BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Spectacular Souq start for Qatar Qatar attends GECF’s 20th ministerial meeting International in Trinidad and Tobago Rally published in QATAR since 1978

FRIDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 11004 November 16, 2018 Rabia I 8, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals In brief Qatar’s Es’hail-2 QATAR | Defence Armed forces conclude Falcon military exercise communications The Qatari Armed Forces yesterday concluded the Qatar Falcon exercise 2018, which was carried out by the Qatari Marine Corps satellite put in orbit with the participation of the British Marines. The Directorate of Defence Communications said the Falcon SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket thun- launch facility, in preparation for the exercise was part of a series of joint dered to life and streaked away launch. exercises with the friendly country, Afrom the Florida coast yester- Built by Mitsubishi Electric Com- which aims to gain experience, day, carrying Qatar’s Es’hail-2 com- pany, based on their DS 2000 satellite exchange information and learn munications satellite towards orbit. bus, Es’hail-2 has a proven, modular about modern methods and the Despite cloudy weather, the Falcon’s platform with high power capability latest technology, adding that the 9’s nine Merlin 1C fi rst stage engines and fl exibility for a broad range of ap- landing ship RFA LYME BAY visited fl ashed to life at 3.46pm EST, throttled plications. In addition to off ering Ku- Qatar as part of its participation His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Rwanda President Paul Kagame hold talks at the Amiri up to full thrust and quickly pushed band capacity to support the growing in the exercise. The closing Diwan yesterday. Page 2 the 229ft-tall rocket straight up from 25.5°E / 26.0°E broadcast neighbour- ceremony was attended by HE Rear historic pad 39A at the Kennedy Space hood, Es’hail-2 also features multi- Admiral Abdullah Hassan al-Sulaiti, Centre atop a brilliant jet of fl aming transponder Ka-band capacity with so- Commander of the Amiri Naval exhaust. phisticated anti-jamming capabilities Forces, Britain’s ambassador Ajay Knifi ng through an overcast sky, the providing business and government Sharma, and senior off icers from the rocket quickly disappeared from view, sectors with secure communications two sides. leaving a slowly fading rumble in its across the Mena region. The spacecraft wake. has a design life in excess of 16 years. QATAR | Weather Two minutes and 35 seconds after Ali al-Kuwari, president and CEO of Temperature likely Qatar, Rwanda liftoff , the fi rst stage separated and Es’hailSat, said earlier: “We are very dropped away, followed a few seconds excited about the upcoming launch of to fall next week later by ignition of the second stage’s Es’hail-2, the second in our planned Northwesterly winds are expected single engine. Two fi rings 32 minutes fl eet of satellites. Es’hailSat, estab- to aff ect Qatar from tomorrow after liftoff put the Es’hail 2 commu- lished in 2010 in Doha, owns and op- evening, causing a noticeable drop nications satellite into the required el- erates satellites to serve broadcast- in temperature at the beginning liptical “transfer” orbit. ers, businesses and governments. of next week. The Qatar Met sign accords to The launch was witnessed by HE the Es’hail-1, launched in 2013, provides department said the temperature Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of television, telecommunication, cor- will be 3-5C lower than the State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin porate and government services across preceding days. The weather off ice Mohamed al-Attiyah and Qatar’s am- the Mena region and beyond. Both also tweeted yesterday that the bassador to the US Sheikh Meshal bin Es’hail-1 and Es’hail-2 will be co-lo- cloud cover is expected to increase Hamad al-Thani with other dignitaries cated at the 25.5°/26°E TV broadcast- gradually in the coming two days and offi cials. ing hotspot. and there is a chance of scattered strengthen ties Earlier, Es’hailSat, the Qatar Satel- “We are happy to announce that rain, which will be mostly light to lite Company, announced the safe ar- we launched #eshail_2 today with @ moderate in intensity and may z Amir, Kagame review co-operation, discuss regional and international issues rival of Es’hail-2 satellite at the SpaceX SpaceX,” Es’hailSat tweeted later. turn thundery at times, especially off shore. to him, and stressed the importance between Qatar and the African Union. EUROPE | Dissent QNA Doha of the relations between the two After the talks, the Amir and the Protest against Comoros countries. Rwandan president witnessed the The Rwanda president hoped the signing of agreements on air services, president in Paris is Highness the Amir Sheikh visit would contribute to enhancing promotion and protection of mutual About a dozen people from the Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani friendship and co-operation between investments and a memorandum of Comoros diaspora demonstrated Hand Rwanda President Paul the two countries. understanding on economic, trade against their President Azali Kagame held formal talks at the Amiri The two leaders reviewed aspects and technical co-operation. Assoumani in front of the Comoros Diwan yesterday. of co-operation between the two A number ministers attended the embassy in Paris on Wednesday. At the outset of the talks, the Amir countries in the political, economic, talks and the signing ceremonies. They denounced the policies welcomed the Rwandan leader, who investment and agricultural fi elds as On the Rwandan side, members of followed by Azali. According to the is president of the current session of well as mineral sector, and discussed the offi cial delegation accompanying daily Masiwa, in growing dissent to the African Union, and his accompa- prospects for developing them to the president attended. the rule of the president, the former nying delegation. serve the common interest and real- Earlier Rwandan president was ac- secretary general of the Convention The Amir spoke about the impor- ise the aspirations of the two coun- corded an offi cial reception when he for the Renewal of the Comoros tance of the visit, which refl ects the tries. arrived at the Amiri Diwan. (CRC) has left the party and broke desire of the two sides to develop re- They also discussed the latest re- The Amir later hosted a luncheon ties with Azali. “There have been lations in various fi elds. gional and international develop- banquet in honour of Kagame and his diff erences persisting between Dr Kagame expressed thanks and ap- ments and exchanged views on them. accompanying delegation. Hamidou Karihila and the president,” preciation to the Amir for the hospi- The Amir and Kagame also dis- A number ministers attended the reports said. tality and warm reception accorded cussed strengthening co-operation banquet. US sanctions accused in Spread of piracy drives Khashoggi murder

The United States imposed down value of TV rights economic sanctions on 17 Saudi officials yesterday for their role in the killing of zSaudi-based pirate beoutQ channel now available worldwide journalist Jamal Khashoggi, as Saudi Arabia’s public By Anthony Harwood the EU to take formal action against casters around the world – who have, prosecutor sought the death London Correspondent Saudi Arabia because beoutQ has now to date, paid enormous amounts for penalty for five suspects in become a sophisticated international exclusivity of media rights but who the murder. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches Qatar’s Es’hail-2 communications satellite from piracy operation, operating in Europe now cannot count on exclusivity as a The US Treasury Department Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Centre yesterday. Premier League clubs face losing as well. result of beoutQ – will refuse to pay sanctions were the first con- £10mn a year as the spread of piracy Yesterday beIN Sports warned that those enormous fees in future.” crete response by the Trump drives down the value of TV rights. the ‘contagion of piracy’ is spread- “Instead ‘piracy risk’ will be baked- administration to Khashoggi’s eams like Bournemouth, ing worldwide after it emerged that in to commercial evaluations as at the death in the Saudi consulate Burnley and Watford who rely beoutQ boxes were on sale in London, end of the day, why would broadcast- in Istanbul in October. Theavily on TV money for nearly the United States and parts of Africa. ers around the world pay for rights Among those sanctioned 90% of their income will be hit the Under current projections, the Pre- that can’t be protected? For instance, were Saud al-Qahtani, who hardest. mier League could end up receiving we have already renewed some rights has been removed from beIN Sports – which pays £328mn £614mn less in 2022-25, based on a on a 50% discount. Rights holders are his position as a top aide to to broadcast matches across the Mid- continued 12.1% drop in what Sky pays slowly realising this new reality – some the powerful Crown Prince dle East – predicts it may have to cut and beIN Sports slashing what it pays faster than others.” Mohamed bin Salman, as well what it off ers by up to 50% because of by half. Last year a Saudi-led alliance as the Saudi Consul Gen- the rising number people who can now That works out as £30mn for each launched a diplomatic, transport and eral Mohamed al-Otaibi and view sport for free. club in the Premier League – or £10mn trade blockade of Qatar, where beIN members of a 15-person team Sources say piracy was also a key a year. Sports is based. Turkey has identified as being factor in driving down what Sky is pay- For clubs like Bournemouth, who To get around its own ban on sub- involved in Khashoggi’s death. ing the Premier League over the next rely on TV money for 89.2% of their scribing to beIN Sports, the Saudis The measure was unusual three years – a 12.1% fall from £4.1bn income, this would amount to a tenth managed to illegally broadcast the pro- for Washington, which rarely to £3.6bn. of its income. grammes on its beoutQ channel via a imposes sanctions on Saudi beIN Sports has borne the brunt of Other teams like Burnley (86.8%), Riyadh-based satellite, Arabsat. nationals. piracy being carried out on an indus- who were able to use the funds to qual- As well as the Premier League, the Also yesterday, Turkey said it trial scale by Saudi Arabia via the rogue ify for Europe last season, and Watford Champions League, FIFA World Cup, was not satisfied with remarks channel, beoutQ. (88.7%), will be similarly hit. Serie A, La Ligue, Wimbledon and For- from Saudi Arabia’s public But the piracy is no longer confi ned Daniel Markham, beIN Sport’s Ex- mula One were also targeted. prosecutor on the murder to the Mena (Middle East and North ecutive Director of Sports Content, It led to UEFA attacking the Saudi of Khashoggi, adding the HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Africa) region. said: “The natural consequence of the operation saying it was a “signifi cant journalist was targeted in a Mohamed al-Attiyah and Qatar’s ambassador to the US Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad Last month the BBC and Sky asked piracy in Saudi Arabia is that broad- threat to European football.” To Page 3 premeditated killing. Page 9 al-Thani with other dignitaries and off icials watch the launch. Gulf Times 2 Friday, November 16, 2018 QATAR

Amir receives president of Rwanda

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Rwandan President Paul Kagame review a guard of honour at the Amiri Diwan yesterday. receiving Rwandan President Paul Kagame at the Amiri Diwan.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, accompanied by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Rwandan President Paul Rwandan President Paul Kagame during the off icial reception Rwandan President Paul Kagame, meets Rwandan delegation members at the Kagame witness the signing of an agreement at the Amiri Diwan yesterday. ceremony at the Amiri Diwan yesterday. Amiri Diwan yesterday.

Rwandan president OFFICIAL visits Education City Qatar is guest of honour at Minister meets outgoing St Petersburg Cultural Forum ambassadors

QNA HE the Minister of State for St Petersburg Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi yesterday met the outgoing ambassadors of Mexico he seventh edition of St and Slovakia (non-resident) to Petersburg International Qatar, Francisco Niembro, and TCultural Forum, opened Pavol Svetik, respectively. yesterday in the Russian city The Minister of State for Foreign with Qatar as the guest of hon- Aff airs thanked ambassadors our for the fi rst time in the event. for their eff orts in promoting The forum runs for three days bilateral relations with Qatar and with the participation of 35 for- wished them success in their eign delegations led by many future assignments. ministers of foreign aff airs and culture in the world, including Bosnian off icials Qatar Foundation (QF) yesterday welcomed Paul Kagame, Qatar. President of Rwanda and chairman of the current session of the The forum was opened by meet Qatar’s African Union, to Education City. Kagame, in Qatar on a state Deputy Prime Minister of Rus- ambassador visit, and his accompanying delegation received a sia, Olga Golodets and HE the comprehensive presentation on Education City, and, from Minister of Culture and Sports HE the Minister of Culture and Sports Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali attending the seventh edition of The Chairman of the Presidency the open-air viewing platform on the eighth floor of QF HQ, of Qatar Salah bin Ghanem bin St Petersburg International Cultural Forum yesterday. of Bosnia and Herzegovina, learned about the organisation’s various education, science and Nasser al-Ali, who led the Qatari Bakir Izetbegovic, met Qatar’s research, and community development entities. Concluding the delegation. ambassador Sultan bin Ali al- tour, President Kagame signed QF’s Visitors Book. More than 20,000 partici- Khater, in Sarajevo yesterday. pants, representing theatre, During the meeting, they opera and music schools, in ad- discussed bilateral relations, dition to experts in the global means of supporting and cultural and artistic fi elds and developing them and issues of representatives of some govern- common concern. Temporary traffic diversion ments are taking part in forum. The Chairman of Council The St Petersburg Interna- of Ministers for Bosnia and tional Cultural Forum aims to Herzegovina Dr Denis Zvizdic discuss ways to support co-op- also met Qatar’s ambassador. eration in the cultural fi eld be- tween countries and their people around the world and to foster Qatar takes part in exchange of knowledge on cul- tural and artistic issues through League meeting seminars, lectures, roundtables, on Gaza attack theatre, fi lm and musical per- HE the Minister of Culture and Sports Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali addressing the forum. formances, as well as supporting The emergency meeting of the and developing youth initiatives. most noble of you in the sight diversity for centuries. lights the importance of pre- Arab League Council at the level The Qatari participation as a of Allah is the most righteous of As part of Qatar-Russia 2018 serving historical monuments of permanent delegates began guest of honour comes within the you.” Year of Culture celebrations, the and archaeological excavations. in Cairo yesterday under the framework of Qatar-Russia 2018 The minister pointed out Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra The forum will also feature a Chairmanship of Sudan to discuss Year of Culture which witnessed that Qatar-Russia 2018 Year of will be staging a concert. The min- variety of presentations by Qa- the repercussions of the Israeli the organisation of many events Culture refl ected the joint ef- ister said that Qatar Philharmonic tar Museums Department, and aggression on Gaza, headed by by the two countries throughout forts between the two countries Orchestra performance in this fo- a programme on cinema in Qa- Sudan. the year in order to strengthen and culminated in an important rum under the theme “One Cul- tar, Qatari artists and photogra- Qatar is participating in the Ashghal will close for 60 days from November 18 two lanes partnership and bilateral ties. model experiment in more than ture, One Tune”, is the best proof phers’ works. meeting with a delegation turning right on the Industrial Area roundabout on Al Thakhira In his opening remarks to the 40 diff erent cultural activities of the value of cultural diversity in A number of Qatari cultural headed by the Permanent road in the direction from Al Khor to Al Thakhira. forum HE Salah bin Ghanem bin which refl ected its importance in achieving rapprochement and co- events will be held today, includ- Representative of Qatar to The diversion, as shown on the map, is to lay sewage and Nasser al-Ali, said that the di- cultural exchange and dissemi- existence among people. ing a ministerial discussion which the Arab League, ambassador treated sewage eff luent pipes as part of a design, build, versity of people and cultures is a nation of the values of tolerance The country’s participation will be attended by the Minis- Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz al-Sahlawi. operate and maintain package for Al Thakhira sewage blessing from God. To emphasise and openness. in the forum will be highlighted ter of Culture and Sports and his The meeting, convened at the treatment works, transfer pumping station and associated his point, the minister quoted the He thanked all those who took through a series of cultural ac- counterparts from a number of request of Palestine, is being held pipelines. Ashghal has requested all road users to abide by the Qur’anic verse: “O mankind, in- part in the forum and for the op- tivities and events such as an countries. The event will include to discuss the Israeli aggression speed limit and follow road signs to ensure safety. With the deed We have created you from portunity they gave Qatar as a art exhibition on contemporary a speech by the HE the Minister of on the Palestinian people as camping season underway, Ashghal also reminded road users male and female and made you guest of honour in St Petersburg, Qatari society, and the presenta- Culture entitled “Truth or Myth”, well as its institutions and to reduce speed while driving to their campsite. peoples and tribes that you may which he described as the beau- tion of the archaeological project as well as a presentation on Qatar infrastructure in Gaza, which has know one another. Indeed, the tiful city and symbol of cultural ‘Qatar and Sudan’, which high- and Sudan archaeological project. claimed dozens of lives. Gulf Times Friday, November 16, 2018 3 QATAR/REGION/ARAB WORLD Defence minister meets US secretary of Homeland Security Qatar Charity sponsors AidEx 2018 in Brussels

QNA Brussels

atar participated in AidEx 2018, a two-day global Qhumanitarian and devel- opment aid event, being held in the Belgian capital Brussels with the attendance of a number of organisations concerned with humanitarian assistance and in- ternational development. The event will discuss the pos- itive impact of technology in the digital age on humanitarian and development work. Speaking at the opening cere- CEO of Qatar Charity (QC) Yousef bin Ahmed al-Kuwari talking to mony of the event, CEO of Qatar an off icial at the AidEx 2018 event, being held in the Belgian capital Charity (QC) Yousef bin Ahmed Brussels. HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah yesterday met the US al-Kuwari, said, “Qatar Charity’s Secretary of Homeland Security, Kirstjen Nielsen, at the Homeland Security Department’s headquarters in Washington. They participation in this signifi cant with its partners and donors, and access to education and employ- discussed several issues of mutual concern, as well as bilateral relations between Qatar and the US and means of enhancing international event comes in reach out to the largest number ment for refugees, displaced them. The meeting was attended by the Qatar’s ambassador to the US Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad al-Thani, and the security line with its belief that the global of benefi ciaries at the low- people, and vulnerable commu- attache of Qatar to the US Brigadier General Mohamed Abdulaziz al-Nassr. challenges faced by humanitar- est cost. It has also been able to nities. It will be moderated by ian workers are too complex that fi nd more innovative solutions Mohamed al-Ghamdi, assistant the governments, NGOs or pri- to humanitarian challenges and to the CEO of QC. vate sector cannot address them launch better initiatives that are The discussions will include single-handedly.” more creative and infl uential, the educational challenges as- He underlined the importance with the help of technology,” he sociated with providing income of the event, as it brings various said. sources to school-aged refugees, stakeholders together to share On the sidelines of the event, displaced children, and youth, Commerce Ministry organises knowledge and solutions that under the patronage of QC, an and review two initiatives of the will help them build a better fu- exhibition will be organised charity to address these chal- ture for humanity. on humanitarian and develop- lenges. seminar on intellectual property He explained that the spon- ment activities, in addition to QC’s sponsoring of the event soring of AidEx 2018 by QC is meetings and panel discussions, comes in line with its focus in the part of its strategy to use tech- which will be attended by 3,000 recent years on the investment in he Ministry of Commerce cerned department at the Min- nology to serve and fulfi l its mis- personalities interested in hu- new technology and smart apps and Industry organised istry. The workshop also shed sion and objectives. manitarian aff airs. to increase its revenues in order Tyesterday a workshop en- light on how to register a patent “Moreover, the use of new QC will also organise a panel to reach out to the largest pos- titled ‘Patents and Registration electronically. technology has helped the char- discussion on the role of the sible number of people in need Procedures’ with the participa- The event, attended by a ity to eff ectively communicate digital revolution in providing across the globe. tion of a number of intellectual number of experts from the property agents and interested Ministry, featured several topics members of the public. including a general introduction Credit or debit card allowed for visa-free entry facility The workshop comes within to patents, the content of the the framework of the Ministry’s patent application, and proce- Indian citizens can now carry a possess a valid credit card. Now, The updated rules also include eff orts to protect and promote dures relating to the registration credit or debit card to avail of Qa- as mentioned on the ministry web- non-extension of the visa beyond intellectual property rights, and of a patent application through tar’s visa-free entry facility, accord- site, people also have the option 30 days and confirmed hotel to raise awareness among intel- the electronic registration sys- ing to information available on the of carrying a debit card. “Applicant reservation. Besides, the visitor lectual property agents and the tem. The workshop concluded Ministry of Interior (MoI) website. must be in possession of a valid should have a confirmed return public about the importance with a Q&A session during With eff ect from November 11, the credit or debit card. (Mandatory ticket and the passport must be of registering and protecting which experts from the Ministry MoI had introduced a set of new to present a valid credit or debit valid for at least six months from patents against infringement answered questions regarding conditions for Indian nationals card in the name of the traveller; the arrival date. by registering them at the con- patents. The workshop in session. who wanted to obtain an on-arrival in case of travelling with family, the The details can be found at https:// tourist visa. One of the condi- family head should have a card in portal.moi.gov.qa/qatarvisas/visa- Katara hosts French cultural delegation tions was that the applicant must his name),” the MoI website states. details.html?ctr=77&res=77

The French Presidential Adviser for Hunting Aff airs Thierry Coste was received by the Cultural Village Qatar feels like home, Foundation – Katara general manager Dr Khalid bin Ib- rahim al-Sulaiti yesterday to discuss developing bilateral says new dean of CNA-Q co-operation in the fields of culture heritage. The visit aims to boost ties between I forgot about the humid- stitution where learners come growth of the society, the labour Qatar and France in the ity,” jokes David Himmel- fi rst. market and the energy and in- cultural aspects and find “man, College of the North His passion for leading teams dustry sector.” more horizons of cultural Atlantic-Qatar’s newest dean of in the education sector comes One of Himmelman’s main exposure and exchange of the School of Business Studies. from his strong appreciation of goals during his tenure as dean expertise. However, after nine years in the education. is to expand the off erings in the Subsequently, Coste and his Gulf region previously, return- As an educator himself for School of Business Studies to delegation visited Al Gannas ing, this time to Qatar, “feels like over 30 years, he has seen the keep enhancing the educational Society and were briefed home” he said. diff erence quality, accredited landscape of Qatar. on its activities, events and Himmelman is looking for- and global education can bring “A priority for me is to meet tournaments, which aim to ward to the role of dean of the to people. with the business community preserve the original Qatari College’s largest school with “Education changes lives,” he to understand their needs for heritage associated with fal- 830 students, most of whom says with passion. “It changes highly-trained employees, and conry, its role in preserving are Qatari nationals, according the lives of the student being help ensure CNA-Q stays rele- rare falcon breeds and about to a statement issued yesterday. educated and it transforms so- vant by off ering what the coun- the hunting environment in Himmelman has a long history cieties into modern economies.” try needs. Beyond our commit- Qatar. as a post-secondary adminis- Qatar is one such economy. ment to educating accounting, The French delegation trator, spending the past two “The spectacular transforma- HR and marketing profession- also learned about Katara’s decades at the Dean level. tion of Qatar’s economy since als, there are opportunities for International Hunting and His leadership in education the 1990s is remarkable,” said expansion into many other areas Falcons Exhibition S’hail, one and jovial disposition make Himmelman. of business management as the of the largest global events him a perfect fi t for the college, “No doubt that the growth of economy of Qatar expands and of its kind and a first in Qatar which positions itself as an en- the education sector in the State diversifi es – the future is look- and the Middle East. Thierry Coste receiving a memento from Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti yesterday. gaging and student-centred in- has a direct correlation with the ing bright!” Uneasy calm in Hodeidah Netanyahu faces snap election calls after minister resigns

