applications on public and private clouds. Moving to the cloud can en- able organisations to optimise costs, foster collaboration, and drive digital business innovation. Ooredoo COO Yousuf Abdulla al-Kubaisi said, “Winning the Dell EMC’s Cloud Innovator of the Year Award is a remarkable achievement that underlines Ooredoo’s respon- sibility to further expand our cloud service off erings to meet our business customers’ needs. With Dell EMC’s cloud innovations, our business customers can enhance their stor- age, networking, and virtualisation Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) and Education Above All (EAA) Foundation have participated in a back-to-school to scale up and succeed in the digital ceremony held by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to celebrate support economy.” from Qatar. The $50mn contribution to the agency’s education programme in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Gaza and the As part of the judging panel, Dell Ooredoo chief business off icer Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad bin Nasser al-Thani West Bank was a vital component in the decision to open UNRWA schools without delay this August. The ceremony, EMC praised Ooredoo for being receiving the award from Dell EMC president Europe, Middle East and Africa held at the UNRWA Baqa’a Basic Boys’ School, aff irmed the importance of the right to education for Palestine refugees, the region’s fi rst telecommunica- Aongus Hegarty. the agency said in a report. The ceremony, attended by QFFD managing director Khalifa bin Jassim al-Kuwari, United tions provider that will off er Micro- Nations resident humanitarian co-ordinator Anders Pedersen, deputy head of the Turkish mission to Jordan Orkun Ersoy soft Azure Stack hybrid cloud solu- ‘Cloud Innovator of the Year’ award. the in-depth partner training and (in the capacity of current UNRWA Advisory Commission chair) and Muwafaq Abdul Ruhman Shreideh from the Depart- tions through the Qatar Data Centre. “Qatar’s business customers are marketing resources that allow the ment of Palestinian Aff airs, is part of a series of events tailored to celebrate the right to education for Palestine refugees, Ooredoo is seeing strong business gaining new levels of agility, fl ex- company to better meet the digital implemented by UNRWA in recognition of the generous support provided by Qatar to the agency for 2018. demand for hyper-converged infra- ibility, and access, and will be able business needs of its customers. structure solutions that run on Azure to scale their digital transformation Business customers can lever- Stack, Redhat, and VMware digital to new heights and transform citizen age the Ooredoo Advantage, making platforms. and customer experiences across the Ooredoo “Best for Business”, thanks Dell EMC president Europe, Middle country.” to its breadth and depth of talent, best East and Africa Aongus Hegarty said: Ooredoo’s award builds on the fi xed and mobile networks, broad- “Ooredoo’s Qatar Data Centre is the company’s recent achievement of the est portfolio of ICT services and so- WCM-Q forum discusses abdominal foundation for Ooredoo’s success as a ‘Gold-tier Cloud Service Provider’ lutions, and trusted partner for 60 Dell EMC partner and in winning the status with Dell EMC. Ooredoo gains years. surgical emergencies in children

iagnosing serious abdomi- Q, as well as presenting to faculty and nal emergencies in children students on giving eff ective feedback Dand distinguishing them from to medical trainees. He also interacted more benign complaints was the sub- with WCM-Q students in several oth- ject of the latest Grand Rounds lec- er activities, including viewing their ture at Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar research presentations. On his sec- (WCM-Q). ond day he toured HMC’s Paediatric The talk was delivered by Dr Dewesh Emergency Center in Al Saad and then Agrawal, professor of Paediatrics HMC’s Al Wakra Hospital. and Emergency Medicine at George On the third day of his visit, Dr Washington University School of Agrawal visited Sidra, joined the clini- Medicine, and director of the Pae- cal activities there, and met with Dr diatric Residency Programme at the Ibrahim Janahi, professor of Clinical Children’s National Medical Centre in Paediatrics, chair of Medical Educa- Washington, DC. tion and division chief of Paediatric Addressing an audience of medical Pulmonology at Sidra Medicine. He students, faculty members and other then met with Dr Khalid al-Ansari, healthcare professionals, Dr Agrawal chair of the Department of Emergency said many children who are suff ering Dr Dewesh Agrawal at Sidra. He also presented a talk on from abdominal complaints, particu- evidence-based medicine biostatistics larly very young children, often ap- dominal pain. He also reviewed the to the paediatric resident doctors. pear before doctors with very vague diagnosis and management of other Dr Agrawal said, “It was such a joy to symptoms. abdominal surgical emergencies, in- visit Doha through the WCM-Q visit- Dr Agrawal said, “Most children cluding malrotation presenting with ing professorship programme. I was with true abdominal surgical emer- midgut volvulus, intussusception, and extremely impressed not only by the gencies present with non-specifi c infantile pyloric stenosis. quality of the curriculum and facili- signs like vomiting, fussiness, or ab- During his three-day visit to Qatar, ties, but also by the quality of trainees dominal pain. Our job is to work out Dr Agrawal also toured medical and — both medical students and residents which one of those kids has some- educational facilities in the country, — and faculty that I met. I sincerely thing else more serious than simply gave a number of presentations and hope that the trainees benefi ted from constipation or gastroenteritis.” met with senior medical executives my interactions with them, for the Dr Agrawal explained how to di- and medical students. Dr Agrawal highest achievements of our careers in agnose appendicitis in a toddler who spent his fi rst day in Qatar meeting academic medicine are the people we may present with vomiting and ab- with students and faculty at WCM- train.” Gulf Times 6 Monday, October 8, 2018 QATAR CNA-Q holds event to celebrate teachers By Joseph Varghese It was attended by a large selves everyday with the emerg- Renowned post-secondary Samah Gamar presenting a memento to Dr Hamda al-Sulaiti. Staff Reporter number of teaching fraternity ing scenarios.” scholar Dr Ken Coates, research PICTURES: Jayan Orma members and aims to honour the Dr Anna Paolini, director of chair for Regional Innovation, teachers of Qatar, and specifi cally the Unesco Regional Offi ce in Canada, in his keynote speech Qatar’s evolving economy,” said development sessions aligned ollege of the North At- the college’s instructors. Doha, highlighted the impor- focused on post-secondary edu- CNA-Q (academic) vice-presi- with their teaching course load lantic – Qatar (CNA-Q) QNCECS secretary general Dr tance of education. cation and the important link- dent Samah Gamar. “At CNA-Q, and area of speciality. Cmarked World Teachers’ Hamda al-Sulaiti highlighted “Education promotes toler- ages with industry. we believe in technical educa- Theme-specifi c workshops Day with a two-day event that the role of teachers in the highly- ance peace and social inclusion. During the event, he will give tion and vocational training as an will bring facilitators from Can- included keynote speeches, panel evolving academic scenario in It enables children and the young a series of seminars focused on educational pathway that serves ada and Qatar to off er a diverse discussions, and workshops. the present world. people to fulfi l their potential higher education in the techni- communities, businesses, indus- portfolio of workshops. The event, organised in part- “Teaching is a continuous and do away poverty,” she said. cal and vocational training sector try and the economy as a whole – Each of the college’s nearly nership with the Ministry of learning process in the modern “In spite of the advancements and skills development, which in an equivalent way to tradition- 500 faculty members will be Education and Higher Education times as the academic paradigms in education, a large number of are open to the public. al higher educational institutions given professional development and the Qatar National Com- change every now and then,” she students are deprived of educa- “As Qatar’s comprehensive like universities.” opportunities under themes such mission for Education, Culture said. “They must have the ef- tion worldwide and this is a ma- technical college, we deliver in- In addition to public events, as student engagement, tech-as- Dr Paolini: Education promotes and Science (QNCECS), got off fi ciency and profi ciency to meet jor challenge for everyone. It also ternationally-recognised tech- CNA-Q instructors will partake sisted learning, online platforms, tolerance peace and social yesterday with an opening cer- the challenges of the modern highlights the role of teachers in nical and vocation education in in “Faculty Development Day”, and experiential classroom tech- inclusion. emony. times and need to update them- the modern times.” partnership with employers for which is a series of professional niques.

Curriculum must adapt to changing technologies, says education expert

fl exible curriculum that can adapt to the Aevolving technologies of the modern times is one of the key factors in the present day education, highlighted an international expert yes- terday. “Fluid curriculum and evolving technologies, cre- ating a culture of transfor- mation, creating and model- ling innovation and training Dr Coates: Many the children for mid-career graduates in Europe outcomes, are the essential and North America are features that are needed for either underemployed or the present day education,” unemployed. highlighted Dr Ken Coates, Canada Research Chair for Regional Innovation. He was delivering the keynote address at the World Teachers’ Day event at the College of the North Atlantic – Qatar (CNA-Q). “Career paranoia is a major issue that the graduates are facing all over the world. Many graduates in Europe and North America are either underemployed or unem- ployed,” Dr Coates said. “In such a scenario, the students are not able to decide on their area of studies and many unsure of the oppor- tunities after their studies. This is where skills learning becomes all the more important,” he explained. According to Dr Coates, the role of teachers is more crucial in a world of ever-changing technology to trans- form the students for a knowledge based and know-how economy. “The current approaches in education are” mastering current technologies, preparing the students for a post- programme employment, building up suitable curricu- lum, and gaining accreditation as well as institutional and infrastructure focus,” he said. The educational expert also pointed out that one of the major challenges for the educators currently is the con- stant change and transformation in education scenario and coping with these changes. – By Joseph Varghese Gulf Times Monday, October 8, 2018 7 QATAR

FWI 2018 saw Alfardan Jewellery providing some of the finest collections, including an Alfardan original design piece worn by Aishwarya Rai Manish Malhotra and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan at the Fashion Bachchan, in addition to jewellery worn by the models at the show. Weekend International 2018 in Doha.

Alfardan Automotive Operations provided premium transport from Prestige Cars with Rolls-Royce and Alfardan Group BMW 7-series cars to Malhotra, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and other models who walked on the ramp. adds glitter to Qatar Fashion Weekend lfardan Group, the highly provided the perfect backdrop FWI 2018 saw Alfardan Jew- Bachchan and other models who diversifi ed business con- for this momentous occasion, ellery providing some of the walked on the ramp. Alfardan Aglomerate associated with leading celebrities from In- finest jewellery collections, Properties and Hospitality also with some of the world’s most dia fascinating fashion lovers and including an Alfardan original hosted a lunch at Al Sufra in ad- luxurious brands, was the plati- trendsetters from Qatar as well design piece worn by Aishwarya dition to a private party at Illu- num sponsor for Qatar’s Fashion as the region,” Alfardan Group Rai Bachchan, in addition to sion, both located at the breath- Weekend International (FWI) president and CEO Omar Hus- jewellery worn by the models at taking Marsa Malaz Kempinski, 2018. sain Alfardan said. the show. the Pearl-Qatar. A momentous occasion for the “This high-profi le event is a Alfardan Jewellery also dis- Alfardan Group continues to A moment from the show. country, the event turned Doha testament of Alfardan’s commit- played a dazzling set of jewellery be an indispensable part of Qa- into a global fashion hub with ment to forging strategic part- during the show, and an exclusive tar’s growth story and makes has contributed greatly to en- their dream bridal ensemble or projects that Alfardan Group Bollywood showstopper Aish- nerships with cultural icons to collection at the private event every eff ort to enhance the coun- hancing the living and working even just custom couture. Mal- will be focusing on. The Group warya Rai Bachchan walking the make the country a hub for cul- where Malhotra took wedding try’s image as cosmopolitan hub, standards of people in Qatar. hotra’s collections have adorned has always been deeply commit- ramp for celebrity Indian fashion tural experiences. We infused our dress orders for special guests. attracting a wide variety of cul- Fashion lovers were also indulged the likes of Shah Rukh Khan, ted to projects and activities that designer Manish Malhotra for the latest collections with the glam- Alfardan Automotive Opera- tures and lifestyle. in a weekend full of glitz and Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika further the country’s image as a fi rst time internationally. our that Bollywood is famous for, tions provided premium trans- With products and services glamour, with fi rst hand access to Padukone, Naomi Campbell and top global destination and sup- “The year 2019 marks the to create an experience that high- port from Prestige Cars with that have an unmistakeable the latest jewellery displays. La- Kareena Kapoor Khan. port the government’s mission Qatar-India Year of Culture, and lights Qatar’s cultural diversity,” Rolls-Royce and BMW 7-series stamp of luxury and excellence dies were able to secure appoint- This event is just the begin- of providing the highest living Fashion Weekend International he noted. cars to Malhotra, Aishwarya Rai associated with them, Alfardan ments with Malhotra to sketch ning of several exciting global standards for its people. Vodafone Qatar launches direct carrier billing service with Google

odafone Qatar yesterday an- and easy way to purchase Google Play nounced the launch of direct apps, games and eBooks using their Vcarrier billing service with Vodafone account,” said Vodafone Qa- Google to make it easier for Android tar COO Diego Camberos. Direct car- users to purchase apps, games, and rier billing allows users of select mo- digital content on their devices. bile operators to pay for digital content With the introduction of direct car- on Google Play by billing purchases to rier billing with Google, customers their mobile accounts — postpaid or can now perform any online purchase prepaid. transaction through the Google Play Once the payment option is set up, Store by paying for their purchases via customers will be able to charge app their mobile phone balance without quest is to give the best digital life for and content purchases from the Play the need of using their credit or debit our customers. Store directly to their mobile accounts. cards. Today we’re pleased to off er our For more information, visit www.vo- “As a digital fi rst company, our customers a more convenient, safe, dafone.qa/googleplay SriLankan ‘most punctual global airline’ in September

riLankan Airlines has lines are categorised among 86.61% on time,” the airline ative a resounding success,” announced that it four categories – ‘Global said. “In the ‘Major Airlines’ the statement noted. Sachieved the feat of Airlines’, ‘Major Airlines’, category, SriLankan was SriLankan explained that being named the world’s ‘Regional Airlines’ and ‘Low easily ahead of India’s Indi- its “consistently high level most punctual airline in the Cost Carriers’ – with some Go that was in second place of on-time performance” month of September, in the airlines appearing in more with 86.92% of fl ights being is the result of a structured key categories of ‘Global than one category. on time, and ANA, which process that monitors and Airlines’ and ‘Major Air- SriLankan Airlines has 11 was third.” co-ordinates the perform- lines’, by fl ight data analysis fl ights weekly from Doha to SriLankan’s performance ance of all departments and company Flightstats.com. Colombo, connecting the came on the heels of the air- individual staff members re- The airline said in a press Indian subcontinent and line having launched its new sponsible for various aspects statement that 91.37% of its Far East Asia. “In the ‘Glo- ‘Ready to Fly!’ programme at of its operations. fl ights in September were on bal Airlines’ category, Sri- the beginning of September A strict daily monitoring time, according to an analy- Lankan’s punctuality was 2018 to enhance its custom- process examines every as- sis by Flightstats. far ahead of the giant US- er service by providing in- pect of each fl ight and iden- Flightstats analyses data based carrier, Delta Airlines, creased punctuality levels of tifi es shortcomings, with a of airlines across conti- which was in second place its fl ights around the world. measured process for im- nents, including most of with 86.74% fl ights on time, “The airline greatly appreci- mediate corrective measures the world’s largest and most while third place went to ates the tremendous eff orts and strict attribution of ac- prestigious carriers. Air- Japanese airline ANA with of its staff to make this initi- countability.

Al Jazeera English MD joins New York board

The New York Festivals ing audiences around the tise of Al Jazeera and its TV & Film Awards have world. As award-winning pioneering storytelling to announced the appoint- industry leaders, they identify and highlight cap- ment of Al Jazeera English understand the elements tivating content,” added channel’s managing direc- that go into creating Trendle. tor, Giles Trendle, to their compelling award-winning Trendle started his journal- Advisory Board and Grand nonfiction content,” said ism career in the 1980s as Jury. “With Giles Trendle Rose Anderson, V-P/execu- a freelance print journalist and Sammy Choi, our Advi- tive director of The New based in Lebanon covering sory Board benefits from York Festivals TV & Film the country’s civil war. As the perspectives of two Awards. the managing director of more prominent broad- “I am honoured to be cho- Al Jazeera English, Trendle casters, lending not only sen to join the Advisory oversees the channel’s a global diversity but also Board and Grand Jury of operations in over 70 a hands-on knowledge of the New York Festivals TV bureaus around the world the multiple formats and & Film Awards. I hope to with more than 400 edito- platforms that are engag- bring with me the exper- rial staff members. Giles Trendle Gulf Times 8 Monday, October 8, 2018 QATAR Young Adults’ Life Skills Camp participants feted he World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), an initiative of Qa- Ttar Foundation (QF), and Occidental Petroleum Qatar (Oxy Qatar) has honoured participants of a new Young Adults’ Life Skills Camp pilot training programme to help integrate young adults with autism into society. The programme was implemented in collaboration with the Child Development Centre (CDC), and held weekly during July and August 2018. CDC’s professional staff provided spe- cialised training that included cooking classes, games, gym lessons, and activities to boost motor skills that would help people carry out household chores with increased independence. The certifi cates were awarded to the fi ve participants by Dr Saleh bin Ali al-Marri, assistant secretary general for Medical Af- fairs at the Ministry of Public Health. Sultana Afdhal, CEO of WISH, said, “seeing these fi ve young people successfully complete this short but vigorous training course is not only rewarding but a huge step towards building inclusive communities in Yousuf Buhindi, Andrew Kershaw, Dr Saleh bin Ali al-Marri, and Sultana Afdhal at the ceremony. Qatar, where every individual is an active and productive member of society.” support from Oxy Qatar made it possible community, and so we are delighted to be eagerness to learn and the positive response Since its inception, WISH has made to build a programme that utilised the ex- able to support the initiative.” to the coaching they received, saying: “For mental health and well-being a priority pertise of CDC. Oxy Qatar’s director of Qatarisation and adults who face the challenges of autism, area for research, training, and commu- Andrew H Kershaw, president and general Social Responsibility chair Yousuf Buhindi routine and repetition is key to teaching nity engagement programmes. Research manager of Oxy Qatar, said, “ At Occidental, was present. them confi dence when it comes to manag- carried out by WISH identified a need for everywhere we work and everywhere we live Hasna Nada, founder and CEO, CDC, said ing everyday tasks such as handling money the Young Adults’ Life Skills Camp, and and operate, strive to give back to the local she was impressed with the participants’ or preparing food.” Techno Blue unveils state-of-the-art Fujifi lm X-T3

echno Blue has launched in ous shooting. The eye-detection sensor and high-speed processing Qatar the Fujifi lm X-T3, the AF supports the AF-C mode, capability have made it possible to Tlatest model in the X Series maintaining accurate focus track- enjoy AF/AE-tracking, blackout- of mirrorless digital cameras, “re- ing even in portrait photography free continuous shooting of up nowned for their unique colour that involves movements. to 30 fps in approximately 16.6M reproduction technology to de- The X-T3 focuses accurately (1.25x crop) mode, while using liver outstanding image quality in when shooting a person front- smooth Live View of 60fps. both stills and video”. on or side-on, even in situations In order to never miss a crucial The X-T3 features the new where the face- or eye-detection shutter moment, the X-T3 has X-Trans CMOS 4 sensor and X- AF previously had diffi culty. the new “Pre-Shoot” function in Processor 4 image processing en- The face- and eye-detection AF which the camera starts shooting gine. is available also during video re- as soon as the shutter button is The back-illuminated APS-C cording to achieve smooth fi lming half-pressed. sensor with more than four times of persons. The X-T3 inherits X-T2’s pop- the number of phase detection The X-T3 features a 3.69mn- ular design features such as the pixels distributed across the sur- The Fujifilm X-T3 dot high resolution EVF with a positioning of dials on the top face, boasts a high S/N ratio and high magnifi cation ratio of 0.75x. panel, central viewfinder style the lowest sensitivity of ISO160 raphers, in a mirrorless camera fi lm’s medium-format mirrorless The display time lag of just for added sense of stability, and despite its 26MP resolution. equipped with a sensor in the digital camera “GFX50S,” is fea- 0.005 seconds and refresh rate excellent grip design for com- The low-light autofocus limit APS-C size or larger. tured in the X-T3, the fi rst in the of approximately 100 fps ensure fort. has also been extended to -3EV, It is also capable of instanta- X Series. smooth display of motions. The silver colour is lineup as enabling accurate AF even in can- neously handling complex image The eff ect produces deeper The new “Sports fi nder mode” standard, which features more dlelight. X Processor 4 engine has processing tasks such as Fujifi lm’s colours and gradation in subjects makes it easy to capture a moving classical tone compared with four CPU units to achieve im- unique “Color Chrome Eff ect” with highly saturated colours, subject. graphite silver, limited edition for age processing speed about three and “Monochrome Adjustment” such as vivid-coloured fl owers The mode shows approximately previous models. times faster than that of current function, achieving Warm Black / with shadows, a notoriously dif- 16.6M (1.25x crop) area marking in A headphone jack is provided models. Cool Black tone in digital, which fi cult photo subject for gradation the LCD/viewfi nder, and shoots on the camera body so that all ac- Not only boosting AF accuracy is adopted as one of the way of ex- reproduction. the area within the marking. cessories required for video re- and speed substantially, the en- pression for monochrome print in The high-speed processing This is particularly useful for cording, such as microphone and gine is the world’s fi rst to delivers silver halide fi lm. power of the X-Processor 4 means sports photography and wildlife HDMI devices can be centrally 4K/60P 10bit output, meeting The “Colour Chrome Eff ect,” this eff ect can be applied not only photography. connected to the body for added the needs of professional videog- previously only available in Fuji- in single shots but also in continu- Increased read speed from the mobility in videography. Gulf Times Monday, October 8, 2018 9 QATAR Qatar’s trade with countries taking part in IPEC 2018

