BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 8 Boult leads New Zealand fi ghtback Alternatif Bank set against to open three more branches in Turkey Pakistan published in QATAR since 1978

SUNDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 11006 November 18, 2018 Rabia I 10, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

In brief Amir to visit Croatia, Italy Several agreements to be signed during the trip Saudi crown prince

QATAR | Offi cial PM sends message to Malian counterpart ordered Khashoggi’s The Prime Minister of Mali Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga received a written message from Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Interior HE Sheikh Abdullah murder, asserts CIA bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, concerning bilateral relations O Trump briefed on Khashoggi, a US-based Washing- development,” Trump said. “As presi- and ways to support them. The killing by CIA, Pompeo ton Post columnist and critic of the dent, I have to take a lot of things into message was handed over by crown prince, was killed in October at consideration.” Qatar’s ambassador to Mali Ahmed the Saudi consulate in Istanbul when Marine General Joseph Dunford, bin Abdulrahman al-Sunaidi, during Reuters he went there to pick up documents he chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , a meeting with the Malian prime Washington needed for his planned marriage. noted yesterday that the kingdom plays minister in Bamako yesterday. As lawmakers push legislation a key military role for the United States to punish Saudi Arabia for the kill- in the Middle East. QATAR | Sport S President Donald Trump, ing, both Republican and Democratic “Saudi Arabia has been an impor- QOC to celebrate while fl ying to California yes- senators yesterday urged Trump to be tant partner to regional security in the Uterday, was briefed on the mur- tough on the crown prince, with whom past, I expect they will be in the future,” Sport Excellence Day der of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi he has cultivated a deep personal rela- he said at a security forum in Halifax, Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) after a CIA assessment that Saudi tionship. adding Middle Eastern allies including today will organise the Sport Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman “Everything points to the Crown Saudi Arabia are “a stabilising force in Excellence Day to honour the ordered the killing, the White House Prince of Saudi Arabia, MbS, order- the region”. best athletes, sport off icials and said. ing @washingtonpost journalist Jamal On Thursday, Saudi Arabia’s pub- sport institutions for their tangible Trump discussed the CIA assess- #Khashoggi’s killing. The Trump ad- lic prosecutor said he was seeking the contribution in boosting sport ment by phone with the agency’s direc- ministration should make a credible death penalty for fi ve suspects charged movement during this year. The tor, Gina Haspel, and Secretary of State determination of responsibility before in the killing of Khashoggi. ceremony is being organised in Mike Pompeo, White House spokes- MbS executes the men who apparently The prosecutor, Shaalan al-Shaalan, recognition of the distinguished woman Sarah Huckabee Sanders told carried out his orders,” tweeted Sena- told reporters the crown prince knew individuals who have made reporters. tor Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate nothing of the operation, in which achievements for Qatari sport and The CIA had briefed other parts of Foreign Relations Committee, yester- Khashoggi’s body was dismembered succeeded in raising the Qatari flag the US government, including Con- day. and removed from the consulate. in the various tournaments where gress, on its assessment, sources told Trump and top administration offi - Lawmakers critical of Saudi Arabia they represented Qatar, in addition Reuters on Friday, a development that cials have said Saudi Arabia should be for Khashoggi’s killing and its role in to their success in translating the complicates Trump’s eff orts to pre- held to account for any involvement in Yemen’s civil war are ramping up their vision of the QOC. serve ties with the US ally. Khashoggi’s death and have imposed eff orts to clamp down on the country. The CIA’s fi nding is the most defi ni- sanctions on 17 Saudis for their role in “Trump must accept (for once) his ARAB WORLD | Confl ict tive US assessment to date tying Saudi the killing. intelligence experts’ incontrovertible Arabia’s de facto ruler directly to the But they have also stressed the im- conclusion: Crown Prince MbS is cul- Anti-IS coalition raids killing and contradicts Saudi govern- portance of Washington’s ties with pable for Khashoggi’s monstrous mur- kill 43 in east Syria ment assertions that Prince Mohamed Riyadh, one of the biggest clients of the der. This brazen killing must have con- US-led coalition air strikes yesterday was not involved. US defence industry. Trump wants to sequences - sanctions, prosecution, killed 43 people, mostly civilians, However, the State Department said preserve the Saudi arms deals, despite removal of MbS & others, not con- in an Islamic State group holdout no “fi nal conclusion” has been reached growing opposition in Congress. tinued cover-up, enabled by Trump,” in eastern Syria in the latest deadly by the United States on who was behind “They have been a truly spectacu- tweeted Democratic Senator Richard raids reported there this month, a the murder of Khashoggi. lar ally in terms of jobs and economic Blumenthal yesterday. monitor said. Elsewhere, regime “Recent reports indicating that the forces retook the last IS foothold US government has made a fi nal con- in the country’s south when the clusion are inaccurate. There remain US will hold killers to account: Pence militants withdrew into the desert numerous unanswered questions with after months of fighting, the Britain- respect to the murder of Khashoggi,” based Syrian Observatory for spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a The US Vice-President Mike Pence said on the sidelines of an Apec Human Rights said. Page 14 His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani will pay today an off icial statement. has said that the United States summit in Papua New Guinea. visit to Croatia, followed by a visit to Italy, at the invitation of Croatian President “The State Department will continue would hold the murderers of Jamal He described the Saudi Journalist’s LATIN AMERICA | Accident Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic and Italian President Sergio Mattarella. The Amir will to seek all relevant facts. In the mean- Khashoggi to account. murder as an “atrocity” and an discuss with the leaders and senior off icials of the two countries ways to enhance time, we will continue to consult Con- “The United States is determined to “aff ront to a free and independent Argentina fi nds sub a and develop bilateral relations in various fields, in addition to a number of topics of gress, and work with other nations to hold all of those accountable who are press” and added: “We are going to year aft er disappearance mutual interest. A number of agreements will be signed in several fields during the hold accountable those involved in the responsible for that murder,” Pence follow the facts.” – QNA The wreckage of an Argentine visit. His Highness the Amir will be accompanied by an off icial delegation. killing of Jamal Khashoggi,” she said. submarine has been located, a year after it vanished into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean with 44 crew members in the country’s worst naval disaster in decades. There has been “positive identification of the Hassad Food, Rwanda sign ARA San Juan,” at a depth of 800m Al Enna tourism development (2,600ft), the navy said on Twitter, confirming the vessel had imploded. MoU for co-operation Page 22 project offi cially launched AMERICA | Weather Teams search for 1,000 O Project to develop tion, Batabit, Mawater, Katara Hospi- ous partners, camping ground own- missing in Calif. wildfi re tality, and QSports. ers, and businesses to continuously Forensic recovery teams searched 6mn sq m of Sealine area Omar al-Jaber, NTC representative improve the camping and desert ex- for more victims in the charred O More than 140 and Al Enna Project offi cial spokes- perience. Developing the Sealine and wreckage of the northern California person, said: “We are honoured by Inland Sea regions while enhancing town of Paradise yesterday as the outlets to serve visitors HE the Prime Minister’s patronage the desert experience there supports number of people listed as missing throughout winter and HE the Minister of Municipal- our eff orts to deliver tourism products in the state’s deadliest wildfire camping season ity and Environment’s support of this and services that raise Qatar’s profi le topped 1,000. President Donald initiative. While this is a pilot project, as an attractive winter tourism desti- Trump visited the devastated small our work is ongoing with the vari- nation.” To Page 10 community in the Sierra foothills, nder the patronage of HE the 175 miles (280km) north of San Prime Minister and Minister Hassad Food CEO Mohamed Badr al-Sadah and Rwanda Development Board CEO Francisco, where authorities say the Uof Interior Sheikh Abdullah Clare Akamanzi shake hands after signing the agreement. remains of at least 71 people have bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, Al been recovered. Page 16 Enna Project was offi cially launched O Pact aims at exploring possible investment opportunities in on Friday by National Tourism Council the agricultural and food sectors. ASIA | Politics (NTC) and its partners. investment in agricultural Hassad Food CEO al-Sadah said: The inauguration ceremony was at- and food sectors “We’ve signed the memorandum of New Maldives leader tended by senior offi cials from NTC as understanding with the Rwandan side warns of ‘dire’ economy well as the public and private sector assad Food, Qatar’s premier in line with Hassad’s new vision and Ibrahim Mohamed Solih took off ice partners involved in the project. investor in the food sector, has strategy to become a successful strate- as the new Maldives president Al Enna is a tourism development Hsigned a memorandum of un- gic investor in the global food and ag- yesterday and immediately warned project that aims to enhance the winter derstanding (MoU) with the govern- riculture value chains. We are currently of a “dire” economic crisis as he camping experience in Qatar, protect ment of Rwanda, represented by the working on identifying suitable busi- turned to India for help, signalling the environment, and ensure public Rwanda Development Board, in a cer- ness opportunities in several countries, an end to the pro-China stance of safety. It is spearheaded by NTC with emony held on Thursday in Doha. as well as signing agreements that are his predecessor. Solih, 54, emerged the support of the Ministry of Munici- The MoU, signed by Hassad Food in line with Hassad’s new strategy.” as a common candidate for the pality and Environment, the Ministry CEO Mohamed Badr al-Sadah and Hassad has several investments in opposition that united to oust of Interior, the Public Works Authority Rwanda Development Board CEO Clare Qatar, Australia, and Oman, and cur- strongman leader Abdulla Yameen (Ashghal), Qatar Olympic Committee, Akamanzi, aims to start co-operation rently planning for future investments in a September election. Page 17 Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federa- Off icials at the opening of the Al Enna project on Friday. between the two sides, and explore in several other countries. Gulf Times 2 Sunday, November 18, 2018 QATAR Health minister elected to US Mideast a ‘valuable National Academy of Medicine tourism market’ for

E Dr Hanan Mohamed “Their expertise in science, al-Kuwari, Minister medicine, health, and policy in Hof Public Health, has the United States and around the Czech Republic been elected as an international globe will help our organisation member of the United States’ address today’s most pressing National Academy of Medicine health challenges and inform the By Joey Aguilar ences, from spas and medical (NAM). future of health and healthcare. Staff Reporter treatment to natural landscapes, HE Dr al-Kuwari was among It is my privilege to welcome architecture and its famous glass 10 new international members these esteemed individuals to and jewellery-making industry, elected by the current member- the National Academy of Medi- he Middle East region, in- will attract more travellers from ship during its annual meet- cine,” added Dr Dzau. cluding Qatar, has become Qatar in the coming years. ing. Election to the Academy is The National Academy of Ta valuable tourism market Qatari visitors, Palatkova said, considered one of the highest Medicine confi rmed HE Dr al- for the Czech Republic due to the are “very sophisticated” and honours in the fi elds of health Kuwari’s election to the pres- quality of its travellers, a senior experienced travellers who con- and medicine and recognises tigious body for her leadership Czech tourism offi cial has said. tinue searching for new tourism individuals who have demon- of Qatar’s largest care delivery Such travellers spend more products, which the Czech Re- strated outstanding professional system (Hamad Medical Cor- during their stay compared to public can off er. achievement and commitment poration) and serving as Qatar’s other foreign visitors, according Monika Palatkova in Doha. “Besides spa treatment for to service. Minister of Public Health. to CzechTourism managing di- PICTURE: Nasar T K visitors, we also provide them “This distinguished and di- Established originally as the rector Monika Palatkova. with a suitable atmosphere to verse class of new members is a Institute of Medicine in 1970 by “In the case of the Qatar mar- Palatkova disclosed that drink coff ee and see our beauti- truly remarkable set of schol- the National Academy of Sci- ket, the average expenditure - CzechTourism is also planning ful castles or play golf, for ex- ars and leaders whose impres- ences, the National Academy as well as the length of stay - is to establish a representative of- ample, or attend some sports or sive work has advanced science, of Medicine addresses critical above average compared to other fi ce in Doha either next year or cultural events,” she said. improved health, and made the issues in health, science, medi- countries,” Palatkova told re- in 2020 to attract more travellers “It is necessary to showcase world a better place for every- cine, and related policy and in- porters at a press conference in from Qatar, focusing on families, the Czech Republic not only as one,” said National Academy of spires positive action across sec- Doha on Thursday. mature millennials and luxury- the land of Unesco heritage sites Medicine president Dr Victor J tors. HE Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari She was joined by the Czech oriented mature travellers. but also as land of stories,” noted Dzau. Republic ambassador to Kuwait Halal food is also being off ered Palatkova, citing the destina- Martin Dvorak, the embassy’s in many restaurants and other tion’s ‘multifaceted attractions’. economic and commercial sec- outlets in the Czech Repub- She said the Central European tion head Jakub Jaros, and the lic, making it easily available to country was ranked among the Union of Glass and Fashion Jew- Middle Eastern visitors. seventh safest country in the world QatarDebate Centre’s Elite Academy starts ellery Producers president Pavel “Our trade partners have been by the Global Peace Index 2018. Kopacek. studying the market in the re- The Czech Republic’s increas- According to CzechTourism, gion for a long time, so it is not ing global appeal as a popu- lite Academy, organised by vide practical training for youth by emy 3, Abdulrahman al-Sub- Prague Airport recorded a sub- a problem because halal food lar tourism destination due to QatarDebate Centre (QD), developing their skills in training, aie, head of the Outreach Pro- stantial increase in the number is comfortably available in the its unique blend of “old world Ehas started and will con- coaching and organising, accord- gramme at QatarDebate, said: of visitors from Qatar in the past Czech Republic,” Palatkova said. charm with modernity” makes it tinue until November 24. ing to a press statement. “Elite Academy is designed for three years, showing a robust She expressed confi dence that “an eclectic and aff ordable des- The initiative is being hosted In addition, Elite Academy two purposes. The fi rst is to demand for the Central Euro- the Czech Republic’s wide range tination in the Schengen zone”, by QD, a member of Qatar Foun- members will contribute to transform the participants from pean destination. of tourism products and experi- Palatkova stressed. dation, at the Student Centre in Doha Forum: Youth Edition, debater to debate instructor and Education City. which is one of the most im- develop their skills to be able The six-day event features 12 portant events in QD’s 2018 to create training programmes, Strong winds, low visibility forecast for today participants from Tunisia, Ku- calendar, as it focuses on the in addition to sourcing and co- wait, Oman, France, Sudan and importance of dialogue in ad- ordinating the knowledge con- Strong winds are expected today may go up to 35 knots off shore some areas at times, followed by Qatar. dressing contemporary issues tent and formulating diff erent along with low visibility in some and 28 knots inshore occasionally mild conditions by night. Visibility During the two previous stages and current challenges. Youth issues. The second purpose is places at times, the Qatar Met today, with the sea level rising to may drop to 3km or less at times. of Elite Academy, the participants from various backgrounds and to prepare the participants to be department has said. 12ft. The minimum and maximum were evaluated according to dif- cultures will discuss trending international judges at the fi fth Windy conditions, as well as high The detailed forecast also says temperatures expected in the ferent criteria to be promoted to topics and issues from around International Arabic Universi- seas, have also been forecast in moderate daytime temperatures country today are 21C in Abu Stage 3, which is currently under the world. ties Debating Championship off shore areas. are likely today along with Samra and Al Khor and 30C in way as part of QD’s eff orts to pro- Commenting on Elite Acad- 2019.” Abdulrahman al-Subaie The wind (northwesterly) speed scattered clouds and slight dust in Doha, respectively. Gulf Times Sunday, November 18, 2018 3 QATAR

An exhibition was held on the sidelines of the event. QBG co-hosts conference on medicinal plants

ore than 800 re- of Nizwa, the Oman Animal ral medicinal flora, which ference, there was an exhi- searchers and and Plant Genetic Resourc- is an important challenge bition held on the sidelines Mindustry experts es Centre and QBG. facing not only the region, of the event, which brought from around the world but also the world. Or- in more than 1,000 visitors attended the first ‘Inter- “We are delighted to ganising this conference – including school children national Conference on have been a part of is a huge step towards ad- from Oman – as well as or- Frankincense and Me- the fi rst ‘International dressing this.” ganised visits to the Oman dicinal Plants: Recent Conference on During the conference, Botanic Garden and the Developments in Scien- Frankincense and more than 55 scientifi c pa- University of Nizwa. tific Research and Indus- Medicinal Plants” pers discussing the chemi- The aim of ICFMP 2018 try (ICFMP)’, co-organised cal compositions, scientifi c was to identify uses for me- by the Qur’anic Botanic Fatima Saleh al-Khu- studies, and industrial op- dicinal plants in a number of Garden (QBG) – a member laifi, project manager, QBG portunities of using medici- industries, including eco- of Qatar Foundation – in said, “We are delighted to nal plants were presented. nomic, medical, food, and Oman recently. have been a part of the first In addition, 15 national and heritage documentation. It The conference, attended ‘International Conference international authorities also served as a platform for by Sheikh Mohamed bin on Frankincense and Me- showcased their eff orts to producers and consumers to Abdullah al-Hinai, state dicinal Plants.’ Countries preserve and make use of network, while strengthen- adviser, Oman, was a joint need to achieve optimal frankincense and medicinal ing the historical connec- eff ort between Sultan Qa- usage of their natural re- plants. tions between Qatar and boos University, University sources, including natu- An addition to the con- Oman. Gulf Times 4 Sunday, November 18, 2018 QATAR

Doha to host forum on Gulf-US relations

The 5th session of the Gulf and Arabian the Gulf crisis and its impact on the common Peninsula Studies Forum will be held on Gulf identity. Saturday, December 1st, at the headquarters The second focuses on the Gulf-US of the Arab Center for Research and Policy relations, including the foundations of the Qatar Charity brings succour Studies in Doha. relationship, its foundations, its roots, its The two-day forum tackles the most security and economic dimensions, the important issues and challenges faced by future of US relations in the light of regional Gulf Arab states in two areas: First, the issues and international transformations, and US’s of social transformation, including identity, transformation into an energy producer. to drought-hit people in Kenya values, development, tribe and language, to – QNA

QNA lacks basic services, am- Doha bassador al-Dosari under- lined the importance carry- ing health projects for the atar Charity (QC) benefi t of the people of the has completed an region, stressing the need Qemergency relief to support the people with project for drought-aff ected everything necessary to people in Kenya’s eastern withstand the harsh weath- province of Turkana, where er conditions. QC distributed essential For his part, MP Lokiru food items for 20,000 peo- Ali Mohamed thanked do- ple in a number of drought- nors in Qatar for completing aff ected villages. the project as part of their The project was funded eff orts to help the Kenyan by Qatari philanthropists people. and implemented by Qatar According to UN reports, Charity offi ce in Nairobi as East Africa, particularly part of QC continuous ef- Kenya and Somalia, is ex- forts to help the Kenyan periencing a severe drought people, especially in areas that threatens the lives of aff ected by natural disasters millions of people due to such as fl oods and droughts. delayed seasonal rains, the Qatar’s ambassador to sharp decline in local food Kenya Jabor bin Ali al- production and the diffi - Dosari, who participated in culty of delivering humani- the distribution of food to tarian aid. the aff ected people, praised The drought conditions, Qatar Charity for its hu- which are expected to con- manitarian eff orts in Kenya tinue until the end of this and encouraged the imple- year, have led to the trans- Qatar’s ambassador to Kenya, Jabor bin Ali al-Dosari, participated in the distribution of food mentation of more relief formation of about 3.4mn to the drought-aff ected people. and development projects in people into food insecurity. these poor areas. Qatar Charity carries cluding drilling wells and as schools, mosques and social welfare, where more After visiting the only out various projects in relief projects, as well as health centres, in addition than 4,000 orphans are fos- hospital in the region, which various areas in Kenya, in- construction projects such to its eff orts in the fi eld of tered.

Qatar’s ambassador to Kenya, Jabor bin Ali al-Dosari, and other off icials at the food distribution centre. Gulf Times Sunday, November 18, 2018 5 QATAR

QNL’s ‘Poetry Night’ highlights intercultural understanding

ocal Arab poets along musical performances by Yas- with French and Span- sine Ayari, head of Arab Mu- Lish speakers came to- sic at Qatar Music Academy, gether at Qatar National Li- and celebrated guitarist Luis brary (QNL)’s ‘Poetry Night’ Manuel Vargas Salas. yesterday. The event was organised in The participants read po- collaboration with the Arab ems in their native languages World Institute, based in Par- to raise awareness about di- is, and Qatar Poetry Center versity and cultural under- (Diwan Al Arab), part of Qa- standing. tar’s Ministry of Culture and Local poets read their own Sports. works while participants The event was created by from the French Institute of the Arab World Institute in Qatar and the Translation 2016 to bring together poets and Interpretation Institute and commemorate victims recited 18th- and 19th-cen- of the attacks in Paris in No- tury poems in French and vember 2015. To learn more Spanish. about QNL, one can visit The evening also featured www.qnl.qa Local Arab poets along with French and Spanish speakers attending the QNL’s ‘Poetry Night’. Katara hosts annual meeting of General Assembly of GPDNet

atara – the Cultural between them,” he added. Village Foundation The member states of the Kwill host the fi fth GPDNet are represented by General Assembly of the a president who is a head of Global Public Diplomatic a scientifi c cultural institu- Network (GPDNet) from tion, which is currently un- 2pm to 4pm today at the der the presidency of Sherif Drama Theatre. Atis from Turkey, head of Representatives from the Yunus Emre Institute. nine countries, Hungary, the The GPDNet was founded Philippines, Nigeria, Singa- in Seoul in 2014 by public pore, Turkey, Mozambique, and cultural institutions in Taiwan, South Korea and the Philippines, Sweden, Mexico, in addition to Qatar, Korea, Taiwan, Nigeria, Po- will be present. land, Portugal, Singapore The meeting will discuss Dr Khalid al-Sulaiti and Turkey, as well as Yunus a number of topics, includ- Emre Institute. Qatar ac- ing the future plan among Dr Khalid al-Sulaiti, gen- bring people together”. quired membership in 2017. member states, in addition eral manager of Katara, said: He stressed that culture The GPDNet aims to en- to the means of co-operation “We look forward to further is the best way nations can able the exchange of knowl- among them and attracting fruitful discussions that are communicate through de- edge in the theoretical and new countries to join, Katara important in light of the in- spite the diff erences be- practical fi elds, and to es- has said in a statement. They ternational changes around tween cultures. “The diff er- tablish bilateral or multilat- will also discuss the achieve- us and the need to fi nd ef- ence between cultures is a eral projects among cultural ments of the GPDNet over fective solutions that will source of integration and co- and public diplomacy insti- the past year. link between cultures and existence and understanding tutions around the world. Gulf Times 6 Sunday, November 18, 2018 QATAR HEC Paris conducts master class for IBPC

he Indian Business & that brings together the In- and surge forward,” said Professionals Coun- dian business and profes- Prof Dr Wolfgang Amann Tcil (IBPC) organised sional community in Qatar, from HEC Paris. a “fi rst-of-its-kind” man- and functions under the The event was “interac- agement master class for aegis of the Indian embassy tive, informative and highly its members, in association in Qatar. rewarding” with members with HEC Paris in Qatar, on The short management sharing their experience “sound corporate strategis- class was attended by the with the speaker, IBPC said ing as a success factor”. members of IBPC, who are in a statement. “HEC Paris, with its working in diff erent profes- IBPC general secretary highly regarded Executive sional and management po- Sumit Malhotra welcomed MBA and other manage- sitions in the government/ the gathering and Sujata ment courses, has always semi-government and pri- Zinzuwadia co-ordinated been at the top of busi- vate sectors in Qatar. the event. ness schools globally,” said “In this world of a turbu- “IBPC and HEC Paris Nishad Azeem, an alum- lent business environment, look forward to similar nus of the institute, while sound and dynamic corpo- events in the future, along introducing the master rate strategising is the criti- with other calendar events class. cal success factor for any of IBPC,” said K M Vargh- IBPC is the apex body corporate to perform well ese, president of IBPC. Prof Dr Wolfgang Amann conducting the session. Entrepreneurs keen to set up units for construction materials

ntrepreneurs are “Considering that a construction industry has establishing manufactur- looking beyond the number of infrastructure grown by more than 50% to ing units to supply to the E2022 FIFA World Cup development projects reach 131 at the end of last construction sector,” said in Qatar for setting up in- are in the offi ng besides a month. an engineer supervising dustrial units that would large number of houses “More industrial houses a major projects on the help the country attain that are expected to from Qatar and outside are southern side of Doha. self-reliance in meeting the come as part of the showing interest to set up He said though the avail- needs of its construction citizens’ residential manufacturing facilities for ability of materials has in- sector. scheme across Qatar, construction materials,” a creased sharply in the last This is the general feel- we feel there is good senior government offi cial one year, more goods still ing among sections of scope for establishing said while addressing the need to be imported. As of businessmen who feel they manufacturing units forum. now, around 165 materials could chip in to boost the to supply to the Similarly, there has to meet the industry re- country’s building industry. construction sector” been an increase in the quirements are locally pro- While a number of in- number of construction duced, it is learnt. dustrial units to support vestors and manufacturers materials manufactured Some of the local entre- the requirements of the lo- held recently, it was told in the country in the last preneurs are also hopeful cal construction sector has that there had been a steep couple of years. “Con- that goods manufactured come up after the economic increase in the number of sidering that a number in the local facilities could blockade on the country be- industrial units support- of infrastructure devel- also be imported to select gan in the fi rst week of June ing the requirements of the opment projects are in Asian and African des- last year, some materials construction sector. the offi ng besides a large tinations in the coming and equipment still need to Since the launch of the number of houses that are years. A local businessman be imported from elsewhere Public Works Authority’s expected to come as part told the forum that his to meet the demands of (Ashghal) ‘Ta’heel’ initia- of the citizens’ residential products had already re- builders. tive, the number of units scheme across Qatar, we ceived export orders from At a forum for local in- supplying materials to the feel there is good scope for Asian countries. Gulf Times Sunday, November 18, 2018 7 QATAR US ‘Traffi cking in Persons’ Survey reveals concerns over report presented to museum online privacy illiam Grant, charge print for sustainable urban nline privacy is a concern corporate or government sur- d’aff aires at the US planning for the future. Located in some Mena countries veillance, the study shows. Wembassy, has pre- within the oldest part of the cap- Obut less so in others, ac- The percentage of VPN (Vir- sented the 2018 ‘Traffi cking ital, Msheireb Museums form cording to preliminary fi ndings tual Private Network) users in Persons’ report to Msheireb an important part of Qatar’s of Northwestern University in spiked in Qatar (from 6% in 2016 Museums director Hafi z Ali national history and Msheireb Qatar’s (NU-Q) sixth annual to 39% in 2018) and Saudi Ara- for inclusion in the museum’s Downtown Doha. All buildings survey of media use and public bia (7% in 2016 to 54% in 2018), library. within the development are tar- opinion in the Middle East. among Internet users. In Leba- The crime of human traffi ck- geting Gold LEED-certifi cation The survey, the full results non, Jordan, and Tunisia, that ing is the third-largest criminal (Leadership in Energy and Envi- of which NU-Q will release fi gure remains at 10% or less. activity in the world and af- ronmental Design), while several next year, explores changes in Among social media and fects every country on earth, buildings will aim for a Platinum media consumption patterns, messaging apps, 31% of na- including the US and Qatar. It rating. attitudes and content prefer- tionals said WhatsApp pro- is a form of modern-day slav- The downtown includes de- ences in six Mena countries vides the most privacy, al- ery and includes commercial signs that involve US architects, Among its initial insights, though one in four (24%) said sex traffi cking, forced labour, consultants and contractors more Internet users in Saudi no platform aff ords privacy. debt bondage, and domestic which include Burns & Mc- Arabia and the UAE said they Smartphone ownership servitude. “The US embassy in Donnell, Burton Studios, HOK, are worried about both corpo- rates are among the highest Qatar and Msheireb Museums TIG/m and Walker Consultants. rate and government surveil- in the world, with ownership are partnering today to support US collaboration with Qatar lance of their online activities, percentages higher in almost the work of the museum to raise on fi ghting human traffi cking is compared to those in the other all surveyed countries than awareness about modern-day the ‘strongest it has ever been’ surveyed nations. in the United States. Nearly slavery,” the embassy said in a Ending human traffi cking “The Mena region is by no 100% of nationals in Qatar statement. globally requires a co-ordinated means monolithic, either in and UAE own a smartphone, The annual report has become approach between all countries, terms of geopolitics or cul- as do more than nine in ten in a signifi cant part of the Msheir- and as such, the US embassy in ture,” said Everette E Dennis, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon. eb Museums Library, specifi - Doha noted that US collabora- dean and CEO of NU-Q. “We Although most Arab nation- cally Bin Jelmood House, which tion with Qatar on fi ghting hu- therefore off er these initial als watch television, nationals provides a space for refl ection man traffi cking is the “strongest survey fi ndings as impartial across the region reported a on the story of slavery and how it has ever been”. data to enable a more informed decline in daily viewing (68% it has evolved into modern forms Since signing the Anti- discussion and better under- in 2014 down to 51% in 2018). of human exploitation. Traffi cking memorandum of standing of the rapidly chang- More are watching TV online, Every year, the US State De- understanding with Qatar in ing media environment.” with Saudi Arabia home to the partment releases the ‘Traf- January 2017, the US and Qa- The sixth annual media highest percentage of online fi cking in Persons’ report that tar have formed a partner- use survey was conducted viewers (51%). Majorities in examines the eff orts made by US charge d’aff aires William Grant presenting the 2018 ‘Traff icking in Persons’ report to Hafiz Ali. ship involving over 30 diff er- face-to-face (phone in Qa- the Gulf countries use stream- governments around the world ent offi ces and organisations, tar) among 6,575 respond- ing services, with Shahid.net to fi ght this crime. Ending hu- museum has raised awareness strengthening our collaboration and confront the tragic history of and completed over a dozen ents across six countries. The the leader followed by Netfl ix. man traffi cking globally re- with around 30,000 visits this in the future.” slavery and exploitation, we can joint programmes - from survey was conducted by The Binge-watching is also on quires a co-ordinated approach year alone. Grant added, “The Bin Jel- all fi nd ways to contribute to the training to exchanges and Harris Poll from July 14 to Oc- the rise, with the most dra- between all countries, and an Ali said, “We are proud to re- mood House represents a bold solution. awareness-raising events like tober 9, 2018. matic increase in Qatar where important part of the strategy ceive the 2018 ‘Traffi cking in and honest view on the theme of “In doing so, we all take steps the initiative to present the Initial key fi ndings from 54% report doing so in 2018, to combat modern-day slavery, Persons’ report for the second historical and modern-day slav- to end human traffi cking, protect ‘Traffi cking in Persons’ report the 2018 study fi nd that more compared to only 24% in 2016. is raising public awareness, the year. The ‘Traffi cking in Persons’ ery in Qatar. By showing guests its most vulnerable victims, and to Msheireb Museums, the Saudi and Emirati Internet Soccer/football is by far the statement notes. report will be an added value to of the museum the harsh reality make our communities and the embassy said in a statement. users worry about online sur- most popular sport to watch Bin Jelmood House provides our library in which students, of slavery and human traffi ck- world a safer place to live, grow For more information, one can veillance, either by companies on TV or online. Two thirds of an opportunity for visitors to researchers and visitors have ing, Msheireb is raising aware- up and fl ourish.” follow the US embassy in Qatar (62%, 61%) or government nationals reported watching make a personal commitment to access to use the report in their ness within Qatar, and playing a In addition to playing a pivotal on Twitter @USEmbassyQatar (58%, 47%), compared to oth- soccer in the last 12 months joining the fi ght against the var- research and study. We thank critical role in driving the con- role in raising awareness about and @USAmbQatar, and follow ers. For example, only 16% of (64%), likely infl uenced by the ious forms of human traffi cking. the US embassy in Qatar for versation on this topic forward. modern-day slavery, Msheireb Msheireb Museums @Msheir- Qatari Internet users are con- 2018 FIFA World Cup (watched As an educational platform, the their eff ort, and look forward to Our hope is that if we recognise Properties is developing a blue- ebDoha cerned about either online by 64% of nationals).

