BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Al Sadd hope to breach Persepolis QR2.73bn Qamco defence in IPO to hit market on October 30 Tehran published in QATAR since 1978

TUESDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 10980 October 23, 2018 Safar 14, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Deputy PM meets French minister 3,362 students to In brief

QATAR | Offi cial graduate from Amir congratulates Cameroon president His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani have QU next month sent cables of congratulations to Cameroon President Paul Biya on s many as 3,362 students are to from QU. The meet the current and future needs of his re-election to a new presidential graduate from Qatar University new strategy the country’s labour market. term. Page 9 A(QU) at ceremonies scheduled emphasises Dr Khalid al-Khanji, QU vice pres- for next month, it was announced yes- on elevating ident for Student Affairs, said: “I ex- QATAR | Tourism terday. students’ ex- tend my appreciation and gratitude Under the patronage of His High- periences by to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Qatar is the most open ness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- placing QU as Hamad al-Thani, the Amir of Qatar, destination in Mideast mad al-Thani, QU will hold the male a pioneer and for his continuous support for Qatar The tourism sector in Qatar has students’ graduation ceremony, Class a leading edu- University and for education in gen- achieved remarkable growth of 2018, on November 11. cational insti- eral.” following the activation of the The distinguished female students’ tution in the “The graduation of the 41st batch National Tourism Sector Strategy ceremony is on November 12 under the higher edu- of students comes after years of 2017-2023, Acting Chairman of Qatar patronage of Her Highness Sheikha cation sector dedication and hard work during Tourism Authority (QTA), Hassan Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim al- in Qatar and Dr Khalid al-Khanji which QU has accomplished many al-Ibrahim, said. In an interview with Thani, wife of the Amir. abroad. QU is achievements in regional and inter- Al-Watan newspaper, al-Ibrahim The graduation ceremony for the committed to providing high-quality national university rankings. The added that Qatar has advanced its female students of each college will be education in areas of national priority. university has also been successful position to become the most open held on November 13-15. All ceremo- The strategy aims to facilitate and in its accreditation initiatives, earn- tourist destination in the Middle East HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin nies will be held in the new Sports & encourage the Qatari nationals to en- ing the endorsement of numerous region and to occupy eighth place in Mohamed al-Attiyah has met with French Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Events Complex at QU. ter the university and graduate with leading international accrediting the world. It is now among the three Parly at the French Defence Ministry headquarters in Paris. The meeting discussed This year, the graduates comprise high educational degrees. Further- bodies for its colleges and academic best areas in terms of maritime the bilateral relations in defence and ways to strengthen them, as well as the latest 2,562 females and 800 male from fall more, QU works to increase the fl ex- programmes. Additionally, QU has tourism worldwide, he said. Page 2 developments in the region. The meeting was attended by Qatar’s ambassador 2017, winter 2018, spring 2018 and ibility of educational opportunities, notched up a number of ISO certifi- to France Sheikh Ali bin Jassim al-Thani and the Qatari military attache in France summer 2018 from all colleges. This is providing programmes for under- cations for its research labs and man- AMERICA | Politics Brigadier General Mohamed Mubarak al-Shahwani. Page 2 the 41st batch of students to graduate graduate and graduate students that agement systems,” he added. Trump heads to Texas to give boost to Cruz Donald Trump headed to Texas to give a shot in the arm to the Senate campaign of Ted Cruz, his final rival Saudi journalist’s killing for the Republican presidential Turkey says Khashoggi nomination in 2016. Trump infamously insulted the looks of ‘a wake-up call’: Qatar Cruz’s wife Heidi, vaguely suggested Cruz’s father had played a role in murder ‘savagely planned’ John F Kennedy’s assassination and AFP tagged him with the nickname “Lyin’ London Ted.” The 47-year-old junior senator O Trump ‘not satisfied’ tributor, died inside the consulate. because I have a great group of people from Texas fired off insults of his with Riyadh’s explanation Omer Celik, spokesman for Turkish in Turkey right now and a great group own, calling Trump a “pathological President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s rul- of people in Saudi Arabia,” Trump he murder of Jamal Khashoggi liar” and “utterly amoral.” Page 10 O Saudis ‘brought ing party, said the killing “was planned said. “And I am not satisfi ed with what should act as a wake-up call, Khashoggi body double’ in an extremely savage manner”. It was I have heard.” THE the Spokesperson for the LATIN AMERICA | Migrants the fi rst offi cial indication that Ankara Trump said he spoke to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Aff airs, HE Lolwah US to cut aid to Agencies believes a murder plan was co-ordi- crown prince, who also held a meeting AlKhater said yesterday. Istanbul/Washington nated in advance. with Steven Mnuchin, the US treasury She was speaking at Chatham House, Central America “We are faced with a situation secretary, yesterday. the Royal Institute for International President Donald Trump said where there has been a lot of eff ort to In another development, newly Aff airs think-tank in London. yesterday the United States will start urkey yesterday said the murder whitewash this,” he added. leaked surveillance footage appears to Qatar has faith in the Turkish probe cutting aid to Guatemala, Honduras of journalist Jamal Khashoggi Upping the pressure on Riyadh, Er- show a man walking around Istanbul into the death of Washington Post con- HE Lolwah AlKhater and El Salvador as a caravan of Tinside the Saudi consulate in Is- dogan has vowed to reveal the “naked wearing Khashoggi’s clothes after his tributor Khashoggi inside the Saudi thousands of mostly Honduran tanbul was “savagely planned”, vowing truth” today about the Khashoggi murder. consulate in Istanbul, she said. nalist.” She was addressing a discus- migrants rolled on regardless nothing would remain secret in a case case. CNN aired the footage yesterday, Asked about the state of relations sion entitled “Qatar’s foreign policy: toward the US border. The United that has severely tarnished the image Asked if he believed the Saudis were citing a Turkish offi cial as describ- between Doha and Saudi Arabia in light balancing new alliances in a contested Nations said more than 7,000 of powerful Crown Prince Mohamed telling the truth about the circum- ing the man as a “body double” and a of Khashoggi’s death, AlKhater said: “I region”. people were now heading toward bin Salman. stances surrounding the 59-year-old member of a 15-man Saudi team sent don’t think anything has changed dra- Saudi Arabia has led a four-nation the United States, as more migrants On the same day, US President Don- journalist’s death three weeks ago, to Istanbul to target the writer. He was matically. We’re just hoping that there blockade against Qatar since June 2017, joined the original group, including ald Trump said he was “not satisfi ed” Trump told reporters at the White identifi ed as Mustafa al-Madani. (with is a wake-up call for everyone.” accusing Doha of supporting terrorism some Central Americans who were with Riyadh’s explanation of how House: “We will know very soon.” input from Al Jazeera) “And of course, our condolences go and being too close to Iran - charges already in Mexico. Page 19 Khashoggi, a Washington Post con- “I am going to know very shortly Page 16 to the family and friends of the jour- Qatar vehemently denies. To Page 16 SC’s fi rst home-grown turf planted around Al Bayt Stadium

he fi rst instalments of grass manager, said: “This is a very exciting Umm Slal Mohamed area north of grown at the Supreme Commit- time for us as we prepare to plant the Doha, and contains more than 16,000 Ttee for Delivery & Legacy’s (SC) turf on the fi rst pitch of one of the new trees and 679,000 shrubs. It boasts ground-breaking Turf Nursery have stadiums for 2022. The grass surround- 60 diff erent types of trees and shrubs, been planted around Al Bayt Stadium – ing Al Wakrah and Al Rayyan stadiums originating from Qatar, Thailand and Al Khor City. will follow closely next November.” Spain, making it one of the largest and The nursery – built to provide turf Al-Mulla added: “The grass is fi rst most diverse nurseries in the region, and trees for 2022 FIFA World Cup ven- planted on what we call a motherland, and the biggest landscape turf farm in ues – is the fi rst of its kind in the region, which is the term used to describe the the world. and forms part of the SC’s commitment land that was selected and tested to Another unique aspect of the project to ensuring the tournament leaves a plant the turf and measure its suitabil- is that its irrigation system uses recy- lasting sustainable and environmental ity in the atmosphere and weather con- cled water fed from the nearby Doha legacy for Qatar. ditions in Qatar. North Sewage Treatment Works Plant, More than 350,000sq m of grass is be- “First, we planted an area of helping ensure that this is a sustain- ing transported and transplanted from 22,000sq m and, upon the success- able project in every aspect. the nursery to the area surrounding Al ful testing, this was increased to After the tournament, the facil- Bayt Stadium, a proposed 60,000 ca- 423,000sq m, cultivated with the ity will continue to benefi t the com- pacity semi-fi nal venue, in an intricate same turf. It was harvested three times munity by transforming into a public process that will conclude in 2019. The per year with the total amount being park, further contributing to the SC’s seeds were originally imported from the 1,200,000sq m.” eff orts to ensure the 2022 FIFA World US and later harvested in Qatar. The SC nursery spans an area of Cup leaves a lasting environmental Yasser al-Mulla, the SC’s Landscape more than 880,000sq m, equal to the and social legacy to benefi t genera- More than 350,000sq m of grass is being transported and transplanted from the nursery to the area surrounding Al Bayt and Sport Turf Management senior size of Aspire Park. It’s located in the tions to come. Stadium, a proposed 60,000 capacity semi-final venue of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, October 23, 2018 QATAR

OFFICIAL Qatar, France discuss defence ties Amir issues decision setting up air accident

investigation unit Amir issues instruments QNA force of law in line with Article Doha 68 of the constitution. of ratification The decree is eff ective start- ing from its date of issue and is His Highness the Amir Sheikh is Highness the Amir to be published in the offi cial Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani issued Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- gazette. the following instruments of Hmad al-Thani yester- z His Highness the Amir ratification yesterday: day issued the Amiri decision issued Law No 15 of 2018, 1. Instrument of ratification No 67 of 2018, establishing civil amending some provisions of approving a draft memorandum aircraft accident and incident the Law No 15 of 2002 on civil of understanding for co- investigation unit. aviation. operation in the tourism field The decision is eff ective The law is eff ective from the between the governments of from the following day to its following day to its publication Qatar and India signed in Doha publication in the offi cial ga- in the offi cial gazette. on 5/6/2016. zette. z The Amir issued the Amiri 2. Instrument of ratification zHis Highness the Amir is- decision No 66 of 2018 on the approving a draft agreement HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah has met with French Minister sued Decree No 53 of 2018 rati- reorganisation of the Civil Avi- on the avoidance of double of the Armed Forces Florence Parly at the French Defence Ministry headquarters in Paris. The meeting discussed the bilateral fying an air services agreement ation Authority. taxation and the prevention of relations in defence and ways to strengthen them, as well as the latest developments in the region. The meeting was attended by between the governments of The decision is eff ective financial evasion with respect Qatar’s ambassador to France Sheikh Ali bin Jassim al-Thani and the Qatari military attache in France Brigadier General Mohamed Qatar and Nicaragua, signed from the following day to its to taxes on income between Mubarak al-Shahwani. in Montreal on November 28, publication in the offi cial ga- the governments of Qatar and 2017. The decree will have the zette. Ukraine (the Council of Ministers) and the attached draft protocol to it signed in Doha on 20/3/2018. 3. Instrument of ratification approving a draft agreement on Chief of Staff meets US analysts cultural co-operation between the governments of Qatar and Panama signed in Doha on 10/4/2018. 4. Instrument of ratification Multicultural approving a co-operation agreement in the education field between the governments of Qatar and Panama signed in Doha on 9/4/2018. 5. Instrument of ratification society ‘a huge approving a memorandum of understanding for the preparation, training and qualification of human cadres for work in airlines, airports and airports between the Qatar asset’ for Qatari Aeronautical College in Qatar and the Mohammed VI International Academy of Civil Aviation in the Kingdom of Morocco signed in entrepreneurs Rabat on 12/3/2018. NHRC chief meets HE the Chief of Staff of the Qatari Armed Forces Lieutenant-General (Pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen Austrian envoy, By Joey Aguilar more than half far away from al-Ghanem met a group of researchers and analysts from the American academic research centres, Staff Reporter Qatar, and the UK with $42,513, currently visiting Qatar. During the meeting, they exchanged views and proposals on a number of UN off icial according to Peralampi. issues of common concern. Asked on how to take advan- HE the Chairman of the National atari entrepreneurs tage of this parity, he said it ena- Human Rights Committee (NHRC) stand to benefi t from the bles Qatari entrepreneurs to sell Dr Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri met the Qcountry’s multicultural both luxury and regular items Austrian ambassador to Qatar population and the Riyal’s high with the presence of numerous Willi Kemble, and discussed with purchasing power, which is the potential buyers, depending on him ways of co-operation and highest in the world, according what products or services are Over 20,000 people vaccinated exchange of experience in the to Juha Peralampi, lecturer and being off ered. field of human rights. manager of Business Incubator “You need to be creative about The NHRC chairman also met the at Qatar University’s (QU) Col- Juha Peralampi. your products and your market- Director of the UN human rights lege of Business and Economics. ing eff orts, the money is there against fl u within a week training and documentation “Qatar is in a very unique po- in the last 15 years. whether we are talking about centre for South-West Asia sition because we are so inter- “Now is the time to start in customers or about public or- and the Arab region in Doha, national and multicultural, and manufacturing and producing ganisations funding your start- QNA Abdulsalam Sayed Ahmed. that is a huge asset,” Peralampi services and products that we ups,” he added. Doha During the meeting, Dr al- told Gulf Times in a forum. can actually sell abroad,” Per- About the impact of the Marri stressed the keenness He said tapping on several na- alampi said. “We need organic blockade on Qatar, the Business of the National Human Rights tionalities in the country gives and synthetic growth, luring and Incubator manager stressed that he Ministry of Public Committee to continue co- entrepreneurs a big edge “for capitalising on the potential we it did trigger Qatari entrepre- Health (MoPH) has called operation and exchange of internationalisation and globali- already have in the country.” neurs to expand their operations Ton all citizens and resi- experiences with the centre in sation” by building competen- “The starting point for Qatar locally, regionally and globally. dents aged 6 months and older order to promote the spread of cies such as management and is very unique. We have by far He cited the huge potential of and people who are most vul- human rights culture. linguistic skills, among others. the highest purchasing power in Qatari entrepreneurs to become nerable to complications of in- He also praised the fruitful co- Expatriates, Peralampi not- the whole world, so basically the successful internationally, go- fl uenza to receive seasonal fl u operation between the two sides ed, consist of 85% of Qatar’s money that comes into account, ing beyond the GCC and push- vaccine. during the past period. population – an opportunity to no taxes, we can use and utilise it ing them to look at bigger mar- In this regard, the Ministry The UN Human Rights Training validate ideas and products by the way we want it,” he pointed kets such as Turkey and Europe, recommended that people with Centre was established in Doha speaking to people from diff er- out among others. chronic diseases such as diabe- The vaccination campaign launched in co-operation with Hamad in 2009, and it is a regional ent countries. Purchasing power par- Peralampi also lauded the ef- tes, asthma, heart and lung dis- Medical Corporation and the Primary Health Care Corporation under centre of the Off ice of the United He added that New York, ity shows that Luxemburg is forts of Qatar Tourism Authority ease, kidney disease, spleen the slogan “Stop the Flu”, will continue until next April. Nations High Commissioner for Australia and some of the Euro- at number two with a GDP per for giving visa-free entry to 80 and cancer patients, the elderly Human Rights, concerned with pean cities “are not as interna- capita of $101,936, which is way nationalities, saying such move (over the age of 65), children be- in co-operation with Hamad the complications resulting training, documentation and tional as Qatar,” which has seen behind Qatar’s $129,726. has been benefi ting entrepre- tween the ages of 6 months and Medical Corporation and the from influenza, especially in dissemination of human rights a rapidly increasing population The US is third with $57,293, neurs in Qatar. fi ve years, pregnant women and Primary Health Care Cor- populations with high risk culture in the Arab region and health workers should get vac- poration under the slogan factors. South-West Asia. cinated “Stop the Flu”. The cam- The ministry added that The importance of the centre Foreign ministry off icial meets Australian envoy The ministry said that paign will continue until vaccination is available free lies in the fact that the decision 20,879 people from all age next April. of charge to all citizens and to establish it was issued by HE the Secretary-General of the Foreign Ministry During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations groups were vaccinated for The ministry also stressed residents at all Primary the General Assembly of the Dr Ahmed bin Hassan al-Hammadi met Australia’s between the two countries, ways of boosting and seasonal flu until Sunday, a the importance of the initia- Health Care Centres, as well United Nations, and the centre is ambassador to Qatar Dr Axel Wabenhorst in Doha enhancing prospects for co-operation and matters of week since the joint vacci- tive to receive seasonal influ- as in 48 hospitals and private providing periodic reports on its yesterday. common concern. nation campaign launched enza vaccine to help prevent clinics. activities to the General Assembly every two years for discussion and approval of its budget. The idea of the establishment of the UN human rights training and documentation centre for South-West Asia and the Arab Qatar is the ‘most open tourist destination’ in Mideast region was highlighted at the 12th Asia regional meeting on the promotion and protection QNA wishing to stop in Qatar by 40%, in ad- fi ces in China, Russia and India, which number of tourists will reach 140,000, of human rights, held in Qatar in Doha dition to creating new tourism models. represent more than a quarter of the a record high of more than 155% com- March, 2004. Qatar, he pointed out, is among the world’s population, he said, adding that pared with last season. few countries that applied electronic opening of these representative offi ces It is expected that it will reach Qatar to attend he tourism sector in Qatar has visa to all countries. has resulted in an increase in the number 200,000 visitors in the 2019 season, he achieved remarkable growth He stressed that Qatar has made these of visitors from these countries to Qatar said. Alesco meeting Tfollowing the activation of the achievements during a relatively short during the third quarter of this year. By 2021-2022, QTA aims to receive National Tourism Sector Strategy period of time, especially in light of the He described the maritime tourism 300,000 tourists, al-Ibrahim pointed Qatar will participate in the 2017-2023, Acting Chairman of Qatar continuing unjust siege on the coun- sector as an integral part owing to Qa- out. high-level meeting on progress Tourism Authority (QTA), Hassan al- try, and that this has been possible be- tar’s geographical position in the heart Qatar, he noted, has become one of in the implementation of the Ibrahim said cause of the directives of His Highness of the Arabian Gulf. the most attractive destinations for fourth objective of sustainable In an interview with Al-Watan news- the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al- This sector is one of the most im- business tourism, conferences and ex- development goals 2030, which paper, al-Ibrahim added that Qatar has Thani. He stressed that the siege was a portant factors in developing tourism hibitions, which are witnessing a re- is being organised by the Arab advanced its position to become the catalyst and has resulted in accelerating companies in preparation for the 2022 markable rise especially in the Indian League Educational, Cultural most open tourist destination in the the development of the tourism sector. World Cup in Qatar, he said, citing the and Chinese markets. and Scientific Organisation Middle East region and to occupy eighth Al-Ibrahim added that tourism sec- use of some cruise ships to accommo- He stressed that the sport tour- (Alesco) in Tunisia on October place in the world. tor’s contribution to the national econ- date some of the fans during the event. ism is very important within the sec- 23 and 24. It is now among the three best areas in omy is 6.7%, and the QTA is working on QTA acting chairman pointed out tor, stressing Qatar’s ability to organise Qatar’s delegation is headed by terms of maritime tourism worldwide, increasing this percentage in the com- that maritime tourism has achieved a sports events in a distinctive way. Undersecretary of the Ministry of he said, attributing this achievement ing years. He said the participation of phenomenal growth as the number of He pointed out that the QTA is work- Education and Higher Education to the new visa policy which allows na- the private sector in tourism develop- visitors arriving by cruise ships has in- ing to make Qatar a global sports capital Dr Ibrahim bin Saleh al-Nuaimi. tionals of some 88 countries to enter ment would be expanded, adding that creased. and not just for events. The participants will discuss Qatar visa-free and free-of-charge, and a private company is setting up a “snow During the 2017-2018 season, there It has focused on amateur and non- a number of common topics also to the free transit visa that is valid city” in Qatar. were 22 cruises, and Qatar received more professional world championships, such for the implementation of the for up to 96 hours. Al-Ibrahim pointed out that the QTA Acting Chairman of Qatar Tourism than 65,000 visitors, a growth rate of as Ooredoo Marathon, the Desert Mara- fourth goal, ways to accelerate He explained that the “+Qatar” cam- has launched 13 representative offi ces in Authority Hassan al-Ibrahim 39% from the previous season, he said, thon and mind sports. Qatar has become progress, and exchange of paign has promoted Qatar as a transit the target markets, including the major adding that estimates indicate that dur- one of the most important countries in advice, ideas and practices to destination and increased passengers tourist markets in the world. Last year, it opened representative of- ing the current 2018-2019 season the attracting mind and recreational sports. achieve it.

Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, October 23, 2018 QATAR

Suzuki GSX-R1000 models of 2017- 2018 recalled

The Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC), in collaboration Qatar Airways partners with with Teyseer Motors, has announced the recall of Suzuki GSX-R1000 models of 2017-2018 because the O-ring on the fuel pump may have been twisted during the fuel pump installation process. MoI to combat cyber fraud The MEC said the recall campaign comes within the National carrier in “Qatar Airways is pleased to their security vulnerable. this regard. We urge all Internet tion’s aim was to protect trav- to create a centre of excellence framework of its ongoing eff orts partnership with the partner with Qatar’s Ministry “With upgrading electronic users to double-check the offi - ellers from all types of frauds, and good-practice platform to to protect consumers and Ministry of Interior leads of Interior in this major com- systems in diff erent organisa- cial website address accurately, through equipping employees help Interpol member countries ensure that dealers follow up on community awareness munity service initiative to raise tions and institutions thanks to as well as the offi cial applica- with the latest updates about plan and undertake security and motorcycle defects and repair campaign to prevent credit awareness of how people can sophisticated IT infrastructure, tion of the airline when book- how to be fully protected from cyber security preparations for them. card fraud remain cyber-safe. As an air- fraudsters have turned their at- ing tickets. We also urge users cybercrimes, as well as upgrad- major sporting events. The MEC said it will co-ordinate line, security is one of our high- tention to users to attempt to to check terms and conditions ing the security precautions The nation also hosts an- with the dealer to follow up on atar Airways has joined est priorities, and this includes penetrate their accounts and of service. implemented by law enforc- nual regional cyber security the maintenance and repair Qatar’s Ministry of In- cyber security. By working with information, including fi nan- “For example when using a ers in detecting fraudsters and drills through Q-CERT (Qa- works and will communicate with Qterior (MoI) in leading a local government, international cial information, credit card credit card to book a ticket on- scammers. Many travellers may tar Computer Emergency Re- customers to ensure that the national consumer awareness law enforcement agencies and and personal information. This line, the same credit card may become victims of cybercrimes sponse Team) that works with necessary repairs are carried out. campaign aimed at develop- fi nancial services providers, we has led us to direct more atten- be asked for at some airports, so by visiting random websites to government agencies, private The MEC has urged all ing enhanced security and pro- aim to help prevent fraud be- tion to Internet frauds, and has not having the card at the time book tickets, but later they re- and public sector organisations customers to report any tection strategies designed to fore it occurs, thereby protect- encouraged us to fi nd new ways of check-in may result in delays. alise that the website is a scam and Qatar’s citizens to ensure violations to its Consumer combat cyber fraud. ing consumers and business’s to fi ght this phenomena and to Airlines are always keen to check and their credit card details that online threats are moni- Protection and Anti-Commercial The country’s national fl ag hard-earned resources.” inform users about the dangers on the validity of information, have been stolen.” tored and risks are contained. Fraud Department. carrier has partnered with the Lieutenant Colonel Ali Has- on the horizons.” with the aim of fi ghting frauds “Hundreds of global or- Q-CERT is a member of ‘FIRST’, MoI to raise community aware- san al-Kubaisi, assistant di- Lt Col al-Kubaisi applauded and protecting passengers.” ganisations participated in the the global forum of incident re- ness of ways to combat the rector, Criminal Investigation the partnership and praised Mudawi Saeed al-Qahtani, awareness campaign, alongside sponse and security teams. Indian embassy growing threat to consumers Department (CID) at Qatar’s the ongoing co-operation be- head, Economic and Electronic a host of international airports, Qatar Airways actively par- and businesses. The national Ministry of Interior and former tween MoI and Qatar Airways Crimes Section at the Crimi- airlines, credit card providers ticipates in these national ini- community house campaign will provide consum- head, Economic Crimes Preven- Group, saying that both play nal Investigation Department, and law enforcers, under the tiatives, having developed its on Thursday ers with information, strategies tion Section said, “The Ministry a vital role in developing se- said the eff orts of Qatar Airways supervision of Interpol and the own robust IT security capa- and resources to raise awareness of Interior exerts every eff ort to curity systems and awareness Group in raising awareness on European Union Agency for bility for the protection of its Indian embassy will hold its of the schemes devised by fraud- protect users of e-services from campaigns, as well as fi ghting frauds has paid off . Law Enforcement Co-operation computer systems and its cus- monthly community house on sters, as well as the actions and cybercrimes. Despite the fact these crimes that accompany He said, “I want to seize this (Europol), “he added. tomers. The national carrier has Thursday (October 25, 2018) reporting mechanisms that can that Qatar is making a series the progressive development of opportunity to congratulate Qatar regularly shares its re- a zero-tolerance to credit card between 3pm and 4pm to listen be employed to protect consum- of achievements in the fi eld of technology used in fl ight ticket Qatar Airways on the success of sources to develop global best fraud and actively promotes / redress any urgent labour ers and lead to the apprehension IT, and resorts to technology in reservations. the fi eld operation ‘Global Air- practice in crime-prevention. awareness of cyber fraud to its and consular issues of Indian of cyber criminals. day-to-day business, this may He said, “We deeply thank port Action Day’ that took place In conjunction with Interpol, customers through information nationals residing in the country, Qatar Airways Group Chief lead to dangers that threaten the Qatar Airways Group for its at Hamad International Airport Qatar funds ‘Project Stadia’, on its website and social media according to a statement issued Executive Akbar al-Baker said, security of End Users and make outstanding business model in earlier this year. The opera- established by Interpol in 2012 channels. yesterday. People above 50 at risk of osteoporosis: HMC expert

nowing bone health sta- mine whether you need to make tus, especially for those lifestyle modifi cations or require K50 and above, is a key way medications for optimal protec- of identifying one’s risk of de- tion against fractures,” said Dr Total Marketing Qatar and Tyres & Equipment Center (TEC) off icials at the signing ceremony. veloping osteoporosis, a rheu- Abdulla. matology specialist at Hamad One in three women and one Medical Corporation (HMC), in fi ve men over the age of 50 has said. might be aff ected by osteoporo- “Bone health is important for sis during their lifetime. Oste- TEC signs agreement to overall health and quality of life,” oporosis can lead to fractures explained Dr Samar al-Emadi, Dr Samar al-Emadi Dr Nabeel Abdulla that can be followed by chronic head of HMC’s Rheumatology pain, depression, and even Division, while urging anyone ting enough vitamin D, or taking and can lead to painful fractures reduced life expectancy. market Total lubricants with osteoporosis risk factors supplements if required, is also or severe disability. Major risk Each year, HMC’s Rheuma- should talk to their doctor and recommended. For those who factors for osteoporosis include tology Department receives seek a bone health assessment. smoke, we strongly advise them ageing, being female, low body around 70 to 80 patients with otal Marketing Qa- providing them technically business houses, the function She also recommends increasing to quit. Quitting smoking has weight, low sex hormones or hip fractures, which are consid- tar recently signed an advanced products along with was also attended by Shak- their level of physical activity. been shown to reduce the risk menopause, smoking, a family ered to be the most serious type Tagreement with Tyres & professional and consistent oil ilur Rahman, vice president “Individuals at risk of oste- of low bone mass and fractures,” history of osteoporosis, and some of osteoporosis-related fracture. Equipment Center (TEC) under change services”. (Sales), Ketan Kumar, general oporosis should aim to exercise advised Dr al-Emadi. medications,” he highlighted. These patients require surgical which TEC will market Total Ahmed al-Tayeb, vice chair- manager, Total Marketing Qa- for 30 to 40 minutes three to four Dr Nabeel Abdulla, consult- “If you are over the age of 50 intervention, followed by long- lubricants through its network man and managing director, tar and Khalid Hashem, senior times each week, doing both ant in rheumatology, says several and have one or more risk factor term treatment with osteoporo- of 16 strategically located retail TEC said, “I am extremely director, TEC. weight-bearing and resistance factors can increase the likelihood for osteoporosis, it is important sis medications to prevent future outlets in the country. pleased to become Total’s part- The range of ‘Total Quartz’ exercises. Eating a nutritious, that an individual will develop to discuss these with your doc- disabling fractures. Thibaud de Lisle, manag- ner and I am looking forward to lubricants that extends from balanced diet which includes osteoporosis, including age, race, tor. Your doctor will be able to Dr Abdulla added that de- ing director, Total Marketing a strong long term partnership mineral to fully synthetic hav- enough dietary calcium can also lifestyle choices, and medical recommend whether you need a spite their devastating eff ect, Qatar said, “This association for mutual growth”. ing major OEM approvals help prevent, or slow down the conditions and treatments. bone mineral density test and/ osteoporotic fractures can be is aimed to enhance Total’s Along with other promi- will be available at TEC retail eff ects of, osteoporosis. Spend- “Osteoporosis – thinning of or a fracture risk assessment. prevented if bone disease is proximity to its customers by nent delegates from both the outlets, a statement said. ing more time outdoors and get- the bones – weakens the bones Your physician can also deter- detected early. 84% of consumers use Ooredoo billing now 99.99% Q-Post services: survey paperless oredoo an- s part of the Communi- or above out of 10, and around nounced yes- cation Regulatory Au- 48% of consumers rated the Oterday that its Athority’s (CRA) ongoing price of it as 5 or above out of paperless initiative has been a huge success eff orts to ensure the provision 10 in terms of prices. with nearly 99.99% of all customers had mi- of smart, innovative, and high- Consumers highlighted a grated to paperless billing. quality services in the sectors number of issues they faced Ooredoo has been working for several years it regulates, the CRA recently when using postal services, to phase-out all paper-based billing options conducted a short bilingual the most commonly three is- as part of its digital transformation and to survey (Arabic and English) via sues were 29% for the delay raise awareness on environmental issues and social media platforms to get in sending or receiving let- the need for paper conservation in Qatar. consumers’ feedback on their ters or parcels, nearly 26% for Ooredoo is one of the top companies taking experience of the postal servic- the unreasonable cost of using a lead on environmental issues in Qatar and es in Qatar provided by Q-Post postal services, and around 9% has announced it is a sponsor of this year’s and private couriers. Amel Salem al-Hanawi, of consumers mentioned that ‘Sustainability Week’. The nine-question survey consumer aff airs department their letter or parcel was re- Thanks to the company’s initiative, both ran for two weeks in Septem- manager, CRA. turned to the original address. Ooredoo business and consumer customers can ber and saw responses from Despite this, over 55% of con- access their bills online through the Ooredoo around 300 consumers. The “The survey has allowed us sumers said they were able to website and mobile App, anytime and anywhere. responses showed that 58% of to collect valuable data about track parcels, nearly 27% said Manar Khalifa al-Muraikhi, director PR consumers are unaware that consumers’ behaviour, which they could not and almost 18% and Corporate Communications, Ooredoo, CRA regulates the postal sec- will help us in ensuring that were not sure or did not know. said: “At the beginning of the year, the to- tor despite that around 84% consumers’ rights are pro- Only 25.73% of consum- tal number of paper bill accounts was more of consumers are using regu- tected and their experience is ers registered a complaint in than 100,000. Today, we have only 104 lar postal services through Q- improved,” said Amel Salem al- the last one year with either customers who are requesting paper bills Post to send or receive letters Hanawi, manager, consumer Q-Post (15.77%) or the private and eff orts are still ongoing to reduce this and parcels and nearly 88% of aff airs department, CRA. couriers (9.96%) and out of the number to zero. consumers are using express The survey showed that con- total percentage (25.73%) over “Ooredoo is committed to the Qatar services through Q-Post and sumers have rated both Q-Post 65% were not satisfi ed with the National Vision 2030 and we will contin- private couriers’ services such and private couriers highly in resolution of their complaint. ue to invest in this initiative to ensure all as FedEx, Aramex, DHL, and terms of service of regular and To commemorate World our services are as green and digitised as UPS, among others. express services. Q-Post regu- Postal Day, CRA recently held possible, both for our customers and for “The CRA is in the process lar postal services were rated by the World Postal Day Forum, our country.” of fi nalising the regulation for 67% of consumers as 5 or above which aims to enhance eff ec- Ooredoo’s eBill service off ers customer’s an the postal sector in Qatar. The out of 10, and in terms of prices tive collaboration between in- easy-to-read PDF version of their monthly bill survey is one of the main tools around 55% of consumers rated ternational regulators and in- that they receive via e-mail, and provides cus- adopted by CRA to help in re- it as 5 or above out of 10. dustry players. International, tomers with a secure way to view and compare ceiving consumers’ feedback For express services pro- regional and local speakers had new bills with previous bills. As well as exter- on the postal services and to vided by Q-Post and private high-level discussions on mat- nal communications, Ooredoo has pledged to better understand their needs couriers, around 78% of con- ters related to the development stop all paper-based internal communications and concerns. sumers rated the service as 5 of postal sector. in their HQ1 and HQ2 offi ces. Gulf Times Tuesday, October 23, 2018 5 QATAR Omani minister praises Qatar’s education system