From Page 1

During the exhibition, the ministry will shed light on laws and regulations governing in- vestments as well as the incen- tives that Qatar off ers to in- vestors. The ministry will also outline key economic sectors that off er promising investment HE the Attorney General Dr Ali bin Fetais al-Marri and HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti with opportunities as well as legisla- some of the graduates. tive incentives aimed at regulat- ing the investment sector. The ministry will also high- light the investor-friendly busi- ness environment and the solid economic growth rates as well as the state’s eff orts to enhance co-ordination and co-operation Workshop focuses among all government agencies to promote an attractive invest- ment environment. It will hold meetings with businessmen and potential in- vestors to familiarise them with on transparency in investment opportunities in Qa- tar and the development of a safe investment environment, which has transformed Qatar into an attractive investment hub. al-Ibrahim, said in a statement will witness four discussion fo- At the pavilion, the ministry yesterday that IPEC sheds light rums and presentations by 22 govt procurements will review the terms and re- on a number of economic chal- senior offi cials.” quirements for the extraction of lenges in the Mena and Central Al-Ibrahim added: “Qatar’s By Ayman Adly ing public tenders and procurements to ting mistakes that could lead to suspicion a commercial record, commer- Asia. unique off erings make it a pre- Staff Reporter maintain public funds in compliance with of corruption. In addition, the course cial licences and will familiarise “Government delegations mium destination in the region the applicable laws and regulations inter- equipped the trainees with the tools to the public with the smart elec- and companies from 11 friendly for hosting key business events. nationally and locally. tackle the situation in case of any charges tronic services it off ers through countries that have been sup- Today, Qatar is accessible from he Rule of Law and Anti-Corrup- From the Ministry of Transport and of corruption is involved in such process- its website and mobile app. porting Qatar since the imposi- all over the world and 73% of the tion Center recently concluded a Communications, 19 employees took part es. Al-Sulaiti stressed the importance of The exhibition, which is at- tion of the blockade on Qatar are world’s population can enter the Tfour-day training workshop on the in the workshop and the remaining par- the training course and said more courses tended by several representa- taking part in IPEC along with country visa-free. Furthermore, ‘National and international framework for ticipants were from Qatar University and are expected to follow. It would also be an tives from Kuwait, Oman, Jor- more than 19 Qatari government Qatar’s hospitality industry of- ensuring integrity and transparency in gov- the Public Prosecution. important step towards including public dan, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and semi-government organisa- fers the best guest experience in ernment procurements’. Dr al-Marri pointed out that the centre tenders into the e-government system ac- Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Azerbai- tions,” he explained. the Middle East, in addition to an HE the Attorney General Dr Ali bin has been playing a key role in supporting cording to the applicable laws and regula- jan and Tajikistan, presents a In total, the exhibition fea- abundance of local expertise and Fetais al-Marri and HE the Minister of local and international entities in arbitra- tions in this respect. key opportunity to strengthen tures more than 360 companies resources, complemented by the Transport and Communications Jassim tion cases and establishing the rule of law. The training at the workshop was Qatar’s relations with its leading from Qatar and the participat- support QTA extends to sector Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti honoured the 30 He said the course has helped the partici- presented by lecturers from the United partners from around the world. ing countries. In addition, more stakeholders, empowering them graduates. pants to master the necessary legal and Nations, Qatar University, the Public Qatar Tourism Authority than 2,000 individuals have to the host world-class business The course covered all the aspects accounting framework for public tenders Prosecution, and The Rule of Law and (QTA) acting chairman Hassan registered to attend IPEC, which events.” related to the legal procedures regard- and procurements, and to avoid commit- Anti-Corruption Center. Texas A&M at Qatar wins Fulbright Six week countdown to grant to enhance student learning launch of Index Qatar expo

he Centre for Teaching he countdown to ‘Index for global suppliers, too, with to be launching the second edi- and Learning at Texas Qatar 2018’ is underway, international companies being tion of Index Qatar in a mere six TA&M University at Qa- Twith less than six weeks particularly well-represented at weeks’ time. Qatar now repre- tar (Tamuq) has been awarded to go until the three-day interi- the exhibition. A report com- sents arguably the largest un- a Fulbright grant to enhance ors show returns to Doha against missioned by Index Qatar – and tapped business opportunity for student learning and teaching a backdrop of sustained growth compiled by market analysts interior, fi t-out and construc- innovation. for the fi t-out market across the Ventures – has estimated the tion suppliers of any market in It is the fi rst such grant for an country. spend on interior contracting the Middle East. educational institution in Qatar Index Qatar will gather hun- and fi t-out projects to now be “It continues to fl ourish in and believed to be the “fi rst of dreds of international product worth QR5bn in Qatar every year. the build-up to hosting the its kind” in the entire Mena re- manufacturers, interior design A spokesperson for Ventures 2022 FIFA World Cup and, in gion, Tamuq has said in a state- fi rms, and other visitors at the said: “The interior design and fi t- the longer-term, towards the ment. The prestigious award Doha Exhibition and Convention out industry is expected to fl our- continued execution of the Qa- comes under the Fulbright Centre from November 13-15. ish in Qatar as demand for new tar National Vision 2030. Both Specialist Programme admin- residential, hotels, commercial the investment and creativity istered by the US Department “The interior design and real estate, schools and hospitals across the interiors and wider of State. This recognition was fi t-out industry is expected continue to grow. Owners of ex- construction industries in Qatar “made possible by Texas A&M to fl ourish in Qatar as isting structures, whether resi- are inspiring, and we look for- at Qatar’s excellent reputation demand for new residential, dential or commercial, will be un- ward to showcasing the industry in the region and the hard work hotels, commercial real der pressure to optimise the value for businesses and consumers and dedication of the staff of estate, schools and hospitals of their projects by refurbishing alike,” said Jaafar Shubber, Index the branch campus’s Centre for continue to grow” them in order to maintain their Qatar event director. He added: Teaching and Learning (CTL)”, market value. “We aim to bring key stakehold- said Dr Cesar Octavio Malave, Last year’s debut exhibition “With oil prices continuing to ers from all sides of the industry dean of Texas A&M at Qatar. This is the first such grant for an educational institution in Qatar. showcased the products and rise, there does not seem to be a together at Index, from interior “Developing human capital services of over 86 exhibitors slowdown in the project awards designers to import-export spe- is one of the central pillars of to encourage innovation in teach- in the host institution. cross-training and other edu- from 17 countries, and the 2018 in 2018 with contractors hav- cialists to meet, discuss market Qatar National Vision 2030,” ing and foster a healthy learning Texas A&M at Qatar will host cational opportunities that can edition is expected to see even ing strong order books, meaning trends, and do business. It’s an Malave said, “and our goal is environment for students as we a Fulbright specialist for two to collectively enhance the value more major players from across they are now targeting works for enormously exciting time to be to transform engineering edu- pursue our mission to create engi- six weeks in the spring to help of students’ degrees. the industry taking part. 2018-19 completion.” involved, and we are really look- cation in Qatar to create en- neering leaders in Qatar.” innovate a new approach to The CTL also plans to host The event is expected to at- With over 28,000 more resi- ing forward to welcoming every- gineering graduates who can To secure the award, CTL teaching and learning. future visits to coincide with tract close to 5,000 people from dential units forecast to be built one to the event.” lead teams to tackle problems developed and submitted a The focus will be to develop regional and international con- across all sectors of Qatari soci- across the country by 2019, as Following its huge success at we cannot yet imagine. We aim proposal for funding. The Ful- high-impact initiatives and ferences on learning in higher ety – from interior designers and well as mega-projects including last year’s launch show, Index to prepare our students to not bright Specialist Programme programmes that will resonate education that will further de- architects to project managers, Lusail City, Hamad Internation- Qatar’s three days of design-led only be outstanding engineers, (part of the broader Fulbright with faculty and teaching staff , velop links between the spe- importers and distributors – al Airport expansion, the Doha conversation will return with but also to become globally programme) aims to pair highly which in turn will enhance cialist and other universities in across the full spectrum of retail, Metro, the World Cup stadiums, Design Talks panels featuring engaged citizens who are com- qualifi ed US academics or pro- student learning. Of particu- the region, as well as provide hospitality, residential and com- and Msheireb Downtown – all leading interior and architec- mitted to lifelong learning. fessionals with foreign host lar interest are collaborations motivation for these institu- mercial design, as well as the proceeding at pace, there is no tural specialists from around the “We are excited to have a Ful- institutions for short-term with other partner universities tions to start their own centres general public. shortage of opportunity in the world. To register and attend for bright specialist engaged with us projects to build capacity with- in Education City to provide for teaching and learning. Qatar is a booming market Qatari market. “We are thrilled free, visit www.index-qatar.com

US education fair on Oct 13 A group of admissions counsellors representing a variety of accredited universities from across the US will be speaking with students on October 13 at the Marriott Marquis City Center Hotel from 4pm to 7pm. The event, which is free and open to the public, is hosted by Linden Educational Services, an organisation dedicated to help- ing students from around the world connect with prestigious US universities. “For the past 25 years, Linden has been visiting Doha and helping students pursue their goals in higher educa- tion. Linden works closely with EducationUSA to ensure events of the highest calibre,” according to a statement. University admissions off icers visiting Doha this year represent a wide variety of schools in the US, from large, public universi- ties to small, private colleges including top-tier flagship universi- ties such as, University of California Berkeley, University of Minnesota Twin Cities and Illinois Institute of Technology. The range of academic programmes at these schools is extensive, and while most schools off er Business, Marketing and Engineering programmes, students will also find schools off ering degrees in the sciences, fine arts and liberal arts. To learn more about participating universities and to register for the fair, visit www.LindenTours.com or on Facebook as “Linden Educational Services.” Pre-registering online at LindenFair.com will provide students quicker access to the fair on October 13. The Marriott Marquis City Center Hotel is at Omar Al Mukhtar Street, Area 61, Al Dafna, Street 850, Qatar. Gulf Times 10 Monday, October 8, 2018 REGION/ARAB WORLD Syria rebels to remove heavy Erdogan closely following case of arms from buff er zone soon Saudi journalist

AFP “We are reinforcing our posi- Al-Eis, Syria tions and are ready to face any From Page 1 group of Saudis were briefl y at violation” from the regime side, the consulate. he added. A Saudi source at the consu- Khashoggi is a familiar face urkish-backed rebels In recent weeks, Turkey has late denied that Khashoggi had on political talk shows on Arab said yesterday they ex- deployed troops at “observation been killed at the mission and satellite television networks and Tpected to fi nish with- posts” it set up in rebel-held ar- said in a statement that the ac- used to advise Prince Turki al- drawing heavy weapons from a eas of Idlib and neighbouring cusations were baseless. Faisal, former Saudi intelligence planned buff er zone in north- Aleppo. The consulate has also denied chief and ambassador to the western Syria within days un- Nawar Oliver, an analyst that Khashoggi was abducted. United States and Britain. der a deal to stave off a regime from the Turkey-based Omran The United States is seeking Over the past year, he has attack. Centre for Strategic Studies, information, a State Department written columns for newspa- The National Liberation said pro-Ankara fi ghters giving offi cial said. “We are not in a po- pers including the Washington Front (NLF) announced Satur- up their heavy weapons on the sition to confi rm these reports, Post criticising Saudi policies day that it has begun withdraw- front line leaves them vulner- but we are following them close- towards Qatar and Canada, the ing heavy arms from the zone as able to a regime attack. ly,” the offi cial said. war in Yemen and a crackdown part of an agreement between But “the Turkish military Khashoggi’s fi ancee could not on dissent which has seen doz- Syrian regime ally Russia and should have some kind of heavy immediately be contacted but ens of people detained. rebel backer Turkey. artillery” with them, he said. she said in a Tweet that there had “I have left my home, my fam- The accord, reached on On Saturday, a media spokes- been no offi cial confi rmation of ily and my job, and I am raising September 17, aims to stave man for Faylaq al-Sham, one of the Turkish sources’ statements. my voice,” he wrote in Septem- off a massive regime assault the NLF factions, confi rmed the “Jamal was not killed and I do ber. “To do otherwise would be- on Idlib province, the last withdrawal of arms. not believe he was killed,” Hatice tray those who languish in pris- major rebel bastion in Syria, Seif Raad said it included Cengiz posted. on. I can speak when so many by creating a 15 to 20-kilo- pulling back missile launchers, Another Turkish security source cannot.” metre buffer zone ringing the tanks and mortars. told Reuters that a group of 15 Saudi Two months later, writing area. The Syrian Observatory for nationals, including some offi cials, about the detentions of scores of Under the deal, all rebels in Human Rights war monitor said had arrived in Istanbul in two Saudi royals, senior offi cials and the demilitarised zone, which the withdrawal of weapons had planes and entered the consulate businessmen accused of corrup- surrounds Idlib and also parts of already started a week ago and on the same day Khashoggi was tion, he said Crown Prince Mo- the adjacent provinces of Alep- would continue for several more there, and later left the country. hammed bin Salman dispensed po and Hama, must withdraw days. The source said Turkish of- “selective justice” and said heavy arms by Wednesday, and A Syrian rebel-fighter from The National Liberation Front (NLF) takes position in a trench armed with “But the rebels only hold a fi cials were trying to identify there was “complete intolerance radical groups must leave by an automatic rifle on a hill in the area of Al-Eis in the southwest of Aleppo province, overlooking third of the buff er zone,” the them. Turkey’s Anadolu news for even mild criticism” of the October 15. regime-held territory several kilometres away, yesterday. head of the Britain-based mon- agency also reported that the crown prince. “We began to withdraw our itor, Rami Abdel Rahman, said. heavy weapons from the demil- The NLF is the main Turkey- Yesterday, an AFP corre- regime-held territory several HTS and other militants, Israeli PM’s wife goes on trial for fraud itarised zone to rear positions,” backed rebel alliance in the Idlib spondent saw NLF fi ghters on kilometres away. who control around 70% of NLF spokesman Naji Mustafa region, but heavyweight Hayat the frontline inside the planned The correspondent did not the planned demilitarised area, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife, Sara, appeared in court said. Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) holds a buff er zone on the Idlib region’s see any heavy weapons in Al- pose the main challenge to its yesterday for the first hearing in the fraud trial against her, in which she is “The operation will last sev- large part of the province and eastern fl ank. Eis.“According to the set dead- implementation, he said. alleged to have misused state funds in ordering catered meals. eral days,” he said, adding that the zone. They waited in trenches line, the withdrawal of heavy None have accepted the Rus- According to the indictment, Sara Netanyahu, along with a government the weapons will be held by HTS, led by former Al Qaeda armed with light weapons on weapons will end on October sia-Turkey deal, yet they are employee, fraudulently obtained from the state more than $100,000 for fi ghters deployed in positions fi ghters, has yet to announce its a hill in the area of Al-Eis in 10. The operation is ongoing,” expected to withdraw from the hundreds of meals supplied by restaurants, bypassing regulations that outside the demilitarised zone. stance on the buff er zone deal. Aleppo province, overlooking an NLF commander on site said. zone by October 15. prohibit the practice if a cook is employed at home. Libyan premier reshuffl es Iran parliament passes ministers to broaden support counter-terror fi nance bill Reuters He comes from the western with economic reforms and to Tripoli city of Misrata and is close to its seek the unifi cation of Libyan armed groups, some of which national institutions.” AFP demanded that it accede to the took part in the Tripoli clashes. Megerisi, a visiting fellow at Tehran FATF. Joining the UN conven- ibya’s UN-backed Prime The government also named the European Council on For- tion has been controversial be- Minister Fayez al-Serraj a new economy and industry eign Relations, said Serraj was cause hardliners say it will limit Lchanged the interior minister, Ali Abdulaziz Issawi, seeking to broaden his support ran’s parliament yesterday Iran’s ability to support armed minister and reshuffl ed other who comes from Benghazi in as the United Nations works approved a bill to counter groups in the region such as cabinet posts yesterday in a eastern Libya, home to a rival to unify rival bodies to prepare Iterrorist fi nancing that was Hezbollah. move seen as a bid to broaden administration. Libya for elections. strongly opposed by conserva- Iran is alone with North Korea his support nationwide and “The appointment of Basha- tives but seen as vital to salvag- on the blacklist of the FATF, al- bolster security in the capital The United Nations has been gha could also be an attempt ing the nuclear deal with Euro- though the Paris-based organi- after weeks of clashes. trying to impose a ceasefire to ensure Misrata continue to pean and Asian partners. sation has suspended counter- Tripoli has been hit by fi ght- by calling on a broader support the work of the com- The bill aims to bring Iran’s measures since June 2017 while ing between rival armed groups security arrangement mittee to implement security laws in line with international Iran works on reforms. competing over access to public provisions and keep Misrata on standards and allow it to join the A previous bill on the me- funds and power, part of chaos Issawi is a veteran fi gure from board,” he said. UN Terrorism Financing Con- chanics of monitoring and pre- in Libya since the toppling of the rebels who toppled Gaddafi . The decree appointed Faraj vention. It is one of four bills put venting terrorist fi nancing was Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Serraj’s spokesman Mo- Bomtari as fi nance minister and forward by the government in signed into law in August. The violence started when hamed al-Salak told Reuters Bashir al-Qantri as youths and recent months in a bid to meet Two other bills – on money- some factions based outside in a brief phone message that sport minister. demands by the international Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohamed Javad Zarif delivers a speech to the laundering and organised crime the capital attacked late in Au- the changes were made “in the Ministers have struggled to Financial Action Task Force parliament in Tehran, yesterday, over the a bill to counter terrorist financing. – have also been passed by par- gust four factions linked to the context of promoting economic make an impact as the coun- (FATF), which has given Iran un- liament but have been delayed by Tripoli government. and security reforms.” He did try is eff ectively controlled by til later this month to tighten its during yesterday’s debate. nuclear deal with Iran earlier this higher authorities that vet legis- The United Nations has been no elaborate. armed groups. The government laws against money laundering “But I guarantee that not year and began reimposing sanc- lation, including the Guardian trying to impose a ceasefi re by The UN mission to Libya, has been expected to announce and terror fi nancing. joining will provide the US with tions. Council. calling on a broader security UNSMIL, said on Twitter it was a package of security arrange- “Neither I nor the president more excuses to increase our The other parties to the deal – Conservatives were furious arrangement. ready to “support the new min- ments including the withdraw- can guarantee that all problems problems,” he added. Britain, France, Germany, China after yesterday’s bill passed by In the reshuffl e, Serraj ap- isters to implement the new al of armed groups from minis- will go away if we join (the UN The issue has become partic- and Russia – have sought to sal- 143 votes to 120, with protesters pointed Fathi Ali Bashagha as security arrangements in the tries and state institutions after convention),” said Iran’s Foreign ularly pressing since the United vage the agreement and main- chanting “death to traitors” out- interior minister. capital Tripoli, to move forward the recent clashes. Minister Mohamed Javad Zarif States walked out of the 2015 tain trade with Iran, but have side parliament. Two Israelis killed in West Bank shooting: army

AFP yesterday evening named the ed next to the Israeli settlement away from work in recent days. Barkan Industrial Zone suspect as Ashraf Naalwa, from Barkan and near the settlement The attack took place at the northern West Bank village of Ariel in the north of the West the Barkan depot of the Alon of Shuweika, and said that the Bank. Palestinians work side by Group, which manufactures Palestinian shot dead two army and the Shin Bet security side with Israelis in the indus- recycling and environmental Israelis and wounded an- service were hunting him. trial zone. products, according to Eran Aother at a West Bank set- Israel’s Magen David Adom Palestinians often face tough Bodankin, a manager at the tlement’s industrial zone yester- emergency medical services choices in finding employment site. day, sparking a manhunt for the said their medics had entered a in the economically struggling Speaking with Channel 10 suspect who worked at the site, building at Barkan and found a West Bank and jobs in Israeli television, Bodankin said the the army said. man and woman dead. settlements can provide steady suspect had entered the offices Since the attack was alleged- They were identified by Is- income. to fix an electrical problem, ly carried out by a Palestinian raeli media as Kim Levengrond Israelis have portrayed the only to open fire at a secretary employed at the Barkan indus- Yehezkel, a 28-year-old from industrial zone as a symbol of and senior manager sitting trial zone in the occupied West the Israeli town of Rosh Haayin co-existence, though it is lo- nearby. Bank, questions were raised near Tel Aviv, and Ziv Hagbi, 35, cated entirely in the West Bank, A wave of Palestinian attacks over whether he knew the vic- from Rishon Lezion, also near occupied by Israel since 1967. against Israelis broke out in tims and over the motivation Tel Aviv. Speaking at Barkan, Yossi 2015, but they have since be- behind the shooting. “Later we found another in- Dagan, head of a regional coun- come sporadic. Israeli army spokesman jured woman hiding under a ta- cil for Israeli settlements in the Last month, a Palestinian Jonathan Conricus called it a ble with gunshot wounds in her area, said there were “Jewish teenager stabbed an Israeli to “fighter’s attack” but added upper body,” said paramedic and Palestinian workers stand- death at a junction at the en- that other unspecified factors Tomer Fine, who was the first ing outside together and cry- trance to a large bloc of Israeli were involved. responder at the site. ing”. settlements in the West Bank The 23-year-old Palestinian The woman, 54, was taken to Some Israeli media reported near Jerusalem. used a homemade gun, known hospital, where her condition the Palestinian suspect had A number of attacks have locally as a “Carlo”, according was stabilised. been recently fired from his job occurred at that location, the to Conricus, in the apparent Speaking at Israel’s weekly at the site, raising speculation Gush Etzion Junction. “lone-wolf attack”. cabinet meeting, Prime Minis- Israeli soldiers stop Palestinians at a checkpoint near the scene of a shooting attack, in the occupied West the attack may have been mo- Israel settlements are con- Surveillance footage spread ter Benjamin Netanyahu called Bank, yesterday. tivated by a personal vendetta. sidered illegal under interna- online that appeared to show the shooting “a very severe The army, however, said the tional law and major stumbling the Palestinian fleeing the site attack” and said he was cer- Hamas, the movement that ral response to the crimes of the group issued a similar state- alleged shooter was still em- blocks to peace as they are built with a gun. tain the perpetrator would be runs the Gaza Strip, welcomed Israeli occupation.” ment. ployed at the site as of yes- on land the Palestinians see as A military statement released caught. the attack and called it a “natu- The Palestinian Islamic The industrial zone is locat- terday, but noted he had been part of their future state. Gulf Times Monday, October 8, 2018 11 AFRICA

14 civilians killed in Cameroonians vote DRC machete attack AFP Masisi territory, where Ru- Goma baya is located. The region is a hub for mining coltan, a key component in cell phones and other electronic equipment. achete-wielding at- For more than 20 years, tackers killed at least North and South Kivu prov- in presidential polls M14 civilians in the inces have been in the grip of Democratic Republic of Con- inter-ethnic bloodshed be- AFP saying that it would “not tolerate go’s restive North Kivu prov- tween militia groups, which Yaoundé any disorder before, during or ince, a local offi cial said yes- often extort money from ci- after the presidential vote”. terday, in a wave of violence vilians or fi ght each other for The opposition has long plaguing the mineral-rich re- control of mineral resources. ameroonians voted in accused the authorities of gion. The violence in the border presidential polls yester- supporting Biya. A further nine people were region sees near-daily killings, Cday with octogenarian But despite the ubiquity of injured in the assault near the rape, mutilations and other leader Paul Biya seeking a sev- Biya’s posters, he has been vir- village of Rubaya some 60km (35 atrocities. enth term against a backdrop of tually absent from the campaign miles) north of the province’s The latest attack came after deadly violence in the country’s trail, except for a single event capital Goma, regional governor Congolese doctor Denis Muk- English-speaking regions. last weekend. Cosmas Kangakolo said. wege was awarded the Nobel The vote follows a last-minute It is unclear if polling will pro- He said a battalion of the Peace Prize on Friday for his opposition unity bid to dislodge ceed normally across Cameroon’s Congolese army and police of- dedication in helping women the 85-year-old incumbent, English-speaking regions, where fi cers had been dispatched to overcome the injuries and one of Africa’s longest-serving separatists hold a “signifi cant” Rubaya. trauma of sexual abuse and rulers. amount of territory, according to “The attackers arrived in rape in South Kivu province. Two leading opponents have the ICG, and have threatened to my neighbourhood. I hid but He was also part of an inter- formed the fi rst electoral union disrupt the vote. two neighbours were killed national campaign calling on since 1992, but talks between A team of election offi cials re- by machetes,” local resident multinational companies to con- various other opposition parties ceived a military escort as they Pascal said. trol their supply chain to ensure to create a “super-coalition” to travelled to the outskirts of Buea An armed Hutu militia they are not buying so-called deny Biya another seven years yesterday, according to AFP known as the Mai-Mai Ny- “blood minerals”, which fuel the were apparently fruitless. journalists. atura has been operating in the violence in eastern DRC. Biya and his wife Chantal, The government said it was who wore a matching canary Cameroonian President Paul Biya casts his ballot while his wife Chantal watches during the presidential possible there were “trouble- yellow skirt, jacket and handbag election in Yaounde yesterday. makers” in the anglophone Burkina Faso blasts claim seven lives along with her signature brown regions. bouff ant hair, voted in the Bas- Cameroon’s 6.5mn eligible In Buea, capital of the south- he will stand for both parties. “But the vast majority of Six police off icers were killed in Separately, one member of the tos public school in the capital voters are casting their ballots as west, three separatists of the However it is unclear whether residents are ready and willing an ambush with an improvised Burkina Faso security forces Yaounde surrounded by heavily- violence rages in the anglophone so-called Ambazonia Republic the eleventh-hour deal will sway to vote,” said Communications explosive device in northern was killed late Saturday and armed soldiers. southwest and northwest. were gunned down on Friday the vote, which ran until 1700 Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary. Burkina Faso, while another another was injured when a “The election campaign was Those regions have been and a priest was executed by sol- GMT yesterday. Authorities have imposed a member of the security forces similar device exploded in conducted peacefully... as presi- rocked by a separatist insurgen- diers on Thursday, according to “This alliance, though inter- raft of security measures includ- died in a blast in the country’s the eastern town of Pama, dent, it would be satisfying to be cy launched a year ago against witnesses. esting for the vitality of Cam- ing a ban on inter-regional travel east, security sources have said. according to a security source. re-elected to see that the peo- the mainly francophone state. The far north is also mired eroonian democracy, may have and sealing the borders. The first attack took place Local residents say air strikes are ple trust me,” he told journal- The violence has killed at least in insecurity, as Nigeria-based arrived too late,” said Hans de A total of 246,000 people have late Friday on a police convoy being carried out in the forests ists as he left the voting booth 420 civilians, 175 members of the Boko Haram fi ghters mount at- Marie Heungoup, an ICG re- fl ed their homes in the south- in the town of Solle near the surrounding Pama, which are and returned to his Mercedes- security forces and an unknown tacks despite US eff orts to equip searcher. west and 25,000 have left the border with Mali. known in the region as a refuge Maybach limousine. number of separatists, according and train Cameroon’s military to Kamto’s MRC has warned that country altogether for Nigeria, “The leading vehicle ran over a for jihadist fighters and bandits. “I feel proud,” said Patrick, 38, to the International Crisis Group battle the jihadists. a “massive fraud” is underway to according to UN fi gures. mine and six were killed,” one The African country has seen an airport worker who also voted (ICG) think-tank. In a rare coordinated political secure a Biya win. It is thought that the displaced source said, adding that the convoy regular Islamist attacks since in Bastos. After voting got underway yes- manoeuvre, a key opposition “We’re not preparing for war, will struggle to vote, which could then came under gunfire leaving the start of 2015, especially the “I want the next president terday, security forces shot dead frontrunner, Maurice Kamto, but wherever there is fraud, favour Biya as anglophones have some other off icers injured. north and east of the country. to consolidate what we have three suspected separatists who had agreed late Friday to a unity there will be a fi rm response,” traditionally backed the Social Another security source said According to an off icial count achieved in Cameroon. I want allegedly been fi ring at passersby deal between his Movement said MRC spokesman Paul-Eric Democratic Front (SDF) party of that “at least” six police had published last month, such the elections to pass off peace- from a motorcycle in Bamenda, the for the Rebirth of Cameroon Kingue. rival candidate Joshua Osih. died in Friday’s attack, adding attacks have killed 118 people fully, that’s my only hope for the main city in the northwest region, a (MRC) and the People’s Devel- The government hit back, ap- Results must be posted within that a search for the attackers so far, 70 of whom were polls.” local offi cial said. opment Front (FDP), meaning parently in response to the MRC, 15 calendar days of the poll. was underway in the area. civilians. (AFP) Buhari to face former VP in re-election bid