Workshop to discuss advances in artifi cial intelligence for transportation on Nov 22

rban computing experts from along bus and train routes. He has also Europe, the US and Qatar will used smartphone and wearable sensor Udiscuss state-of-the-art ad- data to predict eff ects on urban spaces vances in artifi cial intelligence (AI) for such as queueing delays. transportation, with local stakehold- QCRI’s Sofi ane Abbar, an urban ers in Doha on Thursday. mobility and transportation expert ‘Tasmu-QCAI Artifi cial Intelligence who is an organiser of the workshop, in Transportation’ workshop is being said the event will highlight some of hosted by the Ministry of Transport QCRI’s technology being developed and Communications’ (MoTC) Smart for local stakeholders including the Qatar Tasmu programme, along with MoTC, Mowasalat’s Karwa, Qatar Air- Qatar Computing Research Institute ways and the Qatar Mobility Innova- (QCRI), part of Hamad Bin Khalifa tions Center. The technology includes University (HBKU). generating maps from real-time GPS The event is conducted under the trajectories and satellite images, and umbrella of the Qatar Center for Arti- predicting congestion in diff erent fi cial Intelligence (QCAI) initiative, an neighbourhoods using taxi data. initiative of QCRI. Sofiane Abbar, an expert at QCRI. “The experts we have invited are the Reem al-Mansoori, member of the very best in their fi elds and we look Shura Council and assistant undersec- in place by US homeland security. forward to hearing examples of suc- retary for Digital Society Sector De- Christian Jensen, a traffi c analyt- cessful collaborations between data velopment at the MoTC, is to deliver a ics expert from Aalborg University in scientists and transport providers that keynote speech at the event. Copenhagen, who has devised large- show how computing is having a real The international experts will scale algorithms to compute taxi fares impact in improving people’s lives,” Dr include the University of Min- in Denmark, will also attend. Archan Abbar said. nesota’s Shashi Shekhar, who de- Misra, of Singapore Management The workshop will be held at the veloped technologies behind in- University and director of the Centre auditorium in the Minaretein Build- vehicle navigation devices in the for Applied Smart-Nation Analytics, ing (formerly known as the College of 1990s. Dr Shekhar has more re- will present his work on using pub- Islamic Studies Building) from 8am on cently developed disaster evacua- lic transport trip data to predict the Thursday. For more information, one tion route planning that has been put number of commuters disembarking can visit qcai.qcri.org. HBKU board member wins education innovation award r Ikhlaq Sidhu, a tre for Entrepreneurship and member of the board Technology at the Univer- Dof trustees at Ha- sity of California. The award mad Bin Khalifa University recognises contributions in (HBKU), received the 2018 educational entrepreneur- Major Education Innovation ship and the champion- Award for his role in driv- ing of innovative teaching ing innovation in educa- methods. tion from IEEE - the world’s In his role as a member largest and most reputable of the Board of Trustees association for engineering, at HBKU, Dr Sidhu advo- computing, and technology cates educational advance- professionals. ment, and supports the The award was granted to University’s commitment him for his role as a faculty to promoting a fully inte- director and a chief scientist grated and multidisciplinary at Berkeley’s Sutardja Cen- learning environment. Dr Ikhlaq Sidhu

Gulf Times Sunday, November 18, 2018 9 QATAR Over 1,900 premature babies

admitted to WWRC last year Dr Hilal al-Rifai ore than 95% of the over vanced level of care and high-qual- NICU is the largest facility of its “Other risk factors for premature 1,900 premature babies ad- ity equipment available at WWRC’s kind in the region and has more than birth include infection, particularly of Mmitted to Women’s Wellness world-class NICU. He says the care 500 highly skilled staff . Each month the amniotic fl uid, being underweight and Research Center’s (WWRC) Neo- provided by the NICU’s multidisci- around 1,417 babies are born at Wom- or overweight before pregnancy, an natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) last plinary team is helping these tiny ba- en’s Wellness and Research Center interval of fewer than six months be- year were safely discharged home. bies to become, and remain, medically and about 11% of those babies are very tween pregnancies, multiple miscar- Dr Hilal al-Rifai, medical direc- stable. to extremely preterm and are cared for riages, and physical injury or trauma,” tor of WWRC and director of the “The clinical team is the back- by the NICU. said Dr al-Rifai. Neonatal Service, says that prema- bone of the entire unit. Our neona- Dr al-Rifai says that there are a Dr al- Rifai explains that babies ture babies must meet a number of tologist and other specialised cli- number of factors that may put a born too early may have more health criteria before they are ready to go nicians, such as physiotherapists, pregnant woman at higher risk of a issues than babies born on time, and home. social workers, and psychologists, preterm birth, including having an may face long-term health problems World Prematurity Day, marked closely monitor each baby and our existing health problem, such as dia- that aff ect the brain, the lungs, hear- globally by the World Health Organi- nurses support both the newborn betes or high blood pressure, stress, ing or vision. Having a baby born too sation (WHO) every November 17 is and their parents around the clock complications such as an infection, or soon is a signifi cant trauma for fami- an opportunity to recognise preterm on both a clinical and emotional having a multiple pregnancy. He not- lies and Dr al- Rifai says NICU staff labour, premature birth, and the is- level. It is their dedication to each ed that conceiving through in vitro- help parents understand both the in- sues facing preterm babies and their baby that makes their discharge fertilisation, smoking, and problems creased risk of disability associated families. from our unit such a tremendous with the uterus, cervix, or placenta with a preterm baby and also to man- Dr al-Rifai attributes the survival triumph,” said Dr al-Rifai. are also among the risk factors for a age any physical or mental disabilities of most premature babies to the ad- With over 100 cots, the WWRC’s premature birth. that have been identifi ed. Women’s Wellness and Research Center (WWRC). Entrepreneur off ers students tips on startups

merican entrepre- neur Dr Staff ord ASheehan visited Texas A&M at Qatar re- cently and spoke to stu- dents about his experiences starting his own company - twice. During his talk, ‘Translating Technologies from the Lab to Startup’, Dr Sheehan discussed the two companies he started, one Dr Staff ord Sheehan of which was acquired by another fi rm. well as lessons he learned He is currently running from others who had been the other one, Catalytic even more successful than Innovations. He talked he has. Just 29 years old, about how to take a prod- Sheehan was named one uct from the lab to a com- of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in mercial environment and Energy in 2016. His talk shared with students what was sponsored by the Qa- he had learned about build- tar chapter of the American ing a scalable business dur- Chemical Society and US ing the past four years, as embassy in Qatar.

Diabetes Day observed

The Public Prosecution has observed World Diabetes Day through a comprehensive awareness campaign in co-operation with Qatar Diabetes Association (QDA). The initiative was aimed at raising awareness, among employees, about various aspects of diabetes and how to avoid it. In addition, the Public Prosecution building was lit up in blue to mark the occasion. Gulf Times 10 Sunday, November 18, 2018 QATAR Minister highlights Qatar’s diversity and multiculturalism at forum

QNA ing out that there are more than adding the forum’s sessions and Through this, he gave an ex- St Petersburg 150 nationalities in the State of meetings are the best way for ample of understanding and Qatar, which refl ect the culture communication and conver- friendly rapprochement among of co-existence among nations. gence of civilisations. During the peoples, he said. The concert atar’s cultural activities The Qatar Philharmonic Or- session, the Italian Minister of of the Qatari Philharmonic Or- continued for the second chestra’s concert, which was Cultural Heritage and Activities chestra was held last night for Qday during its participa- held on Thursday at the St Pe- praised the speech of the HE the the fi rst time in Russia as part of tion in the seventh St Petersburg tersburg forum under the theme Minister of Culture and Sports the Qatari activities in the St Pe- International Cultural Forum in “28 diff erent cultures, one tune”, Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser tersburg International Cultural Russia. refl ected the cultural diversity al-Ali, especially in respect of Forum entitled “28 diff erent cul- The State of Qatar is the guest and contributed to the creation the fact that all peoples have dif- tures, one tune.” of honour at this forum for the of a single cultural edifi ce repre- ferent cultures and that cultural Th concert was performed by fi rst time and it is within the senting common values and one diversity increases communi- German Elias Grandi, who was context of the Qatar Russia 2018 human civilisation. cation between them and that appointed Director-General of Year of Culture during which He pointed out that the issue culture is a channel of commu- the Heidelberg Orchestra, along many joint events will be held of cultural diversity in the State nication and a means of discus- with famous Qatari singer and throughout the year in order to of Qatar is not a slogan but a sion and communication among human rights activist Fahd al- strengthen the future partner- reality that is being promoted, diff erent peoples. Kubaisi. Qatari composers Dana ship and ties between the two adding that the State of Qatar is The Minister of Culture of Alfardan, Nasser Sahim, Wael countries and their peoples. hosting the Doha International Russia Vladimir Medinsky Binali, and Fahad al-Kubaisi On the second day, there was Center for Interfaith Dialogue, greatly admired the Qatar Rus- performed classical composi- a ministerial session entitled, which contributes to build- sia 2018 Year of Culture, point- tions with a unique twist. “Unifi ed Cultural Space, Truth ing dialogue among different HE the Minister of Culture and Sports Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali is seen at the ministerial session ing out that despite the cultural The concert also featured the or Myth”, which was addressed civilisations and cultures, and at the seventh St Petersburg International Cultural Forum in Russia. diff erences between Qatar and national anthem of the State of by HE the Minister of Culture Qatar Foundation for Educa- Russia, it contributed largely to Qatar in an atmosphere of inter- and Sports Salah bin Ghanem tion, Science and Community A visitor to Qatar Museums or fi lms at the Ajyal Film Festival. that unites people by cultures the rapprochement between the action from the Qatari and Rus- bin Nasser al-Ali together with Development, which is an ex- the Cultural Village – Katara un- The minister also said that by dealing with the thousands two countries. sian audiences with Qatari artist other speakers, including the ample of promoting knowledge derstands the value of culture in Qatar is hosting the 2022 FIFA of fans coming to the country Medinsky cited the concert of Fahd al-Kubaisi, in particular Minister of Culture of Rus- and cultures through its glo- the country as it opens the hori- World Cup, and added that this from diff erent countries and the Qatar Philharmonic Orches- impressing the audience com- sia Vladimir Medinsky and the bal universities and colleges, zons of knowledge and brings event is a cultural challenge and diff erent cultures, which will tra as the best example, add- bining Arabic and Russian in his Italian Minister of Cultural where more than 3,000 stu- people closer, he said. pointing out that Russia has create a public space for cultural ing that the concert embodied performance. Heritage and Activities Alberto dents from different cultures As for the activities of the already hosted this event and dialogue among all peoples, through the national anthem of The Qatar Philharmonic Or- Bonisoli. are working to deepen mutual Doha Film Institute (DFI), he overcome this challenge due to as it promotes peace in the re- the State of Qatar the highest chestra, a member of Qatar HE the Minister of Culture understanding. stressed the importance of cul- its recognition of the value of gion, the Middle East and in the meanings of common cultures Foundation for Education, Sci- and Sports Salah bin Ghanem HE al-Ali also referred to the tural exchange among artists in cultural diversity. world. when the Qatari artist Fahd al- ence and Community Develop- bin Nasser al-Ali said Qatar, like Modern Art Expo organised by the world, adding that the DFI This is refl ected in the seventh Concluding, the minister Kubaisi combined the Arabic and ment, performs and promotes other countries, has a unique Qatar at the forum where artists’ also provided an opportunity to International Cultural Forum in thanked the forum’s organis- Russian languages, as well as in Western and Arabic music in culture and that all its individu- participations in the exhibition exchange cultures among all fi lm the city of St Petersburg. ers for providing a valuable op- one of the Qatari national songs order to inspire the children and als believe in the value of diversi- brought together Qataris and professionals around the world He said Qatar is seeking to portunity to the State of Qatar which combined both Arabic adults of Qatar and the Arab ty and multiculturalism, point- residents alike. to produce and showcase their make 2022 World Cup, a venue and the countries of the world, and Russian alphabets. world to create and enjoy music. Al Enna tourism development project offi cially launched

From page 1 ball, beach volleyball and bas- throughout the camping sea- ketball. son. The zone contains 10 tents Visitors to Al Enna can begin Beyond the beach, visitors can that the public can rent to enjoy their experience at Al Seef – a rent quad-bikes and ATVs in a an authentic desert experience, Sealine beach area which has 300,000sq m space designed to complete with traditional cui- been developed to accommodate provide safe and integrated ex- sine, a view of the bonfi re and 15,000 people, with suffi cient periences for biking fans. The family entertainment inspired amenities (including showers) area features eight biking tracks by Qatari heritage. and a giant screen on which main catering to riders of diff erent To ensure campers are well- activities are displayed. abilities and requirements: one serviced, a “Souq” area has been The beach area includes 30 for ladies, four for beginners and set up with 25 stores off ering vari- food and beverage outlets, beach children, one for intermediate- ous camping supplies, groceries, cabins and chairs which can be level bikers, one for advanced- technical services, mobile phones, rented and a children’s play area. level bikers, and one for pro- and motorcycle spare parts. The beach is fully staff ed with fessionals. The latter will host Visitors to Sealine can now security personnel, lifeguards, contests and challenges organ- Al Enna is a tourism development project that aims to enhance the winter camping experience in Qatar, protect the environment and ensure public safety. travel easily among the various technicians, and other support ised by Batabit (Qatar Centre for parts of the project thanks to staff . Motorcycles). the form of 28 motorcycle rental Mawater zone, which is built to with the General Directorate of side the designated tracks is not a 1.5km road that Ashghal has Al Seef is operated and man- The Batabit zone has 32 res- shops, complete with parking host spectator drag races, ensur- Traffi c, providing a framework permitted. paved from Al Shalihat Round- aged by Sealine Beach Resort, taurants and cafes, with full wa- spaces, a fuel supply zone, stor- ing the safety of both contest- for the regulation of quad-bike The fi nal zone is Al Mashab about to the end of the family while Qatar Olympic Com- ter and electricity amenities, air age areas, power supply, and fi re ants and viewers. renting to make the practice (the bonfi re) where all cultural beach. The road has two lanes mittee is providing sporting conditioning, and fl ooring. It extinguishers. NTC had previously signed a more safe. Under the regula- and heritage activities are to in both directions and includes activities including beach foot- also off ers a variety of services in Adjacent to this area is the memorandum of understanding tions, the use of quad bikes out- be organised during weekends parking spaces and service areas. Gulf Times Sunday, November 18, 2018 11 QATAR Ooredoo hosts conference on cybersecurity solutions oredoo yesterday an- defend against cybercrime, reduce nounced that it saw risk, and comply with the respec- O“strong success” during tive regulations.” a conference on best practices in Showing the damaging impact protecting Qatar’s large enterpris- of cyber-attacks, cyber-crime will es and critical national infrastruc- cost the world $6tn annually by ture from rapidly evolving cyber- 2021, according to a recent report attacks. by research fi rm Cybersecurity Ooredoo, as Qatar’s leading pro- Ventures. vider of managed security solu- Faysal Heneidi, country man- tions, highlighted the latest trends ager – Enterprise Business, Net- and fi gures in cyber-defence. scout Arbor, said: “Qatar’s enter- “As a managed security serv- prises understand the urgency of ices provider, Ooredoo’s business deploying state-of-the-art cy- customers are running the infor- bersecurity solutions to enhance mation security solutions off ered their competitiveness and cus- through our secure Qatar Data tomer trust. By combining Net- Centre,” the company said in a scout Arbor’s DDoS mitigation statement. solutions with Ooredoo’s vision Delegates focused on the evolv- and reach, executives learned ing Distributed Denial of Service about the current and future (DDoS) attacks, which fl ood the threat landscape and how best to edge of network infrastructure. minimise threats.” DDoS attacks are taking down Business customers can lever- mission-critical websites and age the Ooredoo advantage, mak- business-critical applications, ing Ooredoo “Best for Business”, email services, and voice services. Thomas Leiber, senior director - ICT Product Development at Ooredoo Qatar, delivering a speech at the conference. thanks to its breadth and depth of Ooredoo and Netscout Arbor talent, best fi xed and mobile net- highlighted best practices in pre- Ooredoo COO Yousuf Abdulla tion security of our customers and tices with our business customers works, broadest portfolio of ICT venting DDoS attacks with the al-Kubaisi said, “Ooredoo is dedi- Qatar. At the cyber-defence con- in the cybersecurity strategies, services and solutions, and trusted Availability Protection System. cated to protecting the informa- ference, we exchanged best prac- solutions, and corporate culture to partner for 60 years.

Alfardan Automobiles delivers fi rst 50 healthcare batch of new X5 to BMW customers professionals attend WHO ollowing its offi cial Middle East Automobiles said in a statement. Two variants of the BMW X5 will premiere at the Qatar Motor Show As the fi rst customers to have their be available: The new V8 engine in Fin October, Alfardan Automobiles all-new BMW X5s on the roads of Qa- the BMW X5 xDrive50i boasts of workshop – the offi cial BMW Group importer in tar, they will experience the new BMW 462hp (0-100kmh in 4.7 seconds) Qatar – has delivered the fi rst all-new X5 suspension set-up that is designed and a BMW X5 xDrive40i will be BMW X5 units to its pre-booked cus- to “yield an ideal mix of outstanding fitted with a 340hp six-cylinder s part of Doha Healthcare Week, a seven-day tomers. driving dynamic, steering precision engine (0-100kmh in 5.5 seconds). community festival created by the World In- The fi rst group of new BMW X5 own- agility and comfort, with the Driving Both variants will be equipped with Anovation Summit for Health (WISH) that ers who booked the model early had the Experience Control available to make the eight-speed Steptronic trans- took place during the week leading up to the WISH special opportunity to be among the further performance adjustments ac- mission and will be available for 2018 global healthcare conference, Hamad Medical fi rst in the Middle East to receive their cording to personal preference”, the model-specific options from BMW Corporation (HMC)’s Tobacco Control Center or- fourth-generation BMW X5s at special statement notes. Individual. ganised a training session on tobacco dependence handover ceremonies held at Alfardan The all new BMW X5 Sports Activ- “The all-new BMW X5 captures the treatment. Automobiles showrooms in West Bay ity Vehicle (SAV) gives an imposing ap- imagination with clarity of design, According to Dr Ahmad al-Mulla, head of the and Suhaim bin Hamad. pearance and enviable interior space. comfortable, sporty and authorita- HMC Tobacco Control Center, around 50 local and “Having stolen the spotlight at the A powerfully sculpted bonnet, a short tive driving attributes and innovative regionally based healthcare professionals, including Qatar Motor Show, the X5 represents front overhang, lightly hexagonal wheel equipment features. Alfardan Automo- physicians, psychologists, nurses, midwives, well- typical characteristics of versatil- arches and the dynamic sweep of the biles is excited to bring aboard this new ness health coaches, and others who work in the ity, sovereignty and luxury; and is the roofl ine provide further references to edition, which will truly elevate the healthcare fi eld, attended the session. next edition of the most loved BMW the sporty yet rugged character of the driving experience of this segment,” the He added that the attendees represented private and model in the Middle East,” Alfardan new X5. statement adds. public healthcare facilities, military and a number of health institutions in the EMRO and AFRO regions of the World Health Organisation (WHO). “The workshop aimed to add knowledge, skills and enhance the ability of participants to provide care to tobacco-dependent patients,” said Dr al- Mulla. The participants were trained to deliver tobacco interventions and train others to do the same. The workshop included best practices of novel clinical care, using proven modes of treatment with hands- on activity, practice sheets, role-playing and exer- cises, according to a press statement. The workshop featured both local and interna- tional speakers, including Dr al-Mulla; Dr Douglas William Bettcher, former director for Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases at WHO; Dr Dongbo Fu, medical offi cer for Tobacco Cessation at WHO, and Dr Feras Hawari, director, Cancer Control Offi ce and chief, Pulmonary and Critical Care at King Hus- sein Cancer Center. In recent years, HMC’s Tobacco Control Centre has organised a number of training sessions on to- bacco dependence treatment. The Tobacco Control Center is a WHO collabo- rating centre - the fi rst in Qatar. The ‘Train-the- Trainers Workshop on Treating Tobacco Depend- ence’ was held on November 11 and 12 at the Qatar The all-new BMW X5. National Convention Centre. QNL holds meeting on access to information

ibrary and information serv- individuals who have made nota- ices professionals from 37 ble contributions to the worldwide Lcountries convened at Qatar promotion of open access. The National Library (QNL) recently library’s Open Access Fund cov- as part of the Electronic Informa- ers article processing charges for tion for Libraries (EIFL) General open access publications, for au- Assembly 2018, to discuss ways of thors wishing to publish on open improving access to knowledge in access books and articles,” added developing and transitional econ- Dr Wastawy. omies. Rima Kupryte, director of EIFL, EIFL works with libraries to added: “I am delighted about the promote knowledge-sharing and partnership we have with Qa- library consortiums and to build tar National Library and about continuing education networks EIFL’s 19th General Assembly be- worldwide. QNL is the newest ing hosted in Qatar. Here we have national library in the 21st cen- people from 37 countries present, tury to host this major event, Participants of the event. from Africa, Asia and Europe, and with the aim of supporting ac- I would like to thank the library for cess to knowledge, research and to measure impact of research in professionals to meet leading ex- high subscription costs of elec- enriching our event by sharing the learning. the fi eld. perts from other countries, share tronic scholarly content and legal beauty of this Library with us. During the three-day event, Dr Sohair Wastawy, executive information and expand their net- barriers impeding free access, the “Our gathering this year in Qa- representatives of EIFL partner director of QNL, said: “Increasing works.” sharing of information and access tar is another important step in EI- consortia shared achievements, access to quality information and Experts at the annual meeting to technology. FL’s ongoing work with libraries in challenges and developments from providing a wealth of informa- shed light on the challenges that “We have made remarkable developing and transitional econ- across the global library sector. tion resources is one of our prime people in developing countries progress in enhancing open access omies to bring access to knowledge Attendees also explored ways to objectives at the library. The EIFL face in accessing information and to information at the library, il- for researchers, students, and any- develop the required skillset for General Assembly provided a val- publishing their scholarly work lustrated by our recent announce- body else with limited, or no ac- digital research and data collection uable opportunity for our library online. The challenges include ment of a new award to recognise cess to information.” Gulf Times 12 Sunday, November 18, 2018 QATAR Tadmur Holding partners with QGBC for Qatar Sustainability Week atar Green Building Council (QGBC), a mem- Qber of Qatar Foundation, has announced this year’s win- ners of the Qatar Sustainabil- ity Awards 2018 at a gala dinner sponsored by Tadmur Holding. Featuring 26 categories, in- cluding schools, universities, businesses, not-for-profi t enti- ties and government agencies, as well as special awards, the third edition of the annual ceremony was held in Doha last month. QGBC director Meshal al- Shamari said: “The awards pro- vide a wonderful opportunity for individuals and organisations in Qatar to gain recognition for ef- forts in sustainability and envi- ronmental protection.” During the awards ceremony, Tadmur Holding CEO Dafer Hallawa said: “It is an honour for Tadmur Holding to partner with Qatar Green Building Council on Snapshots from the awards ceremony. this noble mission of creating a this journey and encourage for a greener tomorrow.” Tad- mitigation measures and asso- balance between development concept as a fundamental part of National Vision 2030.” would like to specially thank all other local companies to con- mur Holding has presented ciated challenges in GCC coun- needs and protecting the envi- all future urban planning. Hallawa said: “At the core participants for their innovative sider sustainability important Hamad Bin Khalifa Univer- tries’. It has been produced by ronment. We praise and stand by “Qatar Sustainability Week is of our group’ philosophy, we projects this year which have and its positive impact while sity (HBKU), Qatar Foundation Ivan Andric, Muammer Koc, QGBC’s endless eff orts support- a great platform to emphasise on fi rmly believe that it is essen- shown a sound growth on crea- reshaping their strategies. Let’s with the Tadmur Special Award Sami al-Ghamdi from the Di- ing and building up conscious- our responsibility of supporting tial to engage future generations tivity and commitment towards make sustainability a state of for the research project, ‘Cli- vision of Sustainable Develop- ness of integrating sustain- Qatar to achieve its goals and ob- and work towards education our common endeavours. the mind, a lifestyle. Our ac- mate change implications for ment, College of Science and ability, and the green building jectives on accomplishing Qatar and awareness. In this regard, I “We urge you to continue tions today serve as a baseline built environment: impacts, Engineering, HBKU. Pandora marks 90th anniversary QIB’s Misk Account millionaire of ‘Mickey Mouse’ by unveiling thrilled with grand prize win exclusive collectors’ piece ne year after the launch of the Misk Savings Ac- n the 90th anniversary of Ocount, Qatar Islamic the ‘True Original Mick- Bank (QIB) has announced the Oey Mouse’, Pandora, the Misk Account winner of the an- global brand famous for genuine nual grand prize of QR1mn - Ali hand-fi nished jewellery, cel- Hassan al-Mslmani, who was ebrates the internationally fa- randomly selected in a draw mous cartoon character with an held in the presence of offi cial exclusive collectors’ piece. representatives from the Min- The charms will be available istry of Commerce & Industry for a limited-time only at Pan- and QIB. dora in Lagoona Mall, Land- The Misk Account is an inno- mark Mall, Villaggio Mall, Doha vative saving account that aims Festival City and Moderna –The to encourage savings by build- Centre. ing and rewarding positive fi - “This season, two style icons nancial habits. Since its launch come together for a very special in October last year, each week collaboration: Pandora, world- fi ve winners were selected and famous for its timeless charm awarded a prize of QR10,000, bracelet, and Mickey Mouse, a summing the total number of global icon known for his cheer- winners to 230 QIB customers. ful attitude, undeniable cha- Al-Mslmani, who is the fi rst risma and impact he’s made in grand prize winner of QR1mn, history, celebrating his 90th received the prize at the QIB Misk Account winner of the annual QR1mn grand prize, Ali Hassan al-Mslmani, receiving the prize. anniversary on November 18, head offi ce on Grand Hamad 2018,” Fifty One East has said in Street, in the presence of D to Mr Ali al-Mslmani for win- winners will be rewarded with quired to open the account, a statement. Some of the pieces from the collection. Anand, general manager – Per- ning the QR1mn prize. The cash prizes worth QR10,000 with customers having to To pay tribute to Mickey sonal Banking Group, and other Misk Account is a continuation each for a span of 52 weeks and maintain a minimum monthly Mouse, one of Disney’s most be- Double the fun by wearing it on QIB senior management team of our eff orts and commitment a total of 260 winners. balance of QR10,000 to be loved characters of all time, the bracelets and necklaces to cele- members. to provide customers with con- In addition, two lucky win- eligible for the weekly and Pandora designers joined forces brate Mickey Mouse and to show He said, “When I signed up venient fi nancial solutions, and ners will win the monthly monthly draws. with Disney’s own character your personal style and charac- for the Misk Account, I did it we look forward to rewarding prize of QR50,000 for a span To qualify for the grand artists to create a truly exclu- ter,” the statement noted. because I wanted to start saving many more of our customers of 12 months and total of 24 prize draw, the customer sive, limited-edition anniver- Founded in 1982 in Copen- in a more consistent way, but with valuable prizes. winners. The grand prize draw must open the account three sary charm of Mickey Mouse. hagen, Denmark, Pandora aims I didn’t ever expect to be the “I’m also pleased to an- for QR1mn will take place months prior to the final draw Depicting Mickey Mouse strik- at providing women across the winner of such a prize! I was nounce the launch of the sec- in November 2019. The to- and maintain a minimum of ing a playful pose in his famous world with a universe of mod- surprised when I received a call ond round of the Misk Account tal number of winners in this QR10,000 for each of these outfi t, the charm is meticulously ern, genuine and hand-fi nished from my bank telling me that I to continuously encourage our new version will be 285 win- months. Every additional crafted from Pandora’s signature feminine high-quality jewellery. had won QR1mn. customers to save more. This ners and total prizes will reach QR10,000 earns the customer metal sterling silver. The global brand has achieved “I would like to thank QIB year, we are off ering more prizes QR4.8mn. one more chance in the draw. The charm’s luxurious 14k an overwhelming presence in for this prize and also for the to more customers, giving them All citizens and residents When opening a Misk Ac- gold numbers represent Mickey the jewellery industry. Since its unique Misk Account, which the chance to be rewarded for of Qatar are eligible to open a count, customers will also re- Mouse’s milestone anniversary inception, Pandora has created not only helped me save more, their savings on a weekly and Misk Account for themselves ceive a free debit card and free number ‘90’, making the design feminine and timeless jewellery but also granted me this amaz- monthly basis, while one lucky and their children who are not e-statement, as well as access as timeless as the pop culture that has been “embraced by con- ing prize that I hope I will put to winner will again win a grand of legal age. to QIB’s new mobile banking icon himself. sumers worldwide for its unique good use in my life.” prize of QR1mn next year.” A minimum of QR5,000 for app and the Internet banking “Mark 90 years of Mickey quality to capture life’s unfor- Anand said: “We would like In the new version of the Misk new customers and QR2,000 platform. For more informa- Mouse with your own limited- gettable moment at the most to extend our congratulations Account, every week, fi ve lucky for existing customers is re- tion, visit www.qib.com.qa edition Mickey dangle charm. reasonable price”. Tamuq summit focuses on ‘eff ective leader’

exas A&M University at Qa- tar (Tamuq) recently hosted Tits annual Student Leadership Summit to educate current student leaders on the meaning of leadership and integrity, as well as to provide practical training on the processes of running a student club and hosting events. Leadership is one of six core values that Texas A&M instills in each of its students and graduates, and the goal of the summit is to prepare student leaders to run their organisations successfully. Former student Majid al-Ansari, Class of 2017, spoke to the group about what he gained from his stu- dent leadership experience and how Some of the participants in the summit. current student leaders can benefit in their future careers because of the the tools and advice that we really dent Association vice-president Na- experiences gained. needed to make our organisations jla Badar added, “Before deciding to Ghaith Glaied, president of the sustainable and successful.” lead others, a leader should first fo- Leadership Club, said: “I felt grate- This year’s programme focused on cus on becoming a better version of ful that this year’s summit was fo- identifying the attributes and skills themselves by accepting their flaws cused around giving student leaders of an effective leader. Qatari Stu- and by improving them.” Gulf Times Sunday, November 18, 2018 13 QATAR