Reuters government’s too-soft policy on yesterday. Each coalition partner as fresh violence feared cross-border violence with Pal- will then have the power to bring Jerusalem estinians in the Gaza Strip. down the government. To avert a AFP of the city, which was rocked by hood of western Hodeidah, told ian assistance. After nearly four The loss of the fi ve seats of crisis, Netanyahu has been hold- Hodeidah, Yemen a series of explosions on Sunday. AFP he remains hopeful despite years of fi ghting between Saudi sraeli Prime Minister Ben- Lieberman’s Israel Beitenu fac- ing talks with ministers in an ef- Hundreds of medical workers the convoys of tanks and trucks and Emirati-backed pro-gov- jamin Netanyahu faced calls tion leaves Netanyahu with con- fort to stabilise the government. and patients fl ed as battles ap- roaming the streets a few kilo- ernment forces and the Houthi Iyesterday from his coalition trol of just 61 of the 120 seats in Israel’s Finance Minister emenis in battle-scarred proached the facility, prompting metres from his home. rebels, Yemen sits on the brink partners to hold an early election, parliament, raising the prospect Moshe Kahlon, who heads the Hodeidah had a brief international outcry. “I hope that this is the end of of famine. a day after the defence minister’s that a scheduled November 2019 centrist Kulanu party, said he Yrespite yesterday as the Pro-government forces on it, because the hardest thing for Hodeidah resident Marwan resignation left the government election would be brought for- told Netanyahu in their meeting port city remained calm — but Wednesday suspended their 12- me is to explain it to my chil- Abdelwaseh said he hopes for with a razor-thin majority. Avig- ward. Lieberman’s resignation that the responsible step to take many fear that a return to vio- day off ensive on the rebel-held dren,” said the 38-year-old. “We a political solution before his dor Lieberman quit on Wednes- takes eff ect 48 hours after being would be to establish a new and lence is only a matter of time. Red Sea city, home to a vital port, have to be hopeful, as we are home witnesses a humanitarian day over what he described as the handed in, which he did early stable government. Armed men roamed the streets as international pressure for a every time the fi ghting stops, but catastrophe. of the rebel-held city on pick- ceasefi re ramped up this week. the reality of the situation is that “We hope that the parties at up trucks and motorbikes, some But it was not the fi rst time pro- this war will go on for a very long war will reach a political agree- carrying rocket-propelled gre- government forces — backed by time.” ment to hand over the city and nades, as civilians tried to go a powerful Saudi-led military His concerns are not without spare it from destruction and about their lives. coalition — have paused their of- merit. Pro-government military war, especially since the supply Piracy drives down value of TV rights “Every time they announce fensive on Hodeidah. commanders have said opera- routes for food, goods and gas a truce, something worse hap- The coalition launched the as- tions will resume if the Houthis have been cut,” he said. From Page 1 Daniel Friedlaender, head of is not new but the speed of pro- pens,” said resident and mother sault in June. attack. Shops and schools in Hodeidah’s port — the con- To begin with the beoutQ Sky EU Offi ce, told Anna Malm- liferation of the illegal beoutQ of fi ve Fatima Ali. “The fi ght- It later halted its operations to Hodeidah opened yesterday, a duit for almost all of Yemen’s broadcasts were geo-locked to strom, the European commis- service is particularly alarming, ing stops for a period of time allow for United Nations-backed day after loyalists announced the imports and humanitarian aid — Saudi Arabia. sioner for trade: “Sky takes all as is the evidence suggesting and then continues. I am wor- peace talks — but as the talks pause in their off ensive. Life is a has been under near-total block- But they have since gone forms of audio-piracy extremely that the Riyadh-based satellite ried about my children,” the collapsed in September, it for- desperate struggle for many in ade by the Saudi-led coalition, worldwide with access to illegal seriously and invests substantial operator, Arabsat, whose main 45-year-old said. Ali lives in the mally announced the off ensive Yemen, where more than 22mn which accuses Iran of smuggling content, not just of sport, but eff ort and money in protecting shareholder is the KSA govern- Ghalil neighbourhood near the had resumed. Younes Ahmed, people — three quarters of the arms to the rebels. Tehran denies also TV drama such as The Body- its content. ment, provides satellite services Al-Thawra hospital in the south who lives in a coastal neighbour- population — need humanitar- the allegation. guard and Game of Thrones. “The problem of audio-piracy to enable beoutQ distribution.” Gulf Times 4 Friday, November 16, 2018 AFRICA Ethiopia arrests ex-intel chief in corruption, rights crackdown

Reuters Some have already appeared in said on Twitter yesterday morn- Analysts and diplomats are de- border with Sudan and Eritrea. Addis Ababa court. ing. He did not disclose details. scribing the arrests as a “full fron- The attorney general has said A judge has denied them bail and Yared’s wife was arrested on tal assault on the establishment”. that investigations uncovered cor- given police 14 days further to in- Monday and sources told Reuters Though 42-year-old Abiy began ruption at METEC, which makes thiopia said yesterday it had vestigate. that she had been trying to hide sacking senior offi cials upon tak- military equipment and is involved arrested the former deputy None have been charged. him. ing offi ce, this week’s detentions in sectors from agriculture to con- Eintelligence chief after Prime Fana Broadcasting said Gudeta Yared was appointed head of the have picked up the pace of his struction. Minister Abiy Ahmed’s adminis- Olana, head of security at Ethio federal police in April but resigned stated eff orts to rein in the security In August, Ethiopia removed tration launched a crackdown this Telecom, had also been appre- three months later. services and tackle economic mis- METEC from the $4bn Grand Ren- week on senior security offi cials hended by police. It gave no reason The whereabouts of former in- management and other problems. aissance Dam project on the River suspected of human rights abuses for the arrest. telligence chief Getachew Assefa Abiy is Ethiopia’s fi rst leader Nile due to delays and failure to and corruption. The detentions have been are unknown, government sources from its majority Oromo ethnic complete the installation of tur- Separately yesterday, state- broadly welcomed by rights groups say, and the attorney general de- group. bines. affi liated television Fana Broad- and opposition politicians as a fi rst clined at a news conference on He was chosen by the ruling “There’s clear evidence that casting said police had arrested step by Abiy towards fulfi lling Monday to say whether the gov- coalition, the Ethiopian People’s these people at METEC committed the head of the security division at pledges made when he took of- ernment had issued an arrest war- Revolutionary Democratic Front sophisticated, high-level econom- state-owned Ethio Telecom net- fi ce in April to tackle impunity and rant for him. (EPRDF), as its new head after ic crime,” said Hallelujah Lulie, work. seek justice for past crimes by the Tsegaye has said evidence three years of street protests and Addis Ababa-based programme Since Monday more than 60 of- government. showed “the senior leadership of strikes piled pressure on it to re- director at the Amani Africa think- fi cials, some from the intelligence “Former deputy of NISS and the national security agency” had form. tank. services and some from the mili- Federal Police Commission com- instructed members of Abiy’s Oro- Kinfe Dagnew, a brigadier gen- “I don’t think he can reform the tary-run industrial conglomerate missioner General Yared Zerihun mo ethnic group to attack him at a eral in Ethiopia’s army and former economy without addressing the Metal and Engineering Corpora- has been apprehended by police,” rally in June, in which two people chief executive of METEC, was issue of METEC,” he said, referring tion (METEC), have been arrested. Attorney General Berhanu Tsegaye were killed and scores wounded. arrested on Tuesday close to the to Abiy.

Zimbabwe opposition’s Chamisa says he will Madagascar testify at inquiry only if president does too rivals set for

Reuters vote run-off Harare

AFP imbabwean opposition Antananarivo leader Nelson Chamisa Zsaid yesterday he would only testify before an inquiry wo former presidents of Mada- into post-election violence gascar look set to compete in a that killed six people in August Thotly-contested run-off elec- if President Emmerson Mnan- tion in December after partial results gagwa did the same. yesterday showed they were frontrun- The July 30 poll was the fi rst ners in the fi rst-round vote. after Robert Mugabe was forced With 84% of the ballots counted to resign following a coup in No- from last week’s vote, Andry Rajoe- vember 2017. lina was on 39.61% and Marc Ravalo- In the aftermath of the vote, manana on 35.15% — pointing towards civilians died in an army crack- a close race for the presidency in the down on opposition protests. head-to-head second round. Chamisa lost a legal challenge Outgoing president Hery Rajaonar- to the election results but still imampianina was in third place out of maintains the vote was rigged 36 candidates with 8%. and that Mnangagwa lacks le- “Given the results of the CENI (In- gitimacy. Zimbabwe’s main opposition Movement For Democratic Change leader Nelson Chamisa addresses dependent National Electoral Com- A commission of inquiry led a media briefing in Harare yesterday. mission), the second round is now in- by former South African presi- evitable,” Madagascan analyst Mahery dent Kgalema Motlante has their faces obscured by camou- appear before the commission ers at the MDC’s headquarters in Lanto Manandafy told AFP. heard evidence from security fl age masks, opening fi re with when it resumes hearings next Harare. Under Madagascar’s electoral reg- chiefs who this week denied sol- automatic weapons. week. Police chief Godwin Matanga ulations, the two frontrunners go diers had killed civilians and Chamisa said he and former “If they are to be fair, what’s on Tuesday told the commission through to a run-off — scheduled for blamed Chamisa and other op- fi nance minister Tendai Biti good for the goose must be good that Chamisa could be arrested December 19 — if neither manages position leaders for inciting vio- were among leaders of the oppo- for the gander, they must be able any time for inciting violence. to secure more than 50% in the fi rst lence. sition Movement for Democratic to invite Mr Mnangagwa. If he is Chamisa said this was part round. Video from the August 1 pro- Change (MDC) who yesterday not going to go, why should I go of pressure on him to recognise “But anything is still possible if tests showed soldiers, some with received letters calling them to alone?” Chamisa said to report- Mnangagwa as president. Rajoelina and Ravalomanana lodge a complaint in the courts,” warned ana- lyst Toavina Ralambomahay. “Eve- ryone hopes to be elected in the fi rst round because a second-round election will bring huge campaign costs.” SA panel calls for law change over land reform Madagascar is one of the world’s poorest countries, according to World Bank data, with almost four in fi ve peo- Reuters The review team’s recommendation will ahead of 2019 elections, unnerving investors ple living in grinding poverty on the In- Cape Town now go to the national assembly. despite pledges to do so in a way that does dian Ocean island. It is not clear when a vote will take place. not threaten food security or growth. But the candidates spent huge sums More than two decades after apartheid’s AgriSA, an association of agricultural as- on fl ashy campaign rallies, helicopters South African parliamentary team demise, most private land remains in the sociations, criticised the committee’s rec- and giveaways such as free T-shirts for has recommended a constitutional hands of the country’s white minority, ommendation, saying the amendment of supporters. Aamendment to make it possible for making it a vivid symbol of wider dispari- section 25 would be diametrically opposed to The three leading candidates have the state to expropriate land without com- ties. the protection of property rights and would raised allegations of fraud and mal- pensation in the public interest. Parliament set the ball rolling in February gravely harm the economy. practice by election authorities. The Constitutional Review Committee to hasten the transfer to black ownership by Dan Kriek, Agri SA president, said his or- A European Union observer mission said amending section 25 would make it ex- backing a motion calling for the constitu- ganisation would challenge the recommen- said in a report on Monday that it had plicitly clear that such expropriation could tion to allow land expropriation without dation, which it termed “reckless and popu- “noted candidates committed breach- be carried out to accelerate land reform. compensation, and set up the review team to list”, through its legal team. es” ahead of the November 7 poll, but “South Africans have spoken, loud and canvass public opinion. “The proposed amendment is politically concluded that the election was well- clear, and we listened to their cry,” Lewis The committee carried out public hear- motivated and will cause large-scale damage organised overall. Nzimande, co-chairman of the review team, ings, received written submissions and heard to the South African economy,” he said. Roberto Tinoka, a lawmaker sup- said in a statement yesterday. presentations in parliament on the proposed Speaking in Strasbourg on Wednesday, porting Rajoelina, yesterday again “This has truly been a massive project. We review of the constitution. Ramaphosa told the European Parliament questioned the counting and said his have seen people queuing for long periods, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s ruling Af- that South Africa would enact land reforms campaign would launch a legal chal- just to make sure they have a say on the mat- rican National Congress has made the ac- in line with its constitution and with respect lenge, while Ravalomanana’s side said ter.” celeration of land redistribution a key issue for the human rights of all its people. money was being used to infl uence the CENI results. “All the results we have published are verifi able,” said CENI vice president Thierry Rakotonarivo. Fake drugs kill thousands each year across Africa Both Ravalomanana and Rajoelina were banned from contesting the last election in 2013 under international Reuters fake and counterfeit medication, wide annually, WHO says, mak- Coast — where fake drugs were pressure to avoid a repeat of political Dakar an EU-funded report released ing it the most lucrative trade of also sold openly — to crack down violence that engulfed the island in this week said. The drugs are illegally copied goods. on the trade, estimated at $30bn 2009. mainly made in China but also Its impact has been devastat- by Reuters last year. Ravalomanana, 68, and Rajoelina, hen Moustapha Di- in India, Paraguay, Pakistan and ing. Nigeria said more than 80 Ivorian authorities said last 44, are bitter rivals but it is the fi rst eng came down with the United Kingdom. children were killed in 2009 by month they had seized almost time they have faced each other at the Wstomach pains one Almost half the fake and low- a teething syrup tainted with a 400 tonnes of fake medicine polls. day last month, he did the sensi- quality medicines reported to chemical normally used in en- over the past two years. Ravalomanana ruled from 2002 to ble thing and went to a doctor in the World Health Organization gine coolant and blamed for Able Ekissi, an inspector at 2009 until he was ousted in a military- his hometown of Ouagadougou, (WHO) between 2013 and 2017 causing kidney failure. the health ministry, told Reuters backed coup that installed Rajoelina Burkina Faso’s capital. were found to be in sub-Saha- For Dieng, the cost can be the seized goods, had they been who was in power until 2014. The doctor prescribed a ma- ran Africa, said the report, also measured in more than simple sold to consumers, would have Rajaonarimampianina succeeded laria treatment but the medi- backed by Interpol and the In- suff ering. The night in hospital represented a loss to the legiti- him, ruling until earlier this year. cine cost too much for Dieng, a stitute for Security Studies. cost him more than double what mate pharmaceutical industry Rajaonarimampianina’s attempts 30-year-old tailor, so he went to “Counterfeiters prey on poor- he would have paid had he bought of more than $170mn. to change the electoral laws this an unlicensed street vendor for er countries more than their the drugs the doctor ordered. “They are reputed to be year backfi red, sparking nearly three pills on the cheap. richer counterparts, with up to “After taking those drugs, the cheaper, but at best they are in- months of sometimes violent protests “It was too expensive at the 30 times greater penetration of provenance of which we don’t eff ective and at worst toxic,” Ab- in the capital Antananarivo. pharmacy. I was forced to buy fakes in the supply chain,” said know, he came back with new derrahmane Chakibi, Managing The demonstrators forced Rajaonar- street drugs as they are less ex- the report. symptoms...All this had aggravat- Director of French pharmaceu- imampianina to accept a “consensus” pensive,” he said. Substandard or fake anti- ed his condition,” said nurse Jules tical fi rm Sanofi ’s sub-Saharan government tasked with organising the Within days he was hospi- malarials cause the deaths of Raesse, who treated Dieng when Africa branch. election in the former French colony, talised — sickened by the very between 64,000 and 158,000 he stayed at the clinic last month. “When you have no means you which is burdened by a long history of drugs that were supposed to people per year in sub-Saharan Fake drugs also threaten a are forced to go out onto the street,” coups and unrest. cure him. Africa, the report said. thriving pharmaceutical sector said Barakissa Cherik, a pharma- African Union (AU) observers have Tens of thousands of people in The counterfeit drug market in several African countries. cist in Ivory Coast’s lagoon-side called on the three leading contenders Africa die each year because of is worth around $200bn world- That has helped prompt Ivory commercial capital Abidjan. to “show restraint and respect the law”. Gulf Times Friday, November 16, 2018 5 AMERICA Top adviser Trump rails against out, reshuffl e Mueller investigation expected AFP Republican leadership gang of Democrat thugs”. who is leaving the Senate after Washington blocks Senate vote to protect “They have found no collusion this year, vowed not to vote to Mueller probe and have gone absolutely nuts. confi rm any presidential nomi- They are screaming and shouting nees for the judiciary until Muel- n angry Donald Trump AFP/DPA at people, horribly threatening ler’s probe is protected. has pushed out a senior Washington them to come up with the an- His vote on the judiciary com- Aadviser after First Lady swers they want,” Trump wrote. mittee is crucial. Melania Trump demanded her “They are a disgrace to our Na- “The president now has this sacking, with more heads set to resident Donald Trump tion and don’t care how many investigation in his sights, and roll in a White House reshuffl e seethed yesterday that lives (they) ruin,” he wrote, we all know it,” Flake said, pre- triggered by infi ghting and set- Pinvestigators probing al- branding the investigators “An- senting a controversial view backs in the midterm elections. leged collusion between Russian gry People, including the highly within his own party. On Tuesday Melania Trump agents and his election campaign confl icted Bob Mueller.” Whitaker’s fi red predecessor made the extremely rare de- have gone “totally nuts” and are a Mueller, a former director of Sessions, had formally stepped mand for deputy national se- “disgrace”. the Federal Bureau of Investiga- aside from any control over Mu- curity adviser Mira Ricardel to Even by the standards of his tion (FBI) and a Vietnam War eller, so as to avoid any confl icts be fi red, saying that “she no frequent barrages against special veteran, is leading one of the of interest. longer deserves the honour of Ricardel: out counsel Robert Mueller, Trump’s most explosive probes in US po- Democrats want Sessions’s re- serving in this White House”. early morning tweet storm was litical history. placement, Whitaker, to do like- The protocol-busting move administration, even if critics blistering. Trump and his campaign are Trump: (The Mueller investigators) have found no collusion and have wise, but there is no indication followed a falling out that press say he has done little to temper “A TOTAL WITCH HUNT alleged to have received help from gone absolutely nuts. They are screaming and shouting at people, that he will. leaks say was partly linked to a the president’s most damaging LIKE NO OTHER IN AMERICAN Russian agents seeking to help horribly threatening them to come up with the answers they want. Top Senate Democrat Chuck dispute over seating arrange- outbursts. HISTORY!” he wrote. defeat his 2016 opponent Hillary Schumer has said that if Whitak- ments on the plane that took Now Kelly’s days are num- The diatribe came amid claims Clinton or at least to undermine to issue his fi nal report. On Wednesday, Republican er refuses to recuse himself, the fi rst lady for a tour of Afri- bered, according to the uncon- that Trump is manoeuvring to confi dence in US democracy. As expectations of a show- Senator Jeff Flake, a frequent Democrats will seek to attach can countries in October. fi rmed but mounting leaks to have Mueller fi red or otherwise Trump has always denied any down mount, Trump has become critic, joined Democratic Sena- legislation protecting Mueller to Ricardel was also reportedly US media. shut down before he can close such links and rejected the idea ever more defensive, his grim tor Chris Coons in an attempt to a must-pass spending bill that blamed for negative news cov- His position, tenuous for in on the president and his inner that Moscow played a signifi cant mood worsened by his Republi- introduce a measure in the upper will be up for consideration in the erage of Melania Trump. months, has been undermined circle, including family mem- role in infl uencing the dramatic can party’s battering last week in chamber to protect Mueller. coming weeks. The fi rst lady at least par- further by reports that he also bers. election. midterm congressional elections, However, it was blocked by Democrats have long sought to tially got her way on Wednes- clashed with Melania Trump – Last week, Trump sacked his But Mueller has quietly where they retained the Senate Senate majority leader and key set up safeguards around Muel- day when presidential a relatively backstage fi rst lady attorney general Jeff Sessions, chipped away, indicting several but lost the House of Represent- Trump ally Mitch McConnell. ler. spokeswoman Sarah Sanders who has rarely made her infl u- replacing him with Matthew dozen people, most of them Rus- atives. “There’s been no indication Reports in US media, including announced that Ricardel “de- ence so obviously felt as this Whitaker, who is on the record as sians. Starting in January, Democrats ... that the Mueller investigation on Fox News and CNN, said that parts the White House to tran- week. being harshly critical of the Mu- He has also charged four say they will use House investi- will not be allowed to fi nish and Trump is currently working with sition to a new role within the Melania Trump was angry eller investigation. Trump associates, although on gative committees to open fur- it should be allowed to fi nish,” lawyers on written answers to be Administration”. that Kelly had refused to pro- The switch ignited a wave of charges not directly related to the ther probes of Trump’s business- McConnell told reporters before given to the Mueller team. The start to the second half mote some of her aides, reports protests from Trump’s Demo- alleged Russian interference. es and his connections to Russia. going to the fl oor. “I think it is in Recent polling shows public of Donald Trump’s fi rst term say. cratic opponents but the presi- Now Washington is on tenter- Republicans, with few excep- no danger. So I don’t think any opinion in the US is divided on is enveloped in gloom as the Nick Ayers, a 36-year-old dent yesterday doubled down on hooks while waiting for Mueller, tions, are rallying around the legislation is necessary.” how Mueller has carried out his president surveys the damage chief of staff to Vice-President his rejection of Mueller and “his who works in near total secrecy, president. Flake, a moderate Republican investigation. from the midterms, tension Mike Pence and renowned po- with some of America’s closest litical consultant, is reportedly allies, and now turmoil inside high on the list to replace Kelly. the administration. Another expected reshuffl e On Wednesday, he was casualty is Homeland Security quoted by right-wing website Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, a Troops sift through wildfi re ruins The Daily Caller saying that a Kelly ally who oversees the po- wider reshuffl e is coming. litically sensitive task of carry- “A lot of people want to ing out Trump’s crackdown on Reuters up from 35%, even as the blaze and its 27,000 residents are unsure come in, a lot of politicians illegal immigration. Paradise, California grew 2,000 acres to 140,000 acres of what to do next. who have had very successful Trump told The Daily Caller (57,000 hectares). With 50,000 people still under careers want to come in,” he that he’ll make “a decision on Diminished winds and rising hu- evacuation orders, a Walmart that said. homeland shortly”. irefi ghting crews made midity helped fi refi ghters shore up had been spared from the fi re has The biggest name on the Among Nielsen’s critics has progress against the deadliest containment lines on Wednesday. become a haven for fi re refugees. chopping block, according to been National Security Adviser Fwildfi re in California history US National Guard troops are in A section of its parking lot was multiple US media reports, is John Bolton, who last month yesterday amid concerns that the Paradise looking for remains of vic- roped off for use as a distribution chief of staff John Kelly. was widely reported to have death toll of 56 would rise as search tims as 130 people, most of them centre for clothes, food and coff ee, A retired Marine Corps gen- erupted in a shouting match teams work their way through the over the age of 65, were still listed as while people who fl ed their homes eral, he has often been referred with Kelly right outside the burned-out town of Paradise in the missing. set up dozens of tents in an adja- A pebble is seen at a donation fair for fire evacuees camping to as “the adult in the room” Oval Offi ce over her perform- state’s north. Authorities fear that in the crush cent fi eld or slept in their cars in the at a parking lot in Chico, California. during Trump’s drama-prone ance. More than 9,000 personnel from to fl ee the fast-approaching fl ames, parking lot. many US states are fi ghting the some elderly residents may have Portable toilets were brought in. The department is relying on Camp Fire, which incinerated Para- been left behind. Evacuees milling in the parking equipment from other police de- Poor weather delays US space cargo launch dise, and the Woolsey Fire hundreds At least 22 cadaver dogs are part of lot were facing morning tempera- partments and is running off a gen- of miles to the south. the search. tures that dropped into the mid-30s erator, Sergeant Steve Bertagna told Windy weather pushed back until tomorrow high winds and high seas, forecast for Authorities attributed the high Paradise’s ghostly expanse of and many wore breathing masks for KRCR TV. the planned launch of a US cargo ship Friday morning,” said a statement from number of casualties to the stag- empty lots covered in ash and protection from lingering smoke. Thirteen of the department’s 30 loaded with supplies for astronauts living at Northrop Grumman, which operates the gering speed with which the wind- strewn with twisted wreckage and At another evacuation centre offi cers have lost their homes, KRCR the International Space Station, Nasa said Antares rocket. “The forecast for a launch driven fl ames blew through Para- debris made a strong impression on south of Paradise in Oroville, Nan- TV said. yesterday. on Saturday is significantly improved with a dise. Governor Jerry Brown, US Interior ette Benson, said her future is un- The blaze, fuelled by thick, The delay to 4.01am (0901 GMT) on less than 5% chance of weather conditions Nearly 8,700 homes were de- Secretary Ryan Zinke and other offi - certain. drought-desiccated scrub, has November 17 from Wallops Island, Virginia preventing a launch.” stroyed and 15,500 buildings threat- cials who toured the devastation on “We don’t know where the hell capped two back-to-back cata- marks the second time launch managers An unmanned Russian Progress supply ened, the California Department of Wednesday and were due to visit the we’re going to go,” she told KRCR strophic wildfi re seasons in Califor- have postponed the mission from its initial ship is also scheduled to launch from the Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal scene of the Woolsey Fire. TV. nia that scientists largely ascribe to flight plan Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at Fire) said yesterday. Paradise, in the Sierra foothills Paradise’s police department prolonged drought that is sympto- “The teams decided to wait another day 1814 GMT today. Cal Fire said that 40% of the about 175 miles (280km) north of stepped up patrols after arresting matic of climate change. for launch after assessing continuing The Russian ship is scheduled to arrive at Camp Fire had been contained, San Francisco, burned last Thursday three people on charges of looting. The high winds have eased, Cal unfavourable weather conditions, including the orbiting outpost on Sunday. Fire director Ken Pimlott told re- California taps war-zone DNA specialists aft er to identify wildfi re victims porters late on Wednesday, but veg- etation around the Camp Fire re- Paradise looked like a war zone when authorities decided to Guard contingent have been scouring debris from the Camp mained critically dry and conditions turn to a team of combat-trained DNA specialists to quickly Fire, the deadliest in California’s history, and turning over were dangerous. identify human remains believed to be in the charred ruins tissue and bone fragments to the ANDE team. Lawyers for some wildfi re victims left after a wildfire incinerated the northern California town. The company designed its tools specifically to withstand claimed in a lawsuit fi led this week For the grieving town, locating and identifying victims has war zone conditions and has worked extensively with the that lax equipment maintenance by become a top priority. US military. an electric utility caused the fi re, With many of them likely burned beyond recognition, It has also helped law enforcement identify sexual assault which offi cially remains under in- traditional DNA analysis techniques are inadequate, as they suspects and the United Nations in child traff icking cases, vestigation. require samples to be shipped to a laboratory and take Mattern said. The Butte County disaster coin- weeks to produce a DNA match. Rapid DNA analysis has proven to be eff ective in identifying cided with blazes in Southern Cali- In addition, traditional tools sometimes fail when extreme DNA from burned remains and bone fragments. fornia, especially the Woolsey Fire, heat damages tissue samples. In hopes of identifying remains as quickly as possible, ANDE which has killed at least two people, As a consequence, the Butte County Sheriff ’s off ice hired a has set up near Chico seven Rapid DNA analysis instru- destroyed more than 500 structures company specialising in Rapid DNA analysis, a technique ments, which operate like portable labs to chemically proc- and displaced 200,000 people west primarily employed in war zones and crime scenes to gener- ess and generate data on the DNA. of Los Angeles. ate results in about two hours. Six employees were on site by Wednesday, and more were Cal Fire said the Woolsey Fire was For the company, Colorado-based ANDE, it was the first time on the way, said the company’s chief information off icer, about 57% contained on Wednes- it would assist in the aftermath of a natural disaster since its Stephen Meer. day, up from 52%. founding in 2000. “Certainly we are gearing up for higher capacity here,” Meer Crews battling the fi re were hop- “People have experienced so much loss and it’s not over said. ing for a help from the weather with yet,” said ANDE’s chief communications off icer, Annette Mat- Once the ANDE team finds a match between remains and light onshore winds expected to tern. “To be able to at least help some families know what DNA provided by a family member, the coroner’s off ice is bring slightly cooler temperatures the situation is will hopefully help in some small way.” alerted so it can make an off icial pronouncement of death. and higher humidity levels. By Tuesday morning ANDE had set up a work site near Death certificates are required for families to settle matters The Camp Fire also stands as one Chico in Butte County, about 175 miles (280km) north of San as complicated as life insurance and estates and as basic as of the deadliest US wildfi res since Francisco. car titles, credit cards and bank accounts. the turn of the last century. Chico, about 10 miles from Paradise, is the base for the Without positive identification, families may have to wait More than 80 people perished in search and firefighting operations. years for a death certificate to be issued for a missing loved the Big Burn fi restorm that swept Coroner-led recovery teams, cadaver dogs and a National one, depending on state rules. the northern Rockies in August 1910, consuming 3mn acres. FDA to curtail sale of fl avoured e-cigarettes