AFP ters, he has also faced at- Port Harcourt tacks for his handling of the economy, which plunged into recession in 2016. igerian President He has also come under Muhammadu Buhari criticism on security issues, Nwill run for re-elec- including the Boko Haram tion in February 2019 against insurgency in the northeast, former vice president (VP) long-running farmer-herd- Atiku Abubakar, a Muslim er clashes in the centre and from the country’s north militancy and kidnapping in who was nominated yester- the south. day as the main opposition “The fact that nobody party’s poll contender. came forward to challenge Buhari, a 75-year-old the president is an indica- former military ruler, was tion that the party members the sole candidate for his are satisfi ed with his per- ruling All Progressives formance and they want to Congress (APC) party, so see more of him in offi ce,” his confi rmation by some presidential spokesman 7,000 delegates gathered in Garba Shehu said. the capital Abuja was a mere Also yesterday, fi erce Bu- formality on Saturday. hari critic Obiageli Ezek- The APC swept to power Muhammadu Buhari, centre, acknowledges his supporters wesili announced that she in 2015 with the fi rst oppo- as he is nominated as presidential candidate for the ruling would throw her hat into the sition victory at the ballot Nigerian APC in Abuja. ring for the presidency. box in the country’s history. The 55-year-old former But next year’s presiden- minister, who was also the tial race appears to have World Bank’s vice president tightened in recent months for Africa from 2007 to 2012, with the APC hit by a wave said in a statement that Ni- of defections over Buhari’s geria was becoming “a coun- leadership style. try where the worth of life is Yesterday, delegates to a trending down to zero.” convention of the former Ezekwesili, co-founder of ruling Peoples’ Democratic the Berlin-based corruption Party (PDP), nominated watchdog Transparency In- Abubakar, 71, as his chal- ternational, is best known lenger for next year’s poll. in Nigeria for creating the The politician and busi- BringBackOurGirls move- ness tycoon has made four ment after Boko Haram ji- previous bids for the top hadists abducted more than job in Nigeria, Africa’s most 200 schoolgirls in 2014. populous nation. Former vice-president Atiku Abubakar speaks during PDP’s Also in the running is Abubakar comes from national convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Donald Duke, the former the Muslim-majority north, governor of the southern and his nomination follows were deployed to the PDP by controversies over his Cross River state, whose op- an unwritten rule in Nigeria primary. numerous wives and more position Social Democratic that the presidency should Despite humble beginnings than 20 children as well as Party formally elected him alternate every two terms in northern Nigeria, Abu- corruption allegations. its fl ag-bearer yesterday. between a candidate from bakar rose through the ranks Buhari had indicated in As governor in 2004, the north and south. of the customs service for two April that he planned to run Duke initiated the Calabar The PDP vote was held decades, eventually becoming for a second term. carnival that is now popu- in the oil hub of Port Har- the institution’s number two The retired general, who larly known as “Africa’s big- court, in the heartland of during military rule. headed a military regime in gest street party.” the southern Niger delta. He then entered the pri- the 1980s, has faced grow- Nigerian law allows Abubakar garnered 1,532 vate sector, investing in oil ing pressure to step down for a president to serve a votes, trouncing his closest services and agriculture, because of failing health af- maximum of two four-year rival Aminu Tambuwal, the among other industries. ter spending several months terms. governor of northern Sokoto From there he joined the in London last year receiv- Voters in the former Brit- state who scored 693 votes. civilian government where ing treatment for an undis- ish colony will elect gover- Port Harcourt streets had he became one of Nigeria’s closed ailment. nors and lawmakers as well been festooned with confer- most recognisable and en- Dubbed “Baba Go Slow” as the president in elections ence banners, while police during politicians. because he took six months set for February and March said thousands of offi cers But he has been dogged to appoint cabinet minis- next year. Gulf Times 12 Monday, October 8, 2018 AMERICA

Fears over plans for Two-car crash kills 20 California wild horses’ in New York state: police capture AFP An SUV-style stretch lim- sica Kirby said customers in the and Albany at the time of the fi liate WNYT that the limousine available fi gures, crashes on Reuters New York ousine sped down a hill, crash- parking lot were killed when crash. was carrying “a group” of peo- the state’s highways resulted in Los Angeles ing into pedestrians outside the they were hit by the limousine A witness named by local ple, while other media reports $808.1mn in hospitalisation and Apple Barrel Country Store and as it careened down the hill, the media as Bill Waterson said the described as many as 18 passen- emergency department charges, wenty people have been Cafe, the Albany Times Union Times reported. limousine was carrying a party gers in the vehicle. the Department of Health said ne thousand wild horses killed in a limousine crash said, citing police. “All fatal. That limo was com- on their way to a wedding recep- “I heard some screaming. It on its website. are to be rounded up in Tin New York state, police Pictures posted on Twitter ing down that hill probably over tion. looked serious because people The store, a popular stop for OCalifornia by the US For- confi rmed yesterday, with local by Jesse McKinley, the Albany 60mph ... I don’t want to de- “This is terrible, terrible, ter- were running back and forth,” a tourists viewing fall foliage in est Service and animal rights media reporting that it slammed bureau chief for the New York scribe the scene. It’s not some- rible,” Waterson told the Times witness identifi ed as Bridey Fin- the area, posted a message on activists fear hundreds of them into a crowd of pedestrians at a Times, showed a hair brush and thing I want to think about,” she Union. egan told the station. its Facebook page lamenting the could be sold for slaughter. country store. a fragment of a vehicle tail light was quoted as saying. The National Transporta- Road accidents are the fourth “horrifi c accident”. The Modoc National Forest Police said the crash occurred in the grass at the side of the The Columbus Day weekend tion Safety Board confi rmed on leading cause of injury related It said it would be open for in northeast California plans to on Saturday afternoon, describ- road, near deep muddy tracks is the busiest of the year for the Twitter that a limo was involved deaths in New York state, ac- business today and “hope you start the round up and removal ing in a brief statement two cars that disappeared into woodland store, Kirby told the paper, not- and said it was sending investi- cording to federal health statis- will come and share your smiles, of the horses tomorrow from colliding in Schoharie County, beyond. ing that it was full of customers gators to the scene. tics. love, friendship and hugs with the Devil’s Garden Plateau Wild near the state capital, Albany. Apple Barrel manager Jes- from New York City, New Jersey Witnesses told local NBC af- In 2014, the latest year with us”. Horse Territory, according to a statement on its website. The more than 250,000 acre (101,171 hectare) territory was designated for up to 402 adult horses, but their population has grown to almost 4,000. Kavanaugh sworn in at US Supreme Court That has impacted the health of horses as they compete for limited food. AFP It has also harmed scarce wa- Washington ter sources, native grasses and other wildlife, the agency said. “It’s time we took a more ac- onservative US judge tive approach taking care of the Brett Kavanaugh was horses, taking care of the land- Cconfi rmed to the Su- scape,” Amanda McAdams, Mo- preme Court sworn in Saturday, doc National Forest supervisor, after the Senate voted 50-48 said in a video on the round up. in his favour – a move that ce- Under the plan, horses aged mented the top court’s shift 10 and older will be available for to the right under Republican adoption or sale, with limita- leader President Donald Trump, tions, in November. who has chosen two of the nine Younger animals are also up sitting justices. Kavanaugh is sworn in as an Associate Justice of the US Supreme for adoption, according to the Protesters rallied in Washing- Court by Chief Justice John G Roberts, Jr, with Kavanaugh’s wife national forest’s website. ton and other US cities against Ashley holding the bible, and his daughters Liza and Margaret in A purchase agreement on the the ascent of the 53-year-old attendance. website states buyers must agree judge, who has faced multiple not to resell horses for slaughter, allegations of sexual misconduct formal oath-taking at the high “I am here because President which is illegal under California and been criticised for his angry court. Trump mocked sexual assault law. partisan rhetoric. Kavanaugh’s nomination as a victims,” said North Carolina According to The American The prolonged nomination replacement for retiring justice native Kara Harrington, 50. “It Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC), battle has roiled American poli- Anthony Kennedy was contro- unleashed something inside the Forest Service plans to ex- tics, disrupting the status quo versial from the start – but the me. I was assaulted when I was ploit a legal loophole to eventu- on Capitol Hill and fi ring up initial focus was solely on the younger and I didn’t tell any- ally sell the older horses, num- both Republicans and opposi- conservative views held by the body.” bering around 300, “without tion Democrats a month before married father of two. In the Senate chamber, the restriction”, thus allowing buy- crucial mid-term elections. However, his ascent to the vote was disrupted on several A protester sits on the lap of the ‘Contemplation of Justice’ statue as fellow protesters take the steps of ers to ship them to Canada for The two-vote margin of vic- Supreme Court was thrown into occasions by angry protests the US Supreme Court against the Kavanaugh’s appointment. slaughter. tory made it the closest Supreme doubt when university research from the gallery. A ban on horse slaughter in the Court confi rmation vote since psychologist Dr Christine Blasey Republican Senate Majority publican control of the White man of great character and in- course will have to be on election US was renewed earlier this year. 1881 – and by far the most con- Ford testifi ed that he had sexual- Leader Mitch McConnell, who House, the Senate and the House tellect” and said he would work day,” Democratic Senator Amy The practice is legal in Mexico tentious since Clarence Thomas ly assaulted her at a party when has railed against Kavanaugh’s of Representatives, along with a alongside Trump’s other Su- Klobuchar told reporters. and Canada, leading US horse in 1991. they were in high school. critics, said he was “proud” of fi rm conservative majority on preme Court pick, Neil Gorsuch, Senator Lisa Murkowski, the buyers to ship animals to those “This is a historic night,” Ahead of the Senate vote, pro- his colleagues and predicted a the judiciary’s top court. to protect the “sacred rights” of only Republican to oppose Ka- countries for slaughter and sale Trump told supporters at a rally testers vented their rage on the bright future for his party. In Kansas, Trump seized on Americans. vanaugh, said that it was time as horse meat to Europe and in Kansas after signing Ka- steps of the US Capitol. “Our base is fi red up. We fi - the moment to skewer his op- Later, in a phone interview for the Senate – and Americans Asia. vanaugh’s commission aboard As they chanted “Shame!” nally discovered the one thing ponents. with Fox News, Trump said he – to “heal” after such a divisive In a statement, the AWHC Air Force One. “I stand before and “November is coming!” po- that would fi re up the Repub- “The radical Democrats have was “very happy” that he did few weeks. urged the Forest Service to re- you today on the heels of a tre- lice took several dozen demon- lican base, and we didn’t think turned into an angry mob,” he not pull the plug on Kavanaugh’s She acknowledged the an- duce the wild horse population mendous victory for our nation, strators down the steps and put of it. The other side did it,” he said. “The Democrats are willing nomination. guish of the protesters who humanely over time by making our people and our beloved Con- them in plastic fl ex-cuff s. told reporters after Kavanaugh’s to cause such destruction in the Democratic senators, who interrupted the historic Sen- removals incremental so homes stitution.” Later, the protesters moved to confi rmation. pursuit of power – just imag- worked to block Kavanaugh, in- ate vote, telling reporters after- can be found for all horses. The president will host Ka- the Supreme Court, at one point Indeed, Kavanaugh’s con- ine the devastation they would sisted the caustic battle would wards: “I was closing my eyes Offi cials for the Modoc Na- vanaugh at the White House for rushing the steps and banging fi rmation refl ects a high-water cause if they ever obtained the motivate their party faithful at and praying – praying for them, tional Forest and AWHC were a public swearing-in ceremony on the building’s ornate bronze mark of the Trump presidency, power they so desperately want.” the polls next month. praying for us and praying for not available for further com- today, following Saturday’s doors. before the halfway point: Re- He hailed Kavanaugh as “a “It is a sad day, but the re- the country.” ment.

Kanye West Trump hails ‘historic, tremendous victory’ deletes social media accounts

DPA/Reuters didates in next month’s mid- one with a squeaky clean past mation vote while fl ying on Air Kanye West has seemingly Washington term elections, Trump rallied his like Brett Kavanaugh. He is an Force One to a political rally deleted his social media base using the divisive nomina- outstanding person and I’m very in Kansas, viewing the vote on accounts, following a period in tion process. honoured to have chosen him,” large-screen television tuned to which he courted increasing S President Donald “Each of you will have a Trump told reporters while fl y- Fox News in a wood-panelled controversy via the platforms. Trump has hailed the chance in four weeks to render ing to a campaign rally in Kan- cabin. The rapper’s Instagram and Usuccessful appointment your verdict,” he told the cheer- sas. “We’re very honoured that The president fl ashed two Twitter pages had vanished late of Brett Kavanaugh to the Su- ing crowd, many wearing red he was able to withstand this thumbs up when the fi nal vote on Saturday. preme Court, calling it a “truly “Make America Great Again” horrible, horrible attack by the was declared and aides on board West attracted criticism recently historic night” and a “tremen- hats. “We have been energised.” Democrats.” applauded. Trump: I chose him is because there is no one with a squeaky clean after using social media to call dous victory” at a political rally Earlier, on board Air Force Trump’s words echoed those He disputed predictions that past like Brett Kavanaugh. for an abolishment of the US in Kansas. One, Trump said that he is “100 of Ford who told the Senate Ju- women voters angry about Ka- Constitution’s 13th Amendment “You don’t hand matches to %” certain that Dr Christine diciary Committee that she vanaugh’s nomination could what happened to Brett Ka- paid by liberal political donors – which ended slavery in 1865 an arsonist and you don’t hand Blasey Ford named the wrong was “100 %” certain it was Ka- punish his party in the congres- vanaugh, outraged,” Trump said. and that his party would prevail – and to voice support for power to an angry left-wing person when she accused Ka- vanaugh who sexually assaulted sional elections on November 6. “It was a total misnomer be- in November when one-third of President Donald Trump. mob,” Trump said, blasting his vanaugh of sexual assault in her in the upstairs bedroom of Hundreds of protesters in and cause the women I feel were in the Senate seats and all House The Chicago native was taken to opponents. “The Democrats testimony during his Supreme a home in a wealthy Washing- around the US Capitol – many of many ways stronger than men in seats will be up for election. task for his comments and stance have become too extreme and Court nomination hearings. ton suburb in 1982 when both of whom were women – were ar- his favour.” “I think the Republicans are by fellow celebrities. too dangerous to govern.” “This is one of the reasons I them were teenagers. rested in the past week. Trump said the protesters going to do incredibly well,” “Trump becoming our president As he stumped for local can- chose him is because there is no Trump watched the confi r- “Women were outraged at were not genuine, but had been Trump said. was a loss for the country but your support of him is a loss for the culture,” singer Lana Del Rey commented under a photo of West sporting a “Make America US Senate leader says Kavanaugh vote is his ‘proudest moment’ Great Again” hat on his Instagram page. “There’s nothing more AFP moment since he fi rst entered the process had “broken” the din of Maryland noted that sev- to overturn the rule of law and maddening than debating Washington the Senate in 1984, the 76-year- Senate. eral key issues framing the No- replace it with mob rule lost ... someone who doesn’t know old replied: “I think so. I think The fi ght over Kavanaugh’s vember 6 election – women’s this is character assassination,” history, doesn’t read books, and the most important thing the confi rmation appears to have reproductive rights, the Mueller he told Fox. frames their myopia as virtue,” S Senate leader Mitch Senate is involved in is the per- deepened the fi ssures separating investigation into Russia’s role He added: “I’ve never cam- actor Chris Evans, of Captain McConnell has hailed the sonnel business. Congress as lawmakers and their in the 2016 election and Repub- paigned against a colleague in America fame, replied to one of Uconfi rmation of divisive “Of the various 1,200 ap- supporters prepare to head out lican attempts to roll back the my life. That’s about to change.” West’s tweets. judge Brett Kavanaugh to the pointments who come to us for on the campaign trail. Obamacare health programme – On ABC’s This Week, Hirono West has left social media before. Supreme Court as his “proud- confi rmation, obviously the Senator Mazie Hirono, a could all come before a Supreme was pressed on whether she He deactivated his Twitter est moment” in the upper house most important are the lifetime Democrat from Hawaii, said Court pitched to the right by Ka- might support potential future account for almost a year, only as the warring Republicans and McConnell: I’m proud of my appointments to the courts and yesterday that Kavanaugh would vanaugh’s presence. Democratic eff orts to impeach returning in April amid an intense Democrats turned their focus to colleagues, this is an important we prioritise handling President be sitting on the court “with a “Those issues are going to be Kavanaugh. period of recording at a Wyoming the crucial midterm elections. day for the United States Senate. Trump’s outstanding nominees huge taint after his name. The on the ballot in the midterm, and She demurred, but then studio. Kavanaugh was confi rmed to for the Supreme Court.” partisanship he showed was as- Judge Kavanaugh underscores added: “I’m focused like a laser He also deleted his Instagram the court on Saturday by a razor- “I’m proud of my colleagues, “The mob descended on tounding”. those issues,” Cardin told Fox. beam on the elections. All these account in May 2017, reactivated thin margin in the Senate, end- this is an important day for the Capitol Hill and tried to intimi- Both sides claimed that the Republican Senator Lindsey angry people know that these it for about a week in February ing months of partisan rancor United States Senate,” McCon- date our members into opposing brutal political battle over Ka- Graham said he had never been people sitting in the Senate are before turning it off after over his nomination and off ering nell told political magazine show this good man’s nomination. We vanaugh had mobilised and gal- so disturbed than by the events making these decisions. Valentine’s Day. Donald Trump one of the biggest Fox News Sunday. stood up to the mob,” McConnell vanised their supporters. of recent weeks. “They’re going to go to the He had only recently returned victories of his presidency. Asked if it was his proudest said, rejecting the notion that Democratic senator Ben Car- “I’m glad that those who try polls and vote diff erently.” to it. Gulf Times Monday, October 8, 2018 13 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Pompeo hails ‘productive’ talks with Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang

AFP Pompeo tweeted. “We continue Jae-in, Pompeo declined to give terms of denuclearisation and the peace and to set up “the next Last month the North’s foreign of sanctions based on progress in Seoul to make progress on agreements specifi c details of the Pyongyang peace process on the Korean pe- summit”. Since the Singapore minister told the United Nations denuclearisation,” he said. made at Singapore Summit. talks but said he had “a good pro- ninsula.” After a previous visit to summit, the road towards warmer there was “no way” his country South Korean Foreign Minister Thanks for hosting me and my ductive conversation” with Kim. Pyongyang in July, Pompeo had ties has been bumpy. would disarm fi rst as long as tough Kang Kyung-wha has given a hint S Secretary of State Mike team.” The visit was Pompeo’s “President Trump said there said the two foes made progress Trump scrapped a previously US sanctions remain against his of what a grand bargain between Pompeo hailed “produc- fourth to North Korea. US Presi- are many steps along the way on key issues —but within hours planned trip by his top diplomat country. Analysts say Washington the two countries could look like. Utive” talks with North dent Donald Trump met Kim in and we took one of them today,” of his departure the North con- to Pyongyang after what he said may now consider new options In an interview with the Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore in June for the fi rst-ev- Pompeo said. “It was another step demned “gangster-like” demands was insuffi cient progress towards as China, Russia and South Korea ‘Washington Post’, she said the Pyongyang yesterday before land- er summit between the countries, forward so this is I think a good from the US, raising questions implementing the terms of the seek to relax sanctions. “North North could agree to dismantle ing in Seoul on a whirlwind diplo- resulting in what critics say was outcome for all of us. The dovish over how much the two sides re- Singapore declaration. But the Korea took some steps towards Yongbyon, its signature nuclear matic visit to the region. only a vague commitment by Kim Moon, who held three summits ally saw eye to eye. unorthodox US president has also denuclearisation and the US will site. In exchange, the United The top US diplomat met with towards denuclearisation of the with Kim this year and also bro- An offi cial on yesterday’s latest since declared himself “in love” face criticism from the interna- States would declare a formal Kim for around two hours yester- Korean peninsula. kered the Trump-Kim summit in visit to Pyongyang with Pompeo with Kim. tional community if it contin- end to the 1950-53 Korean War day morning in the North’s capi- Speaking to Pompeo via an Singapore, said the “whole world” said the trip was “better than the Washington and Pyongyang ues to demand complete denu- — which concluded with an armi- tal, where denuclearisation and a interpreter following the morn- was watching with keen interest last time”, but added: “It’s going to have sparred over the exact terms clearisation without any lifting stice rather than a peace treaty — second US-North Korean summit ing’s talks, Kim praised their “nice the outcomes of Pompeo’s trip. be a long haul.” of their vaguely-worded agree- of sanctions,” said Yang Moo-jin, but North Korea would stop short were expected to be high on the meeting”. He added: “It’s a very “I hope your trip to North Ko- On the fl ight to Tokyo — the ment in Singapore, with the US a professor at the University of of delivering an exhaustive list of agenda, before the pair shared a nice day that promises a good rea and the upcoming second US- fi rst leg of his trip — Pompeo had pushing to maintain sanctions North Korean Studies in Seoul. its nuclear facilities, she said. lunch together. future ... for both countries.” At North Korea summit will provide said his aim was to “develop suffi - and pressure against the North “We can’t rule out the possibil- After Seoul, Pompeo ends his “Had a good trip to Pyongyang a meeting later yesterday with a good opportunity for achieving cient trust” between Washington until its “fi nal, fully verifi ed de- ity that Washington... may move trip in China, North Korea’s po- to meet with Chairman Kim,” South Korean President Moon irreversible, decisive progress in and Pyongyang to inch towards nuclearisation”. in the direction of partial easing litical and economic lifeline. 5,000 missing in Indonesia disaster

AFP Palu

he number of people be- lieved missing from the Tquake and tsunami that struck Indonesia’s Palu city has soared to 5,000, an offi cial said yesterday, an indication that far more may have perished in the twin disaster than the current A military helicopter flies past a devastated area in Palu. toll. Indonesia’s disaster agency say they have recovered 1,763 of the disaster more than a week bodies so far from the 7.5-mag- ago, as food and water ran dry nitude and subsequent tsunami and convoys bringing life-saving that struck Sulawesi on Septem- relief were slow to arrive. ber 28. But the trickle of international But there are fears that two of aid to Palu and local eff orts to the hardest-hit neighbourhoods help the survivors have acceler- in Palu – Petobo and Balaroa – ated in recent days. Planeloads could contain thousands more of supplies were landing with in- victims, swallowed up by ground creasing frequency in Palu, where that engulfed whole communi- daisy chains of troops unloaded ties in a process known as lique- supplies directly onto trucks or faction. “Based on reports from helicopters. the (village) heads of Balaroa More than 82,000 military and Petobo, there are about Houses aff ected by an earthquake and liquefaction are seen in the Balaroa neighbourhood in Palu. and civilian personnel, as well 5,000 people who have not been as volunteers, are on the ground found,” agency spokesman Su- initially predicted some 1,000 remain entombed. In Balaroa, communities fl attened in Palu while Indonesian army choppers topo Purwo Nugroho told report- people were buried beneath the a massive government hous- as mass graves, and leaving them are undertaking supply runs to Men walk among the rubble of a destroyed house after an earthquake ers yesterday. ruins of Palu. But the latest tally ing complex was also subsumed untouched. remote areas blocked off by the in the Balaroa neighbourhood in Palu, Central Sulawesi. “Nevertheless, offi cials there speaks to the considerable de- by the quake and rescuers have Muhlis, whose uncle was still disaster. “They are in great need are still trying to confi rm this struction in the worst-hit ar- struggled to extract bodies from missing in Balaroa, said the miss- because the road is cut off and it’s Cross workers set up warehouses said 18-year-old Sela Fauziah in and are gathering data. It is not eas of Petobo and Balaroa as the the tangled mess in the aftermath ing and dead should be honoured accessible only by air”, Second and fanned out to distribute sup- Palu’s central market, where she easy to obtain the exact number picture on the ground has be- of the disaster. Hopes of fi nd- respectfully. Lieutenant Reinaldo Apri told plies across the region. But relief queued with hundreds for essen- of those trapped by landslides, or come clearer. Petobo, a cluster ing anyone alive have faded, as “There should be a monument AFP after piloting a helicopter workers face a monumental task tial food items being distributed liquefaction, or mud.” of villages in Palu, was virtually the search for survivors morphs here to make people aware, so to rugged Lindu district, some ahead. by soldiers. Nugroho said the search for wiped out by the powerful quake into a grim gathering and ac- that our grandchildren will know 40km south of Palu. The tens of thousands left Things are even more des- the unaccounted would continue and wall of water that devastat- counting of the dead. “This is this disaster happened in 2018,” Hercules planes carrying homeless by the disaster are perate in remoter areas. “I am until October 11, at which point ed Palu. Much of it was sucked day 10. It would be a miracle to said Muhlis, who like many Indo- tonnes of donations from Aus- scattered across Palu and be- coming to Palu to report that we they would be listed as missing, whole into the ground as the vi- actually fi nd someone still alive,” nesians goes by one name. tralia and the United States yond, many squatting outside need tents, because 95% of our presumed dead. brations from the quake turned Muhammad Syaugi, the head of The grim news comes as relief reached Palu yesterday morning, their ruined homes or bunkered village has been destroyed,” said The fi gure drastically increas- soil to quicksand. Indonesia’s search and rescue eff orts were ramped up to reach as did a plane chartered by Save down in makeshift camps and Simsom Mudju from Lindu, who es the estimates for those who It was feared that beneath the agency told AFP yesterday. 200,000 people in desperate of the Children and another car- entirely dependent on handouts clambered aboard the chopper to disappeared when the disaster crumbled rooftops and twisted The government has been help after days of delays. Looters rying a South African medical to survive. “There is nowhere else tell the outside world about his struck 10 days ago. Offi cials had rebar, a vast number of bodies considering declaring those ransacked shops in the aftermath team. Teams of Indonesian Red to get food, nowhere is open,” marooned community’s plight.