16 teams take part in universities debate WCM-Q study provides new insights into mortality trends

esearchers at Weill Cornell of death and cause of death; the to have improved over time. In Medicine – Qatar (WCM- latter based on the World Health 2010-2013, the yearly fatal occu- RQ) have published a study Organisation’s classifi cation of pation rated was 1.6/100,000 in of adult mortality trends in Qa- diseases. the only designated hospital for tar, giving a detailed breakdown Among Qatari and non-Qatari major injury treatment in Qatar. of the leading causes of death of adults, overall mortality rates fell This is half what is reported in QatarDebate, a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, recently organised the second non-Qataris and Qataris. for both men and women over the the United States - 3.4/100,000,” Qatar Universities Debate League (QUDL) in English, hosted by College of the North Atlantic – Qatar (CNA-Q). A total of 16 teams The study analysed mortality period. This is believed to have the study notes. from seven institutions participated in the event. The rounds discussed three thought-provoking topics: “This house believes data over a 27-year period, from been caused by free access to a Dr Ravinder Mamtani, profes- that sports league associations (such as UEFA, IPL and NBA) should cap annual club spending”; “This house supports China’s rise 1989 to 2015, during which time modernised and expanded health- sor of Healthcare Policy and Re- as a superpower”; and “This house regrets the narrative that democracy is the ideal form of governance”. The debating teams Qatar experienced rapid popula- care system, improved education search at WCM-Q, is the senior represented Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, CNA-Q, Georgetown University in Qatar, Northwestern University in Qatar, Qatar tion growth as large numbers of and socioeconomic development. author of the study. University (QU), Hamad Bin Khalifa University and Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar (WCM-Q). With regard to the results, the debate migrant workers arrived. Among Qatari males, the main “Qatar is a very successful points earned by the top two teams are accumulated. The university rankings in this league are as follows: WCM-Q and QU. Between 2005 and 2010, the cause of deaths was transport multicultural community that population growth was 22%; it injuries, largely from road ac- has attracted extremely high was less than 4% before 2000. cidents, although the mortality levels of inward migration from Consequently, Qatar’s popula- rate in this category fell over the all over the world. Mortality tion aged 15 years and above is period, coinciding with govern- trends between diff erent demo- approximately 90% non-Qatari, ment measures to improve road graphic groups often vary widely. WCM-Q said in a statement. safety. The mortality rate for Our aim was to assess mortal- “Because Qatar’s commu- transport injuries over the period ity trends of the leading causes MIT lecturer examines how nity is highly diverse, viewing was higher for Qatari males than of death for nationals and non- the overall mortality data for the for non-Qatari males. nationals and in so doing give entire country provides limited For Qatari and non-Qatari fe- a clearer insight into potential information about the leading males, the main cause of death strategies for avoiding prevent- causes of death of each group. was neoplasms, usually cancer- able deaths for all members of the education sector is evolving The new research by WCM-Q ous tumours. community,” he noted. sought to give a more accurate The study also found that Dr Karima Chaabna, Popula- dvancing its mission of tancy fi rm that he founded and consumed. The scope of the sights into the current transfor- view of adult mortality in Qatar mortality caused by falls among tion Health and Communication cultivating innovation in grew into the sixth largest of its lecture was in line with CIS’s mation of the global education by comparing the trends for the non-Qatari men decreased sig- specialist, is fi rst author of the Aeducation, the College of kind in the world with 110,000 mandate to provide applied sector encouraged attendees to national and migrant popula- nifi cantly between 2001 and 2014 paper, while Dr Sohaila Cheema, Islamic Studies (CIS) of Hamad employees in 50 countries and Islamic programmes that are re-evaluate the way education tions,” the statement said. from 5.1 to 2.6 per 100,000. director of WCM-Q’s Institute Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) $16bn in revenue. unconventional and interdis- and learning are viewed, espe- Titled ‘Adult mortality trends “Remarkably, mortality due for Population Health and assist- recently hosted a lecture titled Sayeed’s latest endeavour has ciplinary, while using innova- cially compared to traditional in Qatar, 1989-2015: National to falls in non-Qatari males de- ant professor of Healthcare Pol- ‘The Future of Learning’, which been co-founding Teach the tive teaching tools and creative teaching methods. CIS contin- population versus migrants’, the creased signifi cantly, suggest- icy and Research, Dr Amit Abra- examined how the education World Foundation, which has mediums. ually assesses its programmes, study analysed available mortal- ing safety improvement in the ham, projects specialist, and Dr sector is rapidly evolving and a singular mission to employ “Having looked at education and the ways in which they are ity data by breaking it down by work environment. Non-Qatari Hekmat Alrouh also worked on changing the mediums by which digital technologies to increase systems around the world, I feel delivered, and these advance- nationality, sex, age group, year males’ work environment seems the study. we learn. literacy rates around the world. that Qatar Foundation and the ments present exciting oppor- The lecture was delivered by His current focus is on children universities here are in an in- tunities for us as we explore new Prof Imran Sayeed, who teaches in refugee camps, remote com- credible position to be able to approaches to teaching and ap- entrepreneurship and innova- munities, and those with re- leverage new technologies and plication. The college has a spe- tion at MIT Sloan School of stricted access to education as a business models. They are best- cial directive to be innovative in Management in Massachusetts. result of limited resources. positioned to create a leadership advancing academic as well as Sayeed has undertaken mul- Sayeed spoke about key position in the development community-based learning by tiple projects and businesses models of technology and and dissemination of education fostering intellectual conversa- throughout his career, the most businesses that are transform- around the world,” he said. tions and addressing themes prominent of which being NT- ing the way educational con- Dr Emad El-Din Shahin, dean that are worthy of worldwide TData - a technology consul- tent is developed, taught, and of CIS, noted: “Prof Sayeed’s in- interest.”

From left: Dr Ravinder Mamtani, Dr Karima Chaabna, Dr Sohaila Cheema and Dr Amit Abraham. Prof Imran Sayeed with other attendees of the lecture. CMU-Q Dean’s Panel Series discusses challenges, opportunities in Qatar

arnegie Mellon Univer- Q, said: “To have a transforma- manufacture of pharmaceu- Naemi, chairperson and man- sity in Qatar (CMU-Q) tive impact on society, the first ticals in Qatar: Dr Ahmed aging director of Qatar Post; Chas introduced a new step is to understand the issues al-Mohanadi, CEO of QLife Amna Jassim Sultan, Isteshara forum to discuss the issues and that industry leaders, policy Pharma; Dr Omar El-Agnaf, manager of Qatar Development opportunities facing different makers and government of- acting executive director of Bank; and Amina Ahmadi, co- sectors of Qatar’s economy. ficials are facing. The Dean’s Qatar Biomedical Research founder of Oola Sports. The Dean’s Panel Series Panel Series is an excellent fo- Institute; Dr Emad Mansour, CMU-Q offers undergradu- brings together experts from rum for the community to learn supervisor - drug registration, ate degree programmes in government, research and in- more about where we can make Ministry of Public Health; and biological sciences, business dustry to delve into topical and the most significant, meaning- Dr Salvino Salvaggio, senior administration, computation- relevant questions within each ful impact.” director of implementation al biology, computer science of CMU-Q’s programme areas. The first panel of the aca- and V-P - RDI Office Manage- and information systems. The This semester, panels have in- demic year discussed the ment. Dean’s Panel Series will return cluded topics within the areas burgeoning pharmaceutical CMU-Q’s second panel dis- in early 2019 with topics cru- of biological science and infor- industry in Qatar. The panel cussed e-commerce and its role cial to the areas of business mation systems. included experts in the re- in the future success of Qatar. administration and computer Michael Trick, dean of CMU- search, policy, regulation and The panel included Faleh al- science. The Dean’s Panel Series brings together experts from government, research and industry.

HMC conducts TalkTools training courses

he Speech Language Pa- Oral Placement Therapy (OPT), parts of OPT are auditory and sensory, feeding and speech thology Department at which is an oral motor therapy visual sensory systems com- disorders following the prin- THamad Medical Corpo- that works on muscle function bined with tactile and proprio- ciples of Sara Rosenfeld-John- ration (HMC), in collaboration in the oral cavity. It is a type of ceptive sensory systems. son’s hierarchical approach with Qatar Institute for Speech oral-motor therapy that targets TalkTools training applies to oral motor assessment and and Hearing (Qish), conducted specific movements needed for a unique, hierarchical ap- treatment. a Level 2 training course re- speech and feeding. proach to OPT, focused on The development of thera- cently. The therapy has developed a measurable, results-driv- peutic programme plans is de- The participants came from tools that are child-friendly en path for both therapists signed specifically to meet each HMC, Qish, Shafallah Cen- and that will help a child do the and clients across all ages client’s oral placement needs. A tre, Child Development Centre muscle movement for speech or and diagnoses with the goal live evaluation was performed and other institutions in Doha, feeding. of speech clarity, improved on the second day, allowing in addition to one participant Level 1 is an introductory feeding, independence, im- participants to observe client from Kuwait. course to OPT, which is the proved quality of life. skills, record observations on TalkTools is an international foundation for TalkTools train- Level 2 teaches therapists an assessment form and de- training programme that pro- ing and integrated throughout how to perform a comprehen- velop a therapeutic plan from Participants of the training course. vides training courses such as all the courses. The different sive evaluation for clients with these results. Gulf Times 14 Sunday, November 18, 2018 REGION/ARAB WORLD Getting ready for Oman National Day celebrations Palestinian journalists’ forum chief injured

QNA journalists.” Meanwhile, presi- Occupied Jerusalem dent of the IFJ, Philippe Leruth, who also took part in the march, condemned the Israeli forces at- he head of the Palestin- tack on the journalists, saying ian Journalists Syndicate this “proves that Israel’s democ- TNasser Abu Baker was racy is fake.” hit by a tear gas canister yes- He said that “the Palestinian terday when Israeli forces fi red journalists are not terrorists as tear gas at a non-violent march Israel claims but are journalists organised by the International who should be respected and not Federation of Journalists (IFJ) attacked.” at Qalandia checkpoint, on the The IFJ was in Ramallah to at- Ramallah-Jerusalem road. tend a conference on Palestinian The soldiers attacked the journalists in the line of fi re. march that included interna- FARMER INJURED tional and Palestinian journal- Meanwhile, Israeli soldiers ists protesting Israel’s violations stationed on the border with against journalists in the occu- Gaza shot and injured a Pales- Omani boys pose for a picture while dressed in traditional costume outside the Al-Alam ceremonial palace in the capital Muscat, yesterday, on the eve of the Sultanate’s pied Palestinian territories, the tinian farmer while working in 48th National Day. Page 26 moment it arrived at the check- his land east of Maghazi refugee point. Abu Baker, who was hit camp in the central Gaza Strip. in the shoulder, and others who Witnesses said the farmer was suff ocated from gas inhalation shot in the leg but was reported were treated at the location, to be in stable condition. Palestinian WAFA news agency In another development, Is- reported. raeli army bulldozers infi ltrated “The Israeli war criminals the Gaza border east of Deir al- must be held accountable for Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, their crimes against journal- and levelled land metres inside ists,” said Abu Baker. ‘This attack Gaza before leaving the area, Anti-IS coalition raids against international and Pales- Palestinian WAFA news agency tinian journalists today confi rms reported. that the occupying state targets The army opened heavy fi re in journalists and does not care for the air while the bulldozers were kill 43 in eastern Syria the basic ethics in dealing with levelling the land.

AFP Ryan said. The SDF in Sep- Observatory said. Pro-govern- Beirut tember announced an assault ment troops regained control Kuwait keen to off er to oust the militants from the of Tulul al-Safa, between the eastern holdout, which includes provinces of Damascus and S-led coalition air the town of Hajin and the village Sweida, “after IS fi ghters with- support for Yemen talks strikes yesterday killed of Al-Shaafa. drew from it and headed east U43 people, mostly civil- The off ensive was slowed by into the Badia desert”, it said. ians, in an Islamic State group a fi erce IS fi ghtback and then The regime has been fi ghting QNA implementation mechanism, the holdout in eastern Syria in the briefl y put on hold to protest the militants in the area since a New York outcomes of the national dialogue latest deadly raids reported Turkish shelling of Kurdish mi- deadly July attack on the Druze and the relevant Security Council there this month, a monitor litia positions in northern Syria. minority in Sweida province. resolutions. Kuwait stressed the said. SDF commander Redur Khalil In recent weeks, air strikes on uwait has expressed its importance of complying with UN Elsewhere, regime forces re- said yesterday that operations the Tulul al-Safa pocket had in- readiness to provide lo- Security Council resolution 2216, took the last IS foothold in the were ongoing. creased and hundreds of regime Kgistical support to ensure which guarantees sovereignty, in- country’s south when the mili- “There has been an advance fi ghters were sent as reinforce- the participation of the Yemeni dependence and territorial integ- tants withdrew into the desert on the ground in the past days ments, the Observatory said. parties in the upcoming round rity of Yemen and after months of fi ghting, the but it is a careful advance due The militants’ withdrawal of consultations in the Swed- non-interference in its inter- Britain-based Syrian Observa- to fi elds of landmines, trenches, was likely “under a deal with ish capital Stockholm, affi rming nal aff airs, and welcomed the re- tory for Human Rights said. tunnels and barricades set up by the regime forces” after weeks its support for the eff orts of the sumption of political consulta- More than seven years into IS,” he said. of encirclement and air raids, Special Envoy of the Secretary- tions in Stockholm. Kuwait has Syria’s grinding civil war mul- Motorcyclists ride near the Idlib governorate building in the Since 2014, the US-led coa- Observatory chief Rami Abdel General of the United Nations in also expressed thanks to Sweden tiple forces are battling to push rebel-held northern Syrian city of Idlib, yesterday. lition has acknowledged direct Rahman said. Yemen, Martin Griffi ths. for its readiness to host such IS out of its remaining scraps responsibility for over 1,100 State news agency SANA re- In a speech at a UN Security consultations. of territory in the confl ict- edly said it does its utmost not Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) civilian deaths in Syria and ported regime forces had made Council session on Yemen, Per- Kuwait also hoped that the wracked country. to hit civilians. launched its attack against the Iraq, but rights groups put the “a great advance in Tulul al- manent Representative of the Yemeni parties will be present in A US-backed alliance of Coalition air strikes early IS pocket” in September, Ob- number killed much higher. Safa” and said they were comb- State of Kuwait to the United this round of consultations and Kurdish and Arab fi ghters is yesterday on the village of Abu servatory chief Rami Abdel IS overran large swathes of ing the area for any remaining Nations Ambassador Mansour engage in them in good faith and seeking to expel the militants Husn in Deir Ezzor province Rahman said. Syria and neighbouring Iraq in militants. al-Otaibi stressed that there is without any strings attached. from a pocket of land in the Deir killed 36 IS family members in- A spokesman for the US-led 2014, proclaiming a “caliphate” In the July 25 attack, IS killed no solution to the crisis in Yemen In its address to the Security Ezzor province near the Iraqi cluding 17 children, the monitor coalition confi rmed strikes in in land it controlled. more than 250 people, most of except a political resolution. He Council, the State of Kuwait said border. said. the area of Abu Husn, but said But the militant group has them civilians, in a wave of sui- expressed support for the political that it hoped that the next round The Observatory has report- Another seven victims had they had not harmed any non- since lost most of it to various cide bombings, shootings, and process to end the suff ering of the of consultations would lead to ed dozens of civilians killed in not yet been identifi ed as either combatants. off ensives in both countries. stabbings across Sweida prov- Yemeni people, with the impor- a political solution based on air strikes since the off ensive civilians or IS fi ghters, it said. “No civilian casualties are In the south of Syria yester- ince in the bloodiest assault on tance of focusing eff orts to end the the three agreed terms of refer- was launched in September, al- “It’s the highest death toll in associated with the strikes in day, regime forces took the last the Druze community of the crisis on three political references ence, in order to put an end to though the coalition has repeat- coalition air strikes since the question,” spokesman Sean patch of ground held by IS, the war. namely the Gulf Initiative and its this crisis. Yemenis divided by war share hope for peace

AFP clashes escalated in the Red Sea Sanaa city of Hodeidah, whose port serves as an entry point for nearly all of the country’s com- ivided by war, one thing mercial imports and humani- unites Yemenis in rebel- tarian aid. Dheld Sanaa and state- United Nations Secretary controlled Aden — four years General Antonio Guterres has into a confl ict that has triggered warned the destruction of the a tragic humanitarian crisis, Hodeidah port could trigger a people just want peace. “catastrophic” situation in a For residents of the coun- country where 14mn people are try, there is little escape from at risk of starvation. the daily propaganda and fiery Aid groups have urged both speeches of warring parties parties in the conflict to keep urging their supporters to fight roads open to allow civilians to “the enemy”. escape and aid to be transport- The conflict is everywhere, ed through the rebel-held port. from armed men in military On Wednesday, pro-govern- fatigues walking the narrow ment forces temporarily halted alleyways of street markets to an offensive on the port amid walls plastered with posters of File photo dated June 16, 2018 shows UN envoy to Yemen Martin Griff iths talking to the undersecretary of File photo shows Houthi supporters shouting slogans during a rally amplified calls for a ceasefire “martyred” fighters. Houthi-led government’s foreign ministry, Faisal Amin Abu-Rass upon his arrival at Sanaa airport in Yemen. to denounce the Saudi-led coalition’s off ensive on the Red Sea coast and renewed UN-led peace But many Yemenis have had areas, in Sanaa, Yemen. efforts. UN mediator Martin enough. In the capital’s marketplace, anthems to encourage locals and Yemen will need every per- Griffiths — whose efforts at Whether on the side of the vendors sit by their shops wait- to join their ranks. “This land son in it to be rebuilt,” said the pausing for a few moments. 2015, when Saudi Arabia and its kick-starting peace talks col- Houthi rebels or the Saudi- ing for customers like Moham- is our land, and this war is our Sanaa resident. In a cracked voice, she con- allies joined the war. lapsed in September — said on backed government, Yemenis ed — both trying to go about war,” goes one popular Houthi About 300 kilometres south tinued: “This is why we hope it “Four years of this situa- Friday he hopes to bring the are struggling to survive a war their normal lives. verse. of the capital in government- ends.” tion...people are suffering of warring sides to the table soon that has pushed the country to But in the media and in But Hassan Abdel Kareem controlled Aden, Khulood al- Aden, the government’s de hunger, disease and poverty,” in Sweden, after receiving firm the brink of famine. mosques across the city, Yem- does not care. The bus driver’s Akel shares Abdel Kareem’s facto capital since the rebels said Aden resident Murad Mo- assurances they would attend “There is no mercy in war. It en’s Houthi rebels are calling biggest concern is to provide sentiment. took over Sanaa in 2014, has hamed. negotiations. eats away at everything,” said on people to fight the govern- for his seven children. “We are so tired of the war,” been hit by protests for the past “We hope from the bottom The World Health Organisa- Amine Mohamed in Sanaa’s ment and the Saudi-backed al- “We are tired of the war, she said. year over rising costs of living of our hearts that there is a tion estimates nearly 10,000 Bab al-Sabah market. liance that supports it. the blood and the killing,” the “We are struggling with a and a collapsing economy. ceasefire...enough tragedy,” he people have been killed in the “Regular Yemenis are eagerly The Houthis’ Al-Masirah 39-year-old said. shortage of gas, water, and The Yemeni riyal has lost added. war since 2015, while rights waiting for the moment the end TV continuously broadcasts “We’ve had enough. It is food. No one is as exhausted more than two-thirds of its Diplomatic efforts to end the groups believe the toll may be of the war is announced.” military operations and combat time to start rebuilding Yemen, as we are,” she said, before value against the dollar since war intensified last week after five times as high. Gulf Times Sunday, November 18, 2018 15 AFRICA Lives at risk as drug prices soar in Zimbabwe

By Fanuel Jongwe, AFP era — but the last 12 months have Using leaves of the Star of ZANU-PF party, has faced a new Zimbabwe Association of Doc- electronic payments as US dol- dollar, but they were soon trading Harare been tough for Zimbabweans. Bethlehem fl ower from her gar- wave of turmoil as prices rocket tors for Human Rights, told AFP. lars, which function as the main at a far weaker rate, and the gap “When I went to the pharmacy den, Chenyika makes a herbal and shortages spread, from bread “Instead of prescribing what’s currency, are scarce, and the lo- has widened in recent weeks. to buy medication, I was told on tea which she drinks three times to fuel. good for the patient, we are cal “bond note” currency is little Public anger at Zimbabwe’s ince starting treatment fi ve two occasions that nifedipine a day. Pensioner Martin Kapeta, 71, forced to prescribe what’s there trusted. shattered economy was a factor years ago, 50-year-old Al- was out of stock, which had nev- “I was desperate for a solution has resorted to skipping some and what’s there is changing eve- Mnangagwa last month urged in last year’s military interven- Sice Chenyika kept her blood er happened before,” Chenyika, a and followed some people in the doses of the two drugs he takes ry time. citizens to stay calm as drivers tion that fi nally toppled Mugabe, pressure under control by adher- widow and mother of one adult community who have been using for diabetes and hypertension. “There are no drugs available queued for hours for rationed then 93, after 37 years in offi ce. ing to doctors’ strict instructions daughter, told AFP at her home the herbal tea. I didn’t get expert Kapeta who gets a pension in the public health facilities, and petrol and those with money He was forced to resign on No- to take two daily doses of nifed- in Eastview, outside the capital advice,” she said, adding she was of $153 needs $57 for a month’s the situation is dire as well in the stockpiled any food for sale. vember 21. ipine. Harare. uncertain if the herbs worked. supply of the two drugs — am- private sector. The shortages have created a As Zimbabweans mark one Now Zimbabwe’s worsen- When the medicine was back “There is no way of measuring lodipine and actraphane — up “People are sourcing medicine thriving black market, with a li- year on, Mnangagwa must fi nd a ing economic crisis has pushed in stock weeks later, the phar- dosages. I am taking the tea be- from $12. from neighbouring countries. We tre of cooking oil being sold on way to repay debts, attract inves- prices up, and the medicine is far macy was charging $24 instead of cause I have no other choice.” “This is not the life we used to are going to see more people de- the street for up to $12 instead of tors and convince donors to turn beyond her reach — one of many $6 before for a month of supplies. Zimbabwe endured severe eco- live. Those in authority should do veloping complications and also $3.70. on the taps for international aid signs of the country’s painful “I could no longer aff ord the nomic decline under Mugabe, something or we will die,” Kapeta premature deaths.” Many pharmacies shut down — despite continuing repression transition since the fall of Robert medicine, so I started taking who ruled from 1980 until he was said. The latest bout of trouble and then reopened with new of political opponents. Mugabe a year ago this month. herbs as an alternative,” said ousted a year ago, as agriculture The situation has left doctors erupted last month when Fi- prices on drugs, with many of “It’s painful when nurses see His successor Emmerson Chenyika, who lives on her late collapsed due to the farm seizures, in a dilemma. nance Minister Mthuli Ncube them charging in foreign cur- patients dying, knowing these are Mnangagwa had promised eco- husband’s $300 pension from millions fl ed to seek work abroad “We are fi nding it diffi cult to announced a 2% tax on all elec- rency only — which few custom- lives that could have been saved nomic revival after the farm sei- which she pays $200 monthly and investment collapsed. prescribe drugs,” Norman Ma- tronic transactions to increase ers have. if resources were available,” said zures, hyperinfl ation and inter- to a housing co-operative which Mnangagwa, Mugabe’s former tara, a medical doctor and board revenue. Bond notes were introduced in Enoch Dongo, spokesman for national isolation of the Mugabe built the house she lives in. deputy and veteran of the ruling member for the advocacy group Many Zimbabweans rely on 2016, in theory equal to the US Zimbabwe Nurses Association. UN, Church say Sombre tribute trooper, priest killed in CAR