QNA Highness the Amir Sheikh developments in the fi eld. to Qatar had learned about the Doha Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Dr al-Shaibaniyah ex- Qatari experience in the series HE the Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi leading the Qatari delegation and Her Highness Sheikha plained that her visit to Qatar of science and mathematics, during the talks with Uzbekistan off icials. Moza bint Nasser. comes as an activation of the adding that a Qatari delega- man’s Minister of Edu- She also appreciated the executive programme of the tion which visited Oman, was cation, Dr Madiha bint distinguished role played by terms of the educational and briefed on e-correction and OAhmed al-Shaibaniyah, the Qatar Foundation for Ed- cultural co-operation agree- evaluation experience under has described Qatar’s educa- ucation, Science and Com- ment between Qatar and the programme. tional system as “a pioneer and munity Development, higher Oman, pointing out that dur- The two countries, she said, Qatar, Uzbekistan rich experience” and stressed education institutions and ing the past fi ve years many will further activate aspects that Qatar’s expertise in this research sectors in the so- aspects of this programme of educational co-operation fi eld is in line with international cial, cultural and research have been activated in terms and the exchange of experi- standards. fi elds and in the so-called of exchange of visits of del- ences between them, stressing Speaking to Qatar News ‘STEM’ system in the fi elds egations in various areas, and full harmony between those hold political talks Agency (QNA), the Omani of Science, Technology, En- their training programmes, in charge in both countries in minister, who is visiting Doha, gineering and Math, which and the benefi t of education these areas. hailed Qatar’s eff orts in the indicates Qatar’s vision for and co-operation in the fi eld “Co-operation between us QNA education sector and support the future and that its educa- of evaluation and curriculum is ongoing and we will activate Tashkent for it at the global level, while tional system is keeping pace development. it more during the next phase”, praising the initiatives of His with the latest international She said an Omani delegation she added. round of political consul- tations was held yesterday Abetween the ministries of foreign aff airs of State of Qatar and Uzbekistan. HE the Minister of State for Foreign Arab Center for Research to hold Aff airs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi chaired Qatar’s delegation at the po- litical consultations, while the Uzbek side was headed by Deputy Minister of seminar on ‘From Arms to Peace’ Foreign Aff airs Dilshod Akhatov. During the political consultations, he Arab Center for Re- of transformation from armed or- of leaders from the transition The various sessions present the two sides discussed bilateral re- search and Policy Stud- ganisations to political parties or from arms to peace to present important intellectual and polit- lations and means of supporting and Ties will hold a seminar peaceful social movements, which their testimonies on the trajec- ical questions in the Arab world consolidating them in various fi elds, entitled “From Arms to Peace: are being addressed by academics, tories, causes and constraints of today, after the 2011 uprisings, as well as the latest regional and in- Transformations from Armed Po- scholars, politicians and leaders of these transformations. the most important of which are: ternational developments. litical Action to Peaceful Political these transformations. This seminar is the fi rst of its How do transformations of arms HE Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi Action” on November 3 and 4. The cases represent the four kind in the Arab region in terms of develop into peace; Why do they also met Minister of Foreign Aff airs The seminar examines situ- continents Asia (Middle East), research content and political and occur; What are the conditions of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov. ations of transition from armed Africa (Northern and South- academic expertise invited, and will for starting the transition to- Talks during the meeting covered political activity to unarmed ern Desert), Europe (South include among its outputs the fi rst wards nonviolence; What are the bilateral relations and cooperation political activity through vari- and West), Central and South Arab book dealing with the subject conditions for the continuity of between the two countries and ways ous models of the world. America and the Caribbean. of shifting from weapons to peace peaceful political activity among of enhancing them, as well as issues HE the Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs al-Muraikhi shakes The seminar will discuss 26 cases The seminar also hosts a group in a systematic scientifi c way. many. (QNA) of mutual interest. hands with Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov.

QMC chief meets Gambian envoy

HE the Chief Executive Off icer of Qatar Media Corporation (QMC), Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad al-Thani, met with Gambian ambassador to Qatar Foday Mulang. During the meeting, they discussed media relations between the two countries and means of enhancing them. Importance of technical innovation in economic diversifi cation underlined

egal and fi nancial “We found that QDB, stressed the impor- skilled human capital to experts along with fi nancial technology tance of embracing inno- deal with it.” Lrepresentatives of is a newly emerging vations around the world The symposium pro- companies discussed plans phenomenon and benefi ting from them duced valuable recommen- and orientations for Qatar that requires in the development of the dations on best practices in to become a regional cen- extensive research, fi nancial sector, as well as fi nancial technology regula- tre for fi nancial technology a clear regulatory stimulating the emergence tion and policies, and com- with the aim of promoting framework, and of a vibrant local technology parisons were made with economic diversifi cation. highly skilled human sector. other fi nancial technology This was discussed at a capital to deal with it” Qatar International Court centres, CLD director Dr Jon seminar organised by Cen- judge William Blair praised Truby said. tre for Law and Develop- experiences from which Qatar’s eff orts to implement The CLD director added ment (CLD) at Qatar Uni- Qatar can benefi t. a fi nancial system that sup- that discussions with ex- versity (QU) and sponsored Assistant dean for re- ports diversifi cation eff orts. perts and specialists from by the Qatar Development search at QU College of Commenting on the academia, central banks, Bank (QDB). Law Dr Mona al-Marzouki discussions, QDB head of industry regulators and Speakers at the sympo- stressed the importance of Legal aff airs Abdulrahman judiciary highlighted that sium discussed challenges technical innovation in di- al-Qahtani said, in inter- the promotion of fi nancial and opportunities for Qa- versifying Qatar’s economy, acting with speakers and technology through ap- tar in the fi eld of fi nancial praising the co-operation of attendees, “we found that propriate support and or- technology in the light of all sectors of Qatari society fi nancial technology is a ganisation will provide tre- the rapid changes in the to achieve this goal. newly emerging phenome- mendous potential for small fi nancial sector. Ibrahim Mohammed non that requires extensive and medium-sized com- Participants also re- Hassan, acting executive research, a clear regula- panies in Qatar to grow and viewed similar international director of investments at tory framework, and highly develop. (QNA) Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, October 23, 2018 QATAR MME working to clear rainwater The minimum and maximum temperatures are expected to be 23° Celsius in Al Khor ainwater clearance continued in full swing yester- and 38°C in Abu Samra today, while in Doha temperatures will range from 26°C to 34°C day as rain emergency teams in various munici- Rpalities drained out more than 131.17mn gallons of water from Thursday until last evening, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) said. Safar Mubarak al-Shafi , head of the rainfall emergen- cy committee at the MME, said that work is continuing round the clock to remove accumulated water from all municipal areas. The water was removed in 26,442 batches, al-Shafi said in a statement issued by the MME yesterday, adding that 545 personnel and 308 tankers were involved in the work. The offi cial also revealed that the municipal operation room had received 6,052 reports, which would be duly re- sponded to. The MME also highlighted through a tweet that the “tireless eff orts” of rain emergency teams continues as they drain out water from all areas. “Have patience and co-operate with our workers,” it urged. Meanwhile, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) said that there are no closures caused by rainwater detected on main roads in Doha yesterday and that work is continuing to “remove accumulated water from local streets”. This came following a spell of rain in the city yesterday. Earlier in the day, Ashghal advised motorists to slow down when driving in rainy conditions as the “rain may Rainwater removal in progress yesterday. cause vehicles to slip on the road”. Ashghal also reiterated that, in co-ordination with the MME, tankers had been deployed on main roads and tun- nels in diff erent areas in order to deal with any case of wa- ter accumulation. Sporadic rain and strong winds were reported from parts of the country yesterday, too, with the northern ar- eas receiving the bulk of rainfall. Ras Laff an topped the rain charts yesterday with 33.3mm, followed by 21.4mm in Al Khor, according to in- formation provided by the Civil Aviation Authority. Jumayliyah received 9.3mm, Sheehaniyah 9.1mm, and Abu Hamour 2.1mm of rain. The Ministry of Interior (MoI), on its part, yesterday urged people to be cautious and follow safety instructions on roads and at home as thundershowers accompanied by strong dusty winds were observed in diff erent parts of the country, including Doha and adjacent areas. “As it is raining in diff erent parts of the country, we advise motorists to be extra cautious and drive at a speed that suits the weather conditions,” the MoI tweeted. As for the forecast, the Qatar Met department tweeted late last evening that the latest updates from the country’s numerical weather prediction model indicate that the chance of mostly light rain would continue today – dur- ing noon – mainly along the eastern coast of the country. Thundery rain is expected in off shore areas today along with strong winds and high seas, the weather report states, adding that the wind speed may go up to 35 knots during thundershowers in these areas. Education City to reopen today: QF The Qatar Foundation (QF) has said that Education City will reopen today following the temporary closure necessitated by the extreme weather experienced in Doha recently. “Over the last 48 hours, we’ve made great progress in addressing the impact on our operations of the recent unprecedented extreme weather in Doha, which led to the temporary closure of our centres at Education City for safety reasons,” QF tweeted yesterday. “As a result of these eff orts, Education City will reopen as usual on Tuesday, October 23. All gates except Gate 9 (Al Shaqab Street) will be open,” it continued.

„ Sidra Medicine has announced that the Outpatient Clinic will remain closed for appointments until Friday, October 26, excluding Paediatric Infusion and Hematology Oncology. “Patients will be alerted via SMS. We’re available 24/7 for questions on 4003 3333,” it tweeted yesterday, adding that Children’s Emergency and Urgent Care and the main hospital building are open.

„ The Qatar National Library (QNL) has announced that it will reopen today. “All events will resume as scheduled. We look forward to welcoming you to the Library,” QNL tweeted yesterday.

„ The US embassy will not be open today for consular services, but will be open for all other business, the mission tweeted yesterday. Visa applicants will be contacted with rescheduled appointments. ACS appointment holders should call the US embassy between 9am and 12 noon for further information. Gulf Times Tuesday, October 23, 2018 7 REGION/ARAB WORLD Humble pomegranate seed provides clue to how Yemen’s war fuels hunger

Reuters farmers exported 30,000 tonnes restore the internationally-rec- fuel, medicine and humanitar- costs which has had a huge im- Saada, Yemen of the fruit. ognised government that was ian aid.The coalition says the pact on production,” he said. Those exports have fallen by ousted from the capital Sanaa by measures are necessary to pre- Three-quarters of the Yeme- around a third and farmers blame the Houthis.Many bombs have vent the Houthis smuggling in ni population, or 22mn people, he tiny, red pomegran- lack of fuel and water for irriga- fallen on civilian areas. weapons from Iran. require aid and 8.4mn people ate seed may not look tion and the impact of aerial The coalition denies target- Both the Houthis and Iran are on the brink of starvation, Tlike much but it helps ex- bombing by a coalition of forces ing civilians deliberately. “The deny engaging in such smug- according to UN special envoy plain why Yemen’s civil war has led by Saudi Arabia and armed by pomegranates are dying be- gling. Martin Griffiths. brought millions of people to the the United States, France, Britain cause of lack of water because Ali Saleh, an agricultural The United Nations is trying brink of famine. and other Western countries. of the blockade,” said farmer sales manager in Saada, said to broker talks to end the war Pomegranate exports were a Markets and roads have been Rabeea al-Abdy. exports are down by a third but in the interim aid officials key source of income for people targeted, making it much more He was referring to strin- from their pre-war peak.”The say the key to reducing the risk in Saada in northwest Yemen, a dangerous and, crucially, more gent measures put in place by war... of famine is not charity but im- province under the control of the expensive to get pomegranates the coalition on imports into led to a rise in the prices of proving the economy: exports Houthi movement aligned with by truck to Yemen’s main port in Yemen that have slowed trade fuel. Farming necessities... of the humble pomegranate Iran. Hodeidah, the farmers say. flows, including of commercial have seen a crazy rise in prices could be a small part of the an- Before the war began in 2015, The coalition is fi ghting to goods and vital supplies such as in comparison to the farmers’ swer. Workers pack pomegranates for export in Saada, Yemen. Special envoy urges ‘stern UN Palestinian action’ against Darfur rebel chief

AFP rity situation elsewhere. 15-member Security Council, The United Nations says that United Nations He said he informed the Se- said several countries had spo- over the years the confl ict has curity Council that “all eff orts ken of the need to impose sanc- killed about 300,000 people shot dead in to bring the leader of the Sudan tions on Nur. and displaced more than 2.5mn, special envoy urged the Liberation Army (SLA), Abdul Nur, who was born in the with many having set up home UN Security Council Wahid Nur, into the peace proc- Jebel Marra but has long lived in over the last decade and half Ayesterday to consider ess have so far failed.” exile in Paris, heads the Sudan in sprawling semi-permanent “stern action” against rebel “I urged the council to con- Liberation Movement that has camps. chief Abdul Wahid Nur for re- sider stern action against the been battling the Sudan regime With the overall fall in vio- sisting eff orts to bring peace to SLA leader because from all ac- since 2003. lence in Darfur, a joint peace- West Bank Sudan’s troubled Darfur region. counts, he prefers belligerence An insurgency began in Dar- keeping mission between the Jeremiah Kingsley Mamabo- and armed struggle to cessa- fur in 2003, as ethnic rebels UN and the African Union, Reuters lo, the special representative of tion of hostilities and a politi- rose up against Sudan’s govern- known as UNAMID, has been Jerusalem the United Nations and Afri- cal process. It is highly unlikely ment. reducing its troops, which cur- can Union in Darfur, noted that that he would change this posi- Khartoum responded by us- rently stand at about 8,700. there were still confrontations tion any time soon,” Mamabolo ing militias to crack down on Plans are to cut them to 4,050 Palestinian stabbed an Is- between rebels and government said. rebels and since then, insurgent by June 2019, with mission itself raeli soldier and was shot forces in the mountainous Jebel A diplomat, who spoke on groups have fragmented, with terminated by the end of 2020, Adead by the wounded man Marra region despite a “rela- condition of anonymity after a fi ghting punctuated by periods under pressure from the United and other troops in the Israeli- tively calm and peaceful” secu- close door consultations of the of relative calm. States to cut back on expenses. occupied West Bank yesterday, the military said. In a statement, the military said the incident occurred near the Cave of the Patriarchs, in the city of Hebron. Coalition says it struck IS fi ghters in mosque The soldier was slightly wounded in the attack and opened fi re, along with other Reuters One of those facilities used by Daesh was a forces and with Kurdish and Arab groups in soldiers, at the assailant, killing Washington mosque that was being used as a defensive Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human him, according to the military. fi ghting position and command centre,” a Rights said air strikes killed 41 people, in- Palestinians began a wave of statement from the coalition said, using an cluding 10 children, in eastern Syria and its knife and car-ramming attacks he US-led coalition fi ghting Islamic Arabic-language acronym for Islamic State. environs on Thursday and Friday. in the West Bank and in Israel in State militants in Syria said it struck “The strike killed several Daesh as they Many were Iraqi relatives of Islamic State 2015, after peace talks with Israel Ta mosque yesterday that was being were actively fi ring on coalition partner fi ghters, the UK-based monitor said. collapsed. used by the group as a command centre, the forces, which eliminated another Daesh ca- However, the coalition said the strike Such incidents have become second such incident in less than a week. pability from the battlefi eld,” the statement on Thursday killed 12 militants, disabling more sporadic. Palestinians added. a command centre they had used to attack want the West Bank, captured “The strike killed several Daesh as The strike took place in As Susah, Syria. coalition forces. “As the second coalition by Israel in the 1967 Middle East they were actively firing on On Sunday, the coalition said it had strike on an active Daesh fi ghting position war, to be part of an independent coalition partner forces, which killed militants in eastern Syria by striking originating from a mosque in less than a state along with the Gaza Strip, Palestinian protesters react to teargas fired by Israeli forces during a eliminated another Daesh a mosque that Islamic State used as a base. week, Daesh demonstrates desperation and with East Jerusalem as its capi- demonstration on the beach near the maritime border, in the capability from the battlefield” The US has led an international coalition the willingness to misuse protected struc- tal. northern Gaza Strip, yesterday. conducting air strikes against Islamic State tures to launch military attacks against SDF “A coalition strike destroyed several since 2014. US troops have served as advis- (Syrian Democratic Forces) and coalition buildings used by Daesh to launch attacks... ers on the ground with Iraqi government forces,” the statement said yesterday.

Hariri says he is still working to form govt

Reuters Last week President Michel tion over ministerial posi- in televised comments to re- Beirut Aoun said a government would tions in a new national unity porters. be formed “very soon” and government, but the political Lebanon has one of the a government source said it uncertainty has contributed world’s most indebted gov- ff orts to form a new Leba- would be agreed during the to fears that Lebanon faces a ernments, owing about 150% nese government after weekend, but press reports yes- looming economic crisis. of gross domestic product, Emonths of negotiation re- terday cited senior politicians “Contacts continue to form and the International Mon- main “on their way to a solution”, saying problems persisted. a government and the issue is etary Fund warned early this Palestinian protesters wave national flags as they stand near burning tyres during a demonstration on the prime minister designate Saad Parties have been jostling not impossible, as some are year that Beirut must urgent- beach near the maritime border with Israel, in the northern Gaza Strip, yesterday, al-Hariri said yesterday. since May’s parliament elec- trying to suggest,” Hariri said ly undertake fiscal reforms. Barzani makes comeback on both Kurd, Iraq fronts

AFP With 45 seats won in the Barzani looked down and out KDP and the PUK, which won 21 Sulaimaniyah 111-member Iraqi Kurdish par- after the Kurdistan independ- seats in the region’s election, but liament, Barzani’s party can ence vote, which was ruled ille- unlike in the past they no longer form a majority without the gal by Iraq’s central government have to work together to form a year after a disastrous PUK. and resulted in Baghdad impos- government. independence vote he It can, in theory, rely solely on ing economic penalties and re- According to political scien- Ahad championed in Iraqi the 11-seat allocation reserved taking disputed territory. tist Wathiq al-Hashemi, the re- Kurdistan, veteran leader Ma- for the region’s minority Turk- The Iraqi Kurdish presidency gion could “see the return of two soud Barzani has made a strong men, Christian and Armenian has been left vacant since Bar- leaderships” but “regional pres- comeback both on the home communities. zani stepped down following the sures” from neighbouring states front and in Baghdad. “Now that he is the great fi asco. are likely to rule out a return to While Iraq’s presidency, a heavyweight of Kurdish politics, The appointment of a new the deadly clashes of 1994-2006 ceremonial post, has gone to no-one can do without him in president has been on hold, when the Kurds had rival gov- Barham Saleh of the rival Patri- Baghdad,” said Adel Bakawan, a pending the drafting of a new ernments. otic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), research associate at the School Kurdish constitution for which Kurdistan’s parliamentary Barzani’s Kurdistan Democratic for Advanced Studies in the So- no timetable has been set. vote also saw the emergence of Party (KDP) was on Sunday de- cial Sciences in Paris (EHESS). The leaders of the region’s top the New Generation movement, clared the clear winner of the He predicted Barzani would seek two political parties also took which was founded this year to September 30 parliamentary the deputy premier, foreign and their rivalry to Baghdad, con- channel public anger at the re- elections in the autonomous re- fi nance minister posts for the testing the role of Iraqi presi- gion’s elite. gion of northern Iraq. KDP in the federal government dent. The movement picked up In the political manoeuvring that is to be formed by Novem- The PUK’s candidate Saleh eight seats in the vote, while the for ministerial posts in Baghdad, ber. won that race, maintaining a main opposition Goran (Change) meanwhile, the KDP can also “He lost the gamble of the tacit accord between the two party lost half of its seats and even boast it is the largest single referendum, but the legislative parties which sees the PUK take was left with 12 lawmakers. party in Iraq. (polls) in May were a tremendous the federal presidency while the Analysts put Goran’s losses The party garnered 25 seats moment of grace; he was courted KDP holds the Kurdistan presi- down to the arrival of New Gen- in Iraq’s legislative elections in by the Americans and the Irani- dency. eration, whose candidates stood File photo shows Masoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) speaking during an May, contested mainly against ans,” the two key powerbrokers Kurdistan is split politically in opposition to the KDP and electoral rally for the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in Arbil, the capital of the northern Iraqi Kurdish party lists. in Iraq, he said. and geographically between the PUK. autonomous region. Gulf Times 8 Tuesday, October 23, 2018 ARAB WORLD Lebanese in eff ort to save landmark from crumbling

AFP Tripoli

lose to the seafront in Leb- anon’s Tripoli, giant curves Cof concrete stand testi- mony to dreams before the civil war, etchings of an exhibition park never fi nished but already crack- ing. This month, a rare exhibition is being held at the site designed by legendary Brazilian architect Os- car Niemeyer in a desperate call to save it from ruin. Inside the vast grey grounds of the Tripoli International Fair in northern Lebanon, a palm tree throws its dark silhouette onto a giant concrete dome. A thin arch sweeps high over a narrow footbridge, and a steep staircase spirals up vertically, onto a circular cement platform perched on a curvaceous pillar. “It’s a futurist paradigm that is unique in Lebanon and the re- gion,” said Lebanese architect Wassim Naghi. “In its modernity, in its reliance on curves, it sums up the progress of architecture over a hundred years,” he said. And with buildings dotted over an area the size of 70 rugby pitch- es, it’s among “Niemeyer’s largest Visitors gather by the stone pyramid during an exhibition at the grounds of the Tripoli International Fair, close to the seafront of the northern works outside Brazil”, he said. Lebanese port city. The Brazilian architect designed landmarks around the globe dur- ing the 1960s, the tiny Mediter- ing a decades-long career that ranean country had its own space started in the 1930s and ended in programme, successfully launch- the 21st century. When he died six ing a small unmanned rocket into years ago aged 104, he left behind space. hundreds of buildings, in Brazil as When Niemeyer was fi rst asked well as in the United States, France, to design the outdoor space in Malaysia, Algeria and Cuba. But 1962, there were plans for the today his work in Lebanon is in ur- rooms under the circular platform gent need of restoration. to house a space museum. “These buildings of reinforced But dreams of outer-space ex- concrete need to be restored rap- ploration, and any museum to idly. commemorate it, were indefi nitely There are buildings being eaten put on hold with the outbreak of away at, blocks falling down, and the 1975-1990 civil war. many cracks,” Naghi warned. The exhibition aims to remind “We fear there will be unpleas- Lebanese visitors of this chapter ant surprises, especially during of the country’s recent past, Helu the rainy season,” he said. said, but also shine a light on a Until October 23, a show titled landmark about to collapse. “Cycles of Collapsing Progress” In a country whose history goes seeks to celebrate the era that gave back millennia to the Phoenician File photo shows a view of the concrete dome of the experimental theatre at the grounds of the Tripoli rise to the fairground, but also period, she urged the authorities International Fair. sound the alarm. to give equal attention to modern In the halls under the perched architecture. crisis in the country doesn’t hope that the site can be added to the concrete park to the list’s con- platform, visitors can admire a “It’s great to restore buildings bode well,” he said, referring to a Unesco’s World Heritage List. temporary architecture section. seabed of snaking rebar, or even that show Lebanon’s ancient his- months-long deadlock over form- Brazil’s capital Brasilia and an Akram Oueida, president of the an elongated white space rocket tory, but we should also care about ing a cabinet. outdoor centre in the south of the fairground, said Lebanese offi cials hanging from the ceiling. the landmarks of this country’s Any renovation should involve country, both of which were de- have made promises of assistance, The show “documents a golden modern history,” she said. in-depth studies and specialised signed by Niemeyer, are already but none have yet materialised. age in Lebanon’s modern his- Architect Naghi said he was not companies, he said, “and that featured on it. Getting the concrete park listed tory — the architectural, scientifi c optimistic about any immediate would require a lot of money, as Sahar Baassiri, Lebanon’s del- by Unesco may help, Oueida said: and cultural dreams of the time”, intervention by the government. well as a government decision”. egate to Unesco, said eff orts were “That could open the door to said curator Karina al-Helu. Dur- “The current atmosphere of Instead, Naghi and others now being made towards adding funding from donors.” Semblance of normality returns for some in Damascus after fi ghting ends

Reuters ended a few months ago, but any Damascus signifi cant reconstruction might be very distant.Syria cannot aff ord a major rebuilding programme. ome people in the Syrian Its closest allies, Russia and Iran, capital Damascus have been seem unlikely to foot the bill. Sable to enjoy a semblance Western nations will pay no of normality since fi ghting in the cash without a political transition. area ended in May, but in the rub- In Al-Khalidiya district of ble of shattered, destitute towns Homs, retaken by the government nearby, life could not be more dif- in 2013, the slow nature of recov- ferent. ery is clear. Central Damascus was held by Much of it is a ghost town, un- the government throughout the inhabited and closed by the army. war and suff ered much less dam- In one area, boys played soc- age than opposition-held areas cer near buildings so pancaked by — evidence of the huge gulf in fi re bombs that the fl oors and ceilings power between the two sides. hung down closely on top of each Parts of the eastern Ghouta re- other. gion just outside Damascus were Their goal was made of two all but fl attened during a govern- rusting oil drums with posts stick- ment off ensive this spring to re- ing up and a wire tied between take it from rebels. them as the crossbar. When the area surrendered, “The covered souk used to be tens of thousands of its people, Children play soccer in Al-Khalidiya area, in the government-controlled part of Homs, Syria. chockablock but now very few both fi ghters and civilians, chose people come to this area,” said Abu to leave eastern Ghouta under safe government-held areas. This was the fi rst summer since young man on the fi fth fl oor was Fares, a shop owner in the Old City passage for opposition areas in Even during the fi ghting, people 2011 without the sound of fi ghting shovelling debris from a balcony, of Homs. northern Syria rather than come in Damascus would go out in the in Damascus. preparing the fl at for re-use. Even among the young people back under government rule. evenings to eat, drink and dance, At a wedding outside the city, Entire streets seem destroyed. enjoying the nightlife in Damas- Others decided to stay. The risk but this summer, the bars and the noise came rather from stu- At one of the area’s biggest hos- cus the challenge of the long, slow of being hit by bullets or shellfi re restaurants of the Old City were dent rock band Kibreet — a drum- pitals, where huge shell holes are economic recovery ahead means near the capital has now ended, much busier. mer, two guitarists and a singer. blown into the walls, medics are many people are thinking of leav- but conditions in central Damas- “During the war, when bombs The groom was carried on the still operating out of the base- ing. cus, with its relaxed nightlife and were falling, it could be days shoulders of his friends and fam- ment. “I like my job. I like nightlife bustling business district, seem a without customers, but we never ily, as people clapped around him. A woman held up a small boy on here. But in the end I would like world away from the hardship of stopped working,” said Dana, a He swung his bride in his arms, a bed, grimacing as he waited for to move out of Syria. I don’t see a eastern Ghouta. 24-year-old bar tender, mixing a her white dress billowing out be- the doctor to give an injection. future here,” said Rasha, a 30-year President Bashar al-Assad’s cocktail. hind. In the ravaged streets, a small bar owner. success in the war owes much to Barber shops do good business Only a few miles away, in the boy pushed a cart selling cooked “When there was war here and Russia, which entered the war on and cafes spill out onto the cob- eastern Ghouta city of Douma, sweetcorn cobs between ruined we had bombs falling every day I his side in 2015, and whose sol- bled streets of the Old City on rubble is all around. buildings. never wanted to leave. But now, diers are now a common sight in weekend evenings. In one bulletpocked building, a The fi ghting in Douma only yes,” she said. Gulf Times Tuesday, October 23, 2018 9 AFRICA