Sri Lanka train Bangladesh court asks govt why jailed photographer should not get bail kills three elephant calves Sydney Opera House Bangladesh’s High Court issued information” during widespread a student wing of Prime Minister Shahdeen Malik told Reuters after a notice to the government student protests. Sheikh Hasina’s ruling party was the hearing. Bangladesh’s Attorney A passenger train hit and yesterday asking it to justify why He was picked up from his home trying to attack the protesters – ac- General Mahbubey Alam appeared killed three young elephants ‘advert’ sparks uproar a prominent social activist should hours after giving an interview to cusations that were also denied. in court on behalf of the govern- in eastern Sri Lanka, off icials not be granted bail, in a case Al Jazeera, in which he accused The High Court yesterday heard ment, and said bail would hamper said yesterday, weeks after widely seen as a test for freedom the government of extrajudicial kill- Alam’s appeal against the decision the on-going investigation. two calves and their pregnant AFP be seen in the global community of speech. Shahidul Alam, an ings and corruption – accusations of a lower court to deny him bail Hasina, the daughter of Bangla- mother were fatally struck Sydney as not respecting this jewel, this award-winning photographer, was the government dismissed. The last month. It issued the notice to desh’s founder and first President in the same region. The masterpiece of human creative detained in August on suspicion of 63-year-old had also posted com- the government and asked it to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, is facing Colombo-bound train with genius that is the greatest build- spreading “propaganda and false ments on social media saying that reply within a week, Alam’s lawyer national elections in December. 600 passengers hit the herd government push to use ing of the 20th century.” near the village of Welikanda, the Sydney Opera House’s NSW Minister for Racing Paul 260km east of the capital on Asails to advertise a horse Toole defended his government’s Saturday night, railway off icials racing event over the wishes of decision, saying there was “no said. “Four compartments the building’s management has way this is devaluing the Opera Tribute derailed, but fortunately there sparked uproar among many Aus- House”. were no casualties among the tralians over the commercialisa- “When you have a look at The passengers,” a railway off icial tion of an iconic landmark. Everest, it is the richest race on said adding that the track was The A$13mn (US$10mn) Ever- turf in the world which is bring- extensively damaged. est race, which boasts the world’s ing in tourists and visitors,” he The incident came less than biggest turf race prize, is due to told the Sydney Morning Herald. three weeks after a similar take place in Sydney next week “Promoting The Everest this way crash involving a fuel train in and organisers are pushing to pro- is consistent with other events the same region. The three mote it on the white wings of the we’ve promoted on the Opera elephants, part of a larger Opera House. House such as the Mardi Gras, the herd, were crossing the railway Amid protracted negotiations, Wallabies, The Ashes, and Chi- track at dawn in jungle near the state government stepped in nese New Year.” Habarana, 180km northeast of late Friday to force the manage- The state government was Colombo, when they were hit ment to allow for the race’s tro- backed by Prime Minister Scott and killed late last month. phy, colours and numbers to be Morrison, who said the Opera The latest accident came even projected onto the white wings of House promotion was a “no- as the authorities investigated the structure early next week. The brainer”. “This is one of the big- the previous crash to deter- wings have been lit up previously gest events of the year. Why not mine if the train driver had to promote other major sporting put it on the biggest billboard followed standard procedures events, including the Olympics, Sydney has,” Morrison, a former while operating in jungle areas but Opera House chief executive head of Tourism Australia, told with elephant populations. Louise Herron said before the reporters. “It creates jobs. This Drivers are usually expected government’s intervention that isn’t about advertising a packet of to move slowly and sound the she did not want the building to be chips ... Frankly, I thought it was a horn continuously to warn any used as an advertising “billboard”. no-brainer. I can’t work out what wild animals on the track. Two “If we said yes to this, ‘we’re all the fuss is about.” months ago, seven elephants fi ne to put the Everest logo on But Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Pallbearers from the New Zealand Defence Force carry caskets during an arrival ceremony for the repatriated remains of two New drowned in a swamp in the there’ our policy is worthless to Moore said Saturday the projects Zealand military servicemen, navy telegraphist Peter James Mollison and army driver Herbert Lester Humm, who died decades ago same area. Six of the seven vic- us, we’re just going to allow who- were “blatant commercialisa- in separate incidents while serving in South Korea, during an arrival ceremony in RNZAF Base Auckland at Whenuapai yesterday. tims were below the age of 12. ever comes along to use the Opera tion” while a change.org petition The New Zealand Defence Force is repatriating the remains of personnel and dependants buried overseas after January 1955 as Sri Lanka considers elephants a House as a billboard, we would against the move has attracted part of project Te Auraki (The Return), following a change in government policy. Between 1955 and 1971 NZDF personnel who died national treasure and they are lose our World Heritage status,” more than 40,000 signatures in while serving abroad were buried in overseas cemeteries unless their families paid repatriation costs. protected by law. she told local media. “We would two days. Gulf Times 14 Monday, October 8, 2018 BRITAIN

Universal credit needs to be scrapped, says McDonnell

Guardian News and Media that austerity was deepening two-thirds of working-age cou- address the issue of benefi t cuts system was “getting more people required and “the principle of further. “You can’t save the thing, London contrary to claims Theresa May ples with children would lose the shortly afterwards in a BBC in- into work in a sustainable way”. bringing together benefi ts in one it’s got to go,” he said. made in her party conference equivalent of £2,400 a year. terview. The Cabinet minister did Lewis also hit back at McDon- so it’s a much simpler system is Sir Richard Dearlove, the head speech. McDonnell said: “We’ve not address the issue of fi nancial nell, challenging Labour to say something we all support, but of MI6 between 1999 and 2004, he shadow chancellor, “I think we are at that stage looked and looked, we can’t see impacts directly, and sought to how it would reform the ben- this hasn’t done that”. had earlier told Sky News that John McDonnell, has said where it’s not sustainable any that either government’s or other defend the system more broadly. efi ts system, and noting that the Labour has been edging toward he was concerned about Jeremy Tuniversal credit should be more. It’s not a system that can proposals could reform it. It’s in “As you move onto universal shadow chancellor had advo- advocating the abolition of uni- Corbyn. scrapped following warnings that work, it’s not a system that is shambles, and it’s actually iniq- credit, the system looks at the cated simplifi cation of the sort versal credit, a complex system “Someone coming from my millions of families could lose as providing that safety net,” he uitous as well. To have govern- individual and comes up with an intended by universal credit. “Of that merges six existing benefi ts background is troubled by Jer- much as £200 a month under the said. ment ministers being privately approach to somebody’s needs,” course he’s not able to outline into a single payment. At the par- emy Corbyn’s past associations, reformed benefi ts system. According to weekend re- briefed that families are going to Lewis told BBC’s Andrew Marr. what he would do exactly,” the ty’s conference in Liverpool last some of which I fi nd surpris- McDonnell hardened the par- ports, Esther McVey, the work lose £200 a month, it’s just not He added that universal credit Conservative chairman said. month, McDonnell indicated that ing and worrying. He may have ty’s position on universal credit and pensions secretary, recently acceptable.” had been rolled out slowly in the Earlier, McDonnell had said a a review was likely to conclude abandoned them now, but I don’t in a television interview on Sky briefed Cabinet colleagues that Brandon Lewis, the Conserva- UK – including his Great Yar- “root and branch examination that replacement not reform was think you can entirely, as it were, News, during which he also said half of single parents and about tive party chairman, struggled to mouth constituency – and the of how we can go forward” was the answer. On Sky News he went dump your past,” he said.

Hundreds of dogs SNP would hound May

AFP London back second uskies, Chihuahuas, boxers and beagles — Hand even a lumbering Leonberger — joined a “Woof- erendum march” in central Lon- don yesterday as their pro-Eu- Brexit vote: ropean owners called for a new people’s vote on Brexit. The gathering commanded politicians, actors and activists, accompanied by hundreds of four-legged friends, all united in their opposition to Britain’s de- Sturgeon parture from the EU next March. “We will not roll over... it’s Guardian News and Media the countries of the UK voted for independence are conspicuously time for the Wooferendum,” London that.” absent from the main conference said Labour MP Stella Creasy, a The SNP’s Westminster leader, programme, but the topics are self-confessed cat — not dog — Ian Blackford, said on Saturday expected to dominate the fringe. owner, in a pun-laden speech. icola Sturgeon has said that his party could support a Sturgeon has faced continu- “Go fetch people: get Britain a Scottish National Party second referendum on Brexit if ing demands from hardline in- better future.” NMPs would undoubtedly there was a guarantee that Scot- dependence activists and some The dog parade — which drew support a second EU referendum land could also hold another vote MPs and MSPs to launch a sec- pooches and people from far in a Commons vote, but suggest- on independence. It came as a ond independence campaign beyond the capital — took place ed her party would seek a guar- YouGov poll of SNP members before the Brexit deadline of next two weeks before a larger pro- antee that if Scotland voted again for the People’s Vote campaign March. Tens of thousands of referendum rally planned for to remain in the EU in contrast to found that 79% said that they Scottish independence support- October 20. the rest of the UK, it would not be would back a new referendum on ers marched through Edinburgh Prime Minister Theresa May forced to accept the result. Brexit. on Saturday. has ruled out a new Brexit poll, Speaking at the start of her While not ruling out the pos- Asked to clarify when she saying it would betray the re- party’s autumn conference in sibility of a no-deal Brexit, Stur- planned to update her party on sult of the 2016 vote and destroy Glasgow, the SNP leader and geon said that what was most her plans for a potential second trust in politicians. Scotland’s fi rst minister also said likely was a “cobbled-together independence referendum, Stur- But politicians from all par- she could not envisage SNP MPs agreement around the with- geon said “when Theresa May ties have joined a growing move- voting for any Brexit deal that drawal issues including the comes back with a deal”. ment for Britons to have another did not include membership of Northern Ireland backstop, that “I will set out what I think say on the issue. the single market and customs is only achieved by fudging”. the next steps are when we are “I do think we’ve got mo- union. “So we will have what some at the end of this phase of ne- mentum,” Alastair Campbell, As the third-largest party at people have been calling a blind gotiations,” she told Marr. “The a former Labour government Westminster, the SNP’s 35 MPs Brexit where the House of Com- future EU-UK relationship is the spokesman and people’s vote could play a crucial role in any mons is asked to eff ectively rub- context in which Scotland would campaigner, said alongside his knife-edge vote on the Brexit ber stamp the UK leaving the EU decide that question of inde- fi ve-month-old Cavalier King deal or a second referendum. without anybody having any idea pendence, so it will shape some Charles Spaniel, Skye. Sturgeon told BBC One’s The what the future relationship is of the answers to questions peo- “In a campaign, use whatever Andrew Marr Show: “We would going to look like,” she said. “I ple have. you can that helps,” he added of not stand in the way of a second think that is almost as unaccept- “So it’s great for me to be sit- yesterday’s pet prelude. “Today referendum, a so-called people’s able as no deal at all.” ting here on the fi rst day of my is showing that this country just vote. SNP MPs would undoubt- As the SNP, now the second- party conference with a number isn’t uniting around any vision edly vote for that proposition. largest party in the UK, begins of polls showing support for for Brexit and it’s one way of We would of course want to talk its conference, a Panelbase sur- independence rising, the quite fi ghting.” to people about how we ensure vey for the Sunday Times found extraordinary demonstration of After Brexit, Britain may have that Scotland does not end up in that backing for independence support on the streets of Edin- to leave the EU’s pet passport the same position all over again, would rise to 48%, from 45% in burgh, that’s a happy position scheme, which allows registered where we voted to remain in the September 2014, in the event of a for an independence-supporting pets to travel to member states EU but fi nd ourselves facing exit no-deal Brexit. SNP leader to be in. freely with their owners. completely against our will.” An SNP-commissioned snap- “But it’s important to get the As a result of the change, dog Pressed on whether such a shot of voting intention also timing right, not just for self- owners are likely to face in- guarantee was likely, she said: found that 50% of respondents interested reasons. We want to creased bureaucracy and need “Before the 2016 referendum. I would support independence if have that decision when we’ve more preparation time in order put forward the proposal for the another referendum took place got the best chance of winning, to take their canine companions Dog owners and their pets participating in a pro-EU, anti-Brexit march towards the Houses of Parliament in double lock where the UK could after the UK had left the EU. but out of respect for the deci- to the continent. central London yesterday. only leave the EU if all four of Discussions of both Brexit and sion.”

Plan to expand stripping Schoolboy ‘punished for backing Ukip’ of citizenship condemned Daily Mail Ukip leader Gerard Bat- London ten said: “Sadly this is not a Guardian News and Media criminals someone else’s prob- if the secretary of state is satis- unique occurrence … Ukip London lem is not responsible, eff ective fi ed that it would be conducive people have told me that policymaking. It’s the govern- to the public good. It is a power 15-year-old boy was given teachers have told their chil- ment washing its hands of its re- used for extreme and exceptional detention after voicing his dren that their parents “be- ome Secretary Sajid Javid sponsibilities. cases. Asupport for Ukip during a long to a Nazi party”. is taking the UK down a “Accepting citizenship strip- “Deprivation on conducive classroom debate, his father has “It’s happening because the H“very dangerous road” ping as a legitimate punishment grounds can be used where indi- claimed. teaching profession is under the with plans to expand powers to could see us all sleepwalking into viduals pose a threat to national During a phone-in on radio sta- domination of the extreme Left strip dual citizens of their Brit- a future where the list of ‘serious’ security, or have been involved tion LBC, a caller named Paul told who are the real fascists in mod- ish citizenship, a leading human crimes gets ever longer and the in war crimes, serious and or- host Nick Ferrari his son had been ern-day Britain. rights group has warned. government uses this extreme ganised crime and unacceptable punished after declaring he would “Parents must insist the law Suspected terrorists have pre- measure more and more fre- behaviours such as extremism or vote for the right-wing party – but is upheld in schools and teachers viously had their UK citizenship quently. Banishment belongs in glorifi cation of terrorism.” shouldn’t be called racist. are not allowed to promote po- taken away – most often while the dark ages and has no place in Diane Abbott, the shadow The caller said: “One boy said litical agendas.” they are abroad – and the move the UK in 2018.” home secretary, said citizen- he’d vote for Ukip and the teach- It came after it was reported does not require prior approval From 2010 to 2015, 33 people ship stripping was discrimina- er said ‘all Ukip voters are racist’, Alissa Cook-Gray, 17, quit her from a judge or parliament. were stripped of their British tory against minority communi- so my boy came in and said, “I’d college course after her tutor In his speech at the Conserva- citizenship, all of them dual na- ties. “Stripping dual nationals of vote for Ukip and I’m not racist. warned her she was ‘Right-wing’ tive party conference, Javid pro- tionals, on terrorism grounds. British citizenship is inherently “He was given a detention, for supporting former English posed extending the reach of the Figures for 2015 onward have not discriminatory and risks creat- (with) the three boys that said it, Defence League leader Tommy power to cover serious criminals, been made available. ing yet another ‘hostile environ- and when he came home and told Robinson. citing child grooming gangmas- Javid has made tackling child ment’ not for illegality but for me I didn’t believe him.” She claimed a teacher told her ters as an example. sexual exploitation a key issue for Britain’s many minority commu- Paul later phoned his son’s “Get out, we don’t want people Corey Stoughton, acting di- his department. He recently an- nities,” she said. head of year to complain about with your views” during a politi- rector of Liberty, the human nounced an extra £21.5mn to help “The Conservatives’ inabil- the incident, which Ferrari de- cal debate in Crewe. rights and civil liberties group, investigators who say they are ity to learn from past mistakes scribed as ‘outrageous’ and A Ukip spokesman said: said: “The home secretary is tak- facing a “constant uphill strug- beggars belief, even when mealy ‘absurd’. He said the teacher in “There is an increasing number ing us down a very dangerous gle” to track down off enders. mouthed apologies are barely question was later reprimanded of reports across the country road. Few will sympathise with A Home Offi ce spokesperson dry on the page. Why not punish and the family received an apol- of this behaviour by teachers the people this power has been said: “Any British citizen may be Britons according to their crimes ogy from both the teacher and against pupils who say they sup- used against – but making our deprived of his or her citizenship rather than their origins?” Sajid Javid: taking the UK down a “very dangerous road” the school. port Ukip.” Gulf Times Monday, October 8, 2018 15 BRITAIN Patients to share GP appointments with up to 14 others

Daily Mail tions – such as diabetes, asthma they do not discuss details of appointments. Manson, who is leading the na- you may only have a matter of empty. Vacancy rates are up London and arthritis – will be invited other people’s ailments after- Doctors admit the plans re- tional training for group consul- a couple of minutes with each three-fold in six years. to the group sessions to discuss ward. A conference of the Royal quire ‘a leap of faith’ but say trials tations, said: ‘It’s a diff erent way patient but they leave the ses- Dr Emily Symington, a GP in their care. The two-hour ap- College of GPs was told the group have shown that sessions involv- of consulting with patients – it’s sion feeling like they’ve had 45 Croydon, south London, who atients are to be asked to pointments will typically be led sessions will be rolled out na- ing up to 15 people are good for a one-to-one clinical consulta- minutes or an hour of your time runs a group session, said it share GP appointments by admin staff or healthcare as- tionally later this year as part of patients, save money and spare tion delivered in a supportive and that’s a massive thing for helped cope with demand. “If Pwith up to 14 other peo- sistants. a new 10-year plan for the NHS. GPs from having to repeat the peer-group setting. In primary patients. They can’t believe that we are going to start to address ple. Already undergoing a trial Doctors will attend for around Health chiefs want the approach same advice over and over. care, that’s largely done with they’re getting all this time with the tide of lifestyle conditions at dozens of surgeries, the NHS an hour to discuss tests and to become the default care option Other benefi ts include pa- everybody in the room listening the GP, nurse or hospital doctor.” and long-term conditions we scheme is aimed at saving cash treatments. for those with long-term condi- tients eff ectively having longer in and contributing to the care of Many GP surgeries are in cri- need to start to thinking about and doctors’ time. Patients will have to sign con- tions. At present, many of these consultations and learning from that patient. sis with heavy workloads, with how we do things differently,” Suff erers of long-term condi- fi dentiality waivers to ensure patients book regular, individual the experiences of others. Alison “The interesting thing is that one in seven family doctor posts she added.

Giant walks through Liverpool Govt knew of stockpiled body parts crisis for months: fi rm

Guardian News and Media been warned they may need to London start storing their waste on site, in trailers provided by the gov- ernment, rather than sending it fficials have known to the fi rm. for months about the In a letter to NHS trusts, seen by Ostockpiled body parts the Daily Mail, Garry Pettigrew, scandal that has shaken the the boss of Healthcare Environ- NHS, the company at the cen- mental Services, claimed the NHS tre of the crisis claims. plan to deal with the crisis was The scandal erupted on Thurs- “completely unworkable, illegal day when it emerged that hun- and fi nancially unviable”. dreds of tonnes of human body Two fi rms in Liverpool and parts and medical waste from Wrexham, for example, had been NHS hospitals had been allowed asked to store a combined 330 to pile up across the country. tonnes of waste outside their The environment agency has building, even though it would A huge puppet named Giant walks past the dockside in central Liverpool yesterday during a production by French street theatre company Royal de Luxe entitled: been updated on the crisis every usually be earmarked “incinera- Liverpool’s Dream. Royal de Luxe was founded in Nantes in 1979 by Jean-Luc Courcoult and has played in front of more than 24mn spectators with around 1,500 shows in week since January – and was tion only”. over 170 cities on five continents. The ‘Giants’ puppets were created in 1993 and have travelled all over the world taking over cities including Berlin, Barcelona, Santiago, fi rst made aware of problems as Another in Pontefract, West Antwerp, Guadalajara, Perth and Montreal. long ago as 2015, the fi rm claims. Yorkshire, had “received dispen- Yet the NHS is now having to sation” to store 300 tonnes in an spend millions on last-minute ‘open yard’, he claimed. emergency measures to deal Pettigrew wrote: “We have with tonnes of stockpiled waste. found ourselves in the middle of a Some may be stored in ‘open witch-hunt towards making this yards’. company commercially unviable Opposition politicians de- and (a) personal vendetta being manded to know why the public organised behind the scenes to has been kept in the dark. somehow justify putting in place The environment agency told emergency measures. Man shot dead by the department of health and “We have highlighted to the social care about the problem environment agency, and cus- in July but the details were only tomers, since October 2015 that made public on Thursday when there was a serious reduction in leaked documents were revealed incineration capacity. The main by the Health Service Journal. reasons for this was evident The company, Healthcare En- ageing infrastructure, which is vironmental Services, which is unreliable, coupled with no in- cyclist in Liverpool subject to a criminal investiga- vestment in new equipment due Guardian News and Media hospital but was later pronounced investigation into this shocking nearby in Belle Vale, and any in- or someone making off on foot tion over stockpiling medical to cost constraints from the cus- London dead. Detectives said the assailant incident is in its very early stages, formation, no matter how small or on a pedal bike, to please get in waste, claims it is a victim of a tomer base.” The Environment was believed to have been riding a and we are keen to speak to any- you think it may be, could prove touch.” government ‘witch-hunt’. Agency has begun a criminal in- pedal bike and fl ed the scene after one who may have information crucial as we seek to establish The fatal shooting took place Instead of burning the mate- vestigation, saying the fi rm has murder investigation has the shooting. which could help us establish what happened and bring those less than mile from the street rial, which includes amputated breached its environmental per- been launched after a One woman, who did not want the full circumstances and fi nd responsible to justice. where a 16-year-old boy was limbs and waste from cancer mits at four sites – in Norman- A27-year-old man was shot to be named, said she had tried to those responsible.” Police said the “We share the community’s stabbed to death three months treatment, it has been storing it ton in West Yorkshire, Bradford, dead in a Liverpool street yester- resuscitate the man after hearing shooter was described as being shock that this could happen in ago. at six sites in England and Scot- Newcastle upon Tyne and Not- day morning. the gunshots. in his late 20s, of medium build, a residential street in broad day- Daniel Gee-Jamieson died land. The material also includes tingham. Armed offi cers were called to She told the Press Associa- dressed in black with a hi-vis or- light late on a Sunday morning. from a single stab wound infl icted old drugs and used equipment. The Scottish Environment the Belle Vale area of the city at tion: “It was about 11.15am and I ange jacket. I want to reassure the public that on Belle Vale Road on July 4. A On Saturday, the fi rm was said Protection Agency said it had about 11.30am to reports that a just heard four bangs. I wondered Detectives were making door- gun crime will not be tolerated 17-year-old boy, who cannot be to be looking to send 750 tonnes issued enforcement notices at man had been shot. what it was so I went into the gar- to-door enquiries on Cornwood on the streets of Merseyside at named, is in custody and due to go of medical waste to Holland. sites in Dundee and Shotts. Merseyside police said para- den and saw him lying on the fl oor Close, about fi ve miles east of any time of day, and that we will on trial in January charged with Meanwhile, companies were of- Health and Social Care Sec- medics treated the victim at the in the street. I did CPR. It’s hard Liverpool city centre, yesterday thoroughly investigate any infor- the teenager’s murder. fered lucrative contracts to shift retary Matt Hancock chaired a scene for critical injuries to the seeing someone you know like afternoon as the hunt for the of- mation given to us so we can put After the killing, Daniel’s fam- the waste and were even told en- meeting of the Cobra emergency head and torso. The victim, who that. He is a local lad and I know fender was launched. anyone who carries guns on our ily appealed for people to help vironmental regulations would committee three weeks ago to was standing close to a parked his family. He’s a nice lad.” Perischine said: “You may streets behind bars. the police to “stop any further be lowered to help them do so. discuss the growing volume of car on Cornwood Close when the Detective chief superintend- have seen or heard suspicious “I appeal again to anyone who children being killed by mindless Some 50 NHS hospitals have waste. shooting happened, was taken to ent Natalie Perischine said: “The behaviour in Cornwood Close or may have seen the incident itself, knife crime”.