AFP priest has been recovered in the cen- uranium, the CAR has struggled to re- Bangui tral town of Alindao, where sectarian cover from a 2013 civil war that erupt- clashes have claimed at least 37 lives ed when President Francois Bozize, a this week, the Catholic Church said Christian, was overthrown by mainly peacekeeper died after an at- yesterday. Muslim Seleka rebels. tack on a UN base in the vola- “We found his charred body,” Father In response, Christians, who ac- Atile Central African Republic Mathieu Bondobo, the vicar-general count for about 80% of the popula- (CAR) and a priest was burnt to death, of the main cathedral in the capital tion, organised vigilante units dubbed the UN and Catholic Church said yes- Bangui told AFP. “anti-balaka”. terday after sectarian clashes claimed The UN on Friday said 37 deaths Alindao lies on a critical route tra- nearly 40 lives. were confi rmed in Alindao — including versing the south and east of the coun- The soldier died in hospital late Fri- another priest — while some 20,000 try and is in the heart of a region with day of injuries sustained in the raid people were aff ected by the violence. numerous gold and diamond mines on a military base in Gbambia in the “Thousands” were forced to fl ee. that have helped fuel the confl ict. country’s west, the UN mission MI- The bloodbath began on Thurs- In September, the UN warned of a NUSCA said. day when Christian militiamen killed “disastrous” humanitarian situation The attack, which started at about Muslims, prompting revenge attacks. in the region, which it said was under 2000 GMT, lasted for some 45 min- A church was burnt. the control of armed groups. utes and sent residents fl eeing into the Alindao is a stronghold of the Union The government controls only a bush, the UN said. for Peace in CAR (UPC) Muslim mili- small part of CAR’s national territory. An armed group called Siriri, cre- tia. Armed groups clash in the provinces UN peacekeepers serving in the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the ated this year by Fulani cattle herders, It has witnessed chronic fi ghting in for control of resources, including dia- Congo attend a special parade for six colleagues, who were killed in clashes with militias in Beni territory, North Kivu operates in the area. recent months that has also killed two monds, gold and livestock. province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Led by a man named Ardo Abba, its UN soldiers and a humanitarian aid The UN has about 12,500 personnel purported aim is to thwart attacks by worker. deployed in Central Africa as part of its cattle rustlers. “This vicious cycle of repeated at- MINUSCA mission, one of the world The UN said the group had attacked tacks against civilians is unaccept- body’s largest peacekeeping forces. Gbambia in mid-June. able. Civilians want security, peace The UN Security Council voted Central African Republic A Tanzanian UN peacekeeper died and a future,” said Najat Rochdi, UN Thursday to temporarily renew the former militia leader the same month after Siriri staged an humanitarian coordinator in the CAR. mandate of the mission until Decem- Two ex-presidents in ambush in the region. One of the world’s poorest nations ber, amid heated debates about its extradited to The Hague Meanwhile, the charred body of a despite a rich supply of diamonds and ability to stem the unrest. Madagascar run-off Central African Republic (CAR) lawmaker and former militia leader Alfred Yekatom was extra- dited yesterday to The Hague to stand trial at the AFP raised allegations of fraud and International Criminal Court probing war crimes Tech talk Antananarivo malpractice by election au- and crimes against humanity, the first such move thorities, and the result could by the conflict-ridden country. Pupils assemble contents be subject to a fi erce legal bat- A government source said the charges against from the robotics kit together wo former presidents of tle. Yekatom, a former militia leader within the so- during the Robotics and Madagascar, Andry Ra- “We have adopted three called anti-balaka movement involved in sectarian Coding Club Meeting at the Tjoelina and Marc Rav- rules of conduct: transparen- bloodletting, were not specified. Sedi-Laka Primary School in alomanana, came out top in cy, impartiality and independ- The ICC launched an investigation in Septem- Ivory Park, Johannesburg. the country’s election, results ence,” CENI president Hery ber 2014 into crimes committed in the country Students from the Mikateka showed yesterday, and are set Rakotomanana said as the fi nal since 2012. Primary School, PS Tsosane to compete in a run-off . results were announced. Yekatom’s militia operated in the south of the Primary School, DR Mathole Neither won the 50% re- “We have not accepted any country. Motshekga Primary School quired for a fi rst-round win, orders from anyone in this In 2015, he became the target of US sanctions and Sedi-Laka Primary with Rajoelina on 39.19% and election...no favours have for suspected attacks against Muslims, civilian school meet for a robotics Ravalomanana on 35.29%, ac- been given to anyone.” deaths, and for using 153 child fighters. and coding club proved cording to fi nal results from Madagascar is one of the A former army off icer, Yekatom was elected to to be very popular as an the CENI election commis- world’s poorest countries, ac- parliament in 2016. extracurricular activities at sion, with the run-off sched- cording to World Bank data, He was arrested in October for opening fire township schools in Gauteng. uled for December 19. with almost four in fi ve people inside the legislature while its new president was This initiative helps to Hery Rajaonarimampianina, living in grinding poverty on being elected. provide, both teachers and who was running to hold onto the Indian Ocean island. “It’s a strong message to the leaders of armed learners, with important skills power, secured only 8.84% of But the election front-run- groups,” said Pierre Brunisso from the Interna- in the increasingly digital the vote, the commission said, ners spent huge sums on fl ashy tional Federation of Human Rights watchdog. world and economy. adding turnout was 54.3%. campaign rallies, helicopters “Those who think they can claim an amnesty at All three leading candi- and giveaways such as free T- the negotiating table are mistaken.” dates, out of 36 runners, have shirts for supporters. In Benin, Talon’s opponents claim political crackdown

By Josue Mehouenou, AFP livestock, Ajavon came third in ber despite being cleared of any of legal “persecution” ahead of $26mn — to a company called speeches, Houngbadji said he Mohamed Atao Hinnouho, a Cotonou the 2016 presidential election involvement in the same drug parliamentary elections next Ebomaf. had to leave Benin in late October politician in the ruling coalition and went on to help Talon win the case two years earlier. year. Relatives told AFP Zinsou’s after receiving threats of “poi- currently imprisoned for drug second round. After Talon, who made his Ajavon, who did not attend his fear of the Benin authorities soning and kidnapping”. traffi cking and customs fraud. enin has a reputation as But he made no secret of his fortune in cotton, won the presi- drugs trial, is said to be in France, meant he skipped his daughter’s “None of my complaints ad- “Our justice system is inde- one of West Africa’s most desire to contest the presiden- dency, he promised to stamp out according to his lawyers. wedding in the country earlier dressed to the state prosecutor pendent. If the people targeted Bstable democracies but a cy again and their relationship corruption and mismanagement An international arrest war- this month, instead remaining in about the threats against me have by proceedings have nothing to series of court cases against op- soured. in the tiny West African nation. rant has been issued against him. Paris, where he lives. materialised,” Houngbadji said, fear they can come and defend ponents of President Patrice Tal- That is when, his supporters In recent months, former min- He “did now show up because “With this regime that wants speaking from Paris. “I am in ex- their honour rather than fl ee on has led to accusations that his say, Ajavon’s legal problems re- isters accused of fraud have lost he thinks he has no guarantee of everyone out of the way at all ile because I’m disturbing them.” abroad,” said the source. rivals are being targeted, forcing surfaced. their parliamentary immunity. impartial justice,” said Abalo. costs, he preferred not to take The Benin government denied Before becoming president, some to fl ee the country. “The regime of President Tal- A special court to handle eco- He said the case against Ajavon risks by setting foot in the coun- it was becoming more authori- Talon also lived in exile. He fl ed to One of those opponents is on is tracking down opponents,” nomic crimes and terrorism has was “completely baseless”. try,” said one of Zinsou’s rela- tarian and maintained no one France after being accused of an former presidential candidate an offi cial from Ajavon’s political been set up and already has a rep- Talon’s other main rival in tives, speaking on condition of was exempt from Talon’s anti- apparent poisoning plot against and multi-millionaire Sebastien party USL, Donklam Abalo, told utation for handing down heavy the 2016 election, former prime anonymity. corruption crusade. former head of state Thomas Ajavon, who has been sentenced AFP. sentences. minister Lionel Zinsou, is also Another politician, Leonce The opposition claims were Boni Yayi in 2012. to 20 years in prison for drug “His (Ajavon’s) lawyers were Controversially, its decisions facing legal problems and no Houngbadji of the People’s Lib- “pathetic”, said a source close to He strongly denied the allega- traffi cking. prevented from defending their are not subject to appeal. longer in the country. eration Party, has also gone into the presidency on condition of tions and received a presidential Dubbed Benin’s “Chicken client,” he said. Some politicians have left the He has been accused of not re- self-imposed exile. anonymity. pardon in May 2014, before later King” due to his investments in Ajavon was sentenced in Octo- country, saying they are victims paying campaign funds — worth Known for his fi ery anti-Talon The source cited the case of returning to Benin. Gulf Times 16 Sunday, November 18, 2018 AMERICAS

Trump says ‘easily’ California fi re missing answered Russia probe questions

Reuters count crosses 1,000 Washington

By Javier Tovar, AFP Kimball, who worked at the Para- resident Donald Trump on Friday said he had “very Chico, California dise cemetery. easily” completed his written answers for Special The Camp Fire has burned PCounsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russia’s 146,000 acres and was 50% con- role in the 2016 US election, but had not yet submitted them resident Donald Trump was tained by Friday, California’s fi re to Mueller’s offi ce. heading yesterday to Cali- service said. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said he Pfornia to meet with offi cials, Authorities said 47,200 people wrote the answers to the questions himself. “My lawyers victims and the “unbelievably had been evacuated because of the don’t write answers. I write answers. I was asked a series of brave” fi refi ghters there, as more fi re and nearly 1,200 were living in questions. I’ve answered them very easily,” Trump said. than 1,000 people have been listed shelters. The Republican president did not specify when his legal as missing in the worst-ever wild- Smoke from the fi re forced team would give Mueller his written responses, but a person fi re to hit the US state. schools to close in San Francisco familiar with the matter told Reuters they likely would be “It seems many more people are on Friday and the city’s iconic ca- submitted this week. Peter Carr, a spokesman for Mueller, missing than anyone thought even ble cars to suspend service. declined to comment. possible,” Trump told reporters The Golden Gate Bridge was “I’m sure they’re tricked-up because, you know, they like from the White House South Lawn shrouded in thick smog. to catch people,” Trump said, referring to questions that he shortly before boarding the Ma- Much of the rescue work is now suggested could be designed to result in perjury charges. rine One helicopter to fl y to Joint focused on Paradise, where many “You have to always be careful when you answer, with Base Andrews. retirees were unable to get out in people that probably have bad intentions. Now, the ques- The deadliest and most de- time. tions were very routinely answered by me.” structive wildfi re in California’s Rescuers with sniff er dogs have Mueller is investigating whether members of Trump’s history, the so-called Camp Fire, been conducting a painstaking campaign conspired with Moscow in the 2016 election has now claimed 71 lives. house-to-house search. and whether Trump has unlawfully sought to obstruct the The fi re has devoured an area “I’m still going to keep on look- probe, which has clouded his presidency. roughly the size of Chicago, de- ing and hope for the best,” Jho- Trump and his lawyers had been in negotiations with stroying nearly 10,000 homes and nathan Clark told AFP. Mueller’s team for months over how the president would be 2,400 other buildings. He was hunting for his brother, questioned as part of the investigation. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea sister-in-law and nephew. Trump’s team agreed to have the president submit written told reporters the number of people President Donald Trump talks to the press as he leaves the White House in Washington, DC, for California to Three other people have died answers to questions relating to Russia’s role in the election, unaccounted for had soared, from visit the Camp Fire disaster area. in southern California in a blaze but it is still possible Mueller may press Trump to answer ques- 631 to 1,011, in 24 hours as authori- dubbed the Woolsey Fire, which tions on potential obstruction at some point. Another open ties received more reports of people The inferno erupted November the federal government that has Roslyn Roberts, 73, who was engulfed parts of Malibu, destroy- question is whether Trump will eventually sit for an interview. missing, and after earlier emergen- 8, laying waste to the town of Par- chosen to divert resources away forced from her home in Para- ing the homes of several celebrities. Tensions have risen over the probe since Trump last week cy calls were reviewed. adise in the northern foothills of from forest management, not Cal- dise, said she voted for Trump but That inferno, which is about ousted Jeff Sessions as US attorney general and named Mat- “I want you to understand that the Sierra Nevada mountains and ifornia.” would disagree with him if she has two-thirds the size of the Camp thew Whitaker as his replacement on an acting basis. That this is a dynamic list,” Honea told sending thousands fl eeing. California, which leans strongly the chance. Fire, was close to 80% contained move gave Whitaker, a Trump loyalist who Democrats have reporters. Trump yesterday repeated an Democratic, has been at the fore- “I would tell him that this fi re by Friday. called a “political lackey,” oversight of the Mueller probe. He said that on a positive note, earlier claim that mismanagement front of resistance to Trump’s en- has nothing to do with forest Adding to the misery of Camp Mueller already has brought charges against a series of 329 people who had been listed as of California’s forests was largely vironmental and other policies. mismanagement. Thousands and Fire survivors, an outbreak of the former Trump aides, including his former campaign chair- missing have now been accounted to blame for the fi res. But days after threatening to cut thousands of homes got destroyed highly contagious norovirus has man and his former national security adviser, as well as a for. “We will be talking about for- federal funding to California over with no trees around,” she said at a been reported at several shelters. number of Russian individuals and entities. “The information I am provid- est management,” he said. “This its alleged “gross mismanage- shelter set up by the American Red Twenty-fi ve people had to be A federal judge on Thursday refused to dismiss criminal ing you is raw data and we fi nd could have been a lot diff erent ment” of forests, Trump tweeted Cross in a church. hospitalsed, health offi cials said. charges against Concord Management and Consulting LLC, there is the likely possibility that situation.” Friday that he was looking forward In Chico, just west of Paradise, While the cause of the Camp a Russia company accused by Mueller of funding a propa- the list contains duplicate names,” Brian Rice, president of the to meeting Governor Jerry Brown volunteers had erected a tented Fire remains under investigation, ganda operation to sway the 2016 election in Trump’s favour. he said, adding that some people California Professional Firefi ght- and his newly-elected successor encampment for evacuees. a lawsuit has been fi led against the Trump on Friday again called the probe a “witch hunt” and who had escaped could be una- ers, called Trump’s earlier remark Gavin Newsom. “Just trying to make it day by local power company, PG&E, by said there was no collusion. “There should have never been a ware they were listed as missing. “ill-informed,” and added: “It is “We are with you!” Trump said. day. It’s all we can do,” said Dustin fi re victims claiming negligence. so-called investigation, which, in theory, it’s not an investiga- tion of me. But...as far as I’m concerned, I like to take every- thing personally because you do better that way,” Trump added. Court to hear census question dispute Canada asks world Reuters the 2020 census, costing their there was an unlawful political Washington communities political represen- motivation behind the decision. tation and access to federal aid Opponents of the citizenship to stop sending mail due to a population undercount. question have said it would dis- he US Supreme Court on The justices on November 2 proportionately aff ect Demo- Friday said it would hear allowed the trial to go ahead but cratic-leaning states’ electoral AFP Toral arguments in Febru- blocked the deposition of Com- representation and federal fund- Ottawa ary concerning a challenge by a merce Secretary Wilbur Ross, ing. group of states to the contentious whose department oversees the The administration has said decision by President Donald US Census Bureau. more precise citizenship data is anada’s postal service issued a plea on Friday for the Trump’s administration to ask “The Trump administration is needed to better enforce a vot- rest of the world to stop sending in mail as its striking people taking part in the 2020 terrifi ed of having to explain on ing rights law in order to protect Cworkers rejected the latest contract off er. national census whether they are the record why it added a cen- minorities. Canada Post, facing a huge delivery backlog as the labour citizens. sus citizenship question, and has It was unclear if the high unrest looked set to enter a fi fth week, recently sweetened its The legal question concerns repeatedly tried to shield Com- court’s decision to hear the case off er to staff in a last-ditch eff ort to bring the rotating strikes the scope of evidence that a New merce Secretary Wilbur Ross will aff ect how Furman handles to an end. York-based federal judge can from answering questions under the trial, which began on Novem- This followed a warning from Prime Minister Justin Tru- consider at a trial in the case, oath. All relevant evidence should ber 5 and has closing arguments deau that his government was prepared to step in to settle which has almost concluded. be considered,” Dale Ho, a lawyer scheduled for November 27. US border patrol agents look over the border fence between Mexico and the labour dispute ahead of the upcoming holiday season. The Supreme Court said in a with the American Civil Liberties Time is an issue as the fi nal the United States, where they expect a large group of caravan migrants His government has faced pressure from online retailers brief order that it will hear argu- Union, said in a statement. census forms are due to be print- to gather today, at Border State Park in San Diego. including eBay to legislate an end to the strike before the ments on February 19. The Trump administration ar- ed by spring 2019. Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales events, which start on Eighteen US states, 15 cit- gues that the case should be de- The plaintiff s have said that in November 23. ies and a handful of civil rights cided purely on the government’s recent decades Census Bureau But a spokeswoman for the Canadian Union of Postal groups are asking US District offi cial reasoning for adding the offi cials have opposed adding a Workers told AFP the off er, due to expire yesterday, was Judge Jesse Furman in New York question. citizenship question because of Troops to remain at border “unsatisfactory” and the union “will not be presenting it to to remove the citizenship ques- The challengers have said they the risk of driving down response members.” tion, saying it will frighten im- need further evidence from Ross rates and undercounting the US Canada Post, meanwhile, said a backlog of deliveries that migrants into abstaining from and other offi cials about whether population. ‘as long as necessary’ coincided with the start of the strike on October 22 has now extended to mail entering the country. resident Donald Trump yes- Some 5,900 active-duty troops “As a result, we have been forced to advise international Politician stands to win election by one vote terday defended his contro- are now stationed along the border, posts, including the United States Postal Service, that we are Pversial deployment of thou- a contentious deployment in sup- unable to accept incoming items until further notice,” it said It was an oft-repeated mantra of the hotly-contested the Midwestern state. The vote totals were double- sands of troops to the US-Mexico port of civilian forces that Trump in an email. US midterm elections: “Every vote counts.” checked in each voting precinct and the result was border, confi rming they would re- ordered ahead of the recent mid- The two sides have been in contract negotiations for near- That turned out to be true for a number of close the same: 6,318 votes for Johnson and 6,319 votes for main in place “as long as necessary.” term elections. ly one year, with no success. races on November 6, but perhaps nowhere more so Glenn. “We have a tremendous military Opponents have criticised the The rotating strikes have so far impacted more than 200 than in Kentucky. “I was happy that the public got a chance to see force on the southern border, we cost and usefulness of the op- communities, including major cities Toronto, Winnipeg and Democrat Jim Glenn is poised to win a seat in the that every vote counts,” Glenn told TV station WEHT. have large numbers of people trying eration, dismissing it as a political Vancouver. state’s legislature by one vote after a final tally was Johnson is considering whether to request a full to get into our country,” he told re- stunt. In Toronto alone, a record 260 trailers of parcels and announced Thursday, besting incumbent Republican recount of every vote, instead of the more cursory porters at the White House ahead of An additional 2,100 or so Nation- packets were waiting to be unloaded, while in Vancouver DJ Johnson. recanvassing of each voting location’s totals that was a visit to California. al Guardsmen have been deployed more than 100 trailers were parked outside its plant. There were 12,637 votes cast in the district, which just completed. “At this point, we’re still in the process, “They built great fencing, they to support operations at the border, Canada Post delivers two-thirds of the nation’s online hugs the Ohio River along the northern border of step one,” he told WEHT. built a very powerful fence,” he bringing the total military presence shopping and the last six weeks of the year are its busiest due added. to about 8,000. to the holiday rush.

Ohio Democrat hints may take on Pelosi for powerful US House speaker job

By Richard Cowan, Reuters In a statement to Reuters on Representative Tim Ryan, a western “swing state” of Ohio party’s huge midterm election win. launching this manoeuvre at this dents’ strategy of waiting until Washington Friday, Fudge noted support from ringleader in the revolt against and could become the fi rst Afri- Democrats made a net gain of point in time.” the last minute to formally de- people “who look to me as the Pelosi, said Democrats won the can-American speaker. at least 32 House seats when only Asked by Reuters to outline clare a challenge to Pelosi had its next speaker of the House.” election on a promise of change. She is also a woman in what 23 were needed to recapture a the kind of changes someone like advantages, one of which is that ut of a small pool of party “In this fi rst stage of the proc- “And Marcia Fudge is change. We is being called the “year of the majority. Fudge could bring, Democratic without an opponent Pelosi has dissidents trying to stop fel- ess, I am still giving it considerable have to respect the people who woman” in US politics, with a Several seats are still unde- Representative Kathleen Rice, a no-one to attack. Olow Democrat Nancy Pelosi thought” but have not made a fi nal sent us here.” fl ood of new female lawmakers cided. Pelosi critic, did not tick off a dif- Some Democrats worry a from becoming speaker of the US decision, she said in an e-mail. Despite a decade in the House, joining House Democratic ranks. Republicans kept control of ferent legislative agenda or even messy leadership fi ght could House of Representatives in Janu- Democrats are scheduled to the 66-year-old Fudge, the As lawmakers left for a recess the Senate. criticisms of Pelosi’s performance. overshadow the midterm elec- ary, only one has been bold enough meet behind closed doors on No- former chair of the Congression- on Friday, Fudge met Pelosi for Some Democratic lawmakers Instead, she said, Fudge tion successes. to hint strongly that she might toss vember 28 to pick their leaders al Black Caucus, does not have 45 minutes, after which the Cali- have suggested Pelosi could tamp “would make history as the fi rst Democratic Representa- her own hat into the ring. for the new 2019-20 House after the national profi le that Pelosi fornia representative said tersely down any insurrection by prom- African-American speaker,” add- tive Gerry Connolly, who backs Representative Marcia Fudge wresting the chamber from the Re- has cultivated in 16 years of lead- on Twitter: “We had a candid and ising to serve as speaker for a lim- ing “she’s a woman, which I think Pelosi, said many members yearn has not formally announced her publicans on November 6. A vote ing her party in the chamber. respectful conversation.” ited time, opening the way for a is signifi cant as well.” for new leaders, but he fears the candidacy. But she has alluded to by the full House on the speaker is That may be exactly what Many Democrats are still bet- new generation of leaders. Running for speaker or any potential fallout from a bitter her interest in media interviews expected in early January. Pelosi critics are looking for — ting on Pelosi, one of Congress’ Democratic strategist Jim leadership position in Congress speaker’s race. in recent days, and says she is be- The speaker is arguably the someone who can bring fresh most savvy politicians, who Manley said her opponents, be- is mostly conducted through Democrats were elected “to ing encouraged to run by an un- second most powerful position in blood to a leadership team with made history in 2007 when she lieved to number around two one-on-one conversations. provide adult supervision for disclosed number of her Demo- the US government after Presi- an average age of 78, Pelosi’s age. became the fi rst female speaker. dozen, have so far been “unable One former senior House Donald J Trump...so let’s not be cratic colleagues. dent Donald Trump’s. Fudge represents the Mid- Pelosi helped orchestrate the to provide a solid justifi cation for Republican aide said the dissi- overly distracted,” he said. Gulf Times Sunday, November 18, 2018 17 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

Australia’s Maldives’ new president ‘Trolley Man’ charged with burglary warns state coff ers ‘looted’ and theft Reuters at a loss, are huge,” said Ibra- administration, many of them Male him Mohamed Solih in a speech with Chinese state fi rms. soon after he was sworn in as The big worry for Solih’s Reuters president. team is the debt the country has Melbourne he new president of the Prime Minister Narendra run up with Chinese lenders for Maldives took offi ce yes- Modi of India, which is seek- projects such as a mile-long sea Tterday, declaring the state ing to claw back ground in a bridge connecting the airport to homeless man who used coff ers to have been looted and country it considered as part the capital, the airport expan- his shopping trolley to warned that the country was in of its area of infl uence, was sion itself and massive housing Ahelp thwart an attack by fi nancial diffi culty after racking the highest ranking foreign projects on reclaimed islands. a knife-wielding Islamic State up debt with Chinese lenders in visitor at the ceremony held in Solih’s transition team said sympathiser in Australia this an infrastructure boom. a soccer stadium in the capital it had been told the country month has been charged with The Maldives, famous for its Male. owed $1.5bn to Chinese lend- fi ve off ences, including burglary luxury resorts on palm-fringed Solih, a veteran lawmaker, ers, but fear it could be much and theft. islands, is the latest in a number won the presidential election in higher. Even a debt of $1.5bn Michael Rogers repeatedly of small countries where China September as a joint opposition would be more than a quarter tried to ram the attacker, Hassan has invested millions of dollars candidate against president of the country’s annual gross Khalif Shire Ali, who was lunging building highways and hous- Abdullah Yameen, a strongman domestic product. at police and had stabbed three ing as part of its Belt and Road who steered the country closer Modi told Solih that India people, one fatally, in an attack in Initiative. to China and faced internation- stood ready to help the Maldives the city of Melbourne that police But these projects have al pressure over imprisoning through its economic diffi cul- branded terrorism. left the country of just over political rivals. ties, the Indian foreign ministry Police shot Shire Ali who later 400,000 people in debt and “The state coff ers have lost said in a statement following died. prompted calls for investiga- several billions of rufi yaa (local their meeting. Yesterday, police said Rogers, tions into how contracts were currency) due to embezzlement India, which has long been 46, nicknamed “Trolley Man” on awarded to Chinese com- and corruption conducted at the Maldives’ main political and Maldives’ President-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, left, takes the oath conducted by Chief Justice social media, had been charged panies during the previous diff erent levels of the govern- economic partner, had grown Ahmed Abdulla Didi, right, during the swearing-in ceremony in Male yesterday. with two counts of burglary, two administration. ment,” Solih said. concerned that China’s expan- counts of theft and commit- “As I take over the presiden- He said it wasn’t clear how sive diplomacy was aimed at just off the southern coast of two countries would be mindful China has said it hoped there ting an indictable off ence while cy, the state’s fi nancial situa- much the state had lost. His establishing an outpost on the India, where it has a built a port of each other’s concerns and the would be continuity in policies on bail. tion is precarious. The damage transition team said this week it islands. and now controls it in a debt- need for stability in the Indian during Solih’s presidency and “He has been remanded in done due to projects conducted would conduct a forensic audit China has already gained a for-equity swap. Ocean, the Indian foreign min- it would create good conditions custody to appear at the Mel- only for political reasons, and of deals sealed by the Yameen strong foothold in Sri Lanka, Modi and Solih agreed the istry said in the statement. for Chinese fi rms. bourne Magistrates’ Court (on Saturday),” police said in an e-mailed statement. Rogers was called for ques- tioning late on Friday. Police did not provide more details but media reported Chinese president plans that all the suspected inci- dents had happened before the November 9 attack. Rogers’ action during the attack was fi lmed by wit- to visit N Korea next year nesses and he quickly be- came a hero on social media, prompting an online fun- Reuters the meeting between Xi and ally and a key economic life- nication and coordinate the draiser for him which has Seoul Moon. line for the isolated country. process of promoting the de- raised more than A$140,000 This comes at a time when China appears to have re- nuclearisation of the penin- ($102,690.00). negotiations between North laxed enforcement of sanc- sula and establishing a peace hinese President Xi Korea and the United States tions on Pyongyang, as re- mechanism, Xi said. Jinping intends to visit appear to have stalled over how lations between China and “The key is that the parties Man bitten by CNorth Korea next year to remove the Pyongyang’s North Korea have thawed af- concerned meet each other after receiving an invite from nuclear weapons. ter the long-time ally of Bei- half way, show fl exibility, and shark moved North Korean leader Kim At an unprecedented sum- jing began to engage with the are able to talk and for those to hospital Jong-un, South Korea said mit in Singapore, US President United States this year, a US talks to get results,” he said. yesterday, which would make Donald Trump and North Ko- congressional commission The two leaders agreed that A 24-year-old man surfing at a Xi the fi rst Chinese leader to rean leader Kim agreed in June said earlier this week. a second summit between beach 130km south of Sydney US Army and China’s PLA military personnel take part in an exercise do so since 2005. to work toward denuclearisa- China’s account of the bi- Washington and Pyongyang was bitten by a shark yesterday of Disaster Management Exchange near Nanjing, Jiangsu province, Xi told South Korean tion and peace on the Korean lateral meeting in Papua New and a planned visit by North and airlifted to hospital, Australian China, yesterday. President Moon Jae-in in peninsula and establish new Guinea made no mention of Xi Korean leader Kim to Seoul police announced. a bilateral meeting on the relations. But the agreement planning to go to North Korea. would be an “important The man was part of a group sidelines of the Asia Pacifi c was short on specifi cs, and Xi said that in the past year, breakthrough” in resolving learning to surf at Seven Mile Economic Co-operation negotiations have made little the situation on the Korean the situation on the peninsula, Beach near the town of Gerroa (APEC) summit in Papua headway since. Peninsula had undergone pos- according to South Korea’s when he was bitten on the lower New Guinea that he would Xi’s trip to North Korea itive changes returning to the presidential offi ce. leg and hand around 1pm (0200 “make time” to visit North would be the fi rst by a Chinese “correct track” of talks, ac- The South Korean presi- GMT), police said in a statement. China, US dential spokesman said Xi Korea next year. president since his predeces- cording to a Chinese foreign He was airlifted to a nearby Xi added that China would sor Hu Jintao’s visit in 2005. ministry statement. was also willing to come to hospital with what ambulance continue to play a construc- Xi travelled to North Korea in “At present, the situation South Korea next year at a off icials said were non-life tive role in building peace on 2008 as a vice president. on the peninsula is at a critical convenient time. threatening injuries. the Korean peninsula, Kim Amid existing international stage,” the ministry cited Xi South Korea’s presidential Police closed the beach until armies hold offi ce issued a transcript of its Eui-kyeom, spokesman for sanctions on North Korea fol- as saying. Surf Life Saving Australia and South Korea’s presidential lowing its weapons tests, Chi- China and South Korea briefi ng on the meeting in Port government off icials joint disaster offi ce, said at a briefi ng after na is Pyongyang’s sole major should strengthen commu- Moresby. clear it. (DPA) relief drills Thailand retrieves shipwreck