Reuters products, including electronic ciga- traditional retail outlets such as lieb said the moves are meant to pre- Washington rettes popular among teenagers in convenience stores. vent young people from continuing an eff ort to prevent a new generation Other fruity- or sweet-fl avoured to use e-cigarettes, potentially lead- of nicotine addicts. varieties can now only be sold at ing to traditional cigarette smoking. he US Food and Drug Ad- The much-anticipated an- age-restricted stores or through on- “I will not allow a generation of ministration (FDA) has an- nouncement will mean that only line merchants that use age-verifi - children to become addicted to nic- Tnounced sweeping new re- tobacco, mint and menthol e-cig- cation checks. otine through e-cigarettes,” Gott- strictions on fl avoured tobacco arette fl avours can be sold at most FDA Commissioner Scott Gott- lieb said. Gulf Times 6 Friday, November 16, 2018 ASIA Thais take Asean chair, haunted by past summit chaos

AFP Thailand’s chairmanship Asian diplomat who attended traditional rambunctious party avoid hosting summits in coun- Singapore means Asean will be hosted that cancelled summit told politics. tries the same year they hold by a military dictatorship the AFP. But Busadee Santipitaks, a elections. Thitinan Pongsu- same year it plans to hold elec- Back then Thailand was riven spokeswoman at Thailand’s dhirak, a veteran politics com- rotests, broken windows tions. The kingdom is notori- by political tensions that pitted Ministry of Foreign Aff airs, said mentator, said the 2009 debacle and dignitaries forced to ous for its fractious, disruptive the “red shirts” – loyal to ousted the country was ready to host was a “fi asco, the lowest point in Pfl ee by helicopter — Thai- and sometimes violent street Prime Minister Thaksin Shina- world leaders regardless of the respected and recognised Thai land’s last stint as host of South- politics. watra – against their “yellow elections. “We expect to host diplomatic annals.” east Asia’s biggest summit was Thailand’s generals will be shirt” rivals, allies of the royal- more than 170 meetings at vari- He said while political un- devoured by political chaos. But desperate to avoid a repeat of ist and military elite in Bangkok. ous levels next year in Thailand,” rest could never be ruled out in as the chairmanship of the As- 2009 when protesters from the In 2014 a ultra-royalist military she told AFP, adding “tentative Thailand, the junta could make sociation of Southeast Asian pro-democracy “red shirt” fac- clique again seized power, ush- dates” for the key summits were their Asean hosting duties easier Nations (Asean) passed yester- tion smashed their way into the ering in the most autocratic gov- under discussion. A second if they deliver a clean and timely day from Singapore to Thailand, summit venue in the resort city ernment Thailand has seen for a Southeast Asian diplomat said election. “The junta has to en- Bangkok is hoping unrest will of Pattaya demanding elec- generation. the Thai government is unlikely sure that the overall electorate is not spoil its year in the spotlight. tions. Pandemonium ensued, Junta chief Prayut Chan-O- to let a repeat of the 2009 de- satisfi ed with the electoral proc- The annual Asean summit with a number of leaders hav- Cha risks lifting the lid on Thai- bacle occur. “I don’t think they ess and timing,” he told AFP. has become a major stop on the ing to be rescued from a hotel land’s political pressure cooker will allow another such incident “If the junta manipulates at Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha holds up the gavel after diplomatic circuit, even draw- roof by Thai army helicopters with elections slated for some to mar their chairmanship,” the all costs to stay in power after received it from Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during ing leaders from the US, China, while others fled by boat. “It time early next year. That could diplomat told AFP. the poll, it could elicit a popular a transfer of Asean Chairmanship at the Closing Ceremony of the Japan and Russia. was chaotic,” one Southeast usher in a return of Thailand’s Historically Asean tries to backlash.” Asean Summit and Related Summit in Singapore, yesterday.

Punch-up in parliament Sri Lanka’s parliament that the country now had descended into chaos no government. “As of now, yesterday with MPs there is no prime minister, swinging punches and no cabinet ministers and no throwing projectiles a day government in Sri Lanka,” Sri Lanka grinds to after legislators voted the said Karu Jayasuriya, wearing “purported” prime minister his black and gold robe. “I out of off ice. “It was diff icult do not recognise anyone as to make out immediately who prime minister.” was hitting whom, but several The vote ousting Rajapakse, were hurt, but not seriously,” a divisive former president an off icial in parliament told and political bruiser, and AFP. “The speaker adjourned the Supreme Court’s rulings political halt without the House.” were a major boost to The off icial said an MP from Wickremesinghe. The four- toppled premier Mahinda times prime minister, popular Rajapakse’s party injured with Western countries for himself trying to rip out the his economic reforms, had speaker’s microphone and refused to leave his off icial had to be taken to hospital. residence after being fired by Sri Lanka has endured nearly the president. premier and cabinet three weeks of crisis after Addressing parliament President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday as an ordinary Lawmakers disrupt fired Ranil Wickremesinghe as member, Rajapakse asked parliament; President prime minister and replaced the house to end the crisis by rejects no confidence vote him with Rajapakse on October holding a national election. results; Rajapakse demands 26. “Let’s go for an election. general election Two weeks later Sirisena We want an election, a dissolved the strategically general election,” Rajapakse important Indian Ocean said. Wickremesinghe’s Reuters nation’s parliament and called party immediately moved Colombo snap elections for January. a resolution rejecting However these moves were Rajapakse’s call and suspended by the Supreme demanded a vote that ri Lanka appeared to be Court on Tuesday pending triggered angry protests from politically rudderless yes- an investigation. Parliament legislators loyal to Rajapakse Sterday as the speaker of reconvened on Wednesday and Sirisena. parliament declared there was and lawmakers approved a Sirisena, who is vested with no functioning prime minister motion of no-confidence in constitutional powers to induct or cabinet after a no-confi dence what they called Rajapakse’s a new prime minister and a vote the previous day. His com- Sri Lanka’s newly appointed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse “purported” cabinet, also cabinet of ministers, was yet to ments came after weeks of polit- speaks during the parliament session in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Scuff les between Sri Lanka’s parliament members are seen during passing motions declaring take note of Wednesday’s no- ical turmoil in the island, off the yesterday. the parliament session in Colombo, Sri Lanka yesterday. Sirisena’s moves illegal. confidence motion. Yesterday southeast coast of India, leading Yesterday’s routine he accused Jayasuriya of to raucous scenes on the fl oor of new prime minister or ministers tion to end the current political leaders, Jayasuriya’s office said porters held a protest in the capi- parliament session, the violating legislative traditions, parliament yesterday. appointed, today nobody will be crisis. Soon after his speech, the parliament would be recon- tal against what they described first since Rajapakse and saying the signatures of 122 Parliament on Wednesday accepted as prime minister or Rajapakse’s supporters poured vened today. as the “fake government”. “This his disputed administration legislators who opposed passed the no-confi dence mo- any other ministers,” Jayasuriya on to the fl oor of parliament Allies of Rajapakse-Sirisena president has ignored the consti- were deposed, began with Rajapakse had not been tion against recently appointed told parliament. and disrupted proceedings. MPs say Wickremesinghe is backed tution. He has to accept the no- the speaker announcing certified as genuine. Prime Minister Mahinda Ra- Sirisena, who triggered the from both sides gathered around by Western nations, which confi dence vote held yesterday,” japakse and his government with crisis by fi ring Ranil Wick- the Speaker’s chair, with a lot of are interfering in Sri Lankan Wickremesinghe told the gath- the backing of 122 of the 225 remesinghe as prime minister shouting and hooting. matters. Rajapakse is mostly ering. “We are ready to face both to implement “a new, extreme ous projects, the sources said. lawmakers in a voice vote, fol- and naming Rajapakse to the job The turmoil lasted almost 20 backed by Buddhists, who presidential and parliamentary liberal political concept” and India and Western coun- lowed by a signed document. But late last month, dissolved par- minutes after which Jayasuriya, make up more than 70% of Sri polls, but they should be done in neglecting local people’s senti- tries have requested Sirisena President Maithripala Sirisena, liament last week and ordered who failed to bring the house to Lanka’s 21mn population, while line with the constitution.” ment. But, sources close to the act in line with the constitution in a letter to Speaker Karu Jayas- elections to break the deadlock. order, left parliament without Wickremesinghe is backed by a Sirisena has faced inter- both leaders have said Sirise- while raising concerns over Ra- uriya, said he could not accept But the Supreme Court ordered making any statement. cross-section of the commu- national criticism for plung- na’s decision came after Wick- japakse’s close ties with China. the no-confi dence vote as it ap- a suspension of that decree on TV footage later showed nity. Security was beefed up ing the country into crisis at remesinghe’s party rejected the Beijing loaned Sri Lanka bil- peared to have ignored the con- Tuesday until it had heard peti- Rajapakse supporters pull- around the parliament and 32 a time when the economy is president’s request to back him lions of dollars for infrastructure stitution, parliamentary proce- tions challenging the move as ing away the speaker’s micro- ministries in Colombo yester- growing at its weakest pace in for second five-year term in the projects when Rajapakse was dure and tradition. unconstitutional. phone, denying him the chance day, police said. 16 years. Sirisena has said he 2020 presidency. They had also president between 2005-2015, “Since the no-confi dence vote Rajapakse, speaking in parlia- to make a further statement. Later in the day thousands of fired Wickremesinghe because split over whether to back Chi- creating a major debt problem was passed yesterday ... and no ment, demanded a general elec- After a meeting with party Wickremesinghe’s party sup- the prime minister was trying nese or Indian investors in vari- for the country.

Bangladesh photographer detained during protests gets bail No Rohingya cross into Myanmar Award-winning Bangladeshi wielded by Prime Minister Sheikh photographer-activist Shahidul Hasina to stifle dissent and harass Alam was granted bail yesterday journalists. His arrest followed after spending more than 100 days nine straight days of protests behind bars in a closely watched by students who blocked Dhaka under refugee return deal: offi cial freedom of speech case. However streets to show their fury at it was not clear if the 63-year-old road safety conditions after would be freed immediately, his two teenagers were killed by AFP Rohingya leaders said many on Bangladesh halts “completely ready” to start send- opposition abroad and stoked lawyers said, as bail orders take a speeding bus. The massive Cox’s Bazar a Bangladesh repatriation list of repatriations ing back Rohingya but stressed anxiety in the refugee camps. time to execute and prosecutors rallies evolved into broader 2,260 people had gone into hid- that only volunteers would go. US Vice President Mike could urgently appeal the decision demonstrations against Hasina, ing. Bangladesh expected 150 Bangladesh has halted a repa- “If we get anyone willing to go, Pence told Myanmar’s de facto in a higher court. who will seek a third consecutive ot one Rohingya refugee refugees to volunteer to return triation programme aimed at we will carry them to the border leader Aung San Suu Kyi at a “We hope his ordeal ends here,” term next month, and the Awami crossed back into My- yesterday, with fi ve buses wait- returning Rohingya refugees to point with respect and dignity.” summit on Wednesday that the Alam’s lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua League party she leads. Nanmar from Bangladesh ing to carry them to the border. Myanmar after they refused to Kalam acknowledged that violence against the Rohingya told AFP. The photographer Alam told Al Jazeera at the yesterday under a disputed re- But they remained empty, and go back, an off icial involved in the UNHCR refugee agency was “without excuse”. He added had unsuccessfully applied time that the protests were patriation programme, offi cials instead about 1,000 Rohingya the process said yesterday. Resi- had found no family ready to yesterday that securing justice for bail four times since being the result of pent-up anger at said, with Yangon blaming Dha- men, women and children pro- dents in the camps have said go. “None feels safe to go back for the victims of “atrocities” arrested in August for making corruption and an “unelected ka for bungling eff orts to start tested against repatriations, they fear for their lives in their now,” Kalam told AFP. in Rakhine state was a condition what Bangladesh authorities government... clinging on by returning the minority. Bang- shouting “We want justice”. home country, where hundreds On the other side of the for better Myanmar-US rela- called “false” and “provocative” brute force”. He was arrested ladeshi offi cials waited hours at Tajul Mulluk, 85, who is on the of thousands of Rohingya Mus- border Myanmar offi cials also tions. The most recent infl ux statements. the same day, the most high- a border transit point where the repatriation list, said: “They lims fled from during a brutal waited all day, said Myint Thu, of refugees joined the roughly Alam, whose work has appeared profile of many protesters fi rst returnees were expected killed two of my sons. I escaped military crackdown last year. permanent secretary at the for- 300,000 Rohingya who had widely in global media and who held on similar charges as to cross into Myanmar, despite to Bangladesh with two others. “We can’t force them to go eign ministry. previously fl ed violence in My- founded the renowned Pathshala authorities cracked down on the United Nations warning the Please don’t send us back. They back,” Abul Kalam, a Bangla- “We will continue waiting on anmar for camps around the South Asian Media Institute, demonstrators. Human Rights displaced Muslims risked fresh will kill the rest of my family.” deshi off icial and head of the our side and will be on standby,” Bangladesh city of Cox’s Bazar. faces a maximum 14 years in jail Watch accused Bangladesh of persecution if they went back. “We can’t go back,” added country’s Refugee Relief and he told reporters. But he lashed It has left the poor South if convicted. The internationally targeting activists and journalists But not a single Rohingya Mohammad Amin, 45, who was Repatriation Commission out at Bangladesh for being Asian nation struggling to cope respected photographer said he in the wake of the protests from the 720,000 estimated to among the protesters. (RRRC), said after halting the “weak regarding the logistical with about 1mn Rohingya. UN was beaten so badly in custody instead of prosecuting those who have fl ed a Myanmar military “They (Myanmar) have tor- repatriation process, which had arrangements” and accused the agencies say they have received he needed to wash his tunic attacked students with fists and crackdown in August last year tured us, killed our people. If been scheduled to begin yes- UN refugee agency of interfer- only a fraction of the billion- to get the blood out. His arrest rods. Michelle Bachelet issued came forward, with hundreds we go back without any justice, terday. Hundreds of Rohingya ing with the process. plus dollars needed to pay for triggered international protests, her first statement as UN High instead staging a demonstra- they will repeat the same thing. demonstrated against the “We think the UNHCR their operations for the year. As with rights groups, UN rights Commissioner for Human Rights tion shouting “We will not go”. That’s why we protested today.” repatriations outside a camp in should not be a barrier for those the deadline day for repatria- experts, Nobel laureates and to raise the attacks and arrests “No one turned up voluntarily,” The United Nations had urged the district of Cox’s Bazar. who really want to return,” tion loomed, Rohingya leaders hundreds of academics calling of journalists in Bangladesh. In Bangladesh refugee commis- Bangladesh to suspend the he added. The two countries said nearly all those on the re- for his release. recent weeks, Hasina has been sioner Mohammad Abul Ka- programme, with rights chief agreed in November last year to turnee list had gone into hid- Lawyers have argued Alam’s accused of stifling dissent further lam told AFP, adding they were Michelle Bachelet saying it fl ed Myanmar last year have re- start repatriations but the plan ing. A confi dential UNHCR continued detention was “a clear by ratifying a controversial new awaiting instructions from would send the Rohingya “back counted horrifi c tales of murder, never took off . document seen by AFP said the violation” of his fundamental digital-security law. A prominent the foreign ministry as how to the cycle of human rights rape and razed villages. The UN With Myanmar refusing to agency would only provide aid rights under Bangladesh’s critic of the government was to proceed. With the UN and violations that this community has said a genocide investigation acknowledge any wrongdoing if returnees were allowed back constitution. Alam was held arrested for defamation last international aid groups also has been suff ering for decades.” is warranted. Kalam, the refugee in its treatment of the Rohingya, to the villages they had left or to under controversial Internet month, days after he helped form fi ghting the controversial plan, Many of the Rohingya who commissioner, said his team was the operation faced mounting other locations chosen by them. laws which critics say have been an opposition coalition. Gulf Times Friday, November 16, 2018 7 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Trump-Kim meeting