Apartheid-era cop seeks end Cameroon’s Biya wins to murder trial

AFP Johannesburg election by a landslide n apartheid-era policeman accused of killing a South African activist 47-years ago argued By Reinnier Kaze, AFP The Constitutional Council had Ayesterday that the alleged crimes happened Yaounde 15 days after the vote to weigh up too long ago for him to stand trial. objections fi led concerning the Joao Rodrigues, 80, who was in the country’s infa- election. It rejected all 18 com- mous security branch, is accused of murdering anti- ne of Africa’s oldest lead- plaints. The fi nal results can no apartheid campaigner Ahmed Timol in detention in ers Paul Biya, who has ruled longer be challenged. 1971 but is now seeking to suspend the prosecution. OCameroon with an iron fi st Biya notably won 79.7% of the The Timol trial is seen as a test case for the fami- since 1982, won a landslide victory vote in Adamaoua, 71.1% in the lies of other apartheid victims whose killers have not yesterday in a controversial presi- Centre and 90.4% in the East, the been brought to justice since the transition to de- dential election, as the govern- Council said. mocracy in South Africa in 1994. ment tightened security and gunfi re AFP journalists reported tight se- Rodrigues briefl y appeared in a Johannesburg erupted in the volatile Anglophone curity around the main post offi ce High Court yesterday where Judge Ramarumo Mon- region. in the capital Yaounde after calls ama, who did not consider the application lodged by The Constitutional Council, on social media for a protest rally Rodrigues’ legal team, set the trial date for January dominated by Biya loyalists, said against the results. Anti-riot police 28. yesterday the 85-year-old leader trucks and security forces were de- Rodrigues claimed in court documents he is “seri- had won 71.3% of the ballot in the ployed across the area. ously prejudiced by the fact that these proceedings October 7 election, marred by al- Authorities on Sunday had are now instituted against me some 47 years later”. legations of widespread fraud, a banned an opposition march in the In the application to suspend his prosecution, low turnout and violence in the poll commercial capital Douala called to which was partly published by local media, Rod- run-up. denounce the “shameful and mas- rigues reiterated he only participated “in the cover- The Council’s head Clement sive fraud” in the election. up to conceal the crime of murder as an accessory Atangana said opposition challeng- About 30 people were arrested on after the fact”. His application will be heard before er Maurice Kamto, was a far second the spot, AFP journalists reported. the trial date but prosecutors have vowed to oppose with 14.2% of the vote. Kamto, who pronounced himself it. “Today, we cannot imagine a sce- the winner of the vote before even “It does not matter how far back the incident hap- nario where Mr Biya will quit power the fi rst results were announced — pened. Age and the duration argument cannot hold normally,” said political expert leading the government to brand water’” National Prosecuting Authority spokes- Stephane Akoa. him an outlaw — has alleged that six woman Phindi Mjonondwane told journalists. “If Mr Biya thought about al- of the 11 members of the Constitu- Timol’s nephew’ Imtiaz Cajee, welcomed the ternating power or democracy, he tional Council were biased in Biya’s court’s decision to fi nally set a trial date. would not have put in place this favour. “We have reached a watershed moment,” he told machinery...whose main task is Kamto was yesterday declared reporters, adding that the judge’s remarks that “jus- modify the results in such a way the winner in the Littoral province tice delayed is justice denied, sums up the feelings that Mr Biya is the inevitable win- — the only one not won by Biya — of not just the Timol family but many other victims’ ner,” he said. where he got 38.6% of the vote. President Paul Biya, accompanied by his wife Chantal Biya, greets the military forces upon arrival at Maroua air- families throughout the country”. Voting was disrupted in Franco- The province is home to the coun- port during an election campaign visit to the Far North Region of Cameroon last month. The decision to charge Rodrigues nearly fi ve dec- phone Cameroon’s two English- try’s commercial capital Douala. ades after Timol fell to his death from the 10th-fl oor speaking regions, where a separatist Biya’s main challenger has also morning,” another resident said. in the west, the Social Democratic Unlike more fi ery and fl amboyant of Johannesburg’s police headquarters followed a movement has unleashed a brutal called for the vote to be annulled in But a security source told AFP Front, has long stood against Biya. peers in the club of long-standing review of the inquest that initially ruled his death a government crackdown. seven of the country’s 10 regions, there had been no clashes in Buea The party’s failure to demand African leaders, critics say Biya — suicide. Turnout here was below 5%, ac- citing “multiple irregularities, seri- yesterday. outright independence has roused who is nicknamed ‘The Sphinx’ — is Timol, 29, was arrested in Johannesburg in Octo- cording to the International Crisis ous cases of fraud and multiple vio- The army has been deployed in calls of “treason” among hardliners. a quiet autocrat. ber 1971 and died fi ve days later. Group think tank. lations of the law”. the Southwest and the other An- Biya became prime minister in In a rare moment of candour, he Offi cers said at the time he took his own life — a Witnesses yesterday told AFP of In English-speaking Buea, a resi- glophone region, the Northwest, to 1975, but precisely how he was once warned of his sweeping pow- verdict that was endorsed by an inquest in 1972 but gunfi re during the morning in Buea, dent said shooting took place in the hunt down the scattered groups of anointed to succeed Cameroon’s ers telling a Cameroonian journalist fi nally overturned by a court in October after a dec- capital of the English-speaking Mile 16 and Great Soppo districts of separatists who seek the independ- founding president Ahmadou in 1986: “Just a little shake of my ades-long campaign by his family. Southwest region, which has been the city. ence of these territories. Ahidjo in November 1982 remains a head and you’ll be reduced to noth- Rodrigues also faces a charge of perjury and is on rocked by violence for months. “We heard a lot of gunshots this The historic opposition party based mystery. ing.” bail of 2,000 rand ($140). Migingo: a rocky marriage between Uganda and Kenya

By Nicolas Delaunay, AFP Migingo Island

rounded rocky outcrop covered with metallic shacks, Migingo AIsland rises out of the waters of Lake Victoria like an iron-plated turtle. The densely populated island is barely a quarter of a hectare large, its residents crammed into a hodge-podge of corrugated-iron homes. There’s little else but a few bars, brothels and a tiny port. Nevertheless for over a decade Migingo has been a source of tension between Uganda and Kenya, who have been unable to decide to whom it really belongs. They were once pushed to the brink of what some said would have been Af- rica’s “smallest war” over the island. A Kenyan flag flies on a base of Kenyan marine police on Usingo island overlook- While fi shing communities around ing Migingo island. Lake Victoria have seen their catches slowly diminish over the years, the marriage of convenience that has seen The Ugandan side denies this. deep waters surrounding Migingo highs and lows. Lake Victoria is the largest in Africa, abound with catch such as Nile Perch. Whether gutting fi sh on the rocks and the loss of its once abundant fi sh Isaac Buhinza, 22, of Uganda learned of the island, frying them up in greasy life has raised the stakes for millions fi shing from his father and never went cafes, or stringing them up to dry on living along its shores in Uganda, Ken- to school, and said he was drawn to wires between rusty metal shacks, ya and Tanzania. Migingo because “my friends who Migingo’s residents generally just go In the past four decades up to 80% were here before used to come back about their own business. of indigenous fi sh species have been home with lots of goodies” from their But “sometimes there are tensions”, lost, and 70% of forest cover in the fi shing bounty. admitted Collins Ochieng, a young area, according to the conservation “I do not know which country this fi sherman who moved to Migingo to group WWF. (island) belongs to, I just stay here.” “make money”. Meanwhile thick green fi elds of wa- For fi sherman like Buhinza, living A Kenyan policeman, speaking on ter hyacinth have bloomed, bedevilling directly on the tiny island saves them condition of anonymity, said the lat- fi shermen. fuel and also gives them direct access est fl are up of acrimony came in mid- Around Migingo, Kenyan fi sherman to wholesale buyers. September, when Kenya tried to raise complain about Ugandan offi cers har- It was in the early 2000s when the its fl ag on the island — which had long assing them, seizing fi sh and equip- island was barely inhabited — then had only the Ugandan fl ag fl uttering ment in what they say are their waters. situated within Kenya on all maps — above it. Rejecting the accusation, the Ugan- that it began drawing the attention of He said the Ugandans “wanted to dan policeman told AFP that it is a Ugandan authorities who sent offi cials fl ex their muscles” and began patrol- “complex issue”. to Migingo to tax fi shermen and off er ling the island in uniform and carrying “The deep waters where fi shermen protection against pirates. weapons, “terrorising” residents. fi sh are more on the Uganda side, and Kenyan fi shermen in return began On the Ugandan side, a policeman the shallow waters where fi sh breed are complaining they were being shaken concedes there were tensions but said more on the Kenyan side. We all need down by the Ugandans in their own the issue was quickly resolved. to work together,” he said. waters and chased from the island. “We decided no fl ag would be hoist- Adams Mulabbi, the offi cer in charge They called on Kenya’s government ed,” he said. of the Ugandan police station on which deployed security forces to For Boaz Owuor, a 28-year-old fi sh- Migingo, said: “We just want fi sher- Migingo in a move that nearly brought erman based in Sori on the Kenyan side man to be able to do their business in the two nations to blows in 2009. of the lake, about 15km from Migingo, peace.” Kenya and Uganda then decided to the incident proved that “Ugandan au- On the island, some taunt each other create a joint commission to determine thorities take Migingo a lot more seri- good-naturedly. where the watery border is, relying on ously than Kenyan authorities.” “This is Kenya,” said Colins Ochyeng. maps dating from the 1920s whose in- The co-management agreement “It’s Uganda,” fi red back a Ugandan terpretation is a key point of contention. stipulates there should be equal num- fi sherman passing by, with a smile. But nothing has come of the com- bers of police from both nations but “I don’t know who this island be- mission, and in the absence of any “there are more Ugandans”, said a Ken- longs to,” said Kenyan fi sherman Em- decisions on the boundary, the island yan offi cer based on the larger nearby manuel Aringo. “These are all political is co-managed by both countries, a island of Ugingo. issues and we just want to sell our fi sh.” Gulf Times 10 Tuesday, October 23, 2018 AMERICA Anti-Muslim rhetoric ‘widespread’ among candidates in Trump era, says new report

By Sabrina Siddiqui considered have called for Muslims to as a substitute teacher at a Saudi- Guardian News and Media be denied basic rights or declared that funded Islamic school in northern Islam is not a religion. Virginia. Many such attacks echo rhetoric “What is Abigail Spanberger hid- he 2018 midterm elections used by Trump and other Republican ing?” the narrator asks in a TV ad have seen a dramatic rise in an- presidential contenders in 2016, as funded by the Congressional Lead- Tti-Muslim rhetoric, a new re- anti-Muslim sentiment reached new ership Fund, which is aligned with port has found, as political campaigns heights within the party’s primary House Speaker Paul Ryan. are emboldened by Donald Trump’s electorate. “Spanberger doesn’t want us to ascent to the White House. Trump called for a ban on all Mus- know that she taught at an Islamic The fi ndings demonstrate the depth lims coming to the US and fl irted with school nicknamed ‘Terror High, a ter- Democratic Senate candidate Beto O’Rourke greets supporters near a polling place on the first day of early voting in of anti-Muslim messaging ahead of the idea of a Muslim registry. rorist breeding ground.” Houston yesterday. the 6 November vote, tactics that He also falsely claimed Muslims Spanberger taught at the school echo attempts to infl ame fears around celebrated in New Jersey following from 2002 to 2003, while awaiting a immigrants and people of colour. the 9/11 terrorist attacks and openly security clearance to work at the CIA. “We’ve seen anti-Muslim candi- declared that “Islam hates us”. She disclosed this and was granted dates running in every region,” said “Since the 2016 election, how easy two federal security clearances and Trump heads to Texas to give boost to ‘Lyin’ Ted’ Scott Simpson, public advocacy di- it is for candidates to really use Is- dispatched to fi ght terrorism over- rector of Muslim Advocates, which lamophobic and hateful rhetoric as a seas. commissioned the report. part of their platform,” said Moham- There is some evidence that such By Jerome Cartillier, AFP in his face-off with rising Democrat Trump will likely mock the young Dem- “We’ve seen them running at every ed Gula, political director at Emgage, attacks do not work. Washington star Beto O’Rourke. ocrat and sing the praises of Cruz, who level of offi ce, from the school and an organisation focused on electing Of the 80 anti-Muslim candidates Opinion polls still have the ultra- is seeking a second term in the Senate. planning boards all the way to gov- more Muslims to public offi ce. identifi ed in the research, only 11% to conservative Cruz in the driver’s seat, Two years ago, however, the pair ernor and Congress. We’ve seen it in “Whether you go to a masjid or 14% — were elected or are safely pro- ig Night in Texas!” Donald but he is far from the cake-walk win he were hardly friends. liberal places and conservative places. are part of any institution within the jected to win in November. Trump promised in his morning and the party initially predicted. Cruz was the last man standing “It has really taken root and become Muslim community, you’re attached “The rhetoric is not popular with Btweet yesterday. Ted Cruz hopes ‘Beto’, as supporters of the 46-year- against Trump in the primary, and the very widespread.” to the Muslim Brotherhood.” American voters,” said Simpson. it is as well. old O’Rourke call him, is making life campaign got ugly. The report examined more than That line of attack recently thrust “It is popular with a really isolated The US leader is heading to the Lone diffi cult for Cruz. Trump gave vague credence to a re- 80 campaigns across the US run by a congressional race in California into and very extreme part of the elector- Star State to give a shot in the arm to While positioning himself fi rmly on port from The National Enquirer tabloid candidates who have engaged in anti- the national headlines. ate that is very hostile to Muslims, the Senate campaign of Cruz, one of his the left, O’Rourke has eschewed the that Cruz’s Cuban-born father Rafael Muslim campaign attacks over the Representative Duncan Hunter, a that will parrot back the most out- fi ercest rivals for the Republican presi- anti-Trump rhetoric systematically had been friends with Lee Harvey Os- last two years. Republican, ran an attack ad suggest- of-touch conspiracy theories about dential nomination in 2016. rolled out by most of his party — a move wald, the man who assassinated John F Almost all of the candidates are Re- ing his Democratic opponent, Ammar American Muslims without even Trump infamously insulted the looks that has won over voters. Kennedy in 1963. publican. Campa-Najjar, was a “security risk … thinking twice.” of Cruz’s wife Heidi, vaguely suggested Some even say O’Rourke could be the Cruz in turn accused the Manhattan Conspiracy theories targeting working to infi ltrate Congress”. The sharp rise in Islamophobic Cruz’s father had played a role in John party’s saviour in the next presidential real estate mogul of being the source of Muslims have increasingly entered The television spot invoked Cam- campaigns comes as a record number F Kennedy’s assassination and tagged election in 2020. another Enquirer article that alleged the the political mainstream. pa-Najjar’s Mexican-Palestinian of Muslim Americans seek elected of- him with the nickname ‘Lyin’ Ted’. Trump has called O’Rourke a “total senator had been unfaithful to his wife. The majority of the candidates heritage and claimed without evi- fi ce. The 47-year-old junior senator from lightweight” but the Democrat has opt- After the primaries, Cruz took a long openly targeting Muslims — 64% — dence that he was backed by the Mus- Gula said groups like Emgage be- Texas fi red off insults of his own, calling ed not to get into trading insults with time to formally endorse Trump, even are either elected or appointed of- lim Brotherhood. lieve the best way to counter anti- Trump a “pathological liar” and “ut- the president on Twitter. going so far as to accept a speaking slot fi cials or boast of a presidential en- Campa-Najjar, who is Christian, Muslim sentiment is to build a formi- terly amoral.” “I don’t know that it makes any sense at the Republican National Convention dorsement. told the Guardian the attack was dable presence in public offi ce and as Now, the pair is share the stage at to respond,” O’Rourke told ABC News. in July 2016...and withhold his support. More than a third have claimed “blatantly ignorant” and “unhinged an electorate. the Toyota Center in Houston with two “The kind of bitterness and the Instead, Cruz urged Republicans to “vote that Muslims are inherently violent from reality”. “Being able to rewrite and redefi ne weeks to go before the congressional name-calling and partisanship that your conscience.” Only in September or pose an imminent threat, the re- The ad was also denounced by a what it means to be socially respon- midterm elections, with Cruz in an un- has unfortunately defi ned so much of 2016 did Cruz eventually say in a Face- port found, and have propagated the bipartisan group of national security sible and civically engaged within our expectedly tough re-election battle. the national conversation, you can add book post that he was voting for Trump. existence of a Muslim conspiracy to veterans as “racist and bigoted”. communities is of huge importance,” Trump needs Cruz to maintain Re- more to it or you can stay focused on the In August this year, Trump tweeted: take over communities or infi ltrate Elsewhere, a Republican Super Pac he said.”We’ve seen a little over (100) publican control of the US Senate, future.” “As you know, Ted has my complete and government. has gone after a Democratic candi- Muslims run for offi ce … That was while Cruz is all too aware that a presi- At the Toyota Center in Houston, total Endorsement. His opponent is a Just under a third of the candidates date, Abigail Spanberger, for her work once unheard of.” dential seal of approval could help him which can hold up to 19,000 people, disaster for Texas.”

Republican candidate fl ounders over Trump as role model during Florida debate

Guardian News and Media “The question,” Tapper said, disgust for Trump’s behaviour, look for an example, look at how called Barack Obama the N-word Tallahassee, Florida “was whether or not he thinks he wouldn’t turn down help from Rick Scott and I worked with on Twitter. President Trump is a good role the president if it helped Florida. each other in the aftermath of DeSantis brought up his ex- model for the children of Flori- Gillum is the mayor of Talla- this hurricane.” perience as a navy offi cer and his lorida gubernatorial can- da.” hassee. Gillum and DeSantis also scuf- time served in Iraq. didate Ron DeSantis was “That’s what I thought,” Gil- DeSantis resigned his seat in fl ed on the economy and race. “When we’re down range in Fasked on Sunday night if lum said, drawing laughter from the US House to focus on the Throughout the debate, Gil- Iraq, it didn’t matter your race. he thought Donald Trump, who the audience. “No, he’s not. governor’s race. lum appeared calm while DeSan- We all wore the same uniform, we endorsed him, was a good role Donald Trump is weak, and he Gillum said doing what’s best tis looked agitated, often shift- all had that American fl ag patch model for children. performs as all weak people do. for the state shouldn’t be about ing his eyes and moving his head on our arm and that was end of DeSantis, who recorded a now They become bullies, and Mr De- politics, noting that he had from side to side and interrupting story,” he said. “I’ll be a governor famous campaign ad in which Santis is his acolyte. He’s trying worked closely with the Repub- his opponent. for all Floridians.” he taught his children the presi- out to be the Trump apprentice. lican governor, Rick Scott, in the DeSantis said Gillum would Gillum implied that DeSantis dent’s slogans and policies, re- At every turn he’s tweeting him.” aftermath of Hurricane Michael, hurt the state’s economy by rais- had aligned himself with rac- sponded by saying he thought DeSantis claimed Gillum which left most of Tallahassee ing corporate income tax and ists through social media and Trump did the right thing by would not be able to work with without power. raising the minimum wage. speeches he has made. moving the US embassy in Israel Trump, saying: “You need to be “This is not Russia,” Gillum And he repeatedly said that “The monkey up comment said to Jerusalem. able to work with the president. said. Tallahassee has the highest crime it all, and he has only continued in Referring to his opponent, the Andrew can’t do that. He wants “You shouldn’t have to kiss rate in the state, while Gillum the course of his campaign to draw Democrat Andrew Gillum, the to impeach Trump, he’s always the ring of the president of the repeatedly defended the city for all the attention he can to the col- Republican said: “I know Andrew saying bad things about him. I United States for the president being at a fi ve-year low in crime. our of my skin,” Gillum said. “And didn’t support that and doesn’t think I will be better positioned to see to the goodwill of the third Tapper brought up the fact the truth is, you know what? I’m think that’s right.” to advance Florida’s priorities largest state in all of America. that DeSantis said Florida voters black. I’ve been black I’ll my life Gillum looked at the host of because I have a productive re- “This is a democracy. We can dis- shouldn’t “monkey this up” by and as far as I know, I’ll die black.” the fi rst debate of the race, Jake lationship with the administra- sent, we can disagree and where electing Gillum as Florida’s fi rst Gillum leads in polls on the Florida Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis (left) looks Tapper of CNN, and said: “I’m tion.” it comes to working together, we black governor and refused to Florida race, which will be de- on during a CNN debate with Democratic gubernatorial candidate confused by the question.” Gillum said that despite his can do that too. If you want to return money from a donor who cided on 6 November. Andrew Gillum in Tampa on Sunday night. Gulf Times Tuesday, October 23, 2018 11 AMERICAS

UNDERGROUND ART TREMORS JUSTICE WAGE WOES DIPLOMACY 4 earthquakes strike off Wells Fargo to settle fraud Canada Post workers UN chief to meet Pompeo Canada’s west coast claims with New York go on rotating strike in Washington today

Four earthquakes — measuring from 4.9 to Wells Fargo & Co will pay $65mn to settle claims Canada Post workers yesterday went on a rotating UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres will head 6.8 magnitude — struck in quick succession that it misled investors about its “cross-selling” strike, aff ecting mail deliveries in four cities after to Washington today to speak with US Secretary off Canada’s west coast late Sunday, the US business strategy, the New York Attorney General’s nearly one year of stalled contract negotiations. The of State Mike Pompeo. Guterres will meet with Geological Survey said. The epicentre of the off ice said yesterday. A push by Wells Fargo to Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) said the US off icials and then with Pompeo later in the first 6.6 tremor, at 10.39pm, was located 218km get existing customers to buy more of the bank’s cities of Victoria, Edmonton, Windsor and Halifax afternoon, UN spokesman Farhan Haq said. Haq did southwest of Port Hardy — a small municipality on products, known as “cross-selling,” was at the would be impacted in the first round of disruptions. not elaborate on what topics would be discussed or British Columbia’s Vancouver Island — and 570km centre of a fake customer accounts scandal that has “Our goal has always been a negotiated settlement which US off icials Guterres plans to meet aside from northwest of Seattle. The second stronger quake, dogged the bank for two years. Wells Fargo failed but we will not agree to anything that doesn’t Pompeo. Pompeo recently held talks with North measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale, occurred to disclose to investors that the success of its cross- address health and safety, gender equality and Korean leader Kim Jong Un to lay the groundwork 200km southwest of the Canadian town at selling was built on sales practice misconduct. “The good, full-time middle-class jobs,” union president for a second summit between Kim and US President A tile mosaic, titled ‘Sky,’ by Yoko Ono 11.16pm. Six minutes later, a third 6.5 magnitude misconduct at Wells Fargo was widespread and Mike Palecek said in a statement. Its key demands Donald Trump. The meeting also comes as pressure adorns the walls of the newly re-opened and tremor was registered 220km southwest of Port at every level of management — impacting both include hiring of more staff to meet a 30% increase is mounting on the Trump administration to push renovated 72nd Street subway station on the Hardy — before a weaker 4.9 quake was recorded customers and investors who were misled,” New in parcel deliveries as well as an end to forced for answers over the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Upper West Side of Manhattan. in the same place 14 minutes after that. York Attorney General Barbara Underwood said. overtime and pay equity for rural carriers. Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. For Trump, Blaze of glory midterm is about 2020 By Sebastian Smith, AFP Working with Trump ‘not always simple,’ Trudeau Washington Canadian Prime Minister Justin find common ground, but we Trudeau said working with US managed to do it fairly well,” f you think the US midterms President Donald Trump is “not Trudeau said. are a rollercoaster, then always simple,” as he welcomed Relations between the two Ibuckle up, because the 2020 the successful renegotiation of leaders took a hit in June, when presidential election campaign is the North American Free Trade Trump taunted Trudeau as “very tearing right behind — and Don- Agreement. dishonest & weak” and “meek ald Trump is in the driver’s seat. Speaking on an episode of and mild” as he left a G7 summit Even as Americans prepare Quebec’s most popular talk show, in Canada that the prime minister to vote in November 6 midterm Tout Le Monde En Parle, broad- had hosted. congressional polls, Trump is cast on Sunday, Trudeau said he Ahead of his upcoming cam- Aerobatic pilot Sean Doherty Tucker flies over flames during his public solo performance demonstration during the Wings Over pushing for a head start in his had done his job of “standing up paign for next year’s elections, Houston Airshow at the Ellington Airport in Houston over the weekend. The 34th annual Wings Over Houston Airshow kicked off at race for reelection in two years. for Canadians” in agreeing the Trudeau vowed to tackle climate the Ellington Airport in Texas with thrilling aerial performances and displays. Traveling the country with rau- USMCA trade pact with the US, change. cous ‘Make America Great Again’ Canada and Mexico. “The reality is that we must rallies as often as four times a Asked about his relationship protect the environment while week, the president is galvaniz- with Trump, Trudeau cautiously creating economic growth that ing his fi ercely loyal base in hopes acknowledged it is “not always is sustainable and responsible,” of helping Republican candidates simple.” he said, going on to accuse the hold on to the House of Repre- “He knows it and so do I. We opposition Conservative party of Lioness kills father of cubs at Indianapolis zoo sentatives and Senate, where they are not aligned on many things having “no plan” on environmen- are expected to face a stiff chal- and it is sometimes diff icult to tal issues. lenge from opposition Democrats. Reuters with the animals so any loss aff ects us all The lioness had been on loan from the But the rallies — which fea- Indianapolis greatly. For a lot of us, it’s just like a family San Diego Zoo as part of the Species Sur- ture literally the same music “100%,” he replied when asked time on the high ground, greet- member,” David Hagan, curator of the Indi- vival Plan managed by Association of Zoos and many of the applause lines by Fox Business television if he ing each of his many potential anapolis Zoo, said in an interview. and Aquariums. as during Trump’s surprise 2016 wants that second term. challengers with fresh, often lioness has killed the father of her Zoo staff were alerted by “an unusu- The incident was under review but there presidential victory run — also Despite being a political new- catchy insults. three off spring, suff ocating her mate al amount of roaring” coming from the were no plans to change how the lions would mark the beginning of the 2020 comer, Trump has proven him- Leftwing independent Senator Aby locking her jaws onto his neck at lion pen yesterday and arrived to fi nd the be managed, the zoo said. campaign. self a formidable, if unorthodox Bernie Sanders is “crazy Bernie.” the Indianapolis Zoo in an attack not fully 12-year-old female lion Zuri in a fi ght with One of their off spring, a 3-year-old fe- Steve Bannon, Trump’s former — and many would say dirty — Hard-charging Senator Eliza- understood by zoo staff . the 10-year-old male lion Nyack, the zoo male named Sukari, was in the outdoor lion top adviser and right-wing guru, fi ghter. beth Warren is “Pocahontas” for The lions had been held together at the said in a statement. pen at the time, while the two male off - has called the midterms ‘Presi- His message, centered on jobs having claimed Native American zoo for eight years, producing three cubs in “She had Nyack by the neck. Keepers spring were kept in a separate part of the dent Trump’s fi rst re-elect’. and patriotism, is potent. heritage in her ancestry. 2015, and zookeepers had never before no- came up and saw what was occurring and exhibit. So even when Trump cam- And his delivery is unique in Corey Booker, an ambitious ticed any aggression between the two, the made an attempt to separate the two. But Zookeepers began separating the males paigns for local legislators, the American politics — combining black senator from New Jersey, zoo said in a statement yesterday. she continued to hang onto Nyack by the earlier this year, corresponding the age they rallies are still mostly about him playground behavior, like boast- “ran Newark, New Jersey, into The death devastated zookeepers and the neck until he stopped moving,” Hagan said. typically leave the pride, at two or three, and what he sees as his historic ing and name-calling, with a the ground.” cause may never be understood, the curator A necropsy found that Nyack died of suf- when they are considered young adults, accomplishments, ranging from sometimes brazen, even gleeful And former vice president of the zoo said. “They build strong bonds focation from injuries to the neck. Hagan said. stoking the world’s “hottest disregard of facts. Joe Biden — who opinion polls economy” to expelling “bad peo- The Democrats, believes Rob- say is best placed to recapture ple” at the Mexican border. ert Erikson, a Columbia Univer- the white working class vote “America,” he tells crowds, sity politics professor, have no from Trump — comes in for ex- over and over, “is winning like obvious solution. tra mockery. “Crazy Joe Biden is never before.” “Getting in the mud doesn’t trying to act like a tough guy. Ac- LA Hyperloop tunnel to open on Dec 10 Another favorite topic: Demo- work very well, I don’t think, and tually, he is weak, both mentally crat-bashing. if there’s somebody who can rise and physically,” Trump tweeted, He drew hoots of approval on above it with their majestic stat- predicting that in a punch-up AFP has been pushing the underground system Musk said vehicles could reach downtown Saturday in Elko, Nevada, when ure I don’t see who that can be,” Biden “would go down fast and New York as a futuristic concept that could radically LA from its international airport in under he described the opposition Erikson said. hard, crying all the way.” speed transport within and between cities. 10 minutes, with a long-term objective of party as “an angry, ruthless, un- Some, however, see the solu- But Erikson points out that In another tweeted response, Musk said reaching over 482kph. hinged mob” that wants to raise tion to this dilemma more clearly. neither side can take anything lon Musk’s Hyperloop ultra high- the test tunnel has a top speed of 250kph. Hyperloop is one of Musk’s envelope- taxes and “impose socialism on Former fi rst lady Michelle for granted. speed transport system will be un- Supporters of the technology have dis- pushing ventures, along with SpaceX and our country.” Obama once said that when Re- After all, two years is a long Eveiled in Los Angeles in early Decem- cussed a vision where a trip between Los Tesla Motors. A signifi cant extra boost from publicans “go low, we go high,” time, and a newcomer — like ber with free test rides to the public, the Angeles and New York might take 30 min- Another visionary entrepreneur, Richard the rally machine is the constant but according to Eric Holder, Trump or Barack Obama before entrepreneur has announced. “The fi rst utes instead of fi ve or six hours. Branson, who like Musk also is involved in addition of on-the-ground vol- who was Obama’s attorney gen- him — can turn the status quo on tunnel is almost done,” Musk said on Twit- A hyperloop is a shuttle that travels on space travel, is backing a Virgin Hyperloop unteers and raising of money. eral, that mantra can now be its head. ter late Sunday night. “Opens Dec 10.” magnetic rails, somewhat like a train, but One which has been testing in Nevada and With $106mn of donations safely ditched. “At this stage exactly four Responding to comments on Twitter, Musk which runs in a tube with little or no air. opened a research centre in southern Spain. already in the 2020 war chest, “When they go low, we kick years ago,” Erikson recalls, said there would be an opening event that In theory, hyperloops could allow travel And Canadian company Transpod is Trump easily outstrips any cur- ‘em,” is his advice for the new era. “Trump wasn’t even on the radar night and “free rides for the public next day.” faster than the speed of sound. working to begin testing the system in rent rivals. Certainly Trump’s wasting no as a serious candidate.” Musk’s venture, The Boring Company, In a presentation in Los Angeles in May, France. Lottery fever hits US as jackpots climb to $2.2bn