Reuters “Only through more contacts, AFP bodies, some from within the from the water covered entirely “Investigators, experts and and angered by the boat tragedy. Nanjing, China more exchanges and coopera- Bangkok watery tomb, bringing the death in sea silt, with people in life engineers from Germany, and “The Thai government sin- tion in areas of common interest toll to 47 Chinese tourists. jackets working to hoist it to the forensics will examine the cerely wants to rebuild the can we eff ectively increase mu- More than four months after massive crane ship. structure of the Phoenix to see confi dence with the Chi- oldiers from China and the tual trust and eff ectively reduce ship that capsized in July the tragic incident, Thai author- Deputy national police chief whether the equipment was up nese government and I hope United States wrapped up misjudgments,” Qin Weijiang, off the coast of Thai- ities were able to retrieve the Rungrot Saengkram said the to standard,” said Rungrot. the situation improves,” said Sa week of joint disaster re- deputy commander of the PLA’s Aland’s tourist hotspot Phoenix using a 1,000-tonne authorities needed to salvage One of the worst boating General Surachate Hakparn, lief drills yesterday, in a display eastern theatre command, told Phuket - leaving dozens of crane ship hired from Singa- the Phoenix “to express sincer- accidents in recent history in immigration police chief. of co-operation against a back- reporters. Chinese tourists dead - was pore at a cost of 35mn baht ity to the Chinese government”. Thailand, the Phoenix capsizing Thailand’s tourism ministry drop of worsening ties between “So I think bilateral exchanges plucked out of the sea yester- (about$1mn), said a statement He added that they wanted to and the death of dozens hit the revised its forecast of Chinese the two countries over trade, the can start from humanitarian and day, immigration offi cials said. issued by the Thai immigration determine the “real reason” for tourism sector hard, with the arrivals - who typically make up disputed South China Sea and disaster relief exchanges and ex- In July, the Phoenix was car- police department. the capsizing. number of arrivals from China a quarter of the country’s an- self-ruled Taiwan. pand to other areas of common rying 105 people when it sank “The Phoenix was brought to The Phoenix was among dropping off steadily since July. nual 35mn visitors - down by Relations between the world’s interest.” on the way back from a popular the surface at 3:20pm,” it said. three vessels which ignored a The impact was immediate, with 670,000 for the rest of the year. two largest economies have Robert Brown, Commanding snorkelling spot. According to photos provided bad weather warning against August tourism statistics showing Since July, authorities have plumbed new depths under US General of the US Army Pacifi c, Divers and the navy spent by the Thai immigration police, island day trips on the day of a nearly 12% decline in Chinese ar- reacted swiftly to any issues President Donald Trump, who said the exchange was “ex- more than a week retrieving the once-white vessel emerged the accident. rivals, as they were scared facing Chinese tourists. is due to meet Chinese President tremely important”. Xi Jinping at the G20 summit “Just as our top leaders work in Argentina starting late this towards building a strong work- month. ing relationship and under- The exercise, held in the standing, we through confi - Naval memorial eastern Chinese city of Nan- dence-building measures like US to join Australian plan to jing, comes a week after Chi- this DME must also at our level nese Defence Minister Wei build a strong understanding Fenghe and top diplomat Yang of each other,” he added, refer- develop new Pacifi c naval base Jiechi visited Washington, ring to Disaster Management where US offi cials urged China Exchange. deep-water site, was unveiled strategy. Recently, it has hosted to halt militarisation of the This is the 14th time the joint Reuters yesterday at a Asia-Pacifi c one of Australia’s two contro- South China Sea. exchange has been held, which Port Moresby forum hosted by Papua New versial off shore immigration But there was no sign of those last year took place in the United Guinea (PNG) where world detention centres. strains as Chinese and US sol- States. leaders voiced competing vi- Pence said the United States diers simulated plucking peo- China’s defence ministry has he United States will sions on how trade should be would partner with Aus- ple from earthquake-destroyed said it hopes the military rela- join Pacifi c ally Australia conducted in the region. tralia and PNG on the Manus buildings and treating survivors’ tionship can become a “stabi- Tto build a naval base on Analysts say a Chinese pres- Island port project. injuries at a People’s Liberation liser” for overall ties with the Papua New Guinea’s Manus ence on Manus Island could “We will work with these Army (PLA) base on the out- United States. Island, US Vice President Mike impact the West’s ability to nations to protect the sover- skirts of Nanjing. All the same, Washington Pence said, amid a push by re- navigate the Pacifi c while of- eignty and maritime rights Troops practised search and and Beijing swapped barbs over gional powers to lock in alli- fering Beijing close access to of Pacifi c islands as well,” rescue in a small mock-up of trade, investment and regional ances and secure access to key US bases in Guam. Pence said. a devastated urban area post- security at an Asia Pacifi c Eco- infrastructure. Manus Island was a major “And you can be confi dent, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe lays a wreath at a memorial to earthquake, using sniff er dogs nomic Co-operation (Apec) The plan, which comes on US naval base during the Sec- the US will continue to uphold the Imperial Japanese Navy’s I-124 submarine, that was sunk in 1942 and other gear to search for peo- summit yesterday in Papua New the heels of China’s emergence ond World War, playing a key the freedom of the seas and the off the Northern Territory capital city of Darwin, Australia, yesterday. ple buried in the fake rubble. Guinea. as a possible developer of the role in Washington’s Pacifi c skies.” Gulf Times 18 Sunday, November 18, 2018 BRITAIN/IRELAND

Advocates of new May takes shot at plotters Brexit deal AFP just do something slightly dif- Daily Telegraph newspaper re- dell pledged his support for May London ferent, have a Norway model or ported. amid what he called the “unprec- a Canada model, this backstop Leadsom said that there is still edented onslaught”. ‘unrealistic’ issue would go away’. It would “more to be done” on the deal. He said that he has reserva- ritish Prime Minister not. That issue is still going to She told Sky News television tions about the draft deal, but Theresa May has told the be there,” she told the Daily Mail that she is “absolutely deter- other alternatives were “even Reuters Bplotters planning to over- newspaper. mined to support the PM in get- more unpalatable”. Dublin throw her that their alternative “It’s not everybody’s ideal ting the best possible deal for the “She is tackling an issue of epic Brexit plans would not resolve deal. You were never going to get UK as we leave the EU”. proportions, on which she can all their problems with her draft that. The job of prime minister is “There is still more to be done never please everyone, and she is ro-Brexit British ministers deal. to make tough decisions, which and we do still have more time doing her very best to fi nd a way are “not living in the real May is fi ghting to salvage her are not always black or white. I before the EU Council at the end through,” he said. “If it comes to Pworld” if they think they proposed Brexit agreement – and have to fi nd a way through, what of the month so I’m absolutely a confi dence vote, she will have can renegotiate the divorce trea- her job – after a tumultuous week best suits everybody’s needs.” committed to getting the Brexit mine.” ty agreed with the EU last week, in which four ministers resigned, May received the backing on that 17.4mn people voted for,” The 585-page draft deal aims May: The job of prime minister is to make tough decisions, which are Irish Foreign Minister Simon MPs slammed the proposal and Friday of Michael Gove and Liam she added. to ensure a smooth divorce from not always black or white. Coveney said yesterday. members of her own party tried Fox, the last remaining pro-Brex- May could yet face a vote of no the EU after more than four dec- British Prime Minister There- to oust her. it heavyweights in her cabinet. confi dence from her own MPs. ades of membership and outlines to Brussels long after Brexit on that the main opposition party sa May is fi ghting to save the However, she insisted that However, the ministers and At least 48 Conservative MPs a transition period for both sides. March 29, 2019. could negotiate a new withdrawal draft withdrawal deal ahead of a there is no better option on the three other cabinet Euroscep- are required to submit letters of However, MPs told May on EU supporters say it would agreement before Britain leaves vote in parliament after ministe- table and that any alternative tics – Andrea Leadsom, Penny no confi dence in the party lead- Thursday that there is no chance leave the UK on worse terms than the EU on March 29. rial resignations and open talk of plans would still not conjure up a Mordaunt and Chris Grayling – er to trigger a vote, and 23 have of it securing majority support in it has inside the bloc and are call- He told Sky News that there is a challenge to her leadership fol- solution to keeping open the bor- are meeting over the weekend to publicly confi rmed that they had parliament. ing for a second Brexit vote. support in parliament and in Eu- lowed its endorsement by cabi- der with the Irish Republic. try and force May to change her done so. Eurosceptic MPs fear the deal John McDonnell, Labour’s fi - rope for a “unity platform” that net. “People say ‘If you could only Brexit plans, the BBC and the Scottish Secretary David Mun- would keep Britain shackled nance spokesman, suggested avoided a no-deal Brexit. British media reported on Fri- day that pro-Brexit ministers, including trade minister Liam Fox and environment minister Michael Gove, the most promi- nent Brexiteer in May’s govern- Students targeted with ment, would meet this weekend Protesters block to modify her deal. Ireland has been among the EU governments that have fake tax refund e-mails said that there is little scope to change the proposals. London bridges Coveney said yesterday that UK tax authority says If tricked, the victim clicked The director of Action Fraud, the withdrawal treaty would thousands have received on a link and entered their Pauline Smith, said: “Devious not be reopened and suggested Protesters close five main e-mails seeking bank details banking and personal details. fraudsters will try every trick in that wavering British ministers bridges across Thames Fraudsters then used this the book to convince victims to instead seek to infl uence the po- over extinction crisis in By Aamna Mohdin personal information to steal hand over their personal infor- litical declaration on future rela- huge act of peaceful civil Guardian News & Media money from the victim. mation, often with devastating tions still under discussion. disobedience Between April and Septem- consequences. “This idea that now after two ber this year, the HMRC asked “It is vital that students spot years of negotiation, somehow By Matthew Taylor and housands of university for 7,500 of these phishing sites the signs of fraudulent e-mails four or fi ve cabinet ministers can Damien Gayle students have been tar- to be deactivated. to avoid falling victim by fol- negotiate a diff erent outcome Guardian News & Media Tgeted with fake tax re- This compares with around lowing the HMRC’s advice. and agree it themselves, and fund e-mails in an attempt to 5,200 requests during the same “The HMRC is encouraging then expect the EU to just sign steal their banking and personal period in 2017. all universities to raise aware- up to that, I just think it’s not ore than 50 people details, HM Revenue and Cus- The fi nancial secretary to the ness of scams and many have living in the real world,” Cov- have been arrested as toms (HMRC) has said. Treasury, Mel Stride, said: “The already begun taking action eney told a podcast recorded by Mthousands of demon- The tax authority has re- HMRC will never inform you to warn their students of the the Irish Times at his Fine Gael strators occupied fi ve bridges ceived thousands of fraud re- about tax refunds by e-mail, risks.” party’s annual conference. in central London to voice their ports over the last few weeks in text or voicemail. Though institutions across The legally-binding with- concern over the looming cli- what it said was the fi rst scam “If you receive one of these the country are thought to drawal treaty forms part of a mate crisis. directly targeting university messages it is a scam. be aff ected, the tax authority Brexit package alongside the Protesters including families students in such high volumes. Do not click on any links in called on the following particu- declaration, which envoys from and pensioners began massing The scammers were using these messages, and forward lar universities to take action the other EU member states met on fi ve of London’s main bridg- seemingly legitimate univer- them to the HMRC’s phish- to raise awareness now: Aber- to discuss in Brussels on Friday es from 10am yesterday. sity e-mail addresses, such as @ ing e-mail address [phishing@ deen, Bristol, Cambridge, Dur- ahead of a November 25 summit An hour later all the cross- uc.ac.uk, to avoid detection. hmrc.gsi.gov.uk ]. ham, Imperial College London, for EU heads to rubber-stamp ings had been blocked in one of In common with other tax “Although the HMRC is King’s College London, Man- both documents. the biggest acts of peaceful civil scams, scammers sent a mes- cracking down hard on Inter- chester Metropolitan, Newcas- Diplomats and offi cials in- disobedience in the UK in dec- sage telling the recipient about net scams, criminals will stop at tle, Nottingham, volved in Friday’s meeting told ades. a tax refund. Often, these mes- nothing to steal personal infor- Plymouth, Queen Mary Reuters that EU states said they Some people locked them- sages spoofed the branding of mation. (London), Queen’s (Belfast), wanted an “ambitious” future selves together, while others GOV.UK and well-known credit “I’d encourage all students Southampton, Sussex, Univer- relationship with Britain but linked arms and sang songs. cards in an attempt to look au- to become phishing aware – it sity College London and War- that this would not mean fric- By 2pm the blockade of thentic. could save you a lot of money.” wick. tionless trade. Southwark Bridge had been abandoned and protesters moved from there to Blackfriars Bridge, and then west to West- minster Bridge. The demonstration moved Irish PM says no from eastern bridges to con- gregate at the end of the day at Westminster, where there were speeches about environmental plans to call polls destruction. The day ended with an inter- faith ceremony outside West- minster Abbey. before Christmas The move is part of a cam- paign of mass civil disobedience organised by a new group, Ex- Reuters deal three weeks ago. tinction Rebellion, which wants Environmental campaigners from the direct action group Dublin His deputy leader said on Fri- Varadkar: My primary interest is not going to be electoral advantage to force governments to treat Extinction Rebellion demonstrate on Westminster bridge in central day that the agreement had a few at the moment. the threats of climate break- London. more weeks to run. down and extinction as a crisis. rish Prime Minister Leo Var- Varadkar insists that he wants ing of key legislation by Christ- reporters at Fine Gael’s annual “The ‘social contract’ has system – so people have no oth- ing roads and bridges, bringing adkar said yesterday that he to extend the pact until mid- mas. conference, noting that his part- been broken … [and] it is there- er choice.” widespread disruption to the Ihas no plans to call an elec- 2020, rather than capitalise on The legislation includes the ners in opposition could also pull fore not only our right but our Father Martin Newell on capital. tion before Christmas and that his Fine Gael party’s increased Termination of Pregnancy Bill, their support. moral duty to bypass the gov- Blackfriars Bridge said: “What “Given the scale of the eco- uncertainty over Brexit must take popularity by calling an immedi- which will introduce abortion “My primary interest is not ernment’s inaction and fl agrant brought me here is the climate logical crisis we are facing this precedence over the outcome of ate snap election. services in Ireland following the going to be electoral advantage dereliction of duty and to rebel emergency, the extinction is the appropriate scale of ex- talks to extend an expiring gov- The option of calling an elec- historic referendum in May to at the moment, it’s looking af- to defend life itself,” said Gail emergency and my faith in God pansion,” said Bradbrook. “Oc- ernment cooperation deal. tion has also been complicated by overhaul one of the world’s most ter the interests of the country Bradbrook, one of the organis- who created all this and whose cupying the streets to bring Varadkar’s Fine Gael party and the uncertainty over how neigh- restrictive regimes. that we’re charged to lead and ers. creation we’re destroying and about change as our ancestors the main opposition group back- bouring Britain will leave the EU. “I don’t have any plans to dis- with the uncertainty that ex- Alice, 19, from Bristol was crucifying … I’m called as a have done before us. ing his minority government Yesterday he spelled out that solve the Dail (parliament) this ists at the moment, particularly one of those blocking Westmin- Christian to protect our neigh- “Only this kind of large-scale began talks on whether to renew he would not like to see parlia- side of Christmas but it’s not en- around Brexit, the focus has to be ster Bridge. bour who’s being abused.” economic disruption can rapid- their “confi dence and supply” ment dissolved before the pass- tirely in my hands,” Varadkar told on that.” “I took the coach at 3am to In the past two weeks more ly bring the government to the make sure I didn’t miss it,” she than 60 people have been ar- table to discuss our demands. said, “and I’m so glad that I did. rested for taking part in acts of “We are prepared to risk it all WWII shell found It’s a tiny personal inconven- civil disobedience organised by for our futures.” ience and, having made it, I get Extinction Rebellion ranging The group is calling on the in Hyde Park to be part of a rebellion. from gluing themselves to gov- government to reduce carbon Children in Need breaks record “This moment will be re- ernment buildings to blocking emissions to zero by 2025 and Emergency responders on Friday membered in the history books, major roads in the capital. establish a “citizens assembly” recovered an “inert” World War II when we fi nally stopped allow- However, those disruptions to devise an emergency plan of mortar round in central London’s By Alexandra Heal At one point, 7.1mn peo- £50.6mn by the end of the ing our leaders to take us over were eclipsed yesterday, when action similar to that seen dur- Hyde Park, according to the Guardian News & Media ple were watching Children in broadcast, beating last year’s the cliff .” organisers say 6,000 people ing the second world war. Metropolitan Police Service. Need, which featured a reunion previous on-the-night record Jenny Jones, the Green par- took part in protests. On top of the specifi c de- The war-time ordnance was of 1990s pop group Boyzone of £50.1mn and bringing the ty peer, joined the protest on “It is not a step we take light- mands, organisers say they found partially submerged hildren in Need has for their own version of Strictly total raised since 1980 to more Westminster Bridge. ly,” said Tiana Jacout, one of hope the campaign of “respect- in the park’s famous lake, broken its own record Come Dancing, and the East- than £1bn. She backed the non-violent those involved. “If things con- ful disruption” will change the The Serpentine, prompting Cafter raising more than Enders cast dressing up as char- Children in Need is fund- direct action taken by demon- tinue as is, we face extinction debate around climate break- the temporary closure of the £50mn during its appeal show, acters from Aladdin to perform ing 2,400 projects supporting strators. greater than the one that killed down and signal to those in surrounding area, it said. bringing the total funds col- a Disney song medley in Albert children dealing with poverty, “We are at the point where if the dinosaurs. I don’t know power that the present course “Device in Serpentine recovered – lected since the annual telethon Square. abuse and disability. we don’t start acting and acting about you, but I’d rather be a of action will lead to disaster. an inert WW2 mortar round used began to more than £1bn. The fi ve-hour programme The programme was present- fast we are just going to wipe worthy ancestor.” The group, which was estab- for training by the Home Guard,” Viewers donated almost also featured Doctor Who ac- ed by Ade Adepitan and Tess out our life support system,” Extinction Rebellion, which lished only a couple of months the Met’s Westminster unit said £34mn in the fi rst two-and-a- tor Jodie Whittaker surprising Daly, followed by Mel Giedroyc she said. cites the civil rights movement, ago, has raised around £50,000 on Twitter. half hours of Friday evening’s a young fan, and jazz musician and Graham Norton. “It’s fi ne to think we are a suff ragettes and Mahatma Gan- in small-scale donations in the Unexploded wartime ordnance broadcast, which the BBC says Jamie Cullum performing a new BBC Radio 2 listeners raised rich country, the sixth biggest dhi as inspirations, said smaller past weeks. is still found intermittently in was the most viewed show of single written especially for the more than £9mn during an all- economy in the world, but ac- events took place in other UK It now has offi ces in central Britain. the night. charity. day Children in Need takeover tually we won’t do any better cities as well as overseas yes- London and over the past few Last year’s annual Oxford- Overnight ratings suggest an The fundraising continued of the station on Friday. than anywhere else because terday. months has been holding meet- Cambridge Boat Race was briefly average of 6.2mn people tuned during the 10pm news break BBC director general Tony climate change will massively Organisers say they are plan- ings across the country, out- threatened by a World War II in at any one time, instead of on BBC One, as actor Stephen Hall said: “I want to off er my aff ect us too. ning to escalate the campaigns lining the scale of the climate bomb discovered near the course watching competing off erings Mangan hosted a mix of celeb- congratulations to everyone as- “Basically conventional from Wednesday, when small crisis and urging people to get on London’s River Thames. of Gogglebox on Channel 4 and rity and junior Mastermind on sociated with Children in Need politics has failed us – it’s even teams of activists will “swarm” involved in direct action this It was safely removed and the two episodes of Coronation BBC Two. – to those who took part and to failed me and I’m part of the around central London block- weekend. April 2, 2017, event went ahead. Street on ITV. Donations had reached everyone who contributed.” Gulf Times Sunday, November 18, 2018 19 EUROPE One dead and hundreds

People carry a bloodstained Greek flag in the centre of Athens yesterday during the injured in fuel protests annual event. DPA/Reuters/AFP France had been expecting a ister Edouard Philippe has an- Paris country-wide wave of protests nounced incentivising measures against rising petrol and diesel to aid motorists, including a prices and government plans to €4,000 ($4,559) grant for poorer Greeks ne woman has died and further hike the tax on vehicle families to replace older, less fu- hundreds have been in- fuel. el-effi cient vehicles. Ojured, six of them seri- Police used tear gas to clear But, on the other hand, Cas- mark 1973 ously, during protests against the entrance to a tunnel under taner has warned that security high fuel prices in France. the Mont-Blanc mountain in the forces will take action anywhere At least 227 people were in- Alps, and to push back demon- protesters block traffi c. anti-junta jured across France, including strators near the Elysee Palace in Philippe has also ruled out any six seriously, according to the Paris and in the centre of Lyon. changes to government plans interior ministry, which esti- French Interior Minister to raise fuel taxes by four euro uprising mated that nearly 283,000 dem- Christophe Castaner spoke ear- cents per litre for petrol and sev- onstrators took part in yester- lier of more than 1,000 protests en cents for diesel. day’s protests. with an estimated 50,000 par- An online petition against the AFP A police offi cer also sustained ticipants. tax rises on the website change. Athens serious injuries. A movement on social media org has received support from By early evening, 73 people – apparently without any cen- more than 800,000 people. had been taken into custody, and tral leadership – had called for Some Macron supporters have t least 11,000 Greeks took some demonstrators were still in protesters wearing yellow high- accused far-right leader Marine to the streets of Athens place at nightfall. visibility jackets to take to the Le Pen’s National Rally of hi- Ayesterday to mark the The woman, one of the pro- streets. jacking the movement. 45th anniversary of a 1973 stu- testers, died when another Some of the hundreds of so- Two major trade unions have dent revolt against a US-backed woman driving a car panicked cial media events called for also refused to join the protests, junta, police said. when she encountered a road- roadblocks, while “snail op- citing the involvement of the A man wears a mask with the likeness of President Emmanuel Macron, in Haulchin, France, during a The march was held amid block and ran her over. erations” – where protesters far-right. nationwide protest against higher fuel prices. tight security with more than Some of the around 40 par- intentionally drive slowly across But opposition fi gures from 5,000 offi cers deployed and ticipants in the roadblock in the multiple lanes on highways – are the centre-right and left have loosened labour laws and over- ly-friendly cars, were approved onstrating in Lyon. “There’s no drones and a police helicopter town of Pont-de-Beauvoisin, to also expected. also backed the protests. hauled the heavily-indebted in late 2017 but began to bite discussion to be had with him, hovering over the central Syn- the north of the city of Greno- Newspaper Le Monde reported Protesters chanted “Macron, state rail operator SNCF in a bid when oil prices surged in Octo- no dialogue, he’s arrogant. I tagma Square, which has often ble in southeastern France, were on Friday that while about 1,500 resign” and some sported slo- to reboot the economy. ber, angering some in the prov- won’t vote for him again.” become a battleground in previ- drumming on the woman’s car, events were expected, only 100 gans such as “give us back our Derided by political oppo- inces who rely on their cars to The movement enjoys much ous demonstrations. according to the local offi cial. had been declared to local au- purchasing power” on the back nents as “the president of the get to work. more public support than others Some marchers held banners She panicked and stepped on thorities, a legal requirement in of the yellow high-visibility rich” for measures such as the “We’re showing that the against Macron since he swept to with slogans denouncing fas- the accelerator. France. vests, which have come to sym- end of a wealth tax, Macron’s French do not support their gov- the presidency last year. cism, imperialism, Nato and US She is in police custody. An additional 3,000 security bolise the movement. popularity has dwindled to 21%. ernment’s policies,” said Franck An Elabe poll last week found foreign wars as well as austerity. Also in Arras in the north of staff were deployed through- “There are just too many Tax hikes on fuel and tobacco Deroo, a 47-year-old electrician that 73% of respondents backed At least 24 people were killed the country, a male demonstra- out France, French broadcaster taxes in France,” said Veronique as well as an increase to a social at a blockade on a highway near the movement. in the 1973 military crackdown tor was run over and was taken BFMTV reported, citing police Lestrade, a demonstrator in welfare levy before other tax cuts the Belgian border in Neuville- In a TV interview this week on the student uprising at the to hospital with serious injuries. sources. Paris, who said her family was came into force have left some en-Ferrain, northern France. Macron admitted he had “not Athens Polytechnic. Several other accidents re- President Emmanuel Ma- struggling to make ends meet. voters feeling squeezed. “I happily voted for Macron in succeeded in reconciling the The event is generally consid- sulting in injury took place at cron’s government has given a In 18 months in power, Ma- The diesel tax increases, de- 2017, but he’s really making fun French with their leaders” and ered to have broken the junta’s locations throughout France mixed reaction. cron has seen off trade unions signed to encourage drivers to of us,” said Dominique Jouvert, that “we have probably not given grip on power and helped the linked to the protests. On the one hand, Prime Min- and street demonstrations as he switch to more environmental- 63, a retired civil servant dem- them enough consideration”. restoration of democracy. In recent years demonstra- tors have used the anniversary to voice opposition to the harsh austerity measures imposed on Greece by its international Swiss glacier gets climate-change postcard Protests creditors after the global fi nan- cial crisis. On Friday, youths gathered Reuters over outside the Athens Polytechnic Jungfraujoch, Switzerland booed a group of leftist govern- ment offi cials and prevented Santa’s them from paying their respects witzerland’s Aletsch gla- at the memorial to the victims of cier is western Europe’s the uprising. Slargest expanse of ice, but helpers Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras Swiss scientists say it’s reced- the country’s fi rst radical leftist ing at an unprecedented pace, leader, who was born the year losing up to 12m (13 yards) of ice DPA the junta fell, hailed the com- a year. Amsterdam memoration. That vanishing act made the He called for “new fi ghts” Alpine glacier the site of a pub- against fascism, the far right and licity stunt on Friday: the crea- rotesters angered by the “neo-liberal absolutism”. tion of what organisers say is tradition of blackface San- The anti-junta demonstra- the world’s largest postcard. Pta’s helpers in the Nether- tion is a treasured anniversary to Climate change activists lands held rallies in several cities many Greeks. hope it will convince more yesterday. The bloodstained Greek fl ag young people to get involved in “Zwarte Piet is racism” was that fl ew over the Polytechnic keeping rising temperatures in written on banners in the cities that night is traditionally carried check. of Rotterdam, Eindhoven and at the head of the demonstration In all, 125,000 postcards Groningen, referring to the char- in the capital. with messages against climate acter at the centre of the contro- change and sent by young peo- versy. ple from all over the world have Scuffl es broke out between Migrants die in been assembled around 3,400 supporters and opponents, with metres up on the Jungfraufi rn, some of the confrontations in- boat accident the upper reaches of the Alet- volving football hooligans. sch glacier. Dutch tradition dictates that Several migrants have died in a This collection, organised by Santa Claus arrives with his boat accident off the coast of the the Swiss government’s Agency helpers in mid-November in Italian island of Sardinia. for Development and Coop- preparation for the night of De- Two bodies have so far been eration among other groups, cember 5, the eve of St Nicholas’ discovered, the coastguard said includes the message “WE Day, when he delivers presents yesterday. ARE THE FUTURE GIVE US A to Dutch children who have been Survivors said that 10 to 13 people CHANCE”. good. had jumped into the water as the Another message on the snow Zwarte Piet, or Black Pete, boat’s engine failed in an attempt – “STOP GLOBAL WARMING accompanies Santa as gifts are to swim the 1km distance to the #1.5 DEGREES C” – refers to a An aerial view shows a massive collage of 125,000 drawings and messages from children from around the world about climate change, distributed and gives children a shore of the off shore island of United Nations report released rolled out on the Aletsch Glacier at an altitude of 3,400m near the Jungfraujoch in the Swiss Alps. lump of coal instead of presents L’Isola il Toro, also known as Isola last month. if they’ve been bad. del Toro. Its scientists concluded lim- rapid, unprecedented changes miles), but it has receded about brothers who had disappeared glacier prayed to the Vatican in The Zwarte Piet characters Three people have been rescued, iting the increase in the Earth’s in how people use energy. 3km since 1870, and the pace is nearly 90 years earlier on an ill- Rome for the ice mass to stop its have thick red painted lips, frizzy while a search was ongoing for temperature to 1.5° Celsius Experts at the University accelerating. fated mountain expedition. inexorable expansion that was black wigs and colourful, fanci- the missing. – rather than the 2°C target of Zurich fear the Great Alet- The Aletsch glacier has melt- That is a far cry from the threatening their lives. ful costumes with a feather in The first reports about the boat agreed at the 2015 Paris climate sch glacier, visible from space, ed so much that in 2012 the re- situation back in 1678, Swiss Organisers of the postcard their hats. had been received on Thursday, talks – would provide clear could disappear by 2100. ceding ice laid bare the remains historians say, when residents say the project will be climate- White actors tend to play the the coastguard said. benefi ts, but it would requires It still measures 23km (14.3 of three mountain climbers, of the valley below the Aletsch neutral. part in blackface. For many, the tradition and character itself is patently racist.