Frieze art Council seeks powers to Woman ‘steals back’ acquire unused properties bike taken by thief Daily Mail touch with the Metropolitan Po- London lice, who told her to contact the Guardian News and Media be seized using such orders, but have a duty to provide afford- seller posing as a buyer and ar- London Kensington and Chelsea wants able homes.” Last year a string range a viewing. those rules relaxed. of oligarchs, foreign royalty hen her £700 bicycle She asked the thief if she could Doing so would make it and multimillionaire business was stolen from her see the bike at the weekend, but he council condemned “easier, quicker and finan- figures were revealed as the Wlocal high street, Shar- the man – who was selling multi- for its response to the cially viable to target all empty owners of vacant properties in ron Jenson not only told police ple bikes for up to £800 – stopped TGrenfell Tower tragedy properties that could and Kensington and Chelsea. but also turned detective herself. replying and the bike was later re- is seeking new powers to take should be put to use to allevi- The council and its manage- She spotted the bike for sale on- moved from the website. over empty properties and use ate pressing housing needs”, ment body came under intense line a few days later and followed The next day she took screen- them to house social tenants. Taylor-Smith said. criticism after the Grenfell offi cers’ advice to contact the shots from the website, with a The Royal Borough of Ken- He has suggested offering fire, which killed at least 72 thief as a potential buyer. fi rst name and phone number, to sington and Chelsea has called property owners tax breaks people, for ignoring repeated But despite getting his fi rst police. She claims the police did on the government to change on rental income if they allow safety warnings from the tow- name, an address and phone nothing the rules for acquiring unused the council to let their flats er’s residents. number, police refused to accom- She then bought a cheap sim- dwellings. and houses. “Owners should It has also been criticised pany her to the culprit’s home – card and texted the seller off er- The borough has 621 prop- not lose out. We want to col- for the amount of time taken forcing her to meet the thief alone ing £380 for the bike, which he erties that have been empty laborate with, not clobber, the to rehouse survivors, with and then ‘steal back’ her own bike. had listed for £420. The terrifi ed and unfurnished for more than property investo,” he said. dozens forced to live in hotels And after she gave police a de- housewife went alone to meet him two years, many of which are The ministry of housing, for months. A report pub- tailed description of the alleged on August 1. worth millions of pounds. One communities and local gov- lished by the North Kensing- criminal, they said there was ‘in- She recognised the bike was is valued at close to £30mn. ernment said, however, that ton Law Centre in June found suffi cient information to proceed hers and asked if she could test Kim Taylor-Smith, the there were no plans to change the council had made their with an investigation’ and closed ride it – she even thought to leave council’s deputy leader, has the system. “Local authorities trauma worse by taking far too the case. the man with an empty handbag written to the Housing Min- have a range of powers at their long to rehouse many people A furious Jenson, 44, said: “It she had brought along as a decoy. ister, Kit Malthouse, seeking disposal to tackle long-term after a series of errors. has made me realise how bad the When the man agreed she fl ed changes to empty dwelling empty homes, and we expect The centre, which has ad- state of policing is here.” with the management orders. them to use these to best ad- vised about 250 households Jenson’s bike was stolen from bike. The thief later texted her Only properties that have be- dress the needs of their resi- affected by the fire, said the Kingston High Street in south- demanding she bring it back and come “magnets for vandalism, dents,” a spokeswoman said. council’s performance on west London on July 20 and she then later called – but laughed and squatters and other forms of “We have no plans to change rehousing had fallen “way A visitor attends the annual Frieze London art fair in London immediately reported the theft to hung up when she told him the antisocial behaviour” and have the existing laws in this area, short” of what should be ex- yesterday. police. She saw it for sale on Gum- bike was hers and accused him of been empty for two years can but are clear that all councils pected. tree fi ve days later and got back in theft. Gulf Times 16 Monday, October 8, 2018 EUROPE

Vatican Interpol chief resigns raps critic Reuters Reuters/AFP a number of top government of- Vatican City Paris/Beijing fi cials, billionaire business mag- nates and even an A-list celeb- rity have vanished for weeks or top Vatican offi cial has nterpol said yesterday that months at a time. issued a scathing open Meng Hongwei – whom Chi- When – or if – they reappear, Aletter accusing an arch- Ina says is being investigated it is often in court. bishop who launched an unprec- over suspected violations of the Meng, the fi rst Chinese presi- edented attack on Pope Francis law – had resigned as president dent of Interpol, was last heard of mounting a “political frame of the international police or- from on September 25 as he left job devoid of real foundation”. ganisation. Lyon – where the international Cardinal Marc Ouellet said in “Today, Sunday 7 October, (at) police organisation is based – for the detailed, three-page letter the Interpol General Secretariat China. that calls by Archbishop Carlo in Lyon, France received the res- The agency’s secretary gen- Maria Vigano for the Pope to ignation of Mr Meng Hongwei as eral Juergen Stock, who oversees resign because he had allegedly president of Interpol with im- day-to-day operations, had said covered up sexual misconduct by mediate eff ect,” Interpol said in on Saturday that it was seeking Meng: resigned. a senior American churchman a statement. “clarifi cation” on his wherea- were “calumny and defamation”. Interpol said that South Ko- bouts from Chinese authorities. and international public opin- Ouellet, who heads the Vati- rean national Kim Jong Yang French police had opened an ion”, describing the situation as can’s powerful Congregation would become its acting presi- investigation into Meng’s disap- “political ruin”. for Bishops, issued the letter in dent, while it would appoint a pearance last week, according to China’s recently-established response to a bombshell state- new president at a November a source close to the inquiry. National Supervisory Commis- ment on August 26 by Vigano, 18-21 meeting of the organisa- Meng, 64, had lived with his sion holds sweeping powers to in which he accused a long list of tion in Dubai. wife and two children in France investigate the country’s public current and past Vatican and US Earlier, China said Meng, who since being elected Interpol servants with few requirements church offi cials of covering up vanished after returning to his president in 2016. for transparency. for Theodore McCarrick, 88, the homeland, was under investiga- Speaking to reporters in Although the commission did former archbishop of Washing- tion for possible criminal activ- France yesterday, Meng’s wife not detail the allegations against ton, DC, and called on the Pope ity as his wife voiced concern for Grace said that she had received Meng, its mandate is to investi- to resign. his life after he sent her a fi nal a message from his phone con- gate corruption cases as part of Vigano said the Pope knew for text message with a knife emoji. taining a knife emoji before his Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Grace, Meng’s wife, speaks with journalists yesterday in Lyon at a press conference, during which she years about sexual misconduct Beijing had remained tight- disappearance. anti-graft campaign. did not want her face to be shown. by McCarrick, the former arch- lipped about the fate of Meng, “This matter belongs to the Meng rose up the ranks of the bishop of Washington, DC, with who is also China’s vice-minis- international community,” she country’s domestic security ap- entrusted with a number of sen- dent has little infl uence over the related to murder, intentional adult male seminarians but did ter for public security, since his told a press conference. paratus when it was under the sitive portfolios, including the organisation’s day-to-day op- injury and drug smuggling, ac- nothing about it. disappearance was disclosed by That day, his wife said he sent leadership of Zhou Yongkang, a country’s counter-terrorism erations, which are handled by cording to Interpol’s web site. Ouellet’s stinging letter, unu- French offi cials on Friday. a message telling her to “wait rival to Xi and the highest-rank- division, and he was in charge secretary general Stock, a Ger- During Meng’s tenure, Inter- sually blunt between church- The National Supervisory for my call”, before sending the ing offi cial to be brought down of the response to several major man. pol issued a red notice for fu- men, was a point-by-point re- Commission, which handles emoji signifying danger. on corruption charges. incidents in China’s fractious The Chinese eff ort to track gitive Chinese billionaire Guo buttal of Vigano’s statements. corruption cases involving pub- “I’m not sure what has hap- Zhou – who was sentenced to western region of Xinjiang. down corrupt offi cials abroad, Wengui, who threatened to re- He urged Vigano to “come out lic servants, broke the offi cial pened to him,” she told reporters life in prison in 2014 – was sub- Critics of Meng’s 2016 elec- known as Operation Fox Hunt, veal corruption at the country’s of hiding, repent for your revolt silence early yesterday, saying in before the anti-graft commis- sequently accused of conspiring tion to Interpol’s presidency said has led to claims in some coun- highest levels. and return to better feelings to- a one-line statement that Meng sion issued its statement. to seize state power and authori- he would use the position to help tries that Chinese agents have Authorities in China and wards the Holy Father instead of “is currently under investiga- Later, upon learning about the ties have continued working to China target dissidents abroad been operating covertly on their Hong Kong have accused Guo, a worsening hostility against him”. tion on suspicion of violating announcement from Chinese root out his infl uence. under the guise of pursuing cor- soil without the approval or real estate tycoon who resides in He added: “Should not min- the law”. authorities, she told AFP that He appointed Meng vice-se- rupt offi cials. consent of local authorities. the United States, of laundering isters of the truth above all stay It is the latest high-profi le her husband’s case will be under curity minister in 2004. Interpol has downplayed the China currently has 44 out- billions of dollars among other away from calumny and defama- disappearance in China, where the watch of “international law In that role, Meng has been concerns, saying that the presi- standing red notices, mostly crimes. tion?”

Bosnians vote for leaders of fragmented nation Fuel spill feared as

AFP Victory over incumbent Mlad- She added that she was voting cargo ships collide Sarajevo en Ivanic would keep Dodik, only for “change ... not because I who is blacklisted by the US for think the others are better”. threatening the country’s integ- Another voter, who requested AFP Offi cials said they had not osnians voted yesterday for rity, at the forefront of Bosnian anonymity, said she would vote Toulon, France yet identifi ed the liquid, but a leaders of their poor and politics. for Dodik in order “to protect Re- source close to the inquiry said Bsplintered nation, where “Each of us has a duty to publika Srpska, and that’s all”. it was probably leaking “from politicians are still fanning the choose those who we think will Experts say Bosnia’s unwieldy cargo ship rammed into one of the fuel tanks”. divisive nationalism that fuelled best preserve the unity of the Re- political structure helps graft run another freight vessel The cause of the accident its 1990s war. publika Srpska,” Dodik, 59, told wild. Anear the French Medi- was not yet known, though The Balkan country remains the press after casting a ballot in According to Transparency In- terranean island of Corsica weather conditions are not a patchwork of ethnic enclaves, his hometown Laktasi. ternational, corruption is a seri- early yesterday, causing no in- thought to have been a factor, with power formally divided If Dodik wins, he could fi nd ous problem in “all levels of gov- juries but causing a leak which with relatively calm seas and among its three main groups: himself working alongside the ernment”. offi cials have said is most likely good visibility in the area at the Bosnian Muslims (Bosniaks), current Croat member of the In local 2016 elections, the fuel. time. Serbs, and Croats. presidency Dragan Covic, who watchdog reported a range of The Ulysse, operated by the The Tunisian ship “was While yesterday’s elections also advocates drawing deeper malpractice, including parties Tunisian operator CTN, struck maybe going too fast com- will fi ll Bosnia’s highest offi ces, communal divisions. promising jobs in exchange for the Cyprus-based CLS Virgina pared to its ability to react”, the many voters say they have lost Covic’s HDZ party would like votes. while it was anchored about source said. faith in a political class accused to see the creation of a third en- This culture of patronage is 30km (20 miles) off the north- A tugboat has been dis- of stoking fear to stay in power. tity for Croats, who currently one factor behind high emigra- ern tip of the island around patched to the scene and the “I think the nationalists will share a region with majority Bos- tion in recent years, a trend that 7.30am, the regional naval au- French navy has also sent a win once again and nothing will nian Muslims. deepens the country’s economic thority said. vessel specialised in contain- change,” said Armin Bukaric, The purpose of these “eth- woes. According to the CTN’s ing and cleaning up pollution a 45-year-old businessman in no-nationalist” policies is to A low average wage – under published shipping schedule, spills. Sarajevo, echoing a view com- A woman is pictured waiting in line at a polling station to open in the “maintain the status quo and €430 ($495) a month – and high the Ulysse was travelling from Italy has also off ered its as- mon on the capital’s streets. southern Bosnian city of Mostar. stagnation” that helps keep such unemployment – around one- Genoa in Italy to the Tunisian sistance as part of the Ram- The Balkan country’s mul- leaders in control, said Bosnian fi fth of the population – are also port at Rades near Tunis. ogepol accord between France, ti-layered political system is a halves – one dominated by Serbs presidential seat, Milorad Dodik, political analyst Tanja Topic. pushing young people to pack The Virginia was not carry- Italy and Monaco to jointly relic of the 1992-95 war that left and the other home to Muslims is a pro-Russian nationalist who Among the population of some their bags. ing any cargo at the time. intervene in cases of maritime 100,000 dead, displaced millions and a Croat minority. regularly raises the prospect of 3.5mn, a sense of political fatigue “Most young people see their “The collision caused con- pollution. and wrecked the economy and The result was competing a vote on the secession of the is pervasive. future outside Bosnia,” said siderable damage, with an “The Italian authorities of- infrastructure. power centres bound by a weak country’s Serb-dominated half. “No party meets my expecta- Zoran Kresic, an analyst. opening several metres long fered their help and we’ve ac- A quarter of a century later, national government. Dodik has led the Serb-run en- tions as a citizen,” said Danica Hearing these “same stories, in the CLS Virginia’s hull,” cepted it,” the naval authority Bosnia is still governed by the On top sits a tripartite presi- tity Republika Srpska since 2006 Odovic, a 47-year-old bookseller messages of war and of the im- the naval authority said, add- said. peace accord that stopped the dency that rotates between a and rarely sets foot in Bosnia’s outside a polling station in Banja possibility of living together, de- ing that the leaking liquid was Offi cials will begin by set- fi ghting and sliced the coun- Serb, Croat and Muslim member. capital Sarajevo, which he terms Luka, the capital of the Serb-run motivates people from staying”, spread over “several hundred ting up equipment to contain try into two semi-autonomous One candidate for the Serb a hostile “foreign territory”. entity. he added. metres”. the spill.

Italy threatens to close its airports to Blaze in Portugal national park

AFP German deportations of migrants Lisbon

Reuters over how to share responsibility sions from Germany. suddenly saying: I will only sign forest fi re near Lisbon was Milan/Berlin for asylum-seekers. The Italian minister said at if Germany backs Italy’s posi- brought under control “If someone, in Berlin or the time that he had received re- tion on asylum in the European Ayesterday after more than Brussels, thinks of dumping assurances from Germany that Union. The heads of govern- 700 Portuguese fi refi ghters and ermany has denied an dozens of immigrants in Italy for every migrant it returned ment are required to act (to solve police offi cers were mobilised to Italian newspaper re- via unauthorised charter fl ights, to Italy the German authorities this).” tackle the latest blaze to ravage Gport that it planned to fl y they should know that there would accept a bona fi de asy- Italy is seeking an overhaul of the tourist area, offi cials said. migrants back to Italy, after the is not and there will be no air- lum-seeker from Italy. the Dublin Treaty so that there Twenty-one people, mostly allegation drew a threat from It- port available,” Salvini said in However, Salvini wants con- is an automatic distribution of fi refi ghters, were injured in the aly’s Interior Minister to refuse a statement. “We will close the cessions on two other issues – a asylum-seekers throughout the fi re, which sparked overnight in landing permission to planes airports as we closed the ports.” revision of both the EU’s Dublin EU, instead of requiring them to the mountainous region of the carrying asylum seekers. The two countries have been Treaty on how Europe handles stay in the country where they Sintra-Cascais Natural Park and La Repubblica reported on working on a deal under which asylum requests, and of the EU’s fi rst touch European soil, as is was fanned by violent winds. Saturday that Germany’s refu- Germany would send back to Sophia naval mission which is the case now. The gusts have since subsided, Firefighters work in the aftermath of Sintra mountain wildfire in gee agency had sent “dozens Italy migrants who have already patrolling the Mediterranean. It also wants to change the providing a “favourable” climate Cascais, Portugal. of letters” to migrants advising applied for asylum there, but the Seehofer urged German mandate of Operation Sophia, to put out the fi re, Paulo Santos them of a planned transfer back accord has yet to be signed. Chancellor Angela Merkel and which at present says that all of the civil protection agency told camping ground nearby. blazes in 2017 leaving scores dead to Italy, possibly via charter “No transfer fl ight is planned Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe migrants picked up in the Medi- local media. Sintra was recognised as a and prompting the government fl ights. to Italy in the coming days,” Conte to intervene to end the terranean must be taken to Italy. He said emergency serv- World Heritage site by Unesco in to introduce a variety of safety The fi rst such transfer is a German interior ministry stand-off . Italy has become the main ices and six fi re-fi ghting planes 1995 for its cultural landscape, measures and launch an ambi- planned for October 9, it said. spokesman wrote in an e-mail. “The agreement has been ne- route into Europe for hundreds would remain in the area to limit which combines parks and build- tious reforestation project. Interior Minister Matteo Sal- German Interior Minister gotiated and follows the same of thousands of asylum seek- the risks of the blaze picking up ings that date from several cen- The number of fi res in Portu- vini said yesterday that Italy Horst Seehofer said last month principle as with Greece,” See- ers arriving by sea since the again. turies of Portuguese history. gal has signifi cantly reduced this would close its airports to any that a deal with Italy had been hofer told the Welt am Sonntag. other main route from Turkey to Prime Minister Antonio Costa Meteorological authorities had summer, with burned areas down planes carrying migrants from reached and that he expected it “We return refugees back to Ita- Greece was largely shut in 2016. hailed the operation’s success in issued a warning in recent days 60% compared to the average Germany or any other EU coun- to be signed shortly. ly, but we must take in the same However, numbers have fallen the face of a “real threat”. over high temperatures. over the last 10 years, accord- try, ratcheting up a dispute But Salvini denied that a day number from sea rescues.” dramatically over the past 12 Authorities earlier evacuated Portugal has suff ered a se- ing the Institute of Conservation among the bloc’s 28 members later, demanding more conces- He added: “But now Salvini is months. 47 people as a precaution from a ries of deadly fi res, with massive Nature and Forests. Gulf Times Monday, October 8, 2018 17 INDIA

India reasserts independent foreign policy with Russia deal

IANS Vladimir Putin in New Delhi on (CAATSA) law came into ef- impose costs on Russia for its partners, by signing the S-400 defence agreement and establish sion to recognise Jerusalem as New Delhi Friday, a top source pointed out fect in January. CAATSA targets malign behaviour, including by missile deal, New Delhi has now a hotline between their defence the capital of Israel. that India’s negotiations for the countries doing business with stopping fl ow of money to Rus- sent a clear signal to the world ministries. Now, what remains to be seen S-400 missile system began Russian, Iranian and North Ko- sia’s defence sector”. that its bilateral relationship New Delhi also made its for- is how India handles the fresh US y concluding the S-400 several years before the current rean defence companies. Jinnie Lee said that CAATSA with one country is independent eign policy independence in the sanctions on Iran that are set to Triumf long-range sur- US sanctions on Russia came A group of US senators im- was “not intended to impose of that with a third country. Middle East clear when Modi come into eff ect on November 4. Bface-to-air missile system into eff ect. posed the sanctions on Russia damage to the military capabili- This was also evident when made separate visits to Israel in Under the sanctions, the US deal with Russia in the face of This was basically implying over what they called Moscow’s ties of our allies or partners”. Modi went to Wuhan in China July last year and to Palestine in wants all countries in the world Washington’s sanctions on Mos- that New Delhi will not give up continued involvement in the Her comments came after a in April at the invitation of Chi- February this year. These were to stop importing oil from Iran. cow, India has reasserted its in- on its defence co-operation leg- wars in Ukraine and Syria and its senior US State Department of- nese President Xi Jinping for an the fi rst-ever Indian prime min- This has sparked concerns in dependence on foreign policy in acy with Moscow in the face of alleged interference in the 2016 fi cial said last month that there informal summit after Indian isterial visits to the two countries. New Delhi as Iran is a major sup- adherence. another country’s actions. US presidential election. will be no blanket waiver for de- and Chinese troops were in a Despite developing strong plier of crude oil to India. After signing the deal during The missile deal has been an Following the signing of the fence trade with Russia. face-to-face situation at Dok- ties with Israel, India in Decem- But can India aff ord to forego the course of the 19th India- issue of much speculation af- S-400 deal, the US embassy Though India and the US lam on the India-Bhutan-China ber last year voted with the rest crude supplies from Iran in the Russia Annual Bilateral Summit ter the Trump administration’s spokesperson here said that the maintain a robust Global Stra- trijunction for 73 days last year. of the world in the UN General face of the spiralling oil prices? between Prime Minister Naren- Countering America’s Adver- intent of her country’s imple- tegic Partnership with the two India and China are now also Assembly against US President This is the next big foreign policy dra Modi and Russian President saries Through Sanctions Act mentation of CAATSA was “to countries being major defence in talks to update a 12-year-old Donald Trump’s unilateral deci- challenge for New Delhi.