likely in early 2019 Donald Trump Kim Jong-un AFP agreement. Trump has said he the meeting to keep up sanctions Nations (Asean), insisting sanc- treating behind protectionism Singapore hopes to have a second meet- pressure on the North amid signs tions should be fully enforced. under the Trump administra- ing with Kim early next year, but that Pyongyang’s traditional “He urged Asean coun- tion, China has stepped into talks between Secretary of State trading partners, China and tries to collaborate on concrete the space it has vacated as the onald Trump and Kim Mike Pompeo and a top North Russia, have eased enforcement. measures such as ship-to-ship champion of global free trade. Jong-un will likely meet Korean offi cial planned for last Seoul has also said it is mulling transfer of prohibited materi- Chinese Premier Li, who was Dagain after New Year, the week, partly to prepare for the lifting its own measures against als, including fuel,” said foreign also in Singapore, beat the drum US vice president said yester- meeting, were cancelled. Pyongyang. US offi cials insist on ministry spokesman Takeshi for the world’s largest free trade day, but insisted his government The US said the North axed the complete, verifi ed and irre- Osuga. Trump has skipped this deal – which excludes the US would not repeat past mistakes the talks because they weren’t versible denuclearisation of the week’s Singapore summit, the – but sweeps in nearly half of where “promises are broken.” ready, and Trump insisted he Korean peninsula before sanc- biggest annual meeting organ- the globe’s population includ- The US president and the North was in “no rush”. Speaking in tions are lifted. ised by Asean, raising new ques- ing all of the 10-country Asean Korean leader held a historic Singapore, US Vice President The North has rejected de- tions about US commitment to bloc. Southeast Asian lead- summit in Singapore earlier this Mike Pence insisted plans for mands for what it calls “uni- Asia. ers welcomed the “substantial year, signing a vaguely worded the second meeting were still lateral” disarmament, and has Taking his place, Pence insist- progress” made towards com- deal on denuclearisation. “ongoing”. “We believe that the instead sought unspecifi ed re- ed America’s commitment to the pleting the RCEP, as the deal is North Korea has taken some summit will likely occur after the ciprocal US measures in a grad- region was “steadfast and endur- known, which is forecast to be steps since then – forgoing 1st of the year but the when and US Vice President Mike Pence arrives for the Asean-US summit on ual process. It has also called for ing”. Pence also took a swipe at signed and enacted next year if nuclear and missile tests, dis- the where of that is still being the sidelines of the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations sanctions to be eased as a reward Beijing, whose growing assert- sticking points including over mantling a missile test site and worked out,” he told reporters. (Asean) summit in Singapore yesterday. for coming to the table, warn- iveness in the South China Sea market access can be surmount- promising to also break up the “We don’t want to repeat the ing Washington’s stance is un- has long been a source of friction ed. “We are very close to the fi n- country’s main nuclear complex mistakes of prior administra- and economic support comes sidelines of a summit attended dermining confi dence. Japanese with rival claimants in Southeast ish line,” Singapore Prime Min- if the US makes concessions. But tions – frankly both political and then promises are broken.” by world leaders, including Rus- Prime Minister Shinzo Abe piled Asia and the United States. ister Lee Hsieng Loong said in a progress has generally been slow, parties have made over the last His comments came after sian President Vladimir Putin on the pressure in a meeting with “Empire and aggression have closing speech of the 16-nation with the two countries sparring several decades – where promis- a meeting with South Korean and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. members of the 10-country As- no place in the Indo-Pacifi c,” deal, which also includes India, over the exact meaning of the es are made, sanctions are lifted President Moon Jae-in on the Pence urged other countries at sociation of Southeast Asian Pence said. But with the US re- Japan and Australia. Leaders arrive for APEC summit Wife of Malaysia’s former PM charged with two counts of graft Reuters talks with PNG, Xi will hold a Port Moresby forum with the leaders of Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa, Micronesia, Reuters additional counts of corruption. $275mn worth of cash and the Cook Islands, Tonga and Kuala Lumpur Prosecutors said Rosmah goods, such as expensive hand- apua New Guinea (PNG) Niue today, and is expected to sought a bribe of 187.5mn ring- bags, jewellery and watches, was keen to lay on an announce a big Chinese aid and git ($45mn) in 2016 from an ex- from such properties. Other of- P“excellent” welcome for investment package for the re- alaysia yesterday ac- ecutive of Jepak Holdings Sdn fi cials close to the couple have Chinese President Xi Jinping gion. cused Rosmah Man- Bhd to help it win a solar project also been arrested and charged when he arrived yesterday for Competition for influence Msor, the wife of former worth 1.25bn ringgit ($298mn) since May. Rizal Mansor, a an Asia-Pacifi c summit and for in the Pacific between China Prime Minister Najib Razak, in schools in the eastern state former aide, was charged yester- talks with leaders of an impov- and Western allies Australia, on charges of soliciting and re- of Sarawak, on the island of day with soliciting and receiving erished region where China’s New Zealand and the United ceiving bribes involving a sum Borneo. The second charge in- bribes for himself and on behalf infl uence is growing. States, is likely to provide a of 189mn ringgit ($45.12mn) to volves a bribe of 1.5mn ringgit of Rosmah over the solar project. Xi was the fi rst world leader strong undercurrent at the help a company secure a govern- ($358,000) that she received In court, he pleaded not guilty. to arrive in Port Moresby for an APEC summit. Xi’s visit has ment project. Najib and his wife, from the same company offi cial Tengku Adnan Tengku Man- Asia-Pacifi c Economic Co-op- featured prominently in PNG who has faced criticism for her in 2017, prosecutors said. sor, a former minister in Na- eration (Apec) forum, China’s media, with newspapers high- extravagant lifestyle, are at the Rosmah pleaded not guilty to jib’s cabinet, was charged with Xinhua news agency reported, lighting the luxury cars he has centre of a wide-ranging graft both the charges, which carry corruption involving a sum of as China steps up its presence in Australia’s Foreign Minister Marise Payne (centre) arrives for brought with him and the 10 investigation launched by Prime a jail sentence of up to 20 years 3mn ringgit. He also pleaded a region that had until recently the 30th Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) ministerial chefs who will cook for his big Minister Mahathir Mohamad, each and a fi ne of at least fi ve not guilty. Last month, Malay- been an almost exclusive sphere meeting in Port Moresby yesterday. delegation. who was returned to power by times the amount. sia charged its former treasury of infl uence of staunch US ally On Wednesday, two news- a stunning election victory in Jepak Holdings said last year it chief with criminal breach of Australia. orated with red lanterns and an edgement of the United States papers carried a commentary May. won the solar contract from the trust over the 1MDB investiga- Xi’s motorcade, including elaborate Chinese-style gate. and Australia. PNG was ad- from Xi in which he hailed the Since his defeat, Najib has education ministry. A spokes- tion. The 1MDB scandal was two custom-made Hongqi lim- “It will be a very excellent tra- ministered by Australia be- “rapid growth” in bilateral ties been charged with 38 counts of woman for Jepak Holdings de- one of the major reasons for Na- ousines air-lifted from China, ditional welcome,” PNG Prime fore gaining independence. US as an “epitome of China’s over- graft, mostly over a multi-bil- clined to comment when con- jib’s election defeat. The fund was due to travel from the Minister Peter O’Neill told President Donald Trump is not all relations with Pacifi c island lion-dollar corruption scandal tacted by Reuters. Following is the subject of corruption and airport on a Chinese-funded Reuters earlier, referring to Xi’s attending this weekend’s Apec countries”. “Hydropower sta- at state fund 1Malaysia Develop- Mahathir’s election victory, Na- money-laundering investiga- repaved highway, which police arrival, as he toured the Apec meeting. US Vice President tions, hospitals and school ment Berhad (1MDB). Rosmah jib and Rosmah, 66, were barred tions in at least six countries. sealed off , and past a boulevard forum’s media centre. Mike Pence, who is coming in- dormitories fi nanced by Chi- was charged with 17 money laun- from leaving the country, and US authorities say $4.5bn was adorned with the fl ags of both The evidence of China’s stead, is fl ying in and out of the nese government concessional dering off ences last month. Najib properties linked to them have siphoned from 1MDB and about countries, en route to the top growing relationship with re- forum from a base in northern loans have become landmark and Rosmah have pleaded not been raided. $700mn was diverted into Na- Stanley Hotel in the capital, source-rich PNG contrasted Australia. buildings across the country,” guilty to all charges. Yesterday, Malaysians have been out- jib’s personal bank accounts. He Port Moresby. The hotel is dec- with a more modest acknowl- As well as offi cial bilateral Xi said. Rosmah was charged with two raged by the seizure of around has denied any wrongdoing.

Chinese bishop ‘missing’ despite Vatican deal

A bishop in eastern China ties, those who work closely AFP, though many within the belonging to the Vatican- with the unoff icial church say a Catholic fraternity had expected aligned unoff icial church has clampdown by local authorities is an end to this after September’s Newly separated conjoined twins gone missing, sources told AFP ongoing. They fear the repeated deal. “I know Bishop Shao yesterday, despite a historic disappearance of Bishop Shao Zhumin personally but I accord reached between Beijing Zhumin of Wenzhou diocese in haven’t been able to contact and the Holy See barely two Zhejiang province is one sign of him recently,” Anthony Lam, a try to stay together, say doctors months ago. The September increasing governmental control Chinese Catholic church expert deal paved the way for a on religious worship. at Hong Kong’s Holy Spirit Study rapprochement between the Shao has not been reachable for Centre, told AFP. DPA Surgeon Joe Crameri said at “We try and have them a lit- Vatican and the Communist at least a week, said a Chinese Pope Francis recognised seven Sydney a press conference that the tle bit apart but they man- country. The pair broke off priest who previously worked in clergy appointed by China as part girls were doing well. age to sort of bum shuffle diplomatic ties in 1951. an underground church in China of the deal, which was signed “Like any surgical path- back together and have their There are an estimated 10mn and returned to Rome last year. after the recent clampdown on onjoined twins re- way, there have been a few legs intertwined always,” Catholics in China, divided It is at least the fourth time Shao religion in China. cently separated are bumps in the road and there Smith said. between a government-run has gone missing this year. Churches have been destroyed in Ctrying to stick close are a few bumps we’re still The girls are always look- association whose clergy are Such detentions — usually some regions, crosses have been to each other so that parts of smoothing out...[but] we’re ing for their mother Bhum- chosen by the Communist Party lasting between 10 and 15 days removed from church steeples, their bodies are touching, the making good progress at the chu Zangmo who has been and the unoff icial church which — often happen to clergy of church-run kindergartens have medical team from the day- current time,” the national by their side since they were swears allegiance to the Vatican. the underground church, the been closed and authorities have long surgery revealed yester- broadcaster ABC reported fl own to Australia from Bhu- But regardless of the warming Rome-based Chinese priest told clamped down on Bible sales. day. The 15-month-old twins him saying. Nurse Kellie tan last month for the com- Nima and Dawa Pelden from Smith, who is caring for the plex operation. The twins Bhutan were successfully twins post operation, said were joined facing each other separated last Friday in a six- the girls were constantly from the lower chest to just Bhutanese twins Dawa and Nima nearly hour operation involving 18 trying to be physically close above the pelvis and shared a a week after the successful surgery to Face-off medical staff at Melbourne’s to each other and didn’t like liver, which was divided dur- separate them at Melbourne’s Royal Royal Children’s Hospital. being put in separate beds. ing the operation. Children’s Hospital (RCH).

Chinese university warns students to avoid activism

AFP want to defy the law, they must darity rose to prominence this and confi rmed that he had been Beijing take responsibility,” said the summer when student activ- taken away by government se- note seen by AFP. ists backed its eff orts to form a curity forces. Chinese universities have workers’ union at welding ma- The school also accused ne of China’s top uni- historically been a wellspring chinery company Jasic Tech- another student, Yu Tianfu, versities has warned for radical political movements nology in southern Guangdong of conspiring with Zhang and Ostudents they face ar- and any hint of campus activ- province. interfering with his arrest. Yu rest if they associate with a ism sparks deep concern among In its warning, Peking Uni- had published an eyewitness labour-rights organisation that authorities. The warning marks versity mentioned the case of account of Zhang’s abduc- has drawn support in a recent the latest move in a crackdown graduate Zhang Shengye – a tion online. Peking University surge of Chinese campus activ- on Jasic Workers Solidarity af- member of the group who last did not immediately respond ism. Peking University sent a ter at least a dozen activist and week was beaten on campus to a request for comment. The message to all students accus- student supporters in several and taken away by people in institution in Beijing is one of ing Jasic Workers Solidarity of cities were detained last week, dark clothing, according to an China’s most prestigious uni- “criminal activity”, according according the the group. eyewitness AFP spoke to and a versities, and has produced to a student involved with the Rights campaigners told statement from Jasic Workers many top political leaders. Osamu Kitagawa, president of REAL-f Co, creates a super-realistic face mask at his factory in Otsu, labour group. AFP on Tuesday that fi ve of Solidarity. The university ac- Student activists around Chi- western Japan, yesterday. “After today’s message, if the detained activists had been cused Zhang of participating in na have recently reported in- there are still students that released. Jasic Workers Soli- the group’s “illegal” activities creased pressure. Gulf Times 8 Friday, November 16, 2018 BRITAIN

CORPORATE HEALTHCARE CO-OPERATION PEOPLE CRIME Beyonce buys out clothing NHS to be short of 350,000 Bomber’s brother to be School faulted as bullied Town crier uses bell venture from Philip Green staff by 2030, warn experts extradited to UK soon child tries to end life to fend off yobs

US singer Beyonce has bought the Ivy Park The NHS faces a shortage of 350,000 staff by The brother of Manchester Arena bomber She should have been celebrating her tenth A town crier used his off icial bell to fend off fitness clothing brand launched two years ago 2030 unless it can attract new workers, experts Salman Abedi could be extradited to face justice birthday. Instead, Lilly-Jo Caldcott spent the yobs as they attacked him and tried to steal with British retail tycoon Philip Green, who warn. Three health sector think-tanks claim in the UK by the end of the year, Libya’s prime day lying distraught in a hospital bed after his hat and wig. Alan Myatt, 61, was making an has faced allegations of sexual harassment. the workforce crisis is now a greater threat to minister claimed. Hashem Abedi, 21, was arrested taking an overdose following months of off icial appearance in his full regalia when he “After discussions of almost a year, (Beyonce’s) services than financial challenges. The NHS is in the North African country shortly after the playground bullying. The schoolgirl’s mother, was attacked. He says three ‘yobs on bikes’ rode Parkwood has acquired 100% of the Ivy Park already struggling with growing staff shortages, suicide attack which killed 22 at an Ariana Jess Brown, described how her daughter around him ‘like a gang of sharks’. Myatt fought brand,” Ivy Park said in a statement. It said with a record 107,000 unfilled vacancies and Grande concert in May last year. It is thought attempted suicide after repeatedly being them off with his bell, knocking one of them Green’s Topshop and Arcadia businesses will more staff working part-time. The King’s Fund, he is being held in the capital, Tripoli, and has taunted over her weight as well as being off his bike and sending the others scarpering. fulfil existing orders to Ivy Park. No financial Nuff ield Trust and The Health Foundation warn confessed to his part in the atrocity. Police in physically attacked. Lilly-Jo was taken to He suff ered minor injuries following Tuesday’s details were disclosed. Ivy Park sells items such that the widening staff ing gap could lead to Manchester believe they have enough evidence hospital on Monday afternoon – the day before attack in Gloucester, where he was been town as hoodies and leggings, part of a trend towards spiralling waiting times and declining care to charge Hashem and want him to stand trial her birthday – after Brown noticed tablets crier for 30 years. Myatt said: “They tried to grab so called athleisure. Beyonce, who is married to quality. Richard Murray, policy director at the in Britain. Libya’s Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj had gone missing. Brown, 27, a stay-at-home my hat. I fended them off because that is theft, rapper Jay-Z, has a six-year-old daughter called King’s Fund, said the NHS had less than a year to said his country was ‘fully co-operating’ with mother, accused Witton Middle School in and I carried on walking. Then they came at me Blue Ivy. Green’s representative referred to the act or risk creating a downward spiral caused by Britain and that they believed Hashem could be Droitwich, Worcestershire, of failing to support from behind. I turned around and managed to Ivy Park statement, without further comment. ‘unbearable’ working conditions. extradited within weeks. her daughter properly. fend them off again.”

Gove ‘keen to redraw deal terms’ May fi ghts

Agencies London

nvironment Secretary to save Michael Gove will only ac- Ecept the position of Brexit minister if he can renegotiate Prime Minister Theresa May’s draft deal and scrap the No- vember 25 EU summit, the Tel- egraph’s deputy political editor tweeted. Brexit deal Steven Swinford said that Gove was still weighing up whether to quit May’s Cabinet, following the resignations of two senior ministers earlier yes- terday, including Brexit minister Dominic Raab. Meanwhile, under-pressure and her job Prime Minister Theresa May faced more woes yesterday af- Reuters One eurosceptic lawmaker the so-called backstop would tear ter a junior justice minister was London said more colleagues were either Britain apart, leaving Northern forced to retract a claim that putting in letters or were increas- Ireland all but in the EU’s single 80% of people backed her draft ingly minded to do so. market. “It is...mathematically deal for leaving the European rime Minister Theresa May But the prime minister showed impossible to get this deal through Union. yesterday battled to save a little sign of backing down. She the House of Commons. The stark Rory Stewart started to explain Pdraft divorce deal with the told parliament: “The choice is reality is that it was dead on arriv- to BBC Radio 5 Live “the reason European Union after her Brexit clear. We can choose to leave with al,” Conservative lawmaker Mark why 80% of the British public secretary and other ministers quit no deal, we can risk no Brexit at Francois said. support this deal,” before he was in protest and eurosceptic law- all, or we can choose to unite and It was the backstop arrange- interrupted by presenter Emma makers stepped up eff orts to top- support the best deal that can be ment, which would see Britain and Barnett. ple her. negotiated.” the EU establishing a single cus- “How on earth do we know A day after May announced Boris Johnson, a leading critic of toms territory, that spurred most that yet?” Barnett asked. that her team of top ministers had May’s Brexit plans who has done of the criticism. “I cannot recon- “My sense is that if we have an agreed to the terms of the draft little to hide his political ambition, cile the terms of the proposed deal opportunity to explain this, the deal, Brexit minister Dominic Raab attended a meeting of the Euro- with the promises we made to the vast majority of the British pub- and Work and Pensions minister pean Research Group, where Rees- country in our manifesto at the last lic would support this,” Stewart Esther McVey resigned. Mogg and members discussed how election,” Raab said. replied. Lawmakers suggested other many no-confi dence letters had EU leaders are ready to meet on “But where did 80% come ministers would quit and euro- gone in. November 25 to sign off on the di- from?” Barnett interjected. sceptics in May’s Conservative Rees-Mogg told journalists the vorce deal, or Withdrawal Agree- “I’m producing a number to Party said they had submitted let- next prime minister should be a ment, but French Prime Minister try to illustrate what I believe, ters calling for a no confi dence vote person who believed in Brexit. Edouard Philippe summed up the which is that the people who are in her leadership. In the markets, sterling fell to uncertainty when he said events rejecting this are 10% on either Two junior ministers and two a day’s low against the eruo and in London raised concerns about fringe,” Stewart said. ministerial aides also quit and the shares in British companies were whether it would be ratifi ed. When pressed further about resignations and hostility to the hit. “We need to prepare ourselves the claim, he added: “I totally deal from ruling party and opposi- British fi nancial regulators for a no-deal Brexit,” he said. apologise for that, and I take tion lawmakers in parliament left called major banks asking for feed- A group of EU states also raised that back, but I totally feel that May’s Brexit strategy in doubt and back on market conditions be- objections to what has been agreed if we’re given an opportunity to raised the risk of Britain leaving the cause of sharp falls in the pound so far on fi shing between the EU calmly explain this deal, many EU on March 29 without a deal. and shares, sources said. and UK after Brexit, diplomatic people who are currently worried Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of In parliament, lawmakers from sources said. about it will be reassured.” a Conservative eurosceptic group the ruling and opposition parties The opposition Labour Party May faces a possible leader- in parliament, submitted his letter spent three hours mostly rubbish- said the government was “falling ship challenge amid opposition calling for a vote of no confi dence ing the draft deal, agreed with the apart”. “ May has no authority left in her own Conservative Party to in May, saying the draft deal was EU on Tuesday, which May must and is clearly incapable of deliver- the draft Brexit withdrawal deal “worse than anticipated”. get approved by the House of ing a Brexit deal that commands agreed with the EU on Wednes- A leadership challenge is trig- Commons. even the support of her Cabinet, day. gered if 48 Conservatives write Many said it made Britain a let alone parliament and the peo- Getting the deal through the such letters. “vassal” state, beholden to the ple of our country,” said Jon Trick- British Parliament also looks dif- Prime Minister, Theresa May, leaves 10 Downing Street to make a statement in the House of Commons, in May could be toppled if 158 of bloc’s rules even after leaving. ett, a member of Labour leader Jer- fi cult. London yesterday. her 315 lawmakers vote against her. Others said an agreement on emy Corbyn’s senior team. Number of children Royal visit 800 BBC presenters ‘could face tax probe’ in care jumps 4% Guardian News and Media sick pay and pension contribu- London tions. The NAO said many BBC employees were now being pur- Guardian News and Media and support services such as Sure in care. An investigation found sued by HMRC for unpaid tax bills, London Start, which could help keep chil- vulnerable children were being bout 800 BBC TV and radio some running into thousands of dren with their families, avoiding “treated like cattle” and moved presenters could face tax pounds. the need for care. around care homes across England Ainvestigations over their “By May the BBC estimated that he number of children in She said: “The government is and Wales. employment status after a fail- some 800 presenters, nearly 300 care after being removed missing valuable opportunities to The most common reason for ure by the broadcaster to clear up of whom were hired through PSCs, Tfrom their parents because keep children in the care of their children being taken into care was its payments system, Whitehall’s warranted further review as they they were at risk of abuse or ne- families. Not only does that add abuse or neglect, accounting for spending watchdog has said. were at risk of being challenged glect rose again last year, amid pressure to budgets already deci- 63% of the total, the latest statis- The National Audit Offi ce said by HMRC. This could involve tax concerns over the impact of aus- mated by austerity, it also leaves tics show. Other categories were HM Revenue and Customs had arrears for the BBC and for the terity cuts and poverty on vulner- children and their families with family dysfunction (15%), fami- opened approximately 100 inves- PSCs,” its report says. able families. deep and enduring emotional lies in acute stress (8%), absent tigations into BBC-related per- Meg Hillier, the chair of the The latest offi cial fi gures reveal scars.” parenting (6%) and other reasons sonal service companies (PSCs) public accounts committee, said there were 75,420 looked-after Local authorities are increas- (8%). after concerns were raised that more needed to be done to ensure children in England at the end of ingly worried that the escalating Most looked-after children they may have broken tax rules. certainty for freelancers working March, up 4% on the previous costs of looking after children at – 73% – were fostered, with an It said the BBC estimated 800 for the BBC. “It is worrying that, year. The number has increased risk, as council budgets are rapidly increasing number placed with presenters, nearly 300 of whom six years on, the mess of clarify- steadily every year since 2008, shrinking, are tipping some coun- relatives or friends under guardi- were hired through PCS entities, ing the employment status for tax when the total was about 60,000. cils towards insolvency. Councils anship arrangements. About 11% were at risk of being challenged by purposes of people the BBC hires They also reveal another fall in spend more than half of their chil- were placed in secure units and HMRC. Presenters have accused through PSCs has not been fully children being adopted, suggest- dren’s services budgets on chil- children’s homes. Four out of the corporation of forcing them to untangled,” she said. ing the major adoption push by dren in the care system. 10 children were placed outside set up special tax vehicles to allow “The BBC and HMRC must the former prime minister David Senior family court judges their local authority, with one in it to avoid paying millions in na- work together to ensure certainty Cameron under the coalition gov- warned in June that the family fi ve moving more than 20 miles tional insurance contributions. for freelancers, particularly for ernment has fi zzled out. Adoption justice system was in crisis as a re- away. The Radio 4 Money Box host those freelancers who have been numbers fell 13% year on year to sult of “untenable” increases in The Minister for Children and Paul Lewis, the Front Row pre- left in desperate circumstances.” 3,820, well down from the 2015 the number of applications from Families, Nadhim Zahawi, said senter Kirsty Lang and the DJ Liz In April 2017, the government in- peak of 5,360. councils to take children into care. the government was working hard Kershaw were among those who troduced changes forcing public Emma Lewell-Buck, the shad- Earlier this week the Guardian to improve social care support for Queen Elizabeth arrives to attend the Anglo-Norse told parliament in March that they bodies to become responsible for ow minister for children and fami- revealed a crisis in the children’s children who through no fault of Society centenary reception at the Naval and Military had been forced to set up such determining the employment sta- lies, said the rises refl ected sav- residential care sector, which looks their own had been dealt a diffi cult Club in central London yesterday. fi rms, depriving them of employ- tus for tax purposes of all those it age government cuts to early help after about one in 10 of children hand in life. ment rights such as holiday and hired through PSCs. Gulf Times Friday, November 16, 2018 9 EUROPE