Vatican Christmas Merkel protégé eyes quota for females in parliament nativity scene to be sand sculpture Reuters Merz and 12% for Health Minister said she would try to enforce the citizenship is missing its sense and Berlin Jens Spahn. rule if elected leader. purpose, and we must talk about This year’s nativity scene in Saint Among women, support for Merz She said she would also consider how we end this system,” she said. Peter’s Square is to be a massive dropped to around half the level legal measures to ensure better rep- The former premier of the west- sand sculpture, the Vatican said. nnegret Kramp-Karrenbau- achieved by Kramp-Karrenbauer, resentation of women in Germany’s ern state of Saarland, said she Lorries have been transporting er, leading polls to succeed ARD said. parliament. supported a plan under which the sand across Italy for the sculpture AAngela Merkel as head of The number of women CDU law- New legislation to adopt a female children of immigrants received a from the holiday town of Jesolo Germany’s Christian Democrats makers fell in the 2017 elections to quota was “a last resort”, she said. second passport, but their children next to Venice to Rome. (CDU), said she would consider one-fi fth of the party’s parliamen- “But it would be naive to think we would not. Four artists from the US, Russia, legislation to ensure better repre- tarians, and better representation can just let the issue run its course.” The CDU voted in 2016 to end the Czech Republic and the sentation of women in parliament, of women is essential to shore up In another interview with Der dual citizenship, but Chancellor Netherlands plan to sculpt the unless her party changed its ap- the party’s support in future elec- Spiegel magazine, Kramp-Karren- Merkel subsequently said she did figures around the Baby Jesus in proach. tions, Kramp-Karrenbauer said. bauer also took aim at dual citizen- not feel bound by the vote. the manger out of 700 tonnes of A new poll conducted for public She told broadcaster Suedwe- ship rules, accusing Turkey’s lead- Merkel, now in her fourth term, sand, the Vatican said. broadcaster ARD showed 46% of strundfunk (SWR) that many in the ership of trying to split the loyalties has said she will step down as lead- A pyramid is being erected Kramp-Karrenbauer: would consider legal measures to CDU supporters backed Kramp- party had failed to take seriously a of German-Turkish dual nationals er of her Christian Democrats, but around the obelisk in the centre ensure better representation of women in Germany’s Karrenbauer for the post, compared 1996 CDU rule reserving a third of living in Germany. plans to remain chancellor through of the square under which the parliament. to 31% for businessman Friedrich party list candidates for women and “If that continues, then dual 2021. sculptors would get to work. Gulf Times 20 Sunday, November 18, 2018 INDIA

CONTROVERSY DEBATE DEFENCE CRITICISM PEOPLE Kejriwal says Khattar’s days Most look to private sector Army chief visits Central Jaitley slams Andhra, Finance Secretary Adhia in power are numbered for healthcare needs: off icial Command HQ at Lucknow W Bengal on CBI move to retire on Nov 30

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal yesterday Despite investments in the country’s healthcare Army chief General Bipin Rawat yesterday visited Finance Minister Arun Jaitley yesterday criticised Hasmukh Adhia, who had an eventful stint accused Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal sector, nearly 70% of India’s population has to look the headquarters of the Central Command the Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal governments as Finance Secretary during the days of Khattar’s government of preventing him from to the private sector, Indu Bhushan, chief executive and the 11 Gorkha Rifles Regimental Centre in for withdrawing “general consent” to the Central demonetisation and the ushering in of the visiting a dispensary in Assandh assembly off icer of the Ayushman Bharat, said on yesterday. Lucknow, an off icial said. He arrived in the state Bureau of Investigation for raids and investigations GST regime, will retire on November 30, the constituency of the state. “The BJP workers Participating in a debate on Prime Minister capital on Friday to attend the “Uttarakhand in their states saying scams cannot be wiped off government announced yesterday, putting to rest have blocked the entire way with tractors and Narendra Modi’s flagship healthcare programme, Mahotsava”, which was inaugurated by Uttar by such a decision. “We have a federal structure speculation about giving him an extension. Adhia, trolleys till the village. The police is saying they he said the Ayushman initiative would not only Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Rawat and under it the CBI was created initially for who turned 60 earlier this month, worked in the are not able to remove the blockage. This clearly provide aff ordable healthcare, but also generate was briefed by Lieutenant General Abhay employees of the central government and then to Finance Ministry for four years including the last shows that Khattar is scared and the incident employment and create healthcare infrastructure Krishna, General Off icer Commanding-in-Chief, investigate very serious cases referred either by three years as Revenue Secretary. He was expected will mark the countdown for his days in power,” in India’s tier-2 and tier-3 cities. “India has invested Central Command, on various operational and states or on court orders. Saradha and Naradha to get an extension, going by the past practice when Kejriwal said. “We only completed three years in in the healthcare sector for the last 70 years, yet administrative aspects. General Rawat expressed cannot be wiped off ,” he told a media conference tenure of secretaries in the ministry was usually Delhi, Khattar completed four years in Haryana. the needs of 70% of the population is met by the satisfaction on the eff orts being made to ensure in Bhopal. The reference was to the Sarada Ponzi extended if it ended close to the presentation of The condition of hospitals and schools in Delhi private sector. Similarly, while there have been capability enhancement and operational scam and the Narada sting operation in which general budget. Announcing Adhia’s retirement in is good and the people are very happy. On the significant eff orts to reduce poverty, close to six eff ectiveness of the forces and development of senior Trinamool Congress leaders in West Bengal a Facebook post, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said other hand, the condition of hospitals in Haryana crore people are driven into poverty each year due infrastructure in the central sector, the off icial were involved. In Andhra Pradesh, Jaitley said the the government wanted him to continue in some is bad. The poor people are not happy as they to healthcare expenses,” he said. India is one of said. He conveyed his appreciation to the decision to keep the CBI away was not motivated “alternative” capacity but he declined. “He had don’t have any place to go for treatment,” he the fastest growing economies, yet government Surya Command for achieving a high degree of by any particular case but by the fear of “what is informed me earlier this year that he would not work said. spending on healthcare is low, he said. operational preparedness. likely to happen”. for a single day after November 30,” Jaitley said. Wedding celebrations Goa CM knows ‘secrets’ about Rafale deal, says Congress

IANS tempts to infl ate the benchmark while daring the BJP-led coali- Panaji price for purchase of Rafale jets tion government in Goa to prove from France’s Dassault Aviation. its majority in a fl oor test. Surjewala said Parrikar, as “We are going to nationally ormer defence minister well as the Defence Acquisition put pressure on the BJP and the and current Goa Chief Council, which comprises the central government. If neces- FMinister Manohar Parri- defence minister and the three sary, we will move the Presi- Shree Building, the residence of Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh, is seen decorated in celebration of his marriage with actress Deepika kar, who is suff ering from pan- service chiefs, had refused to en- dent of India. We will also raise Padukone in Mumbai yesterday. creatic cancer, knows a “whole dorse the increase in the bench- the issue inside the parliament lot of things” about the contro- mark price for the fi ghter aircraft in the forthcoming winter ses- versial Rafale fi ghter jet deal, the from €5.2bn to €9.2bn, but Modi sion and we will say that Goa is Congress party said yesterday. had powered through with the the most classic case of a fraud Asked to substantiate an al- deal on his own. being played on the Constitu- legation by Goa Congress tion of India by the governor and chief Girish Chodankar that “The central committee of the BJP government,” Surjewala the Bharatiya Janata Party na- the party has resolved to said. UGC to unveil new regulations to tional leadership had not been urge the government to fi nd “This will clear all doubts able to replace the Parrikar as a replacement for Parrikar, about who is in charge in Goa chief minister because the ail- who is ill, at the earliest” and the fl oor test will determine ing leader knew “dirty secrets” as to which party has the rightful deal with students’ complaints about the Rafale deal, Congress “The fi le was sent to Parrikar. claim to head a democratic gov- spokesman Randeep Singh Sur- He refused to endorse the higher ernment in people’s interest,” he IANS pointed against the eligibility The 2012 regulation stipulate IANS reveal that a portion of jewala said as the defence min- price of €8.2b. He took it to the added. New Delhi criteria. that the ombudsman shall be the blame for universities’ ister when the deal was being Defence Acquisition Council Surjewala said the coastal “We are suggesting new pro- “a person who has been a judge inability in appointing om- worked out, Parrikar “knows a which was then headed by then state was suff ering from a “com- cedures for resolving the griev- not below the rank of a district budsman can be laid at the whole lot of things”. defence minister Manohar Par- plete breakdown of constitu- aced with complaints ances and how the ombudsman judge or a retired professor who UGC’s door. TERI University, a “He had refused to endorse rikar and the three service chiefs. tional machinery”. from institutes, the Uni- will come in the process at the has at least 10 years’ experience deemed to be university, wrote the completely conspiratorial They also refused to endorse the The opposition, as well ruling Fversity Grants Commis- third or fourth level and what as professor”. at least thrice during 2016-17 decision to enrich Dassault Avi- increase of €3bn,” he claimed. coalition allies have been de- sion has revamped its grievance will be the guidelines regarding In a clear violation of the reg- to UGC’s then secretary for a ation at the cost of state excheq- “Finally, the fi le was sent, as manding Parrikar’s resignation, regulations with “improve- the appointment of ombuds- ulation, Jawaharlal Nehru Uni- panel of names to choose an uer,” Surjewala said, adding: it is, to the CCS (Cabinet Com- claiming that the administration ments” and will soon be putting man. They are also being re- versity has appointed as om- ombudsman from, but failed “Now that the facts are out in the mittee on Security) headed by has come to a standstill due to a new version to public for feed- vised,” UGC secretary Rajnish budsman its own rector and a to get any response. open, questions should be asked PM. Modi there ensured that the his absence. back, which will include revised Jain told IANS. professor at the university, who “As per the UGC notifica- to Parrikar and (Prime Minister) benchmark price was increased Yesterday, Deepak Dhavalikar, norms for appointment of an Asked why the commission is charged with hearing griev- tion ... deemed to be univer- Narendra Modi.” by €3bn or Rs23,000 crore. Why president of the Maharashtrawa- ombudsman, a top offi cial has has failed in making institutes ances of only faculty members sities are required to appoint The Congress has been de- did he do so against the advice of di Gomantak Party, a member of said. appoint the ombudsman, Jain and not of students. an ombudsman for redress- manding the resignation of Par- his own defence minister Mano- the ruling alliance, demanded Under the UGC (Grievance said: “We had been pressing Although Delhi University ing grievances of students. rikar as the chief minister be- har Parrikar,” Surjewala asked. that Parrikar step down and ap- Redressal) Regulations 2012, institutions for having an om- and Jamia Milia Islamia, both It is requested that the panel cause of his ill health. Chodankar Parrikar served as the defence point a replacement. all higher education insti- budsman, but there were prob- central universities, have a of names recommended by has repeatedly claimed that BJP minister from 2014 to 17. “The central committee of the tutes are required to appoint lems which were mentioned by grievance cell or committee, search committee be inti- president Amit Shah and Modi Surjewala also said the Con- party has resolved to urge the an ombudsman for redressing these institutions... so now all but no ombudsmen - the au- mated to the university for ap- were unable to get Parrikar to re- gress will raise the issue of ailing government to fi nd a replace- grievances of students. But a the implementation-related thority provisioned for in the pointment of an Ombudsman sign, as the former defence min- Parrikar’s continuance in power ment for Parrikar, who is ill, at superficial survey reveals that problems will be taken care of regulation to hear grievances on part-time basis,” read one ister knew several secrets linked and the impending “constitu- the earliest,” Dhavaliakar said. none of the central universi- in the new regulation.” of students after they have of the three letters written to to the Rafale deal. tional crisis” in BJP-ruled Goa in “Because of his illness, the ad- ties, at least in Delhi, has an He, however, did not say “availed of remedies available UGC by the TERI University Addressing a press confer- parliament. ministration has been paralysed ombudsman to arbitrate as what these complaints were or in such institutions for redress Registrar in April 2016, to be ence, Surjewala also alleged that The Congress leader demand- for eight months. He should an impartial authority, or if pertained to what aspect of the of grievance”. followed by more in February Parrikar had on several occasions ed the convening of a special hand over charge to someone they have, they have been ap- appointment criteria. Documents accessed by and July the next year. resisted the prime minister’s at- session of the Goa Assembly else as soon as possible.”

Kerala shutdown called by Hero of the ‘Battle of Hindu groups ends peacefully Longewala’ dies at 77

Agencies porters cordoned off the police In Kozhikode in northern Ker- IANS as councillor in the Chandigarh Thiruvananthapuram station and chanted hymns as ala, the husband of a woman TV Chandigarh Municipal Corporation where he conciliation talks progressed. journalist, who is also the son of served his term (2006-2011) with Sasikala was initially off ered bail a top Communist Party of India active participation in proceed- dawn-to-dusk Kera- which she refused and demanded (Marxist) leader, was injured in ecorated war veteran and ings inside and outside the house. la shutdown called by to be produced before a magistrate. an attack allegedly by right- famous hero of the ‘Battle Fellow elected councillor AHindu groups yesterday She also demanded that she wing activists. Dof Longewala’, Brigadier Chandermukhi Sharma told passed off peacefully, police said. be taken back to the place from In another incident, angry Kuldip Singh Chandpuri, died in IANS: “Brig Chandpuri was an The shutdown was called fol- where she was detained. CPM and right-wing activists Mohali near here yesterday, his active councillor unlike some lowing the “detention” of some Just before she was taken to clashed in a village near the state family said. other nominated councillors. He religious leaders the previous the magistrate, she addressed capital Thiruvananthapuram. He was 77 and is survived by participated in house sessions night from the Sabarimala tem- her supporters: “It was because The intensity of the shutdown his wife and three sons. and corporation meetings very ple complex. of your support that I am now came down by late afternoon af- Chandpuri, who was a major actively. He raised several im- Among the detained on Friday out and after presenting myself ter Sasikala was given bail, and during the 1971 India-Pakistan portant issues, including those night was Hindu Iykavedi (HI) before the magistrate I will go as demanded, the police dropped war, had held his post through concerning sports and civic is- president and senior Bharatiya to Sabarimala temple and pray. her back at the temple town. the night in the famous battle of sues. He wanted more sport- Janata Party leader K P Sasikala, I was taken into custody for no Devasom Minister Kadakam- Longewala in Rajasthan with just ing facilities in Chandigarh to who was proceeding towards the reason as I came to the temple to pally Surendran said it was 120 men against a full-fl edged keep youth away from evils like shrine. off er prayers as any devout pil- “shameful” that a shutdown was attack by advancing Pakistani drugs.” Following her detention, Hindu grim would do,” she said. called on an important day of the Patton tanks. He was decorated Punjab Chief Minister Ama- Iykavedi leaders called for a shut- The police they have the pow- Sabarimala pilgrimage. with the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) rinder Singh expressed condo- down backed by the state BJP. ers to take anyone into preven- “Generally, protesters dur- for the heroic stand-off and lences. Sources said Sasikala was tive custody if they feel it would ing the festival season of the forcing the enemy to retreat. Recalling the “remarkable stopped by police near the temple help defuse tense situations. Sabarimala temple spare Born on Nov 22, 1940, Chan- services” of Brig Chandpuri, and was told not to go further as Shops and other businesses Pathanamthitta district (where dpuri would have turned 78 in Singh, a former army captain the temple had closed at 10pm. were forced to down their shut- Sabarimala is situated) from the fi ve days. The feat of Brig Chan- himself, said: “He was an astute But she refused. She was tak- ters by HI, BJP and right-wing shutdown because it causes dif- dpuri and his men later featured and illustrious army offi cer who en into preventive custody and Hindu activists. fi culties for the pilgrims. This in Bollywood blockbuster Border handled several military opera- till yesterday afternoon she was Public transport vehicles shutdown was called by those which was released in 1997. His tions immaculately, besides a lodged at the Ranni police sta- stayed off the roads and schools who are trying to create trou- role was played by actor Sunny prolifi c writer on defence pre- tion, sources said. and educational institutes were ble in the temple town,” said the A security officer stands guard at the Sabarimala temple Deol. paredness and military warfare Over a thousand of her sup- closed for the day. CPM minister. yesterday. Chandpuri was nominated strategies.” Gulf Times Sunday, November 18, 2018 21 INDIA Ad guru and veteran actor Alyque Padamsee dead

IANS prominent names in the glamour During his career in advertis- with memorable and highly suc- domestic and international. medium at a time when it was and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Mumbai and entertainment industry. ing, most notably as the chief cessful advertising campaigns “He had the knack of infus- still limited to dark cinema halls Tagore Ratna. His last rites will Among various professional executive of one of India’s big- like the Liril girl in a waterfall, ing glamour into ordinary prod- and black-and-white pages of be performed today morning. achievements, Padamsee is best gest advertising agencies, Lalitaji in Surf, Hamara Bajaj, ucts and simultaneously cre- newspapers or magazines, unlike “Saddened by the demise of dvertising guru, veteran remembered for his role of a Lintas India, from 1980 MRF Muscle Man, Cherry ated a desire for deluxe products the post-1990s. Alyque Padamsee. A wonder- actor and theatre per- stern and stubborn Mohamed to 1994, Padamsee was Blossom and the Ka- among the common masses, Padamsee was born in an aris- ful communicator, his extensive Asonality Alyque Padam- Ali Jinnah in Richard Attenbor- involved in nurturing masutra Couple among creating both superbrands and tocratic but highly conservative work in the world of advertising see died yesterday morning, his ough’s multi-Oscar award win- and building over a 100 others. superconsumers. That was the Khoja Muslim family to Jaff erb- will always be remembered. His family said. ner classic Gandhi (1982). major products/brands Later, in 1994, he secret of his success in the com- hai and Kulsumbai Padamsee of contribution to theatre was also He was 90. Padamsee had A renowned personality in through catchy and im- founded and was the plex fi eld of advertising,” said Gujarat. One of his brothers is noteworthy,” Prime Minister been ailing for sometime and the English theatre scene, he aginative campaigns. CEO of AP Advertising veteran marketing consultant the famous modern Indian art Narendra Modi said in a tribute. died around 5.30am at a private produced around 70 plays, in- He shot to Pvt Ltd, specialising in Pradeep Menon. painter Akbar Padamsee. A close associate and activist hospital. He is survived by two cluding notable ones like Evita, global fame image and communi- This, Menon said, suited both Padamsee was conferred sev- Teesta Setalvad recalls how she former wives and a former part- Tughlaqa, Jesus Christ Superstar, in brand cation consultan- – the manufacturers and con- eral honours during his lifetime was summoned by Padamsee ner and four children, besides Death of a Salesman, A Streetcar promo- cies for celebrities sumers – with advertising per- including the Padma Shri, Ad- for her story on the Rajasthan other relatives, several of them Named Desire and Broken Images. tions and brands, both forming the perfect role of the vertising Man of The Century drought in 1987. Congress pits Jaswant’s son against Raje in Rajasthan

IANS despite assurances from the New Delhi party she would be fi elded from Phulera, Chaudhary accused Pi- lot of irregularities in ticket dis- he Congress yesterday tribution while her supporters released its second list staged a demonstration outside Tof candidates for the Ra- Congress president Rahul Gan- jasthan Assembly polls, pitting dhi’s residence in New Delhi. Manvendra Singh, the son of She has been suspended Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and other BJP leaders release the party’s manifesto for the upcoming Madhya Pradesh assembly elections in Bhopal yesterday. Bharatiya Janata Party veteran from the party for six years on and former federal minister Jas- grounds of indiscipline, said a want Singh, against Chief Min- party source. ister Vasundhara Raje in her tra- The Congress fi elded Vidyad- ditional Jhalrapatan seat. har Choudhary from Phuelra. Manvendra Singh, a former The 200-member Rajasthan BJP legislator who recently Assembly goes to the polls on joined the Congress, is among December 7. the 32 candidates announced by Also yesterday, the Con- Coalition of rivals certain the party yesterday. gress Party’s central leadership Jhalrapatan in Jhalawar dis- summoned senior leader Marri trict has been sending Raje to the Shashidhar Reddy to New Delhi assembly since 2003. hours after he expressed resent- Manvendra Singh who rep- ment over being denied ticket to resented Sheo constituency in contest next month’s elections recipe for disaster: Jaitley Barmer, quit the state’s ruling to the Telangana Assembly. BJP in September, upset over Shashidhar Reddy blamed IANS Janata Party leader said at an “We were not expecting to eventually come down but it RLSP in the NDA for the 2019 the sidelining of his father in the party’s state president Uttam Mumbai event in Mumbai. get an absolute majority last could happen only when de- Lok Sabha polls in Bihar by No- party ever since the 2014 Lok Kumar Reddy for not includ- He said he saw the reality time. But the electorate belied pendence on oil taxation comes vember 30,” Kushwaha told re- Sabha elections. ing his name in the third list of of state parties in the country our expectations. People realise down by raising the non-oil tax porters in Patna. The Congress, in its fi rst list of candidates released by the party inance Minister Arun Jait- but the nucleus of the coalition the need for a coherent political to GDP ratio. He said that the party has re- 152 candidates released on No- yesterday. ley yesterday criticised should be a party with a large structure, coherent policy and However, he expected people jected the off er of seats made by vember 16, fi elded both its chief He alleged that Uttam Kumar Fthe proposed grand alli- political base and not a minis- a coherent combination with to be mature to accept the real- the BJP. However, he refused to ministerial aspirants – Ashok misled the screening committee ance of opposition parties for cule political base. strong nucleus and not some- ity on account of world oil pric- reveal the number of seats of- Gehlot and Sachin Pilot. by stating that he will not win the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, The fi nance minister said the thing which is uncertain, weak es on which India does not have fered. While two-time chief minis- the election. and warned the country of the experience of the past proved nucleus whose own longevity is any control. Kushwaha also expressed un- ter Gehlot is contesting from his Addressing a news confer- dangers in electing a “coalition that a strong leader with a ma- in question.” Meanwhile, Rashtriya Lok happiness over the failure of BJP traditional Sardarpura seat, Pilot ence, Shashidhar expressed sur- of rivals” which will be a “cer- jority could provide coherence Jaitley said India needed a high Samata Party (RLSP) chief president Amit Shah to meet is in the fray from Tonk. prise over reports that Congress tain recipe for disaster”. in economic policy unlike in level of sustained growth for at and federal minister Upendra him in Delhi. The party has also fi elded has left Sanathnagar seat to its Jaitley asked if the world’s 2004-14 when, he indicated the least two decades if it had to pull Kushwaha yesterday gave an “I have twice tried to meet former central ministers C P ally Telugu Desam Party (TDP) fastest growing economy and the prime minister was not the ab- millions of people out of poverty. ultimatum to the BJP to ensure Amit Shah to discuss a respect- Joshi and Girija Vyas for the under the seat-sharing agree- largest democracy can ever be solute decision-maker. “As an aspirational society, by November 30 “respectful” ful seat-sharing in the NDA in Nathdwara and Udaipur assem- ment. governed by a coalition of rivals. “This kind of adventurism the government owes it to peo- seat-sharing in Bihar for the Bihar. Even on Friday I waited bly seats. He said TDP never demanded “The country has seen such with a combination of rivals is a ple to maintain growth rate and 2019 polls. to meet him, but could not. I In a related development, the the seat. Shashidhar urged the governments and paid a heavy certain recipe for disaster,” Jait- give them better quality of life. Kushwaha said the RLSP has was not given time to meet Amit Congress yesterday suspended leadership to reconsider its deci- price in the past. It’s a fl awed ley said. And one thing I know is that decided to reject the off er made Shah.” party leader Spardha Chaud- sion by tomorrow. formula which has been tried Referring to political analysts aspirational societies will not in the seat-sharing formula fi - Kushwaha said that now he hary after she accused state He also said that he will take a and failed with its adventurist predicting elections, the minister prefer suicide as a future course nalised by the BJP for the ruling would not meet any BJP leader party chief Sachin Pilot of taking decision according to the wishes approach and the level of un- said that the electorate had given of action.” National Democratic Alliance. except Prime Minister Naren- money for ticket distribution. of his supporters and the people derstanding of issues which is them a majority beyond even Talking about the economy, “The BJP should decide a re- dra Modi on the issue of seat- Livid at being denied a ticket of the constituency. extremely weak,” the Bharatiya what they had expected in 2014. Jaitley said taxes on oil must spectful seat-sharing for the sharing.

Delhi Court frames corruption Chidambaram charges against Dhinakaran responds to

IANS present in the courtroom, the Sasikala in the wake of the split PM challenge New Delhi judge listed the matter for De- in the AIADMK following the cember 5 for recording his plea death of chief minister J on charges against him. Jayalalithaa. IANS n a setback to former All In- The court has also framed crim- He was arrested on April 25 New Delhi dia Anna Dravida Munnetra inal conspiracy and under Section last year and was granted bail on IKazhagam leader T T V Dhi- 8 (bribes to infl uence public serv- June 1. nakaran, a Delhi court yesterday ant) of the Prevention of Corrup- The bribe amount is said to be day after Prime Minister Naren- framed charges, including at- tion Act against Dhinakaran’s aide of the order of Rs500mn. dra Modi challenged the Congress tempts to bribe Election Com- Sukesh Chandershekar and two “Chandershekar has con- Ato appoint a non-Gandhi as party mission offi cials, in the “Two others – T P Mallikarjun and B spired with Dhinakaran and president for fi ve years, former fi nance Leaves” symbol bribery case. Kumar in the case fi led and probed Kumar and pursuant to that minister P Chidambaram yesterday listed Special Judge Arun Bhardwaj by the Delhi police. conspiracy, he (Chandershekar) out the names of Congress presidents framed charges under Section Dhinakaran, now an inde- accepted a sum of Rs20mn sent from outside the Gandhi family. 120 B (criminal conspiracy), 201 pendent legislator and heading on behalf of Dhinakaran as a mo- Chidambaram, in a series of tweets, also (destruction of evidence) of the the Amma Makkal Munnetra tive or reward for inducing by said that he was “grateful” that the prime Indian Penal Code and under Kazhagam (AMMK), is accused corrupt or illegal means offi cials minister is concerned about who is elected as Section 8 (bribes to infl uence of having tried to bribe Election of ECI to pass a favourable order Congress president, questioning if Modi will public servant) of the Prevention Commission offi cials to get the in election symbol matter in fa- spend half the time and speak about demon- of Corruption Act. “Two Leaves” poll symbol for vour of Dhinakaran faction,” the etisation, Goods and Services Tax (GST), As Dhinakaran was not the faction led by his aunt V K court said. Rafale, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). “To jog PM Modi’s memory: among the Tamil Nadu cyclone toll rises to 33 Congress presidents since 1947 were Acharya Kripalani, Pattabhi Sitaramayya, Purushot- The death toll due to cyclone districts between 12.30am and uprooted by the strong cyclonic tamdas Tandon, U N Dhebar, Sanjiva Reddy, Gaja, which hit Tamil Nadu’s 2.30am on Friday. winds that touched a speed Sanjivaiah, Kamaraj, Nijalingappa, C Subra- coastal districts on Friday, has The cyclone left a trail of of about 120kmph, the chief manian, Jagjivan Ram, Shankar Dayal Shar- increased to 33, Chief Minister K destruction in Nagapattinam, minister added. He said supplies ma, D K Barooah, Brahmananda Reddy, P V Palaniswami said yesterday. Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, of water, milk and food were Narasimha Rao and Sitaram Kesri,” he said. Speaking to reporters in Salem, Cuddalore, Pudukkottai and being distributed to the people. The senior Congress leader also said about 350km from Chennai, Ramanathapuram districts, About 177,500 people are staying that the party was proud of the humble Palaniswami said that 20 men, damaging houses, huts and in 351 relief camps in the cyclone- origins of post-independence leaders 11 women, and two children died crops. Palaniswami said about aff ected areas. The chief minister like “Babasaheb Ambedkar, Lal Bahadur due to the cyclone that crossed 70 livestock and several goats, said about 30,000 electricity Shastri, Kamaraj, Manmohan Singh and the Tamil Nadu coast between poultry and deer have also died. poles were broken, and 105 many others. Pre-Independence, there Nagapattinam and Vedaranyam Some 127,000 trees were power sub-stations aff ected. were thousands like them”. Gulf Times 22 Sunday, November 18, 2018 LATIN AMERICA Wreck of Argentine sub found a year after disappearance

AFP marine, though whether such an Buenos Aires operation will be undertaken re- mains unclear. “Raising the submarine to the he crushed wreckage of an surface is not impossible, but it Argentine submarine has is a very complex operation, and Relatives of the 44 crew members of the missing at sea ARA San Juan submarine react during a ceremony to Tbeen located a year after therefore very expensive,” a naval commemorate the one year anniversary of the tragedy in Mar del Plata, Argentina. it vanished into the depths of offi cer told AFP, requesting ano- the Atlantic Ocean with 44 crew nymity. signed the task of hunting for members, in the country’s worst The discovery came the day Malaysia Airlines fl ight MH370, naval disaster in decades. after a sombre ceremony, which which vanished without trace in The Seabed Constructor, a Macri attended, at the San March 2014 en route from Kuala ship owned by US search fi rm Juan’s Mar del Plata base on the Lumpur to Beijing. Ocean Infi nity, made the discov- first anniversary of its disap- Experts say the sub would have ery Friday, one day after the fi rst pearance. been crushed by water pressure anniversary of the disappearance It also came just before the once it dropped below about of the San Juan. Seabed Constructor was to leave 600m. The ship had set out in Sep- for maintenance in South Africa. They believe that water seeped tember on the latest attempt to Before setting off , the search- inside through a defective valve fi nd the San Juan, whose disap- ers decided to check an area of the submarine’s snorkel, trig- pearance cost the navy’s top of- Argentina’s Defence Minister Oscar Aguad, Navy Chief Jose Villan and which bad weather had previ- gering the tragedy. fi cer his job. Captain Enrique Balbi attend a news conference at Libertad Building in ously prevented them from ex- The loss of the San Juan was There has been “positive iden- Buenos Aires yesterday. amining. one of the world’s worst subma- tifi cation of the ARA San Juan,” The Seabed Constructor is rine disasters in decades, and the The Argentine military submarine ARA San Juan and crew are seen at a depth of 800m (2,600ft), the had already trawled the site, to porters, even though President equipped with cameras that fi rst major tragedy to hit Argen- leaving the port of Buenos Aires. (File photo) navy said on Twitter, confi rming fi nd the sub. Mauricio Macri’s government can be submerged to a depth of tina’s navy since the Falklands the vessel had imploded. Pieces of the submarine that had already declared there were 6,000m. War in 1982. the tragedy that navy offi cials ac- 13 countries, but most of them The navy lost contact with the were 11, 13 and 30 meters long no survivors. It was to receive a reward of Argentina, which refers to the knowledged the old, German-built withdrew before the end of 2017. submarine on November 15, 2017, were spotted in “an irregular, “We are with the other rela- $7.5mn if it found the missing islands as Las Malvinas, lost the submarine had reported a problem Authorities have opened a about 450km (280 miles) from moon-like zone with craters and tives. They are going to show sub. war to Britain. with its batteries in its fi nal com- criminal investigation. the Argentine coast while it was canyons” naval Captain Enrique us the photos. They say that Before the latest search mis- Argentina’s navy has been munication of November 15. Families of the missing crew travelling northward from the Balbi said at a conference, adding our youngsters are inside,” said sion began, Luis Tagliapietra, fiercely criticised for its han- Nearly 10 days later, the navy had kept pressure on the govern- country’s southern tip. that the hull had been “crushed Yolanda Mendiola, the mother of whose son Alejandro was a lieu- dling of the case since first re- confi rmed there had been an ex- ment not to give up the search. Admiral Jose Villan, the navy’s inwards.” crewman Leandro Cisneros, 28. tenant on the San Juan, described porting the submarine overdue plosion on board, which experts “We want to know what hap- new head, said that the rough “I still had hopes that they “We are all destroyed here.” it as “the last opportunity to fi nd at Mar del Plata on November said was likely linked to the bat- pened,” said Yolanda Mendiola, terrain on the ocean fl oor made it could be alive,” Luis Niz, the fa- Relatives are now asking for them.” 16, 2017. tery problem. calling for punishment of anyone diffi cult for search vessels, which ther of a missing sailor, told re- authorities to extract the sub- Ocean Infi nity was also as- It was only several days into An air and sea search involved guilty in the case.