By Gina Cherelus, Reuters odds of one in 303mn to win the for an immediate cash payment ets for herself, her sister and two Website crashes New York Mega Millions drawing tonight. In of $904mn or receive the $1.6bn friends at a convenience store in comparison, the odds of getting prize over 29 years. Chicago. The US Mega Millions lottery killed by a shark are one in 3.7mn Nelson, a post-production Tomorrow’s Powerball lottery website crashed yesterday regory Baron, 24, and Ben in a lifetime, according to the In- manager based in Manhattan, prize stands at $620mn, making ahead of a record $1.6bn draw- Nelson, 27, were eagerly ternational Shark Attack File. said if he wins the jackpot he it the fi fth largest jackpot in US ing tonight. Gpurchasing $2 tickets Mega Millions set a world would travel and buy a farm in history, after no one got all six Visitors to the website saw yesterday for the Mega Millions record for lottery jackpots after northern California where he numbers in Saturday’s drawing. an error after more users than jackpot in hopes of winning the there were no winning numbers would raise Bernese Mountain The lump sum cash payout is normal visited the site, leading record-setting $1.6bn prize and for the $1bn prize on Friday. Dogs. estimated at $354.3mn. it to crash, said a spokeswoman becoming among the richest The previous record was a “You’d get all the boring stuff If there is more than one win- for the Maryland Gaming Com- people in the world. $1.586bn jackpot for a Powerball out of the way early, then I’d ner, the jackpot would be divided mission, which administers the “I would incorporate myself as drawing in 2016. make a feature fi lm,” he added. proportionately, as happened in website. a business and become my own About 280mn tickets were sold In Chicago, a crowded news- 2012 with a Mega Millions jackpot She did not know how soon company,” Baron said inside the for Friday’s drawing, with about stand inside the city’s Ogilvie of $656mn, a lottery offi cial said. the site could be restored. Port Authority Bus Terminal in 60% of all winning number Transportation Center was un- Mega Millions tickets are sold Manhattan, adding that he would combinations covered, said Seth able to display the record-setting in 44 US states, the District of also pay off his student loans and Elkin, a spokesman for the Mary- prize amount because $999mn Columbia and the Virgin Islands. odds of winning. The odds of parents’ mortgage and donate to land Lottery. was the highest number its elec- Several states allow online winning Mega Millions were charities if he wins. Tickets sold for today’s draw- tronic sign could show. ticket purchases, but they pro- lowered a year ago from 1 in 259 “I would want to set myself ing are expected to cover 75% of “It’s only $2. I’m spending hibit out-of-state and foreign mn to generate larger prizes. up, but still be working so I don’t all possible number combina- my coff ee money on this today,” purchases. “I’ll never win, but you gotta erode into nothingness,” Baron tions, he said. said Rita Gomez, a 51-year-old Both lottery jackpots have give it a shot,” Hank Kattan, 75, Signs display yesterday the jackpots for today’s Mega Millions and said. If a player hits all six numbers self-described occasional lotto been increased recently by rule said in Manhattan. “I’d like to tomorrow’s Powerball lottery drawings in New York City. Lottery players face long-shot to win the jackpot, they can opt player who was purchasing tick- changes that have reduced the change my way of life.” Gulf Times 12 Tuesday, October 23, 2018 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

US must ‘think twice’ Two US warships pass about nuclear treaty pullout, says China

AFP it is completely wrong to bring up Beijing China when talking about with- drawal from the treaty,” said Chi- through Taiwan Strait nese foreign ministry spokeswom- hina yesterday called on an Hua Chunying yesterday. Reuters open Indo-Pacifi c,” Command- The Pentagon says Washington our Taiwan policy, our one China ing to the United States to avoid the United States to “think The treaty has played an Taipei/Washington er Nate Christensen, deputy has sold Taiwan more than $15bn policy,” Randall Schriver, a US jeopardising “peace and stability” Ctwice” about its decision important role in advancing spokesman for US Pacifi c Fleet, in weaponry since 2010. assistant secretary of defence in the strategic waterway. to ditch a Cold War-era nuclear the disarmament process and said in a statement. China views Taiwan as a way- who helps guide Pentagon policy It has also viewed US over- weapons treaty with Russia. maintaining a strategic balance he United States sent two “The US Navy will continue to ward province and has been in Asia, told reporters travelling tures toward Taiwan with alarm, US President Donald Trump and global stability, Hua said. warships through the fl y, sail and operate anywhere in- ramping up pressure to assert with Mattis. including its unveiling a new de announced over the weekend his “Unilateral withdrawal will TTaiwan Strait yesterday ternational law allows,” he added. its sovereignty over the island. “So it was, I think, a familiar facto embassy in Taiwan and plan to withdraw from the 1987 have a multitude of negative in the second such operation Taiwan’s defence ministry It raised concerns over US policy exchange.” passage of the Taiwan Trav- Intermediate-Range Nuclear eff ects,” she told a regular this year, as the US military in- said it closely monitored the op- toward Taiwan in talks last week Taiwan is only one of a grow- el Act, which encourages US Forces Treaty, which banned news briefi ng. creases the frequency of transits eration and was able to “main- with US Defence Secretary Jim ing number of fl ashpoints in the offi cials to visit the island. ground-launch nuclear mis- Hua said China hoped the rel- through the strategic waterway tain the security of the seas and Mattis in Singapore. US-China relationship, which Military experts say the bal- siles with ranges from 500 to evant parties can “think twice despite opposition from China. the airspace” as it occurred. As the United States prepared also include a bitter trade war, ance of power between Taiwan 5,500km (300 to 3,500 miles). about the issue of withdrawing,” The voyage risks further There was no immediate for a fresh passage through the US sanctions, and China’s in- and China has shifted decisively But Trump said the Rus- in a reference to the US. heightening tensions with China comment from China. strait, it told China’s military creasingly muscular military in China’s favour in recent years, sians had been violating it “for On Sunday, Republican but will likely be viewed in self- The US Navy conducted a that its overall policy toward posture in the South China Sea. and China could easily over- many years” and that China, Senator Lindsey Graham ruled Taiwan as a sign of support similar mission in the strait’s in- Taiwan was unchanged. Taiwan’s relations with China whelm the island unless US forces not a signatory, remained free backed Trump’s plan to with- by President Donald Trump’s gov- ternational waters in July, which Mattis delivered that message have deteriorated since the is- came quickly to Taiwan’s aid. to develop such weapons. draw from the nuclear accord, ernment, amid growing friction had been the fi rst such voyage in to China’s Defence Minister Wei land’s President Tsai Ing-wen China has also alarmed Taiwan Two top Republican lawmak- saying the US needed to be between Taipei and Beijing. about a year. The latest operation Fenghe personally on Thurs- from the independence-leaning by ramping up military exercises ers backed Trump’s worries free to respond to a Chinese Reuters was fi rst to report US shows the US Navy is increasing day, on the sidelines of an Asian Democratic Progressive Party this year, including fl ying bomb- about China on Sunday, saying nuclear build-up. consideration of the sensitive the pace of strait passages. security forum. swept to power in 2016. ers and other military aircraft there are concerns the treaty is Washington has com- operation on Saturday. Washington has no formal ties “Minister Wei raised Taiwan Beijing, which has never re- around the island and sending holding the US back while al- plained for nearly two years “The ships’ transit through with Taiwan, but is bound by law and concerns about our policy. nounced the use of force to bring its aircraft carrier through the lowing China to move forward that a ground-launched mis- the Taiwan Strait demonstrates to help it defend itself and is the The Secretary reassured Minis- Taiwan under its control, respond- narrow Taiwan Strait separating with its own developments. sile system deployed by Russia the US commitment to a free and island’s main source of arms. ter Wei that we haven’t changed ed to the July passage with a warn- it from Taiwan. “It needs to be emphasised that breaches the treaty.

Taiwan probes Field of fireweed Japan tells train accident Facebook to improve AFP Yilan data safety

aiwan’s president pushed for a swift investiga- AFP tion yesterday after an express train derailed on Tokyo Ta coastal tourist route, killing 18 people as it sent sleeping passengers fl ying from their seats. The crash on the popular east coast line injured an- he Japanese government other 187 people on Sunday and left the Puyuma Express yesterday ordered Face- lying zig-zagged across the tracks in the island’s worst Tbook to improve protec- rail accident for a quarter century. tion of users’ personal informa- Among the victims were three students and two teach- tion following data breaches ers from a junior high school in Taitung – where the train aff ecting tens of millions of was headed. people worldwide. “Everyone is concerned about the cause of the inci- Facebook said early this month dent and I’ve asked prosecutors to clarify the situation... that hackers accessed the per- and the cause soon,” President Tsai Ing-wen told report- sonal data of 29mn users in a ers as she visited the scene of the accident yesterday. breach at the world’s leading so- A task force and forensic units will determine whether cial network fi rst disclosed late the derailment was “an accident or human error” pros- September. ecutor Chiang Jen-yu said as investigators combed The company had originally through the wreckage for evidence. said up to 50mn accounts were Passengers who survived the accident recalled how the aff ected in a cyberattack that ex- train had been shaking intensely during the journey and ploited a trio of software fl aws to was going “very fast” before it derailed. steal “access tokens” that enable One passenger who identifi ed herself as Chiu told reporters People walk in a field of fireweed, or Kochia scoparia, at the Hitachi Seaside Park in Hitachinaka, Japan yesterday. Fireweed is a grass bush people to automatically log back the train had stopped twice and there had been an announce- that takes on a bright red colour in autumn. onto the platform. ment that it needed repairs, but it had then restarted. Japan’s Personal Information “We felt that the speed was too fast, then there was a Protection Commission yester- crashing sound and we fl ew off (from the seats),” she said, day demanded the social media adding that many passengers were sleeping at the time. giant investigate why the per- An offi cial from the Taiwan Railways Administration sonal data was hacked and draw said the train driver had reported a pressure device used up preventive measures. for braking had malfunctioned 30 minutes before the ac- Australia evacuates 11 child refugees Facebook told Japanese au- cident, but that it should not have caused the train to go thorities the 29mn people too fast. hacked in the latest attack may The railways administration confi rmed that a Puyuma Reuters than 1,400 people are being held Although counting continues, aff ected farmers and other include Japanese users, top gov- Express train also derailed last year on the same line, but Sydney and some children suff er from Morrison is likely to have to rely on agriculture related policies. ernment spokesman Yoshihide no one was injured. worsening mental health. the support of fi ve independents McGowan stopped short of of- Suga has said. In total, Taiwan has a fl eet of 19 Puyuma Express More than 50 children and 600 to prevent a no-confi dence mo- fering her support to the govern- Facebook also acknowledged trains, all made in Japan. ustralia evacuated 11 child adults remain at the detention tion that could trigger an election. ment, saying she needed to hear earlier this year that tens of mil- The health ministry said yesterday that 53 remained in migrants yesterday from centre on Nauru. The next poll is due by May 2019. from Morrison on the refugee lions of users had their personal hospital, 10 of them in intensive care. Aa remote Pacifi c deten- Australia had steadfastly re- Kerryn Phelps, who is on issue. data hijacked by Cambridge Ana- Jerry Wang, the father of a surviving student from the tion centre for medical treatment fused to allow any refugees arriv- course to win in Wentworth, said “Ideally, I’d like the government lytica, a British political fi rm which school party, said the group had been returning from an in the country, one of the largest ing by boat to enter the country. Morrison should immediately re- to go full term, but we, the cross- worked for Donald Trump in 2016. exchange trip to South Korea. groups to be transferred since off - But two independent lawmakers locate child refugees from Nauru. benchers, will have those discus- Up to 100,000 Facebook users He said his 14-year-old son Wang Yu-fei had suff ered shore detentions began in 2013. said yesterday their support for “The fi rst order of business sions today with the prime minis- may have been aff ected in Japan in injuries to his stomach, kidneys, and pelvis, all due to Michael Pezzullo, secretary of Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s is to get kids off Nauru,” Phelps ter, the treasurer and various other that scandal, the commission said. massive frontal impact. the department of home aff airs, shaky government was tied to told Sky News Australia, echoing ministers,” she told the Australian “It is the fi rst time that the The student’s grandparents said he was now off life told lawmakers at a hearing that the fate of the child detainees on a similar demand from another Broadcasting Corporation. commission, which investigated support, but remained in intensive care. the 11 children were resettled Nauru. independent lawmaker, Cathy Analysts said the Wentworth the data leak with British au- “I was begging God to give him back to me,” said Wang. from the Pacifi c island of Nauru Morrison is poised to lose his McGowan. result could accelerate the time- thorities, has issued warnings to Offi cials said yesterday that the search for victims had and all would likely remain in one-seat parliamentary major- The resettlement announce- table for the next general election. Facebook,” an offi cial told said. ended at the accident site in the northeastern county of Australia. ity after voters in Sydney’s Went- ment came as Morrison sought a Australia’s Electoral Com- The commission also ordered Yilan and that no more passengers had been found in the The United Nations and rights worth by-election on Saturday meeting with the fi ve independ- mission yesterday said Phelps Facebook to communicate better carriages. groups have urged Australia to shunned the ruling Liberal Party ents. Two have already ruled out was leading Morrison’s Liberal with users and respond to them Cranes have lifted the mangled Puyuma Express evacuate detainees from the Pa- amid anger at the recent ousting supporting Morrison, and a third, candidate by nearly 1,700 votes, promptly, for example when coaches away from the southbound track. All eight car- cifi c islands of Nauru and Pa- of former prime minister Mal- Bob Katter, has made demands with 3,000 postal votes yet to be they request their accounts be riages derailed and fi ve had fl ipped onto their side. pua New Guinea, where more colm Turnbull. regarding loans for drought- counted. deleted.

Koreas, UN forces agree to Mass dance remove weapons at border

Reuters implement their military deal. Seoul The announcement comes amid US concerns that the inter-Korean military initiative could undermine orth and South Korea and the defence readiness and comes with- UN Command agreed yesterday out substantial progress on North Nto withdraw fi rearms and guard Korea’s promised denuclearisation. posts in the demilitarised zone village of The neighbours are looking to Panmunjom this week, Seoul’s defence withdraw 11 guard posts within a ministry said, the latest move in a fast- 1km (0.6-mile) radius of the Military improving relationship. Demarcation Line on their border by The three sides held their second the end of the year. round of talks at Panmunjom to discuss They also plan to pull out all fi rearms ways to demilitarise the border in line from a Joint Security Area (JSA) at Pan- with a recent inter-Korean pact reached munjom and cut to 35 each the numbers at last month’s summit in Pyongyang. of personnel stationed there and share The US-led UNC, which has over- information on surveillance equipment. seen aff airs in the DMZ since the end At yesterday’s meeting, the three of hostilities in the 1950-53 Korean sides agreed to remove fi rearms and War, was not immediately available guard posts from the JSA by Thursday, for comment, but it said on Friday it and carry out a joint inspection over the Performers taking part in a mass square dance in Jiangyin city, near Wuxi, Jiangsu Province of China. supports the two Koreas’ eff orts to following two days, the ministry said. Gulf Times Tuesday, October 23, 2018 13

BRITAIN Superbugs to kill more than cancer and diabetes, MPs warn Daily Mail found. Experts have warned that could reach 10mn a year globally on antimicrobial medicines to not profi table for pharmaceutical the committee chair, said: “In six dramatically reduce the threat of London routine hospital operations could within the next 30 years. protect them while their immune fi rms. months we want to see tangible antimicrobial resistance. But it become too dangerous if common The report by the House of systems are weakened by chem- This is because new antibiotics progress on implementing prac- said there has been great variation medications become ineff ective. Commons’ health and social care otherapy. However, the report would only be prescribed spar- tical policies to reverse the wor- in uptake of the tools. uperbugs will kill more peo- They fear the antibiotics cri- select committee says the gov- warns that patients may soon face ingly rather than as a fi rst-line rying exodus from AMR research It suggests a single organisation ple than cancer and diabe- sis is getting worse, with grow- ernment has not done enough to agonising decisions over whether treatment like other medications. and development and both gov- should be given responsibility for Stes combined by 2050 un- ing concerns the drugs are losing combat antimicrobial resistance or not to have cancer treatment The report suggests new ways ernment and industry should play co-ordinating prompt evidence- less something is done to tackle their eff ect and can no longer treat and must make it ‘a top-fi ve pol- or surgery because risk of death of funding potential treatments their part in tackling this issue.” based prescriptions of such medi- antibiotic resistance, MPs have many infections. icy priority’. through microbial infection may are needed to make it worthwhile Figures show doctors have cut cines across the NHS. warned. It is estimated that drug-re- Professor Dame Sally Davies, outweigh the benefi ts of treat- for drugs companies. This could prescription rates by 13% in fi ve Last month the committee Despite drives to reduce pre- sistant strains of bacteria are re- England’s chief medical offi cer, ment. involve changes to patent law and years but these are still double heard that the problem had been scription rates, British doctors sponsible for 5,000 deaths a year told the inquiry that failing to do Despite the growing threat, no to the ways in which pharmaceu- those of the Netherlands, Swe- a ‘top-fi ve’ issue under David are still doling out twice as many in the UK and 25,000 a year in so would mean ‘modern medicine new antibiotic classes have been tical companies are reimbursed den and the Baltic States. The re- Cameron’s government, but has antibiotics as some of their Eu- Europe. is lost’. developed for decades and re- for new antimicrobial medicines. port found digital health tools for since slipped down the policy ropean counterparts, a report has But experts say the death toll Cancer patients often depend search is declining because it is Tory MP Dr Sarah Wollaston, clinicians and policymakers can agenda. Universities Students celebrate ‘Raisin Weekend’ face grade infl ation crackdown

Guardian News and Media individual subjects will be rated London gold, silver or bronze. The Universities Minister, Sam Gyimah, said: “When you look at he government has an- what makes our universities so nounced plans to crack prestigious, it comes down to the Tdown on grade infl ation in value of our degrees. The value universities amid fears that the of those degrees is threatened growing number of fi rst-class by grade infl ation and that is a degrees being awarded to stu- problem for students, employers dents is undermining their value. and the universities themselves. More than a quarter of gradu- “These new measures will look ates (26%) were awarded a fi rst- at how we can protect our glo- class degree last year, up from bally recognised higher educa- 18% in 2012-13, according to data tion system by discouraging uni- from the Higher Education Sta- versities from undermining the tistics Agency. reverence a degree qualifi cation In order to curb the trend, from the UK commands.” Students from St Andrews University are covered in foam as they take part in the traditional ‘Raisin Weekend’ in the Lower College Lawn, at St Andrews in Scotland yesterday. experts who assess higher edu- According to offi cial fi gures cation providers for the govern- released earlier this year, British ment’s university ratings system universities have been handing will be asked to look at the per- out higher-class degrees at an centage of fi rsts and 2:1s awarded unprecedented rate over the past by each institution. If judged ex- decade, with at least one univer- cessive, the university could be sity issuing fi ve times as many downgraded. fi rst-class degrees last year as it Universities are awarded a did a decade before. gold, silver or bronze within the In the 2006-7 academic year at Teaching Excellence and Student the University of Wolverhampton 95% of Brexit deal is Outcomes Framework (TEF), 175 students (5% of the total) were which rates universities annually awarded fi rst-class degrees. In based on a number of criterion 2016-17, 973 students (28% of the including student experience total) were awarded fi rsts. and teaching quality. In contrast, at Warwick Uni- TEF panellists, who are made versity the proportion of fi rst- up of academics, students and class degrees rose from 22% in done, insists premier higher education experts, will be 2006-7 to 27% a decade later and asked to look at grade infl ation as the proportion of 2:1s remained Reuters the negotiations, the hardest part end date of December 2020 has border between Northern Ireland nothing new to ease the deadlock. an additional criteria when mak- the same at 54%. Surrey Univer- London of all,” May told a combative ses- further riled both pro- and anti- and EU member state Ireland. Since then, her proposal to ing their assessment of each uni- sity awarded fi rsts to 41% of its sion of parliament. EU factions in her deeply split British and EU leaders are com- extend the transition period has versity. graduates last year, Oxford 33% Financial markets seized on the Conservative Party. mitted to avoiding obstacles at stoked anger among Conserva- There will be no set targets but and Cambridge 32%. rime Minister Theresa May possibility that May could be top- Yesterday, in an attempt to the border, a crucial aspect of the tive eurosceptics, who fear she assessors will be asked to review Many within the higher educa- urged restive lawmakers to pled as prime minister by rebels highlight how much progress has 1998 Good Friday peace deal that is leading Britain into a deal that the number of fi rsts and 2:1s each tion sector blame pressure from Pback her in the fi nal stages in her Conservative Party, driving been made in more than a year of ended decades of Irish sectarian will make Britain a “vassal state” university has awarded over re- league tables and from students, of Britain’s exit from the European sterling below $1.30 to its lowest talks with the EU, she told parlia- bloodshed. indefi nitely — unable ever to fully cent years and decide whether who want value for money as they Union, saying talks were in their since October 4. ment the government has reached The EU proposal for Northern leave the EU or to forge its own there has been unacceptable leave university with huge debts most diffi cult stage even if a deal With just over fi ve months until agreements on everything from Ireland to remain in the bloc’s free trade deals with other coun- grade infl ation. If so, the univer- after investing more than £9,000 was close. Britain is scheduled to exit the EU, Gibraltar to future security over customs union has been rejected tries. sity might be downgraded from a in annual tuition fees. Facing some of the fi ercest at- talks have stalled over a disagree- the last three weeks. by May as it would potentially Critics of May used the Sunday gold to silver rating. Asked about grade infl ation, tacks to date over her Brexit plans ment on the so-called Northern “Taking all of this together, create barriers to trade with the newspapers to rhetorically sav- The measure will be trialled in a spokesperson for Universities after again failing to clinch a deal Irish “backstop”, an insurance 95% of the Withdrawal Agree- rest of Britain — something ruled age the premier, with unnamed a series of pilots in 50 institutions UK said the sector had changed at an EU summit last week, May policy to ensure there will be no ment and its protocols are now out by Northern Ireland’s DUP rivals using phrases such as “as- this year, before being formally signifi cantly in recent years, with tried to calm passions in parlia- return to a hard border on the is- settled,” she said. “The shape of party, whose 10 votes in parlia- sassination is in the air”. A vote included and used to inform uni- universities putting more em- ment where her strategy has an- land of Ireland if a future trading the deal across the vast majority of ment prop up May’s government. of no-confi dence in May would versity ratings in the summer of phasis on the quality of teach- gered eurosceptics and EU sup- relationship is not agreed in time. the Withdrawal Agreement is now At an EU summit in Brussels be triggered if 48 Conservative 2020. The government also con- ing, alongside the fact that with porters alike. But May’s attempt to unlock clear.” But the deal - the terms last week, any agreement seemed lawmakers submit letters to the fi rmed that progress was being higher fees students may be “Serving our national inter- the talks by considering an exten- of Britain’s divorce - cannot be just as far off as it did months ear- chairman of the party’s so-called made on extending the TEF rat- working harder to achieve higher est will demand that we hold our sion to a status-quo transition pe- signed off until the two sides set- lier, with EU offi cials and diplo- “1922 Committee” of backbench- ing system to subject level so that grades. nerve through these last stages of riod beyond the current proposed tle on future management of the mats saying that May had off ered ers to demand such a vote.

Plant opened School stops students from Govt eyes cotton buds talking in the corridors and plastic straws ban Guardian News and Media these items to try to force busi- London nesses to off er readily available Guardian News and Media dent movement including to environment that works against non-plastic alternatives. London and from assembly, at lesson learning, against what the school The ban would come into force changeover and towards com- is there to do, which is to edu- lastic straws, drink stir- at some point between October munal areas at break and lunch” cate, not control and punish.” rers and cotton buds could 2019 and October 2020, subject secondary school has would be carried out in silence, Ninestiles, an academy school Pbe banned within a year to the views collected during banned pupils from talk- but that pupils would be able with 1,345 pupils aged 11-18, is under government plans to cut consultation. Mindful that the Aing between lessons, to speak to each other in desig- rated “outstanding” by Ofsted. pollution, Michael Gove an- use of plastic straws can be nec- threatening detention to children nated areas at break and lunch In a joint statement, acting co- nounced. essary for medical reasons, ex- who break the rule. times. headteachers Alex Hughes and Launching a consultation on emptions will be included in any In a letter to parents, Nines- “The sanction for breaking Andrea Stephens defended the the proposals yesterday, the en- legislation. tiles school in Acocks Green, the silent corridor rule will ini- policy, but said it would be re- vironment secretary cited the The EU announced earlier Birmingham, said pupils would tially be a 20-minute detention; viewed at the end of the autumn success of the 5p charge on sin- this year that it would introduce be expected to move around the any repeated failure to follow term. gle-use plastic bags, which led to similar measures, prompting building in silence when they the school policy will result in an “Ninestiles is committed to an 86% drop in their use at major calls for the UK to follow Brus- return after the half-term holi- appropriate escalation of sanc- the highest standards of behav- supermarkets. sels’ lead since the change was days. tions,” the letter said. iour and we know that students It is estimated that 4.7bn plas- unlikely to come early enough to “We know that behaviour is Some parents have criticised arriving to lessons ready to learn tic straws, 316mn plastic stir- be part of the tranche of EU laws already of a high standard but we the announcement, with one can be further supported by do- rers and 1.8bn plastic-stemmed due to be transposed into British want and expect more from our woman, who didn’t want to be ing so in silence at certain points cotton buds are used in England law after Brexit. learners, and so from November named, telling BirminghamLive, in the day,” they said. each year. About 10% of cotton “Our precious oceans and 5, students will move around the that she could not see the edu- “This is already an expectation buds are fl ushed down toilets the wildlife within need urgent building in silence during change cational purpose of silent corri- for arrival at exams and during and can end up in waterways and protection from the devasta- over times,” the letter read. dors. “It alienates young people fi re drills and, as such, is sim- First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon applauds as she oceans, costing local authorities tion throwaway plastic items can “This will ensure students ar- and makes school feel like a pris- ply an extension of that code of visits to off icially open GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK’s) new millions to clean up. cause,” Gove said. “I commend rive calmly and ready to learn on rather than a place of learn- behaviour. We will review this production building in Montrose, Scotland, yesterday. Cotton buds can cost local retailers, bars and restaurants and staff can give out any infor- ing,” she said. change at the end of Term 2 and Sturgeon later joined GSK’s new CEO Emma Walmsley for a tour governments millions to clean up that have already committed to mation they need to swiftly and “Would any of us go to a work- the views of our students, par- of the new building where active pharmaceutical ingredients from waterways. removing plastic straws and stir- easily.” place where this was the case? As ents and carers will be welcomed (APIs) for use in GSK’s Ellipta inhaler will be produced. The government is seeking to rers, but we recognise we need to The school said that “all stu- a parent, I feel this is creating an as part of that process.” ban the distribution and sale of do more.” Gulf Times 14 Tuesday, October 23, 2018 BRITAIN

NHS chief fl ees Wales to get better cancer care for husband

Daily Mail attack on the Labour-run de- is a key factor in our decision to spreading cancer was not spot- getting referred into the hospital a senior manager in the former responsibility when things London volved government over failings move.” ted. His local health board, Hy- system, then, having had a scan, Gwent health authority and sits went wrong. she blamed for aff ecting patients’ Her husband, who she did not wel Dda, has since apologised. fi nding that it has been misread on the NHS Wales emergency “We have a void in Welsh gov- lives. publicly name, is suff ering with “My husband has been diag- and the spread of the cancer ambulance services committee. ernment where health policy senior NHS adviser in The Oxford-educated pro- advanced prostate cancer. nosed with advanced prostate not recognised. All those things She was also professor of should be made,” she added. Wales has revealed she is fessor, who has been one of the He declined to elaborate on cancer,” professor McClelland made a situation that was always health policy at the Welsh In- “There is neither capacity nor, I’d Amoving to England to get NHS’s top policy makers and mistakes made in his care when told the BBC. “It’s been a very dif- going to be hard, much more dif- stitute for Health and Social suggest, suffi cient capability in better cancer treatment for her administrators in Wales for the contacted at their home in a fi cult journey. It would be for any- fi cult. Care and served on the Aneurin Welsh government to be making husband. past 30 years, said: “We have put coastal village near Tenby, Pem- body in those circumstances, but “We live in a beautiful place Bevan University health board. really good health policy. Professor Siobhan McClelland our house on the market. We’ve brokeshire. However, it is un- it’s been made much harder be- but can’t enjoy that if we are so But she said politicians struggle “The way the system is struc- condemned the management of lost confi dence and trust in the derstood he experienced delays cause of problems in the system. anxious about what might hap- to get health boards to ‘do what tured is fundamentally fl awed. NHS Wales as ‘fundamentally healthcare system here – not the getting GP appointments and a “The diffi culty in the rst fi place pen.” they want’ and it was ‘conven- And that is impacting on patients fl awed’ and launched a stinging staff . The healthcare system here scan was misread that meant the in getting a GP appointment and Professor McClelland has been ient’ for ministers to abdicate and their families.”

Meghan joins Harry Infected blood to meet royal fans after rest victims ‘forced

AFP Fraser Island, Australia to sign away eghan, the pregnant wife of Prince Harry, Myesterday emerged from her break from offi cial du- ties to greet excited fans on the stunning World Heritage-listed right to sue’ Fraser Island during the royal couple’s Australian tour. Daily Mail donated by prisoners, the home- er it up over several decades.” The Duchess of Sussex skipped London less and prostitutes for cash. Sharon Hodgson, Labour’s most of the day’s events on the is- Many were contaminated with shadow health minister, said: land off Queensland state, after a HIV and hepatitis and they were “This is a horrifying and shame- packed tour that has seen the pair ictims of the contami- never screened or heat-treated. ful series of events.” travel to Sydney, Melbourne and nated blood scandal were The patients made to sign the One patient who was made the regional town of Dubbo since Vpersuaded to sign away contract all had haemophilia and to sign the contract said he was touching down in Australia last their legal rights without know- had been trying to take a group told by his solicitor that if he re- Monday. ing they had a second deadly legal action against the depart- fused, none of the other patients But she appeared in the late condition, the Daily Mail re- ment of health after fi nding out would get their money. Adrian, afternoon for a public meet-and- vealed. they had HIV. who doesn’t wish to reveal his greet with her husband, delight- More than 1,200 patients who Campaigners say the govern- full identity, said: “He told us it ing the large crowd at Kingfi sher had been infected with HIV were ment was desperate to keep the had to be everybody, or nobody. Bay. forced to sign a contract with scandal away from the court If one person didn’t sign, the fi - Wearing a striped linen maxi government offi cials promising for fear of the publicity, crimi- nancial thing wouldn’t happen.” dress, reportedly by sustainable to drop all legal action. nal charges and compensation Most patients only found out LA brand Reformation, the pair After they signed, they were claims that might follow. they had been infected with hep- walked down the jetty and re- told they had also been infected The contract, sent out via pa- atitis C in 1994 and 1995 when ceived more baby gifts – includ- with hepatitis C. tients’ solicitors, states: “I under- the department of health carried ing quilts and stuff ed toys – from The contracts were signed in take not to bring any proceedings out further testing and results locals. 1991 and victims were each paid against the Crown or any health were shared with doctors. One 16-year-old boy, who was a cash sum of about £24,000, service body now or at any time Had patients found out earlier, carrying the sign “Meghan Mar- depending on their age, mari- in the future in respect of the they could have been given treat- kle you make my world sparkle” tal status and whether they had said infection of (blank space for ments to encourage their im- was so excited that he had met the children. name) by human-immuno defi - mune system to attack the virus. Duchess that he forgot what she The department of health was ciency virus or hepatitis virus.” Although the drugs weren’t as said to him. aware in 1989 that the patients Jason Evans, the founder of advanced as those available to- “She was just really thankful,” had hepatitis C – which causes Factor 8, whose father died in day, they would have signifi cant- he told news.com.au. severe liver damage – but didn’t 1993 after being infected from ly improved the patients’ survival Earlier, the loved-up couple ar- tell them until after the contracts both hepatitis C and HIV, said: “It chances. rived in Queensland by plane be- had been signed. Patients with was the greatest trick the depart- The Mail has seen documents fore travelling to the island sepa- both HIV and hepatitis C tend ment of health would ever pull on which show that department rately. Harry boarded a barge, a to die much more quickly than them. The government and civil of health offi cials were aware in route used by tourists to travel to those with just one of the viruses. service in this country wanted to 1989 that the patients had hepa- the island, while the Duchess of The contracts expose a shock- bury the truth about what hap- titis C. Tests had been carried out Sussex took a diff erent vessel and ing cover-up by the government pened. They had their reasons: on patients’ blood without their then retreated to a private resi- in what is considered the NHS’s criminal prosecutions were oc- knowledge when they attended dence. worst treatment disaster. curring in other countries such haemophilia clinics. Her choice of dress for the Up to 7,500 patients are as France, the potential liability A letter sent by an offi cial boat, a maroon number with thought to have been infected was enormous and senior offi cials from the department in Octo- white polka dots, sparked ex- with diseases after being given stood to be in real trouble.” ber 1989 states: “In the case of citement in Queensland, as the blood products or transfusions Labour MP Diana Johnson, NANB hepatitis (hepatitis C), the deep brownish-red happens to in the 1970s and 1980s. Many who campaigned for the public majority of haemophiliacs be- also been the offi cial colour of had the blood-clotting disorder inquiry into the scandal, said: came infected after frequent use the state. haemophilia and relied on regu- “The scale of the contaminated of concentrate, more quickly if The Duke of Sussex then head- lar injections of a medicine called blood scandal is truly shocking. commercial rather than UK con- ed to the peaceful shores of Lake Factor VIII, made from human As the public inquiry proceeds, centrate was used.” McKenzie, where he was greeted blood. further disturbing revelations It adds: “The new hepatitis C with a traditional Aboriginal cer- Britain was running low on will no doubt come to light both antibody test has shown the ma- emony from the local Butchulla Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, receive gifts from the crowd as they walk along Factor VIII so imported supplies regarding the original errors that jority of severe haemophiliacs to people. Kingfisher Bay Jetty during a visit to Fraser Island, Australia. from the US where they had been were made and the eff orts to cov- be positive.”

Anti-fracking demo Govt car wash scheme Ryanair passenger’s racist to tackle labour abuses rant prompts police probe Thomson Reuters Foundation wages,” said Darryl Dixon, head London of strategy at the Gangmas- ters and Labour Abuse Author- Reuters “Essex Police takes prejudice- comes as the Irish low-cost ity (GLAA), Britain’s anti-slavery London based crime seriously and we carrier, Europe’s largest, an- government scheme to body. want all incidents to be report- nounced yesterday a 7% fall in tackle labour abuses and “This scheme is a big step for- ed. We are working closely with profi ts in the fi rst six months of Amodern slavery at Brit- ward to address these issues.” olice have launched an Ryanair and the Spanish au- the year. ain’s hand car washes was an- Workers at most of the about investigation after foot- thorities on the investigation,” Ryanair has been grap- nounced yesterday, following 20,000 hand car washes in Brit- Page of a man shouting the police said in a statement. pling with the impact of recent concerns that Eastern European ain are victims of exploitation, racist abuse at an elderly black The video was taken by an- strikes, high fuel costs and in- workers are being exploited and according to a report last week woman on a Ryanair flight other passenger while the plane tense competition. enslaved at thousands of unreg- by modern slavery experts from went viral over the weekend, was waiting to take off from Britain’s interior minister re- ulated sites across the country. Nottingham University and the with the airline facing criti- Barcelona to London Stansted signed earlier this year over the The Responsible Car Wash Offi ce of the Independent Anti- cism over how it dealt with the airport on Friday. After the ar- treatment of some Caribbean Scheme will recognise busi- Slavery Commissioner. incident. gument, the woman was even- “Windrush” migrants who were nesses that operate legally, hire The lack of a system to register The unidentifi ed man insult- tually moved from her seat. invited to Britain after World and treat their employees fairly, and licence such fi rms has al- ed her after complaining that A fl ight attendant appears to War II but were left without and protect the environment, lowed them to fl ourish with little she had inconvenienced him as tell the man he will discuss the documents and denied basic according to police, industry oversight, the report said. he tried to reach his seat aboard. incident with his supervisor, but rights, a scandal that highlight- players and government agencies Police and state offi cials are “Don’t talk to me in a foreign the passenger is left in his place. ed persistent racial inequalities which together developed the ramping up investigations but language you stupid ugly cow,” “I’ve seen airlines ground to a in British society. initiative. say the crime is hard to crack with the man tells the woman before halt, and police called, and pas- Lawrence added that the Thousands of workers in Brit- countless car washes thought to a man in the row behind asks sengers escorted off of planes woman, who he is in touch with, ain’s car washes are estimated be fl outing laws, most victims him to stop. for less,” David Lawrence, who was from the Windrush genera- to be slaves — mostly men lured too scared to speak out, and the “I will carry on as long as I can recorded the video, told BBC tion, and that the frequency of from Eastern Europe then trapped cash-squeezed public seeking with this ugly black woman,” he Radio. such racist abuse made people in debt bondage, forced to work ever cheaper services. retorts. ‘They (Ryanair) took too long numb to it. in unsafe conditions, stripped of “Victims do not always rec- Ryanair said that they were to respond to this. The fi lm was “If the roles had been re- their documents and subjected to ognise or accept themselves as aware of the matter and had re- posted for two days and it is only versed, if that was a black man threats, abuse and violence. such...this can make prosecu- ported it to the police. now that they are responding, abusing an elderly, disabled “We have seen numerous tions under the Modern Slavery The airline’s chief fi nancial which is absolutely unaccept- white woman, I know that the A protester stands outside Cuadrilla’s Preston Road fracking problems across this industry, Act extremely diffi cult,” Phil offi cer declined to comment on able. It was so unprofessional.’ outcome would have been com- site near Blackpool, Britain, yesterday. from modern day slavery, debt Brewer, head of the Metropolitan the story. The police investigation pletely diff erent,” he said. bondage, failure to pay proper Police’s anti-slavery unit said. Gulf Times Tuesday, October 23, 2018 15 EUROPE

Teenager charged over fake Russia pledges to restore gun threat

AFP Paris military balance with US

Reuters French teenager who was Moscow fi lmed threatening his Ateacher with a fake gun in a tough Paris suburb has been ussia said yesterday that charged with aggravated vio- it would be forced to re- lence, prosecutors said. Rspond in kind to restore The incident, which was the military balance with the fi lmed and uploaded onto social United States if President Don- media by one of the 15-year- ald Trump carried through on a old’s classmates, took place on threat to quit a landmark nuclear Thursday at a high school in the arms treaty and began develop- southeastern suburb of Creteil. ing new missiles. It drew widespread condem- However, Russia also sig- nation, including from Presi- nalled that it may be willing to dent Emmanuel Macron and give some ground, with a senior members of his cabinet as well as Kremlin offi cial telling Trump’s the right-wing opposition con- national security adviser that demned the incident. Russia is ready to address US The daily Le Parisien reported concerns about how the 1987 Putin: meeting Bolton today. that the student admitted to Intermediate-Range Nuclear pointing the imitation gun at the Forces (INF) Treaty was being Moscow is developing and has Moscow, had talks with Nikolai teacher, but said it was meant implemented. deployed a ground-launched Patrushev, the secretary of Rus- “as a joke” and that he was not Trump drew a warning of system in breach of the treaty sia’s Security Council. aware he was being fi lmed. “military-technical” retalia- that could allow it to launch a In a statement issued after- He presented himself to police tion from Moscow after saying nuclear strike on Europe at short wards via Russia’s Tass news on Friday accompanied by his on Saturday that Washington notice. agency, the Security Council father. would withdraw from the Cold Trump said the United States said that Patrushev had empha- The video shows the boy War-era pact which rid Europe would develop equivalent weap- sised Russia’s view that the INF standing over the seated teacher, of land-based nuclear missiles. ons unless Russia and China treaty should be retained, and brandishing what turned out to Signed by then-president Ro- agreed to a halt in development. tearing it up would undermine A Russian flag flies near to the US embassy building in Moscow. be an air gun. nald Reagan and reformist So- China is not a party to the international arms control. “You’ve marked me absent. viet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in treaty. “The Russian side ... con- hundreds of SS-20 ballistic “The United States and the Washington to withdraw from Mark me as present,” he shouts 1987 at a time of unprecedented Peskov said that President fi rmed their readiness to work missiles armed with nuclear Russian Federation need to re- the INF treaty once it had given as another student tries to plead East-West détente, the INF Vladimir Putin had repeatedly jointly in the interests of remov- warheads which had a range of main engaged in constructive offi cial notifi cation it was leav- his case with the teacher, who treaty required the elimination warned that the demise of the ing mutual grievances about the 5,500km, as a result. dialogue to preserve the INF ing, something he noted it had appears more weary than pan- of all short-range and interme- treaty would force Moscow to implementation of the agree- Many of them had been point- Treaty,” Maja Kocijancic, the not yet done. icked and continues working on diate-range land-based nuclear take specifi c military steps to ment,” the statement said. ed at Europe. bloc’s spokeswoman for for- That meant the question of her laptop while exchanging a and conventional missiles held protect its own security. Bolton was due to meet For- The North Atlantic Treaty eign aff airs and security policy, Russia acting to restore the mili- few remarks with the class. by both countries in Europe. “Scrapping the provisions of eign Minister Sergei Lavrov lat- Organisation (Nato)’s decision said in a statement. “The world tary balance between Washing- She fi led a police complaint on Its demise could raise the the INF treaty forces Russia to er, and to see Putin today. to station Cruise and Pershing doesn’t need a new arms race.” ton and Moscow was not “for Friday. prospect of a renewed arms take measures for its own secu- Peskov said that Trump’s de- nuclear missiles in Europe pro- French President Emmanuel today or tomorrow”, he said. Education Minister Jean- race, and Gorbachev, now a frail rity because what does scrap- cision to quit the pact would be a voked waves of protests in the Macron spoke to Trump on Sun- Peskov denied US accusations Michel Blanquer and Interior 87-year-old, has warned that ping the INF treaty mean?” said subject for discussion with Bol- 1980s from anti-nuclear cam- day to stress the importance of that Russia had breached the Minister Christophe Castaner unravelling it could have cata- Peskov. ton, and that Moscow was look- paigners who felt their deploy- the treaty, his offi ce said yester- treaty, alleging that the United said in a joint statement on Sun- strophic consequences. “It means that the United ing for a detailed explanation as ment would turn Europe into a day. States was the one at fault and day that they would convene a Yesterday Kremlin spokesman States is not disguising, but is to why Washington had decided potential nuclear battlefi eld. The German government said had been steadily undermining top-level meeting this week to Dmitry Peskov called Trump’s openly starting to develop these to turn its back on the treaty. The 28-member European it regretted Trump’s decision, it. discuss ways to end violence in withdrawal plan a matter of deep systems in the future, and if The INF treaty required the Union called the INF treaty “a saying that Nato would now have “Putin has said many times schools in low-income city sub- concern for Moscow. these systems are being devel- United States and the Soviet Un- pillar of European security ar- to discuss the development. that the United States de facto is urbs. “Such measures can make the oped, then actions are necessary ion to forego all nuclear ground- chitecture”, which had resulted China has also condemned taking measures that are erod- Le Parisien said the teen- world more dangerous,” he said from other countries, in this launched ballistic and cruise in the destruction of almost Trump’s move, saying that it is ing the conditions of this treaty,” ager was angry that the teacher during a daily conference call case Russia, to restore balance in missiles with a range of 500km 3,000 nuclear and conventional wrong to unilaterally pull out of said Peskov, referring to strike marked him down as absent with reporters. this sphere.” to 5,500km, eliminating an en- warheads and continued to play the treaty. drones and anti-missile systems when he had been merely late for Despite repeated Russian de- Trump’s national security ad- tire category of weapon. an important non-proliferation In Moscow, Peskov said that capable of destroying short- and class. nials, US authorities believe viser, John Bolton, on a visit to The Soviet Union scrapped role. there is a six-month period for intermediate-range rockets.

Two children die aft er migrant boat sinks Former students sue French state Spain returns 55 Two children died after a boat carrying migrants sank just 50m off Turkey’s western coast near By Angelique Chrisafis cident that he was “shocked” he migrants to Morocco Bodrum early yesterday. Guardian News & Media was stopped by police when he Seventeen people on the boat was with his teacher. were rescued from the sea and “She represents the state too,” after Melilla storming seventeen others were found on hree former high school he said. the shore, the coastguard said. students are suing the He added: “We feel that if we Reuters television footage from TFrench state for racial do nothing, this will never stop: AFP A smuggling route through the scene showed attempts being discrimination, saying that they my little brothers, my chil- Madrid Libya to Italy has also been com- made to resuscitate a girl on the were stopped and searched by dren, my grandchildren will go plicated by confl ict and violence beach and an unconscious child police on a school trip because through the same thing.” there. being carried from the water to a of their skin colour. In court, the French inte- pain sent 55 migrants back One man who took part in the nearby ambulance. The high-profi le court case, rior ministry will have to prove to Morocco yesterday, a day mass storming of the border died The coastguard did not specify which opened in Paris yesterday, solid reasons why the boys were Safter they forced their way shortly after he entered Melilla of the migrants’ nationalities. is the latest legal battle in France stopped. into the Spanish territory of Me- a suspected heart attack. Two children later died at hospital. over men of black and north Af- Black or Arab men in France are 20 times more likely than others to In a report published last year, lilla during an assault on the bor- “The preliminary results of rican heritage being routinely be stopped for identity checks, a report found. the French rights ombudsman der in which two migrants died the autopsy indicate there is no pulled over on the street and estimated that black or Arab and 19 were injured. external injury which caused his More than 47,000 migrants asked to show their identity pa- 2017 where they had been learn- Saint-Denis, described how she men in France were 20 times A total of 208 migrants entered death,” the statement said. have made it north to Spain since pers with no explanation. ing about democracy and the was shocked that police stopped more likely than others to be Melilla on Sunday after climb- Another migrant died on the the start of the year, including Lawyers for the high school European Union. her pupils, saying that the offi c- stopped by police for identity ing over two barbed wire fences Moroccan side of the border in about 5,000 by land, according students argue that the French Their train from Brussels had ers were rude to the boys, using checks. which separate the tiny territory the bid to cross over to Melilla. to the International Organisation police continue to use racial just arrived at Paris’s Gare du the informal “tu” form of ad- Often these checks came with from northern Morocco. Moroccan authorities arrested for Migration. profi ling to arbitrarily stop non- Nord station around 8pm and dress, and were rude to her when no explanation. Madrid has “readmitted 55 141 people as they tried to cross. An increasing number of Mo- white people, despite a land- the boys, aged between 18 and she attempted to intervene. The 2016 ruling that found people” who entered Melilla to Several Spanish Catholic as- roccans are attempting to reach mark court ruling in 2016 when 19, were getting off with their She said the pupils felt France guilty of carrying out un- Morocco, the Spanish central sociations which aid migrants is- Europe, either by taking the per- the French state was found bags when they were singled out “humiliated” that they were justifi ed identity checks on non- government’s representative in sued a joint statement condemn- ilous sea route or via the Spanish guilty of carrying out unjustifi ed and stopped by police. stopped and made to open their white men came after a case was the territory said in a statement. ing the quick expulsion of the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, identity checks on men from First, one of the pupils was bags for no reason in front of brought by 13 French men of Another 140 migrants have re- migrants from Melilla. which border Morocco. black and minority ethnic back- stopped on the platform, then their teacher and class. black or north African origin quested asylum, 10 are recover- “Speed is not always a symp- Morocco, which many Afri- grounds. the other two were stopped in One of the pupils, Mamadou, aged 18 to 35. ing from their injuries and three tom of effi ciency when what is at cans can visit without visas, has The fi nal-year high school front of their class and made to described how the court case is Their professions ranged from are minors, it said. stake is people’s lives and future,” become a major gateway for sub- students of Malian, Comorian open their bags, without expla- about ending systematic racial student to teacher, local coun- Spain has become the main it said. Saharan migrants into Europe. and Moroccan heritage were nation. discrimination, saying that he is cillor to professional sportsman. entry point for migrants and asy- Melilla, together with a second Moroccan authorities say they with their teacher and class on Their teacher, Elise Boscher- disappointed that things hadn’t All said they were stopped by lum-seekers looking for a better Spanish enclave, Ceuta, have the have stopped some 54,000 at- the way back from a two-day el, from a high school in a Paris changed in France for 20 years. police in various cities across life in Europe as other EU coun- European Union’s only land bor- tempts by migrants to cross into school trip to Brussels in March banlieue (district) in Seine- He said at the time of the in- France because of their race. tries tighten up border controls. ders with Africa. Spain this year. Poland apex court judges return after ECJ ruling

AFP/Reuters/DPA from 70 years to 65. Michal Laskowski told reporters The PiS government has de- no immediate comment to Warsaw The ECJ ordered a temporary in the capital Warsaw yesterday fended the April 3 retirement Gersdorf’s move yesterday. suspension of the retirement law that Chief Justice Malgorzata law as part of reforms needed to The ECJ said on Friday that the on Friday, saying that it threat- Gersdorf requested “23 judges, tackle corruption and overhaul a order to suspend retirements “is oland’s Supreme Court ened judicial independence. including herself, who are 65 judicial system still haunted by to apply with retroactive eff ect”. chief justice asked 23 of The decision was the lat- years” or older, to return to work. the communist era. It also freezes Warsaw’s ap- Pthe court’s judges to return est salvo in a bitter battle over “Today some judges arrived for PiS also argues that, under EU pointment of any new judges to to work yesterday, days after the sweeping judicial changes intro- work. Others are expected to ar- rules, the organisation of the ju- replace them. European Union’s top court or- duced by the rightwing Law and rive later today, tomorrow or the diciary is a national matter. The top EU court said its ruling dered Poland to “immediately Justice (PiS) government since it day after,” Laskowski added. Powerful PiS party leader Jaro- is an interim measure in response suspend” their retirement under took offi ce in 2015. The PiS-mandated retirement slaw Kaczynski, widely regarded to the commission’s argument a disputed law. The changes have also led the age required more than one-third as Poland’s ultimate decision- for urgent action in the face of The European Commission, EU to trigger unprecedented of current Supreme Court judges maker, said on Friday that Poland accelerated retirements. the bloc’s executive arm, took proceedings against Poland over to step down, including Gersdorf. would “comply with EU law” but The Luxembourg tribunal, Poland’s government to the Eu- “systemic threats” to the rule of Calling the law a “purge”, added that “we will also use our which could impose fi nes if it ropean Court of Justice (ECJ) for law that could see the country’s Gersdorf refused to go, citing a rights and we will appeal this ini- fi nds Poland in breach of EU law, Chief Justice Gersdorf: requested ‘23 judges, including herself, who lowering the age at which Su- EU voting rights suspended. constitutional guarantee that she tial (ECJ) decision”. said it will issue a fi nal ruling at a are 65 years’ or older, to return to work. preme Court judges must retire, Supreme Court spokesman serve a six-year term until 2020. The PiS government made later date. Gulf Times 16 Tuesday, October 23, 2018 EUROPE

President Trump CCTV footage shows ‘not satisfi ed’ with Saudi explanations Saudi ‘body double’ in z ‘The world is watching’, Kushner tells Saudi crown prince z Bolton: ‘We want to get the truth, and not just talk’

Agencies & Al Jazeera In an interview with CNN Khashoggi’s clothes on Monday, Kushner said he had told the crown prince: Guardian News and Media CCTV footage of the body dou- S President Donald “Just to be transparent, to be Istanbul ble to support its initial claim Trump yesterday said fully transparent. The world is Khashoggi had left the consu- U he was still not satis- watching. This is a very, very late alive, and either Saudi of- fied with what he had heard serious accusation and a very ewly leaked CCTV foot- ficials realised the story would from Saudi Arabia about the serious situation.” age has emerged that not be credible or had been killing of journalist Jamal Asked how the prince re- Nappears to show a man waiting for Turkish officials to Khashoggi. sponded, Kushner said: “We’ll leaving the Saudi consulate in be tricked by the ruse. “I am not satisfi ed with what see.” Istanbul wearing the clothes of The footage was handed I’ve heard,” Trump told reporters Kushner said the US was in a the murdered Washington Post to the CNN news channel by at the White House. “But we’re “fact-fi nding phase” on the case journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Turkish authorities. going to get to the bottom of it.” and had its “eyes wide open”. CNN aired the footage yes- The CCTV leak of the appar- He made similar comments on He did not say when or by what terday, citing a Turkish official ent use of a body double is sig- Saturday about being unsatisfi ed means he had communicated who identified the man as Mus- nificant because it appears to with the Saudi response to the with the crown prince. tafa al-Madani, a “body dou- bolster Turkish claims that the killing. Meanwhile, US Treasury ble” and member of a 15-man Saudis always intended either Trump also said yesterday Secretary Steven Mnuchin yes- Saudi team sent to Istanbul to to kill Khashoggi or move him that he spoke with Saudi Crown terday held closed-door talks in target Khashoggi. back to Saudi Arabia. Prince Mohamed bin Salman Riyadh with Crown Prince Mo- The agent, wearing glasses The footage appears to show and that there are Americans in hamed. and a fake beard in an appar- the Saudi agent entering the Saudi Arabia and US intelligence The offi cial Saudi Press Agen- ent attempt to further resemble consulate without a beard offi cers in Turkey working on the cy said they stressed “the impor- the journalist, is seen touring and wearing a blue and white Khashoggi case. tance of the Saudi-US strategic a number of landmarks in the checked shirt and dark blue Asked if he believed the Saudis partnership” in a meeting on the Turkish city after leaving the trousers. were telling the truth about the eve of a key investment confer- consulate. Footage from later in the day circumstances surrounding the ence in Riyadh. The apparent Saudi aim was appears to show him leaving the 59-year-old’s death three weeks Mnuchin is a among several for footage of the man to be consulate dressed as Khashog- ago, Trump said: “We will know Western political leaders who picked up by CCTV and dis- gi, but wearing the same pair of very soon.” have pulled out of the Future tributed, thereby bolstering trainers that he had arrived in. “I am going to know very Investment Initiative amid glo- claims made in the days after Turkish police were continu- shortly because I have a great bal outrage over the journal- Khashoggi’s disappearance on ing a search of the Belgrad forest group of people in Turkey right ist’s murder. His withdrawal October 2 that he had left the north of Istanbul yesterday, after now and a great group of peo- came after top financial, trade consulate unscathed. investigators last week expanded ple in Saudi Arabia,” he added. and foreign officials from Brit- The spokesman for Turkey’s their search to the forest and A surveillance video, obtained by CNN, showing Mustafa al-Madani – apparently part of the hit squad that “They are coming back... and I ain, France and Germany also ruling AK party yesterday said farmland in Yavlova province, a tortured and killed Khashoggi – strolling around a famous Turkish Mosque just hours after Khashoggi will know very soon. dropped out. it was Turkey’s responsibil- 90-minute drive south,on the entered the Saudi embassy. “And I am not satisfi ed with The Saudis have said they plan ity to uncover the truth, tell- other side of the Marmara Sea. what I have heard.” to move forward with the confer- ing reporters it was a “compli- Two security cameras moni- tage down the road from the Surveillance footage pulled death one vehicle owned by Trump, however, also said he ence, scheduled to begin today, cated” murder that had been tored the entrance to the vast entrance said she had recently from 150 cameras all over the the Saudi consulate travelled did not want to lose investment despite a wave of cancellations “monstrously planned”. Saudi 5,500 hectare wilderness. noticed more traffic than usual city led police to conclude that to the forest, and the other to from Riyadh. “I don’t want to by business titans and media gi- Arabia has never produced any A woman who lives in a cot- at night. on the night of Khashoggi’s Yavlova. lose all that investment that’s ants. been made in our country,” he In another development, US told reporters. national security adviser John Earlier yesterday, Trump’s Bolton has said Washington son-in-law and White House wants to know all the details adviser Jared Kushner said he surrounding Khashoggi’s kill- ‘There has been a lot of eff ort to whitewash this’ had urged Saudi Arabia’s crown ing, adding that discussions with prince to be transparent about Saudi authorities on the case are Khashoggi and told him “the ongoing. Agencies & Al Jazeera world is watching” Riyadh’s ac- “We want to get the truth, count of the journalist’s disap- and not just talk,” Bolton, who pearance. was on a visit to Moscow, was urkey yesterday said the Kushner has cultivated a per- quoted as saying yesterday murder of Jamal Khashog- sonal relationship with Crown by Russian radio station Ekho Tgi at the Saudi consulate in Prince Mohamed and urged Moskvy. Istanbul was “savagely planned” Trump to act with caution to avoid “First of all, we need to know and that “there has been a lot of upsetting a critical strategic and why he died. Who killed him?. eff ort to whitewash this.” economic relationship, a senior We want to get the full lowdown The statements were made administration offi cial said. on this process.” by Omer Celik, spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling Justice and De- velopment Party (AK Party). “We are being careful so no- body tries to cover the issue up. Saudi journalist’s killing The truth will come out. Those responsible will be punished, something like this will not ‘a wake-up call’: Qatar cross anybody’s mind any more,” A car with diplomatic number plates and belonging to the Saudi Turkish police stand guard as they cordoned off the underground car said Celik, who was referring consulate in Istanbul is photographed in an underground car park. park in Istanbul where they found the abandoned car. to surveillance footage aired by From Page 1 tem in Turkey and I guess every- CNN showing a man dressed as of Khashoggi’s body was taken account and removed from his late, according to reports. one is anxiously waiting to hear Khashoggi walking around Is- out of Turkey by a “well-known King, crown prince post,” said Selvi. However, NTV broadcaster re- Asked what she thought what is going to be announced tanbul after he vanished in an travel companion of Crown express condolences Erdogan has vowed to reveal to- ported that the Saudi consulate Britain and other European tomorrow.” apparent attempt at deception. Prince Mohamed bin Salman’s day the “naked truth” about the did not give permission for Turk- countries should do in re- Turkish President Recep Also, one of Erdogan’s advisers bodyguards. Mutreb is reported Saudi King Salman and Crown death of Khashoggi, 59. “From the ish authorities to search the car. sponse, she added: “There was Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to re- - Yasin Aktay - wrote in the Yeni to have been seen carrying a Prince Mohamed bin Salman start, the line of our president has Meanwhile, fi ve Turkish em- a joint statement that the UK, veal the “naked truth” about the Safak daily that Riyadh’s version large bag, which was not checked both called slain journalist been clear. Nothing will remain ployees of the Saudi consulate in France and Germany issued case today. of events “feels like our intelli- as he bypassed security checks Jamal Khashoggi’s son, Salah, secret in this case,” presidential Istanbul gave statements as wit- and I think this statement, for gence is being mocked”. through a VIP lounge at Istan- to express their condolences, spokesman Ibrahim Kalin told re- nesses under the investigation into the time being, summarises “We would like to The security offi cial ( Maher bul’s Ataturk airport. Al Jazeera said yesterday, porters, a day ahead of Erdogan’s the killing of Khashoggi, Turkish all the actions that everyone see a transparent Abdulaziz Mutreb) heading a Abdulkadir Selvi, whose Hur- citing a Saudi Press Agency key speech on the case. broadcaster NTV said yesterday. wants to see.” investigation” team of 15 Saudis allegedly sent to riyet newspaper columns are report. With Khashoggi’s remains still Twenty consulate workers, in- The three countries on Sunday Istanbul, called the head of Saudi closely watched for indications Khashoggi’s son thanked the missing, Turkish police found an cluding the consul’s driver, gave said Saudi Arabia must clarify After more than two weeks Crown Prince Mohamed bin Sal- of Erdogan’s thinking, wrote that king and the crown prince, abandoned car belonging to the statements to prosecutors in re- how Khashoggi died, and its ac- of near silence, Riyadh has ad- man’s offi ce, Bader al-Asaker, Khashoggi was slowly strangled the report said. Saudi consulate in an underground lation to the incident last week, count must be “backed by facts mitted Khashoggi, a prominent “four times after the murder”, the to death before a Saudi forensic Saudi Foreign Minister car park in the Sultangazi district NTV had reported previously. to be considered credible”. critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mo- adviser added. specialist cut his body into 15 al-Jubeir also extended his of Istanbul, state media said. Prosecutors are seeking state- “We would like to see a trans- hamed bin Salman, was killed in Also, Al Jazeera said – citing pieces while listening to music. condolences to Khashoggi’s The car had diplomatic number ments from a total of 45 employ- parent investigation,” said the consulate, after he entered on a report by Middle East Eye - “We cannot close this fi le un- family. plates and registration documents ees, CNN Turk said. AlKhater. October 2 to obtain some docu- Turkish offi cials believe that part til the crown prince is brought to showed it belonged to the consu- “We have faith in the legal sys- ments. Canada ‘prepared to freeze Saudi arms deal’

Agencies rights,” Trudeau said in Parliament. Freeland had said on Saturday of Jamal Khashoggi in the strong- Turkish President Recep Tayyip to arms exports on Sunday, rais- maier earlier had called on other Ottawa/London “We have frozen export permits be- that the kingdom’s explanations est possible terms. We must get to Erdogan is due to address ruling ing questions about whether that European Union member states to fore when we had concerns about on the death of Khashoggi at its the truth of what happened,” May party lawmakers in an address he would also aff ect weapons deliv- follow its example. their potential misuse and we will consulate in Istanbul lacked cred- told parliament. has vowed will reveal the “naked eries that had previously been ap- “The government is in agree- anada is prepared to freeze not hesitate to do so again.” ibility. May was the fi rst European truth” about the case. proved. Her spokesman told re- ment that we will not approve fur- a big arms deal with Saudi The opposition left-leaning “There are very important leader to address the issue after German Chancellor Angela porters earlier yesterday that was ther arms exports for the moment CArabia if it concludes the New Democrats, who will be questions about the entire rela- Saudi Arabia admitted on Saturday Merkel yesterday called the killing being reviewed. because we want to know what weapons have been misused, competing for the same voters as tionship with Saudi Arabia that that Khashoggi was killed inside of Khashoggi a “monstrosity” and Norbert Roettgen, a member of happened,” Atmaier told broad- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Trudeau in the 2019 elections, say need to be asked,” she told report- the consulate in what it said was a vowed to halt all German arms ex- Merkel’s conservatives and head of caster ZDF. yesterday, amid increasing pres- Canada should not be arming the ers yesterday. “brawl”. ports to Saudi Arabia until the case the parliamentary foreign aff airs So far this year, the German sure to punish Riyadh for the kill- Saudis when they are attacking ci- Asked why Ottawa would go British Foreign Secretary Jeremy is cleared up. committee, said it was clear that government approved weapons ing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. vilian targets in Yemen. ahead with the arms deal given Hunt yesterday called this expla- Merkel decried what she called all deliveries of weapons to Saudi exports worth more than 400mn Trudeau’s comments signalled Trudeau condemned the death recent events, Freeland replied: nation unacceptable.“The claim “the monstrosity there in the Sau- Arabia should be halted. euros ($462mn) to Saudi Arabia, Ottawa might halt a 2014 con- of Khashoggi and said Foreign “That is a very good question” but that Mr #Khashoggi died in a fi ght di consulate in Turkey”. “Even those deals that were al- making it the second-biggest re- tract that the Canadian unit of US Minister Chrystia Freeland had declined to be more specifi c. does not amount to a credible ex- “It must be cleared up. As long ready approved cannot happen cipient of German arms after Al- weapons maker General Dynam- been talking to allies to discuss the Also yesterday, British Prime planation,” Hunt tweeted. as it’s not cleared up, there will be now, as long as the case has not geria. ics Corp won to supply light-ar- next steps. Minister Theresa May called for “There remains an urgent need no arms exports to Saudi Arabia. I been resolved, and as long as there In a joint statement, Britain, moured vehicles. The deal is worth Yesterday, Trudeau convened the “truth” about the murder of to establish exactly what happened assure you of that very decidedly,” have been no substantial conse- France and Germany had said on up to $13bn. a special meeting of government Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate and anyone found responsible for Merkel said at a campaign rally in quences in Riyadh,” Roettgen told Sunday that Riyadh must clarify “We strongly demand and ex- ministers and offi cials to discuss in Istanbul earlier this month. any off ence must be held fully ac- the town of Ortenberg ahead of broadcaster ZDF. “We would com- how Khashoggi died, adding the pect that Canadian exports are used the matter, his offi ce said in a “I am sure the whole House will countable.” elections in the state of Hesse. pletely lose our credibility.” account must “be backed by facts in a way that fully respects human statement. join me in condemning the killing Their remarks came a day before Merkel fi rst called for a stop Economy Minister Peter Alt- to be considered credible”. Gulf Times Tuesday, October 23, 2018 17 INDIA

CO-OPERATION CLAIM PEOPLE CONDEMNED CELEBRITY Japan, India negotiating BJP behind petrol pump Posters term Priyanka PM indiff erent to Kerala’s Kapil Sharma to wed military logistics pact strike in Delhi: Kejriwal ‘emotional blackmailer’ needs, says Vijayan girlfriend on December 12

Japan hopes to clinch a military logistics pact Demanding petrol and diesel be included in the Hundreds of posters terming Priyanka Gandhi Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan yesterday Comedian Kapil Sharma will marry his girlfriend with India that will allow access to each other’s GST regime, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Vadra an “emotional blackmailer” were seen slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his Ginni Charath on December 12 in Jalandhar. bases, Tokyo’s envoy said yesterday, in a tighten- yesterday accused the BJP of forcing fuel pump yesterday in Rae Bareli, the parliamentary “negative approach” on the needs of the state, Opening up on the topic of his marriage, Kapil ing of security ties seen as designed to balance owners to go on strike despite oil prices being constituency of her mother Sonia Gandhi. The which is slowly picking up the pieces after a said: “The wedding is on December 12 in Jaland- China’s growing weight in the region. Prime lowest in the national capital among the four posters which literally cropped up all around the devastating flood in August. “I fail to understand har. That’s Ginni’s hometown. We wanted to keep Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Japan this metros. “Oil prices lowest in Delhi amongst the Uttar Pradesh town overnight, showed her as why the Centre and the prime minister has taken it low key. But Ginni is the only daughter in her weekend for an annual summit with his counter- four metros. Why aren’t petrol pumps in Mumbai, “missing”, and said while many tragedies struck such a negative approach to our needs. When I family. Her folks wanted the wedding to be on a part Shinzo Abe, and the proposed Acquisition which has highest prices, on strike? Because the constituency since her last visit, Priyanka had met him (Modi), he was very considerate. I lavish scale. And I completely understand their and Cross Servicing Agreement between the two Mumbai is BJP government and BJP is behind has not bothered to reach out to the people in told him that the state’s ministers were trying to sentiments. My mother also wants the wedding militaries is on the agenda. Under Modi and Abe, today’s strike in Delhi. BJP must apologise to the the Congress borough. In a reference to her last meet the Kerala diaspora settled abroad for help,” to be lavish.” Kapil, whose life and career has bilateral relations have rapidly expanded and the people of Delhi,” he said in a tweet. Fuel pumps minute visits to Rae Bareli and trying to pitch in Vijayan told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram. “At been under a cloud for some time now, says he two countries conduct three-way naval exercises in the national capital remained shut yesterday for her mother by striking the emotional chord of that time, Modi reminded me that he had done a had wanted to keep the wedding under wraps. involving the US in the Indian Ocean and the to press the Delhi government to lower the value the relationship of the Gandhis with the area, the similar exercise when earthquake struck his state The wedding will be followed by a reception on Pacific. added tax (VAT) on the key transport fuels. posters also called her an “emotional blackmailer”. and the Gujarati diaspora came forward to help. December 14.

Amritsar Uber, Ola drivers protest event Congress not to approvals were taken: name Rahul as organiser PM candidate IANS Chandigarh

hile remaining under- ground, the organiser in election battle Wof the Dusshera event, where at least 59 people were crushed by a speeding train, yes- Agencies in an interview broadcast at the ics question whether he has the terday released a video claiming New Delhi weekend. charisma or experience to defeat he had taken all permissions, and Chidambaram said the ques- Modi. that appeals were made to people tion of prime ministership was The decision by Congress not to standing on the tracks to vacate he Congress party yester- not an issue at all for the Con- impose Rahul’s candidacy could the area. day said it would not name gress party. “Rahul has not said also be exploited by Modi to sug- Saurabh Madaan Mithu, a Tits leader Rahul Gandhi as this. The Congress has not said it gest the opposition alliance is close aide of Punjab Cabinet the prime ministerial candidate wants to bring a person as prime indecisive and not fi t for govern- minister Navjot Singh Sidhu and of an alliance seeking to defeat minister. We will decide on the ment, political analysts say. his wife Navjot Kaur, yesterday Prime Minister Narendra Modi in issue (of PM) once the alliance It comes as the party strug- released a video from an undis- next year’s general election. wins and the alliance partners gles to hold together a so-called closed location claiming that he, Congress is working to build will sit and decide on it,” he said. “grand alliance” ahead of not his councillor mother and other an opposition front with other Chidambaram said the main only next year’s national vote organisers had nothing to do parties in preparation for the objective for the Congress was but a series of state elections this with the tragedy. vote, and spokesman Sanjay Jha removal of the Bharatiya Janata year. Modi, meanwhile, is being “We had taken all necessary said it would respect the “aspira- Party government and usher- buff eted by a jobs crisis and farm permissions and ensured proper tions” of potential alliance part- ing in a progressive government distress. safety measures at the ground ners though no alternative can- that does not take away human An opinion poll by TV channel where the Dusshera event was didates will be nominated. rights, does not threaten people Times Now predicted in August held. The people who gathered Jha said the party would be and does not indulge in tax ter- that nationally Congress would on the railway tracks were out- following the same strategy as rorism against traders and entre- raise its seat count in the lower side the ground. We made sev- it did in 2004 when its alliance preneurs but provides security house of parliament next year to eral appeals to them to vacate the defeated a coalition led by Mo- to women and children and give 78 from 44 in 2014. railway line,” Madaan claimed in di’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) a fair and remunerative price to The BJP is projected to con- a choked voice, seeking pardon. without formally naming a prime farmers for the farm produce and tinue its lead over other parties, He said the police and fi re bri- ministerial nominee. to farm workers. though its seat strength could fall gade were also present at the “Defeating the BJP is our pri- Unlike Modi, a powerful ora- to 227 from 282 at the last elec- ground where an effi gy was burnt mary goal, and therefore the tor, Rahul has never held a min- tion. A party needs to win 272 on Friday evening around 7pm. Congress party is going to be isterial position despite being a seats for a simple-majority out However, video footage of the very politically accommodating lawmaker since 2004 and crit- of the 543 seats in fray. event showed one anchor, in the because we believe that regional presence of Madaan and Navjot parties’ aspirations and their Jaitley sacking over bank frauds sought Kaur, boasting that over 5,000 ambitions will have to be re- people were standing on the tracks spected depending upon relative Intensifying its attack on the was on the payroll of thief and even if 500 trains crossed the strengths in diff erent areas,” he Modi government over bank Mehul Choksi. Meanwhile her tracks, these people will not move. said yesterday. frauds, the Congress yesterday finance minister daddy sat on Seconds later, the Jalandhar- Many of Congress’s potential demanded sacking of Union his file and allowed him to flee. Amritsar DMU (diesel multiple alliance parties are run by ambi- Finance Minister Arun Jaitley She received money from ICICI unit) came speeding down the tious regional leaders with years for “allowing” bank frauds to a/c no: 12170500316,” Gandhi tracks and crushed scores of of governance experience. the tune of Rs900bn and tweeted. Taking the fight to people, leaving at least 59 dead Echoing Jha’s comments, sen- “letting” fraudsters like Vijay Prime Minister Narendra Modi and dozens injured. ior Congress leader and former Mallya and Nirav Modi flee the and Jaitley, Congress leader The people standing on the fi nance and interior minister country. Calling for Jaitley’s Sachin Pilot said that under tracks could not hear the ap- Palaniappan Chidambaram said resignation, Congress presi- the Bharatiya Janata Party gov- proaching train due to the noise the party’s main focus was on dent Rahul Gandhi alleged ernment “an unprecedented caused by the bursting crackers forging an alliance to win the that the finance minister’s 19,000 bank fraud cases when the effi gy was set on fire. election, due by May 2019. daughter Sonali Jaitley was “on involving Rs900bn” have taken There are allegations that “We want to form a coalition, the payroll” of fugitive Mehul place. “At least 23 bank fraud- Sidhu’s wife, Madaan and other Uber and Ola drivers stage a protest against their managements in Mumbai yesterday. make it win and then the parties Choksi, wanted in the Rs135bn sters have left India under their organisers fl ed the spot when the Drivers in major cities across the country kept off the roads yesterday to protest against involved will decide who be- Punjab National Bank (PNB) watch after duping the country tragedy struck and did not stay the fuel price hikes and demanded tariff revisions to make the job of driving for the cab comes prime minister,” he told fraud case. “Jaitley’s daughter by over Rs530bn”, Pilot said. back to help the victims, includ- aggregators more economically viable. TV channel News18 Tamil Nadu ing the injured. Siblings who ended lives Poll preparations Witness priest in nun ‘had not eaten for days’ rape case found dead IANS cumstances in which the priest Chandigarh/Thiruvananthapuram was found dead. Tribune News Service had to pay Rs24,619 by October 22. landlord did not pressure them,” The dead priest’s cousin, K New Delhi The police said that none of Rajkumar said. Johnny, told the media in Kerala the four siblings had a job and In their suicide note, the four ather Kuriakose Kat- that he got a call from Punjab they depended on their parents. requested that the electricity dues tuthara, who was a wit- that Father Kuriakose Kattuthara he Delhi police yester- The bill is generated in the to paid off after getting Rs30,000 Fness in the rape case fi led was not responding to the knocks day revealed that the four name of Agnes Mathews and is of from the hotel in Faridabad where by a nun against Bishop Franco on his door. Tsiblings who ended their the staff quarters in Surajkund, their parents worked. Mulakkal, was found dead un- “When they forced open the lives at their rented house in where the family earlier lived. The hotel management denied der mysterious circumstances door, he was found dead,” Johnny Surajkund on Thursday had re- Locals and neighbours believe owing any dues to the family. in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district said, adding that his cousin was sorted to the drastic measure the family may have been de- Police said the suicide note yesterday, police said. not sick. However, he had been four days ahead of the due date pressed because of their inability also mentioned how their per- Kattuthara’s family in Kerala suff ering from lifestyle diseases. of their electricity bill of around to clear their dues. sonal losses had made them feel suspects foul play. “Ever since he took a stand Rs25,000. A senior police offi cer said that “alone”. The Punjab Police said a probe against Bishop Mulakkal, he The deceased had apparently it appears that the four siblings “Their mother used to work at a is underway into the 62-year-old feared something bad might be- not eaten anything in the past had not eaten anything in the hotel and had retired recently. She priest’s death. “Our team has fall him,” said Johnny. 72 hours before they committed past two-three days before com- died fi ve months ago. Their broth- gone to the spot and is investi- The dead priest, in some in- suicide, police added. mitting suicide. However, the of- er, Sanju, also died of an illness a gating the matter,” a Dasuya po- terviews, had already expressed Investigation so far revealed fi cer said a clearer picture would few weeks later. Their father had lice offi cial said. apprehension about his fate af- that the four siblings – Meena only emerge after the post-mor- died earlier,” an offi cer said. Kattuthara was found dead in ter openly supporting the victim Mathews, Beena Mathews, Pra- tem report. “In the suicide note, the four a room in the St. Mary’s Church nun and speaking against the deep Mathews and Jaya Mathews Rajkumar, the caretaker of also requested that their debts be in Dasuya town, around 180km bishop. – were depressed after the death the building in which the four repaid using the items at home, from Chandigarh. He was under Mulakkal was arrested on Sep- of their parents and their young- siblings lived, said that the fam- and whatever extra cash is left be the Jalandhar diocese which is tember 21 on charges of raping est brother in the last six months. ily were also not able to pay their given as donation to the church headed by Mulakkal. a nun repeatedly between 2014 It was also revealed that the rent of Rs10,000 on time. which had helped them.” Kattuthara had openly given and 2016. deceased had not paid their rent “I used to collect the rent. Eve- Police said the note also men- statements against Mulakkal af- He was sent to two-week judi- on time. Police have found an ry time I approached them on the tioned two people from the di- ter the Kerala nun accused the cial custody on September 24. electricity bill in the main hall fi rst day of month, they would alysis department of a hospital, Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat and Telangana latter of raping her. Mulakkal secured bail on Oc- of the house, where Meena and request a week’s time. They used and added that the family’s mo- chief electoral off icer Rajat Kumar arrive for a meeting Jose Kattuthara, the brother of tober 16 from the Kerala High Beena, the eldest siblings, had to pay only Rs7,000. Since they torcycle be given to a friend of with political parties, to review poll preparedness, in the deceased, has complained to Court and left for Jalandhar the allegedly hanged themselves. had no source of income and had their dead brother, who had also Hyderabad yesterday. the police in Alappuzha in Kerala same day after walking out of the The bill shows that the family been suff ering from illness, the supported them. raising suspicion about the cir- Pala sub-jail near Kottayam. Gulf Times 18 Tuesday, October 23, 2018 INDIA

DEFENCE CRIME CLAIM CONTROVERSY POLITICS India, China sign first Trinamool Congress leader BJP alleges ‘murder’ as Tamil Nadu minister denies Congress fields Vajpayee’s security co-operation pact dies from bullet injuries party worker found dead forcing woman to abort niece in Chhattisgarh polls

India and China yesterday signed a first-ever A Trinamool Congress leader from West A BJP party worker’s body was found hanging in Tamil Nadu Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar The Congress yesterday released its second list agreement on security co-operation which will Bengal’s Birbhum district, who was hospitalised West Bengal’s Birbhum district, police said yes- yesterday denied any links with an audio clip of six candidates for the Chhattisgarh assembly strengthen and consolidate assistance in coun- with bullet injuries, died yesterday, the hospital terday as state BJP president Dilip Ghosh called being circulated on social media in which a elections fielding the late prime minister Atal ter-terrorism, organised crimes, drug control, sources said. Dipak Ghosh, the party’s block it a political murder. According to the police, a woman was heard saying a man - purported Bihari Vajpayee’s niece Karuna Shukla. A former human trafficking and exchange of information, president of Birbhum district’s Khayrasole, was 34-year-old man Tapas Bagdi was found dead in to be Jayakumar - had made her daughter Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP, Shukla will be marking a new beginning between the two allegedly shot at by unidentified persons on Labhpur area with his body hanging from a tree. pregnant. The minister alleged it was the contesting from Rajnandgaon the home constitu- countries. The agreement was signed by Union Sunday while riding a motorcycle with a fellow Though it appears to be a suicide, post-mortem handiwork of his political opponents. In the two ency of Chief Minister Raman Singh. She repre- Home Minister Rajnath Singh and China’s State party worker. He was rushed to a private hospi- reports are awaited. Calling it a ploy to eliminate audio clips that went viral on the social media, sented the Janjgir constituency in the 14th Lok Councilor and Minister of Public Security Zhao tal in Durgapur. “Dipak Ghosh was admitted to workers of the opposition party, Ghosh said: “One a male voice was heard telling the woman to Sabha and joined the Congress before the 2014 Kezhi, a move that came just a year after the the hospital with two bullet injuries on Sunday. of our workers from the scheduled tribe com- take her daughter to a hospital for an abortion. Lok Sabha election. With this, the Congress has two-month-long border stand-off between the He died yesterday. The body will be sent for an munity was missing since afternoon and his body An image of a birth certificate of a child born in named all the candidates for the 18 constituencies Indian Army and the China’s People’s Liberation autopsy,” an official from the Mission Hospital, was later found hanging from a tree. This is similar August this year with D Jayakukar mentioned that go to the polls in the first phase on Novem- Army at Doklam on the India-Bhutan-China tri- Durgapur said. Police said they have arrested to the Purulia murders. This is a political murder as the child’s father was also circulated on the ber 12. The party on October 18 had released its junction last year. seven persons. and we demand a proper probe.” social media. first list of 12 candidates. Police book Burning issue 12 for ‘selling’ two women to recover dowry

IANS ting off . This led to an altercation Palghar (Maharashtra) in full view of the co-passengers inside the train and the escort said they could not get off at Va- shocking incident of two sai but at Mira Road, in adjoining women allegedly “sold Thane district. Aoff to recover dowry” has The escort was also heard come to light in Virar town near shouting that he had “paid here, offi cials said yesterday. Rs150,000 for the two women Following sustained eff orts by and now he would recover that social activists, the Virar Police amount fully before freeing on October 9 booked a dozen them” people including a chartered ac- Fortunately for the two wom- countant and a businessman, en, some co-passengers inter- besides their family members vened and allowed them to get and other associates, in the case, off at Vasai. investigating offi cer Lakshmi The sisters went back to their Borkar said. home in Suman Complex and Firefighters try to douse a fire as smoke billows from the burning garbage at the Bhalswa landfill site in Delhi yesterday. Taking cognisance of the fire incident, Delhi Environment According to the complaint, narrated their plight to their Minister Imran Hussain yesterday directed the municipal corporation to develop scientifically-engineered landfill sites in the capital. the two women - both sisters in neighbours. their 20s, hailing from Rajas- than - were married on March Six months aft er the 10, 2015, to two brothers, busi- wedding, the Ravals and nessman Sanjay Raval and Varun their family members Rawal, a CA - both based in Virar, began harassing the around 60km from Mumbai. sisters for dowry as Six months after their wed- Sanjay and Varun wanted ding, the Ravals and their fam- to buy a shop to launch a ily members began harassing the new business sisters for dowry as Sanjay and CBI offi cials ordered Varun wanted to buy a shop to A few neighbours accompa- launch a new business. nied the women to the police Somehow the victims’ fam- to lodge a complaint against ily managed to raise Rs500,000 the Raval family, but for nearly and handed it over to the Ravals, a month, the police reportedly but later they demanded another dodged the issue. Rs400,000. It was only after the neigh- to end power tussle The two daughters-in-law bours and some local social ac- said it was not possible for their tivists approached senior police IANS the offi cials discussed with the dering and corruption. statement as an after-thought to fabricated statement signed by middle-class parents to raise authorities that the complaint New Delhi higher-ups in the Prime Minis- The CBI has alleged that corroborate the baseless allega- him on September 26 quoted such a huge amount again, but was fi nally registered on October ter’s Offi ce, but it is understood bribes were given at least fi ve tions made by Asthana against Sana as saying that during June their pleas fell on deaf ears. 9 naming 12 accused in the case. that the two offi cials have been times between December, 2017 CBI director to the CVC (Central 2018, he had discussed his case The sisters were then subject- They include: the victims’ hus- he rift at the top in the told to make amends as the im- and October this year. “Kumar, Vigilance Commission).” with one of his old friends, C M ed to physical torture and mental bands, Sanjay and Varun Raval, Central Bureau of Inves- age of the organisation has taken who has been the investigation A CBI offi cial said Sana’s Ramesh, a Rajya Sabha member, trauma by their husbands and their father-in-law Mohanlal Ttigation took a serious a beating among the public, a offi cer in the Qureshi case, has statement was recorded on Oc- who assured him that he would members of the Raval family. Raval, mother-in-law Leeladevi turn yesterday when a deputy point opposition parties made in been arrested on the allegation tober 3. talk to the concerned director. On August 30, the Raval fam- Raval, some uncles, aunts, a few superintendent of police was their criticism. of falsifi cation of records,” the He said the agency was also The offi cial further said that ily took the two women to a vil- relatives and other outsiders. arrested for alleged falsifi cation During the day, the agency ar- agency said in a statement. probing the role of other offi cers during investigations it was re- lage in Rajasthan’s Pindwara Borkar said an investigation of records in the bribery allega- rested its deputy superintend- It said Kumar fabricated a of the CBI special investigation vealed that Sana was detained town of Sirohi district and held was underway and no arrests tions against special director ent Devendra Kumar, who was statement of Sathish Sana, a team (SIT) then supervising the on September 25 at Hyderabad them in captivity. For 10 days, have been made. Rakesh Asthana as Prime Minis- earlier the investigation offi cer witness in the Quershi case, to Qureshi case. International Airport. several men including some rela- Sources revealed that the Raval ter Narendra Modi stepped in to in a case involving meat exporter show he recorded the statement The offi cial said the agency Asthana, a 1984 batch Indian tives came and physically abused brothers - Sanjay and Varun – resolve the fracas. Moin Qureshi, on a charge of on September 26, 2018, in Delhi. during searches at Kumar’s Police Service offi cer of Gujarat the two sisters and then ordered are reportedly on the run. The PMO summoned CBI di- “falsifi cation of records”. “However, investigations re- residence and his offi ce at cadre, is accused of accepting a them to go back to the Raval fam- The police have slapped rector Alok Verma and Asthana Kumar’s arrest comes a day vealed that Sana was not in Delhi the agency’s headquarters in Rs20mn bribe from a business- ily in Virar. charges against them under vari- in an apparent bid to put a lid after the agency fi led charges on September 26. He was in Hy- south Delhi’s Lodhi road seized man who was under probe in the They sent an unknown person ous sections of the Indian Penal on the open war between the against Asthana and several oth- derabad on that day and joined eight mobile phones, one iPad Qureshi case in order to “wreck” to accompany the two sisters to Code (IPC) pertaining to dowry two offi cials who have levelled ers for allegedly accepting bribes the investigation only on Octo- and documents pertaining to the investigation. The case was Virar, but when the train stopped demand, mental and physi- bribery allegations against each to settle a case of meat exporter ber 1, 2018,” it added. Qureshi case. being examined by a special in- at Vasai, their escort seized their cal torture, kidnapping, Borkar other. Moin Qureshi, who is facing The CBI said “it was found The statement said the role of vestigation team (SIT) headed by bags and barred them from get- added. There was no word on what multiple charges of money laun- that Kumar had fabricated the Kumar became suspect as the Asthana. Lawmaker’s wife held Official visit Top court verdict on for murdering son fi recrackers today IANS livelihood of fi recrackers manu- New Delhi facturers as well as the funda- Tribune News Service power him easily,” Mishra said. that Abhjit was not breathing mental right to health of 1.3bn New Delhi The incident occurred at and had no pulse. citizens of the country. Ramesh Yadav’s offi cial quarters Though police reached the he Supreme Court will to- The fi recracker manufactur- at the legislators’ hostel in Darul quarter shortly after the inci- day pronounce its verdict ers had told the apex court that olice yesterday arrested the Shafa where Meera lived with dent, the family members re- Ton the plea for a ban on crackers were not the sole cause wife of Uttar Pradesh leg- Abhijit, a graduate student, and fused to lodge any complaint and the manufacture, sale and pos- of rising pollution during Diwali. Pislative council chairman his elder brother Abhishek, 27, a decided to take Abhijit’s body session of fi recrackers across the They contended that although it Ramesh Yadav for allegedly mur- local businessman. for cremation. However, police country. was one of the contributing fac- dering her younger son after a Ramesh Yadav, who lives in a suspected foul play and did not A bench of justice A K Sikri tors, an entire industry could not late night argument on Saturday. separate residence, was out town allow the body to be taken for and justice Ashok Bhushan said be shut down on this count. Meera Yadav is the second wife on Saturday. cremation. although the matter was men- The manufacturers had con- of Ramesh Yadav who is an MLC Meera and Abhishek initially “Abhijit’s dead body was tioned in yesterday’s list they tended that pollution had from Etah. informed police that Abhijit died seized and sent for post mortem,” would be pronouncing the judg- reached very high levels not due The fi rst wife reportedly lives of ill health but the post mortem said the Mishra. ment on October 23. to the lighting of the fi recrackers at his ancestral home in Etah. on Sunday evening confi rmed Police handed over the body The top court had on August alone but on account of vehicular A local court sent Meera to 14 strangulation as the cause of to the family following the post 28 reserved its order on the plea pollution, construction dust and days judicial custody. death. mortem after which it was cre- for a countrywide ban on fi re- stubble-burning. “We have arrested Meera Ya- Based on the fi ndings of the mated. crackers to curb rising air pollu- “The question is whether an dav for the murder of Ramesh post mortem report, a charge- Ramesh Yadav who had re- tion. entire industry can be shut down Yadav’s younger son Abhijit, 22. sheet for murder was lodged at turned to Lucknow ahead of the The court had reserved its or- citing air pollution other indus- The arrest was made on the ba- Hazratganj police station and a cremation, claimed he had no der after hearing the petitioners, tries are allowed to continue,” the sis of circumstantial evidence team headed by the superintend- idea what led to the fi ght. fi recrackers manufacturers, the fi ve fi recrackers manufacturers and preliminary investigation,” ent of police began investigation. “I am not aware of the situa- Centre and the Central Pollution had contended. superintendent of police (east) Meera had earlier told po- tion that led to his death. We are Control Board (CPCB). During the hearing the court Sarvesh Mishra said. lice that Abhijit returned home all in shock because there was The bench had earlier said had expressed concern over the Meera told police that she stran- around 11pm on Saturday and no dispute in the family,” said there was a need to strike a bal- growing respiratory problems gled Abhijit with a piece of cloth complained of chest pain. When shocked Ramesh Yadav. Chief Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj shakes hands with ance between the right to health among children due to air pol- following an argument on Satur- she went to wake him in the Minister Yogi Adityanath and Croatia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister and the right to carry on a trade lution and said it would decide day night. “Abhijit was reportedly morning Abhijit didn’t move. former chief minister Akhilesh Marija Pejcinovic Buric before a meeting at the Ministry of or profession. whether there has to be a com- drunk at the time of the incident, She claimed that she then called Yadav expressed their condo- External Aff airs in New Delhi yesterday. It had also said there was the plete ban or reasonable curbs on so the mother managed to over- his elder brother who found out lences to the family. issue of the fundamental right to lighting of fi recrackers. Gulf Times Tuesday, October 23, 2018 19 LATIN AMERICA

Willa reaches Category 5 Trump calls migrant caravan off Mexico’s Pacifi c coast a national emergency for US Reuters Mexico City

Reuters Washington urricane Willa yesterday strengthened to a rare Hcategory 5 storm as it S President Donald Trump yes- barrelled towards tourist spots terday vowed to begin curtailing on Mexico’s Pacifi c coast, with Utens of millions of dollars in aid landfall expected today after- to three Central American nations and noon or evening, the US Nation- called a caravan of migrants bound for al Hurricane Center said. the United States a national emergency Yesterday morning, Willa had as he sought to boost his party’s chances maximum sustained winds of in November 6 congressional elections. near 260kph, with higher gusts, “Guatemala, Honduras and El Salva- the Miami-based hurricane cen- dor were not able to do the job of stop- tre said. ping people from leaving their country It was about 200km south- and coming illegally to the US We will west of the Pacifi c town of Cabo now begin cutting off , or substantially Corrientes. reducing, the massive foreign aid rou- “Willa is expected to be an tinely given to them,” Trump wrote in a extremely dangerous major hur- series of Twitter posts. ricane when it reaches the coast Trump and his fellow Republicans of Mexico,” the NHC said. have sought to elevate the caravan, Category 5 is the top level of which has made its way into Mexico the Saffi r-Simpson hurricane bound for the US border, and immigra- and wind scale. tion as campaign issues ahead of the Willa is expected to produce midterm elections, in which his party an extremely dangerous storm is fi ghting to maintain control of the US surge, pushing ocean water into Senate and House of Representatives. portions of the coast by today. The hurricane centre said Aft er night in Tapachula, Willa was expected to strike migrants vow to go on near Mazatlan, a popular beach resort, and several other local A caravan of thousands of Central tourist destinations also are in American migrants heading for the the storm’s path. United States spent the night in the city The storm is expected to of Tapachula in south-western Mexico weaken slightly today. into yesterday morning, having made Willa is expected to douse their way northwards from the border coastal states Jalisco, Nayarit and with Guatemala. Sinaloa with 15cm to 30cm of The migrants, mostly from Hon- rain, likely triggering fl ash fl oods duras, spent the night in parks and and landslides, the NHC said. squares while trying to decide which Some areas may see as much route to take northwards and whether as 45cm of rainfall. to rest for a day. A Mexican Federal Police off icer speaks with Honduran migrants on the road linking Ciudad Hidalgo and Tapachula, Chiapas state, Mexico, on Sunday. Nearly three years ago to the The migrants arrived in Tapachula day, Hurricane Patricia, one of the on Sunday from the border town of “Remember the Midterms!” Trump By next year, those sums were pro- Mexican police at the scene. enforcement on American soil, unless most powerful storms on record, Ciudad Hidalgo, which most of them wrote in Twitter posts decrying the jected to fall to $69.4mn for Guatemala, Police in riot gear shadowed the cara- specifi cally authorised by Congress. struck Mexico’s Pacifi c coast with entered illegally from Guatemala. caravan and attacking Democrats on $65.8mn for Honduras, and $45.7mn in van’s arrival along a southern highway But the military can provide support winds that tore down trees, moved The caravan took off from San Pedro immigration. the case of El Salvador. but did not impede the migrants’ jour- services to law enforcement and has cars and forced thousands of peo- Sula in northern Honduras on October Trump, who has taken a hard line to- Combined, the cuts amount to a re- ney. done so on occasion since the 1980s. ple to fl ee homes. 13. It is initially believed to have com- ward illegal immigration since taking duction of almost 40 % for the three “Sadly, it looks like Mexico’s Po- In a tweet yesterday, Republican US Meanwhile, Tropical Storm prised about 1,000 people, but more offi ce last year, also wrote that he had nations. lice and Military are unable to stop the Senator Marco Rubio wrote: “While Vicente, with maximum sus- joined it along the way and organisers alerted the US military and Border Pa- Trump was not specifi c about how Caravan heading to the Southern Bor- unlawful migration to US from Central tained winds of 72kph, was now put the number at 7,500. trol “that this is a National Emergency,” much more he wanted to cut the aid. der of the United States,” Trump wrote America is caused by real crisis, the mi- churning some 590km southeast Only about 1,000 of them have though he did not say what actions he At least 5,000 migrants, mostly on Twitter. grant ‘caravan’ was manufactured by of Manzanillo. sought refugee status in Mexico, ac- was planning. Honduran, massed late on Sunday in Lieutenant Colonel Jamie Davis, a supporters of a radical agenda who are The storm is expected to ap- cording to the Interior Ministry. In campaigning for Republican can- the Mexican city of Tapachula near the Pentagon spokesman, said that while using poor & desperate people to try proach the southwestern coast Hundreds more were waiting to do didates last week, Trump highlighted Guatemalan border, local police said. National Guard troops are currently & embarrass & undermine the US in of Mexico later today. the same. the caravan issue. About another 1,000 migrants were supporting the Department of Home- the region. But it’s going to backfi re on While Vicente is expected to About 2,000 returned voluntarily to Trump travels to Texas, a key border walking toward them from Ciudad land Security on the border, the Penta- them.” weaken to a tropical depression Honduras, according to the Guatema- state, to campaign for Republican US Hidalgo further south, according to a gon had not been asked to provide ad- He did not provide further details on by today, it could produce major lan authorities. Senator Ted Cruz, who is seeking re- Reuters witness. ditional support. who the supporters were. rainfall and the risk of fl ash fl oods That still left thousands of migrants election. Seeking to escape violence and pov- In April, Trump raised the prospect Mexico’s government has said the and landslides, the NHC said. in an irregular situation, according to Since Trump became president last erty in their home countries, the mi- of sending active-duty military forces migrants must register with authorities figures given by organisers. year, the United States has already grants — men, women and children — to the US-Mexico border to stop illegal so their claims to asylum in Mexico may “Those of us who are here have moved to sharply decrease aid to Cen- have defi ed threats by Trump that he immigrants, raising questions in Con- be assessed. Judge postpones come shoulder to shoulder and we tral America. will close the US-Mexico border if they gress and among legal experts about That way, the government hopes to shall go as far as we can get,” one of In 2016, the United States provided advanced, as well as warnings from the troop deployments on US soil. break up the train of people. decision on jailing the migrants, Denys Omar Contreras, some $131.2mn in aid to Guatemala, Mexican government. A 19th-century federal law re- If they do not qualify for asylum, Keiko Fujimori told journalists. $98.3mn to Honduras, and $67.9mn to Most of the migrants stayed in Ta- stricts using the Army and other main those in the caravan are liable to be sent El Salvador, according to offi cial US data. pachula through yesterday, according to branches of the military for civilian law back to their home countries. Peruvian court post- poned Sunday a ruling on Aa prosecutor’s demand to put opposition leader Keiko Fu- jimori in preventive detention for 36 months, which she called Haddad insists democracy at risk if ‘dangerous’ Bolsonaro is elected a conspiracy to “bury” her presi- dential hopes. Anti-corruption prosecutor Reuters fi rst-round ballot with more votes than Jose Domingo Perez had asked Sao Paulo any other lawmaker in the country. the court to hold Fujimori and 11 In a video taken in July of him speak- others for the lengthy period as ing in a classroom, Eduardo Bolsonaro his team investigates who ben- razil’s leftist presidential candi- said the Supreme Court could be shut efi ted from millions of dollars in date Fernando Haddad said yes- down if it countered his father. campaign bribes from Brazilian Bterday that if his far-right rival, “One wouldn’t even need a Jeep, construction giant Odebrecht. Jair Bolsonaro, wins this weekend’s vote sending a soldier and corporal would be However, Sunday’s hearing as expected, military hard-liners will enough to close the STF,” he said, using was adjourned by Judge Rich- threaten democratic institutions and the acronym for the court. ard Concepcion Carhuancho the country’s young democracy. The younger Bolsonaro yesterday after defence lawyers said the Haddad sounded the alarm as the posted another video on his Twitter prosecution had failed to hand latest opinion poll showed him lagging account criticising the top court and over requested documents, and well behind Bolsonaro ahead of Sun- backing his father’s proposal to increase would need more time to make day’s run-off vote. its size from 11 to 21 members — some- their case. He spoke a day after Bolsonaro re- thing that Haddad said was a clear at- The judge said he would give newed his vow to wipe Haddad’s Work- tempt to neutralise the court’s current “24 hours to the prosecution to ers Party (PT) from the country’s po- justices. comply with the request” and litical map, and after a video surfaced Justice Celso de Mello called Eduardo then call a new hearing. of Bolsonaro’s son, Eduardo, saying Bolsonaro a “coup-monger” in a writ- Fujimori, leader of the opposi- the Supreme Court could be forcibly ten statement. tion Popular Force party, left the disbanded if it stripped his father of an Mello said the junior congressman’s courthouse smiling and wav- electoral victory. “unacceptable authoritarian view” was ing to photographers beside her “If (Bolsonaro) has the courage to a danger to Brazil’s democratic system husband, Mark Vito. threaten democracy before the elec- and disregarded the country’s constitu- “Prison is for the guilty, not tion, what do you think he will do if he tion. for the accused,” she told a press wins?” Haddad said at a press confer- Brazil is living in “dark times,” fel- conference Sunday night. ence in Sao Paulo. low justice Marco Aurélio Mello told the “How do they expect us to de- “Either we toss aside this authori- Folha de S Paulo newspaper for an arti- fend ourselves if we still do not tarian tradition that Brazil has always cle posted on its website yesterday. know what we are accused of?” had...or we are in danger, including An MDA opinion poll published yes- Fujimori added. physical, if we do not alert the country terday by transportation lobby CNT The judge, however, rejected that the political opposition, judges and showed that Bolsonaro had 57% of voter her lawyer’s demand that he rec- journalists are being threatened before support, compared to Haddad’s 43%. use himself so the case could be the election has been decided.” The numbers were in line with other transferred to another court. Bolsonaro is a former army captain polls that show Bolsonaro taking 59% He is the same judge that ear- and seven-term member of Congress (Datafolha) or 60% (BTG/FSB) of the lier this month allowed Lopez’s who has found wide appeal with an votes. request to hold Fujimori in pre- electorate seeking order after fi ve years As Brazil’s most polarised presiden- ventive detention for 10 days. of economic and political crises. tial campaign in decades entered its Peru’s constitution allows for Haddad has faced strong headwinds last week, tens of thousands of Bol- suspects to be held without trial as his party is closely associated in the sonaro’s backers gathered in several for up to 36 months in complex minds of many Brazilians with corrup- cities across Brazil on Sunday, and the cases such as the Odebrecht in- tion scandals. vibe was more of victory parties than vestigation, which involves trac- Until his presidential run, Bolsonaro pre-vote rallies. ing millions of dollars in illicit was best known for his pro-military Anti-Bolsonaro protesters gathered payments. junta, homophobic and misogynist in fewer cities on Saturday for events It also ensures that suspects rants over the years. that were mostly organised by a Face- cannot interfere with evidence His son is also a member of Congress book group of women voters who op- Supporters of Brazilian far-right presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro attend a rally in Copacabana beach, Rio de Janeiro, on or witnesses in an ongoing in- who was re-elected in the October 7 pose him. Sunday afternoon. vestigation. Gulf Times 20 Tuesday, October 23, 2018 PAKISTAN

Premier establishes No funds budgeted climate change panel Internews Islamabad

rime Minister Imran Khan has approved the Pformation of the Com- for ‘South Punjab’ mittee on Climate Change, which will act as a forum to Internews However, no allocation was Hashim said that the admin- on a better local government sys- government system and bring in discuss environmental con- Lahore found in a detailed study of the istrative capacity of the public tem to make elected representa- a new system, in which powers cerns and raise awareness budget documents based on offi ces located in South Punjab tives more accountable and ac- would be actually passed to vil- about climate change chal- which the budget was presented was very low, which needed to be cessible to locals. lage councils and local people. lenges faced by Pakistan. o funds have been allo- in Punjab Assembly last week. improved fi rst before the creation However, despite the claim, Contrary to this, an offi cial of Led by the prime minister, cated by the ruling Pa- Further, no such plan was re- of the new province. budget documents reveal that the the Local Government Depart- the committee will include the Nkistan Tehreek-e-Insaf fl ected in the medium-term He said that a number of head development allocations to local ment of Punjab, privy to all de- ministers for planning and de- (PTI) government for the crea- budgetary framework, which offi ces of administrative depart- governments had been reduced velopments, said that the PTI velopment, fi nance, power, na- Prime Minister Khan chairs the tion of a “South Punjab” that forecasts the future priorities of ments had been established in while the current expenditure leadership was unclear about the tional food security and water climate change committee. it promised will be carved out the government. Lahore and the heads of these was increased due to a 15% in- law amendments needed to in- resources, and provincial chief of the current Punjab province When Punjab Finance Minister departments visited South Pun- crease in salary and pension. troduce the new system. ministers. Tariq added that the com- in the latest annual provincial Jawan Hashim, brother of Presi- jab occasionally. Further, no funds were ear- Quoting the example of the “Climate change has been a mittee would provide the high- budget. dent Janoobi [south] Punjab Suba “We need to fi rst relocate them marked for the local body elec- village council model of Khyber rather neglected subject in the est level of strategic guidance Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Mahaz (JPSM) Khusro Bakhtiar, to South Punjab and do the ca- tions, which would need almost Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, the past. The committee has been and a platform to co-ordinate party had promised the creation was asked about the allocation pacity building of the govern- Rs5bn if the PTI government offi cial said that the average pop- formed to give the issue of glo- eff orts across the country. of the South Punjab province on of resources for creating South ment human resource working succeeded in dissolving the ex- ulation size of a village in Punjab bal warming more importance The focus in this regard will administrative grounds, in the Punjab, he said one could fi nd in South Punjab,” he said, adding isting local government system. was around 25,000 while in KP, it and to have more stakehold- be on streamlining and facili- agenda given by it in its election that one-third of the total devel- that it’s long way to go. According to Hashim, the was between 3,000 and 5,000. ers participate actively in the tating the implementation of manifesto and the fi rst 100-day opment budget was allocated for Additionally, Hashim said that government has been work- Thus, he pointed out, the KP present government’s initia- national and international ob- plan after coming into the power. the uplift of South Punjab. the PTI government is focusing ing to dissolve the existing local model could not work in Punjab. tives, such as Clean Green Pa- ligations. kistan, and the building up of According to an offi cial no- climate change as a concept,” tifi cation, the committee will Climate Change Additional periodically monitor the im- Secretary Khurram Agha says. plementation of comprehen- All in a day’s work He added that it points to sive adaptation and mitigation PTI loses the government’s intentions policies and other measures, and its endeavour to promote including the National Adap- a clean environment, clean air, tation Plan and Nationally Ap- both seats clean schools, and the promo- propriate Mitigation Actions. tion of green buildings and ap- It will also provide policy pliances. guidance on any other inter- contested Climate change ministry di- national, regional or national rector general Irfan Tariq says issues that have climate change that the committee has the implications. by KP specifi c role to oversee the sta- The committee is expected tus of implementation of the to convene twice a year. National Climate Change Pol- A similar committee and a governor icy across the federating units, council existed until 2008- and to spearhead the main- 2009 to assess the overall de- streaming of global warming terioration of the environment. Internews concerns into the decision- It was also expected to meet Peshawar making of federal and provin- at least twice a year or when cial governments. required, but went two, and It will also ensure the sometimes three, years with- he opposition Awami Na- creation of an enabling en- out convening, ignoring the tional Party (ANP) of As- vironment for integrated, degradation of forests, the Tfandyar Wali has managed climate-compatible, and cli- quality of drinking water, and to win two seats in the capital of mate-resilient development, the rise of emission levels pol- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) from he said. luting the air in the country. the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e- Insaf (PTI) of Prime Minister Imran Khan. Pakistani documentary bags another The PTI lost both the seats in Peshawar, which incumbent international award, this time in India Governor Shah Farman had con- tested in the July 25 general elec- The Rebel Optimist, a documentary about the life of Pakistani social tions. worker Perween Rehman, has won another international award, this The ANP was supported by time at the 7th Delhi International Film Festival 2018. all the major political parties in Directed by Mahera Omar, the documentary won the award for best the opposition to clinch the seat documentary in the category of “Cinema Across Borders”. from the ruling party. Of the 600 films received from more than 75 countries, 194 films ANP candidate Salahuddin from 56 countries were shortlisted for final competition in Delhi Mohmand defeated Zulfi qar international film festival. Khan, a PTI nominee and broth- The week-long festival, which kicked off on October 14, showcased er of KP Governor Shah Farman. the 194 films, including five entries from Pakistan. Farman had contested the The Rebel Optimist captures the life and work of the architect, general election on two seats, urban planner and a social activist Rahman, who worked for the less winning from PK-71 Peshawar. privileged in Karachi until her murder on March 13, 2013. He lost the other seat to The 67-minute documentary had also bagged the Special Jury Khushdil Khan of ANP by a nar- Workers harvest water chestnut from a field in Lahore. Mention Award in the non-fiction category during the 6th Nepal row margin. Human Rights International Film Festival, held in March this year. He vacated the PK-71 Pesha- war seat after his appointment as governor, and his brother lost it too in the October 14 by-elec- tion. “There were many factors, in- cluding the so far poor perform- Pakistan plans underground gas storage ance of the ruling party, that helped us achieve victory in the by-elections. Internews The US has gas storage ca- of the Inter-State Gas System serve storage capacity, then the g-to-g arrangements or inter- (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan- “All the parties also support- Islamabad pacity for 10 years. China and (ISGS), which is working on this government will have to store national competitive bidding for Pakistan-India) pipeline. ed our candidate, for which we Japan have also built gas storage task. 3bn cubic feet gas per day (bcfd), building the underground gas In the open market, LNG gets are thankful,” said ANP leader facilities, while India has also He said that similar to Paki- and in case we initiate a capacity storage. cheaper in the summer season, Arbab Kamal. akistan has updated a fea- improved its capacity in recent stan’s current oil storage buff er for 15 days, then the government Saulat said that the govern- with prices surging in the winter He said the people of the area sibility study for develop- years. of 20 days, the government will be able to reserve 6bcfd,” he ment has a feasibility study re- season. were not happy with the PTI and Ping strategic underground “We will seek decisions on wants gas storage as strategic gas said. port for developing the gas stor- The plan, Saulat said, is to its candidates. gas storage to enhance its energy whether the PD should go either reserves. Saulat also disclosed that age, but it is outdated. store the imported gas in sum- “Every male and female voter security capacities. for government-to-government “We have prepared a summa- the Inter-State Gas System has Pakistan’s domestic gas pro- mer at cheaper rates and utilise showed their support to ANP in Offi cial sources here say that (g-to-g) arrangement or tender- ry for the PD for tabling it in the sought investment from Saudi duction ranges between 3.8bcfd it in winter. the constituency of the incum- the federal Petroleum Division ing mechanism (international next ECC (Economic Co-ordi- Arabia to build the said storage, to 4bcfd and is importing 1.1bcfd More importantly, in case of bent governor,” he added. (PD) has fi nalised a summary for competitive bidding) for devel- nation Committee) meeting, to during recent interaction with LNG (liquefi ed natural gas), for a disruption in the LNG supply The PTI, which had won 12 out approval to be tabled before the oping the underground gas stor- start working on building the gas Saudi offi cials. total of 5.1bcfd, against the im- chain on account of any natural of 14 provincial assembly seats forthcoming meeting of the eco- age,” a senior offi cial of the Divi- storage for 12 to 15 days initially,” Russian company Gazprom is mediate demand of the country disaster, the gas in the storages from Peshawar city and district nomic Committee of the Cabi- sion says. Mobin Saulat, the managing di- also interested in developing the that stands at 6bcfd. will be used for industrial activi- in the July 25 general elections, net (ECC). When contacted, spokesman rector of ISGS, said when con- underground gas storage, but By 2020, Pakistan will be re- ties. lost both the by-elections last Pakistan currently has no ca- for PD Sher Afghan said that tacted. the ISGS needs guidelines from ceive 1.3bcfd gas from Turkmen- Currently, gas is stored in week. pacity to store gas underground. building gas storage is a mandate “If we go for a one-week re- the ECC on the mechanisms for istan through the $10bn TAPI pipelines. ANP had won one provincial seat in general elections through Khushdil Khan. The election was postponed in PK-78 Peshawar after the death of Haroon Bilour in a suicide at- Election-related litigation burden drops 90%, says ECP tack. ANP candidate Samar Haroon defeated PTI nominee Mohamed Internews “Before commencement of ings, for reasons to be recorded, of the ruling Pakistan Tehrik-e- Jhelum-III, wherein a PTI can- 438 votes compared to the 656 Irfan in PK-78 Peshawar in the Islamabad the consolidation proceedings, direct the Returning Offi cer to Insaf (PTI). didate had challenged the vote votes recorded earlier. by-elections. the Returning Offi cer shall re- recount the ballot papers of one However, apparently, the case count and applied for recount- After the recount, the win- The party had fi elded Samar count the ballot papers of one or or more polling stations. is nearing conclusion after the ing, which was done. ning candidate has 61,139 votes Haroon, the widow of Bilour, to he empowering of Re- more polling stations if a request There is apparently no chance State Bank of Pakistan, on the This seat was vacated by PTI’s whereas he had obtained 61,542 run for PK-78. turning Offi cers (ROs) or challenge in writing is made that a poll-related issue will lin- direction of the ECP, shared all Fawad Chaudhry, who won it in votes as per initial results. Except for the PTI, the major Tunder the Elections Act by a contesting candidate or his ger on for months now. the related banking transactions the July 25 general election. The application for the re- political parties had withdrawn 2017 to decide on a recount- election agent and the margin of Better training of polling staff and scrutiny of those transac- The Pakistan Muslim League count was fi led by the PTI’s Raja their candidates in favour of Sa- ing application has lessened the victory is less than 5% of the to- has also contributed to the elim- tions last week by the Election – Nawaz (PML-N)’s Nisar Lilla Shahnawaz, whose votes was mar Haroon as a goodwill ges- burden of litigation on the Elec- tal votes polled in the constitu- ination of vote-related issues. Commission’s three-member won the by-election for PP-27 also reduced, to 60,701 from the ture. tion Commission of Pakistan ency or 10,000 votes, whichever Moreover, a Returning Offi cer committee. (Pind Dadan Khan) in the fi nal 60,886 votes announced earlier. Samar is the fi rst woman in 16 (ECP) by about 90%. is less, or the Returning Offi cer is now legally bound also to send “It is quite obvious that the result after the vote recount. The reduction in margin of years to have won a general seat The new legislation makes it considers such request as not the results of a constituency to burden of litigation on the ECP The by-election was held victory is mainly due to the fact in KP and the fi rst ever from Pe- mandatory on a Returning Of- unreasonable: Provided that the the Election Commission by and election tribunals has been on October 14, and won by the that overseas Pakistanis mostly shawar. fi cer to go for vote recount in a recount shall be made by the Re- 2am, upon conclusion of polling massively lessened after the PML-N candidate, but the result voted for the PTI candidate, as The last time a woman won a particular constituency if the turning Offi cer only once,” says at a fi xed time. much-needed legislation last was withheld after the runner- did postal ballots. seat through direct elections was diff erence of votes between the sub-section 5 of Section 95 of One of the oldest cases is be- year, and we now have time to up applied for the recount since The number of invalid votes Ghazala Tanoli, who was elected successful candidate and the the Act. ing heard at the Election Com- focus on other matters,” a senior the victory margin was very increased from 1,554 to 2,401 in on ticket of the Qaumi Watan runner-up is less than 10,000 Similarly, the Election Com- mission since 2014, however, is offi cial at the ECP says. slim. the recount as the total number Party (QWP), from Mansehra votes or 5% of the total polled mission may, before conclusion not related to elections. He pointed out that the last The margin for the PML-N of valid votes is now 124,806 district. votes. of the consolidation proceed- It pertains to foreign funding recounting was made in PP-27, nominee has been reduced to from earlier 125,391 votes. Gulf Times Tuesday, October 23, 2018 21 PHILIPPINES Outrage as govt probes farmer ‘massacre’

AFP that leased the land. “We Manila vow to mobilise all avail- able resources to ensure that those responsible are held hilippine authorities accountable,” Philippine na- said yesterday they have tional police chief Oscar Al- Plaunched a probe into bayalde told reporters. the mass slaying of nine farm- The Philippines passed a ers gunned down after taking law in 1988 to redistribute over part of a sugar plantation public and private agricul- to grow food for themselves. tural lands to landless farm The deadly attack has pro- workers. voked outrage in the Philip- Agrarian Reform Secre- pines, as well as criticism of tary John Castriciones said Manila’s slow-moving pro- his ministry has handed out gramme to redistribute farm- 4.8mn hectares (12mn acres) land to millions of share- to nearly 3mn people, but croppers — tenant farmers more than 800,000 hectares who give a part of each crop have yet to be broken up. as rent — who remain mired “There are areas such as in poverty. these where we have not re- The violence erupted on ally been able to distrib- Saturday on the central is- ute (land titles), and maybe land of Negros, the centre that’s one reason why some of the nation’s sugar indus- of our farmer brethren re- try and home to some of the sorted to farming land that is country’s wealthiest land- not their own,” he said. Senator Antonio Trillanes smiles as he speaks to members of the media at the senate building in Manila yesterday, after a local court denied a motion by Department of Justice for owners as well as some of its Lawsuits are either delay- a warrant of arrest. poorest farm workers. ing or completely stopping Up to 40 gunmen attacked the effort in some areas, in- a group of about 25 people cluding the Sagay plantation who had entered the planta- where the violence occurred, tion near the city of Sagay he added. just hours earlier to sow their Farm workers account for own crops. about 20mn people, a fifth “This was...a grim re- of the Philippine population, flection of the decades-old who live on less than two Judge rejects Duterte failure of the government’s dollars a day, the government agrarian reform programme says. to extricate poor Filipino “Children in Negros work farmers from vicious and in haciendas (plantations) degrading cycle of poverty,” together with their fami- Senator Leila De Lima said. lies because of poverty due Authorities said they to government’s neglect,” push for critic’s arrest were investigating reports the children’s rights group the farmers were killed by Salinlahi Alliance said Sun- AFP crackdown, but also accused did not complete the require- courts.” Yesterday’s news came HRW researcher Carlos Conde “goons” employed by either day, denounced the killing as Manila Duterte of corruption and his ments of fi ling an offi cial ap- as Trillanes was on bail over an- said. the landowner or entities a “massacre”. son of involvement in drug deal- plication and admitting guilt, other military uprising case that “We expect it (the govern- ing. but yesterday’s ruling threw out was revived by Duterte revoking ment) to continue, even ramp Philippine judge rejected “We wish to thank Judge An- those arguments. the lawmaker’s amnesty. up, this political harassment and yesterday an eff ort by dres Soriano who has single- However, this decision is un- His arrest last month in that intimidation,” he added. APresident Rodrigo Du- handedly upheld justice and the likely to be the fi nal word on this case made Trillanes the second Trillanes had faced rebellion terte to arrest one of his fi ercest rule of law in the country despite case. senator critical of Duterte’s drug and coup d’etat charges for being Arroyo wants nation to critics, a decision hailed by op- extreme pressure coming from The Philippines’ top court war to be detained. among military offi cers who rose ponents as a check on the leader the Duterte regime,” a beaming is weighing the constitutional Leila de Lima has been be- up against then president Gloria and a victory for the rule of law. Trillanes told reporters. questions posed by Duterte’s hind bars since February 2017 on Arroyo over alleged corruption withdraw from IPU The decision from a Manila The order for Trillanes’ arrest amnesty revocation and the gov- charges she says were concocted and mismanagement. court denied a government pe- stems from the president void- ernment all but pledged to ap- to silence her. He led scores of junior offi c- tition to take Senator Antonio ing in September an amnesty peal. Human Rights Watch called ers in taking over part of a main By Glee Jalea delegation of Filipino parlia- Trillanes into custody on charges granted eight years ago to the “This is not the end. Nobody yesterday’s decision a tempo- district of Manila in 2003 and Manila Times mentarians to the 139th IPU for which the lawmaker had al- senator, an ex-navy offi cer, for has to claim total victory here,” rary victory for rule of law in seized a posh Manila hotel in General Assembly on Thurs- ready been granted amnesty. his role in two coup attempts in Justice Secretary Menardo Gue- the Philippines. “The Duterte 2007 along with several armed day, noted that this was not Trillanes has attacked the the mid-2000s. varra told reporters.”This may be administration’s campaign is followers as they demanded Ar- ouse Speaker Gloria the fi rst time the organisation president’s deadly narcotics Duterte alleged the lawmaker subject to review by the higher designed to silence Trillanes,” royo’s resignation. Macapagal Arroyo interfered in domestic aff airs. Hyesterday urged the “Last time there was an IPU Senate to withdraw the mem- and then Senate President bership of the Philippines (Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel 3rd) from the Inter-Parliamentary was head of delegation, and he Union (IPU), after the group decried the interference of the Shielding youth from drugs part of development agenda: Locsin announced that it would send IPU in our judicial processes. a delegation to look into the This time, over the objection alleged political persecution of the Philippine delegation, Manila Times without right policies and pro- “They must be educated for the other’s expense,” Locsin said. of two opposition senators. again they did the same thing,” Manila grammes,” he said. times, kept healthy in present and The Philippines is committed to “I am recommending to she said. “The demographic dividend improving conditions, and pro- developing timely, comprehensive the Senate which heads the In March, Pimentel said the doesn’t come with ingrained tected against the worst scourge and disaggregated data to better delegation that we should IPU “lacked understanding” he global development business plans and specifi c job of mankind: drugs and human grasp the situation of every citi- withdraw our membership of the Philippine Constitu- agenda should include skills. It is a raw energy but with traffi cking which directly attack zen, especially the most margin- with the IPU,” Arroyo said in tion after it called for the re- Tthe protection of young a moral dimension for being valu- the meaning of what it is to be hu- alised, he added. a chance interview in Quezon lease of de Lima, who has been people from the evils of drug able in itself as composed of peo- man,” Locsin said. Locsin noted that the Philip- City after attending a medical detained since February 2017 abuse, Foreign Aff airs Secretary- ple,” Locsin added. He acknowledged the impor- pines lies inside a circle of fi re and mission for socialised housing over her alleged involvement designate Teodoro Locsin Jr. Thus, countries have a social tance of the United Nations’ 17 in the path of typhoons of increas- benefi ciaries. in the illegal drug trade at New said, pointing to the Philippines’ and political obligation to realise Sustainable Development Goals ing ferocity because of climate The IPU, a Geneva-based Bilibid Prison. youthful population. the “youths are socially useful and as the “framework” of Philippine change. organisation of parliamentar- The IPU said de Lima’s de- Addressing the Asia-Europe at the same time self-satisfying development plans. “We are continuously engaged ians, will send an offi cial mis- tention came “in response to Meeting in Brussels, Belgium development.” “We stress the urgency of re- in initiatives to address the vary- sion to the country to look into her vocal opposition to Presi- last week, Locsin noted that the “Their development is not ducing extreme poverty which is ing challenges and threats; and to the cases of senators Leila de dent Duterte’s war on drugs.” Philippines was experiencing a merely instrumental, even for a drag in progress. It frustrates the develop co-operation at all levels Lima and Antonio Trillanes, In September, the govern- “demographic sweet pot.” those greater purposes to which moral imperative of universal ac- to reduce the human cost of natu- both staunch critics of the ad- ment revoked the 2011 am- “Here supposedly is a vast totalitarian states are partial. tion: so act that whatever you do ral disasters. Nature’s fury cannot ministration of President Ro- nesty of another vocal critic, store of potential energy and in- Youth development is in and for is applied to you; summed up as all be avoided but its worst can be drigo Duterte. Trillanes, through Proclama- novation. But it won’t be realised them,” he said. or none — no one advances at an- managed,” he said. Locsin: call to tackle drugs Arroyo, who headed the tion No 572.

Labour group seeks hike in minimum wage Panel in tentative nod to abolish interviews for senior judges Organised labour will submit a supplementary position paper amending its P320 daily wage By Jomar Canlas justices vying for the CJ (Chief in strictly holding public inter- was “not aware of such JBC rule The JBC is expected to hold chief justice. Ilao had pointed hike petition filed in June 2018 to Manila Times Justice) position, without prej- views, insisted that the aboli- requiring unanimity.” further deliberations on the is- out that if the SC insists on P334 a day, even as the Regional udice to closed-door interviews tion of public interviews for According to well-placed sue on November 9. abolishing the public interviews Tripartite Productivity and Wages by the members of the JBC. sitting SC senior justices must sources of Manila Times in the The fi ve most senior justices just to cater to the wishes of the Board-National Capital Region is divided Judicial and Bar The majority of the JBC be decided via unanimous vote, high court, three out of the six of the SC are Associate Justices SC justices, it would be tanta- yet to decide on a wage increase Council (JBC) has de- members took the view that sit- not just via majority ruling. JBC members were batting for Antonio Carpio, Diosdado Per- mount to paralysing the JBC and for minimum-wage workers Aferred to the Supreme ting members of the Supreme the public interviews in the in- alta, Lucas Bersamin, Mariano curtailing its constitutional in- across Metro Manila’s 17 cities Court’s (SC) plan to abolish Court had already been publicly “In any event, the CJ terest of transparency and obe- del Castillo, and Estela Perlas- dependence. and municipalities, Manila Times public interviews for senior jus- interviewed when they origi- nominees will still be dience to internal rules of the Bernabe. Ilao, a retired judge of Taguig reported. At the same time, the tices seeking the chief justice nally applied for their SC posi- thoroughly interviewed council. They will be automatically City and a former classmate group called on employers to post. tions, and any public inquiry by the JBC, though not in A source of Manila Times said nominated by the council but of President Rodrigo Duterte pay it forward by raising the sal- In a text message, Justice anew on matters pertaining to full glare of the public” Milagros Fernan-Cayosa, JBC will have to submit a letter and a fraternity brother in the ary of their workers. Secretary Menardo Guevarra their Statements of Assets, Li- regular member representing of conforme/acceptance and Lex Talionis Fraternity in San The Associated Labor Unions- yesterday confi rmed that the abilities and Networth(SALN) Ilao said the majority deci- the Integrated Bar of the Philip- comply with all requirements, Beda College of Law, cautioned Trade Union Congress of the JBC via majority vote had de- and other personal matters in sion was not yet fi nal, adding pines, was also pushing for the including the submission of at his fellow JBC members that Philippines (ALU-TUCP), the cided to do away with the public full view of the public through that there is still a need to pub- interviews. least their latest 10 SALN. changes or revisions of the JBC country’s biggest federation of interviews of the fi ve most sen- live media coverage would not lish the decision to fully inform The source added that anoth- Del Castillo had declined the rules were necessary before any workers, on Sunday said the ior SC justices and instead hold serve any substantially useful the public. er regular member, retired jus- automatic nomination, which move to abolish the public in- revision was a reflection of the them behind closed doors. purpose.” Unless the publication is tice Jose Catral Mendoza, was gives him the spot of acting terviews is made. 6.2% third-quarter inflation rate, “Only for the fi ve most senior “In any event, the CJ nomi- made, he said, the existing JBC also batting for the interviews chairman of the JBC, not Car- The JBC made its ruling af- in their bid for a substantial wage associate justices and aspiring nees will still be thoroughly ruling is not yet amended. but he wanted to hold them pio, who accepted his nomina- ter the SC urged the council to increase for some 4mn workers associate justices with at least interviewed by the JBC, though The Manila Times was the closed door. tion. forego the public interviews of in Metro Manila. fi ve years of service in the SC. not in full glare of the public, fi rst to report on Ilao’s 10-page It was learned that Guevarra SC Justice Andres Reyes Jr. the fi ve most senior justices of ALU-TUCP spokesman Alan All the rest will be publicly in- and if any formal amendment comment, dated Oct 15, 2018, to and Sen. Richard Gordon, ex- has also applied again for the the SC after the retirement of de Tanjusay said the P320 wage terviewed by the JBC en banc,” to the JBC rules is necessary, the the members of the JBC pushing offi cio JBC members, and then- post. Castro. hike petition filed in June this Guevarra’s message to Manila same will be so done,” the Jus- for the continuity of sweeping Chief Justice Teresita Leonar- He, Peralta and Bersamin will This ruling is contained in year only reflected the prevailing Times read. tice secretary pointed out. public interviews and invoking do-de Castro are the three JBC no longer be interviewed since an internal resolution of the SC conditions of first-quarter infla- “By a majority vote, the JBC But retired Judge Toribio Ilao constitutional independence of members backing the abolition their previous interviews are en banc dated Sept. 4, 2018, a tion of 5.2%. agreed to dispense with the Jr, JBC regular member for the the JBC. of the public interviews for valid for one year after their last copy of which was obtained by public interviews of senior SC private sector, who is very vocal Guevarra countered that he chief justice applicants. application for the position of Manila Times. Gulf Times 22 Tuesday, October 23, 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 New trade pact leaves most US industry at Mexico courts’ mercy

The new North American trade agreement ends key legal protections for many US businesses operating in Mexico, leaving their operations exposed to a risk they had avoided under the old trade deal: Mexico’s court system. For thousands of US fi rms, the change could add complications and uncertainty to doing business south of the border. Mexico is the third-largest US trading partner. The previous trade agreement, Nafta, included provisions that gave US fi rms operating in Mexico and Canada the option to challenge government decisions at an international tribunal. A change in Mexican or Canadian regulations, for example, that had a material impact on a US fi rm’s operations, could Khashoggi case has put MbS be challenged through an international panel instead of local courts. The removal of the investment protection means fi rms would now be at the mercy of Mexico’s courts, which are notorious for right where Erdogan wants him corruption, an energy industry source said. The provision has been part of numerous trade pacts to lessen risks for fi rms operating overseas. By Martin Chulov and reckless act that has sparked lasting Its removal makes the new agreement an outlier, trade experts Guardian News and Media revulsion even among the kingdom’s allies. and industry sources in Washington said. “This has become a strategic strug- The administration of US President Donald Trump took a t about noon today two re- gle between Erdogan and his vision for negative view on the provision. gional leaders are due to make the Middle East and a vision shared by US Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer sees it as a landmark addresses. MbS and his allies, MbZ [Mohamed bin subsidy for US companies to invest in Mexico. A In Riyadh, the de facto Zayed, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi] A spokeswoman ruler of Saudi Arabia, Mohamed bin and [the Egyptian president Abdel for USTR declined to Salman (MbS), will open an investment Fatah] al-Sisi,” said Soner Cagaptay, comment for this story, showpiece declaring the kingdom open director of the Turkish programme at Mexico is the for business. the Washington Institute. referring to Lighthizer’s In Ankara, meanwhile, Recep Tayyip “Erdogan sees an opportunity in third-largest US previous statements, Erdogan is expected to make a speech the Khashoggi murder — in that he which essentially said the that may well shut the beleaguered realises MbS has become the weak- trading partner old provision encouraged kingdom down. est link in the anti-Erdogan, anti- companies to move Such are the stakes when Erdogan Muslim Brotherhood corner of the operations overseas at the cost of American jobs. takes to a podium to discuss the death region. This is really thin ice that Trump blamed Nafta for the loss of thousands of US of Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi that MbS is dancing on and I think Erdoan the region may not be the same when is attempting to make it even thin- manufacturing jobs to Mexico, where labour is cheaper. he’s fi nished. ner. “The roots really go back to 2013 He threatened to end the free trade deal until Mexico and Erdoan has pledged to table the “na- [when Mursi was forced out of power]. Canada agreed to more favourable terms. ked truth” about what happened to the He has refused to deal with the Sisi A revised pact was signed last month. columnist and critic, whose fate contin- government, calling it illegitimate. The new deal, offi cially called the United States-Mexico- ues to grip both countries and polarise Senior Saudis who sought solace the Middle East. The Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is due to reveal the ‘naked truth’ from Erdogan in Ankara in the past Canada Agreement (USMCA), will phase out much of the old about what happened to Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) protections over If he stays true to his pledge, much of fortnight left town believing he had an the evidence that Turkey has gath- even bigger prize in sight — relaunching coming years. ered, incriminating Saudi Arabia in a blanket early denials had fi rst given way particularly since the rise and fall of Turkey as a regional Islamic power base, Lighthizer had initially wanted to remove all such protections, premeditated plot to kill Khashoggi, will to begrudging disclosures, then partial Mohamed Mursi, the ill-fated former while diminishing Riyadh’s claim to be but agreed to some carve outs after pressure from Mexico and be revealed: in pictures, video and even admissions, cover-ups and fall guys. prime minister of Egypt who hailed the pre-eminent voice for Islam. US industry groups, Mexican sources said. bloodcurdling audio said to document Dread is the order of the day, as the from the Muslim Brotherhood. Khaled al-Faisal, the governor of “He took a more moderate position because Mexico wanted to his torture and death. already-troubled investment confer- The Turkish president has partnered Makkah, returned after seeing Er- preserve ISDS, because it is very important for investment,” said Setting the scene yesterday, a ence looms. with Qatar, given shelter to those exiled dogan and was really worried, one Jesus Seade, lead trade negotiator for Mexico President-elect spokesman for the ruling party for the And in some quarters of the royal after Mursi fell, and remained a bulwark senior member of the royal family has fi rst time described Khashoggi’s death court, a palpable sense of panic has for a movement that both Riyadh and revealed. “He wasn’t budging, he didn’t Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador. as a “complicated murder” that was taken hold. its ally, the United Arab Emirates, see as want to listen to anything we said. Al- Republican lawmakers in the US, including Senator Orrin “monstrously planned”. That Erdogan, Erdogan has the Saudis — in particu- existential threats. Faisal came back and told the King we Hatch from Utah, also opposed Lighthizer’s attempts to cut not his bureaucrats, is now prepared to lar Prince Mohamed (AKA MbS) — right Prince Mohamed, meanwhile, has have a crisis.” ISDS from the deal. put his name to the material takes this where he wants him. been attempting to remodel Saudi Ara- Cagaptay believes Erdogan’s goals He led other lawmakers to press Lighthizer to keep Nafta’s extraordinary event to a new level. Out of crisis has come opportunity bia, turning it into an Arab nationalist are more limited, for now. “He wants “robust investor protections” in a March letter. The Turkish leader is expected to for the veteran Turkish leader, who has police state. not to go after the Saudi royal family, A spokeswoman for Hatch said he is still reviewing the deal accuse the inner sanctum of power in never warmed to the brash 33-year- Abu Dhabi and Cairo are models here. to whom he’s deferential, including Riyadh of organising a hit on Khashoggi, old, and thinks even less of his regional And with Riyadh, the triumverate had the King. What he’s trying to get out and working to ensure it “will build on Nafta’s proven success”. directly contradicting its claims that allies. been in the ascendant regionally, ever of this is to sideline, or maybe even Under the new deal, the ISDS tribunal would only be an state offi cers had acted beyond their au- The two men have vastly diff erent since Mursi fell. neutralise MbS at least when it comes option for fi rms disputing a small number of issues, such as state thority in a bid to please their masters. visions for the future of the region: For Erdogan, the gruesome killing to Turkey. He wants to take one of his expropriation of assets or discrimination against foreign entities. Such an allegation carries with it a Erdogan has been a champion of po- marks a historic moment; a chance to opponents out of that triple entente A handful of industries retain broader protections under weight not yet seen in Riyadh, where litical Islam both at home and abroad, turn the tables gifted to him by a cruel that opposes him.” USMCA. They are oil and gas, telecommunications, power generation and infrastructure sectors that have contracts with the Mexican government. Congress won’t buy the latest Saudi story on Khashoggi But even those sectors face some uncertainty, industry sources said, because it is unclear if contracts with state-owned By Eli Lake stressed the importance of maintaining Curiously enough, Trump may actu- time, Magnitsky measures would not enterprises, such as oil company Petroleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) Bloomberg News strong ties with the Saudis. Later still, ally be receptive to Magnitsky sanc- rattle the foundation of the US-Saudi and state power utility Comision Federal Electricidad, would be he decried the Saudis’ “deception” to tions. The president has made clear he alliance: military assistance, intel- covered. the Washington Post while praising the has no taste for suspending arms sales ligence sharing and the economic war f there were any remaining doubts kingdom as “an incredible ally.” to Saudi Arabia. But Magnitsky sanc- against Iran. “This is a major degradation of investor protections,” a about the culpability of Saudi What is clear is that the Saudi expla- tions apply to state offi cials, not the If Trump decides that Magnitsky business industry source in Washington said. Crown Prince Mohamed bin Sal- nation and response – arrests, a pend- state itself. The original version of this sanctions go too far, Congress may Large US fi rms have typically won these kinds of disputes, Iman in the murder of the journalist ing trial, and a bureaucratic reorganisa- legislation targeted the Russian offi cials consider something more severe. In sources said. Jamal Khashoggi, they were removed on tion – will not be enough for Congress. responsible for the torture and death March a resolution to cut off US refuel- Friday evening. Bob Corker, the Republican chairman of Sergei Magnitsky, a lawyer who had ling of Saudi aircraft in their Yemen war That’s when the Saudi government of the Senate Foreign Relations Com- uncovered a massive tax corruption was defeated 55 to 44. It’s unlikely that fi nally acknowledged the grim truth mittee, observed on Friday that “the scheme. resolution would be defeated again if a To Advertise that Khashoggi was dead – and then story the Saudis have told about Jamal The main penalty for being on the vote was taken today. proceeded to give a ridiculous explana- Khashoggi’s disappearance continues Magnitsky list, as it’s known, is that you Much now depends on the crown [email protected] tion of how a 59-year-old man of letters to change with each passing day, so we are prevented from travelling to the US prince. Mohamed bin Salman’s fi rst Display died in a fi st fi ght. Fred Ryan, the pub- should not assume their latest story and your assets are frozen. It also bars attempt at coming clean has failed. He lisher of the Washington Post, where holds water.” any US citizen from doing business with should try again – this time with the 44466621 44418811 Khashoggi was a columnist, summed up More important, Corker said the US you. European countries have adopted truth of what actually happened to most of the civilised world’s reaction. government has an obligation under similar legislation, so a Magnitsky Jamal Khashoggi. Classified “This is not an explanation,” he said. “It legislation known as the Global Mag- determination in 2018 means one is es- 44466609 44418811 is a cover-up.” nitsky Human Rights Accountability sentially blacklisted from most Western z Eli Lake is a Bloomberg Opinion It’s unclear so far whether it will be Act to fi nd and sanction those found re- countries. columnist covering national security Subscription enough for President Donald Trump. sponsible for Khashoggi’s murder. Last It doesn’t sound like much, but the and foreign policy. He was the senior Upon hearing the news, he said the week, all but one member of Corker’s law drives authoritarians nuts. Russian national security correspondent for [email protected] arrests of 18 people and the fi ring of committee requested such an investiga- President Vladimir Putin, for exam- the Daily Beast and covered national fi ve senior offi cials was a “great rst fi tion. Under the law, once such a request ple, banned US citizens from adopting security and intelligence for the step.” Later, while acknowledging that is made, the president must decide Russian children after the legislation Washington Times, the New York © 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved the lack of a body was concerning, he whether to invoke sanctions. was signed into law in 2012. At the same Sun and UPI. Gulf Times Tuesday, October 23, 2018 23 COMMENT Just say no to agricultural gene drives

By Mariann Bassey-Orovwuje is almost 100%, meaning that the Research Board are collaborating Lagos off spring and all of its future progeny with Agragene Inc, the world’s will carry the trait. first agricultural gene-drive Gene drives pose a clear threat to company. And, of course, the major irst, the agribusiness giants natural systems. If released into the agribusiness firms – Monsanto- came to take our land and environment, they could potentially Bayer, Syngenta-ChemChina, disrupt our food systems with alter food chains, eradicate benefi cial DowDuPont (now Corteva Fsynthetic pesticides, fertilisers, organisms such as pollinators, and Agriscience), and Cibus – are lurking proprietary seeds, and genetically disrupt indigenous agro-ecological in the shadows of gene-drive policy modifi ed organisms (GMOs). Now, practices and cultures. discussions, having been advised these fi rms’ hired hands are upping the The researchers behind gene drives by scientists and public relations ante with “gene drives,” a deliberately have only just begun to consider the advisers to keep a low profile. invasive technology designed to implications of laboratory-produced Some gene-drive proponents have propagate genetic material across genes behaving at odds with what their argued that GDOs could be compatible an entire population or species. As a theoretical models predict. Yet one with agro-ecological approaches result, Africans are now confronting cannot rule out the possibility that such as organic farming. But make no a new and serious threat to our land, genes for female sterility could fi nd mistake: a gene-driven farm would biodiversity, rights, and food supply. their way into species that pollinate epitomise the industrial approach To mark World Food Day (October crops or serve as a food source for to agriculture, which has failed the 16) this year, the Alliance for Food birds, reptiles, and even humans. Nor test of sustainability. That is why it is Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) – a can one discount scenarios in which increasingly being rejected in favour network of farmers’ organisations artifi cial genes disable benefi cial of an agro-ecological model based on operating in 52 out of 54 African natural genes, or even cause outbreaks the principle of “food sovereignty.” countries – joined with hundreds of of new diseases. The latter approach, which has been other leading advocates worldwide Gene-drive developers have spent endorsed by the UN Human Rights to oppose the use of gene drives. We millions of dollars trying to sell this Council, calls on farmers to share their have called on the United Nations technology as a quick fi x for achieving existing knowledge and seeds with and other multilateral organisations ambitious health and conservation one another other, and to protect local to enact a global moratorium on the goals, such as those outlined in the ecosystems. release of these biotechnologies into UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Next month, representatives from the environment, and particularly in Development. In my part of the world, more than 190 countries will meet agricultural settings. West Africa, scientists with millions of in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, for the Gene drives have been described as dollars from the Bill & Melinda Gates 14th meeting of the Conference of “genetic forcers,” because they literally Foundation’s “Target Malaria” project the Parties to the Convention on force genetically engineered traits onto are aggressively pursuing a plan to What was once a nightmare scenario regarding GMOs – the uncontrolled spread of harmful engineered genes across an Biological Diversity (UN Biodiversity entire populations of insects, plants, release gene-drive mosquitoes into the ecosystem – may become a deliberate strategy. Conference). While there, they will fungi, and other organisms. What was wild (after fi rst conducting a test run consider whether to press the brakes once a nightmare scenario regarding with bioengineered non-gene-drive African farmers who are committed to is agriculture. According to “Forcing biotechnology corporations will now on gene drives, to ensure that farmers GMOs – the uncontrolled spread of mosquitoes). agro-ecological practices – as well as the Farm,” a new report from the try to control the genetic makeup of and indigenous peoples are fully harmful engineered genes across an Needless to say, many of us in the groups like AFSA, La Coalition pour la ETC Group and the Heinrich Böll every component in the agricultural consulted before these technologies ecosystem – may become a deliberate region feel as though we are being Protection du Patrimoine Génétique Foundation, even leaders in the gene- ecosystem, from the pollinators to the are unleashed in their communities. strategy. used as lab rats in an experiment Africain (COPAGEN), and Terre À drive fi eld quietly accept that the weeds and pests. For example, some One hopes that the international Specifi cally, researchers have already that could devastate African farming Vie – are leading the campaign against technologies they are developing will researchers want to use gene-drive community will uphold its duty to created “engineered selfi sh genes” families’ capacity to feed themselves fi eld experiments with genetically be used in agribusiness more than in organisms (GDOs) to infi ltrate and protect food supplies, as well as the that spread themselves automatically and their communities. Moreover, modifi ed mosquitoes. any other sector. eliminate entire pest species within a rights of farmers around the world. – in two insect species. Normally, the it is an experiment that could prove Local communities are not blind After all, gene drives have the few generations. Project Syndicate off spring of sexually reproducing doubly self-defeating, given that to the fact that the use of gene potential to change the entire business Having been sold on gene drives organisms have a 50% chance of malnutrition can heighten the risk of drives against malaria-transmitting model of industrial agriculture. as a possible magic bullet, farming z Mariann Bassey-Orovwuje is Chair inheriting a gene from their parents. death from malaria. Fearing for their mosquitoes is largely a public- Rather than merely altering the organisations such as the California of the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in But with gene drives, the probability health and that of their environments, relations gambit. The real end game crops that farmers bring to harvest, Cherry Board and the US Citrus Africa (AFSA).

Trump is amazing. Here’s the science to prove it Three-day forecast

TODAY people respond more enthusiastically On many questions, Trump has been Maximum Temperature : 340c By Cass Sunstein Minimum Temperature : 260c Bloomberg News to simple, clear rhetoric from leaders, shown to be wrong; consider his claim downplaying tradeoff s, than to complex that President Barack Obama was not WEDNESDAY rhetoric that points to competing born in the United States, or that the Maximum Temperature : 340c his column is really good. considerations and that can easily be audience for his inauguration was “the Minimum Temperature : 270c Actually it’s amazing. In less seen as a sign of weakness. biggest ever.” THURSDAY than 650 words, it will explain Many successful politicians show an But that’s less of a problem than Maximum Temperature : 340c Tthe success of President intuitive awareness of the confi dence it might be. One reason is Trump’s Minimum Temperature : 280c heuristic. Among American presidents, constant complaints about “fake Donald Trump – and also show how to Fisherman's forecast beat him. John F Kennedy stands out, but Ronald news,” which provide him with some Behavioural scientists like to Reagan was probably the master. A inoculation against those who seek president has to be pretty confi dent to expose him. For many people, his WARNING emphasise the role of heuristics, or Inshore : Nil mental shortcuts, in our thinking. to say this: “I have left orders to be confi dence makes him credible (if Offshore : Expected Thundery Lacking statistical knowledge, we use awakened at any time in case of national perhaps overenthusiastic). rain associated with rules of thumb. In deciding whether a emergency, even if I’m in a cabinet There’s a general implication here for strong wind and high sea product or activity is risky, people tend meeting.” Or this: “I’ve noticed that politicians and presidential aspirants on WEATHER to ask: Do I know about situations in everyone who is for abortion has already the Democratic side. Jimmy Carter, John Inshore : Relatively hot daytime which someone actually got hurt? That’s Donald Trump been born.” Kerry and Hillary Clinton have many & sctd clouds with c of rain at places at times the “availability heuristic” in action. But President Trump outdoes Reagan strengths, but their tendency to see both Offshore : Partly cloudy to One of the least well-known rules shown to be wrong, their credibility will – not through wit, humour or charm, sides of an issue, and their occasional cloudy with c of sctd of thumb is called the “confi dence suff er. But they usually get the benefi t of but through a kind of joyful, thuggish willingness to display ambivalence and rain maybe thundery heuristic,” which was initially explored the doubt. certainty about his own amazingness. uncertainty, can be electoral liabilities. at times in 1995. The central idea is simple. When In this light, we should revise our “I alone can fi x it,” he said during the Such inclinations are easily taken as WIND people express beliefs to one another, understanding of the whole idea of the campaign. “Nobody’s ever done a better signs of weakness. Inshore : Northwesterly-North- easterly 05-15 KT their level of confi dence usually refl ects “confi dence man” – con man, for short. job than I’m doing as president,” he says The good news is that confi dence Offshrore : Northwesterly 05-15/35 how certain they are. It tells us how It’s usually thought that the con man now. can be accompanied by generosity and KT much information they have. When we fi nds a way to earn people’s trust, and Sure, Trump’s braggadocio turns grace (as in the cases of both Kennedy are listening to others, we are more likely then takes advantage of them. But when many people off , and his critics ridicule and Reagan). In the coming years, that’s Visibility : 4-8 KM going to be a winning combination. to be persuaded by people who seem con men succeed, it’s usually because him for it. But to his supporters, it’s Around the region really confi dent. they enlist the confi dence heuristic. appealing and even contagious. And Trust me on this. You can take it to Weather Since 1995, empirical research has They don’t show any doubts. They act as for people who aren’t sure whether to the bank. Weather tomorrow Max/min shown that groups tend to be most if they know what they are doing. support him, it can be highly eff ective. today Max/min P Cloudy 32/22 infl uenced by the views of their most There are obvious lessons here for Many voters think: If he’s so sure of z Cass R Sunstein is a Bloomberg Baghdad Sunny 31/19 Sunny 34/22 confi dent member. Most of us are more aspiring and actual leaders in politics, himself, he’s probably right. Opinion columnist. He is the author of Kuwait City M Sunny 32/22 M Sunny 34/28 likely to fi nd confi dent people to be business, education and elsewhere. For I have noted that when confi dent The Cost-Benefi t Revolution and co- Manama M Sunny 33/28 Sunny 34/27 credible. Sure, confi dence isn’t a magic example, Philip Tetlock of the University people are shown to be wrong, people author of Nudge: Improving Decisions Muscat Sunny 34/27 M Sunny 24/14 bullet. If people who are confi dent are of Pennsylvania has found that most tend to stop believing what they say. About Health, Wealth and Happiness. Tehran Sunny 24/12

Live issues Organic foods tied to slightly lower cancer risk

Around the world By Lisa Rapaport An observational study like this one and fi sh; eggs; grains and legumes; They do know, however, that people Reuters Health can’t prove that eating organic foods bread and cereals; fl our; vegetable who ate the most organic foods were Weather Weather causes fewer cancers, but the results oils and condiments; ready-to-eat more likely to be married, have higher today Max/min tomorrow Max/min suggest that an organic-based diet meals; coff ee and tea; wine; cookies, income and education levels, consume Athens Rain 19/16 P Cloudy 22/14 eople who eat more organic could contribute to reduced cancer chocolates and other sweets; other less red and processed meat, and drink Beirut P Cloudy 30/24 P Cloudy 29/23 foods may be slightly less risk, Baudry said by e-mail. foods; and dietary supplements. less alcohol. Bangkok Cloudy 32/26 S T Storms 32/26 likely to develop certain Organic food standards don’t They gave participants scores “Asking about consumption of Berlin Rain 13/08 P Cloudy 11/06 Pcancers, a French study allow the use of synthetic fertilisers, ranging from a low of 0, for no organic organic foods . . . assesses a behaviour Cairo P Cloudy 33/22 M Sunny 34/23 suggests. pesticides, and genetically modifi ed food consumption, to 32 for the but not the causes of the behaviour,” Cape Town Sunny 31/19 M Sunny 30/18 Compared to people who consumed organisms and restrict the use highest consumption. said Dr Jorge Chavarro, co-author Colombo S T Storms 29/24 T Storms 29/24 the least amount of organic foods, of veterinary medications like In the group with the lowest organic of an accompanying editorial and a Dhaka Sunny 34/22 Sunny 33/22 people who consumed the most were antibiotics. food consumption, the average score researcher at Harvard TH Chan School Hong Kong P Cloudy 26/22 P Cloudy 25/22 25 percent less likely to develop cancer Although some previous research was 0.72, compared to 19.4 in the of Public Health and Brigham and Istanbul Cloudy 20/14 P Cloudy 19/11 during the study. In absolute terms, suggests that agricultural chemicals group with the highest consumption. Women’s Hospital in Boston. Jakarta S T Storms 33/26 S T Storms 33/26 this translated into about a 0.6 percent may be linked with certain cancers, Overall, by an average of 4.5 years “Someone who did not to eat Karachi Sunny 33/25 Sunny 32/24 lower risk of cancer. researchers don’t have a clear picture after the surveys were completed, organic because of price barriers was London P Cloudy 17/10 M Sunny 17/06 “It has to be born in mind that an of whether organic foods free of these participants developed 1,340 new considered the same as someone who Manila P Cloudy 33/25 P Cloudy 33/24 overall healthy nutritionally diet (rich chemicals can help lower the risk of cancers. Most common were breast chose not to eat organic because they Moscow Showers 08/03 Showers 07/04 in fruit and vegetables etc.), whatever cancer. cancers, prostate cancers, skin didn’t care about it,” Chavarro said New Delhi Sunny 32/18 Sunny 32/18 the farming system (organic or In the current study, reported in cancers, colorectal cancers and by e-mail. “While these two people New York P Cloudy 17/08 P Cloudy 13/05 conventional), as well as high physical JAMA Internal Medicine, almost lymphomas. may have the same level of biological Paris Sunny 18/09 P Cloudy 17/08 activity are important documented 69,000 adults completed web-based Along with its observational exposure, they are diff erent in terms Sao Paulo S T Storms 28/17 Rain 21/17 protective factors against certain questionnaires about their diets over design, which can’t prove causality, of their motivation to eat organic Seoul S Showers 19/06 Sunny 18/04 cancers and other diseases,” said three 24-hour periods. another limitation of the study is that and likely in many other aspects of Singapore T Storm 31/26 T Storm 30/26 lead study author Julia Baudry of the Researchers focused on 16 types of researchers didn’t account for why their health behaviours, which could Sydney M Sunny 25/16 Cloudy 18/14 French Institute of Health and Medical organic products: fruits; vegetables; people who never ate organic might ultimately explain the observed Tokyo Clear 23/14 Cloudy 24/16 Research INSERM in Paris. soy-based products; dairy; meat have made this decision. diff erences in cancer risk in this study.” Gulf Times 24 Tuesday, October 23, 2018 QATAR

Military delegations from Sudan, Bangladesh visit Joaan Bin Jassim Joint Command and Staff College

A delegation from Sudan Military College led by Deputy Chief of Staff of Sudan’s Army Ground Forces for Training, Lieutenant General Shams al-Din Kabbashi Ibrahim, visited Joaan Bin Jassim Joint Command and Staff College yester- A military delegation from the National Defence College of Bangladesh yesterday visited Joaan Bin Jassim Joint Command and day, QNA reported. During the visit, Joaan Bin Jassim Joint Command and Staff College Commander Major General Staff College, where they welcomed by Commander of the college Major General Staff Mohamed Hamad al-Nuaimi, QNA reported. Staff Mohamed Hamad al-Nuaimi discussed with the Sudanese delegation prospects of co-operation between the Scopes of co-operation between the two countries in the academic military field and the exchange of expertise regarding the two countries in the military field and the exchange of expertise, as well as ways of promoting and developing them. training courses off ered by the college were discussed during the visit. The two sides also discussed means of developing the The Sudanese delegation toured the college, where it was briefed on its facilities, halls, academic programmes and strategic and academic relations. The delegation then toured the college and was briefed on its facilities and halls, and listened to training courses. an explanation about its academic programmes and training courses.

Difi unveils ‘civil society statement on parenting’

oha International Family Institute (Difi ), a member Dof Qatar Foundation, yes- terday hosted a meeting for civil society organisations in partner- ship with the International Fed- eration for Family Development (IFFD). The meeting highlighted the importance of supporting par- ents by both government agen- cies and civil society organisa- tions, whose eff orts were praised by participants. The gathering concluded with the launch of the ‘Civil Society Noor al-Malki al-Jehani speaking at the event Statement on Parenting.’ The meeting stressed the role the Universal Declaration of Hu- being and Development, which of parenting in contributing to man Rights, which acknowledges begins today at the St Regis Doha. sustainable development while the right to start a family, where Discussions focused on pro- improving quality education and the family represents a basic and grammes that enhance parents’ health outcomes. essential building block of society, skills and involvement in early Under this overarching theme, and holds the primary responsi- childhood. several topics were discussed, bility for the nurturing, protec- It featured two sessions, in- including ways of promoting tion, and socialisation of children. cluding ‘Sharing of Experienc- gender equality and shared re- According to the Convention es and Exchange on Promoting sponsibility at home; preventing on the Rights of the Child, a child Parenting Support at National the reproduction of families in should grow up in a family en- and Regional Levels,’ moderat- vulnerable situations; promoting vironment, in an atmosphere of ed by Noor al-Malki al-Jehani, intergenerational solidarity and happiness, and the family should executive director, Difi. inclusive urbanisation; and cre- assume its responsibilities with- The second session, titled ‘In- Participants share experiences and discuss how to promote parenting support at national and regional levels. ating an enabling environment in the community. troducing Civil Society State- for a meaningful contribution of The meeting was held ahead of ment on Parenting,’ was moder- Participants included rep- Children and Their Societies, sation, Ngala Parenting with ics, the European Large Families civil society organisations. Difi ’s two-day International Con- ated by Ignacio Socias, director resentatives from Focus on the the Africa Fatherhood Initia- Confidence, the International Confederation, and the Parents These subject areas align with ference on Parenting, Child Well- of communication, IFFD. Family Malaysia, Investing in tive, the World Family Organi- Federation for Home Econom- Forum. QLC’s ‘Rising Leaders’ back from 6-day Tokyo visit

atar Leadership Centre’s (QLC) ‘Ris- how to drive innovation, strategy develop- ing Leaders’ have successfully com- ment, sustainability, and change; the suc- Qpleted a six-day tour at the head- cess of Japanese companies in the global quarters of leading energy and IT companies market; and the unique styles of Japanese in Tokyo recently, to get a better understand- management. ing of business development strategies. Part of the journey includes a visit to the In a press statement, QLC said from Oc- multinational NEC Corp, a Japanese pro- tober 14 to 19, the participants explored the vider of information technology services and strategies behind the island nation’s success, products. how it fl ourished into today’s world-re- Meeting with NEC leadership, the partici- nowned business hub and initiatives to drive pants took part in an interactive, innovation sustainable economic growth. group exercise to better understand the key Qatar’s ambassador to Japan, Hassan bin factors contributing to the company’s suc- Mohamed Rafei al-Emadi, handed out cer- cess. tifi cates to all the participants who presented In addition, the participants also took part their travel mandate and learning experience. in a trip to Hitotsubashi University, where “QLC’s learning journeys have become Professor Kazuo Ichijo, Dean and Profes- a much-anticipated feature of our national sor at Hitotsubashi International Corpo- leadership programmes. These interactions rate Strategy, inaugurated a lively debate on with notable business leaders signifi cantly knowledge creation and innovation. contribute to the participants’ understanding Other daily site visits included excursions of the global market,” QLC ‘s board member to CyBuza, a Tokyo-based software compa- and managing director Sheikh Dr Abdulla bin ny, and Ota Incineration Plant, where ‘Rising Ali al-Thani said. Leaders’ learnt how Japan promotes a recy- “Encouraging a 360-degree perspective cle-orientated waste management system. of thriving leadership and economies is a Finally, a trip to Japan would be incomplete fundamental part of Qatar’s ongoing human without seeing the Toyota Factory, where par- capital development,” he added. ticipants met with Ronald Haigh, project man- QLC’s ‘Rising Leaders’ were welcomed by ager, Overseas External Aff airs Division. Hisato Okubo, head of Energy at Itochu Corp The educational trip concluded back at – one of the largest Japanese trading com- Itochu Corporation’s headquarters, where panies and the headquarters in which QLC ‘Rising Leaders’ discussed business devel- participants spent the majority of their stay. opment and new ideas inspired by the learn- Members of the delegation visit multinational NEC Corp, a Japanese provider of information technology services and products. Attendees enjoyed lectures focused on ing journey.