9mn infections in EU health centres: report Putin foe is a political DPA sometimes given to prevent Stockholm infections, for instance urinary tract infections. The report suggested “there lose to 9mn people in is no evidence about its eff ec- Europe receive infec- tiveness when applied widely Ctions each year while in to elderly patients”. hospital or nursing homes, a Andrea Ammon, director of prisoner: rights court European health agency said. the ECDC, which is based out- The European Centre for side Stockholm, said there was Reuters been repeatedly jailed for organ- Disease Prevention and Con- need for more prudent use of Strasbourg/Moscow ising what the authorities say are trol (ECDC) released the fi nd- antibiotics and to ensure that illegal protests. ings in connection with the “infection prevention and con- Putin, who makes a point of annual European Antibiotic trol measures are in place”. he European Court of Hu- never pronouncing Navalny’s Awareness Day. Earlier this month, the ECDC man Rights has ruled that name in public, has suggested It estimated that each day published a study estimating TRussia’s repeated arrests that he is backed by the United about one in 15 patients in Eu- that drug-resistant bacteria and detention of opposition States, something the 42-year ropean hospitals, and one in claim an estimated 33,000 lives leader Alexei Navalny were po- old lawyer and blogger denies. 26 long-term care facility resi- in Europe each year. litically-motivated and breached Navalny has tried to mobi- dents, have at least one health- “We can avoid many of these his human rights, a decision lise supporters with a series of care-associated infection. deaths by stopping the unnec- Moscow called questionable. investigations exposing offi - Multi-drug-resistant bacte- essary use of antimicrobials in The court, based in Stras- cial corruption which have been ria caused many of these infec- healthcare and in agriculture,” bourg, said Navalny had been watched online by millions of tions, the ECDC said. Vytenis Andriukaitis, European subject to seven such arrests in Russians. The agency also cautioned commissioner for health and 2012 and in 2014 and that at least Navalny, who was in Stras- about the risk of overuse of an- food safety, said in a statement. two of those arrests had been de- bourg for the ruling, welcomed tibiotics, saying that this could The ECDC said prudent use signed to suppress political plu- the court’s decision. contribute to multi-drug-re- of drugs included only using ralism. He said he was delighted it had sistant bacteria. them when necessary, with the “The Court found that there ruled his treatment had been po- In long-term healthcare correct dose and interval, and was ‘converging contextual evi- litically-motivated, something it units antimicrobials were the duration of the course. dence’ that the authorities were has not done in a case concerning becoming increasingly severe Russia for many years. towards Mr Navalny and that his “Despite pressure from Rus- allegation of being a particular sia, it has become clear ... that target appeared coherent in the European justice does not intend context of a general move to bring to ignore obvious facts,” he told Man gets jailed for 14 the opposition under control,” it reporters. said in a statement. Russia’s justice ministry has It ordered Russia to pay around questioned what it portrayed as years maiming wife €64,000 ($72,000) in damages the fl awed and inconsistent logic and costs to Navalny, saying his of the ruling, but added that it right to liberty, a fair trial and would pay the court-ordered AFP taining her severed right hand. freedom of assembly had been damages and costs, the Interfax Moscow He then gave himself up. violated. news agency reported. Yesterday Grachyov was In a rebuke that Russia is likely Navalny had diffi culties get- sentenced to 14 years in a high- to regard as interference in its in- ting to Strasbourg for the ruling Russian man, who security penal colony, said a ternal aff airs, the court also rec- when he was initially prevented Navalny speaks with journalists after the hearing at the European Court of Human Rights Grand in chopped off both of his spokeswoman for a court in ommended that Moscow act to from fl ying out of Moscow on Strasbourg. Awife’s hands with an axe the town of Serpukhov, located ensure the right to peaceful as- Tuesday over a court fi ne. after accusing her of infi del- some 100km south of Moscow. sembly is upheld. He said the fi ne been suddenly travel ban, saying that Navalny lations between Russia and the that the ruling raised questions ity, was sentenced yesterday The man was also ordered Navalny, Russia’s most promi- and illegally enforced as a pretext had paid the fi ne. Strasbourg-based court. about the court’s objectivity. to fourteen years in prison fol- to pay more than 2mn roubles nent opposition leader, was to stop him travelling abroad. Navalny’s legal team said that Leonid Slutsky, chairman of “The ECHR is increasingly lowing a huge outcry in Russia. ($30,000) as compensation for barred from running against He fl ew out of Moscow on Moscow could not appeal what is the Russian parliament’s in- becoming a tool to pressure our Last December, after drop- moral damages. Vladimir Putin in a presidential Wednesday after the Federal a fi nal and binding ruling which ternational aff airs committee, country,” Slutsky wrote on social ping off their two children at He was earlier stripped of election earlier this year and has Bailiff s service rescinded the is likely to strain already poor re- slammed the judgment, saying media. daycare, Dmitry Grachyov took custody of their two children. his wife Margarita to a forest Margarita, 26, said she had outside Moscow where he tied wanted her ex-husband to be School buses tourniquets around her arms given life in prison. and chopped off her hands with “No sentence would bring crash head-on an axe. back my hands,” said the wom- Swedish Centre Party to try forming govt in Germany Before hacking off her limbs an, who has endured multiple he cut off her fingers. surgeries. Two school buses collided head- After that he drove the “I will have to live with this DPA She is the third party leader to in parliament could agree on Loof’s Centre Party, a tradi- on in Germany yesterday, leaving bleeding woman to a hospital, for the rest of my life,” she said Stockholm get a try. “broad solutions”. tional ally of the conservatives, around 40 children and adults giving medics a shoebox con- in televised remarks. “I realise it will be very diffi - Norlen earlier said Loof’s voted against Kristersson, citing injured, five of them seriously, cult, the situation is very com- “primary task” was to focus on that his envisaged government police said. wedish Centre Party lead- plicated,” Loof later said. exploring conditions for a gov- comprising the conservatives After the bus crash, a car also Berlin police stage apartment raid er Annie Loof is the latest She said she wanted to focus ernment that parliament would and that Christian Democrats ploughed into the accident Spolitician tasked with the on “political issues” and put the tolerate, but did not exclude that would be too reliant on the Swe- site in the Fuerth district near Hundreds of police off icers in Berlin raided the apartments of job of fi guring out possible ways matter of who would be prime she could be prime minister. den Democrats. Nuremberg in the southern state suspected left-wing extremists in three parts of the city early to form a new government, the minister “aside”. The move came the day after Sweden’s general election on of Bavaria. yesterday. speaker of the country’s parlia- By focusing on “what main Ulf Kristersson, the leader of September 9 resulted in a politi- Three ambulance rescue The searches were connected to investigations by Berlin public ment announced yesterday. reforms Sweden needs”, she Sweden’s conservatives, failed cal stalemate between the coun- helicopters and a police prosecutors into cases of aggravated battery, a police spokesman “The brief is broad, both in hoped to break the gridlock, but in his bid to become prime min- try’s two main political allianc- helicopter were deployed along said. terms of possible party combi- declined to mention specifi c ister and form a new govern- es, led by the Social Democrats with scores of emergency Around 560 off icers were deployed in three of the capital’s southern nations and the post as prime topics, pending talks with other ment. and Kristersson’s conservative services personnel. and eastern neighbourhoods. minister,” speaker Andreas Nor- leaders. A majority, 195 of the 349 Moderate Party. Fire-fighters used metal-cutting Special forces personnel raided, among others, a house in Berlin’s len said after he conducted a She ruled out talks with the members of parliament, voted Neither bloc has a majority in equipment to free at least four eastern neighbourhood of Friedrichshain at 6am (0500 GMT). new round of consultations with Left Party and the far-right, against Kristersson in a confi - the 349-seat legislature, com- people who were trapped in The raid took place on Riga Street, a stretch of road where left-wing party leaders. populist Sweden Democrats, dence vote. His bid was sup- plicating the formation of a new the crumpled wreckage of the anarchists have repeatedly attacked police off icers. Loof has one week. but hoped the other six parties ported by 154 lawmakers. government. vehicles. The Saudis under the spotlight over Khashoggi case

Reuters media, Qahtani used Twitter to aide to Qahtani for information He was named deputy chief of and wooden panels covering air Dubai attack criticism of the kingdom security, was the lead negotiator foreign intelligence by royal de- conditioning units in an eff ort to in general and Prince Mohamed inside the consulate, according to cree in April 2017. show that Khashoggi was not on in particular. the senior Saudi offi cial. US Treasury sanctions an- the premises. audi Arabia is seeking the He also ran a WhatsApp group Without naming him, the nounced yesterday did not in- Otaibi left Istanbul 10 days death penalty against fi ve with local newspaper editors, public prosecutor said the lead clude Asiri. later. Sout of 21 people under in- dictating the court line. negotiator was the person who Reuters was unable to reach He was sanctioned yesterday vestigation in connection with Qahtani had tried to lure decided to kill Khashoggi rather him for comment. by the US Treasury, which said he the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi back to Saudi Arabia than repatriate him. is 51 years old. Khashoggi. after he moved to Washington a Mutreb is a senior intelligence „ Moustafa al-Madani led Five senior government offi - year ago fearing reprisals for his offi cer and part of Prince Mo- the intelligence eff orts for the 15- „ Abdulaziz Mohamed al- cials have also been dismissed. views, according to people close hamed’s security team. man team in Istanbul, the senior Hawsawi is a member of the se- Khashoggi, a Washington Post to the journalist and the govern- Sabah newspaper published Saudi offi cial said. curity team that travels with the columnist and critic of Saudi ment. stills from surveillance cameras According to that offi cial, Saudi crown prince, according policies, was killed in the Saudi In an August 2017 Twitter that appear to show Mutreb en- Madani donned Khashoggi’s to a New York Times report that consulate in Istanbul on October thread asking his 1.35mn follow- tering the consulate three hours clothes and accessories and left cited a French professional who 2 after entering to obtain docu- ers to fl ag accounts for a black before Khashoggi, and later out- through the back door of the has worked with the royal family. ments for his marriage. list, Qahtani wrote: “Do you side the consul’s residence. consulate in an attempt to make He is 31, according to the US Saudi Arabia initially denied think I make decisions without He is 47 years old, according to it look like the journalist had Treasury. knowledge of his fate, then of- This picture taken on October 25 shows a demonstrator with a poster guidance? I am an employee and the US Treasury. walked out of the building. Reuters could not reach him fered contradictory explanations depicting Khashoggi, during a protest outside the Saudi Arabia a faithful executor of the orders He is 56 years old, according to for comment. including that he was killed in a consulate in Istanbul. of my lord the king and my lord „ Salah Tubaigy is a forensic the US Treasury. rogue operation and that the kill- the faithful crown prince.” expert at the Saudi interior min- Reuters was unable to reach „ General Rashad bin ing was premeditated. them under the Global Magnit- Saudi media reports and infor- The senior Saudi offi cial said istry’s criminal evidence depart- Madani for comment. Hamed al-Hamadi was re- Those varying accounts drew sky Human Rights Accountabil- mation from Saudi offi cials and that Qahtani had authorised ment, according to a biography moved as director of the general international scepticism. ity Act, along with two other of- sources. one of his subordinates, Maher posted online by the Saudi Com- „ Meshal Saad Albostani is directorate of security and pro- Yesterday, the Saudi public fi cials. Mutreb, to conduct what he said mission for Health Specialties. lieutenant in the Saudi Air Force tection in the General Intelli- prosecutor said Khashoggi was Most of the 15 worked in the „ Saud al-Qahtani, seen was meant to be a negotiation for In the Istanbul operation, he from the Red Sea port of Jeddah, gence Presidency. killed by lethal injection, then Saudi military or security and as the right-hand man to Saudi Khashoggi’s return to the king- was supposed to remove evi- according to a Facebook profi le dismembered and handed over intelligence services, including Crown Prince Mohamed bin dom. dence such as fi ngerprints or with multiple photographs re- „ General Abdullah bin to an unidentifi ed “local co-op- at the royal court, according to Salman, was removed as a royal The public prosecutor said a proof of the use of force, accord- sembling the suspect identifi ed Khaleef al-Shaya was removed erator”. Saudi and Turkish offi cials and court adviser and is the highest- travel ban has been imposed on ing to the Saudi offi cial. by Turkish media. as assistant head of General In- The whereabouts of his re- several sources with ties to the profi le fi gure implicated in the Qahtani while the investigation Tubaigy did not respond to an The senior Saudi offi cial said telligence for human resources. mains are still unknown. royal court. incident. continues, but four sources based e-mail sent by Reuters. he was responsible for the Istan- Turkish security sources say Turkey’s pro-government He rose to prominence as a in the Gulf told Reuters this week Tubaigy is 47 years old, ac- bul team’s logistics. „ General Mohamed Saleh that when Khashoggi entered Sabah newspaper published confi dant in Prince Mohamed’s that he is still at liberty and con- cording to the US Treasury. He is 31 years old, according to al-Ramih was removed as as- the consulate, he was seized by what it said were photographs secretive inner circle. tinues to operate discreetly. the US Treasury. sistant head of General Intelli- 15 Saudi intelligence operatives of the men taken from surveil- He regularly spoke on behalf He is 40 years old, according to „ Ahmed al-Asiri, former He could not immediately be gence for intelligence aff airs. who had fl own in on two jets just lance footage at the airport, two of the crown prince, known as the US Treasury. deputy head of General Intelli- reached for comment. None of the three generals hours before. hotels they briefl y checked into, MbS, and has given direct orders Qahtani did not respond to gence, was among those sacked were aff ected by US Treasury A senior Saudi offi cial con- the consulate and the consul’s to senior offi cials including in the questions from Reuters. by King Salman. „ Mohamed al-Otaibi is the sanctions announced yesterday. fi rmed to Reuters they were residence. security apparatus, the sources Reuters was not able to reach The public prosecutor said he Istanbul consul general. He gave They could not be reached for among those under investiga- The following profi les of some with ties to the royal court said. Mutreb for comment. was the one who ordered the op- Reuters a tour of the consulate comment. tion, and yesterday the US Treas- of those detained or dismissed Tasked with countering al- eration to repatriate – but not kill four days after the murder, open- The Treasury also named 10 ury imposed sanctions on all of are based on those photographs, leged Qatari infl uence on social „ General Maher Mutreb, an – Khashoggi. ing cupboards, fi ling cabinets other Saudis. Gulf Times 10 Friday, November 16, 2018 INDIA

CONTROVERSY POLITICS LEGAL CRIME WILDLIFE Concert scrapped as trolls BJP expels 53 leaders Kathua victim’s family Three arrested after Delhi Cubs of tiger shot in call singer anti-India for anti-party activities drops lawyer designer, help murdered controversial hunt spotted

A government agency was criticised for The BJP yesterday expelled 53 rebel party leaders, The family of the eight-year-old Kathua rape A fashion designer and her help were stabbed The orphaned cubs of a man-eating tiger killed in postponing a concert in which a musician routinely including former Union minister Sartaj Singh, and murder victim has decided to drop their to death in a south Delhi farmhouse, police said a state-sanctioned hunt have been spotted in a trolled by Hindu right wingers was to have ex-minister Ramkrishna Kusmaria, for anti-party lawyer Deepika Rajawat as she has barely been yesterday, adding that the three suspects who have forest in Maharashtra and could be rescued and performed. T M Krishna, an award-winning singer activities and indiscipline. BJP spokesperson available at the court hearings, the victim’s been detained went to a police station to confess rehabilitated, off icials said. The tiger was shot and an exponent of the Carnatic school of classical Deepak Vijayvargiya said, “the party decided to father said. Those close to the family said he has their crime. Mala Lakhani, 53, who operated the dead in early November after being accused music, was set to perform at a two-day event in expel 53 leaders yesterday.” In a major action taken moved an application in the Pathankot court in Tulsi Creations boutique in Green Park and stayed of killing more than a dozen villagers, capping the capital organised by the Airports Authority against the turncoats ahead of the November Punjab, where the case was earlier shifted. It said in Vasant Kunj Enclave, was found dead along with off one of India’s most high-profile tiger hunts of India (AAI) and SPICMACAY, an non-profit that 28 Assembly elections, BJP has removed Bhind Rajawat will not represent them and the power her domestic help, Bahadur, 50. Their bodies were and angering conservation activists. A forestry works to cultivate Indian music traditions. Krishna MLA Narendra Kushwaha, former Gwalior mayor of attorney was being withdrawn. The father discovered with multiple stab wounds. Police said department’s off icial said the cubs were “healthy is a known critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Samiksha Gupta, Lata Mehsaki, Dheeraj Pateria told reporters in Jammu that so far the case has Lakhani had set up a workshop in her house where and are surviving” and that specialists would and the BJP government. The programme “Dance and Raj Kumar Yadav among others. Kusmaria is been heard 100 times by the court and around one of the accused, Anwar, worked as a tailor. assess whether they had acquired a taste for and Music in the Park” scheduled for November 17 considered a big leader in Bundelkhand region 100 witnesses have been examined during the He planned the crime along with his associates, humans from their mother. “The cubs may or and 18 in New Delhi had been postponed “due to with hold over the Kurmi community. Meanwhile, trial, but Rajawat had only appeared twice for Rahmat and Wasim. They also stole valuable items may not have become man-eaters, depending urgent engagements,” AAI said. Sartaj Singh had last week joined Congress. the family. from Lakhani’s house and left the spot in her car. on their proximity to their mother,” he said.

Snowfall in Shimla Modi sabotaging nation’s interest for capitalist allies: Congress

IANS headed by Premier Modi and he New Delhi accepted the higher benchmark price,” Surjewala claimed. Surjewala also sought to he Congress yesterday know why the National Security accused Prime Minis- Advisor Ajit Doval was allowed Tter Narendra Modi of to negotiate with the French sabotaging country’s interest rather than the IAF negotiations to favour his “crony capitalist committee and the defence friends” and claimed the agree- ministry. ment to purchase the 36 French “Did PM Modi ask him to do so Rafale jets from France was in vi- and for what reason?” he asked. olation of defence procurement Earlier Congress president procedure (DPP). Rahul Gandhi targeted Prime Reiterating its demand for a Minister Narendra Modi ques- JPC probe into the controversial tioning if the pact to buy 36 Ra- deal, the opposition party also fale jets from France was at all sought to know from the prime a government-to-government Tourists enjoy themselves after Shimla’s Kufri received the season’s first snowfall yesterday. minister why he set a higher deal. “benchmark price” and waived “The latest skeleton to tumble the bank guarantee or French out of the Rafale cupboard: No government’s sovereign guaran- guarantee by the French gov- tee. ernment backing the deal. But, “The prime minister enhanced our prime minister says there’s a the benchmark price for Rafale letter from the French promising by 3bn euros (Rs227.43bn). Why to be faithful! That’s enough to did he set a higher benchmark call this a government-to-gov- price of 8.2bn (Rs621.66bn) from ernment deal,” Gandhi tweeted, 5.2bn euros (Rs394.22bn )? Why adding “BikGayaChowkidar” Sabarimala showdown did he waive the sovereign guar- (watchman sold out). antee requirement,” Congress Rahul’s latest jibe at Modi spokesperson Randeep Singh comes a day after the Centre told Surjewala asked at a press con- the Supreme Court that there ference. was no sovereign guarantee by “The prime minister has gone the French government back- as far as to sabotage the nation’s ing the deal but only a letter of looms as talks collapse interests in favour of his crony comfort. capitalist friends,” he said. The submission was made by By Ashraf Padanna government to wait for the Su- dicts that the Communist gov- “At the same time, we’ll pro- to return without entering The Congress leader said the attorney general K K Venugopal Thiruvananthapuram preme Court to review its deci- ernment violated, Chennithala vide all protection to all. We the temple. only forum to investigate the before a bench of chief justice sion on January 22, while Vijay- said Vijayan was implementing hope good sense dawns on the “We demand police protec- acts of “omission, commission Ranjan Gogoi and justices San- an ruled out any compromise. the BJP plan to polarise people opposition,” he added. tion from the time we enter and corruption” in the “biggest jay Kishan Kaul and K M Joseph, he all-party meeting to “His stubborn attitude has on religious lines. The government has de- Kerala to the time we depart defence scam” of India is to have which reserved its verdict on the end the impasse over the sabotaged any chances of re- He also alleged that the police ployed an 18,000-strong force, the state. Already we have been a joint parliamentary commis- public interest litigation on the Tentry of women to a hill- storing peace,” Chennithala had limited the number of visi- including armed commandos, receiving threats,” her letter sion (JPC) probe. fi ghter jet deal. top temple in Kerala collapsed told reporters after walking out tors to the temple to 100,000 a at the temple and at base camps stated. Surjewala, later, in a state- Meanwhile BJP president Amit yesterday. Armed with a Su- of the meeting. day. while activists against the rul- “If the Supreme Court has ment said the negotiating Shah yesterday took a dig at his preme Court verdict, some 800 “When Vijayan called us, we “The government is for all. It ing said they would camp at the given us the right to enter, who team had a serious dispute on Congress counterpart, saying women have enrolled to visit thought he had changed his should not have dragged devo- temple to prevent the entry of are they (protestors) to stop the fixing of benchmark price, Rahul Gandhi was “affl icted with the Sabarimala temple in spite mind. I fail to understand why tees into its political agenda,” women. us? When the bench decides which was referred to the then Modiphobia” and that is why he of threats from hardliners. is he so much adamant on en- Chennithala said. “He has de- Meanwhile, gender equal- the verdict on the review peti- defence minister Manohar Par- chants “Modi-Modi”. The temple opens today for forcing a verdict that is under clared war on them.” ity rights activist Trupti Desai tions, we will obey that too,” rikar. Speaking at a rally in Bar- the annual season which con- review. It’s a futile exercise.” Vijayan retorted saying the has sought police protection for Desai said. “But right now, the “Parrikar as head of the De- wani, Madhya Pradesh, Shah cludes on January 20. The court lifted the bar on opposition parties had no re- herself and six others from Ma- top court has allowed women to fence Acquisition Council (DAC) said while the Bharatiya Janata Opposition leader Ramesh women’s entry to the temple on gards for the law of the land. harashtra who plan to visit the enter the temple. They have not and the three armed forces chiefs Party under Modi at the cen- Chennithala said Chief Minister September 28, but traditional- “They said the government’s temple on Saturday. stayed the previous verdict.” also didn’t agree and decide on tre and Chief Minister Shiv- Pinarayi Vijayan was insisting ists and activists of Prime Min- approach was with prejudice, She also demanded the Desai said she fully trusted the higher benchmark price of raj Singh Chouhan in the state on enforcing the apex court ver- ister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya which is not true. We’ll follow hospitality of the state gov- the Kerala government to pro- 8.2bn (Rs621.66bn). The DAC made progress, the Congress had dict lifting the ban on women Janata Party (BJP) have opposed what the court says. We have no ernment when she arrives vide them with protection, then referred it to the Cabinet no development stories to tell, below 50. the ruling. other option,” the chief minister at the Kochi airport today which is the government’s re- Committee on Security (CCS) hence the Modi-chants. Chennithala wanted the state Listing a series of court ver- stressed. evening. Desai has vowed not sponsibility.

Cyclone nears Charges fi led against 10 Hooda cries foul as AJL in Koregaon-Bhima case prosecution gets nod IANS of the HUDA at the time of the Chandigarh plot allotment. IANS tion) Act and sections of the In- nation, procuring illegal funds, The AJL is linked to United Pune (Maharashtra) dian Penal Code, in the 20-page arms and ammunition, seeking Progressive Alliance chairper- chargesheet fi led before a Pune to incite disturbances and vio- aryana governor son Sonia Gandhi and presi- Special Court yesterday evening, lence among people and com- Satyadev Narayan dent Rahul Gandhi as The Na- he Pune Police fi led its through assistant commission- munities around the country to HArya yesterday ap- tional Herald newspaper is the fi rst chargesheet against er of police Shivaji P Pawar of topple the democratically elect- proved prosecution of Con- legacy of the fi rst prime minis- T10 prime accused in the Swargate division. ed government. gress leader and former chief ter Jawaharlal Nehru. Koregaon-Bhima caste riots The detailed primary “Shoma Sena and Prashanto minister Bhupinder Singh Leader of opposition in the case of January 1, 2018, charg- chargesheet comes in the on- Bose, secretary of the outlawed Hooda in the Associated Haryana Assembly, Abhay ing them, among others, with going investigations into the CPI (Maoist)’s eastern regional Journals Ltd (AJL) case on il- Singh Chautala had, in a letter conspiring to kill Prime Minister Elgar Parishad organised by bureau, along with other under- legal re-allotment of land to to Chief Minister Manohar Lal Narendra Modi and bid to over- the Kabir Kala Manch in Pune ground activists hatched a con- the promoters of The Nation- Khattar, demanded registra- throw the democratically elect- on December 31, 2017, and the spiracy to kill the prime minister al Herald newspaper. tion of a criminal case against ed government through violent subsequent caste riots which of India. All the fi ve (arrested) The state vigilance bureau the AJL and Hooda in the case. means. erupted in Koregaon-Bhima on accused conspired to wage a war in May 2016 had registered the Indian National Lok Dal The accused activists are: Su- New Year Day. against the nation with bombs case against Hooda for cheat- (INLD) leader Chautala, in dhir P Dhawale, Rona J Wilson, The 10 accused chargesheet- and arms to topple the govern- ing and corruption in the al- his letter, had demanded that Surendra P Gadling, Shoma Sen, ed yesterday are among several ment with violent means,” says lotment of land to the AJL in the trustees and directors of Mahesh S Raut – all arrested other activists-accused nabbed the chargesheet. Panchkula city near here. the AJL and Hooda should be from diff erent parts of the coun- in the same case probed by the During the raids carried out Haryana Urban Develop- booked under the Indian Penal try on June 6 and currently in ju- Pune Police, including Shubha on the homes and offi ces of ment Authority offi cials and Code (IPC) and Prevention of dicial custody. Bharadwaj, Vernon S Gonsalves, the fi ve (arrested) accused and offi ce-bearers of AJL were also Corruption Act. Besides, there are other ab- Arun T Ferreira, Gautma Navla- other activists during the past charged with illegal re-allot- Referring to media reports sconding accused: Milind Tel- kha, and P Varavara Rao in Au- 10 months, the police said they ment of the plot in 2005. regarding plot number C-17 tumbde, Ritupan Goswami, gust. have recovered laptops, com- The two-time chief minister at Sector 6 in Panchkula, the Prashanto Bose, comrades Man- Besides the Koregaon-Bhima puters, hard-disks, pen-drives, described the governor’s ap- INLD leader said the 3,360 glu and Dipu, all described as violence, the chargesheet said mobiles, memory cards, letters, proval as politically motivated. square-metre-land was re-al- having gone ‘underground’ in that the 10 accused had links documents, photographs, details He said the decision to allot lotted to AJL on June 29, 2005. various parts of the country. with various Maoist and Kash- of their social media accounts, Waves crash onto the Kasimedu beach, Tamil Nadu, as the the plot to the AJL was taken The plot was allotted to AJL All the accused are charged mir terror groups, they were e-mails, their meetings and dis- severe cyclonic storm Gaja nears. Rains have started in by the HUDA and not by a in 1982 but taken back in 1996 under provisions of the stringent hatching a conspiracy to execute cussions, besides other infl am- Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Thiruvarur districts. single individual. As the chief after the company failed to Unlawful Activists (Preven- a high-level political assassi- matory literature from them. minister, Hooda was chairman construct a building on it. Gulf Times Friday, November 16, 2018 11 LATIN AMERICA

JUSTICE CAUSE UNKNOWN FINANCE INVESTIGATION CRACKDOWN El Chapo was co-leader, Chile vows probe into killing Argentina’s Senate approves Brazil’s Lula grilled by Mexico’s president-elect to informant tells US trial of indigenous Mapuche man unpopular austerity budget corruption probe judge continue anti-crime eff orts

Drug baron Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman co- Chile’s President Sebastian Pinera has promised Argentina’s Senate yesterday gave final approval Former Brazil president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Mexico’s president-elect Andres Manuel Lopez headed the Sinaloa cartel, an informant told at his the government will “spare no means” in to an unpopular austerity budget designed left prison for the first time in seven months Obrador announced Wednesday he would US trial Wednesday, skewering defence claims that investigating the fatal shooting of an indigenous to meet the stiff requirements of a $56bn on Wednesday as he faced questioning over maintain the country’s controversial military he was little more than a scapegoat and spilling Mapuche man during a confrontation with police International Monetary Fund bailout. The vote corruption and money laundering in relation eff orts to fight organised crime and seek to the operational secrets of the criminal enterprise. that sparked widespread fury among locals, on the spending blueprint for 2019, which to the wide-ranging “Car Wash” graft probe. A reinforce them by creating a national guard. Jesus “El Rey” Zambada, brother of still-at-large co- opposition members of parliament and rights already passed the lower house of congress massive security operation was put in place Lopez Obrador, unveiling his security strategy defendant Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, was one of groups. Camilo Catrillanca Marin, 24, was shot last month, was 45 in favour, 24 against and one in the southern city of Curitiba as press and that also included fighting police corruption, the first witnesses to take the stand on the second in the head on Wednesday after police allegedly abstention. Unions and civic groups protested devoted supporters flocked to the federal court outlined a plan that would see the military, day of what is expected to be a more than four- came under attack from automatic gunfire during all day outside the congress building during a where he and 12 others were interrogated by naval and federal police integrated. Although month trial. In US custody since 2008, he testified an operation to detain a suspected gang of car debate that lasted into the wee hours. Centre- Judge Gabriela Hardt. Lula was questioned over withdrawing the military from Mexico’s battle at length about the import-export business of thieves in a rural community near the town of right President Mauricio Macri has pledged a refurbishments to a farm believed to belong to against organised crime was not a campaign the Sinaloa, which rose to prominence after 1997, Ercilla, 900km south of Santiago in the restive swathe of cuts in health, education, science, him, paid for by major construction companies promise, AMLO — as he is known — has been when Colombia changed the law, allowing its province of Araucania. The Chilean police director transportation, public works and culture to the between 2010 and 2014 in exchange for big critical of the strategy, launched in 2006 by citizens to be extradited to the United States. general said it was unclear who shot Catrillanca. tune of $10bn. contracts with state oil giant Petrobras. former president Felipe Calderon. US-bound caravan gains speed and fi rst migrants cross border

AFP caravan approaches. lowed to request asylum, and face Tijuana Another 4,000 migrants — the automatic deportation. main caravan — are expected to Many of the migrants in Tijua- reach the border in a matter of na say they will wait for the rest undreds of Central days, fl eeing poverty and vio- of the caravan to arrive before Americans arrived at the lence in their home countries. trying to cross. HUnited States’s southern At least nine migrants from the Visiting the other end of the border Wednesday, defying vis- caravan crossed decisively into border — Base Camp Donna, iting US Defence Secretary Jim the US side, and were promptly in Texas — Mattis insisted the Mattis, as the rest of a migrant arrested by border patrol offi cers, military deployment was “nec- caravan dramatically accelerated an AFP correspondent said. essary” to support US Border Migrants sit on top of the border fence between Mexico and the United States in Tijuana, Mexico. its pace to join them. They included a mother with Patrol, even as some in Trump’s Large groups of migrants gath- her four children and a 19-year- own Republican party criticised elled through the night on some and more than 3,000km from possible. We’ve been on the road “assault” the United States. ered on the beach in the north- old pregnant woman from Hon- it as a stunt. 20 buses arranged by a Catholic the town where they began their for more than a month,” said Saul The migrants insist they are ern city of Tijuana at the border duras named Jazmin Monserrat. Mattis said the military was priest, moving rapidly into north- journey on October 13: San Pedro Rivera, 40, a construction worker simply seeking a better future fence that separates Mexico from “She didn’t tell me she was helping border agents with a ern Mexico after an arduous, Sula, Honduras. from El Salvador. away from Central America’s California, climbing on top of it going to do it. Before I knew it range of jobs, from ferrying them month-long trek across the south But the caravan is moving far At the pace they are now trav- “Northern Triangle” — El Sal- and even jumping down to the she was on the other side,” her around by helicopter to putting and centre of the country. more quickly through the dan- elling, the full caravan of some vador, Guatemala and Hondu- other side as US border patrol 17-year-old husband, Moises up razor-wire fencing along the The buses dropped them off gerous and sparsely populated 5,000 migrants could be at the ras, poor countries where gang agents looked on — before quick- Hernandez, told AFP. border. in the town of Navojoa, in the north than it did through the border by today. violence has fuelled some of ly scrambling back to the Mexi- “I understand. She’s looking There are now nearly 800 mi- northern state of Sonora, then south and centre of the country, Trump turned the caravan into the highest murder rates in the can side. for a new life. We’re tired of the grants from the original caravan returned to pick up a second thanks to donated transport — a hot-button issue ahead of last world. “We’re not criminals!” some poverty in our country.” in Tijuana, across the border group of 2,000 migrants who had sometimes from local authori- week’s US midterm elections, At least two more caravans of them shouted, in a pointed Under an executive order from San Diego, California, af- stayed behind. ties who would rather send the claiming — without providing have formed behind the fi rst, and message to US President Donald Trump issued last week, mi- ter a new group of 350 arrived Navojoa sits about 1,200km migrants on their way than host evidence — it included “hardened are currently working their way Trump, who has deployed some grants who do not cross at offi cial Wednesday morning. from Tijuana, the spot where the them in shelters. criminals” and “unknown Mid- up through Mexico with about 5,900 troops to the border as the border posts will no longer be al- Another 2,000 meanwhile trav- migrants plan to cross the border, “We want to arrive as soon as dle Easterners” who were about to 2,000 migrants each. Ibero-American summit to tackle migration crises

By Carmen Pena and Ana confi rmed their attendance at the their main talks today. Obrador will not be present, but decisions,” he said, warning of another president facing increas- “Given the conjuncture that Lazaro, DPA two-day summit in the colonial- Held under the motto “a pros- the leaders will undoubtedly dis- “tension.” ing international isolation — will we are experiencing in several Antigua, Guatemala style city of Antigua. perous, inclusive and sustainable cuss what their election victories The summit will be marked by be represented by his deputy, countries of the region, it is evi- The fi rst to arrive included Ibero-America,” the summit is mean for the region. the presence of three new lead- Delcy Rodriguez. dent how important migration is. Spain’s King Felipe VI and Prime due to focus on the United Na- The deepening polarisation ers: Colombian President Ivan Cuba’s Miguel Diaz-Canel has All the dialogue will serve as a igrant caravans trek- Minister Pedro Sanchez, Para- tions’ between the right and the left Duque, Peru’s Martin Vizcarra kept organisers in the dark about basis for foreign ministers to seek king towards the United guay’s President Mario Abdo 2030 Sustainable Develop- could make regional coopera- and Spain’s Sanchez. his attendance. common solutions,” Guatema- MStates and an exodus Benitez, Ecuador’s Lenin Moreno ment Goals, but political devel- tion more diffi cult, according to The spotlight will also be on The summit is due to discuss lan international aff airs offi cial of Venezuelans are high on the and Bolivia’s Evo Morales. opments and migration crises Mario Torrico from the Latin Nicaraguan President Daniel Or- the caravans of Central Ameri- Monica Bolanos said. agenda as leaders from Ibero- The summit started with a could take precedence over the American Social Sciences Insti- tega, who is expected to face pro- can migrants crossing Mexico Summits of the Ibero-Ameri- American countries started meeting of foreign ministers, main agenda. tute in Mexico. tests from demonstrators over his towards the US and the exodus of can community, which compris- meeting for their 26th summit in who were due to discuss progress Brazil’s far-right president- “When there is a heterogene- alleged repression of political op- millions of Venezuelans to other es 22 states, have been held since Guatemala yesterday. in co-operation projects. elect Jair Bolsonaro and Mexico’s ity of ideological positions...it is ponents. Latin American countries, Spain 1991. They currently take place At least 17 heads of state have The heads of state will hold leftist Andres Manuel Lopez much more diffi cult to take joint Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro — and the US. every two years.

A year on, families grieve for Argentina’s missing submariners

By Fernando Legarreta and 12 months in a military hotel near During the 1976-1983 military tion other than the bottom of the war to Britain. Some crew mem- Liliana Samuel, AFP the base, nearly 2,000km from her dictatorship, some navy facili- ocean and that, fanciful as it may bers had told their families they Mar del Plata, Argentina home in the northern city of Jujuy. ties, like the one at Mar del Plata, seem, the crew is still alive. had been shadowed on previous She is still waiting to fi nd out served as detention and torture “It’s coming up to a year now. trips by British ships. what happened to Petty Offi cer centres, and an estimated 30,000 And we will be there waiting for That has led some family olanda Mendiola turns up Leandro Cisneros, her 28-year- people disappeared. him to come back,” said Zulma members to believe the sub may every morning to join other old son. Authorities have opened a Sandoval, 56, mother of 39-year- have been in the exclusion zone Ygrieving mothers in a for- The navy lost contact with the criminal investigation on orders old submariner Celso Vallejos. around the still-disputed islands. lorn protest at the home base of a submarine on November 15, some from a judge in the city of Caleta “It would be a huge miracle if “I dream of my husband. I missing Argentine submarine. 450km from the Argentine coast. Olivia, a port in Patagonia where the submarine showed up and we asked him where he was and he Yesterday was harder, marking It was on its way back to base maritime cases are usually heard. saw them return, because truth- told me he was in the Malvinas a year since the last communica- from Ushuaia at the southern tip The judge has so far heard tes- fully, nobody knows what hap- and that he couldn’t talk,” Andrea tion was received from the sub of Argentina. timony from 70 people but says pened,” she said. Mereles told AFP. before it vanished into the depths A massive air and sea search she is no closer to knowing what Far from her house in the In those dreams, she says her of the Atlantic with a crew of 44. began 48 hours later involving happened. northern city of Santiago del Es- husband tells her: “What I told “Our families have been de- units from 13 countries, but the Families of the missing crew tero, a tearful Lourdes Melian, 21 you about what happened us in stroyed” says the 55-year-old. majority withdrew before the have kept up pressure on the continues a lonely vigil with oth- the previous trip — that we were Mendiola shows up at the Mar end of 2017, as the wintry South government not to give up on the er relatives in Mar del Plata. followed by a British subma- del Plata base because, like the Atlantic refused to give up its se- Francisca Soria (left) and Lourdez Melian, mother and sister of search, staging protest marches “I feel that my brother is no rine — the same thing happened others, she has nowhere else to go. crets. Argentinian missing crew member David Melian, show his picture and camping out in front of the longer here,” she says of offi cer again.” “We cannot go to our homes. The navy has been fi ercely at a military hotel in Mar del Plata. local assembly. David Melian, 32. “I prefer that Where the submarine disap- We go to the base every day — criticised for its handling of the More than $25mn has been to thinking he’s still there, or that peared, on the edge of the Argen- morning and evening. We need operation since fi rst reporting submarine had reported a problem perts said was likely linked to the spent on the search, defence they have been kidnapped.” tine shelf, depths plummet from to see the bodies of our children, the submarine overdue at Mar del with its batteries in its fi nal com- battery problem. Several senior ministry offi cial Graciela Villata The loss of the San Juan is the 200m to more than 3,000m. have them as best we can,” says Plata on November 16. munication on November 15. offi cers were dismissed, includ- told a congressional committee fi rst major tragedy to hit the navy Experts say the sub would have Mendiola. It was only several days into And nearly 10 days later, the ing navy chief Marcelo Srur. this week. since the Falklands War in 1982. been crushed by water pressure She is one of several women the tragedy that navy offi cials ac- navy confi rmed there had been The navy has a poor reputation Some of the mothers still hope Argentina, which refers to the once it dropped below about who have been living for the past knowledged the old, German-built an explosion on board, which ex- in Argentina. that the sub had another destina- islands as Las Malvinas, lost the 600m. Gulf Times 12 Friday, November 16, 2018 PAKISTAN Five abducted Signifi cant decline in Iranian guards safely recovered

AFP ing made “to recover the other Islamabad guards”. poverty: World Bank Pakistan briefed Tehran about “active eff orts” to locate Internews The decline in poverty in Balu- Even the poorest households its rural population living below munisation by age three, and akistan has said that its the abducted guards during Islamabad chistan was smaller (less than increased their ownership of the poverty line. rural women are 10 percentage security forces safely two visits by Iranian Foreign 15 percentage points), and also more expensive assets, such as However, the gap between ru- points less likely to receive pre- Precovered fi ve Iranian Minister Javad Zarif to Islama- more volatile, possibly because motorcycles, refrigerators, tel- ral and urban poverty is by far the natal care, 28 percentage points guards, abducted near the bad in one month. eadcount poverty in Pa- of the multiple challenges of re- evisions, and washing machines, widest in Sindh at almost 30 per- less likely to give birth in a facil- countries’ shared border a Pakistani Foreign Minis- kistan fell 35 percentage moteness, low connectivity, a and reduced their ownership of centage points. ity or hospital, and 12 percentage month ago. ter Shah Mahmood Qureshi Hpoints between 2001- semi-nomadic population, and relatively inexpensive assets, In contrast, the urban-rural points less likely to receive post- Militant group Jaish al-Adl blamed the kidnapping on “our 02 and 2013-14, from 64.3% to confl ict that it faces. such as bicycles and radios. gap in Punjab and KP was 13 and natal care. (Army of Justice in Arabic) had common enemies unhappy 29.5%, said a World Bank report In line with the decline in pov- The decline in poverty has not 15 percentage points, respec- Districts wise poverty data claimed responsibility for the with the existing close, friend- on “the state of water supply, erty, a number of other indicators reduced the urban-rural gap by tively. shows that districts vary wide- abduction of 12 Iranian secu- ly relations between Pakistan sanitation and poverty in Pa- of well-being also improved. much. Rural households also face a ly in poverty, with the richest rity personnel. and Iran”. kistan and its impact on child In all quintiles, the share of Rural areas in Pakistan remain substantial disadvantage in vir- district (Abbottabad, KP) at a “With concerted eff orts of Sistan-Baluchistan has long stunting”. the household budget allocated much poorer than urban areas tually all aspects of service de- headcount rate of 5.8% and the Pakistani law enforcement been a fl ashpoint, with Paki- According to the report, Khy- to nonfood items rose, food con- and are far more disadvantaged livery. poorest district (Washuk, Balu- agencies (LEAs) and armed stan-based Baluchi separatists ber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), which sumption patterns shifted to- in all aspects of service delivery. Nationally, the rural net en- chistan) at 72.5%. forces, fi ve abducted Iranian and religious extremists car- started out as the poorest of ward a more diverse and expen- The poverty headcount rate in rollment rate is 13 percentage Much of this variation refl ects guards have been safely recov- rying out regular cross-border Pakistan’s four provinces in sive diet, and asset ownership rural Pakistan is twice that in ur- points lower for primary school diff erences in poverty across ered,” foreign ministry spokes- raids against Iran. 2001/02, ended the period as its grew. ban areas (36% versus 18%), and and 11 percentage points lower provinces. person Mohamed Faisal said in The province has a large, second richest province, clos- The share of non-food ex- the gap has remained virtually for middle school than in urban The vast majority of the 40 a statement in Islamabad. mainly Sunni Muslim ethnic ing almost all of its 13 percentage penditure for the bottom quintile unchanged since 2001-02. areas. poorest districts are in Balu- The Iranians, including in- Baluchi community which point gap with Punjab, the rich- grew to 46% by 2014. Combined with the slow pace For girls, these gaps stand at chistan, followed by Sindh. telligence offi ces, were ab- straddles the border. est province in the country. The consumption of nutrient- of urbanisation (only 35% of Pa- 17 and 14 percentage points, re- Only three districts each in ducted near Lulakdan, a village Jaish al-Adl, formed in 2012, The provincial headcount rates rich foods like meat, fi sh, eggs, kistan’s population lived in urban spectively. Punjab and KP fall in this set, and 150km (90 miles) southeast is a successor to the Sunni ex- in 2013-14 were 34.2% for Sindh, dairy, fruits, and vegetables in- areas in 2014), this gap means The rural female literacy rate, they are not among the poorest in of Zahedan, capital of Sistan- tremist group Jundallah (Sol- 27% for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa creased, while the share of cere- that 80% of Pakistan’s poor con- at 28%, is also less than half that the group. Baluchistan. diers of God) which has carried (KP), and 25% for Punjab. als, which provide the cheapest tinue to live in rural areas. of urban areas. Not a single district in Balu- Faisal said: “They are in good out a spate of attacks on Ira- Baluchistan remained the calories, but are low in nutrition, Across provinces, Baluchistan Rural children are 8.5 percent- chistan is among the richest 40, health, being handed over to nian security forces in recent poorest province in Pakistan, declined from 33% to 29%, the has by far the highest rural pov- age points less likely than urban and only Karachi and Hyderabad Iranian authorities.” years in the southeastern prov- with a headcount rate of 56.8%. report added. erty rate, with more than 62% of children to have adequate im- in Sindh fall in this set. He added eff orts were be- ince of Sistan-Baluchistan.