Ibero-American summit urges Rights group calls for US reparations respect for migrant rights over 1989 invasion of Panama

DPA high-level representatives. However, political repression Antigua, Guatemala Spanish Prime Minister Pedro in Nicaragua and the political and AFP economic compensation.” Panama with $420mn in “eco- US before the IACHR, said the Sanchez advocated “respect for economic crisis in Venezuela were Panama City Asked by AFP for comment, nomic support funds” after the commission’s new document diversity, solidarity and encoun- hardly discussed at the summit. the US embassy in Panama said invasion, the embassy said. was “a forceful and extraordi- bero-American leaders on Fri- ters between diff erent people” as Costa Rican President Carlos that it “deeply regrets the loss About two dozen US service nary report that... day called for respect of the an alternative to “the construction Alvarado was the only one to refer he Inter-American of civilian lives during Opera- members died in the Decem- pressures the US to be a civi- Irights of migrants and con- of walls, xenophobic and ultra- to them in public, calling on the Commission on Hu- tion Just Cause.” ber 1989 invasion by more than lized country.” demned discrimination at the nationalist speech.” international community to use Tman Rights (IACHR) has But it said the operation 27,000 troops. In 2016, the Panamanian community’s 26th summit in the Enrique Pena Nieto, the presi- diplomacy to solve the problems in called on Washington to com- was justifi ed because it ousted Noriega was wanted in the government created a special Guatemalan city of Antigua. dent of Mexico on whose frontier Nicaragua and criticising human pensate victims and families of “brutal dictator Manuel Nori- United States on drug-traffi ck- commission to identify victims A statement approved by the US President Donald Trump wants rights violations in Venezuela. the 1989 invasion of Panama, ega” and helped turn Panama ing charges. After an extended of the invasion. summit stressed the need for “or- to build a wall and through whose Venezuelan Foreign Minister accusing US forces of multiple into “one of the most robust de- standoff , Noriega surrendered The head of that commission, derly” territory thousands of migrants Jorge Arreaza said the two coun- rights violations as they moved mocracies in the hemisphere.” to US troops. Juan Planells, told AFP he wel- migration while rejecting “all are trekking towards the US, said tries were being “besieged” by to overthrow dictator Manuel Casualty estimates varied Charged with drug traffi ck- comed the IACHR report be- signs of racism, xenophobia and conditions should be improved in other governments. Antonio Noriega, according to a widely after the invasion, with ing, money laundering and cause it fi nally provided justice discrimination,” Ibero-Ameri- potential migrants’ home coun- The Nicaraguan Foreign Min- newly released document. most putting the number of “disappearing” political oppo- for “a large number of innocent can Secretary-General Rebeca tries. istry issued a statement accusing A 91-page report issued on civilians killed between 200 nents, he was imprisoned suc- people.” Grynspan said. Nicaraguan President Daniel Alvarado of pro-US “interven- Friday says the United States “is and 500 but some considerably cessively in the US, France and “Now, through diplomatic The statement formed part of a Ortega and Venezuela’s Nicolas tionism.” responsible” for violating civil- higher. Panama. channels, we are going to ask joint declaration approved by the Maduro, Summits of the Ibero-American ians’ rights “to life, liberty (and) The IACHR report refers to He died last year, aged 83, fol- the United States to recognise summit. who had been expected to face community, which comprises 22 security.” 315 people deserving US com- lowing brain surgery. the damage it caused and do The meeting brought together criticism at the summit, as well states, have been held since 1991. The report says the US pensation. Panamanian lawyer Gilma what is necessary to try to alle- 14 Latin American presidents, as Cuban President Miguel Diaz- They currently take place every “must adopt measures of The United States provided Camargo, who in 1990 sued the viate the tragedy,” he said. Spain’s King Felipe VI and other Canel did not attend. two years. Migrant caravan faces cold welcome at US-Mexico border

AFP creased by 2,000% in the past Tijuana, Mexico fi ve years, and there are currently 700,000 pending. Adding to the caravan’s woes, he Central American mi- under an executive order Trump grant caravan faced a des- issued last week, migrants who Tperate situation on Friday do not cross at offi cial border as its numbers swelled at the US- posts will no longer be allowed Mexican border, where it got a to request asylum, and face auto- cold welcome and a warning that matic deportation. its chances of entering the United Even if they endure the long States were “almost nil.” wait to cross at such posts, less After spending more than a than 10% of asylum requests are month travelling the 4,300km granted, the US government says. (2,700 miles) to the Mexican bor- As the migrants face up to der city of Tijuana, walking and their bleak lack of options, hitch-hiking much of the way, “there’s an enormous risk of an thousands of migrants faced the incident along the border — es- bleak reality that their American pecially when we have heard the dream was about as untouchable openly hostile rhetoric from the as it was when they started. US government,” warned Nav- Osman Bueso, a 28-year-old Yarisa Munguai, a migrant from Hondruas, part of a caravan of arrete. Honduran man who was one of thousands travelling from Central America en route to the US, comforts The caravan has also been met the fi rst to reach the border, said her baby in a makeshift camp at a gas station where the migrants wait with protests by some Tijuana he had no intention of waiting for buses which take them to the Mexican border city of Tijuana, in residents, and xenophobic com- the months or years it could take Navojoa, on Friday. ments from Mayor Juan Manuel to seek asylum in the US, and was Gastelum, who said the “horde” ready to try to crash the border, I’ve been on the road for 35 days now arrived in Tijuana, accord- of migrants had arrived “with an Migrants, part of a caravan of thousands travelling from Central America en route to the United States, stand as the migrants did when they to make it across this border. ing to authorities, with some aggressive, obscene plan.” in a line to receive cups of coff ee in a makeshift camp at a gas station where the migrants wait for buses entered Mexico from Guatemala We’re not afraid. We’re ready to 2,000 more on the way — and Gastelum, a member of the which take them to the Mexican border city of Tijuana, in Navojoa, on Friday. on October 19. die, whatever it takes. When you that is only the fi rst caravan. conservative National Action “That might be what ends up live in poverty and violence, it’s In all, some 8,000 migrants Party (PAN), called on the Mexi- up camp along the fence between 2,000 of them spent Thursday The main caravan began its happening,” he told AFP near better to die than to live.” are currently crossing Mexico in can government to deport the Mexico and the United States. night. journey on October 13 in San the El Chaparral border crossing, Across the border, US Presi- several caravans, according to the migrants immediately. Shouting anti-immigrant slo- The migrants are mostly fl ee- Pedro Sula, Honduras. where there is already a backlog dent Donald Trump has deployed Mexican interior ministry. “You’re going to tell me we gans, protesters threw stones ing poverty and unrest in Central The migrants rushed the Mex- of 1,400 people waiting to re- nearly 6,000 troops to deter what Interior Minister Alfonso Nav- have to respect human rights. But at the migrants, even targeting America’s “Northern Triangle” ico-Guatemala border six days quest asylum and cases are being he has called an “invasion” by a arrete said on Thursday that the human rights are for law-abiding children in some cases, as police — El Salvador, Guatemala and later, clashing with riot police processed at a rate of about 30 to group full of “thugs” and “hard- migrants’ chances of entering the humans,” he said. looked on. Honduras, where brutal gang and then fording the river be- 40 a day. ened criminals.” United States were “almost nil.” On Wednesday, hundreds of The city has however set up violence has fuelled some of tween the two countries when “All I went through to get here, It has not stopped the mi- The US is already saturated Tijuana residents protested at a a shelter for the migrants in a the highest murder rates in the Mexican authorities refused to I’m not going to let it be in vain. grants: more than 3,200 have with asylum cases: requests in- park where the migrants had set sports complex, where more than world. let them through as a group. Gulf Times Sunday, November 18, 2018 23 PAKISTAN

Top bureaucrats to help PM pick PTI to launch public federal secretaries

Internews Islamabad contact campaign op bureaucrats – the Internews government so far in their 75-day and strategy of the opposition,” The government believes these about performance of the gov- Cabinet secretary, the Karachi tenure. revealed the sources, adding that open courts will help them un- ernment and future projects. TEstablishment secretary, The government will also use the party leadership believes that derstand problems of the people, The public gatherings will be and the principal secretary to this platform to inform people of since their victory in the 2018 with the ministers hearing and held in various phases in major the prime minister – will rec- he Pakistan Tehreek-e- future development plans. general elections was largely be- recording their issues to formu- cities including Karachi, Lahore, ommend a panel of three most Insaf (PTI) government As per sources within the PTI, cause of extensive public contact, late recommendations and for- Islamabad, and Quetta. suitable offi cers to Imran Khan Imran Khan: will appoint a Thas decided to launch its the party leadership on the one therefore they should continue ward them to the provincial and In addition, public gatherings for the appointment of federal federal secretary from a list of fi rst public contact campaign. hand will try to drum up support the tradition. federal governments. will also be held in smaller dis- secretaries. three names. The decision to launch this for policies and taking measures Sources further said the gov- Based on these suggestions, tricts as per schedule. Sources said that the fi rst campaign was taken after exten- as per a strategy in order to re- ernment hopes to launch the the government will chalk out Moreover, the public contact civil service reform item, pre- tenure i.e. three years, accord- sive talks by party’s top leader- solve pressing issues of the coun- campaign as soon as possible. strategy for necessary action. campaign is also being started pared by the task force led by Dr ing to the reform proposal. ship. try, while on the other is revisit- Federal and provincial minis- Meanwhile, in the second to set stage for the local bodies Ishrat Husain and discussed by However, in cases where a The drive is likely to be held ing the current political situation ters of the party as well as elected phase, the PTI will hold public elections. the federal cabinet on Thurs- disciplinary action is initiated in two phases, and will include and closely monitoring strategy members of the National and gatherings at various districts, The leadership is eyeing vic- day, pertains to the procedure against the offi cer for corrup- a number of public gatherings against opposition parties. Provincial Assemblies and other which Prime Minister Imran tory in all districts so the gov- of federal secretaries’ appoint- tion, negligence of duties, in- across the country for the pur- “The PTI leadership has de- party leaders will address open Khan will himself address along ernment can serve the people by ment and their tenure. subordination, misconduct or pose of making people aware of cided to give a befi tting response stages based on a predetermined with federal and provincial min- making district government as a The cabinet discussed the failure to meet the perform- achievements made by the PTI to anti-government propaganda schedule in the fi rst phase. isters, who will inform the public model for governance. proposal and referred it to a ance targets assigned to him/ fi ve-member cabinet commit- her, etc, and evidence has been tee to deliberate and submit its established, the prime minis- report for reconsideration of ter can decide that the offi cer the federal cabinet. should be moved out of the All in a day’s work Sources said that Husain offi ce before completing the Govt clears recommended that in case of tenure. the appointment of federal While making such trans- secretaries, the three-member fers, reasons must be written dues of committee comprising cabinet on the fi le. and establishment secretar- Husain has previously un- ies and principal secretary to derlined the importance of all media the prime minister should be tenure and noted that one of assigned to prepare the panel the most important problems of three offi cers for the prime facing bureaucracy is the fre- houses minister. quent transfer of civil servants. The premier can appoint This undermines service any of the three offi cers rec- delivery because managers are Internews ommended for the post by the often not able to stay in place Islamabad committee. long enough to institute or sus- However, in case the prime tain reforms. minister does not fi nd any of- Previously, in one of his he federal government has fi cer included in the panel fi t reports, Husain pointed out decided to clear all dues for the post, the committee will that important initiatives of Tof media houses to help recommend a new panel. the government and the poli- improve the fi nancial standing The reform proposal does cies, programmes and projects of newspapers and TV channels, not give the prime minister the could not be implemented Information Minister Fawad authority to appoint on his own within the stipulated time or Chaudhry said this week. any offi cer as secretary of any within the projected cost en- He said the decision was taken ministry or division. velope because of the lack of at a meeting under the chair- Once the prime minister continuity in the tenures of key manship of Prime Minister Im- appoints the secretary of a di- civil servants. ran Khan and directives had been vision, the offi cer will be con- Meanwhile, Chief Justice of issued to the departments con- sidered on probation for six Pakistan Saqib Nisar has taken cerned to take steps for immedi- months. suo motu notice of alleged mis- ate implantation of the decision. During this period, the sec- behaviour on the part of Gilg- Chaudhry said that the meet- retary could be removed or it-Baltistan Tourism Minister ing had noted with concern that changed. Fida Hussain with the offi cial a number of media workers were However, after the comple- in charge of arrivals at Islama- sacked over the past few weeks. tion of six months’ probation bad airport, and directed both The minister said the previ- period, the secretary will have to appear before the court. ous governments had used me- the protection of three-year According to media reports, dia advertisements as a political tenure. the incident involved a fl ight tool, and that policy had aff ected Once the offi cer has been se- delay due to bad weather, with business and caused chaos in the lected through this process, he/ the Pakistan Muslim League industry. she should not be transferred – Nawaz minister pushing the A vendor prepares balloons for a sale on a street in Karachi. “The government has decided until the completion of the offi cial so hard that he fell. to chalk out a transparent adver- tisement policy to award adver- tising contracts purely on merit,” Chaudhry said. “The PTI-led government will bring about ra- tionality and balance in the in- dustry through its decisions.” Provinces warned of ‘severe drought’ He said that the present gov- ernment had abolished censor- ship in state-run media. Internews Pakistan can only store 10% of annual river fl ows concerned stakeholders for nec- their bread and butter. “We are taking measures to Karachi essary action. The analysts said falling fresh limit, and eventually end, gov- The per capita water availability in Pakistan has of 170 days, Egypt 700 days, and the US 900 days. “The NDMA has co-ordinat- water is forcing them to migrate ernment control over media dropped from 5,650cu m in 1951 to an alarmingly-low The WAPDA chief underscored the need for a sustain- ed with the NADRA (National to urban centres of Karachi and advertisements,” the minister indh province is on the level of 908cu m at present, pushing the country into able long-term plan to tackle the looming water crisis Database Registration Author- Hyderabad. added. verge of “severe drought” the ranks of nations facing water scarcity. in the country. ity) in providing family data to Analysts also fear further Sas the lack of rainfall has This was stated by Water and Power Development “The mechanism in vogue for implementing develop- the Sindh PDMA Sindh/Relief worsening of situation if water caused adverse water shortages, Authority (WAPDA) chairman Muzammil Hussain dur- ment projects in Pakistan will take us nowhere,” he Department, enabling them storages are made on the river as a disaster management agency ing a briefing to a delegation of the National Security emphasised. “A paradigm shift is required to improve to distribute assistance pack- it is likely to completely halt the warns, predicting adverse im- Workshop of Islamabad’s National Defence University, the water situation and handle circular debt.” ages among aff ected families in infl ows. pact on vegetation across the at WAPDA House. The carryover water storage capacity should be calamity hit areas,” an offi cial Availability of irrigation is al- Bomb province that contributes 23% “Pakistan can store only 10% of its annual river flows, increased from 30 days to 120 days. statement said. “It also sought ready on the downward trend, to the national agriculture in- whereas the average water storage capacity around Hussain told the delegation that the WAPDA plans to suggestions from Sindh PDMA posing a biting challenge to dustry. the world stands at 40%,” the chairman lamented. add 2 MAF to the water storage capacity in the short on whether any additional relief economic growth in which the kills two The National Disaster Man- “Instead of raising the storage capacity, we have lost term by 2023, 18 MAF in the medium term by 2030, assistance was required from the agriculture sector contributes agement Authority (NDMA), the more than one-fourth of the storage space of our and another 23 MAF in the long run by 2050. federal government/NDMA.” around 20%. lead federal agency, has called dams.” The WAPDA has already added 2,487MW of hydel The Recovery and Rehabilita- “Irrigation water availability in Karachi for immediate and “proactive” The live water storage capacity, which was 16.26mn (hydroelectric) power to the national grid by complet- tion Directorate of the NDMA dropped 2% and 19% in kharif action to cope with the drought acre feet (MAF) in 1976, dropped to 13.68 MAF now, ing the Golen Gol, Neelum Jhelum, and Tarbela 4th acts as a “Drought Secretariat” and rabi seasons, respective- situation in Sindh province and which is equal to a carryover capacity of merely 30 Extension hydroelectric power projects. to ensure timely, co-ordinated ly. Growers have resorted to AFP parts of Baluchistan. days, he said. It plans to add 4,582MW up to 2023, and another and smooth fl ow of information groundwater pumping, espe- Karachi The agency warned that the On the other hand, India enjoys a carryover capacity 16,180MW up to 2030. between all stakeholders to al- cially in rain-fed areas where the situation “may get severe in the leviate the hardships/miseries of issue of water availability wors- coming days due to a prolonged aff ected people. ened,” the central bank said in bomb killed at least two dry spell predicted in many parts ditions,” the authority said in a ture and nearly 11% to GDP. port on drought-like situation Analysts said that tail-end annual report. people and wounded of the country”. report. Cotton is the key summer in Sindh, containing short- and swathes, also known as catch- Last month, the NDMA, in Aeight others in the port “It is feared that a prolonged Sindh accounts for 18% of the cash crop. long-term recommendations ment areas, are facing slowdown collaboration with the Sindh city of Karachi on Friday, police dry spell may cause water stress country’s land area and 16% of Other kharif crops include and measures on the directives in water fl ows on the Indus River, PDMA, and the United Nations and hospital offi cials said. in the cultivated lands/areas of the total cropped area. sugarcane, rice, and maize. of President Arif Alvi. which are adversely aff ecting the bodies, conducted a one-day The blast damaged buildings the country due to limited sup- Livestock and fi sheries are al- The province supplies 35- The report has also been livelihoods of farmers already seminar to analyse the current and triggered panic in the dense- ply of irrigation water for kharif lied sectors of agriculture in the 40% of the nation’s cotton pro- shared with the Sindh’s Pro- living on subsistence. drought-like situation in eight ly populated Malir district. crops, and may also aggravate province, contributing about duction. vincial Disaster Management The farmers usually sow veg- districts, particularly the Thar- “A timed device planted un- the existing drought like con- 56% of value addition in agricul- The NDMA prepared the re- Authority (PDMA) and other etables and rear livestock to earn parkar. derneath a pushcart exploded with a big bang, killing two peo- ple and wounding eight others,” senior police offi cial Irfan Ali Ba- hadur told AFP. Nobody has so far claimed Government launches 12-year strategy for road safety responsibility but Karachi, the country’s economic and com- mercial hub, has long been in the Internews The strategy was unveiled by crash in Pakistan,” said Saeed Motorways Allah Dino Khowaja, nications ministry director for slower travel speeds, safer ve- grip of militant, sectarian, and Islamabad Minister of State for Communi- while addressing the ceremony. National Transport Research roads Hameed Akhtar spoke at hicles and greater awareness, as ethnic violence. cations Murad Saeed at a func- He added that the PNRSS had Centre assistant chief Shahbaz the event. well as ensuring all commuters Police cordoned off the area tion. been devised by collaborating Latif Mirza, Punjab Rescue 1122 Minister Saeed said that the comply with regulations.” after the explosion and bomb he federal communi- The government hopes that with UK-Aid and the Asian De- director general Dr Rizwan Na- government is determined to Saeed said that Pakistan’s disposal offi cials were called. cations minister has by implementing the strategy, velopment Bank (ADB). seer, UK’s the UK’s Department put the country on the fast track geographical position places it Seemi Jamali, a senior doctor Tlaunched the Pakistan fatal accidents on major high- Federal Communications for International Development to development. at the heart of the regional road at Jinnah Post Graduate Medi- National Road Safety Strategy ways will rapidly decline. Secretary Shoaib Ahmad Sid- (DFID) economic growth group “Pakistan’s rapid economic transport growth. cal Centre where the dead and (PNRSS) 2018-30 that aims to “Road safety is a major public diqui, National Highway Au- head Patricia Seex, ADB deputy growth and expanding road in- However, the minister wounded were brought, con- provide better facilities to com- health issue in Pakistan. Every thority (NHA) chairman Jawad country director Sunil Mitra, frastructure create an oppor- stressed that improvements in fi rmed the toll and said that two muters and cut the number of fi ve minutes, someone is killed Rafi que Malik, Inspector Gen- Pakistan Resident Mission Dr tunity to signifi cantly improve mobility must not be made at of the injured were in a critical traffi c accidents. or badly injured in a road traffi c eral of National Highways and Rizwan Naseer, and commu- safety through better roads, the expense of safety. condition. Gulf Times 24 Sunday, November 18, 2018 PHILIPPINES

Five Critics claim Marcos bail ‘an soldiers killed in clash with insult to martial law victims’ extremists By Glee Jalea Marcoses “to the prison of his- Manila Times tory.” Akbayan representative Tom DPA Villarin and Bayan Muna rep- Manila he so-called Makabay- resentative Carlos Zarate also an bloc in the House of criticised Marcos for failing to TRepresentatives has ex- attend the November 9 prom- ive soldiers were killed and pressed dismay with a Sandi- ulgation and citing ailments in 23 wounded in a clash with ganbayan decision granting her plea but managed to make Fsuspected extremists in former fi rst lady and now Ilocos time for the birthday party of the southern Philippines, a mili- Norte representative Imelda her daughter Ilocos Norte Gov- tary spokesman said yesterday. Marcos temporary freedom af- ernor Imee Marcos in San Juan The fi refi ght erupted in a vil- ter she posted P150,000 bail City the same night. lage in Patikul town on Jolo is- yesterday. “While she is suff ering from land,1,000 kilometres south of “Very double standard! Very ‘multiple organ infi rmities’ and Manila, on Friday, said Lieuten- shameful of the high magis- is ‘under strict orders’ to avoid ant Colonel Gerry Besana, a re- trates of the Sandiganbayan stressful situations that would gional military spokesman. bowing down to the high and put her at risk of a heart attack Troops were on patrol when mighty Marcoses for the whole or seizure according to her ex- they encountered a group of world to see. Very disappoint- planation to the court, her ac- about 50 Abu Sayyaf militants, ing!” Anakpawis representative tions and demeanour say other- he added. Ariel Casilao said in a statement wise,” Villarin said. “We”re still determining if the . The Sandiganbayan Fifth Di- Abu Sayyaf has casualties,” he Bayan Muna Chairman and vision convicted Imelda Marcos said. former congressman Neri Col- in seven out of 10 graft cases for “Up to now, pursuit opera- menares echoed Casilao, point- using her position in public of- tions are ongoing.” ing out the stark contrast of the fi ce to manage several Swiss ac- Besana said there were no justice system between the poor counts from 1968 to 1986. hostages with the militants and those in power. In a hearing of her “Motion when the fi ghting occurred. “This also shows the seeming for Leave of Court to Avail of The militants are still holding double standards in the Philip- Post Conviction Remedies” Fri- captive 11 hostages — nine Filipi- pine justice system. When you day last week, she maintained nos, a Dutchman and a Vietnam- are poor, the police will tell you that had she known about the ese — on Jolo. to explain yourself in the pre- initial verdict last week, she The Abu Sayyaf is the most cinct, but if you are rich or you would have gone to court. violent militant group in the are a Marcos, it’s the police who Former First Lady Imelda Marcos talks to her grandson after taking the witness stand in the anti-corruption court Sandiganbayan in Quezon The former fi rst lady, how- Philippines and is allied with the will explain for you,” he added. City, Metro Manila, on Friday. ever, said in a statement on Islamic State terrorist network. Gabriela representative November 9 that she was ab- The militants have been blamed Emmi de Jesus described the Kabataan representative Sa- Law victims, their families, and Then-President Ferdinand representative Edcel Lagman sent because it was her lawyer, for some of the country’s most verdict as “abhorrent” and “be- rah Elago said the decision of Filipinos who have long been Marcos, Imelda’s husband, de- said the “massive human rights Robert Sison, who was “indis- high-profi le kidnappings along yond mockery of justice” in the the anti-graft Sandiganbayan deprived of justice since the clared military rule in 1972. atrocities and pillage” during posed and confi ned at the Asian with its worst terrorist attacks country. was “an insult to the Martial Marcos regime.” Despite the verdict, Albay Martial Law will condemn the Hospital.” and beheadings. Robredo criticises ‘meagre’ Duterte says will dismiss amount for temporary reprieve another offi cial on return By Glee Jalea Manila Times By Catherine S Valente they were “crusading saints” Manila Times but were fi rst to commit of- ice President Maria Le- fences. onor “Leni” Robredo “Many of my friends joined Vyesterday expressed her resident Rodrigo Duterte me even during the time when I dismay at the “mockery of the is poised to boot out an- was fi rst elected mayor in 1988. justice system,” as well as the Pother offi cial upon his Would you believe it? What “measly” P150,000 bail posted return to the Philippines from irks me and what pisses me off , by former fi rst lady and Ilocos two international summits. their style was, ‘Rod, you have Norte representative Imelda In remarks during his meet- to run because our nation is go- Marcos for her temporary free- ing with Filipinos in Papua New ing nowhere.’ You thought they dom from the custody of the Guinea on Friday night, Duterte were the crusading saints of the Sandiganbayan. said he had dismissed several country only to be the fi rst to The anti-graft court’s fi fth Robredo: criticism over low amount for bail offi cials, including Cabinet commit (wrongdoing),” he said. division granted the wife of the members, as part of his anti- The president had famously late strongman Ferdinand Mar- The vice president said Mar- she was “suff ering from multiple corruption drive. pledged to get rid of public of- cos provisional liberty on Friday cos’ alibi on the day of her con- organ infi rmities and was un- “I said I will try to stop cor- fi cials involved even in just a morning after she was ordered viction was “the biggest insult” der strict orders to refrain from ruption. All of it. Two months “whiff of corruption.” arrested for snubbing her No- to Filipinos. stressful conditions.” earlier, I fi red a Cabinet mem- Aside from Sueno, Duterte vember 9 promulgation, dur- “In fact, the biggest insult to The former fi rst lady was sen- ber during a Cabinet meeting President Rodrigo Duterte is greeted by Papua New Guinea’s had fi red National Irrigation ing which she was convicted in us was when she partied on the tenced in each of her seven graft for lying,” Duterte said. Prime Minister Peter O’Neill at the Apec Summit, Port Moresby, Administration chief Peter seven graft cases. day of her conviction. But she cases to six years and a month The president did not name Papua New Guinea, yesterday. Lavina, his campaign spokes- “The P150,000 bail was too reasoned that she was sick. It’s up to 11 years in prison, with names, but he had made the man; Social Security System measly compared with the enor- a mockery of the justice system,” perpetual disqualifi cation from same remarks after fi ring Inte- Asia Pacifi c Economic Co-op- more than fi ve times, leave,” the commissioner Jose Gabriel mity of what was stolen. Sec- Robredo added. holding public offi ce. rior Secretary Ismael Sueno, a eration summit. He fl ew in from president said on Friday. “Pompee” Lavina; Maritime ondly, those are just loose change On Friday’s hearing of her Marcos was convicted for par- former top aide and campaign Singapore where he participat- “Now, Cabinet members, Industry Authority administra- to her,” Robredo said in a chance “motion for leave of court to ticipating in the management of supporter, in 2017. ed in the Association of South- everyone, they have to get a tor Marcial Quirico Amaro 3rd; interview with reporters during avail of post-conviction rem- several Swiss foundations while “And since then I have fi red east Asian Nations summit. clearance… I said if we cannot Commission on Higher Edu- her visit to a mental health facil- edies,” Marcos claimed that had she was a member of the Interim several people…when I go back, The president usually men- understand each other with re- cation chief Patricia Licuanan; ity in San Remigio, Cebu. she known about the promulga- Batasang Pambansa and minis- another person will be fi red. I tions in his speeches that he gard to the people’s money, you Presidential Commission for “I was a lawyer for the poor. tion on November 9, she would ter of the really have to fi re you. I’m sor- had fi red or would fi re govern- leave,” he added. Urban Poor chairman Terry Ri- Somehow, I can see that for a have gone to the anti-graft court. Ministry of Human Settle- ry,” he added. ment offi cials due to corrup- The president said he was don and commissioners Melissa P10,000 bail, a client would even However, in the motion that ments from 1968 to 1986. Duterte is scheduled to ar- tion, but does not mention saddened that some of those he Aradanas, Manuel Serra Jr, Noe mortgage some of their proper- she fi led last Monday, she stated The Sandiganbayan has yet to rive in Davao City early today their names. He is particularly had fi red were the same people Indonto and Joan Lagunda; La- ties or borrow money from oth- that her failure to attend was decide whether she would be al- morning after cutting short his irked by offi cials who go on un- who had urged him to run for bour Undersecretary Domina- ers just to come up with that “solely because she was indis- lowed to fi le a post-conviction three-day visit to Papua New necessary trips abroad. president in 2016. dor Say; and Tourism Secretary amount,” she added. posed.” Her affi davit added that bond for her graft charges. Guinea, where he attended the “All those who have travelled He said these people thought Wanda Tulfo-Teo. SC nod for ombudsman to prosecute Napoles’ employee