Cancer awareness India-Japan maritime drill begins at New India to Visakhapatnam

IANS New Delhi be a catalyst he third edition of Japan- India Maritime Exercise T(JIMEX) commenced at Visakhapatnam yesterday fol- lowing the arrival of Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force for global (JMSDF) ships Kaga and Ina- zuma in the Andhra Pradesh port city, the Indian Navy said. The exercise to be held till Oc- tober 15 aims to “enhance inter- operability, improve understand- ing and imbibe the best practices” growth: PM followed by the two forces. Kaga is an Izumo-class heli- IANS been brought in. The Insolvency age to a population more than copter destroyer while Inazuma Dehradun and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) has America, Canada and Mexico is a guided missile destroyer. made doing business easier and combined. This population is These are taking part in the exer- strengthened the banking sys- more than that of entire Eu- cise under the command of Rear rime Minister Narendra tem.” rope. And for this market, the Admiral Tatsuya Fukada, Com- Modi yesterday said India Modi said the Goods and payment is ready. This off ers mander, Escort Flotilla-4. Pwas going through major Services Tax (GST) had been the biggest opportunity in the The Indian Navy is repre- social and economic changes the “biggest tax reform since country.” sented by three indigenously de- and the resultant New India will independence” that had made Turning his focus to Uttara- signed and built warships and a prove to be a catalyst for global the entire country a single khand, the prime minister said fl eet tanker. growth. market and widened the tax the young state was a shining The ships are multipurpose “India is witnessing rapid base. example of what the New India stealth frigate INS Satpura, anti- economic and social changes. He said infrastructure devel- represents and there was great submarine warfare corvette INS The country is going through opment was taking place at a potential to be tapped. Kadmatt, missile corvette and a big transformation. We are “record speed” with more than “Today, Uttarakhand is mov- fl eet tanker INS Shakti, an offi - marching towards a New In- 10,000km of national highways ing fast on the economic de- cial release said. dia,” Modi said at Uttarakhand’s built in just the last one year. velopment path,” he said and In addition, one submarine, one maiden Investors Summit being expressed his hope that the P8I long-range maritime patrol held in Dehradun. “Every major institution agreements signed during the aircraft and a number of integral “Every major institution in in the world is predicting two-day event soon comes on helicopters will also participate. the world is predicting that in that in the coming the ground so that the people get The Indian ships will operate the coming decades, India is go- decades, India is going to jobs and other benefi ts. under the command of Rear Ad- ing to be the driving engine of be the driving engine of Modi recalled how as chief miral Dinesh K Tripathi, Flag Of- world growth,” he said, adding world growth” minister of Gujarat he said he fi cer Commanding, Eastern Fleet. that the country was witnessing wanted to emulate South Korea The drill will include a ‘har- the “best conducive environ- “It means over 27km road when people expected him to bour phase’ and a ‘sea phase’ ment” for business and invest- built per day. This rate is double mention America or the UK. He of four days each. The harbour ment. compared to road development said there were a lot of similari- phase of the exercise scheduled Modi said India’s economy during previous governments.” ties between Gujarat and South till October 10, will include pro- had stabilised over the last few Modi said the government had Korea. fessional and social interactions years, fi scal defi cit had come launched modernisation of 400 “Our states have more po- between ships’ crews, sports fi x- down, infl ation was under con- railway stations, was building tential than many countries and tures and operational planning trol and the middle class was 100 new airports and helipads each state can work towards it for the sea phase. rising. and was working on setting up based on its competence,” he “The sea phase will include “The scale and speed at 100 waterways. He also listed said. “Today, fortunately there anti-submarine warfare exer- which reforms are happening down schemes like ‘housing for is a healthy competition among cises, VBSS (Visit, Board, Search are unprecedented. In the last all’, ‘health for all’ and ‘banking the states and no state would lag and Seizure) drills, gun fi rings, two years, the central and state for all’ among others. behind if they work on their re- cross-deck helo operations and governments have ushered in Inviting investors to par- spective strengths.” co-ordinated operations in anti- more than 10,000 reforms. ticipate in the world’s largest Modi said Uttarakhand nes- submarine/anti-air threat sce- Thanks to this, India has made a healthcare scheme, Modi said tled among the Himalayas and narios,” the release said. signifi cant jump of 42 points in the ‘Ayushman Bharat’ had was blessed with the Ganges. It The last edition of JIMEX was the global ‘ease of doing busi- opened up huge opportunities in also had a special SEZ which was conducted in December 2013 off ness index,” the prime minister the health sector, mainly in the diff erent from the usual Special Chennai coast. The JMSDF is a said. tier-2 and tier-3 cities, in terms Economic Zone. regular participant in the Mala- People participate in a cancer awareness run organised by Grace Cancer Foundation, in “As part of these reforms, of hospitals, doctors, paramed- “It is Spiritual Eco-Zone bar series of exercises between Hyderabad yesterday. more than 1,400 laws have been ics and medicines. which is many times more pow- Indian and US navies. repealed. Major tax reforms have “The scheme gives cover- erful than the typical SEZ.”

Rare white-rumped vulture No one will be spared gets a new lease of life in sacrilege cases: Singh IANS Yesterday, the state wit- IANS bird, issue a medical fi tness certifi - treatment, along with a large Chandigarh nessed two big rallies and a Mumbai cate and then allow it to be released number of other feathered pa- protest which saw the three back to nature, he said, adding it tients on the terrace of the 100- main players of Punjab poli- fi gures on the IUCN’s Red List of yea- old Queens Mansion build- unjab Chief Minister tics – the Congress, Akali Dal rare and highly-endangered critically-endangered species. ing, in the heart of the Fort area. Amarinder Singh yester- and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) – gigantic white-rumped vul- Known as “Mumbai’s Birdman’ Besides the white-rumped Pday said no one whose trade barbs. Ature, fi guring on the Inter- in nature circles, D’Souza, 42, and vulture, the free “nursing home” name figured in an ongoing In Patiala, Akali Dal president national Union for Conservation of his family toiled virtually day and has other patients – around 150 probe into the 2015 cases of Sukhbir Singh Badal, who was Nature’s (IUCN) Red List and found night to ensure the vulture was up kites and eagles, 100 pigeons, two sacrilege of Guru Granth Sa- the deputy chief minister when in a near-dead condition, has been on its wings and fi t to answer the dozen owls, several cattle egrets hib will be spared if they were the sacrilege incidents occurred, saved by a Mumbai family and is call of the wild. and more – all fl apping harmo- found involved. said that the Punjab Congress now ready to take wings. “It was late on February 21 that niously under one roof. Many are Addressing a Congress rally leadership was “trying to weak- After eight months of love and we brought it here from a slum in “discharged” after treatment and in Lambi, the native village of en the Sikh religion”. care, the strong and highly-aggres- Reay Road (south Mumbai). It was many more “admitted”. former chief minister Parkash Punjab BJP president and MP sive bird – sporting a deadly beak, lying beside the main road, badly They are lovingly tended to Singh Badal, Amarinder Singh Shvet Malik said that there was standing nearly 3ft tall with a wing- injured, bleeding, a lump in its long by his 72-year-old mother Rita accused the then Akali Dal- no government and governance span of around 9ft – will soar high neck, with insects troubling it, but D’Souza, elder brother Donald and Bharatiya Janata Party govern- in Punjab ever since the Con- in the sky from October 10. nobody daring to touch it for sev- his wife Joanita, both 50, and their ment led by Badal of not doing gress came to power in the state “On Tuesday (tomorrow), we eral hours,” D’Souza told IANS. 18-year old daughter Vanessa, a enough to stop the incidents of in March 2017. shall take this beautiful bird to the In fact, many NGOs and ani- hotel management trainee. Pra- sacrilege. “The government is invisible St John Church in Ballard Estate mal care groups failed to heed deep D’Souza is a bachelor, “wed- He claimed that the then gov- and the chief minister and his for a special blessing ceremony D’Souza’s SOS calls, saying “it’s ded to the birds”, as many say. ernment ordered police fi ring on ministers are invisible. Congress by the priest, Fr Joe D’Souza. The impossible to fi nd such a rare and “That evening (February 21), peaceful protesters in Bargari, legislators are trying to hide next day, we shall release it in the highly endangered vulture in a this vulture could barely keep his killing two men. themselves,” Malik said. thick forests of Nashik,” its res- concrete jungle like Mumbai”. head steady. It had toxicity and “After the Bargari incident, The Aam Aadmi Party held cuer Pradeep D’Souza told IANS. Finally, he rushed to the spot, infections, severe weakness due the Akali Dal leadership has been a march in Faridkot to protest After the church ceremony, a barely 6km from his home, picked to hunger and blood loss and was exposed. The Akalis have lost against the sacrilege and sub- team of Forest Department of- it up and brought it to his own virtually dead,” D’Souza recalled Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh speaks at a Congress support of the people,” Ama- sequent police fi ring in October fi cials and a vet will examine the make-shift “nursing home” for the ordeal. rally in Lambi yesterday. rinder Singh said. 2015. Gulf Times 18 Monday, October 8, 2018 INDIA Ilyasi: I lost 18 years of my life for a crime I did not commit

By Subhash K Jha/ IANS In a startling turnaround, the nally believing in my innocence,” reunited with my daughter kept and the Gita is one of the projects that I met at Tihar. Some of Ilyasi admits the world has New Delhi Delhi High Court earlier this says a discernibly shaken Ilyasi. me going. And of course I gained Ilyasi will now take up. The other them have killed multiple changed during the 18 years he week declared Ilyasi not guilty. “It’s yet to sink in that I’m a lot of strength in jail from is the revival of his show. times. But their eyes tell a fought to prove his innocence. Understandably Ilyasi is a free man now, that Tihar Jail reading the Upanishads and the “I am aware that many crime different story. I want to “I cannot get back the e hosted Indian tel- pinching himself in disbelief. is no longer home, that I am in Bhagavad Gita. I have studied investigative shows have come go deep into the motiva- time I lost. But I want to uti- evision’s fi rst and most “I have been saying for 18 my real home with my daugh- and understood the teachings of up in the past years. But I need tions of crime. The law lise every moment I am left Hpopular crime investiga- years that I am innocent. Now ter Aaliya, talking to you. I used these two scriptures thorough- to revive my show. Earlier it only sees things in black with on this earth to do the tion show India’s Most Wanted. the honourable court has also to dream about this freedom in ly. And now I want to make the was not possible because from and white. There are so work that I left incomplete Suhaib Ilyasi had it all. Then one said it. There is no compensa- jail. I feel this is a dream,” Ilyasi’s Upanishads and the Gita as ac- being the man who cracked many grey areas in an act when fate snatched away my night he lost it all. His wife died tion for the time, energy, self- voice quivers with emotion. cessible to the average citizen of criminal cases from across the of crime. I want to revive freedom. Today I am free not of multiple stab wounds. Ilyasi esteem and self-confi dence, not What has his life been like this country as they’ve become country, I became a crime ac- my show to tell the un- just physically but also was accused of murdering her to mention my career, I’ve lost in during these 18 years? to me.” cused. I want to restart my told stories of those emotionally and spir- and was sentenced to life impris- these 18 years. I am only grateful “In one word? Hell. Only the Working on reader-friendly show India’s Most Wanted to charged with mur- itually, thanks to the onment. to God and the judiciary for fi - thought that I would one day be translations of the Upanishads tell the stories of the inmates der,” Ilyasi said. judiciary.” Tensions peak Getting ready for dance festival ahead of local elections in Kashmir valley

IANS choose from in their wards in the Srinagar/Jammu valley. Election campaign has not been witnessed at any place in the valley. mid tight security and While secrecy surrounds the heightened tensions contestants, a huge question Aahead of the start of mark remains on who will stick staggered municipal polls in their neck out today to vote. the Kashmir Valley, suspense While militants have issued mounted yesterday on voter par- threats to both candidates and ticipation amid militant threats voters, separatist leaders have to both candidates and voters. called for a protest shutdown in It is the fi rst time the au- the Kashmir Valley today. thorities have not publicised the Tension was palpable in the re- names of contesting candidates gion yesterday as the authorities in the troubled valley. beefed up security across Jammu Abha Shah (centre), choreographer of Surtaal Performing Arts, poses along with her group members as they participate in a ‘Garba’ dance rehearsal ahead of the This has been done to address and Kashmir. Four hundred ad- forthcoming ‘Navratri’ festival on the outskirts of Ahmedabad in Gujarat yesterday. Navratri, a dance festival of nine nights, begins on October 10 and culminates the security concerns of the can- ditional companies of paramili- with the celebration of ‘Dussehra’. didates who remain under threat tary forces have arrived here to from the militants. augment the existing strength of Authorities have also ensured security forces. In Srinagar, three that all the candidates in the val- wards will see polling. ley are in a secure accommoda- Scores of motorbikes were tion ahead of the poll process. seized by the police at various The valley’s two major parties, check posts in the city on Sat- the National Conference (NC) urday and yesterday on account and the Peoples’ Democratic of lack of documents or in cases Party (PDP), are boycotting the where the riders had violated elections. traffi c rules. Tanushree takes case So have the Communists Party All vehicles entering the city of India (Marxist), the Peoples’ were being thoroughly checked. Democratic Front (PDF) headed Hi-tech electronic surveil- by Hakim Yaseen and the Demo- lance equipment is being used to cratic Party Nationalist (DPN) strengthen human intelligence in headed by Ghulam Hassan Mir. areas where polling is scheduled. The Bharatiya Janata Party In addition to three munici- against Patekar to police (BJP), Congress and independ- pal wards in Srinagar city, poll- ent candidates are the only con- ing for municipal committees of Agencies harassment or assault – Dutta cial media since reiterating her Bollywood’s cliquey nature testants. While 244 candidates Kupwara, Handwara, Bandipora, Mumbai repeated the allegations in a re- claims against the pair. also made it diffi cult to go pub- have been elected unopposed, Baramulla, Chadoora, Badgam, cent interview and on Saturday “This is the age-old saga of lic, she said. there are no candidates in the Khansahib, Achabal, Devsar, went to the police to offi cially survivors in our nation,” she In recent days, #MeToo fray in 159 municipal wards of Kokernag, Qazigund and Kulgam ollywood actress Tanush- report the 2008 sexual harass- said. claims have also begun to sur- the Kashmir Valley. in the Kashmir Valley as well as ree Dutta whose public ment claims. India has yet to witness its face against men in other sec- Statistically, 29% of vot- Leh and Kargil in the Ladakh re- Ballegations of sexual har- “Dutta visited the police sta- own version of the #MeToo tors, including several top ers will have no candidates to gion is scheduled for today. assment by actor Nana Patekar tion last night and submitted a movement that rocked Hol- newspaper editors, comedians is sparking a string of similar written complaint,” Shailesh lywood last year, but Dutta has and writers including a top- #MeToo claims has fi led a for- Pasalwar, a Mumbai police in- received the backing of several selling English language author. ‘Explosion’ scare for Rahul mal complaint, police said yes- spector, said. high-profi le stars including Pri- Meanwhile, fi lmmaker An- terday. “We are investigating the yanka Chopra, Farhan Akhtar urag Kashyap admitted that he Congress president Rahul Gandhi sudden ball of fire in a video that The former Miss Universe case but right now, it is not an and Sonam Kapoor. knew about the sexual harass- had an explosion scare after has gone viral on social media. contestant fi rst alleged in 2008 FIR (First Information Report, Other actresses have how- ment allegations against direc- balloons at a political roadshow “We have checked. There was no that multi-award-winning or a formal investigation) but a Dutta: alleges sexual harassment ever begun to speak out about tor Vikas Bahl and feels sorry for burst into flames near his vehicle, security breach or real scare for Patekar behaved inappropriate- written complaint about har- an issue almost never discussed not taking a right decision. police said yesterday. Gandhi was anyone. No one received even ly towards her during the mak- assment incident,” he added. ceived legal notices from both in Indian media. In December, Last year, a woman employee leading the campaign event in minor injuries,” local police chief ing of romantic comedy Horn She also alleged in the in- Patekar and Agnihotri, who star Swara Bhaskar said she had at Phantom Films, which had Madhya Pradesh when the bunch Amit Singh said. Ok Pleassss the same year. terview that fi lmmaker Vivek deny her accusations. been harassed by an unnamed Bahl as one of the partners along of balloons held by one political “The people carrying the No action was taken at the Agnihotri had behaved inap- Dutta said she had also re- director early in her career. side Kashyap, Vikramaditya worker touched oil lamps held by celebratory campaign balloons time against Patekar and she propriately towards her during ceived “violent threats” from Bhaskar also referred to a Motwane and Madhu Mantena, another. and lamps as a mark of respect made no formal complaint. the shooting of the 2005 movie the fringe, far-right nationalist “casting couch” culture where had accused Bahl of harassing Leaders on top of the campaign for the leader are Congress party But emboldened by the glo- Chocolate: Deep Dark Secrets. group Maharashtra Navnirman young women are expected to her during a trip to Goa. vehicle including Gandhi, 48, activists, and it was just a minor bal #MeToo campaign – where The actress said in a state- Sena and has been hounded exchange sexual favours to se- Phantom Films has now been can be seen reeling back at the accident,” Singh added. women have shared accounts of ment last week that she had re- by a “smear campaign” on so- cure fi lm roles. dissolved after a seven-year run. Maoists will be crushed App to help detect in 2-3 years: Rajnath poll code violation IANS quickly and accurately identify New Delhi the scene of occurrence with IANS between January and September “The force should understand the help of geographical loca- Lucknow 20 and caught another 1,278. how to behave, how much pres- tion details hampered election “A total of 58 Maoists had to sure it should create and when he Election Commis- offi cers’ ability to apprehend surrender before the CRPF. The this should be created.” sion (EC) will deploy violators. he long-drawn Maoist force also recovered a huge cache The minister said the security Tseveral technology ap- “The c-VIGIL app is ex- insurgency in the coun- of arms and ammunition this forces were “civilised” and not plications to nail violation of pected to fill the gap in re- Ttry will be “completely year besides Rs1.29 crore in cash.” “brutal”. the Model Code of Conduct porting of code violations erased” in two to three years, In the process, the killing of The RAF has been “using (MCC) during elections and and thereby create a fast- Home Minister Rajnath Singh security personnel in Maoist minimum force and producing ensure smooth polling. track complaint reception declared here yesterday. hubs had drastically fallen. maximum result”. The EC has developed C- and redressal system,” the Addressing the 26th anniver- A Maoist insurgency rag- Singh lauded the CRPF’s at- VIGIL android mobile phone poll panel said. sary of the Rapid Action Force ing in parts of India since 1967 tempt in maintaining a balance application to help people re- Using the application, one (RAF), a specialised wing of the has claimed thousands of lives. while dealing with Kashmir. “If port code violations. can send live reports on code Central Reserve Police Force Maoists are now known to be some Kashmiri youths do things “The delay in reporting code violations within minutes. (CRPF), Singh said the situation most active in Chhattisgarh, they should not because they are violations so far has resulted In case of a registered com- had changed and Maoists were Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand. instigated by some people, you in the escape of culprits from plaint, a unique ID number now confi ned to only 10 or 12 On Jammu and Kashmir, he handle them properly as you feel law-enforcers. Also, lack of will be generated to allow the districts. asserted, the state would always that they belong to our country. documentary evidence like citizen concerned to track “We will get news within two- be with India. “Kashmir is ours, “But if any person indulges in photos, pictures or video his/her complaint’s status. three years that Maoism has it was ours and it will be ours. No terrorist activity, no power in the clips prove a hurdle in verify- Anonymous complaints do been completely erased,” said power of the world can snatch it world can stop you from neutral- ing complaints,” an EC release not get any identification Singh, who represents Lucknow from us,” he said. ising that person.” said. numbers. in the Lok Sabha. Reminding that RAF deals with Singh said militant incidents It pointed out that a “signif- Once a complaint has been Praising the CRPF’s role in riots, major law and order issues had decreased in Kashmir and icant percentage” of reporting received in the c-VIGIL sys- Maoist aff ected areas, Singh said as well as relief and rescue opera- that security forces had been was “false or inaccurate”. tem, it is beeped to the district the 350,000-strong force had tions, Singh said “rapid action” giving a befi tting reply to the Home Minister Rajnath Singh takes salute at the Rapid Action Force’s “Further, the absence of control room, which assigns it neutralised 131 Maoists this year did not mean “reckless action”. terrorists. 26th anniversary parade in Lucknow yesterday. a robust response system to to a fl ying squad for action. Gulf Times Monday, October 8, 2018 19 LATIN AMERICA

Honduras zoo struggles to replace drug money that built it

AFP after the Hacienda Napoles — the ment economic assistance to out its neck to greet visitors, Visitors can rent water bicy- To oversee the administration of The salaries of 65 employees, Santa Cruz de Yojoa, Honduras vast estate of the late Colombian keep the park going. while zebras leisurely munch on cles, ride horses or enjoy the zoo’s the park and its hundreds of animals, food for the animals and the wa- drug kingpin Pablo Escobar — by Four months of demonstrations hay in a nearby corral. cafeterias, pools and restaurants, she created a veterinarian services. ter and electric bills cost about a violent Honduran cartel known against the re-election last No- Further down a steep slope are as well as the 15 cabins for tour- The park was doing well fi nancially $42,000 a month. n imposingly tall giraff e, as the Cachiros, which was sanc- vember of President Juan Orlando enclosures for deer and camels as ists — who are sorely lacking. until the protests against President With low visitor numbers, powerful African lions tioned by the US in 2013. Hernandez blocked the main ac- well as the pools in which hippos Honduras’s Offi ce of Seized Hernandez erupted. there is no clear way to pay off the Aand proud Bengal tigers “The eco-park was very prof- cess road to the zoo, sharply cur- wallow. Assets (OABI) confi scated the fa- At the same time, the OABI zoo’s $83,000 in debt. are among the many highlights of itable, it was new, we had a lot tailing the number of visitors. Next come cages and enclo- cility from the drug cartel in April and the public prosecutor’s offi ce Adding to the challenge, the a zoo — created by wealthy drug of investment, but now we lack The facility sits atop a hill 150kms sures containing powerful mem- 2014, at which point the biologist seized 200 animals on grounds of nation’s economic situation has traffi ckers —in Honduras. the capital that the owners had” north of the capital city Tegucigalpa. bers of the cat family — African Diaz — who had been in charge mistreatment, further eroding the only become worse, meaning But the Joya Grande animal since their arrests, biologist and A sign formed of white stones lions, Bengal tigers, jaguars and of caring for the animals — man- park’s allure. Even if no one comes, “people prefer to spend on es- park is now languishing because zoo manager Maria Diaz said. set on a grassy hillside welcomes pumas — followed by bison, lla- aged to obtain a government con- Diaz said, “we have to pay our em- sentials, and not on entertain- of a shortage of funds. Diaz, who is Guatemalan, is tourists with the words “Great mas, wildebeest, ostriches, pea- cession to operate the place for ployees and suppliers — and the ment, like visiting a zoo,” the bi- The zoo was allegedly modelled desperately hoping for govern- Jewel Zoo.” The giraff e stretches cocks and other exotic animals. $7,400 a month. animals will always have to eat.” ologist lamented. Bolsonaro favourite as Brazil votes for new president

AFP blazoned with the message “Not Rio de Janeiro him,” the rallying cry of Bol- sonaro’s opponents. “Brazilians were manipu- razilians yesterday cast lated to vote out of hate. So this ballots in their most divi- election is more important than Bsive presidential election others. Today, there is reces- in years, with Jair Bolsonaro, a sion, hunger, people living in the far-right politician promising an streets, unemployed,” she said. iron-fi sted crackdown on crime, Bolsonaro is known for repeat- the fi rm favourite in the fi rst ed off ensive comments against round. women, gays and the poor, and Bolsonaro, who has surged for lauding the military dictator- in the polls since being stabbed ship Brazil shucked off just three during a campaign rally Septem- decades ago. ber 6, predicted a fi rst-round The last surveys released late victory as he cast his ballot in Saturday credited Bolsonaro western Rio de Janeiro. with 36% of voter intentions While that is possible, analysts against 22% for Haddad. say the 63-year-old former para- With blank and invalid votes trooper is more likely to fall short stripped out, Bolsonaro could of a majority. pocket 40%-41% of the vote to If so, the contest will go to a 25% for Haddad, polling fi rms People collect metal in Gros Morne, Haiti, from the destroyed auditorium, after the earthquake struck. run-off on October 28 between Ibope and Datafolha said. the top two candidates. A run-off was seen as too close Bolsonaro’s nearest rival is to call, given the two-point mar- former Sao Paulo mayor Fernan- gin of error, though Bolsonaro do Haddad, a stand-in for former was seen with a small edge: 45%, president Luiz Inacio Lula da Sil- to 41%-43% for Haddad. va, who is serving a 12-year sen- Voting began at 8am tence for corruption. (1100GMT) under tight security. Haddad was greeted by neigh- Haddad, 55, has picked up sup- Haiti quake kills 14, bours banging pots and pans in port that still exists for Lula, the protest as he arrived to vote in an Workers Party icon who was de- upscale district of Brazil’s largest clared ineligible from making a city, while supporters chanted comeback after a failed court appeal. their support. Brazil lived through its eco- Surveys suggest Bolsonaro, nomic heyday during Lula’s who wants to cut spiralling debt 2003-2010 presidency, but more than 100 hurt through sweeping privatisations plunged into its worst-ever re- and embrace the US and Israel, cession under his chosen succes- Rescue teams fanned out A local official said at least Rescue teams fanned out to ing rise to panic in several towns,” ings was a church in the northern could count on more than one sor, Dilma Rousseff . She was im- to help residents, many of eight people died in Port-de- help residents, many of whom the agency said. town of Plaisance, the agency in three voters in the vast Latin peached and booted from offi ce whom were still dealing with Paix on the northern coast were still dealing with the trauma President Jovenel Moise urged said. American nation. in 2016 for fi nancial wrongdoing. the trauma of a devastating near the epicentre of the mag- of a devastating earthquake in people to remain calm and said The tremor was one of the At least as many in the 147mn- Many blame the Workers Party earthquake in 2010 nitude 5.9 quake, which struck 2010. on Twitter he had ordered “all strongest to batter Haiti since the strong electorate reject the vet- for the country’s current eco- at a depth of 11.7kms, accord- of the republic’s resources” to be 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck eran federal lawmaker, however. nomic malaise. The result is one Reuters ing to the US Geological Sur- “The shock was felt directed toward assisting recov- near the capital, Port-au-Prince, In Brasilia, Roseli Milhomen, a of the most polarised elections Port-au-Prince vey. across all departments of ery eff orts. in 2010. 53-year-old lawyer, captured the Brazil has seen. Four people were killed in and the country, giving rise to Yesterday morning he said that It killed tens of thousands of sentiments that have propelled Voter rejection of the two around the town of Gros-Morne panic in several towns” he was en route to Port-de-Paix people. Saturday’s quake was felt Bolsonaro’s populist candidacy. leading candidates is bigger than n earthquake hit north- farther south, local authorities and Gros-Morne. Some houses in Port-au-Prince but initial re- “We’ve had enough corruption. their polled support. ern Haiti late Saturday, said, including a woman who Port-de-Paix, Gros-Morne, in the worst-aff ected areas were ports suggested it had not caused We have a very rich country, we Voters stuck between the far A killing at least 14 peo- died from a heart attack suff ered the town of Chansolme and the destroyed by the earthquake, the major damage there. cannot let it fall in the wrong right and the left are likely to ple, injuring more than 100 after the quake. northern island of Tortuga were agency said. Local newspaper Le Nouvel- hands,” she said as she went to make their choice “more from and sparking a scramble by Another person was killed in among the areas worst hit, Haiti’s The civil protection agency liste said one person was killed vote. fear or from anger than from rescue agencies to help towns the town of Chansolme when a civil protection agency said in a said early yesterday that at least when an auditorium collapsed in In Rio de Janeiro, Clara Gen- conviction,” said Geraldo Mon- in the impoverished Carib- house collapsed and one other statement. 135 people were being treated for Gros-Morne and that detainees til turned out to vote in Copac- teiro, a political analyst at Rio de bean country battered by the person in Saint-Louis-du- “The shock was felt across all injuries. were released from a damaged abana, wearing a T-shirt em- Janeiro State University. shockwave. Nord. departments of the country, giv- Among the damaged build- police holding cell. 6,600 children ‘have Tax plan opposed Bolivia to soon pick gone missing in Mexico’ lithium mining partner Reuters sought to keep the metal, used La Paz in the production of batteries for Guardian News and Media largely unrecognised until re- titudes of indiff erence shown electric cars and laptops, from London cently and victims’ families by public servants,” Perez said being exported merely as raw suffered the stigma of guilt at a forum in Mexico City on the olivia will choose a new material. by association amid a percep- rights of children. junior partner in the com- In April, Bolivian state lithi- ore than 6,600 children tion – often encouraged by the “Boys, girls and adolescents Bing weeks to help indus- um company YLB announced it and adolescents have authorities – that victims of are not only disappearing, the trialise its lithium deposits from was teaming up with privately- Mdisappeared in Mexico the drug war were somehow government has made them in- among seven companies that owned ACI Systems to develop over the past dozen years as the complicit in crimes committed visible,” wrote Javier Risco in submitted proposals, including its massive Uyuni salt fl at. country’s rising drug violence against them. the newspaper El Financiero. the German fi rm ACI Systems The project, expected to cost spreads to previously peaceful Meanwhile, Mexican authori- “They’re put in a sack of trage- GmbH, according to a govern- at least $1.2bn, includes plans corners of the country claiming ties have often been slow to search dies and they add to the statistics ment offi cial. to build a lithium hydroxide victims among even the young- for missing people, leaving fami- of the missing. Breathe deeply, The other off ers to work with plant and a factory for produc- est citizens. lies of the disappeared to carry out Mexico is hell.” Bolivia to tap two lithium-rich ing electric car batteries in Bo- The National Registry of Miss- their own investigations. According to Reforma, 75% salt fl ats — Coipasa and Pas- livia. ing and Disappeared Persons has Authorities in eastern Ve- of the child disappearances oc- tos Grandes — were submitted For Coipasa and Pastos recorded 37,435 individuals as unac- racruz state last month an- curred during the fi rst fi ve- by Chinese companies and two Grandes, Bolivia is not stipulat- counted for as of April 2018. Some nounced the discovery of a series and-a-half years of outgoing Russian fi rms, Luis Alberto Ec- ing that interested companies 18% of the missing are minors, ac- of mass graves containing at least president Enrique Pena Nieto’s hazu, deputy minister of high build a battery factory in Bo- cording to local media reports. 172 skulls. In an eff ort to identify six-year administration. energy technologies, told Reuters livia, YLB’s manager Juan Carlos “It’s an invisible topic. In any the missing, the state prosecu- Pena Nieto leaves offi ce on No- in an interview. Montenegro said. other country this would be a tor’s offi ce posted photos online vember 30, after a term that has “The evaluation will take at “It’s no longer restricted to scandal. Here it’s not,” said Juan of personal eff ects unearthed at seen a disastrous escalation in least two to three weeks, maybe just Bolivia,” Montenegro said in Martin Perez Garcia, director the site – including children’s violence. a bit more,” Echazu said, adding a separate interview. “In other of the Network for the Rights of clothing. President-elect Andres that the decision could be made words, we’re willing to be part- Children in Mexico (REDIM.) The new fi gures prompted Manuel Lopez Obrador has at the end of this month or in ners outside Bolivia.” Mexicans have been going outrage among experts and promised to pursue a diff erent early November. However, Bolivia’s partner on missing in alarming numbers newspaper commentators. approach on crime, including an Bolivia is believed to have one Coipasa and Pastos Grandes will since the country launched its “(With) the disappearance of amnesty for those in low-level Riot police block public workers on indefinite strike of the largest lithium reserves in be required to turn the lithium militarised crackdown on drug a boy or girl … it is unacceptable jobs in the illegal drugs business during a protest against the tax proposal, which is under the world, but has yet to produce into cathode material required cartels in December 2012. the pain and suff ering caused – such as young people often discussion in Congress in San Jose, Costa Rica. the metal on a large scale. for battery production before But the problem has gone by the uncertainty (and) the at- used as cartel lookouts. President Evo Morales has shipment, Montenegro said. Gulf Times 20 Monday, October 8, 2018 PAKISTAN

KP police digitise Pakistan will seek other over 1.4mn cases

Internews options before IMF: PM Peshawar Reuters He has been reluctant to ask kistan’s State Bank that would has said that foreign reserves Friday on charges that he took Lahore the IMF for emergency loans help boost national reserves.” need to be boosted by at least bribes to improperly award he Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that would be the country’s He did not name the coun- $8bn, but since the July elec- a low-cost housing contract province police depart- second bailout in fi ve years. tries or provide any details of tion, none of Pakistan’s allies, while he was governor of Pun- Tment has digitised over rime Minister Imran Khan However, foreign reserves the requests. including China and Saudi Ara- jab province. 1.43mn copies of fi rst informa- said yesterday that Pa- dropped by $627mn in late The IMF concluded a con- bia, have off ered emergency Sharif is the brother of tion reports (FIRs) from across Pkistan might need to re- September to $8.4bn, barely sultative visit last week with a assistance despite high-level former prime minister Nawaz the province, offi cials said. turn to the International Mon- enough to cover sovereign debt warning that Pakistan needed visits of offi cials from both na- Sharif, who was removed by the Offi cials said that the police etary Fund (IMF) to address its payments due through the end to quickly secure “signifi cant tions. Supreme Court last year and in department had set up a central mounting balance of payments of the year. external fi nancing” to stave Khan blamed the previous June was sentenced to 10 years database to store records of FIRs crisis but would seek funding The weekly fall was the off a crisis, though it did not government for the economic in prison by an anti-corruption registered by police stations from friendly countries fi rst. sharpest in years. suggest who could supply the situation. court. throughout the province. Khan, who took offi ce in “We may go to IMF for loan money. “Pakistan is suff ering huge Both Sharifs deny wrongdo- “We have so far registered August, blamed Pakistan’s to handle the country’s fi nan- Any IMF bailout would likely internal and external debt ... ing, calling the cases politically over 1.4mn FIRs … the desig- economic woes on the previ- cial issues,” Khan told reporters. include conditions to curb gov- caused by the corruption of the motivated. nated offi cers of police stations, ous government and repeated “But, fi rst we will try to get as- ernment spending, threatening former rulers,” he said. Commenting on Shehbaz posts and checkpoints can check a promise to recover billions of sistance from other countries as Khan’s campaign promise to Pakistan’s anti-corruption Sharif’s jailing, Khan said: the database with the help of a Imran Khan: (Shehbaz) should have dollars that he says corrupt of- we have requested three coun- build an Islamic welfare state. agency NAB arrested opposi- “He should have been arrested text message from cellphones,” been arrested months ago. fi cials have stashed abroad. tries to deposit money in Pa- Finance Minister Asad Umar tion leader Shehbaz Sharif on months ago.” an offi cial said. He said the police department is focused on becoming a high- tech force, and has taken several initiatives to promote electronic and smart policing to respond to crimes in a swift and better Tax havens refusing to co-operate: FBR manner. The offi cial said that offi cers can check the database for any Internews and – two leaks related to tax FBR starts action against 75 Pakistanis in the UK already receiving information suspect nominated in a FIR in Islamabad havens – Panama and Bahamas from other countries.” any police station of the prov- – which did not off er to share The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has decided give them opportunities to address the issue. Pakistan will share data from ince by sending a text message automatic information with Pa- in principle to issue assessment orders against The deadline for responding to these notices is approximately 38 countries this containing the suspect’s nation- akistan has been unable kistan under the new tax con- Pakistanis who have assets abroad and who have not October 15. year, while unilateral informa- al identity card number, name, to get much co-operation vention. responded to its notices. The FBR has decided that it will start action against tion from 10 countries has al- father’s name, and address. Pfrom 11 countries known The leaks only identify the A senior FBR off icer told Express that in the first those who did not respond to notices as soon as all ready been received. He said if there is an FIR regis- as tax havens to share informa- names of people who have in- phase, assessment orders will be issued to Pakistanis the legal requirements are fulfilled. Almost 17 countries will share tered against the suspect in any tion on off shore wealth amid a vestments in tax havens, but the in UK, and in the second phase, assessment orders They will be issued assessment orders and if they information with Pakistan from part of the province, the offi cials global clampdown on tax eva- challenge for the tax authorities will be issued to more than 300 Pakistanis with prop- even do not respond to these, further legal action will September next year while an- would receive a text message sion. was to obtain details of assets erties in the UAE. be taken. other three countries from Sep- within 30 seconds containing Under the Organisation for accumulated by those individu- He said the system for exchange of information with Their bank accounts and assets in Pakistan will be tember 2020. the crime and related details. Economic Co-operation and als, which were not shared in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and frozen and the amount mentioned in the assessment The FBR has established six The offi cial said the police Development’s (OECD) new au- such leaks. Development (OECD) member countries has become order will be recovered and submitted to the national automatic exchanges of in- department is making a digital tomatic exchange of informa- The only tax haven countries operational, and that the FBR has started receiving exchequer. formation zones (AEOIs) for copy of every FIR registered in tion programme, eff ective since which showed willingness to data formally. If the dues are not still cleared, their assets will be processing cases received in the any part of the province to store September 1, more than 101 share information about Paki- “As soon as bureau will receive information about any auctioned to recover the amount. process. it on the system. countries have agreed for auto- stani investments are Curacao, Pakistani, it will transfer this data to relevant field of- Sources said the 75 persons included industrialists These zones have been estab- “Since not every police station matic exchange of fi nancial in- Cyprus, Ireland, Jersey, Luxem- fices. The field off ice will start legal action,” he added. and businessmen. lished at Regional Tax Offi ces has the facility to scan and up- formation. bourg, the Netherlands, Sey- Sources said 75 Pakistanis having assets in UK were Action against major tax evaders in the country have (RTO) in various parts of the load the documents directly to The list of intended exchange chelles, and Singapore. issued notices. also started. country, each of which will cater the database, all police stations partners is being fi nalised pend- There has been a lot of talk More notices will be issued according to the law to Notices to 169 such people have been issued. to the cases that fall under their will share FIRs with the district ing negotiations among member about stashed funds parked in respective jurisdiction. police offi cers before they’re countries in recent years. a few destinations like British Six Inland Revenue commis- stored in the system,” he said. As per the agreed list, the tax Virgin Islands, Cook Islands, accounts under the OECD con- change of information under the Asked why the FBR had failed sioners will be posted as focal The offi cial said the depart- haven countries which appar- Singapore, the Netherlands, the vention. OECD convention. to convince the remaining tax persons for collecting the data ment is also linking that system ently did not show willingness to UK, the UAE, and Switzerland. However, Switzerland has of- He said that Switzerland had haven countries, the spokesper- from banks regarding non-res- to the criminal record verifi ca- share information with Pakistan A few countries have already fered the same to 60 countries, reservations about Pakistan’s son pointed out that they had idents. tion system, which had digitised are Anguilla, Bahamas, Barba- ratifi ed the convention to share including India, under the mul- system of handling of such data. succeeded to a large extent in Moreover, an isolated centre, fi ngerprints, pictures and other dos, Bermuda, British Virgin such information with Pakistan. tilateral tax convention. Iqbal said the FBR had in- getting other countries to share dedicated for the receipt of in- documents of more than 9,000 Islands, Cayman Islands, Hong But the dream to bring back Federal Board of Revenue formed the Swiss authorities information. formation and data processing, people. Kong, Mauritius, Niue, Panama, funds of Pakistanis in Swiss (FBR) offi cial spokesperson Dr about the system in place at the The remaining countries, he has been established at the FBR He said work is under way on and Samoa. banks will remain unachievable. Mohamed Iqbal said that the bureau now. added, will also be engaged at a headquarters. connecting the police system Pakistan is currently investi- Switzerland has so far not of- FBR had sent two letters to Swit- “We are expecting to get the later stage. Selected offi cers are allowed with the National Database and gating data of three leaks about fered any exchange of automatic zerland requesting that they also off er from Switzerland,” the of- He said the real issue is the to access this centre to ensure Registration Authority (NADRA) Pakistani off shore investments information to Pakistan on bank off er Pakistan automatic ex- fi cial said. processing of the data. “We are transparency. database, which would allow them to check fi ngerprints. “The eff orts to introduce technology-driven policing helped us arrest 1,819 wanted Dried up accused in the province,” he said. Sharif’s party’s poll drive The statistics showed that Peshawar district is leading the way in the digitisation drive, storing 269,789 FIRs into the left leaderless once again database between January 2009 and September 30, 2018.

Internews general secretary, suff ered a brain Islamabad haemorrhage a few weeks ago. Govt working on He remains hospitalised in La- hore. uniform education he Pakistan Muslim Sarwar is considered to be system: minister League – Nawaz (PML-N) close to Shehbaz Sharif. Thas been rendered practi- Raja Zafarul Haq, the party’s Federal Education Minister cally “headless” after the arrest chairman and Leader of the Op- Shafqat Mahmood said yesterday of its president Shehbaz Sharif position in the Senate, had lit- that the government is working just ahead of the upcoming by- tle involvement in the PML-N’s on introducing a uniform elections, reigniting speculation electoral politics, one party lead- education system. about a possible “deal”. Shehbaz Sharif: remanded for er said. Chairing the 53rd meeting of By-elections are scheduled 10 days. PML-N leaders did not appear the governing body of Iqbal to be held on 37 seats of the Na- too optimistic about riding the Academy Pakistan, he said the tional Assembly and provincial Leader of the Opposition in the sympathy vote in by-polls. government is also reviewing assemblies on October 14. Punjab Assembly. We believe the “Mian sahib (Nawaz) was ar- the existing curricula because It is certain that Shehbaz real battle for by-elections (will rested on July 13 and general the students of English medium Sharif would now not be able to be fought) in Punjab, and Hamza elections were held on July 25. institutions manage to grab most lead the PML-N’s by-polls cam- Shehbaz can easily infl uence the If sympathy vote did not work employment opportunities. paign after an accountability outcome of the by-election,” said for us then, we should not ex- Baluchistan’s dry Hanna lake, in Urak Valley some 15km from Quetta, is seen in this picture Mahmood said the government court in Lahore remanded him to a former Punjab provincial min- pect that it will work now, after taken this weekend. The lake provided water to the local people and to the surrounding natural wanted to introduce a system National Accountability Bureau ister. Shehbaz’s arrest,” said a PML-N habitat. Baluchistan has been facing long dry spells, which may force the local population to under which students of (NAB) custody on Sunday for 10 However, another PML-N senator. migrate to eastern part of the province. Some 500,000 people have been displaced due to government-run institutions and days (until October 16). leader, who served as a federal Veteran PML-N leader Rana severe drought. those of madressahs could land In his absence, the PML-N is minister during the previous Sanaullah said that the PML-N good jobs and opportunities. struggling to identify someone government, disagreed with this did not need to nominate any in- to lead the party’s electoral cam- assertion. dividual to lead its by-poll drive. paign. He pointed out that because “Shehbaz Sharif is our presi- PML-N supremo and former veteran PML-N leaders were un- dent and he is indispensable. The prime minister Nawaz Sharif and willing to work under Hamza’s party stands united behind him his daughter Maryam have both leadership, no one had so far and is working for the party to NA session sought over Shehbaz’s arrest distanced themselves from po- been appointed as the party’s succeed in the by-polls,” he said. litical activities after they were head in the Punjab. He maintained that other op- released on bail on September 19. “If Hamza is unable to become position parties had assured Internews parties, including the PML-N Yesterday the PML-N’s Ayaz he may appear in the parliament Close associates of Shehbaz the party’s president in Punjab the N-League of their support Islamabad and the Pakistan Peoples Party Saddiq and some other opposi- session. Sharif argued that there was no because of opposition within against Shehbaz’s arrest and a (PPP), terming it an act of politi- tion members fi rst gathered at Sadiq, who was speaker of the need to assign anyone to lead the the party ranks, it will be a bit collective struggle would soon be cal vendetta and a move to favour the Parliament House. previous National Assembly, said by-elections campaign in the too much to expect him to lead launched in this regard, he said. he Pakistan Muslim the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf The group comprising the that the PTI’s Pervez Khattak and presence of his son Hamza Sheh- the PML-N’s by-election cam- Meanwhile, PML-N chairman League – Nawaz (PML-N) (PTI) ruling party in the upcom- PML-N’s Raja Zafarul Haq, Mur- Shah Mehmood Qureshi will also baz, who is already spearheading paign,” he said. Raja Zafarul Haq will convene Tand its allies have submit- ing by-polls. taza Javed Abbasi, and Rana Tan- be contacted to garner their sup- the campaign of former premier Hamza, he said, had been a meeting of opposition parties ted a requisition to the National The requisition, submitted veer Hussain, the Jamiat Ulema- port for summoning the session Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. “compensated” after he was el- with representation in Senate in a Assembly (NA) speaker, calling yesterday, has been signed by e-Islam – Fazlur (JUI-F)’s Abdul without any hindrance. Abbasi is the PML-N’s candi- evated as the Leader of the House bid to map out a collective strat- for summoning a parliamentary some 90 lawmakers from oppo- Ghafoor Haideri, and Jamaat-e- Raja Zafarul Haq, leader of the date for NA-124 Lahore, which in Punjab Assembly, but he was egy against Shehbaz’s arrest. session to discuss the arrest of sition benches urging the speaker Islami (JI)’s Shahida Akhtar Ali, opposition in the Senate, said Hamza Shehbaz had won in the denied the post of the party’s The meeting is scheduled to be the Opposition Leader Sheh- to summon a session at the earli- later visited Speaker Asad Qaiser that as the requisition had been July 25 general polls. president in Punjab. held at 2pm ahead of the Senate baz Sharif in connection with a est. at his offi cial residence. offi cially submitted, the session Hamza Shehbaz vacated this The PML-N’s position has session. housing scandal. The fi rst NA session after in- The opposition members, had to be called within 14 days. seat after he retained Punjab As- been further was compromised Haq has also written to the The National Accountability stallation of the new government while submitting a requisition “However, we have requested the sembly’s seat. because it had already lost its Election Commission of Pakistan Bureau (NAB) arrested Shehbaz was prorogued till October 24 af- for a new session, also urged the speaker not to wait for 14 days “In Shehbaz’s absence, Hamza Punjab president after Raja Ishaq (ECP), seeking its intervention on Friday creating a political ter the passage of the money bill speaker to issue production or- and call the session as early as is the obvious choice. He is the Sarwar, the party’s provincial against Shehbaz Sharif’s arrest. storm with the main opposition with a majority vote. ders for Shehbaz Sharif so that possible.” Gulf Times Monday, October 8, 2018 21 PHILIPPINES

World Animal Day celebration Japan military offi cer dies during drill

AFP Tokyo

apan’s military said yester- day one of its members was Jkilled in a car crash in the Philippines during joint exercis- es with US and Filipino troops. Suguru Maehara, a 38-year- old sergeant of the Ground Self- Defence Forces, was involved in the accident on Tuesday last week, according to a GSDF spokesman who confi rmed his death. “It is the fi rst time a GSDF member has died during an overseas drill,” the spokesman said. Maehara was delivering food supplies to members participat- ing in the drill when the accident happened. The exercise, codenamed Ka- mandag (meaning ‘Venom’), marked the fi rst time Japanese A priest sprinkles “holy water” on animals during the World Animal Day, at Eastwood Mall, Quezon City, Metro Manila, yesterday. armoured military vehicles were used on foreign soil since the country adopted a pacifi st con- stitution after its 1945 defeat. But Japan is not involved in the combat component of the military exercises.

“It is the fi rst time a GSDF member has died Army chief declares end of during an overseas drill” The 10-day exercise is being held at a Philippine navy base facing the South China Sea, some 250 kilometres from the Scarborough Shoal — a territo- ry claimed by Manila that was confl ict with rebel group seized by China during a 2012 naval stand-off. By Dempsey Reyes ers and sisters and give them which deals with the Bangsam- Local media reported that Manila Times respect and lasting peace that oro Islamic Freedom Fighters Maehara was in a vehicle driven the Moro people deserve.” Eb- in Central Mindanao. In 2015, by a Philippine man near the rahim expressed joy on the visit Galvez was the Philippine gov- naval base. Another Japanese rmed Forces of the Phil- of Galvez to their camp, de- ernment’s chairman for the Co- officer in his 40s who was in ippines (AFP) chief Gen- scribing it as “historical.” “This ordinating Committee on the the same vehicle was injured Aeral Carlito Galvez Jr has visit represents the degree of Cessation of Hostilities. with a broken rib. offi cially declared the end of war progress we have made over the During his stint, the bloody He was sent to a hospital between the Philippine military years in bringing signifi cant co- Mamasapano clash with the with Maehara but was dis- and the Moro Islamic Liberation operation between our military MILF in Maguindanao that led charged on the same day, the Front (MILF). Galvez made the offi cers in our quest for peace to the deaths of 44 police com- GSDF spokesman said. declaration during a visit yes- in the Bangsamoro homeland,” mandos took place. Galvez’s A Philippine spokesman for terday to the MILF’s camp Dar- he said meeting with the MILF leader- the exercises declined to com- apanan in Sultan Kudarat where The MILF leadership be- ship came months after Presi- ment. he met with MILF chairman Al stowed on Galvez the “Soldier dent Rodrigo Duterte signed The Philippines has ramped Haj Murad Ebrahim. of Peace Award,” the fi rst to be the Bangsamoro Organic Law up military co-operation in He was accompanied by high- given to a military offi cer by the (BOL), which creates the Bang- recent years with Washington, ranking military offi cials from group. “I came back to one (of) samoro Autonomous Region in its long-time ally, and also held the national headquarters and the most revered places, a place I Muslim Mindanao. joint naval exercises with Ja- the Western Mindanao Com- can call home because here lived Galvez noted that between pan near Scarborough Shoal in mand (WestMinCom). Some those gallant men I considered the MILF and the Communist 2015. 6,000 MILF supporters lined up my brethren, those whom I had Party of the Philippines (CPP), Japan has its own maritime along the Sultan Kudarat high- been working with for a peace- the communist rebels have been territorial dispute with Beijing way to welcome Galvez and his ful Mindanao,” Galvez said. “deceptive, manipulative and in the East China Sea, where party. He used to head the West- insincere.” China has built artificial is- “I can now declare that the MinCom, being one of the key “They burned road project lands and installed military fa- war between the Armed Forces military offi cials during the equipment, they executed thou- cilities on them. and the MILF is fi nally over,” fi ve-month Marawi City siege sands, even their own comrades. The US military stressed that Galvez said. “To my command- in 2017, and the Philippine Ar- They extort and always wanted Armed Forces chief General Carlito Galvez Jr shakes hands with MILF chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim yesterday’s exercise was not ers, let us embrace our broth- my’s sixth Infantry Division, to take advantage,” he said. at Camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat. aimed at China. Suspect New fuel price increase to Duterte spends weekend in priest in Hong Kong after killing take eff ect from tomorrow revealing health worries arrested By Jordeene Sheex Lagare cent(avos) (per litre) for gasoline.” excise tax that took eff ect in January this DPA would inform the nation if he Manila Times The price of gasoline, meanwhile, is an- year, the price of diesel has risen by P13.50, Manila had cancer. Spokesman Harry ticipated to go up by P1.30 per litre to P1.40 gasoline by P13.37 and kerosene by P12.71. Roque said a “growth” had been By Leander C Domingo per litre. Last week, oil fi rms raised the Last week, the DoE said it is exhausting found in his digestive tract. Manila Times/Bayombong otorists may need to tighten their price of diesel by P1.35 per litre, gasoline all options to mitigate eff ects of higher oil hilippine President Rod- Duterte has earlier said that belts some more as oil companies by P1 per litre and kerosene by P1.10 per prices in the country. rigo Duterte has spent the he suff ers from back pains, mi- Mare expected to impose a hefty litre. The price adjustments increased the “We’ve been exploring higher and ex- Pweekend in Hong Kong, graines and Buerger’s disease, a he Provincial Police Offi ce price increase from tomorrow. common price of diesel to P48.30 per litre, panded fuel discounts to public utility days after revealing that he was disorder that aff ects the blood (PPO) in Quirino prov- “Expect fuel prices to go up again next gasoline to P59 per litre and kerosene to vehicles, looking at nearby countries for undergoing medical testing and vessels and is linked to smok- Tince said it arrested Friday week. Diesel should go up by P1.40 to P53.67 per litre, based on the Depart- lower priced supply and even went to un- may have cancer. ing, as Duterte did when he was evening a suspect in the killing of P1.50 per litre while gasoline should in- ment of Energy’s (DoE) weekly oil price popular options to ensure that consum- Presidential aide Christopher young. Father Richmond Nilo of Nueva crease by P0.70 to P0.80 per litre,” Unioil monitoring. ers are protected from the impact of this Go posted photos of Duterte Pollsters Social Weather Sta- Ecija in June. said in its advisory over the weekend. As of October 2, oil companies had im- global price situation,” Energy Secre- strolling in Hong Kong with his tions meanwhile said that a sur- Chief Supt. Jose Mario Espino, An industry source gave an almost plemented a net increase of P10.70 for die- tary Alfonso Cusi said in a statement on partner Honeylet Avancena and vey of 1,500 Filipinos from Sep- Police Regional Offi ce 2 (PRO2) similar projection, pegging an increase of sel, P10.40 for gasoline and P9.35 for kero- Thursday. “Despite global forces aff ecting their 14-year-old daughter, Kit- tember 15 to 23 showed that 61% director, identifi ed the suspect P1.50 per litre for diesel and “at least 90 sene, based on data from the DoE. With the country’s fuel prices, we are in con- ty, yesterday. believed that the president’s as Bernie Mangulabnan Limpio, stant communication with the oil indus- “Before fake news gets around, health was a matter of public in- 36, of Barangay Lacqios, Arayat, try players on how we can help the public the president also needs to take a terest. Pampanga. He was one of the amid the global oil situation,” Cusi added. break,” Go wrote in the caption. The survey, conducted more three suspects who trailed Nilo’s The DoE assured the public it would He said the 73-year-old presi- than a week before Duterte’s vehicle before he was allegedly closely monitor developments in the glo- dent had arrived in Hong Kong announcement, also concluded shot by Omar Mallari. bal market. Cusi earlier said the DoE is early yesterday and would return that 45% of Filipinos believed Mallari was arrested on June pushing for the importation of petroleum to the Philippines later. the president had health prob- 22 in Arayat, Pampanga and con- products as it is “one good measure to re- Duterte on Thursday said he lems while 26% did not and 29% fessed that he was the hitman ally help bring down the price of oil.” had undergone medical tests and were undecided. hired by Manuel Torres, the al- The DoE also wanted Congress to con- leged mastermind of the crime sider amending the Tax Reform for Accel- who is still at-large. eration and Inclusion (Train) Law to facili- Based on the investigation, tate a halt to higher taxes on fuel products. Torres ordered the killing after “We are currently studying, going to the Nilo revived a rape case against Joint Congressional Power Commission the alleged mastermind’s ex- (JCPC) and asking the JCPC to … hold a seminarian nephew named hearing and ask for probably an amend- Christopher. The Catholic priest ment of the Train (Law) because other- was shot dead from a side win- wise, we will have to wait for three months dow of the chapel on the after- before you can suspend the eff ectivity of noon of June 10 as he was about the second round,” Energy Assistant Sec- to celebrate mass in Barangay A gasoline attendant serves a customer yesterday amid warnings that oil companies will retary Leonido Pulido 3rd said last Tues- Mayamot, Zaragoza town. again hike oil prices this week. day. Rodrigo Duterte: health worries?

Gulf Times Monday, October 8, 2018 23 COMMENT China’s governance tightrope

By Zhang Jun discretionary powers, authority to Since President Xi Jinping launched Shanghai raise funds, and capacity to attract his anti-corruption campaign in 2012, investment. China’s overall economic performance In most cases, however, local offi cials has not improved, partly owing to local ive years ago, China’s leaders would abuse such powers and do more offi cials’ increased reluctance to take decided to target modern state than needed. bold steps to boost growth. governance as a top reform For example, local authorities have The crux of the problem may Fpriority. long had a perverse incentive to improve lie in China’s system of upward The goal of such reform is to improve their own standing by allocating accountability in governing its offi cials. the state’s capacity to adapt to the sheer resources to image-building projects While Chinese governance size and increasing complexity of the that serve no genuine economic need or undoubtedly has its advantages – in Chinese economy, and to mitigate risk. purpose. particular, it enables the central Achieving this objective will not be This might boost growth in the short government to mitigate risks, easy. term, but unproductive investments including preventing debt and To understand why, and what it will can also threaten macroeconomic fi nancial weakness from triggering take to succeed, consider how Chinese stability in the longer term. crises – it can hamper the kind of governance has worked in recent Another diffi culty in assessing policy experimentation needed to decades. Chinese governance arises from the sustain economic progress. Overall, governing the country complicated relationship between Given the system of upward involves a combination of political politics and business in diff erent accountability, de-emphasising GDP centralisation and economic regions. growth in assessing the performance decentralisation. Decentralisation rewards local of local offi cials would help reduce In particular, China’s spectacular offi cials who are competent and devoted these offi cials’ incentive to abuse income growth has been enabled to supporting economic growth. decentralised powers and make by a delicate balance between the But it also creates opportunities for unproductive investments. concentration of political power in the these offi cials to forge surreptitious But if Chinese leaders do not abandon hands of the central leadership and the ties with business owners, and this the system of upward accountability, delegation of economic management to undermines growth in the long run. how would they measure and assess local authorities. Because of the strong competition to local offi cials’ relative performance? This balance has often proved stand out in terms of growth, especially A step towards introducing downward diffi cult to maintain. President Xi Jinping: need for greater downward accountability at the provincial level, many lower-level accountability into the governance For example, when China still had a offi cials use their authority more to system is perhaps necessary. fully planned economy, Mao Zedong to overall GDP growth. to sustain their spending, which Meanwhile, since 1994, the central advance their personal interests. China’s leaders are right in the sense had to delegate the management of Again, the plan worked for a while still amounted to some 80% of total government has implemented a At the same time, business owners that the country’s governance must be state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to local – until China’s leaders confronted the government expenditure. performance-based system for seek illicit relationships with local modernised. authorities for some time in order to downside of fi scal decentralisation: In other words, revising the assessing and promoting local leaders, offi cials to gain protection, privileges To succeed, however, they may have boost production, as local governments the central government’s declining intergovernmental fi scal relationship thereby fuelling competition among (such as contracts), loans, a blind eye to revise their approach to managing were in a better position than the revenue share under this system limited did not calibrate the expenditure local authorities. to safety standards, and regulatory local governments and introduce industrial ministry in Beijing to manage its capacity to assert its authority and responsibility between central and local This point is the key to a better exemptions – activities that generate greater downward accountability in local suppliers. manage macroeconomic stability. governments. understanding of Chinese governance fi nancial risks and undermine assessing their performance. But, within a few years, this system As a result, in 1994, the central To this day, local governments have to today, which the economist Chenggang competition by raising entry barriers for This shift undoubtedly carries risks, had become so disorganised, due government had to revise the raise extra-budgetary funds to fi nance Xu aptly describes as a “regionally more effi cient enterprises. but ultimately they are worth taking in to economic chaos in the wake of intergovernmental fi scal relationship. the rising defi cit between revenues and decentralised authoritarian system.” The delegation of discretionary the course of adapting governance for decentralisation, that the central It reverted from fi scal contracts to a expenditure. It is not easy to assess this system, power to the bottom of the system continued economic development. – government reasserted its control. system in which the central government Understandably, Chinese local because competition among local could therefore create a dilemma for Project Syndicate Nonetheless, in 1978, Deng acquired the majority of tax revenues leaders have not negotiated a reduction authorities has always had both good the central leadership: exercising more Xiaoping not only delegated authority and the revenue share of local in their share of total expenditure and bad outcomes. control would hurt growth, but so Zhang Jun is Dean of the School to local governments, but also governments was substantially reduced. responsibility, not least because the While this horizontal competition would the rampant corruption that of Economics at Fudan University increased their revenue through a But while this change strengthened central government has appointed has helped China to reach growth results from not exercising it. and Director of the China Centre for system of fi scal contracting, in an the central government’s hand, it provincial leaders over whom it targets, central leaders must Yet the solution is not as simple as Economic Studies, a Shanghai-based eff ort to maximise their contribution undermined local governments’ ability maintains substantial control. be supportive of local leaders’ cracking down on graft. think tank.

Three-day forecast Austerity medicine kills! TODAY Maximum Temperature : 370c Minimum Temperature : 310c

By Larry Elliott Even so, the argument between the munism in the early 1990s resulted in aff ecting many other countries as well TUESDAY Maximum Temperature : 370c London practitioners of austerity and their life expectancy plunging, particularly as Greece. This has been exacerbated opponents continues. It is going on be- among men. by the brain drain of younger workers Minimum Temperature : 290c tween Theresa May, who says austerity More recently, an article in the Lancet looking for a better life. However, the WEDNESDAY he quack doctors rolled is over, and the UK Treasury, which says by researchers from the University of Lancet article says the rise in mortal- Maximum Temperature : 360c into town just as the global it isn’t. It is going on between the EU Washington has analysed the impact of ity is not solely down to demograph- Minimum Temperature : 300c and Italy. And it is going on in academia, austerity on life expectancy in Greece. ics because there have been increases economy had come off the Fisherman's forecast Tcritical list. It was 2009 between those who think every pound The fi ndings make grim reading. in deaths of children under the age of and the message from the austerity spent by the public sector is a pound Greece, which endured a slump fi ve, suicides among adolescents and longer and deeper than the Great younger adults and several treatable WARNING medicine show was simple: the only unavailable for the private sector, and Inshore : Nil way back to full health was a course of those who think the idea that you can Depression in the US, was forced by cancers in younger adults. Offshore : Nil heavy-duty cuts. expand the economy through cuts when the so-called troika of the IMF, the The troika’s austerity programme Expert opinion was divided. There it is struggling is a contradiction in EU and the European Central Bank to helped French and German banks avoid WEATHER Inshore : Misty at places by early were other diagnoses available. There terms. cut health expenditure at a time when losses on their loans but at the expense morning, becomes hot were economists who said austerity Nor is this a debate exclusive to other European countries were raising of a rising Greek death rate. That has daytime with some was the equivalent of going back to the economists. Eyebrows were raised theirs. Under Greece’s bailout, health resulted in 50% less public hospital local clouds & c of rain days of blood-letting – but they lost among health professionals last month spending fell from 9.8% of GDP in 2008 funding in 2015 than 2009, hospitals Offshore : Some clouds the argument. The prescription, though at the news that UK life expectancy in to 8.1% in 2014, a time when national being left without basic supplies, the it varied a bit from country to country, 2015 to 2017 had remained virtually output was contracting rapidly. The long-term unemployed stripped of WIND Inshore : Southeasterly-North- was pretty much the same across the unchanged on the previous three years country’s death rate had risen by about their health insurance and those on easterly 05-15 KT developed world: get those budget – the fi rst time this had happened since 5.6% in the decade running up to the low pay fi nding drugs more expensive Offshrore : Northeasterly-North- defi cits down. the early 1980s. fi rst bailout in 2010 but then jumped by because of a 20% cut in the minimum westerly 03-12 KT The upshot was that the glo- Given that the early 1980s was also a 17.6% in the six years that followed. The wage. The number of individuals with Visibility : 4-8/3 KM bal economy had a relapse and has time of deep economic recession, there rate rose three times faster than the rate unmet healthcare needs has nearly never fully recovered. Offi cials at the has inevitably been speculation that in Western Europe overall. doubled since 2010, with a considerable Offshore : 1-3 FT International Monetary Fund, which austerity is to blame for the stalling of Much of the increase in all-age mor- fraction reporting cost as the main rea- tality was concentrated in adults, while son for not receiving the recommended meets for its annual meeting in Bali this life expectancy. In truth, it is too early to Around the region week, eventually admitted that they draw that conclusion but it is certainly the Lancet article notes: “Many of the healthcare services. Weather had underestimated the power of fi scal the case that pressures on the NHS causes of death that increased in Greece Greece is not short of healthcare Weather tomorrow Max/min policy – taxes and spending – to boost have been mounting, even with a ring- are potentially responsive to care, expertise. It has the second highest today Max/min P Cloudy 38/22 growth when every country was strug- fenced budget. Health spending has including HIV, neoplasms, cirrhosis, number of doctors per 1,000 people in Baghdad P Cloudy 38/22 Sunny 40/26 gling and interest rates were already at been fl at in real terms since 2010, once a neurological disorders, chronic kidney the EU but that medical workforce has Kuwait City Sunny 37/25 Sunny 37/29 rock-bottom levels. rising population is taken into account disease, and most types of cardiovas- been forced to watch impotently as the Manama Sunny 37/29 M Sunny 31/26 What’s more, because austerity – easily the least generous settlement in cular disease. Improvements in child health system has descended into chaos Muscat M Sunny 32/26 M Sunny 24/15 choked off growth it took longer than its 70-year life. mortality in Greece have also stagnated and people have died when they could Tehran P Cloudy 20/13 expected to bring budget defi cits under Under Greece’s bailout, health since 2000, with increases in deaths have been saved. control. Voters who had initially been spending fell from 9.8% of GDP in 2008 due to neonatal haemolytic disease For the past eight years, Greece has seduced by the idea that everybody to 8.1% in 2014 and neonatal sepsis since 2010, both of been used in a laboratory experiment needed to do a bit of belt-tightening Better examples of the impact of which might also refl ect reduced health to test out a theory. The evidence from grew sick of austerity as the conse- austerity on health are provided by system performance.” the report in the Lancet could hardly quences of year after year of austerity other countries. The shock treatment One reason for rising mortality rates be clearer. Austerity kills. – Guardian became increasingly visible. handed to Russia after the end of com- could be an ageing population, which is News and Media Live issues

Around the world Weather Weather Vit D supplements may not improve bone health today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Athens M Sunny 25/14 Sunny 24/16 Beirut P Cloudy 27/23 P Cloudy 26/23 By Linda Carroll Alison Avenell of the University of trials included women over age 65. from falls clinics, nursing homes or Bangkok S T Storm 32/26 P Cloudy 33/26 London Aberdeen in the UK. Although most of the trials lasted a hospitals where increased risk of Berlin M Sunny 16/04 P Cloudy 20/08 “For example, older people in year or less, “25 trials had follow-up fracture was likely. Very few trials were Cairo Sunny 32/21 M Sunny 32/21 institutions who never go outside.” longer than one year,” Avenell said. in healthy younger populations.” Cape Town Sunny 27/14 M Sunny 21/15 itamin D supplementation Vitamin D supplements have long “There were eight trials with over When the researchers pooled the Colombo T Storm 29/24 T Storm 28/24 may not improve bone den- been recommended to seniors for 33,000 participants that followed data from all 81 trials, they found that Dhaka M Sunny 34/24 P Cloudy 35/24 sity or prevent fractures and treating and preventing the bone- people up for three to fi ve years. So the vitamin D supplementation had no Hong Kong M Sunny 27/23 Sunny 27/23 Vfalls in adults, a large new thinning disease osteoporosis. majority of the data comes from large, eff ect on the number of fractures and Istanbul Sunny 23/14 Sunny 22/16 analysis suggests. Avenell and her colleagues would long-term trials.” falls. Nor did the dosage of vitamin D Jakarta P Cloudy 35/26 P Cloudy 36/25 After combining data from like to see guideline changes that steer The researchers did not calculate a seem to make any diff erence. Karachi M Sunny 37/25 P Cloudy 36/26 81 randomised controlled trials, people away from the supplements. median or average age for participants Supplements also didn’t appear to London M Sunny 16/06 P Cloudy 18/09 researchers found no bone benefi ts For the new study, Avenell and in the studies, but most were 65 or increase bone density. One big issue Manila T Storm 32/25 S T Storms 32/25 from supplementing the vitamin, her colleagues scoured the medical older, Avenell noted. in studying vitamin D is there is no Moscow P Cloudy 16/07 P Cloudy 09/00 according to the report in The Lancet literature for studies that examined the Most of the trials did not focus on consensus on what’s a healthy level of New Delhi Sunny 34/22 Sunny 34/22 Diabetes & Endocrinology. impact of vitamin D supplementation participants with bone issues. the nutrient, Avenell said. New York P Cloudy 28/21 M Cloudy 22/19 “Our results show that there is little on bone health. But, Avenell said, “one trial “There’s a lot of disagreement Paris S Showers 17/08 Sunny 20/07 reason for adults to take vitamin D Ultimately they settled on 81 trials recruited people with low bone between diff erent bodies producing Sao Paulo T Storm 22/17 S T Storms 25/19 supplements for their bones to protect with a total of 53,537 participants. density, one with osteoporosis, guidelines around the world,” she Seoul M Sunny 20/09 M Sunny 21/11 against fractures, except people from The length of time participants were six with people who had previous added. Singapore T Storm 31/26 T Storm 31/26 high risk groups, such as those who studied varied widely, ranging from fractures – including one of the “Our work would suggest that it’s a Sydney Rain 17/14 P Cloudy 19/12 have a prolonged lack of exposure to four weeks to as long as fi ve years. biggest with over 5,000 participants lot less than people have thought.” – Tokyo Clear 30/23 Cloudy 23/19 sunshine,” said study co-author Dr More than three-quarters of the – 17 others were in older people Reuters Health Gulf Times 24 Monday, October 8, 2018 QATAR

Katara to open library for Arabic fi ction

atara – the Cultural will serve as a major resource open discussions on diverse A total of 27 new titles will Village is all set to and meeting point for writ- literary topics, especially be released during the Festi- Kopen an exclusive li- ers, researchers, and men of those related to novels, he val that will immensely con- brary for Arabic novels and letters. added. tribute to Arabic fi ction and related works at its premises The Library will have spe- Al-Sayed noted that the literature, said Dr al-Sulaiti. as part of its eff orts to pro- cial sections for reading and Library will include an elec- These books being published mote Arabic literature. The reference and for screening tronic archive with two sec- by the Katara Publishing Katara Library of Arabic of fi lms and serials based tions, one for Arabic novels House will be an added at- Novels will open during the on fi ction, as well as au- and the other for Arab nov- traction to the Katara Library 4th Katara Festival of Arabic dio programmes. There will elists. The archive will pro- for Arabic Novels. Novels from October 15 to 17. also be dedicated sections vide a comprehensive source Besides their original The Festival will also see for lectures, seminars and of information on Arabic works in Arabic, the partici- the awarding of Katara Prize workshops, and a studio for novels and novelists which pating novelists will also sign for Arabic Novels 2018 win- recording interviews and in- will be made easily acces- the translations of their prize ners and a book signing cere- teractive sessions. sible. winning novels in English mony by winners of the 2017 Khalid al-Sayed, head of The Katara Festival of Ara- and French. awards. the Katara Prize for Arabic bic Novels will witness sign- The translated novels in- Katara general manager Dr Novels, said the Library will ing of a number of new books clude Forty Years Waiting Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti become a platform for a wide by their authors, which will for Isabelle by Said Khatibi, said the Katara Library for range of activities such as be released as part of the Ka- Khatun Baghdadi by Shakir Arabic Novels will showcase expert workshops, seminars tara Prize for Arabic Novels Noori, Groundnuts by Sami- more than 10,000 titles in and lectures on Arabic fi c- 2018. ha Khrais, Diff erent Death fi ction, in addition to studies tion and related topics. The Winners of the 2017 Prize by Mohamed Berrade and and critical works on Arabic Library will also function as will sign their winning en- Certainty Eff ect by Hosheng novels. The opening ceremo- a readers’ club, bringing to- tries in various categories, Ossi. Several award-winning ny will take place on the fi rst gether distinguished readers, including novels and critical critical studies on novels in day of the festival. writers and intellectuals who studies as well as translated Arabic will also be released He added that the Library will meet every month for works. on the occasion. HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani, HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani along with other distinguished guests attending the programme yesterday. Sheikha Hind attends QF’s learning forum E Sheikha Hind bint Hamad ing the education system by empower- “While teaching can be very re- al-Thani, vice chairperson ing teachers. Buthaina Ali al-Nuaimi, warding, it can also be very demand- Hand CEO of Qatar Foundation president, PUE, said, “The Teaching ing. Many teachers around the world (QF), yesterday attended the fi fth an- and Learning Forum is a promising op- feel stressed, unappreciated, and frus- nual Teaching and Learning Forum, portunity that evokes our responsibil- trated. It’s important that parents and organised by the Education Develop- ity to empower future generations, to staff in schools work together for the Katara Library for Arabic Novels will serve as a major resource and meeting point for writers, researchers, and men of letters. ment Institute (EDI), part of QF’s Pre- value the role of the educator, to foster benefi t of the student. University Education (PUE). a culture of innovation, and to invest in To help teachers to be at the top of More than 1,500 teachers, education a better future. their game, teacher well-being and leaders and policymakers from across “It is an opportunity for us to re- engagement are important factors in Qatar and the region attended the fo- new our commitment to our common school eff ectiveness.” rum at Qatar National Convention principles and goals, as one commu- Additional guest speakers in- Centre. This year’s forum, sponsored nity; strengthening our resolve to work cluded Dr Janet Goodall, a lecturer by ExxonMobil Qatar, was also de- together, to build a sustainable and in Educational Leadership and Man- signed to inspire and motivate teachers knowledge-based future.” agement at the University of Bath; to reach for the highest level of student This year’s forum saw local experts Joy Marchese from Positive Disci- engagement and achievement. in the fi elds of education and medicine pline UK and The American School It featured international experts, provide their insights in several panel of London and Dr Michael Lovorn, a motivational speakers, and authors in discussions, including a discussion student engagement expert from the the fi eld of education, including lead- on building inclusive systems within University of Alabama. ing educator Steve Francis — creator schools. It also featured presenta- Alistair Routledge, president and of Happy Schools, a programme aimed tions from more than 60 schools and general manager for ExxonMobil Qa- at boosting staff morale and reducing organisations from across the region, tar, said, “ Every day, good teachers teacher stress — who gave the keynote including teachers from QF and other create opportunities for their students speech at the opening session. local schools, bringing together a di- to ask questions, analyse information, The Teaching and Learning Forum verse range of experiences and innova- and become creative thinkers. They are falls under QF’s year-round profes- tion led practice. laying the foundation to foster a sus- sional development programme, and is In his keynote speech, Francis said, tainable and prosperous future, and designed to provide educators with the “Teachers play a vital role in society it is our responsibility as active mem- opportunity to share knowledge and and have a huge impact on student bers of the community to support their discuss industry issues, while enhanc- learning. work.”

Qatar Rail signs MoU with Careem Qatar to provide fare promotion

Qatar Railways Company (Qatar Rail) complete the full transportation cycle agreement we have signed for taxi yesterday announced that it has signed for Metro users and provide them with fare promotion for Metro passengers. an agreement with Careem Qatar to a seamless experience in order to boost We are confident that our partnership off er taxi fare promotions to Doha Metro ridership and paving the way to with Careem Qatar would positively Metro passengers for their “first and achieve the company’s vision to be the contribute to our customers’ overall last mile journeys”. favoured mode of transport in Qatar,” experience. Meanwhile, we will Through this agreement, special Qatar Rail said in a statement. continue with our eff orts to facilitate discounts will be off ered to Metro The agreement was signed by integrated solutions for customers and passengers who book a taxi to take Abdulla Abdulaziz al-Subaie, Qatar ultimately increase Metro ridership.” them to and from Doha Metro stations. Rail managing director and CEO, and Careem is considered one of the top “This agreement comes as a part of Khaled Nuseibeh, general manager of ride-hailing app in the Mena region, Qatar Rail’s ‘first and last mile strategy’, Careem in the GCC. Turkey and Pakistan, serving more than through which the company aims to Commenting on the agreement, 24mn users in the region, the statement provide comprehensive solutions to al-Subaie said: “This is the second adds.

Abdulla Abdulaziz al-Subaie and Khaled Nuseibeh at the signing of the agreement.