Imran orders probe after cop is found dead in Afghanistan PM orders

Reuters/AFP/Internews setting up Islamabad/Peshawar of national rime Minister Imran Khan has ordered an inquiry into Pthe death of a senior police curriculum offi cer who disappeared from Is- lamabad last month and whose body was found in Afghanistan. authority The body of Tahir Dawar, a superintendent of police in the northwestern city of Peshawar, Internews was recovered on Tuesday in the Islamabad Afghan province of Nangarhar, nearly three weeks after he went missing. Khan: ordered the authorities to carry out ‘an inquiry immediately’. rime Minister Imran Khan Dawar’s body was found in a has ordered establishment remote area of Nangarhar prov- shtuns at security checkpoints. and handed over to the Pakistan Pof a National Curriculum ince of Afghanistan with a hand- Echoing accusations by consulate in Jalalabad. Council for creating consensus written note from the so-called Washington and Kabul, PTM ac- The process took a lot longer among stakeholders for uniform Islamic State (IS) claiming re- tivists say the military continues than anticipated. standards of education across sponsibility for his kidnapping Supporters of the PTM chant slogans over Dawar’s killing during a protest in Islamabad. to allow extremists a safe haven Dawar, who was serving as the country. and death. from which to launch attacks in Rural Peshawar superintend- The prime minister took the Khan said that he had ordered how he knew Dawar had been Rights activists have ques- complice to the killing. Afghanistan, while targeting in- ent of police, hailed from North decision during a briefi ng on ed- authorities to carry out “an in- abducted and murdered. tioned how Dawar, who was vis- “How can a senior offi cer of surgents that turn their guns on Waziristan. ucation held at the PM Offi ce, on quiry immediately”. The governor’s offi ce in Nan- iting family in Islamabad from the police be kidnapped from the Pakistan. He was promoted only a cou- a suggestion of Federal Educa- Pakistan’s foreign offi ce said garhar said it had delivered the Peshawar on October 26, came federal capital and taken all the For years, Pakistan has been ple of months ago, though his tion Minister Shafqat Mehmood. it had twice summoned the Af- body to tribal elders near the Pa- to be in Afghanistan. way to Afghanistan, it’s a ques- accused by the US and others of service card found on his body Punjab Education Minister ghan charge d’aff aires to “seek kistani border. “The police cannot tell us tion mark on the performance of using militants such as the Af- said he was deputy superintend- Murad Rass and Khyber Pa- clarity”. “The sad episode of retrieval anything and the entire state is the law enforcement agencies,” ghan Taliban as proxies, allow- ent of police. khtunkhwa Adviser on Edu- Afghan offi cials were not im- of the body of SP Tahir Khan silent about the investigation,” said Shaukat Khan, a Pashtun ing them safe haven in the tribal Dawar had survived a number cation Ziaullah Bangash also mediately available for com- Dawar, following his brutal parliamentarian Mohsin Dawar activist in Peshawar. areas. of attempts on his life, including briefed the prime minister about ment. murder in Afghanistan two days (no relation) told Reuters. The Pashtun Protection Islamabad has repeatedly de- two suicide attacks in Bannu in the future roadmap and high- “His abduction, move to (Af- ago, ended as an offi cial delega- Dozens of Pashtun activists Movement rose to prominence nied the claims. recent years. lighted various short- medium- ghanistan), murder and follow tion brought it back today,” the staged protest demonstrations after the killing of a young social The Afghan government had As family and friends had and long-term measures to in- up behaviour of (Afghan) au- Pakistani foreign offi ce said in a across the country demanding media star in Karachi unleashed informed the Pakistan embassy been demanding his safe recov- troduce qualitative change in the thorities raise questions which statement. an investigation into the brutal festering anger at extrajudicial in Kabul that the body was found ery, nothing was heard from any education sector. indicate involvement or re- Dawar’s body was handed murder. murders. by local people in Dur Baba vil- senior offi cial of the KP govern- Prime Minister Khan appre- sources more than a terrorist or- back to Pakistani authorities Led by a young activist Man- It has been demanding action lage in Afghanistan’s eastern ment or the police force. ciated the eff orts being made at ganisation,” military spokesman amid protests by ethnic Pash- zoor Pashteen, supporters of – including investigations into Nangarhar province, border- Minister of State for Interior federal and provincial levels and Major General Asif Ghrafoor said tuns, who accused the military the Pashtun Protection Move- disappearances and extrajudicial ing Khyber and Mohmand tribal Shahryar Afridi told the media said that the National Educa- on Twitter. of supporting religious extrem- ment (PTM), accused Pakistan’s killings – and an end to what it districts. that he cannot comment on it as tion Policy Framework (NEPF) is It was not immediately clear ists. powerful military of being an ac- says is undue harassment of Pa- It said the body was exhumed it was a sensitive issue. being devised to bring uniform- ity in existing fragmented and apartheid-like system of educa- tion. “The objective is to create a nation and to put in place a sys- Pakistan enhances contribution to UN agency tem which is ‘fair’ and ‘produces (highly-educated) Pakistanis’,” he said, adding that, skill devel- Internews UN, handed over the enhanced ever reduction in funding in the to help the UN agency. sistance will help the UNRWA opment of the youths should be Islamabad contribution in New York to UNRWA’s history, leading to Speaking to the UNRWA di- continue its relief eff orts on the especially focused so that their Peter Mulrean, director of the a severe fi nancial crisis which rector at the Pakistan mission ground and keep the schools and potential could be utilised ef- UNRWA, which supports more threatened many of its critical to the UN, Lodhi said that Is- clinics open that it runs in Pales- fectively. akistan has made an en- than 5mn registered Palestinian assistance programmes, leading lamabad’s contribution was in- tinian refugee camps. Earlier, Shafqat Mehmood hanced contribution to the refugees. to cutbacks to its cash-for-work creased on the instructions of UNRWA Commissioner Kra- gave a detailed presentation Pcash-strapped United Na- The UNRWA provides educa- activities and limiting the pro- the government of Pakistan, and henbuhl said in a video message: on the NEPF, identifying vari- tions Relief and Works Agency tion, healthcare, and social serv- vision of assistance to only the in accordance with the wishes “Pakistan’s support in solidarity ous challenges vis-à-vis out (UNRWA), the UN agency en- ices to those it supports. most important. and aspirations of the people of with the Palestinian people and of school children, education trusted to assist the Palestinian The UNRWA ran into deep fi - Countries belonging to the Pakistan. with Palestine refugees has been apartheid, quality of education, refugees, that drew “heart-felt nancial trouble earlier this year Organisation of Islamic Co-op- “The people of Pakistan have historic and extremely impor- and skill development issues. appreciation” from its chief, when the United States cut back eration (OIC) and other states always stood with their Pales- tant, not only through fi nancial Lodhi: The people of Pakistan He said that the NEPF is be- Pierre Krahenbuhl. its funding of the agency by decided to step forward to plug tinian brothers and sisters,” she contributions but also in the de- have always stood with their ing formulated to ensure that Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistan’s around $300mn. the defi cit faced by the UNRWA. added. bates at the UN General Assem- Palestinian brothers and all children have a fair and equal permanent representative to the That constituted the largest- Pakistan joined other nations Lodhi stressed that this as- bly in New York.” sisters. opportunity to receive high quality education in order to achieve their full potential. The minister said optimum utilisation of the existing infra- structure, employing technol- Ministry assures KP, Baluchistan of better highways ogy solutions, improvement in non-formal education systems, attracting quality teachers and Internews munication facilities would be “An interchange on Adeena Alyani, during a meeting with Minister Abdul Qadir, also at- “We hope the project will start incentivising the education were Islamabad provided to the province, a press Lahore Road, better service area the NHA chairman, called for tended the meeting. within two months,” the NHA some of the measures in the release said. and service road along the Pe- the completion all road projects The issue of shortage of funds chief added. NEPF that would signifi cantly Provision of public facilities shawar-Islamabad Motorway, under the China-Pakistan Eco- confronting the NHA also came It is learnt that almost all help in enhancing school enrol- he federal communica- on the Islamabad-Peshawar will be provided soon,” he added. nomic Corridor (CPEC) within under discussion. mega highway projects of the ment and addressing the issues tions ministry has assured Motorway (M-1) was discussed. Tarkai stressed the need for the stipulated time. The chief minister asked the NHA have been hit by fi nancial of out- of-school children. Tthe provinces of Khyber Communications Secretary building an interchange on the When contacted, NHA Chair- NHA chairman to expedite work crunch and some contractors At a separate meeting on the Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui and Peshawar-Islamabad Motor- man Jawad Rafi q Malik said he on the ongoing projects, includ- have stopped construction while PM Youth Programme, Prime of better highway facilities soon. senior offi cials of the ministry way, adding that construction briefed the chief minister on the ing the Basima-Khuzdar Road, others have slowed down. Minister Khan said that out of a Minister of State for Com- and the National Highway Au- of an interchange on Adeena La- ongoing and future road projects Dera Ismail Khan-Zhob Road Alyani asked the NHA chair- population of 200mn, 130mn are munications Murad Saeed, dur- thority (NHA) were also present hore road in Swabi district was in the province. and Zhob-Yari Road. man to provide funds to the below the age of 35. ing a meeting with KP Minister in the meeting. a long-standing demand of the Leaders of the Baluchistan Malik said he informed Alyani contractors for completion of “This big number of youths for Local Government and Ru- Saeed assured Tarkai that all area people. Awami Party, including Minister that the NHA had sought bids the ongoing projects, especially is a precious asset which can ral Development Shahram Khan travelling facilities would be Meanwhile, Baluchistan for Defence Production Zubaida for launching Basima-Khuzdar those being executed in Balu- change the destiny of the coun- Tarkai, promised that all com- provided to the KP people. Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Jalal and Adviser to the Chief Road. chistan. try,” he added. Gulf Times Friday, November 16, 2018 13 THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH Responsibilities of parents

arents’ responsibilities for the as religion...” [Qur’an 5: 3] care and upbringing of their Education is the process by which The parent-child children are mentioned in children are nurtured as they grow up Pseveral verses of the Qur’an, as to develop the Islamic worldview and well as in the Hadith. the Islamic virtues. Allah Almighty Says (what means): Education means to look after, to “O you who have believed, protect nurture, to nourish, to help grow and yourselves and your families from a fl ourish. It implies certain sensitivity Fire whose fuel is people and stones…” towards the child under your care, [Qur’an 66:6] his emotional and physical needs relationship in Islam How do we ward off that fire from and capacities. It implies the ability our families? We need to show to to inspire confi dence. It implies them the right way and to teach them the courage to allow and promote slam’s general approach to children may be or intergenerational estrangement and uneasiness, the diff erence between right and creativity and innovation. It implies summarised in a few principles. First, it is a something similar to what is now called the wrong. An excellent example of this is the ability to trust and not to stifl e, divine injunction that no child may become “generation gap”. It was probably in view of these found in the words of Luqmaan to his to be fi rm when needed and even to Ithe cause of harm to the parents. considerations that Islam has taken cognizance of son, related in the Qur’an, where he impose sanctions when necessary. certain facts and made basic provisions to govern admonishes him: The starting point for education is The child’s rights: The parent’s duties the individual’s relationship to his parents. 1. Not to ascribe divine powers to the example of parents. Small children Allah, The Exalted, Says (what means): “Mothers The fact that parents are advanced in age and anything other than Allah. take their parents as models. If parents may breastfeed their children two complete years are generally believed to be more experienced does 2. To be good and kind to parents. are lazy and careless, the children will for whoever wishes to complete the nursing not by itself validate their views or certify their 3. To obey parents unless they also take laziness and carelessness as [period]. Upon the father is the mothers’ provision standards. Similarly, youth per se is not the sole command what is wrong. normal. If they tell lies, children will and their clothing according to what is acceptable. fountain of energy, idealism, or wisdom. 4. To understand that all our deeds, regard lying as normal and acceptable. No person is charged with more than his capacity. In various contexts, the Qur’an cites instances however minor, are recorded and will The same applies to smoking, No mother should be harmed through her child, where the parents were proven wrong in their be brought to light. drinking, rude manners, swearing and and no father through his child. And upon the encounter with their children and also where 5. To be constant in prayer. all other bad habits. There is no way [father’s] heir is [a duty] like that [of the father]. children misjudged the positions of their parents. 6. To enjoin what is right and forbid parents can motivate their children And if they both desire weaning through mutual Allah, The Exalted, Says (what means): And what is wrong. to practice the Islamic virtues if consent from both of them and consultation, there [mention O Muhammad], when Abraham said 7. To bear what befalls him with they themselves do not respect the is no blame upon either of them. And if you wish to his father Aazar, ‘Do you take idols as deities? patience. values and try to practice them also. to have your children nursed by a substitute, there Indeed, I see you and your people to be in manifest 8. To avoid pride, arrogance and As children grow up, they will only is no blame upon you as long as you give payment error.’” [Qur’an 6:74] boastfulness. perceive the inconsistency or even according to what is acceptable. And fear Allah and Allah also Says what means: “And it sailed with 9. To be modest in manner and hypocrisy in their parents’ approach. know that Allah is Seeing of what you do.” [Qur’an them through waves like mountains, and Noah speech. It is important not to crush a child’s 2: 233] called to his son who was apart [from them], ‘O This is a model example of parental spirit and joy about life by terrorizing Secondly, by implication the parents should my son, come aboard with us and be not with the responsibility and advice. Luqmaan him/her, whether physically or reciprocate and cause the child no harm either. disbelievers.’ [But] he said, ‘I will take refuge on guides his own son on the path to psychologically. Children must play. The Qur’an recognises very clearly that parents are a mountain to protect me from the water.’ [Noah] paradise with simple but memorable It is the way they learn, and is not in not always immune from over protectiveness or said, ‘There is no protector today from the decree words. itself something bad. Parents should negligence. of Allah, except for whom He gives mercy.’ And the Children are a trust given to give the child opportunities to play On the basis of this recognition, it (Qur’an) has, waves came between them, and he was among the the parents. Parents will be held and to experience the excitement of thirdly, established certain guidelines and pointed drowned. And it was said, ‘O earth, swallow your accountable for this trust on the Day exploration, of learning and of growing out certain facts with respect to children. water, and O sky, withhold [your rain].’ And the of Judgment. Parents are essentially up. It points out that children are joys of life as well water subsided, and the matter was accomplished, responsible for the moral, ethical At the same time, parents should as sources of pride and fountains of distress and and the ship came to rest on the [mountain and the basic and essential religious teach children Islamic manners and temptation. But it hastens to stress the greater of] Joodiyy. And it was said, ‘Away with the teachings of their children. etiquette in accordance with the joys of the spirit and cautions parents against wrongdoing people.’ And Noah called to his Lord If parents fulfi l this responsibility, beautiful example of the Prophet . overconfidence, false pride, or misdeeds that and said, ‘My Lord, indeed my son is of my family; they will be free of the consequences Such habits include truthfulness might be caused by children. The religious moral and indeed, Your promise is true; and You are the on the Day of Judgment. The children and honesty, gentleness, politeness, principle of this position is that every individual, most just of judges!’ He said, ‘O Noah, indeed he will become better citizens and a consideration for others, helpfulness, parent or child, relates to Allah directly and is is not of your family; indeed, he is [one whose] pleasure to the eyes of their parents, cleanliness and tidiness. independently responsible for his deeds. work was other than righteous, so ask Me not for fi rst in this life, and in the Hereafter. They also include: No child can absolve the parent on the Day of that about which you have no knowledge. Indeed, Allah, Almighty Says (what means): 1. Time management and doing Judgment. Nor can a parent intercede on behalf of I advise you, lest you be among the ignorant.’” “And those who believed and whose things at the right time. his child. [Qur’an 11:42-46] descendants followed them in 2. Physical exercise for fi tness. Finally, Islam is strongly sensitive to the crucial More significant, perhaps, is the fact that faith – We will join with them their 3. Mental exercise and developing an dependence of the child on the parents. Their customs, folkways, traditions, or the parents’ descendants, and We will not deprive appetite for knowledge, understanding decisive role in forming the child’s personality is value system and standards do not in themselves them of anything of their deeds. and skills. clearly recognised in Islam. In a very suggestive constitute truth and rightness. In several passages, Every person, for what he earned, is 4. Learning to read and recite the statement, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa the Qur’an strongly reproaches those who may retained...” [Qur’an 52:21] Qur’an from an early age when the sallam, declared that every child is born into the stray from the truth just because it seems new This parental responsibility belongs child’s memory fi nds it easy. true malleable nature of ‘Fitrah’ (i.e., the pure to them, or contrary to what is considered to be not only to the father. The Prophet 5. Development of regular natural in-born, monotheistic belief in God), its normal, or incompatible with the parents’ values. sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam is reported performance of Prayer between the parents later on make him into a Jew, Christian or Furthermore, it focuses on the fact that if loyalty to have said: “Take care! Each of you ages of 7 and 10. pagan. or obedience to the parents is likely to alienate is a shepherd and each of you shall be 6. Taking on responsibilities in the According to these guidelines, and more the individual from Allah, then he must side with asked concerning his fl ock; a leader family. specifically, one of the most inalienable rights of Allah, as it were. It is true; the parents merit is a shepherd of his people, and he 7. Taking on responsibilities in the the child in Islam is the right to life and equal life consideration, love, compassion, and mercy. But if shall be asked concerning his fl ock; wider community as children grow up. chances. Preservation of the child’s life is the third they step out of their proper line to intrude upon and a man is a shepherd of the people Above all, correct education should commandment in Islam. the rights of Allah, a demarcation line must be of his house, and he shall be asked ensure that children develop a love for Allah, The Exalted, Says (what means): “Say, drawn and maintained. concerning his fl ock; and a woman is a Islam, a love for Allah and His Prophet ‘Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited The Qur’an sums up the whole question in shepherd of the house of her husband and that they develop a feeling of to you. [He commands] that you not associate the master concept of ‘Ihsaan’ (i.e. a strong and over their children, and she shall pride in being Muslim and willingness anything with Him, and to parents, good sense of God-consciousness which constantly be asked concerning them.” [Al- to strive for the good of others. They treatment, and do not kill your children out of occasion marked with joy and charity. inclines a believer toward piety) , which denotes Bukhari and Muslim] need to realize the benefi ts of Islam, poverty; We will provide for you and them. And Responsibility for and compassion toward the what is right, good, and beautiful. The practical Indeed the mother’s role may be the foundations on which it is based do not approach immoralities – what is apparent child is a matter of religious importance as well as implications of the concept of ‘ihsaan’ to the even greater: while the children are and their need for Islam. They need to of them and what is concealed. And do not kill the social concern. Whether the parents are alive or parents entail active empathy and patience, young they are very close to her and value Islam and live by Islamic values. soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed] except deceased, present or absent, known or unknown, gratitude and compassion, respect for them and dependent upon her, and they spend It is the responsibility of the parents by [legal] right. This has He instructed you that the child is to be provided for with optimum care. prayers for their souls, honoring their legitimate more time with her than with anyone to experiment with various ways of you may use reason.’” [Qur’an 6: 151] Whenever there are executors or relatives close commitments and providing them with sincere else. There is an Arabic saying: “The achieving those goals. Another equally inalienable right is the right enough to be held responsible for the child’s counsel. mother is the fi rst school”. She may be of legitimacy, which holds that every child shall welfare, they shall be directed to discharge this One basic dimension of ‘Ihsaan’ is deference. a good school, an indiff erent or even a Islamic education and Muslim have a father, and one father only. A third set of duty. Parents have the right to expect obedience from bad school. She may even be unaware schools rights comes under socialisation, upbringing, and But if there is no next of kin, care for the child their children if only in partial return for what the that she is serving as a role model in If parents are to get the best results general care. To take good care of children is one becomes a joint responsibility of the entire Muslim parents have done for them. But if parents demand her behaviour, and her attitudes. Every for their children in Muslim schools, of the most commendable deeds in Islam. The community, designated officials and commoners the wrong or ask for the improper, disobedience mother should be conscious of her role they must know what the Muslim Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, was fond of alike. becomes not only justifiable, but also imperative. and do her best to make it benefi cial school is trying to do. Parents need children and he expressed his conviction that his Obey or disobey, the children’s attitude toward for the development of her children as to understand that while the school Muslim community would be noted among other The child’s duties: The parent’s rights parents may not be categorical submissiveness or they set out on the journey of life. basically may be following a National communities for its kindness to children. The parent-child relationship is complementary. irresponsible defiance. Parental care and guidance are Curriculum (which in some countries It is charity of a higher order to attend to their In Islam, parents and children are bound The last integral part of ‘Ihsaan’ to be mentioned fundamental to child upbringing. may be compulsory), the teaching spiritual welfare, educational needs, and general together by mutual obligations and reciprocal here is that children are responsible for the Some parents nowadays become so approach is expected to be holistic. well-being. Interest in and responsibility for the commitments. But the age differential is support and maintenance of parents when the preoccupied with their jobs or with Therefore it is not just a matter of child’s welfare are questions of top priority. sometimes so wide as to cause parents to grow parents become weak and are unable to support making money or with their social teaching Islamic Studies, Qur’an and According to the Prophet’s instructions by the physically weak and mentally feeble. This is themselves. It is an absolute religious duty to lives that children are often neglected. Arabic under the same roof as Arts seventh day the child should be given a good, often accompanied by impatience, degeneration provide for the parents in case of need and help They may be ignored or left for hours and Sciences, but of developing an pleasant name and its head should be shaved, along of energy, heightened sensitivity, and perhaps them to make their lives as comfortable as possible. with the television or computer or integrated Islamic perspective on with all the other hygienic measures required for misjudgment. Article source: http://www.islamweb.net/ they may be sent to day-care centres all forms of knowledge right across healthy growing. This should be made a festive It may also result in abuses of parental authority emainpage/ at a very early age to be cared for in the curriculum. At the same time, groups by other people. the school is trying to cultivate good The parents’ right to respect from attitudes, behavior and manners in their children is dependent upon the accordance with the teachings of children’s right to loving care and Islam. The signifi cance of obedience to parents guidance of their parents. ‘Aishah, radhiallah ‘anha, is It is related that a man once came reported to have said of the Prophet to ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab, the that: “His behaviour was the Qur’an slam builds a family in which prevails mutual Supplicating for them: that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good second Khaleefah (Caliph) of Islam (in practice)”. [Ahmad] To take the respect and care. Parents and children in Islam Far from showing signs of displeasure, the children treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age complaining of his sons’ disobedience Prophet as a “beautiful example” are bound together by mutual obligations and must pray for them saying, as Allah teaches us in the [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], “uff ,” to him. ‘Umar summoned the boy and means not just to imitate his outward Ireciprocal arrangements. Allah says (what verse (which means): “…My Lord and Sustainer! and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word.” spoke of his disobedience to his father actions or practices but also to base means): “…No mother should be harmed through Be kind and have mercy on them as they cherished, [Qur’an 17: 23] and his neglect of his rights. The boy our own motivation and actions on her child, and no father through his child…” [Qur’an nurtured and sustained me in childhood.” [Qur’an 17: The Prophet placed kindness and respect towards replied: “O Ameer al-Mu’mineen the Qur’an as he did, in a way that is 2: 233] 24] parents just after the prayer off ered on time as the (Prince of believers)! Hasn’t a child appropriate to the place and time in The Qur’an has made it compulsory for the child to We must continue praying for them even after they prayer is the foundation of Islam. rights over his father?” which we happen to live. treat his parents with all goodness and mercy. die. Such prayer will be regarded as a continuous charity ‘Abdullaah Ibn Mas’ood said: “I asked the Prophet “Certainly”, replied ‘Umar. The approach of a modern Muslim Every Muslim must show goodness and mercy as the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa salllam, told us. which deed is most liked by Allah? He said: ‘Prayer “What are they, Ameer al- School, which may be located in a to his parents throughout their lives. There is only off ered on time.’ I asked him: ‘Then what? He said: Mu’mineen?” modern “secular” or non-Islamic one exception to this, and that is, if the parents ask The greater right of the mother: ‘Kindness and respect towards parents.’…” [Al-Bukhari “That he should choose his mother, type of environment, cannot be like their children to associate anything with Allah and The children must be kinder and more grateful to and Muslim] give him a good name and teach him that of Islamic education of the recent to commit sins, then the children must not obey their mothers since they took greater pains in their the Book (the Qur’an).” past, when teaching relied much on their parents. In all cases, the children must show upbringing. That is why the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi Knowing the duties towards them: “O Ameer al-Mu’mineen! My father repetition and memorisation and love and gratitude to their parents. They must always wa salllam, emphasised that it is the mother who has It is also the duty of the child to provide for his did nothing of this. My mother was a uncritical acceptance of the teachers’ speak to them gently and respectfully. They must try the fi rst claim on the child’s care and attention. parents, if he is able to do so. The Qur’an sums up the Magian (fi re worshipper). He gave me word. The Islamic teaching must their best to make them happy, provided they do not Once a companion asked the Prophet, sallallaahu whole matter in a master concept called Ihsaan, which the name of Julalaan (meaning dung relate with the society in which the disobey Allah in the process. ‘alaihi wa salllam, as to whom he should show more denotes what is right, good and beautiful (i.e. showing beetle or scarab) and he did not teach pupils live, with the state of modern Allah says (what means): “But if they (both) strive kindness. The Prophet replied: “Your mother.” He to them kindness, compassion, gratitude, reverence me a single letter of the Qur’an.” knowledge and with the beliefs of with you to make you join in worship with me others asked who comes next and the Prophet again replied: and respect, praying for them and supporting them Turning to the father, ‘Umar said: other people (probably the majority) of which you have no knowledge, then obey them “Your mother.” He asked the Prophet yet again who fi nancially if they are in need.) “You have come to me to complain in the country where the school is not; but behave with them in the world kindly…” comes next. The Prophet replied: “Your mother.” When Concluding, we mention a verse that shows the about the disobedience of your son. located. If Muslim children are to [Qur’an 31:15] the companion asked for the fourth time, only then did signifi cance of obedience and gratitude due to parents: You have failed in your duty to him grow up as witnesses to the truth in the Prophet reply: “Your father.” Allah says (what means): “And We have enjoined upon before he has failed in his duty to you; a non-Muslim society, they need to Being patient and tolerant with parents: man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, you have done wrong to him before he understand that society and to develop The children must take great care not to react Recognising their great status: [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his has wronged you.” an objective and critical approach, to what their parents have to say. If they say or do The Muslim should recognise the status of the weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your so that they can appreciate whatever anything which is not liked or approved of by the parent and know his duties towards them. The status parents; to Me is the [fi nal] destination.” [Qur’an 31:14] Education and bringing up in is good in it, avoid its evils and reach children, then they must show patience and tolerance of parents in Islam is a status which mankind had not Article source: http://www.islamweb.net/ Islam out to the non-Muslims, presenting instead of giving vent to their anger. The children known before. Allah Has placed the respect for the emainpage/ Allah Almighty Says (what means): the truths of Islam in a way they can must scrupulously try to refrain from disobeying their parents just one step below the belief in Allah and true “This day I have perfected for you your understand Islam and relate to it. parents since the Prophet regarded this as one of the worship of Him. religion and completed My favor upon Article source: http://www. grave sins. Allah says (what means): “And your Lord has decreed you and have approved for you Islam islamweb.net/emainpage/ Gulf Times 14 Friday, November 16, 2018 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES N Korea seen as His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Rwandan President Paul Kagame during the off icial reception ceremony at the Amiri Diwan yesterday. reliant as ever on Qatar and Rwanda keen to nuclear arsenal

Amid signs that negotiations between North Korea and the widen bilateral relations US are stalling, analysts say Pyongyang still sees its nuclear arsenal as a key tool in securing its national safety and QNA economic activity and its political mutual interest, as well as the eff orts (ZCZP) programme to understand the winning concessions from international rivals. Doha infl uence. of Qatar in supporting security and deep social complexity of the country in Qatar played a remarkable and stability in the African Union countries. the post-confl ict phase and the depth Just as the United States has doubled down on its infl uential role for decades in Africa, In February, the president of Rwanda of reconciliation required there. sanctions on Pyongyang, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un he current offi cial visit of as it was able, through its political role, met with HE the Deputy Prime Rwanda witnessed one of the most has not retreated from his pledge to expand his operational President of Rwanda and investment authority and relief and Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh bloody ethnic clashes in history, but it force of nuclear bombs and ballistic missiles, increasing his Chairman of the current media entities, to tour the continent Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani was able to rise and stand again to build leverage under any still-elusive denuclearisation deal. Tsession of the African Union, with its economic, investment, on the sidelines of Munich Security a prosperous, hopeful, successful and Paul Kagame, to Doha refl ects the commercial, humanitarian, relief, Conference held in the German city, competitive country at the regional and A US think tank said on Monday it had identifi ed at least Qatari diplomatic activity and its medical, educational and other where they reviewed bilateral relations, global levels. 13 of an estimated 20 active, undeclared missile bases inside constant interaction with various projects. means of boosting and developing It lies in the middle of the African North Korea, underscoring the challenge for American regional and international parties. The Qatari activity in the continent them and a number of issues of mutual continent to the south of the tropical negotiators hoping to persuade Kim to give up his weapons The visit also refl ects the great was culminated by His Highness the interest. circle, within the plateau of lakes. programmes. importance that Qatar attaches to its Amir’s two tours to a number of African In May 2015, Qatar and Rwanda Rwanda is an inland state with no relations with the various countries of countries during the past two years. signed a letter of intent on co-operation coast. As time goes by, North Korea’s likely expansion of its the African continent and its keenness Despite the newness of the relations in combating illicit traffi cking in It is connected to outside world arsenal could force Washington to rethink its insistence on to support and develop them in all between Qatar and Rwanda, they are narcotic drugs and psychotropic through its neighbours, especially full denuclearisation, said Moon Hong-sik, a research fellow sectors. ambitious and promising and show substances on the sidelines of the Qatar through the ports of Dar es Salaam in at the Institute for National Security Strategy in Seoul. The visit comes in the context the determination of the two sides to International Drug Control Forum in Tanzania and Mombasa in Kenya. “This is the choice the United States has to make: whether of a wide and distinguished Qatari strengthen and develop them to serve Doha. It is estimated to have a population of activity at various levels on the African the two countries and the two friendly In March 2012, Qatar Airways 12mn, 83% of whom live in rural areas they keep pursuing the ideal of ‘complete, verifi able, continent in order to serve the common peoples. launched its fl ights to the Rwandan and is expected to drop to 35% by 2020. irreversible denuclearisation,’ or take this dilemma interests of both sides. The diplomatic relations between capital of Kigali, with a daily fl ight. It has succeeded in fi ghting into consideration and make a compromise for limited His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim the two countries date back to May last Qatar Airways Chief Executive corruption and has managed to reduce denuclearisation,” he said. bin Hamad al-Thani met President Paul year, when the signing ceremony for the Offi cer Akbar al-Baker said that extreme poverty. US President Donald Trump met Kim at an unprecedented Kagame at the Amiri Diwan to discuss establishment of these relations took the daily fl ights between Doha and Its healthcare covers 90% of people. bilateral relations, means of boosting place in New York. Kigali are a proof of Qatar Airways’ Rwanda’s economy is one of the summit in Singapore in June where they agreed to “work them and a number of issues of mutual The two sides stressed the desire commitment to strengthening its fastest growing economies throughout toward complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. interest, in addition to reviewing to strengthen and develop friendly presence in Africa in general and East Africa. But with scant sign of progress on negotiations since the areas of co-operation between relations and co-operation in the Africa in particular. The main sectors of economic and recent high-level Qatar and the African Union and their political, economic, trade, scientifi c, This new air link connects this activity include textiles, clothing, meetings cancelled, development aspects. technological and cultural fi elds. mineral-rich country with Qatar and leather, agricultural crops, livestock, “North Korea has The visit and the talks refl ect the They also expressed their confi dence other neighbouring Gulf states and wood and metal industry, tourism, ICT, Trump said last week he’s desire of the two sides to develop that the establishment of diplomatic other cities around the world. trade facilitation and investment. never promised now in “no rush” and still bilateral relations and push them relations will contribute to the With funding from some of Qatari Rwanda attracts tourists from around wants to meet with Kim forward to a broader perspective, development of bilateral co-operation benefactors last year, the Islamic Dawah the world for its natural and wild life. to shut down this for a second time. especially in the economic, trade and and the consolidation of world peace. Organisation has carried out 445 For example, it is home to rare US offi cials have said investment fi elds. In September, the Amir met income-generating projects in Rwanda mountain gorillas. missile base” Qatar pursues an approach the president of Rwanda and his and Burundi, covering agriculture, It has Akagera National Park, one of sanctions forced North of openness, co-operation and accompanying delegation in his trade, small-scale industries, the three nature reserves that attracts Korea to the negotiating table and vowed to keep pressure partnership with various friendly residence in New York City on the livestock breeding, vocational projects tourists and wildlife lovers from around until complete denuclearisation. and brotherly countries and people, sidelines of the 73rd session of the and economic rehabilitation and the world. But North Korea has credited its nuclear and missile foremost among them are the African United Nations General Assembly. empowerment projects for women. The government is moving Rwanda breakthroughs for providing it the standing to meet the countries, to serve national interests During the meeting, they reviewed More than 40,000 people benefi ted from an economy based on low- world’s largest powers. and ambitions, diversify income ways of boosting bilateral relations from these projects. income agriculture to a knowledge- sources and open new horizons for in various fi elds, especially economy, In April 2013, a group of students based economy, encouraging foreign Kim’s own words suggest Pyongyang will continue with Qatari capital and investments to investment and tourism. from the Georgetown University School investment, easing restrictions production and development of the nuclear programme launch promising investment projects The Amir and President Kagame of Foreign Service in Qatar visited on foreign investment, allocating even as it negotiates with Washington on denuclearisation, across the world. also reviewed the most important Rwanda as part of the University’s incentives to foreign investors and experts say. This policy has increased Qatar’s international and regional issues of Zones of Confl ict, Zones of Peace opening up to all sectors. “In the 2018 New Year address, Kim Jong-un called for shifting to full-scale production and deployment of nuclear weapons and missiles,” said Joshua Pollack, a senior research associate at the US-based James Martin Centre for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS). “He’s never said or done anything since then to contradict that.” North Korea has not tested a nuclear bomb or ballistic missile since last year, and has said it has shuttered its main nuclear test site with plans to dismantle several more facilities. North Korea recently warned, however, it could restart its nuclear programme if the United States does not drop its campaign of “maximum pressure” and sanctions. Monday’s report by the Washington, DC-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), sparked media coverage calling it a “great deception” by the North Koreans. But South Korea’s presidential Blue House said without an actual deal to violate, Pyongyang has broken no promises. “North Korea has never promised to shut down this missile base,” Blue House spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said. “It has never signed any agreement, any negotiation that makes shutting down missile bases mandatory...the fact that such a missile base exists shows the necessity for negotiations to be achieved quickly.”

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© 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Gulf Times Friday, November 16, 2018 15 COMMENT Trump’s diminishing power and rising rage

By Jeff rey D Sachs more votes, but Republicans win more to believe that Trump has committed New York seats. serious tax evasion (as the New Without control of the House, York Times recently outlined) and however, Trump will no longer be able has illegally enriched his family as he drama of Donald Trump’s to enact any unpopular legislation. president (a lawsuit that the courts presidency has centred Only policies with bipartisan support have allowed to proceed alleges around whether an extremist will have a chance of passing both violations of the emoluments clause Tpresident would be able to chambers. of the Constitution). Trump is likely carry out an extremist policy agenda On the economic front, Trump’s to ignore or fight the subpoenas, against the will of the majority of trade policies will become even less setting the stage for a major political Americans. So far the answer has been popular in the months ahead as the crisis. no, and the midterm elections make American economy cools from the Third, and most important, Trump is it far less likely. Yet Trump’s rising “sugar high” of the corporate tax not merely an extremist politician. He frustrations could push him over the cut, as growing uncertainty about suff ers from what author Ian Hughes edge psychologically, with potentially global trade policy hamstrings has recently called “a disordered harrowing consequences for American business investment, and as both the mind,” fi lled with hate, paranoia, and democracy and the world. budget defi cit and interest rates rise. narcissism. According to two close None of Trump’s extremist policy Trump’s phony national-security observers of Trump, the president’s ideas has received public support. The justifi cations for raising tariff s will also grip on reality “will likely continue public opposed last year’s Republican- be challenged politically and perhaps to diminish” in the face of growing backed corporate tax cut, Trump’s in the courts. political obstacles, investigations eff ort to repeal the Aff ordable Care Act True, Trump will be able to continue into his taxes and business dealings, (Obamacare), his proposed border wall appointing conservative federal judges Mueller’s fi ndings, and an energised with Mexico, the decision to withdraw and most likely win their confi rmation political opposition. We may already from the Iran nuclear agreement, and in the Republican-majority Senate. be seeing that in Trump’s erratic the imposition of tariff increases on And on issues of war and peace, and aggressive behaviour since the China, Europe, and others. At the same Trump will operate with terrifyingly election. time, contrary to Trump’s relentless little oversight by Congress or the The coming months may be promotion of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and public, an affl iction of the US political especially dangerous for America gas), the public favours investments in system since World War II. Trump, and the world. As Trump’s political renewable energy and remaining in the like his recent predecessors, will position weakens and the obstacles Paris climate agreement. most likely keep America mired in facing him grow, his mental instability Trump has tried to implement President Trump’s disapproval rating has exceeded his approval rating since the earliest days of his administration. wars in the Middle East and Africa, will pose an ever-greater danger. He his radical agenda using three despite the lack of signifi cant public could explode in rage, fi re Mueller, approaches. The fi rst has been to a project strongly opposed by approval from around 25% of the 2016, and 2018), Democratic Senate understanding or support. and perhaps try to launch a war or rely on the Republican majorities in environmentalists, on the grounds public. There has been no sustained candidates outpolled Republican Nonetheless, there are three further claim emergency powers in order to the two houses of Congress to pass that the Trump administration move in Trump’s direction. candidates by roughly 120 million reasons to believe that Trump’s hold restore his authority. We have not yet legislation in the face of strong popular had failed to present a “reasoned In the midterm elections, which to 100 million. Nonetheless, the on power will weaken signifi cantly seen Trump in full fury, but may do opposition. That approach succeeded explanation” for its actions. Trump Trump himself described as a Republicans hold a slight majority in the coming months. First, Special so soon, as his room for manoeuvre once, with the 2017 corporate tax cut, repeatedly and dangerously oversteps referendum on his presidency, the in the Senate, where each state is Counsel Robert Mueller may very well continues to narrow. In that case, because big Republican donors insisted his authority, and the courts keep Democratic candidates for both the represented by two senators, regardless document serious malfeasance by much will depend on the performance on the measure, but it failed with pushing back. House and Senate vastly outpolled of the size of its population, because Trump, his family members, and/or of America’s constitutional order. – Trump’s attempt to repeal Obamacare, Trump’s third tactic has been to rally their Republican opponents. In the they tend to win their seats in less his close advisers. Mueller kept a low Project Syndicate as three Republican senators balked. public opinion to his side. Yet, despite House races, Democrats received populous states, whereas Democrats profi le in the run-up to the election. The second approach has been to his frequent rallies, or perhaps because 53,314,159 votes nationally, compared prevail in the major coastal and We will most likely hear from him zJeff rey D Sachs, professor of use executive orders to circumvent of them and their incendiary vulgarity, with 48,439,810 for Republicans. In Midwestern states. Wyoming, for soon. Sustainable Development and Professor Congress. Here the courts have Trump’s disapproval rating has the Senate races, Democrats outpolled example, elects two Republican Second, the House Democrats will of Health Policy and Management at repeatedly intervened, most recently exceeded his approval rating since the Republicans by 47,537,699 votes to senators to represent its nearly begin to investigate Trump’s taxes Columbia University, is Director of within days of the election, when earliest days of his administration. His 34,280,990. 580,000 residents, while California’s and personal business dealings, Columbia’s Center for Sustainable a federal district court halted current overall disapproval rating is Summing up votes by party for the more than 39mn residents elect two including through congressional Development and the UN Sustainable work on the Keystone XL Pipeline, 54%, versus 40% approval, with strong three recent election cycles (2014, Democratic senators. Democrats win subpoenas. There are strong reasons Development Solutions Network.

Broad gun-control curbs are not the answer Three-day forecast

TODAY removed from the context commonly population. On the other hand, actions, to be a heightened risk of Maximum Temperature : 330c By Amy Swearer Minimum Temperature : 260c The Heritage Foundation associated with the term. Since Washington state – with a “B” rating violence to themselves or others. It January 1, 2018, there have been 11 – accounts for 2.2% of the population does mean, however, that rational SATURDAY mass public shootings in which three but 8% of mass public shootings since gun policies should not demonise Maximum Temperature : 290c he script is well known by or more people other than the shooter 2000. particular types of fi rearms rarely used Minimum Temperature : 230c now: A mass public shooting were killed, parameters derived from More importantly, the general by criminals but commonly used by SUNDAY occurs in the US. Grief and Congress’s defi nitions of “mass availability of guns doesn’t appear millions of law-abiding citizens for a Maximum Temperature : 270c Tanger ensue. Calls for stricter shooting” and “mass killing.” to be the problem. Since 1990, the variety of lawful reasons – including Minimum Temperature : 210c These 11 mass public shootings number of fi rearms per capita in self-defence. gun laws soon follow. Fisherman's forecast Given how incredibly upsetting occurred across 7 diff erent states, the United States has increased by We do not eff ectively combat gun these crimes are, and how deeply they but three occurred in California, the 50%. At the same time, however, the violence by broadly restricting the WARNING national homicide rate and national rights of law-abiding citizens, thereby Inshore : Nil shake their communities – and the only state with an “A” rating from Offshore : Expected thundery rain nation itself – such calls are perfectly the Giff ords Law Centre to Prevent gun-homicide rate have plummeted hindering their ability to defend at places/strong wind understandable. If one is truly serious, Gun Violence. Two more occurred by 50%, and the number of non-fatal themselves and others from violence. and high sea. however, about reducing gun violence in Maryland, with an “A-” rating. fi rearm crimes committed in 2011 was Rather, we must focus more intently WEATHER Inshore : Scattered clouds to rates and increasing personal safety, Another two occurred in Pennsylvania, one-sixth the number committed in on the major underlying causes of partly cloudy with a one must ensure that policy decisions whose “C” rating still accounts for the 1993. On the whole, the increasing the gun violence: untreated mental chance of scattered are made with an eye toward facts and 13th strictest gun-control framework availability of fi rearms has not been health problems that increase the risk rain at places at times, moderate temperature reality, not panic and outrage. in the country. related to increases in violent crime. of suicide and interpersonal violence, by night. The facts say that most commonly Strict gun control may be the go-to Mass public shootings rightly terrify gang and drug activity that drive illegal Offshore : cloudy with chance of proposed gun-control measures are response of many, but it’s simply not us, but they remain statistically very black market fi rearm transfers, and scattered rain at places. WIND already ineff ective at preventing mass the answer to the problem of mass rare. The same is true of fi rearm deaths the lack of economic and educational Inshore : Southeasterly-North- public shootings in states where they public shootings. In fact, since 2000, related to the use of semi-automatic opportunities that lead to cycles of westerly 05-15 KT. are currently implemented, and that 17% of mass public shootings have “assault weapons.” You are, in fact, poverty and crime. Offshrore : Southeasterly- Northeasterly 12-22 KT, they will continue to be ineff ective at occurred in California, even though three times more likely to be beaten We must also increase the ability of gusting to 35 KT preventing future tragedies. the state accounts for only 12% of the to death with hands and feet than you law-abiding citizens to choose where Although some gun-control nation’s population. are to be shot to death with a rifl e of and how and with what means to best Visibility : 4-8 KM advocates claim there have been more Texas, meanwhile, has an “F” gun any kind. defend themselves and their families Offshore : 4-7/13 FT from criminals who do not care to than 300 “mass shootings” this year, control rating, yet has seen only 6.6% That does not mean we should Around the region that number is a product of using of total mass public shootings since not continue to fi nd ways to remove follow laws generally, and gun control Weather deceptive and largely meaningless 2000 – below its expected share, given fi rearms from the hands of individuals laws in particular. – Tribune News Weather tomorrow Max/min defi nitions that include incidents far that it holds 8.6% of the national who show themselves, by their Service today Max/min Baghdad S Showers 21/13 P Cloudy 22/12 Kuwait CityM Sunny 25/17 Sunny 24/16 Manama P Cloudy 29/24 P Cloudy 28/22 Muscat M Sunny 29/23 M Sunny 29/26 Live issues Tehran Rain 11/07 Sunny 17/07 Stricter laws reduce child deaths from gunshot wounds

By Rob Goodier strongest laws had a rate of 2.56 per check laws for buyers of guns or Reuters Health 100,000. ammunition, researchers found. Furthermore, states with no Child In the 12 states with universal Access Prevention laws experienced background check laws, 3.8 children wice as many US children four times as many children’s suicides per 100,000 died of gunshot wounds, die from gunshot wounds by guns: 0.63 per 100,000 children in compared to 5.7 in the rest of the in states with lax gun laws, states with CAP laws and safe storage country. And in the fi ve states with Tcompared to those with or gun lock laws, compared to 2.57 per ammunition background checks, 2.3 Around the world stricter rules, researchers told the 100,000 in other states. children died per 100,000 compared Weather Weather annual conference of the American “Currently, only 27 states in the to 5.6 in the rest of the country. today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Academy of Paediatrics in Orlando, US have any form of Child Access Only two states had fi rearm Athens Cloudy 14/11 Rain 14/12 Florida. Protection laws. Passing Child Access identifi cation laws. The diff erence in Beirut Rain 20/16 Sunny 21/16 “We found that stricter gun laws Prevention laws in the remaining 23 their mortality rates compared to the Bangkok I T Storms 33/27 P Cloudy 33/27 on the state level did result in fewer states would be a great starting point rest of the country was not statistically Berlin Sunny 07/0 M Sunny 06/-3 children dying from guns,” said Dr with 2014 Child Access Prevention for using research like this,” Chao said. signifi cant. Cairo P Cloudy 23/14 Sunny 26/13 Stephanie Chao, a paediatric surgeon (CAP) laws, as indexed by the Giff ords Background check laws also The research is consistent with Cape Town P Cloudy 19/14 Cloudy 19/13 at Stanford School of Medicine in Law Centre. CAP laws make adults drastically reduce child gun deaths, the Stanford team’s fi ndings and Colombo S T Storms 29/23 M Cloudy 30/24 California, who presented her team’s legally liable for allowing children according to a separate team of with studies Children’s National Dhaka Sunny 32/22 Sunny 32/20 results on November 5. access to guns. researchers from Children’s National presented in 2017, said Dr Shilpa Patel, Hong Kong S Showers 23/21 Cloudy 23/19 “We also found the presence of Overall, about 2,715 children Health System in Washington, DC, a co-author of the new study and an Istanbul Showers 11/08 Cloudy 12/10 Child Access Prevention laws has a died from gun injuries each year. who presented their fi ndings at the assistant professor of paediatric and Jakarta S T Storms 34/26 T Storm 33/26 very dramatic eff ect on paediatric These deaths include 62% deemed conference on November 2. emergency medicine at Children’s Karachi M Sunny 32/21 Sunny 33/21 suicide fatalities,” Chao, who is also homicides and just over 31% suicides. They performed a similar analysis National. London P Cloudy 13/06 Sunny 12/06 medical director of trauma care at After adjusting for factors that could of the CDC’s data on children who Patel suggests that physicians have Manila P Cloudy 33/24 P Cloudy 33/25 Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, infl uence the risk of gun death, such died by gunshot, cross-referencing a role in preventing children’s death by Moscow Sunny 02/-6 Cloudy 02/-1 told Reuters Health. as family poverty, unemployment statistics for 2015 with state Brady fi rearms. New Delhi Fog 27/14 Fog 27/14 The Stanford researchers examined and substance abuse, the researchers scores, and looked at three types “It is important for clinicians to New York Rain 08/03 M Sunny 09/03 fi rearm injury statistics for 2014-2015 still found a strong link between the of laws in particular: universal screen for paediatric patients’ access Paris P Cloudy 14/02 Sunny 11/02 recorded in the Centers for Disease strength of gun laws and children’s background checks for gun buyers, to fi rearms and to counsel parents Sao Paulo Cloudy 22/16 P Cloudy 27/19 Control and Prevention’s web-based risk of death. background checks for ammunition and families on safe fi rearm storage. Seoul P Cloudy 12/-3 M Cloudy 11/-1 injury reporting system. They cross- Broken down by Brady scores, states buyers and requiring fi rearm Additionally, parents always should Singapore T Storm 30/26 S T Storms 31/26 referenced the data with each state’s with the weakest laws had 5 child identifi cation before purchase. ask about fi rearms and their storage Sydney Cloudy 20/15 Showers 19/16 2014 Brady score, a numeric rating of deaths by gunshot wound per 100,000 Fewer children were killed by prior to sending their children to other Tokyo Clear 18/10 Cloudy 14/10 the strictness of a state’s gun laws, and population while states with the gunshot in states with background homes for play dates,” she said. Gulf Times 16 Friday, November 16, 2018 QATAR

QTerminals receives cow-cargo

QTerminals’ General Cargo Terminal has handled 2,184 heads of cattle brought from the US on board the vessel MV Gelbray Express, the terminal operating company tweeted yesterday. “QTerminals is proud to play its part in supporting Qatar’s dairy and food industry, ensuring a stable supply of fresh milk to the local community,” it added.

Preparations in full swing for ‘Syria Matters’ exhibition

reparations are almost wooden interior decoration from century CE (Collection of Sheikh complete for the ‘Syria a private Damascus house. Saoud bin Muhammad Founda- PMatters’ exhibition, organ- Some of these pieces are im- tion) ised by the Museum of Islamic portant loans from the various „Paintings from QM’s Orien- Art (MIA) in Doha as part of its Qatar Museums collections, no- talist Collection including “The 10-year anniversary celebra- tably the Orientalist Museum, as Great Caravan at Palmyra” circa tions. well from the Qatar National Li- 1785, Louis-François Cassas The exhibition, a fi rst of its brary, the Sheikh Faisal Bin Qas- (1756-1827) and “Damascus”, kind in the region, is due to open sim Museum and other private circa 1860 by Edward Lear (1812- to the public on November 22, it collections. 1888) was announced yesterday. They are presently being in- „The so-called Cavour Vase, Co-curated by Dr Julia Gon- stalled at the museum. which is the most spectacular nella, director of MIA and Rania They are complemented by rare example of a very small group Abdellatif, the exhibition fea- treasures from the Hermitage in of richly decorated cobalt blue tures more than 100 iconic pieces St Petersburg, the Louvre in Paris, and purple enamelled and gilded including Syrian pre-Islamic ar- Berlin’s Museum of Ancient Near glass vessels made in Syria or tefacts, Orientalist paintings and Eastern Art the Berlin State Library, Egypt in the late 13th century CE photographs, as well as precious the British Library and the Türk ve (MIA Collection) works of Islamic art from Syria’s Eserleri Müzesi in Istanbul. Syria Matters installations in progress. „A precious gilded blue fl ask rich history: early Qur’ans, medi- As part of QM’s pledge to safe- made in the mid-12th century CE eval manuscripts, glass, ceram- guard Syria’s unique cultural as Damascus but also Palmyra signed immersive fi lm experience „ A bird of prey, sculpted in ba- BCE (Museum of Ancient Near in or near what is today the Syr- ics, textiles and colourful tiles. legacy, visitors will be able to and the citadel of Aleppo, which by the French company Iconem. salt, from the archaeological site Eastern Art, Berlin) ian city of Raqqa, situated on the It will also show newly con- encounter some of Syria’s most has seen so much suff ering dur- Some of the most important of Tell Halaf in Northern Syria, „A Palmyra relief with a camel, Euphrates in the north-east of served elements of a former iconic World Heritage sites, such ing the war, in a specially de- pieces on display include: dating from the early 9th century dating from the fi rst half of 3rd the country (MIA Collection).