By Jomar Canlas ings, stressing that his argu- ed out by the Ombudsman,” In a letter dated Nov 5, 2018 Manila Times ments had been addressed in a whistleblowers Benhur Luy and and addressed to Acting Chief 2016 decision on the petition of Merlina Sunas identifi ed Lim Justice Antonio Carpio, Sandi- Richard as among the staff members of ganbayan Justices Efren de la he Supreme Court (SC) Cambe. Napoles who prepared and de- Cruz, Geraldine Faith Econg and has given the Offi ce of the Cambe was the chief of staff of livered the kickbacks intended Edgardo Caldona, requested the TOmbudsman the green- former senator Ramon “Bong” for Revilla. date of promulgation be moved light to proceed with the indict- Revilla Jr. Both were charged It said it was proper for the from Nov 9, 2018 to Dec 7, 2018, ment of one of the staff members with plunder and graft by the Ombudsman to consider his so that they could review the vo- of Janet Lim Napoles, the alleged Offi ce of the Ombudsman in failure to fi le a counter-affi davit luminous documentary evidence mastermind of the multi-billion 2014, along with Napoles and as a waiver of his right to fi le the submitted by the parties during priority development assistance her employees, Lim and John same, which meant that allega- the trial. fund (PDAF) or pork barrel scam. Raymund de Asis, and Budget tions in the complaint remained The SC has already affi rmed The high court issued an Undersecretary Mario Relampa- uncontroverted. the “preliminary attachment” eight-page extended minute gos in connection with the PDAF The high court also argued issued by the Sandiganbayan resolution denying the petition scam. that it was “premature” of Lim over the assets of Revilla as there of Robert John Lim that assailed “We are inclined to do no less to resort to the extraordinary was “clearly a prima facie factual the Ombudsman’s resolution on in the present case. We recognise remedy of certiorari “as there are foundation for the attachment of March 28, 2014 and two joint that the acts in Cambe, which remedies before the Sandigan- his monies and properties.” orders on June 24, 2018 recom- related to the illegal pillaging of bayan that are still available to It used as basis the testimo- mending the fi ling of plunder public funds sourced from the Lim at this point.” nies that Cambe received on and graft charges against him PDAF of then Senator Ramon In the meantime, the Sandi- behalf of Revilla the amount of and several others. Revilla Jr, occurred within the ganbayan First Division has P103mn in return for the sena- The SC held that Lim “mis- same timeline as the acts in the asked the SC for an additional 30 tor’s endorsement of the non- erably failed to show” that the present case,” the SC ruled. days before handing out a verdict government organisations of Ombudsman had gravely abused The SC noted that in the on the plunder and graft charges Napoles as recipients of Revilla’s its discretion in issuing the rul- Cambe case, “as correctly point- against Revilla. pork barrel. Napoles: scam mastermind Gulf Times Sunday, November 18, 2018 25 COMMENT Populism’s common denominator

By Barry Eichengreen this mold. By the time of the 2016 What unites supporters of these Brussels election that brought President upstart politicians, therefore, must Donald Trump to power, the US be something else. In fact, the main economy had been expanding for six ingredient is revulsion against the ollowing Emmanuel Macron’s consecutive years. This is a reminder corruption of the political process. election as president of that populism is about more than Voters are attracted to political France in May 2017, global economic growth. It is also about outsiders – the more authoritarian Felites breathed a sigh of relief. distribution, something that is the better – who promise to “drain the The populist wave, they reassured equally a problem in Italy and Brazil. swamp.” themselves, had crested. Voters had And it is about economic insecurity: Herein lies the appeal of Trump and regained their sanity. Helped along by Even those who are benefiting now Bolsonaro, who promise to clean up an electoral system in which the two have doubts about whether they – their countries’ “mess” by whatever leading candidates faced off in a second and their children – will benefit in means necessary. The corruption round, the “silent majority” had united the future. and ineff ectiveness of a succession behind the centrist candidate in the Still, the booming US economy of mainstream coalitions, and the runoff . should at least give pause to those promise of outsiders to do better, But now we have Brazil’s presidential who favour the narrowly economic whether credible or not, similarly election, in which Jair Bolsonaro, interpretation of the current wave of motivates Italian supporters of the who displays the authoritarian, populism. right-wing League party and the left- anti-establishment, and anti-other Alternatively, the current wave wing Five Star Movement. tendencies of a textbook populist, of populism has been viewed as a Unfortunately, voters have no way won decisively in the second round. A response to the perceived threat, as of gauging who is truly committed two-round electoral system in which much political as economic, from to rooting out corruption. And, the runoff pits a populist outsider so-called outsiders to the dominant by delegating this task to a leader against the last mainstream candidate cultural group. For Italian populists like with authoritarian tendencies, they standing is no guarantee, evidently, Matteo Salvini, this means immigrants, empower him to repopulate the that the centre will hold. primarily dark-skinned people from swamp rather than draining it – to A similar lesson flows from Africa who wear their outsider status simply replace the mainstream’s Italy’s election earlier this year. on their sleeves. For Bolsonaro, it alligators with his own. We have The country’s electoral rules had means racial minorities, women, already seen this tendency in the US. been reformed to add a majoritarian and other groups that challenge the We are about to see it in Italy and element to its proportional hegemony of the white working class. Brazil. representation system, the goal Trump displays both tendencies, Voters will learn the hard way that being to encourage pre-election claiming without substantiation that authoritarianism exacerbates rather coalition building among mainstream Middle East terrorists are among the than mitigates corruption, because parties. Instead, it brought to power migrants and asylum seekers from it abolishes checks and balances on a coalition of the populist left and Central America, while reinforcing those pulling the levers of power. Once right. Electoral engineering, it the racial, religious, and anti-feminist they learn this lesson, they are likely would seem, is not only ineffective animus of his base. to give mainstream politicians and the in beating back the extremist Again, however, actual electoral democratic process another chance. threat; it can have unintended, behaviour does not fall neatly along Unfortunately, political institutions counterproductive consequences. President-elect Jair Bolsonaro (right) and his son Eduardo Bolsonaro (left) are seen at the headquarters of the transitional predicted lines. Bolsonaro received and civil society can suff er very Containing populism, it follows, government in Brasilia, on November 14. a surprising degree of support from considerable damage in the interim. – requires more than fi ne-tuning the black voters. Trump gained a strong Project Syndicate electoral system. It requires addressing agreement about the nature of those populist revolt. Italy has experienced recently become accustomed to the plurality from women in an election the basic grievances responsible grievances and therefore no consensus stagnant productivity growth for status of a fast-growing economy, held shortly after the release of zBarry Eichengreen is a professor at the for voters’ rejection of mainstream on how to respond. more than two decades, while experienced a massive recession in the notorious “Access Hollywood” University of California, Berkeley. His politicians and parties in the fi rst One view, naturally favoured unemployment – particularly 2015-2016, and 2018 is shaping up to tape, on which Trump was heard latest book is The Populist Temptation: place. by economists, is that economic youth unemployment – has risen to be another bleak year. boasting about sexual assaults he had Economic Grievance and Political Unfortunately, there is little complaints are at the root of the devastating levels. Brazil, having only But the US fits awkwardly into committed. Reaction in the Modern Era.

India’s central bank under attack Three-day forecast TODAY ever, invoked Section 7 of the RBI Act, productive, rather than politically not suff er a similar fate. After all, the Maximum Temperature : 300c By Eswar Prasad Minimum Temperature : 220c Ithica which allows it to issue directions motivated, lending. Such an outcome central bank’s credibility has been directly to the central bank governor would heighten fi nancial risk and essential to enable the implementation MONDAY on matters of public interest. jeopardize the economy’s growth of policies that have provided the Maximum Temperature : 270c ndian Prime Minister Narendra The Modi government’s willingness potential. government with room to manoeuvre Minimum Temperature : 220c Modi’s government has launched to go to such lengths suggests that So far, RBI Governor Urjit Patel has in a diffi cult domestic and external TUESDAY an all-out political assault on the more than interest rates are at stake. refused to give in to the government’s environment. Maximum Temperature : 260c IReserve Bank of India, and the The government is particularly demands. It helps the RBI’s stature For one thing, the RBI has prevented Minimum Temperature : 210c unhappy with RBI measures to clean and independence that Patel and his the rupee from falling further, thereby barrage of criticism is already taking a Fisherman's forecast toll on the institution. up India’s banks, many of which are lieutenants, like their predecessors, averting the risk of a vicious circle This is an alarming development burdened by a large volume of non- are experienced at navigating the of capital outfl ows and currency RBI through economic and political depreciation. Moreover, the RBI’s WARNING for India, because the RBI’s credibility performing assets, and prevent risks Inshore : Expected strong wind and eff ectiveness have contributed from building up in other parts of the minefi elds. But if the government commitment to price stability has and low horizontal vis- substantially to macroeconomic and fi nancial system. These measures are continues to attack the RBI on translated into low interest rates, ibility at places at times fi nancial stability, thereby helping to squeezing state-owned banks’ ability multiple fronts, eff ective monetary keeping the government’s debt- Offshore : Strong wind and high sea sustain rapid GDP growth in recent to lend to politically connected clients. policymaking could become fi nancing costs in check. More WEATHER years. Of course, government ministers impossible. And if those attacks broadly, the RBI’s monetary policy Inshore : Moderate temperature One key criticism levelled against can’t come right out and say include forcing Patel out, the blow and supervisory authority have made daytime with sctd clouds & slight dust at the RBI is not unique to India: the that. So, instead, the Modi to the RBI – the only well-respected it one of the most potent tools for places at times, mild by central bank, the government claims, administration – and, in particular, technocratic institution in India’s keeping the economy on a stable, night is impeding growth by raising interest Arun Jaitley, the finance minister mostly dysfunctional bureaucracy – high-growth path. Offshore : Fine rates in the name of a misguided fear – has taken the RBI to task for would be severe. With national elections WIND of excessive infl ation and fi nancial not preventing the accumulation Central-bank independence is often approaching, India’s government Inshore : Northwesterly 12-22/28 instability. US President Donald of non-performing assets in the fetishised nowadays. But if a central cannot aff ord to sacrifi ce these KT Offshrore : Northwesterly 15-25/35 Trump has levelled similar complaints banking system after the credit bank pursues objectives that have no benefi ts, especially at a time of KT at the Federal Reserve, claiming that spigots were opened to help cope political support, its legitimacy should rising skepticism about its ability interest-rate hikes are dampening with the global financial crisis. (and will) suff er. Nonetheless, the loss to maintain fi scal discipline and Visibility : 4-8/3 KM economic growth and the US stock The government has also accused of operational independence – the implement diffi cult reforms. Modi and Offshore : 5-8/12 FT Jaitley need to recognise this and start market. the RBI of subverting due process by ability to act without interference Around the region But the threat such attacks pose to keeping it in the dark about monetary- in pursuit of its stated objectives, speaking up for, not against, the RBI. – Weather the RBI dwarf those faced by the Fed, policy moves. This criticism is developed in consultation with Project Syndicate Weather tomorrow Max/min not least because, unlike the Fed, the disingenuous at best. At worst, it political authorities – can also be fatal today Max/min P Cloudy 21/11 RBI has no statutory independence. could bring to a grinding halt much- to a central bank’s credibility. zEswar Prasad is a professor at Cornell Baghdad Sunny 22/12 M Sunny 22/16 Making matters worse, the Modi needed banking-sector reforms aimed Modi’s government has a strong University and a senior fellow at the Kuwait CitySunny 23/15 Sunny 26/21 government has, for the fi rst time at, among other things, ensuring interest in ensuring that the RBI does Brookings Institution. Manama Cloudy 26/21 Muscat P Cloudy 30/24 Sunny 28/24 Tehran Sunny 16/06 M Sunny 16/07 Live issues Nitroglycerin patches may help ease tendon pain

By Lisa Rapaport exactly how much better patches Reuters Health might be than a placebo. It’s also not clear if this approach would be ideal for all types of tendon injuries in all atches containing parts of the body. Around the world nitroglycerin may help Patients might also get topical Weather Weather patients with common nitroglycerin gels or ointments, which today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Pinjuries to tendons, a research were not examined in the current Athens Showers 13/12 Rain 15/11 review suggests. study focused on patches. Beirut P Cloudy 22/17 M Sunny 23/19 The study team focused on overuse Even so, the results suggest that Bangkok P Cloudy 33/27 P Cloudy 33/27 tendon injuries in the shoulders, patches may be a viable option for Berlin Sunny 06/-3 M Cloudy 06/03 wrists, heels and knees that are often well it works for this purpose, Millar patient care,” Millar said by e-mail. some patients, said Dr Selene Parekh Cairo Sunny 26/13 P Cloudy 27/14 caused by sports or repetitive physical said. Up to one in fi ve patients can suff er of the North Carolina Orthopedic Cape Town Cloudy 19/13 Cloudy 24/14 tasks and can lead to pain, swelling To get a better look at the headaches from the topical treatment, Clinic and Duke University in Durham, Colombo P Cloudy 29/24 S T Storms 29/24 and limited mobility. Depending on its eff ectiveness of this option, Millar and and some also experienced stinging North Carolina. Dhaka Sunny 32/20 Sunny 31/19 severity, the condition may be treated colleagues analysed data combined where the patches were placed, the “The benefi ts are better than Hong Kong S Showers 26/23 P Cloudy 27/21 with physical therapy, corticosteroid from 10 smaller clinical trials that analysis found. placebo and seem to help patients Istanbul M Cloudy 13/10 Cloudy 14/11 injections to provide short-term pain randomly assigned some patients Based on these results, it may make restore activities of daily living,” Jakarta T Storm 33/26 T Storm 33/25 relief or surgery to repair or replace with tendon pain to use nitroglycerin sense for patients to consider using Parekh, who wasn’t involved in the Karachi Sunny 34/21 M Sunny 33/21 damaged tendons. patches and others to an alternative patches in conjunction with physical study, said by e-mail. London Sunny 11/06 Sunny 11/06 The current study examined treatment or to a placebo, or dummy, therapy in initial eff orts to relieve Some patients who get headaches Manila P Cloudy 33/24 P Cloudy 33/24 another treatment option, patch. tendon pain, Millar said. from the patches may also be able to Moscow M Cloudy 03/-1 S Showers 02/-1 nitroglycerin patches placed on After six months of treatment, Over 12 to 24 months, however, the continue using them by cutting the New Delhi Fog 27/15 Fog 28/16 the skin, which can have fewer side topical nitroglycerin provided more patches didn’t appear to aff ect pain dose, noted Dr George Murrell of the New York M Sunny 09/02 M Cloudy 08/05 effects than injections or surgery, pain relief than a placebo, Millar’s when people were at rest. Longer-term University of New South Wales in Paris Sunny 10/02 Sunny 09/01 said senior author Neal Millar of the team reports in the British Journal of use was still associated with better Sydney, Australia. Sao Paulo P Cloudy 27/19 P Cloudy 31/19 University of Glasgow in Scotland. Sports Medicine. strength and range of motion in some “The treatment for this headache Seoul P Cloudy 11/-1 M Cloudy 12/03 While topical nitroglycerin has been “This matters for patients because instances. is to cut the patch into smaller pieces, Singapore S T Storms 31/26 T Storm 30/26 examined for tendon pain for more all other current pharmacological One limitation of the analysis is that i.e. use a smaller dose,” Murrell, who Sydney Rain 19/15 M Cloudy 19/14 than two decades, research to date and injection therapies have failed to researchers didn’t pool data across wasn’t involved in the study, said by Tokyo Clear 19/11 Cloudy 16/12 has offered a mixed picture of how produce convincing results to improve all of the smaller studies to examine e-mail. Gulf Times 26 Sunday, November 18, 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 Es’hail-2 launch refl ects Qatar’s leadership in communications sector The successful launch Es’hail-2 satellite on Thursday, from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, proves Qatar’s leadership in communications technology in the region and the world. The launch was witnessed by HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah and Qatar’s ambassador to the US Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad al- Thani with other dignitaries and offi cials. The new achievement will mark a quantum leap in the protection of television channels from jamming, ensure greater independence for broadcasting media Oman celebrates 48th content, and support the implementation of Qatar National Vision 2030. Es’hail-2 satellite’s launch adds to a series of successes achieved by Qatar and represents a great development in communications technology that would move the country to a new technological stage National Day today that will keep pace with the qualitative leap in all fi elds. Eff orts made by Es’hailSat, the Qatar Satellite QNA Company, enable Qataris to cope with the great boom Muscat in the telecommunications sector, and to prepare national cadres to manage the operations of satellites. he people of Oman celebrate The satellite launch marks the achievement of today, November 18, the 48th the independence of the Qatari television channels, National Day, to continue especially after being jammed previously. It also Tthe modern renaissance refl ects the keenness of Qatar on developing the process and achieve further progress and prosperity in all fi elds under the media sector and providing targeted media content leadership of Sultan Qaboos bin Said. that expresses its mission and support for peace and The achievements made during the spreading the past 48 years in all sectors reveal the culture of love amount of eff orts made during the The satellite launch and tolerance renaissance path. around the In its transition from the 1970s to the represents a great 21st century, Oman actively contributed world. to its own peace, safety and stability boom in Qatar’s Thursday’s and that of the region, focusing on launch comes economic and social achievements, by telecommunications fi ve years after a great development in the standard the successful of living of the Omani citizens in all its sector aspects. launch of The basic law of Oman and its Es’hail-1. It reaffi rms the success of Qatari leadership’s amendments embodied all these national vision in building space industries with aspects in order to ensure rule of law strategic objectives and economic value, aiming to and deep co-operation between the executive and legislative institutions create a national industry that seeks to provide satellite within the framework of equality, platforms, networks and related services in the Middle independence of judiciary and East and beyond. facilitation of justice for citizens. Sultan Qaboos bin Said The launch of Es’hail-2 satellite proves once again Regarding support extended to the the strong presence of Qatar within the international youth sector, which receives special Programme for Enhancing Economic appreciation at the continuous eff orts and civil forces have demonstrated and continuous attention from the Diversifi cation (Tanfeedh) and the exerted by the government, taking the readiness of all military, security satellite communications system. Sultan, more than 33,000 job-seekers preparation of a vision strategy for into account the economic and social and civilian institutions, and the close Built by Mitsubishi Electric Company, based on were appointed in private sector in Oman 2040 to expand the Sultanate’s aspects, when he chaired the Cabinet co-operation of one command to face their DS 2000 satellite bus, Es’hail-2 has a proven, collaboration with the government economy, and transform Oman into meeting on February 7 this year. any developments, the joint Omani- modular platform with high power capability and until late May. Last October, Sultan a regional logistics centre, especially The government of the Sultanate British joint Express Sword 3 has clearly Qaboos ordered the promotion of with the completion of the projects of seeks to give a great impetus to affi rmed the high combat ciencyeffi fl exibility for a broad range of applications. In Omani citizens of the State employees’ the Duqm Economic Zone during the programmes that develop the abilities of the armed forces of the Sultan and addition to off ering Ku-band capacity to support the batch of 2010. coming period. and skills of young people, both the effi cient planning, execution and growing 25.5°E / 26.0°E broadcast neighbourhood, The number of citizens benefi ting While the new Muscat International through the programs prepared in discipline of our brave children and the Es’hail-2 also features multi-transponder Ka-band from the fuel subsidy programme Airport was inaugurated on November this area, including the National ability to work in close harmony with capacity with sophisticated anti-jamming capabilities implemented by the government 11, 2018 and the Duqm Commercial Program for Youth Skills Development, the friendly British armed forces Oman. has also been expanded and a sum Airport opened on 17 September, which was launched this year by the It is certainly no coincidence that providing business and government sectors with of OR100mn has been allocated to several projects are being planned, Diwan of the Royal Court, or through the forces of the Sultan of various secure communications across the Mena region. The this year’s budget in 2018 to ease the including oil refi nery and petrochemical encouraging and supporting small and kinds of this high level of competence spacecraft has a design life in excess of 16 years. burdens of citizens. industries project, the Chinese city medium enterprises and providing and skill and combat ability to use The features of the new satellite and its presence Within the co-operation and co- project with its large investment, and them with more facilities to encourage Modern weapons and advanced fi ghting within a distinct orbit that ensure its success in terms ordination between the council of the smart city project agreed upon with young people to establish their own techniques due to the high standing ministers and the council of Oman South Korea in July. projects due to the importance of patronage of the organisation by the of operations or marketing. (State Council and Shura Council), a While the government continues these types of projects for the national Supreme Commander. These features are in line with Qatar National Vision joint meeting was held between the to work to reduce public spending, economy and its future development. Oman, which is strong with its 2030, and the State’s plans for expansion of the council of ministers and the council increase resources and revenues, reduce This is accompanied by programmes leadership and its people, has been media sector in the country, the creation of a “Free of Oman on 2 May. It is signifi cant the defi cit in the general budget of 2019, to stimulate tourism and investment and will continue to be a safety valve Media Zone” that aims at attracting international that the Omani people and the various along increasing foreign investment in tourism projects in the various and a pillar of security, stability and organs of the state have demonstrated and revitalise the tourism sector, the governorates of the Sultanate and work peace in the Gulf, the Arab region and media, technology companies, research and training a practical degree of cohesion and Omani government is also keen on to invest the tourism assets enjoyed by the Middle East, and the Sultanate institutions, as well as supporting and encouraging co-operation in the face of the climatic developing health, education and social the Sultanate in this area. has witnessed the movement, projects and establishing investment funds in the conditions in the governorates of welfare services for Omani citizens, The e-tourism visa was issued and communications and visits at the media sector - digital and technological media, and Dhofar and Al Wusta that were hit by in line with continuous economic and Muscat International Airport was fully highest levels and its good endeavours fi lm and television production. cyclone ‘Mekunu’ last May and the social development witnessed by the operational in March 2018 to become an to contribute to solving the current storm ‘Laban’ last October. This was Sultanate. important addition to Oman’s tourism problems and confl icts in the region commended by the council of ministers The Sultanate has achieved advanced promotion. The Muscat Festival and the through dialogue and peaceful and many regional and international levels in many indicators released by Salalah Tourism Festival were further means, which is very important, the To Advertise environmental organisations. international institutions in diff erent developed and attracted more tourists. most important of which is the great On the developmental level, Oman’s aspects. For example, the Sultanate On the other hand, the national appreciation and prestige of the sultan [email protected] modern development process is ranked fi rst in a number of international exercise “Al Shomoukh 2” and the of Oman, at all levels including offi cial Display proceeding at a confi dent pace to competitiveness indicators such Omani-British joint military exercise and popular, and the keenness of many achieve further progress and prosperity as indicators of the occurrence of “Swift Sword” between the Sultan’s in the region and the world to listen 44466621 44418811 for the Omani citizens and to improve terrorism, the terror-free index, the Armed Forces and the British Royal to his assessment and vision of the living standards for them continuously, index of reliability of police services, Armed Forces were carried out last various developments and benefi t from Classified while providing all that can make the the independence of the judiciary, the October. The practical demonstration his wisdom to push the paths of peace 44466609 44418811 Omani economy achieve its objectives road quality index, the effi ciency index of the two exercises with live which the people of the region are in terms of growth and diversifi cation of port services, the index of open data, ammunition was carried out on looking forward to today, not only for Subscription of sources of income and reduce etc., which refl ects the great eff ort November 3. the Palestinian cause and the need for a dependence on oil as a major source exerted by the government in various At the same time, the national just and comprehensive solution within [email protected] for government revenue, along with economic, social, service and other exercise “Al Shomoukh 2”, in which the framework of the two States but implementing the projects in the sectors. units of the Sultan’s armed forces, the also for the various problems and crises main sectors adopted in the 9th Five- Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman Royal Guard of Oman, the Royal Oman in the region that have suff ered by their © 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Year Plan (2016-2020), the National expressed his satisfaction and Police, and other military, security people. Gulf Times Sunday, November 18, 2018 27 QATAR

QU’s Class of 2018 pose for a family photo with the guests and dignitaries at the event. Qatar University felicitates its ‘Class of 2018’ graduates atar University (QU) or- ganised a succession of Qgraduation ceremonies for three consecutive days last week, honouring graduating stu- dents from various colleges. The ceremonies were attended by QU president Dr Hassan al- Derham, faculty members, staff , parents and honorees. On Tuesday, QU graduated students from fi ve colleges: Col- lege of Education, College of Law, College of Shari’a and Islamic Studies, College of Pharmacy and College of Health Sciences. Wednesday saw the gradua- tion of College of Business and Economics, and on Thursday, QU celebrated the College of Arts and Sciences, all held at the new Sports & Events Complex at QU. Dr al-Derham welcomed the guests at the ceremony and said, “I am proud to be present today to witness a distinguished group of graduates, ready to start a new arena of life, where they will play a crucial role in contributing to their community and homeland. Your journey at QU, which lasted around four years and woven each of you a diff erent tale, has made a profound impact on everything you touched. Through these interactions, you have each formulated your own distinctive novel, which you will carry with you, like a badge in the next phase of your lives.” “Over the past few years, QU has taken a great amount of time, QU president Dr Hassan al-Derham delivers the opening remarks. Guests witness the graduation ceremony of Class of 2018. eff ort and capital to become an advanced university and to get and areas, which culminated into a light for the future of Qatar, and today it provides quality educa- brant, fascinating journey, QU And also throughout these years, that captivates the society and the respective recognition for our launching a new strategic plan now the number of graduates ex- tion in line with global standards was the engine, the heart of soci- the University continues to inter- nation. So, we contribute with the work. We are a model example that covers the years 2018-2022,” ceeds 45,000, of them around to over 20,000 female and male ety, the centre of enlightenment. act with the community, with the expertise we encompass to draw regionally, if not internation- Dr al-Derham continued. 30,000 are Qataris. And since students, and the fastest growing The university strived to provide goal of developing it through ac- strategies that promote stability ally. Following our development “Since the university’s incep- 1977, when QU was founded, the research dossier in the region,” the community with qualifi ed ademic experience and research. in various social, economic and phase two years ago, we were able tion in the late 1970s, QU has as- university has been the leader of explained the president. graduates, scientists, advisers “The university has to be at the academic aspects, and support to achieve success in many ways pired to be a beacon of knowledge, higher education in the country, “Throughout this long, vi- and researchers in all disciplines. heart of any event, any challenge human development,” he added.

‘Little Babylon’ mesmerises at Fire Station interactive expo

atar Museums (QM) has the shape, and Air Design Studio, “Little Babylon is interesting announced that the Fire Marijn Moerbeek and Thomas because it blurs the lines be- QStation is hosting ‘Lit- Rutgers. tween the digital and physical tle Babylon’, an interactive and Rezone creates projects that world, adding a unique touch to mobile pavilion that collects connect architecture, urban modern architecture. It is fi tting data about the city it is located planning, art and new media. that such a creative project fi nds in based on social media interac- Its goal is to initiate innova- home at the Fire Station, a hub tions of its inhabitants. tive art projects that enhance the for the country’s art community. The structure then communi- quality of urban spaces. We hope that much like our other cates this data with audiences in The pavilion mines Twit- initiatives and projects, it be- an interactive way as a dynamic, ter comments for specifi c top- comes a source of inspiration for audio-visual show. ics and translates this data into our creative talents.” Opened to the public on No- movement, visuals and sound, As part of the launch, Rezone vember 14 and continuing until which together show the senti- hosted a public workshop at the November 29, it comes as part ment and temperament of the Fire Station titled ‘Little Ba- QM’s “commitment to inspire specifi c city. bylon’, where team members ex- producers of the future by tak- On a more personalised scale, plained how the sculpture uses ing cultural experiences outside Little Babylon also interacts with Twitter to manifest its visual the museum walls”, according to individual visitors to the instal- shows. a press statement. lation who use their social media The discussion explored the The project was created by in its vicinity This unique expe- tendency of public art today to Rezone, an experimental art, ar- rience communicates a blend go beyond the physical space and chitecture and new-media ini- of digital data and physical and become part of people’s digital tiative from ‘s-Hertogenbosch, dynamic architecture in a new lives. the Netherlands, together with fashion. For more information about Kas Oosterhuis, professor of Ar- Commenting on the project the Fire Station’s initiatives, one chitecture and Urban Planning launch, Khalifa al-Obaidly, di- can visit http://fi restation.org. A view of the interactive initiative that continues till November 29. at Qatar University, designer of rector of the Fire Station, said: qa. Gulf Times 28 Sunday, November 18, 2018 QATAR

Musical soiree

Popular Indian singer Neha Kakkar during her performance in Doha on Thursday, as she headlined the first edition of One FM Live, an initiative of One FM 89.6 — Qatar ki Dhadkan. The concert took place at the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena, where a large audience gathered to catch Neha and her troupe put up a special audio-visual experience. Gulf Times was the event’s off icial media partners. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil