QATAR | Page 24 SPORT | Page 1 Qatar gymnasts will benefi t by world championships Qatari designers sparkle at Russian fashion show published in QATAR since 1978

TUESDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 10973 October 16, 2018 Safar 7, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Erdogan meets Defence Minister Saudi preparing In brief report to admit

QATAR | Phone call Khashoggi was Amir congratulates new Iraqi president His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim killed: CNN bin Hamad al-Thani held a telephone conversation with Iraqi President Dr Barham Salih yesterday evening. O Turkey searches Saudi consulate The Amir congratulated Dr Salih on his election and his swearing- O Trump speaks of ‘rogue killers’ in as Iraqi president, wishing him Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Aff airs HE success and the best of luck and Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah at the Presidential Palace in Ankara yesterday evening. During the meeting, HE Dr al-Attiyah Reuters/AFP the brotherly Iraqi people further conveyed the greetings and best wishes of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to the Turkish president. Washington/Istanbul development and prosperity. The Talks during the meeting covered the relations between the two brotherly countries and ways to promote them in all fields, as conversation also touched on the well as the latest developments in the region. Page 2 bilateral relations and ways to audi Arabia is preparing a report promoting them, as well as issues of that would admit Saudi journal- mutual concern. Sist Jamal Khashoggi was killed as the result of an interrogation that went ARAB WORLD | Confl ict wrong, CNN reported yesterday, citing Militants fail to quit two unnamed sources. National fl u jab campaign One source cautioned that the re- Jamal Khashoggi Syria buff er zone port was still being prepared and could Militants in Syria’s Idlib failed to change, CNN said. searched the Saudi consulate in Istan- meet a Monday deadline to leave The other source said the report bul for the fi rst time since Khashoggi a planned buff er zone ringing the would likely conclude that the opera- went missing, as US President Don- country’s last rebel bastion, casting gets underway in Qatar tion was carried out without clearance ald Trump fl oated the idea that “rogue fresh doubt over a deal to avert and that those involved will be held re- killers” could be to blame for his disap- bloodshed. A Russian-Turkish truce By Joseph Varghese sponsible, the cable news outlet said. pearance. agreement reached nearly a month Staff Reporter The Saudi government could not im- Khashoggi, a Saudi national and ago for the northwestern region mediately be reached for comment on US resident who became increasingly gave “radical fighters” until October the CNN report. critical of powerful Crown Prince Mo- 15 to leave a proposed demilitarised atar has launched a national The New York Times, citing a person hamed bin Salman, has not been seen area between government and infl uenza (fl u) vaccination familiar with the Saudi plans, reported since he walked into the Istanbul con- opposition forces. The accord was a Qcampaign and a dedicated that Prince Mohamed bin Salman had sulate to sort out marriage paperwork last-ditch eff ort to stave off a regime website to provide the details of the approved an interrogation or rendition on October 2. onslaught on Idlib. Page 10 initiative. of Khashoggi back to Saudi Arabia. Turkish offi cials have said they be- The campaign started yesterday and The off icials at the press conference to announce the launch of flu vaccination. The Saudi government, it said, would lieve he was killed — a claim Saudi Ara- BRITAIN | Royals will last until the end of the fl u season. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil shield the prince by blaming an intelli- bia has denied — with the controversy People can get the fl u vaccine for free gence offi cial for the botched operation. dealing a huge blow to the kingdom’s Prince Harry, Meghan at public health centres across the coun- suitable for every age. We recommend protect pregnant women, a fl u vaccine The case has provoked an interna- image and eff orts by its crown prince to expecting fi rst baby try as well as at select private clinics. everyone to get the fl u shot and keep given during pregnancy helps protect tional outcry against Saudi Arabia, the showcase a reform drive. Prince Harry and his wife Meghan The campaign is organised jointly by themselves safe from infl uenza,” he babies from fl u infection for their fi rst world’s top oil exporter, with more me- Trump despatched Secretary of announced yesterday they were the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), explained. several months of life. To make the dia and business executives pulling out State Mike Pompeo for what the State expecting their first baby, setting Primary Health Care Corporation Dr al-Khal was speaking at a press infl uenza vaccine easily accessible to of a planned investment conference Department described as “face to face off a media frenzy, debates over (PHCC) and Hamad Medical Corpora- conference yesterday to announce the everyone this year, the vaccine is avail- there this month. meetings with the Saudi leadership” to the royal name, and expressions of tion (HMC). launch of the campaign. Dr Soha Albayat, able across all PHCC’s primary health Meanwhile, Turkish police yesterday fi nd out what happened. To Page 16 delight from the queen. Kensington Community members can fi nd on the head of the Vaccination Section at MoPH centres and for the fi rst time will have Palace said Queen Elizabeth II’s website – www.stopthefl u.qa – all the and Dr Khalid Hamid Elawad, subject 45 private and semi-governmental 34-year-old grandson and the information about the vaccine, includ- matter expert – Public Health, Clinical health facilities including Qatar Petro- DCMF concern over missing journalist 37-year-old US actress, who had just ing myths and facts, as well as where Aff airs at PHCC, were also present. leum and Sidra Medicine providing the arrived in Sydney ahead of a 16-day they can get the vaccine. Thousands of “Flu is a serious disease that can vaccine,” said Dr Albayat. Doha Centre for Media Freedom circumstances, and enlighten the tour of the Pacific, would be having staff across Qatar’s health system have lead to hospitalisation and sometimes, “Infl uenza typically resolves in 3-7 (DCMF) expressed concern over international public opinion on this a child in the spring. already received this year’s fl u vaccine. even death. Vaccination to prevent in- days in the majority of individuals. In the developments in the case of the case. The vaccine is available in all the 26 fl uenza is particularly important for a proportion of patients – pregnant disappearance of Saudi journalist It urged the United Nations and EUROPE | Weather health centres under PHCC as well as people who are at high risk for the fl u women, individuals with pre-existing Jamal Khashoggi, who has not human rights organisations, 45 private healthcare facilities includ- and its complications. This includes chronic illnesses (e.g. diabetes, asth- been seen since entering the Saudi especially the one concerned with Deadly fl oods hit ing corporate health centres. the elderly, young children, pregnant ma, chronic lung diseases) the very consulate in Istanbul and after freedom of opinion and expression, southwest France “This year’s vaccine is diff erent from women and people with chronic medi- young and elderly – infl uenza may be reports about his death. to exert more pressure on the At least 11 people died when violent last year and all the viruses are covered cal conditions,” explained Dr al-Khal. associated with more severe illness or The centre said in a statement concerned parties to reveal the rainstorms turned rivers into in the new vaccine,” said Dr Abdullatif Dr Albayat noted that the infl uenza complications, these complications yesterday that it hopes that truth about Khashoggi’s fate and raging torrents in southwest France al-Khal, HMC’s deputy chief medical vaccination during pregnancy is safe. include viral pneumonia, secondary the ongoing investigations ensure that international justice yesterday, prompting some of the offi cer and head of infectious diseases. “The theme of the infl uenza vaccine bacterial or viral infections and exac- will reveal the truth about mechanisms are used to prevent deadliest flooding in years, off icials “Two new components have been campaign this year is ‘Fight Flu’. Stud- erbation of underlying illnesses,” ad- Khashoggi’s disappearance and its impunity. said. Page 16 added this year and it is very safe and ies show that, in addition to helping to vised Dr Elawad. High drama in the sky Vodafone speeds up its 5G deployment in key locations

odafone Qatar is accelerating its fone Qatar’s 5G network rollout is well 5G deployment in key locations underway in the country with ambi- Vacross the country to include tious plans to bring our customers Abu Hamour, Al Azizya, Al Mamoura, lighting speeds and innovative solu- Al Rayyan, Salwa Road, and Umm Slal tions that will enhance their lives and Mohamed. drive economic growth and productiv- This follows the company’s an- ity in Qatar.” nouncement in August that it switched He added: “Network speed and qual- on its fi rst, live 5G network and quickly ity in Qatar is already world-class, ben- thereafter connected its fi rst trial en- efi ting homes and businesses nation- terprise customer, Gulf Bridge Interna- wide. As a country, we enjoy incredible tional, which experienced the incred- connectivity, high rates of Internet and ibly fast speeds that 5G delivers. smartphone penetration, and have a 5G is essential to coping with growth population that is tech savvy and digit- in demand for ever-higher speeds, capabilities in gaming, in virtual reality ally literate. In other words, the condi- capacity, and reliability. And impor- and augment reality applications but tions are ideal for a business like ours to tantly, the technology has near-instant also for a host of new business cases accelerate Qatar towards a new era of response times, otherwise known as such as industrial Internet of Things technological advancement as we ramp ultra-low latency, eliminating the lag (IoT), connected healthcare and auto- up our 5G roll-out plans.” Lightning makes for a dramatic moment in the Doha sky yesterday evening. Besides lightning streaking across the sky, the city that’s experienced with current tech- mated vehicles. Vodafone Qatar said it expects to also experienced dusty conditions and strong winds yesterday even as parts of Qatar – especially towards the north – received nologies. Vodafone Qatar CEO Sheikh Hamad connect its customers when 5G devices rain. The Qatar Met department has said unstable weather is expected in the country from tomorrow until the beginning of This opens up a whole host of new Abdulla Jassim al-Thani said: “Voda- are available. next week – marked by scattered rain that may turn thundery at times. PICTURE: Jayan Orma (Page 24) Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, October 16, 2018 QATAR

Defence Minister holds talks in Ankara OFFICIAL

Qatar’s envoy to France presents credentials

Deputy Director of the Protocol Department at the French Foreign Ministry Jerome Cauchard received a copy of the credentials of Qatar’s ambassador to France Sheikh Ali bin Jassim al-Thani in Paris yesterday. The Deputy Director of the Protocol Department wished the ambassador success in his duties and bilateral relations further development and prosperity. The ambassador stressed his desire to work to further develop bilateral relations between Qatar HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Aff airs, Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, met Turkey’s Minister of Defence, General Hulusi Akar, at the headquarters of the Defence Ministry in and France. Ankara. They discussed bilateral relations and ways of enhancing them in various military areas, in addition to the latest regional developments. The Turkish defence minister hosted a luncheon banquet in honour for the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Aff airs and his off icial accompanying delegation. The meeting and the luncheon banquet were attended by Qatar’s ambassador to Turkey Qatar-Kuwait Salem bin Mubarak al-Shafi and Military Attache at the Qatari embassy in Ankara, Brigadier General Mohamed bin Rashid al-Shahwani. bilateral ties reviewed

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of Kuwait Sheikh Khaled al-Jarrah al-Sabah ‘Qatar working towards achieving food security’ met Qatar’s ambassador to Kuwait Bandar bin Mohamed al- Attiyah in Kuwait City yesterday. QNA The minister said that Qatar’s and diversifi cation and the dura- bles, red meat, poultry, eggs and event at Ezdan Mall in Al Ghara- The meeting discussed bilateral Doha celebration of World Food Day is tion of the dry, fresh and frozen fi sh. fa on October 16, 17 and 18, in relations and ways of supporting a reaffi rmation of the importance stock. The agricultural sector was co-operation with a number of and developing them, in addition of food and the need to provide He pointed out that the FAO able to achieve a great leap in stakeholders such as the Minis- to issues of common concern. E the Minister of Munic- it to every resident, adding that is trying on this occasion to em- order to meet the requirements try of Public Health and the Qa- ipality and Environment the theme of this year’s celebra- phasise the right of people to get of the local market and raise the tar Red Crescent among others, HMohamed bin Abdullah tion is to raise public awareness food, and urged governments to self-suffi ciency in the sectors of in addition to a number of local Serbian Deputy al-Rumaihi stressed that Qatar about the problem of hunger and provide food for their people and plants, animals and fi sh. productive farms, as well as stu- has harnessed all its energies to highlight the suff ering of the investment in agriculture and He also expressed his hope dent activities and visits to raise PM meets Qatar’s to work towards achieving food hungry people in the world. food. that the ministry will take part awareness about the importance ambassador security, noting the keenness He stressed the need to take HE al-Rumaihi noted that at in the celebration of World of food and methods to com- of the country’s leadership to measures to combat hunger, the local level, the Ministry of Food Day, organise awareness bat hunger, and the need to not Serbian Deputy Prime Minister develop natural resources, es- adding that everyone is con- Municipality and Environment activities with the participa- waste food. and Minister of Internal Aff airs pecially agriculture, in order to cerned about the phenomenon has an important responsibil- tion of a number of stakehold- World Food Day, which falls Nebojsa Stefanovic yesterday achieve self-suffi ciency in many and all (governments, coun- ity to ensure food security and ers in food security and the on October 16 each year, marks met Qatar’s ambassador to goods and products. tries, institutions and individu- natural resource development to elimination of hunger, spread the anniversary of the creation Serbia Sheikh Mubarak bin Fahad This came in a speech of the als) have a role in eliminating increase production and increase awareness about the problem of the United Nations Food and al-Thani in Belgrade yesterday. minister on the occasion of the it through the development of self-suffi ciency. of hunger and the importance Agriculture Organisation (FAO) During the meeting, they celebration of World Food Day, production and increasing the It adopted plans and strategies of reducing it. in 1945. discussed bilateral relations which falls today, and is cele- stock of basic foodstuff s, and the based on increasing the produc- The mark the occasion, the According to UN agencies, the HE the Minister of Municipality and ways of supporting and brated this year under the theme implementation of food security tion of agricultural commodities Ministry of Municipality and number of hungry people in the and Environment Mohamed bin developing them, in addition to ‘Zero Hunger’. strategies of production, import in the country such as vegeta- Environment will organise an world reached 821mn this year. Abdullah al-Rumaihi. issues of common concern.

Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, October 16, 2018 QATAR Minister meets Canadian envoy MoI seminar focuses on camping season safety procedures

QNA Doha

articipants in a seminar, organised by the Minis- Ptry of Interior’s General Directorate of Traffi c, urged all HE the Minister of Culture and Sports Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali met Canadian those wishing to go camping this ambassador to Qatar, Stefanie McCollum, in Doha yesterday. During the meeting, they discussed year to follow the health, envi- means of enhancing co-operation between the two countries in the fields of culture and sports. ronment and traffi c rules and to respect security and safety pro- cedures. The seminar focused on the new conditions and procedures for registering tents and cara- Participants attending the MoI seminar on camping season. vans and the related traffi c rules, Fourth edition of Katara Prize the necessary technical speci- try of Interior. Fahd al-Shahwani said traffi c distributing them along with fi cations, environmental viola- Colonel al-Hajri also stated patrols would be present around other safety and administrative tions, the role of the Qatar Tour- that caravans were registered the clock to respond to reports aspects. ism Authority through Al Enna during the one-year period pro- of accidents or monitoring cara- Omar al-Jaber, spokesperson for Arabic Novel kicks off project, and other topics related vided to register them. vans during the camping season. of the Al Enna project of the Qa- to the camping season. Hamad Medical Centre’s Inju- Lieutenant Rashid al-Hajri tar Tourism Authority, pointed During the seminar, partici- ry and Accident Centre Dr Aisha of the technical inspection de- to the advantages of the project QNA emony that the Katara Prize for works introducing the life and pants stressed awareness cam- Obaid pointed to the increas- partment pointed to the modern and its tracks for motor sports Doha Arabic Novel has succeeded in literary journey of Kanafani, the paigns during the camping sea- ing number of injuries caused registration system for caravans, and motorbikes. He said that the achieving its goals and in pro- Palestinian revolutionary nov- son to avoid misconduct that by unsafe driving of quad bikes, under which the numbers are re- project, which will be built over moting the Arabic novel in the elist, from his birth in Acre on could lead to loss of life, destruc- warning against its use by chil- placed with stickers on the chas- a 300,000sqm area in its fi rst he fourth edition of Katara Arab creative scene. April 1936 until his assassination tion of public and private prop- dren under 12 years of age. sis after ensuring that they meet phase, will organise the races Prize for Arabic Novel kicked Over a short period of time, by Israeli intelligence agencies in erty, or environmental damage. She said that the Injury Pre- the technical specifi cations for and tournaments carried out by Toff at The Cultural Village Katara Prize for Arabic Novel has Beirut on July 8, 1972. On the traffi c issue, director of vention Centre has warned length and width. the Mawater Centre, by provid- Foundation (Katara) yesterday. become a platform for Arab cre- A ceremony to sign books was the Awareness and Information against the use of the bike by Engineer Omar al-Awadhi of ing safe areas and conditions en- The event was attended by ative writers and intellectuals, also organised at Building 18 Department at the General Di- more than one person, and de- the Qatar General Authority for suring security and safety. novelists, critics, academics and he said, adding that this was evi- (Gallery 2). rectorate of Traffi c, Colonel Mo- manded that bike rental shops Standardisation and Metrology He added that it will feature offi cials of the Arab League Edu- dent in the increased number of On the second day of the festi- hamed Radhi al-Hajri, said that provide users with protective spoke about the compatibility of motorcycle rental shops at a sin- cational, Cultural and Scientifi c participants year after year from val, an initiative “Narrations from the camping season is witness- equipment, and urged that these existing tents and caravans with gle location, in addition to eight Organisation (ALECSO). diff erent parts of the Arab world. novels,” for school students to get ing traffi c jams in several parts bikes should not be used on pub- technical specifi cations and ATV tracks for diff erent stages The fourth edition has seen Al-Sulaiti pointed out that them acquainted with Arabic nov- of the country. He stressed that lic roads or at night. their role in meeting traffi c and and age levels. record participation with a total the achievement of the award els will be launched, in addition the directorate will show zero Meanwhile, Traffi c Investi- road safety. He pointed out that On the role of traffi c aware- of 1,283 entries received, includ- in consolidating its objectives to organising two critical semi- tolerance to any violations of the gation Department at the Gen- the authority is in the process of ness during the camping season, ing 596 in the unpublished novel in the Arab world confi rms the nars, the fi rst on the Arab feminist specifi cations set by the Minis- eral Traffi c Administration Capt. completing these standards and Lt Mohamed al-Kuwari of the section, 562 in the published success of Katara in the service novel, and the second discussing Traffi c Awareness Department novel category and 47 in the un- of the Arab creativity movement the novel and the theatre, in which MME hotline to receive complaints said that each year the depart- published studies category, in and in pursuing eff ective and a number of Arab critics and aca- ment conducts a panel discus- addition to 78 participants in the infl uential cultural initiatives at demics will take part. sion in which safety procedures category of unpublished novels Arab and global levels. The Katara Prize for Ara- The Ministry of Municipality and Environment, camping system of the three developers of the are discussed, in addition to by young writers. There were 322 Following the opening cere- bic Novel is an annual award, represented by the department of reference system (the Ministry’s website, Al Enna app and the partnership with all segments of women and 961 male partici- mony, the participants attended launched by the Cultural Village information systems, has opened a hotline government services centres), in addition to the society, organising weekly visits pants this year. Winners of the the inauguration of an exhibition Katara in 2014, as part of Katara’s (44262000) to receive inquiries and complaints system’s technical expert and the technical support to camps, and an awareness ve- prize will be announced today. featuring the life and works of mission to promote cultural ac- regarding the winter camping season. team which is divided in two categories: the remote hicle that roams the wild areas in Katara General Manager, renowned Arab novelist Ghassan tivities through a project that The hotline will be operational during the off icial support team and support team at sites. the north, south and Dukhan. Dr Khalid Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, Kanafani at Building 18 (Gallery brings together Arab voices from working hours from 7am to 2pm. The operations The winter camping season 2018-2019 will begin Lieutenant Abdul Hadi al- stressed during the opening cer- 1). The exhibition showcases 32 across the Arab world. room, which is established annually for the season, on November 1 and continue until 15 April 2019, in Marri of the General Directorate will monitor the performance of the booking several locations on the beaches and mainland. of Civil Defense urged campers system and receive any complaints related to it The registration process for camping began to ensure availability of fi re ex- and deal with it immediately. yesterday and will continue until December 31. tinguisher inside the caravan, The operating room includes the technical The first day saw a huge demand with 770 camps adding that civil defence will use competencies based on the management of the booked. motorcycles to respond to any Qatar parachuting team soars emergency at camping sites. in Australian championships CCQ hosts fi rst Universities Debate League in Arabic QNA commander of the Joint Special On Monday, Qatar won four Doha Forces attributed the achieve- medals in the FAI World Para- ments of the parachuting team chuting Championships – a gold QNA University, Hamad bin Khalifa lots in residential or commer- ing teams will walk away with to the “unlimited support” of medal in the 4-Way Sequential, Doha University and Qatar Founda- cial areas”. Commenting on the today, complemented by three he Qatar’s parachuting HE the Deputy Prime Minister two silver medals in the 2-Way tion for Education, Science and occasion, Dean of the Commu- key skills this debate tournament team won four medals in and Minister of State for Defence Sequential and 4-Way Rotation, Community Development, in- nity College of Qatar Dr Abdal- highlights self-confi dence, lead- Tthe 2018 FAI World Para- Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed and a bronze in the 8-Way for- he Community College of cluded three rounds in which the lah Hazaimeh, said: “At CCQ, ership, and team spirit. chuting Championships that al-Attiyah. mation. Qatar (CCQ) hosted the teams met on three topics. we are honoured to be hosting “We can personally iden- concluded in Australia yester- He noted that preparing the Commander al-Marri said Tfi rst Qatar Universities The rounds discussed three QUDL for the first time in col- tify with these skills at CCQ, as day, HE the Commander of the team for future internation- that one of the priorities of Debate League (QUDL) in Arabic thought-provoking topics; laboration with QatarDebate without them we couldn’t have Joint Special Forces Major Gen- al events is currently of the the parachuting team is par- for the 2018-2019 season, or- “The Council will prevent first Centre, and we firmly stand achieved the remarkable growth eral Hamad bin Abdullah al-Fe- highest priority, adding that ticipation in the state’s Na- ganised by Qatar Debate Centre world countries from attract- behind the message this event we enjoy today since the College tais al-Marri said yesterday. the team has been holding tional Day activities on De- for participants from several lo- ing competencies in third world aims to spread as well as the fi rst opened its doors in 2010. He said the achievement was a training camps abroad since cember 18 every year when it cal universities and educational countries”; “The council will Centre’s relentless pursuit of This is why we are always keen ‘modest gift’ to the Qatari lead- the beginning of the year. He stages an airshow along with institutions. not take punitive action against preparing and nurturing the on having meaningful interac- ership and the people. said the goal was to prepare the Qatari Armed Forces at The tournament, which wit- soldiers for war crimes as long future leaders of the nation”. tion with our future leaders, and Speaking exclusively to Qa- the team to excel in all inter- the Doha Corniche, Darb Al nessed the participation of stu- as they received orders”; and “There are some important life we wish the best to all partici- tar News Agency (QNA), the national events. Saai, or Katara. dents representing CCQ, Qatar “The council will seize vacant lessons we believe the participat- pating teams,” he added.

Ecuador embassy hosts ‘peace concert’

A music concert “Soul of Peace” was hosted yesterday by the Ecuador embassy to mark the 20th anniversary of the peace agreement with Peru after the two countries fought a prolonged battle that claimed many lives. American violinist Joo Young Oh and South Korean concert pianist Sonja Park were among the performers. Ecuador’s ambassador Ivonne A Baki, who participated in the negotiations that led to the peace treaty, and Peru’s envoy Carlos Velasco Mendiola spoke at the event at St Regis Doha. PICTURE: Nasar T K.

Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, October 16, 2018 QATAR Advisory Council Speaker attends IPU meet in Geneva QNA eral members of the Advisory Council Geneva and Qatar Permanent Representative to the UN Offi ce in Geneva ambassa- dor Ali Khalfan al-Mansouri. eetings of the 139th Al-Mahmoud meets speak- General Assembly of ers of parliaments: The Advi- Mthe Inter-Parliamentary sory Council Speaker HE Ahmed Union (IPU) kicked off at Geneva bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mah- Conference Centre yesterday with moud met separately with Duarte the participation of the Advi- Pacheco, chair of the Twelve Plus sory Council Speaker Ahmed bin Group, European countries, Aus- Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud. tralia and Canada and head of the The current session, which was Portuguese delegation; Jacob Mu- opened by Inter-Parliamentary denda, president of the African Union President Gabriela Cuevas Group and Zimbabwe parliament Barron, is held under the theme speaker and Wesley Simina, presi- “Parliamentary Leadership in dent of the Asia-Pacifi c Group and Promoting Peace and Develop- Micronesia parliament speaker, ment in the Age of Innovation and on the sidelines of the meetings Technological Change”. of 139th General Assembly of the The meetings will discuss a Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). number of important issues related The meetings discussed relations to the role of the world parliaments between Qatar and the Twelve Plus in promoting development and peace. Group, European countries, Australia The emergency item on climate and Canada, the African Group and change received the highest percent- the Asia-Pacifi c Group and ways to age of votes in the voting session on support, develop and strengthen such the emergency items on the agenda of relations, in addition to discussing the the IPU General Assembly. most important topics on the agenda The session was attended by sev- of the 139th IPU General Assembly. Farewell for Kenyan envoy QCDC holds training for school counsellors atar Career De- velopment Centre Q(QCDC), a mem- ber of Qatar Foundation, has organised an advanced training programme on the use of its Career Advising System (CAS). The one-week pro- gramme was implemented in partnership with the US embassy in Qatar and Al-Mansoori and Kennedy hand out the completion the Ministry of Education certificate to a participant. Ministry of Foreign Aff airs Secretary General Dr Ahmed bin Hassan al-Hammadi held and Higher Education to yesterday a farewell ceremony in honour of the ambassador of Kenya to Qatar, Galma provide training to over 90 schools in Qatar during embassy said, “We are Mukhe Boru, at the Diplomatic Club, on the occasion of the end of his tenure in the country. academic counsellors and the second semester of the proud to support QCDC A number of heads of diplomatic missions and bureaus accredited to the country attended career practitioners. 2017-2018 academic year and the Ministry of Edu- the ceremony along with the foreign ministry’s department directors. The programme famil- within the framework of a cation and Higher Edu- iarised academic and ca- memorandum of under- cation in delivering this reer counsellors with the standing between QCDC important training pro- use of CAS, a unique ca- and the Ministry of Educa- gramme to Qatar’s aca- reer advising system which tion and Higher Education. demic and career advisers. provides tailor-made so- Abdulla al-Mansoori, A comprehensive career lutions that factor in Qa- director, QCDC, said, and academic advising tar’s social and economic “This advanced training programme is an integral Embassy to mark conditions. QCDC devel- programme builds on our part of any education sys- oped CAS in co-operation achievements last year, in- tem, and we are thrilled with Kuder Inc., a world cluding the training of 70 that QCDC has chosen a leader in career plan- academic counsellors from leading American compa- ning services, and vari- diff erent schools. ny – Kuder Inc. – as their ‘Week of the Italian ous government entities, “QCDC is working to service provider.” to integrate specialised IT promote capacity building The training programme solutions into the career and instill a culture of ca- was delivered by J Clayton guidance framework in reer guidance at the core of Kennedy, a certifi ed senior Qatar. our schools’ objectives.” business consultant and a Language in the QCDC rolled out CAS Carissa Gonzalez, pub- global career development across public secondary lic aff airs offi cer at the US facilitator. World’ on Oct 18

By Joey Aguilar to the growing engagement Staff Reporter of embassies, consulates, cultural institutes and Ital- ian communities abroad, n array of cultural and along with local cultural educational activities institutions and a host of Awill mark this year’s teachers and academics, “Week of the Italian Lan- who have contributed to- guage in the World” in Doha gether to open a cultural on October 18 at Katara – the and intercultural dialogue Cultural Village, the Italian with intellectuals and rep- embassy has announced. Italian ambassador resentatives of civil soci- The annual celebration, Pasquale Salzano ety in a large number of themed “Italian and the web, countries,” he added. social networks for the Ital- the web, new information According to the embas- ian language,” is scheduled technologies and social plat- sy, the Language Centre of to take place from October forms have infl uenced the Translating and Interpret- 15 to 21 in various parts of the development of the language ing Institute, which is part of world, including Qatar. in terms of opportunities Hamad Bin Khalifa Univer- In a statement, the em- and challenges. sity’s College of Humanities bassy said the event will Italian-speaking children and Social Sciences, will also witness professor Angela aged three to eight will also mark the “Week of the Ital- Campanella teaching Ital- have the opportunity to take ian Language in the World” ian language to participants part in “exploring Italy” today (October 16) with with the aid of smartphones through a story-telling ses- Italian language lessons. and mobile applications, sion from 4pm to 4.45pm. “The Centre will use which will take place at Ka- The embassy will also of- the latest teaching tech- tara building 18 from 5pm to fer a crash course in Italian nologies, demonstrating 5.45pm. from 6pm to 6.45pm as part how Internet can be a valid “This will show how new of the celebration, teaching support in the process of technologies can help peo- participants how to greet teaching and learning a lan- ple learn a language in new people, introduce them- guage,” the embassy added. interactive ways and have selves and express their likes The “Week of the Italian fun at the same time,” the and dislikes using Italian in Language in the World” is embassy noted. an interactive and fun way. an annual event instituted The session will also dis- This session is open to adults by the Italian Ministry of cuss “how did the Internet new to the Italian language. Foreign Aff airs and Interna- change the way we speak “During these past eight- tional Co-operation, under and write in Italian” and een years, the “Week of the auspices of the Presi- “how much do people know the Italian Language in the dent of the Republic of Italy. about Italy”. It is open to World” has represented the The event is celebrated Italian-speaking children main promotional chan- abroad by the Italian cul- aged 9 to 16 years old. nel in terms of the number tural and diplomatic net- Such activities, organised of activities simultaneously work, focusing on a theme by the embassy, cater to the organised all over the world,” that acts as the leitmotif of Italian and international Italian ambassador to Qatar a vast cultural programme communities in Doha, aimed Pasquale Salzano said. to promote the diff usion of at exploring together how “This success story is due the Italian language abroad. Gulf Times Tuesday, October 16, 2018 7 QATAR HMC focuses on infection prevention and control amad Medical Corpo- man Immunodefi ciency Virus ( blood is 0.33% (about one in sion has always been proactive ration (HMC), through HIV) from patients to healthcare 300). The risk from a single in keeping infections at bay Hits Infection Preven- workers, or vice versa, is an oc- needle stick or cut exposure across all our hospitals. Each tion and Control Programme cupational health hazard faced to Hepatitis B-infected blood year we have infection control (IPCP), is encouraging clinical by healthcare providers each day. ranges from 6 to 30% while week activities to highlight the staff working across its network However, she says healthcare the average risk for infection importance of infection pre- Dr Jason Howard of hospitals to ensure they are workers can take steps to prevent after a needle stick or cut ex- vention among all healthcare taking the necessary steps to the spread of infectious diseases posure to Hepatitis C-infected professionals, administra- reduce the risk of hospital-ac- and this is why HMC considers blood is approximately 1.8%,” tors, and our patients,” says quired infections and ensure a infection prevention and control highlighted Dr al-Ajmi. Dr al-Ajmi. safe and healthy hospital envi- a priority. To reiterate its commitment According to Dr al-Ajmi, Sidra Medicine ronment for patients, healthcare “Occupational exposure to infection control, the IPCP healthcare workers can protect providers, and visitors. to blood and body fl uids in a will organise a week of activities themselves from contracting Dr Jameela al-Ajmi, executive healthcare setting has the po- from October 14 to 20 in recog- infections and substantially re- director of Corporate Infection tential to transmit viruses such nition of this year’s International duce the rates of infectious dis- to host paediatric Prevention and Control at HMC, Dr Jameela al-Ajmi as Hepatitis and HIV. The US- Infection Control Week. The ease transmission by following a said the IPCP was launched by based Centres for Disease Pre- theme for the international week number of easy-to-implement HMC as part of the healthcare Dr al-Ajmi explains that the vention and Control estimates is “Protecting Patients Every- procedures, including the use of provider’s focus on preventing transmission of bloodborne that the average risk for HIV where”. appropriate protective equip- orthopaedic the spread of infections in its pathogens such as the Hepati- infection after a needle stick or “HMC’s Corporate Infection ment such as a gown, gloves, and hospitals. tis B and C Viruses and the Hu- cut exposure of HIV-infected Prevention and Control divi- eye protection. symposium

idra Medicine will host duce novel surgical techniques a fi rst-of-its-kind or- for management of breaks to WCM-Q to organise Sthopaedic symposium the bone just above the elbow. on October 19 and 20 to share Workshops will also empha- knowledge and expertise sise the importance of age- with colleagues in Qatar and appropriate treatment of pae- beyond, it was announced diatric femoral fractures. medical humanities yesterday. Dr Jason Howard, Sidra The Paediatric Fractures Medicine’s division chief of and Polytrauma Symposium, Orthopaedic Surgery, will to be held in the Sidra Audi- join a number of hospital torium in the main hospital colleagues, and noted in- conference in Nov building, will bring together ternational experts includ- medical professionals of all ing Dr Andrew Howard from levels who participate in the Hospital for Sick Children in eill Cornell Medicine- at the university, said, “Medi- rub shoulders with those teaching treatment and management of Toronto, Canada and Dr Kai Qatar (WCM-Q), a cal schools are waking up to traditional medical school sub- Dr Alan Weber children who sustain multiple Zieberth from Bern Univer- WQatar Foundation (QF) the fact that students who have jects of biological sciences and injuries and fractures. sity Hospital for Orthopaedic partner university, is pioneering studied liberal art subjects along technology. Many of them also curriculum. These traits, which the human skull and brain. Later, Dr Abdelsalam Hegazy, a Surgery and Traumatology in an innovative curriculum that with their core science modules conduct research, lecture inter- future medical students can de- when she went on to apply for paediatric orthopaedic con- Switzerland. aims to prepare upcoming co- have highly developed thinking nationally, and lead workshops on velop by studying liberal arts residency programmes in the US, sultant at Sidra Medicine and “Ongoing learning is a vital horts of undergraduate students skills and creativity; they can the medical humanities. alongside core science modules, that single art project was what the chair of the organising part of every medical profes- for the digital era, combining put things into perspective, and At a meeting organised by the will in turn complement their made her application stand out committee, stated, “The pro- sional’s development, and as liberal arts and medicine. think outside the box.” Association of Academic Health clinical knowledge. amongst the other applications. gramme is aimed at healthcare well as the bigger picture it is The university will host next WCM-Q’s medical course re- Centres International (AAHCI) Eman al-Musleh, a former “Every single interviewer on providers from diff erent disci- important to focus on specifi c month the fi rst International quires students to take two writ- in Beirut last month, Dr Weber student at WCM-Q, a member of the selection board at the uni- plines, to help provide the best areas like paediatric patients Conference on Medical Humani- ing intensive humanities cours- presented WCM-Q’s innova- a group of students who in a 2016 versities I applied to, seemed care for our paediatric trauma who require particular care ties in the Middle East – the fi rst es, ranging from literature and tive methods that explore ways experiment conducted jointly by fascinated by – and delighted patients. It will combine both and attention when it comes of its kind in the region. history to philosophy and soci- to enhance medical education WCM-Q and Virginia Common- with – the artwork I had pro- interactive and didactic ses- to dealing with multiple inju- WCM-Q’s initiatives refl ect ology, to learn humanistic ways through the study of humanities. wealth University School of the duced during my studies at sions with an aim of providing ries. Sidra Symposiums bring the wider commitment of QF of thinking that include critical The conference focused on Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) WCM-Q,” she said. “In fact, the holistic care.” together experts from Sidra to providing holistic training and analytical skills, creativity, the urgency to prepare medical used art as a means of interpret- director of the paediatric resi- Sessions will include lec- Medicine and beyond to help aligned with the latest advances and problem-solving. students for a future where dis- ing medicine. dency programme I am enrolled tures presenting the most up boost knowledge, technical in specifi c sectors, including Faculty at WCM-Q are drawn ruptive technologies might af- Along with Abdul Rahman, a in now, even approached me to date evidence for the treat- skills and patient care across healthcare. from diff erent disciplines – ex- fect the role of doctors, and their VCUarts Qatar student, al-Mus- for help in developing art ther- ment of multiple paediatric diff erent job functions and or- Dr Alan Weber, a professor at perts in literature, fi lmmaking, relationships with their patients, leh created a 3-D paper sculpture apy courses for medical intern fractures, and hands-on skills ganisations,” commented Dr WCM-Q who teaches English languages, history, and philosophy by including liberal arts in their that represented an MRI image of wellness.” workshops which will intro- Howard. Obesity centre at HMC treats Mazaya Qatar hands 800 patients every month over Sidra residential

he National Obesity the more signifi cant obesity-re- Treatment Centre at Ha- lated risk factors become. Tmad Medical Corpora- “The causes of obesity are compound to QF tion (HMC) sees between 800 complex. There may be many and 900 patients each month, interrelated factors, such as ge- azaya Qatar has hand- “A company was appointed shop, restaurants and other according to an offi cial. netics, lifestyle, diet, underlying ed over Sidra resi- to manage and maintain the shops on an area of about “ Obese patients should con- health conditions, and how an Mdential compound to village of Sidra Compound af- 1,800sq m to serve the resi- sult with their doctor before be- individual’s body uses energy,” the Qatar Foundation (QF) for ter a tender was issued. The dents of the village complex ginning a weight-loss journey. said Dr Mokhtar. Education, Science and Com- company was selected among of Sidra housing. A BMI (body mass index) equal According to Dr Mokhtar, un- munity Development. the major companies special- Mazaya Qatar chairman to or greater than 30 is a ma- derstanding and making lifestyle Sidra Residential Compound ised in the management and Rashid bin Fahd al-Naimi, ac- jor risk factor for a number of changes isn’t always easy but she has 1,165 residential units cov- maintenance of residential companied by the company’s chronic diseases,” said Dr Marwa says it is the key to long-term ering an area of 143,000sq m, complexes and was contracted executive management, toured Gomaa Hussein Mokhtar, a weight loss. She says in general, developed by Mazaya Qatar for to manage the compound for a the village’s residential fa- consultant at Qatar Metabolic the greater the degree of weight the Qatar Foundation under period of fi ve years,” said Ma- cilities and carried out all the Institute, HMC. loss achieved, the greater the build-operate-transfer (BOT) zaya Qatar board member and project facilities and residen- World Obesity Day is observed health benefi ts. scheme for 20 years. The con- chief executive Hamad bin Ali tial buildings and ensured that globally on October 11 to pro- “All of our weight loss pro- tract between the two parties al-Hedfa. they were ready to receive the mote practical solutions to end grammes emphasise lifestyle stipulates that the rent pay- The village comprises a residents of the Sidra residen- the global obesity crisis. modifi cations, specifi cally ad- ment is payable by a six month commercial shopping centre tial compound, which has ex- “ Once an individual under- justments to the type and quan- in advance, Mazaya Qatar said that includes several shops tensive green areas through- stands what factors are contrib- tity of food consumed and the Dr Marwa Mokhtar Reem al-Saadi in a statement to the Qatar from a library, supermarket, out the complex, totalling uting to weight gain, a health- incorporation of physical ac- Stock Exchange. pharmacy, laundry, coff ee 13,000sq m. care professional can help them tivity. Lifestyle changes are the juice, and energy drinks are of- pressure or high cholesterol,” set appropriate weight loss mainstay of weight loss treat- ten loaded with sugar and extra observed al-Saadi. goals. This year we’ve seen ap- ment and are important for calories and can contribute to The serving size and number proximately 6,000 patients at the long-term maintenance of weight gain over time,” said al- of servings per package section the National Obesity Treatment weight loss,” said Dr Mokhtar. Saadi. of a nutrition label show how Centre,” noted Dr Mokhtar. Reem al-Saadi, director of “All packaged foods have nu- many servings are in the package Temporary closure on Istiqlal Street Dr Mokhtar says for some in- Dietetics and Nutrition at HMC trition labels but many people do and how big a serving is, which dividuals, weight loss is essen- said that dietary changes are an not know how to read them. It can is generally listed as ‘cups’ or tial to avoid or manage chronic essential part of the weight loss be confusing because food labels ‘pieces’. In addition to listing the he Public Works Author- diseases and conditions associ- equation. can display nutrition claims that energy within a serving size, the ity (Ashghal) will put in place ated with obesity, such as dia- “Making healthier choices are misleading. Knowing how to nutrition label also contains in- Ta temporary closure of two betes, pre-diabetes, high blood when selecting meals and bev- read food labels is especially im- formation on protein, total fat, lanes on Al Istiqlal Street in both pressure, and osteoarthritis. She erages is a simple way to eff ec- portant for those who have health saturated fat, carbohydrates, directions between 5/6 Interchange says the longer a person is obese, tively increase weight loss. Soda, conditions, such as high blood sugar, protein, sodium, and fi bre. and Onaiza Intersection (known as the Qatar Club Intersection) starting from today. The other two lanes on Al Istiqlal Street will remain open to traffi c. The closure will last until October Mitsubishi Outlander and Lancer models recalled 23, in co-ordination with the General Directorate of Traffi c. The closure aims to pave the last he Ministry of Economy assembly may become weak. ordinate with the dealer to fol- to its Consumer Protection and layer of asphalt on Al Istiqlal Street and Commerce (MEC), in The MEC said the recall cam- low up on the maintenance and Anti-Commercial Fraud De- and will be implemented in two Tcollaboration with Qatar paign comes within the frame- repair works and will commu- partment through the following phases to ensure free traffi c fl ow. Automobiles Company, has an- work of its ongoing eff orts to pro- nicate with customers to ensure channels: Call centre: 16001, Ashghal will install road signs ad- nounced the recall of Mitsubishi tect consumers and ensure that that the necessary repairs are e-mail: [email protected], Twit- vising motorists of the changes on Outlander and Lancer models of automobile dealers follow up on carried out. ter: @MEC_Qatar, Instagram: the road and has requested all road 2008-2009 because the adhe- vehicles’ defects and repair them. The MEC has urged all cus- MEC_Qatar, MEC mobile app for users to abide by the speed limit and sive strength of the sunroof glass The MEC said that it will co- tomers to report any violations Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar follow the road signs to ensure safety. Gulf Times 8 Tuesday, October 16, 2018 QATAR

Barwa Bank announces draw winners of Thara’a savings account prize

arwa Bank has announced odic draws for cash prizes. To- off ers account holders access to the names of the winners talling QR3.3mn, Thara’a cash Barwa Bank’s innovative bank- Bfor the October draw of rewards are distributed on both ing channels, with benefi ts Thara’a, its Shariah-compliant a monthly and biannual basis to including unlimited withdraw- savings account, in a ceremony customers holding a minimum als and deposits, as well as free held at the bank’s headquar- balance of QR10,000. fund transfers across their ac- ters under the supervision of a On a monthly basis, there are counts and through all Barwa representative of the qualita- 21 winners per draw for the cash Bank channels. tive licence and market control prize of QR5,000 each, as well Barwa Bank off ers an exten- department at the Ministry of as two winners per draw for the sive variety of personal bank- Economy and Commerce. cash prize of QR10,000. ing products and investments, Nouf Ibrahim al-Sada and Additionally, twice-a- as well as seven strategically Haytham Mohamed al-Ahmed year, there are two winners located branches and a broad each won a cash prize of per draw for the cash prize of network of ATMs located across QR50,000. Also, a cash prize QR25,000 each, two winners Qatar. worth QR25,000 was awarded per draw for the cash prize of Customers can access their to Noora Mohamed al-Naimi QR50,000 each, and yearly, accounts from the convenience and Khalid Jumah al-Marzouqi, there are two winners of the of their offi ce or home through respectively. grand prize of QR1mn for each the state-of–the-art online Thara’a off ers account hold- winner, rewarding 194 win- banking, or via the 24/7 Contact ers the chance to benefi t from ners in total with cash prizes Centre. cash rewards up to QR1mn, a up to QR3.3mn. Customers may learn about fi rst for Islamic banks in Qa- Coupled with cash prizes the many benefi ts of Thara’a tar. Based on several criteria, and a reward scheme, Thara’a savings account by visiting Thara’a account holders are is a product full of value-added www.barwabank.com or by eligible for a number of peri- benefi ts and services. Thara’a calling 800 8555.

Ooredoo COO Yousuf Abdulla al-Kubaisi and Doha Bank managing director Sheikh Abdul Rahman bin Mohamed bin Jabor al-Thani shake hands after signing agreement. Looking on are Sheikh Saud bin Nasser al-Thani, chief executive off icer of Ooredoo Group and Waleed al-Sayed, deputy CEO of Ooredoo Group and CEO of Ooredoo Qatar. Ooredoo to manage ICT services for Doha Bank Blueair Joy S is available in diff erent colours.

oredoo has signed a land- tract, Ooredoo will guarantee ing that their systems are being to invest in new technologies and mark agreement that will Doha Bank a seamless managed monitored by experts in Qatar, we are willing to change with the Osee the company deliver ICT service, encompassing tel- round the clock. dynamics of technology, using a end-to-end managed ICT serv- ecommunications, IT networks, “Only Ooredoo off ers the most world-class partner.” Blueair launches Joys S ices to Doha Bank. cybersecurity, and data centre comprehensive suite of managed Ooredoo has a host of serv- The agreement was signed solutions. To ensure Doha Bank’s business services available in the ices to provide a higher level of by Ahmad Ali al-Hanzab, head information is secure, the bank country, supported by world- support for companies in Qatar, lueair, a world leader in small as 0.1 micron in size,” it Health Organisation, air pollu- of Administration & Property will now move both their main class global partners. This is why including hosting and co-loca- air purifi cation solu- was explained. Joy S, with an tion is the world’s single biggest Department at Doha Bank, and and back-up data centre to Oore- we are the partner of choice for tion, web content delivery, data Btions, has launched Joys intuitive one-button control environmental health threat. Yousuf Abdulla al-Kubaisi, doo’s world-class Qatar Data Qatar’s organisations.” backup and restoration, business S – a powerful air purifi er with has a 200-cubic-metre-per- Exposure to indoor air pollu- Ooredoo chief operating offi cer, Centre. Ooredoo will also refresh Al-Hanzab added: “We are continuity and disaster recovery, cutting-edge, portable design hour clean air delivery rate and tion can lead to a wide range of in a ceremony held at the Doha Doha Bank’s network infrastruc- proud to have Ooredoo as part- infrastructure monitoring and and in fi ve diff erent colours, whisper-quiet performance. diseases including acute and Bank tower. The event was also ture to support the organisation’s ner to support Doha Bank’s in- management, and IT security for Jumbo Electronics announced The new Blueair product as- chronic respiratory conditions attended by Sheikh Saud bin mission critical operations. formation and communications businesses. yesterday. sures clean air for an area of such as chronic obstructive Nasser al-Thani, chief execu- Al-Kubaisi said, “The move to technology. This agreement is Business customers can lev- “Backed by Swedish exper- 16sq m every 12 minutes, mak- pulmonary disease and pneu- tive offi cer of Ooredoo Group; our world-class data centre will a culmination of several agree- erage the Ooredoo Advantage, tise, Joys S has HEPASilent fi l- ing it ideal for the small and monia, lung cancer, ischemic Waleed al-Sayed, deputy CEO enable Doha Bank to have com- ments over the past years and making Ooredoo “Best for Busi- tration technology, which uses medium rooms found in many heart disease, stroke and cata- of Ooredoo Group and CEO of plete control over their services will off er us the opportunity to ness”, thanks to its breadth and a combination of electrostatic Gulf homes. The unique prod- ract. Polluted indoor air can Ooredoo Qatar, and Sheikh Ab- and a host of ICT solutions, all explore a wide range of technolo- depth of talent, best fi xed and and mechanical processes to uct design and technology also trigger asthma and aller- dulrahman bin Mohamed bin Ja- based within the state of Qatar. gies and ensure the security and mobile networks, broadest port- remove 99.97% of airborne helps to deliver clean air with gies. bor al-Thani, managing director Thanks to this new agreement, privacy of all ICT services com- folio of ICT services and solu- pollutants, bacteria, viruses, al- minimum energy consumption Joy S is available at across of Doha Bank. Doha Bank and their customers prising telecommunications, IT tions, and trusted partner for 60 lergens, microplastics, smoke, of 1.5 watts. Jumbo Electronics and leading As part of the fi ve-year con- will have peace of mind, know- networks, and data. We are proud years. dust, pet dander and pollen as According to the World hypermarkets. Gulf Times Tuesday, October 16, 2018 9 QATAR Maxus confi rms participation in Qatar Motor Show

axus, the SAIC brand auto brands,” a press statement the products of Shanghai Au- including Fleet Van of the Year, represented in Qatar noted. tomotive Industry Corporation Best New Van, Innovation Award Mby Auto Class Cars, has In addition to the new D90, (SAIC). It is among the most and also Van of the Year for four confi rmed its participation in the Maxus pavilion will display respected companies for light consecutive years (2005-08). Qatar Motor Show 2018 that will the Maxus pick-up T60, Maxus passenger and cargo transport. After its acquisition by SAIC take place at Qatar Exhibition V80 15/16 seater and G10 7/9 It embodies a century of expe- Motors in late-2000, it was re- and Convention Centre from seater – two premier people rience and unmatched technical branded and re-developed into October 17 to 21. mover solutions. These two ve- prowess in commercial vehicle the Marquee brand for SAIC “Maxus calls car lovers to visit hicles, along with the Maxus V80 development. The Maxus brand Motors. Maxus is distributed its dedicated pavilion to attend and G10 commercial panel vans, is now universally revered as a across four major continents the launching ceremony of the will be available at the Maxus legend in the international com- and is being recognised for the Maxus D90, the new SUV con- showroom on Salwa Road. mercial vehicle industry. level of comfort, technology and cept that is an excellent exam- Formerly known as LDV (Ley- Over the years, the Maxus sophistication that it off ers, the ple of the innovation of Chinese land DAF Vans), Maxus is one of brand has won several awards, statement added. The Maxus T60. CMU-Q professor Briefi ng session held for students on ‘Education stresses signifi cance Excellence Day’ Award

he organising committee of the Education Preparatory and Secondary Student categories, Excellence Day (EED) Award yesterday the Outstanding Research Project for secondary Theld an introductory session for students students and the EED Award for the Outstanding of climate change in private schools to brief them on the terms and School. The prize is awarded to one government conditions to apply for the award. and private school. arnegie Mellon Univer- responsible investment, corpo- The meeting also targeted parents of Qatari Each winning school will receive QR100,000, a sity in Qatar’s ( CMU-Q) rate governance, and smart city students and diff erent private schools across Qa- certifi cate of excellence and a gold medal. CChadi Aoun shared his development. tar, as main stakeholders and partners in the suc- This session comes within the eff orts of the or- expertise on the environmental “We know the climate is cess of the award, the Ministry of Education and ganising committee to introduce the EED Award underpinnings of climate change warming all across the globe that Higher Education said in a press statement. and expand its scope of participation among at a public lecture hosted by the the oceans are warming up and The event was held in line with the vision to private schools, the statement noted. The next Qatar Investment Authority that carbon dioxide emissions promote the culture of excellence and introduc- phase will witness the competition of private (QIA). are rising off the charts. This is a ing the Qatari society to diff erent categories of schools in all categories of the award, the Out- Aoun, who is an associate global problem, but we also have the EED Award, the statement noted. standing Primary, Preparatory and Secondary teaching professor of informa- the global means to solve it to- The session was attended by Dr Hamda al- Student categories as well as the Outstanding tion systems, spoke to business gether,” said Aoun. Sulaiti, executive chairperson of the EED Award; Research Project for secondary students and the leaders and QIA members about During a lively question and Mona Mohamed al-Kuwari, executive vice-pres- EED Award for Outstanding School. the implications for eff ective answer session, Aoun spoke about ident; as well as Hassan Abdulla al-Mohamedi, A number of related events and workshops governance with respect to cli- the measures people can take on chairman of the executive committee; and Mona are organised to familiarise students in private mate change and sustainability. an individual basis to help off set al-Jabr, chairperson of the Outstanding Primary schools with the diff erent award categories and In his introduction to the harmful environmental conse- Student jury committee. raise their awareness about the requirements for seminar, Dr Tariq al-Sabbagh, quences of modern living. Other key members of the EED Award organ- the application. The organising committee of the the general counsel of QIA, ex- “In workshops with my stu- ising committee also took part in the session, EED Award has been receiving applications since plained the eff orts of Qatar to dents at CMU-Q, I discuss how including Hissa al-Hammadi (Outstanding Sec- October 1. The committee has called on all Qa- protect the environment, as well Chadi Aoun speaking at the event we can change our behaviours ondary Student jury committee), Dr Abdul Nass- taris who meet the requirements to submit their as the role of QIA, as a sovereign with regard to fi ve things we do er al-Ansari (Outstanding Research Project jury nominations before the deadline of October 31. wealth fund, in the recent initia- sues,” al-Sabbagh said. He also spoke about emerging every day. These are: the food committee) and Hind al-Abdullah (Outstanding Schools shall receive all applications from their tive of “One Planet.” During his talk, Aoun high- pollutant pricing mechanisms we eat, the clothing we wear, our School jury committee). respective students for the Outstanding Student “We are delighted to have lighted the work of the Inter- and the importance of the Paris housing, the transport we use, and Dr al-Sulaiti welcomed and praised the au- award (primary, preparatory and secondary) and Dr Aoun give this important governmental Panel on Climate Agreement, which was ratifi ed the leisure activities we engage in. dience members who came in large numbers, for the Outstanding Research Project award (for talk. This seminar forms part Change (IPCC) in galvanising in 2016 by the majority of the I let my students know that as stating that their presence refl ected the increas- secondary students only). Schools can nominate of our eff orts at QIA to educate international governments to world’s nations, including Qatar. individuals we can vote with our ing recognition of the importance of the award themselves for the Outstanding School award. All our members and to create an recognise and take action on cli- Aoun emphasised the impli- feet, and our riyals, in order to cre- among students and parents alike. Dr al-Sulaiti nominations must be handed by schools to the awareness of environmental is- mate change. cations of these initiatives on ate a sustainable world.” called on private schools to seize the opportunity Department of Public Relations and Communi- to encourage their respective Qatari students to cations at the Ministry of Education and Higher apply for the award. Education. The application forms can be re- During the meeting, the audience was intro- trieved from the website of the ministry at www. WISE takes part in duced to the mission, vision and objectives of edu.gov.qa/eed global forum in Paris the EED award. The speakers explained the as- For more information about the award, visit Drive against abandoned vehicles sessment criteria for all categories of the award, http://www.edu.gov.qa/Ar/EED/Pages/default. The World In- with a special focus on the Outstanding Primary, aspx or dial 155 – 44044567 – 66657707. novation Summit for Education l Sheehaniyah Munici- (WISE), an pality’s General Control Municipality Ministry’s initiative of Qatar ADepartment has con- Foundation (QF), ducted an inspection campaign survey on services has participated in the second to locate and remove aban- conference of Paris, part of a series doned vehicles and equipment The Ministry of Municipality and Environ- of gatherings organised by the within its jurisdiction. ment’s (MME) Planning and Quality International Economic Forum of The campaign included 80 Department has launched a survey to the Americas (IEFA) that focus on inspection campaigns covering measure public satisfaction on the servic- assessing globalisation, and how Abu Nakhla, Umm Bab, Camel es of municipalities. The launch coincides diff erent stakeholders can respond Racing, and Al Sheehaniyah with the launch of the MME’s Sustain- to and shape it. Hosted by the areas. able Strategic Plan 2018-2022. Through Organisation for Economic Co- Also inspected were building this survey customers could assess the operation and Development, the violations and legal procedures performance of relevant employees and conference saw WISE contribute were taken accordingly. Al the quality of services. Meanwhile, Doha to a session exploring the key chal- Shamal Municipality organised Children attending an environmental awareness programme Municipality’s Health Control Department lenges of digital literacy in a time of an awareness lecture on wild hosted by Al Shamal Municipality. issued 18 violation reports of food health technological disruption. WISE has plants and trees spread of the and safety regulations in September, in ad- been the IEFA’s preferred educa- Qatari environment for the pu- dition to seven administrative decisions to tion partner for the past four years. pils and students of the schools temporarily close some food facilities. Stavros Yiannouka (pictured), and kindergartens. Special CEO of WISE, who participated in a focus was given to Ghaf trees panel discussion at the Conference and other species and their Food inspection of Paris, said: “Education can be importance for environmental a driver in reforming capitalism balance. Al Wakrah Munici- Al Daayan Municipality’s Health Control so that it can continue to be an pality organised a 5km walking Section conducted 462 food inspections engine for global peace and pros- competition at Al Wakrah Pub- during the third quarter of this year, covering perity. For this to happen, however, lic Park in co-operation with a Some of the abandoned vehicles which were removed. various food shops. These resulted in issuing we need to restore the primacy of private company. Employees seven violation reports of Law No 8 for 1990 the values of the enlightenment: and their families participated. at Al Rayyan Municipality in contracts and 241 commercial. on the regulation of human food control. In science, reason and humanism.” The number of real estate September amounted to 1,143. The total registration fees col- addition, two food facilities were closed and rental contracts registered These included 902 residential lected amounted to QR728,777. 224 warnings issued. Gulf Times 10 Tuesday, October 16, 2018 REGION/ARAB WORLD

TRAGEDY Man dies as storm slams Oman Yemen confl ict could push millions more to brink of famine: UN At least one person was killed when tropical storm Luban slammed into the southern coasts of Oman and neighbouring Yemen, Omani civil defence said yesterday. The man was found dead late Sunday in Reuters Yemen has been torn apart by situation deteriorates, the World Verhoosel said. The agency is ing weapons. Yemen tradition- a valley in the province of Dhofar, which borders eastern Yemen, the Geneva more than three years of civil Food Programme (WFP) said scaling up its emergency food ally imports 90% of its food. sultanate’s civil defence said. News of the death came as a Yemeni war between the internationally it feared millions struggling to and nutrition aid to reach 8 mn All its air, land and sea ports off icial warned the storm had left the country’s eastern province of recognised government, backed make ends meet would succumb Yemenis every month, he said. were currently functioning, Mahra in “disaster”. The area was a “disaster because of the torrential he number of Yemenis on by a Saudi-led military coalition to severe hunger and disease. The Saudi-led alliance, which but fi ghting around Hodeidah rains that hit the province and caused great losses to public and the brink of famine could and based in the south, and the “If this situation persists, we is backed by Western countries was preventing WFP workers private property”, said Mahra governor Rajeh Bakrit, quoted by the Trise to 12mn — or two in fi ve Houthi movement that controls could see an additional 3.5mn led by Britain and the United from reaching its 51,000 tonnes off icial Saba news agency. “The situation is catastrophic in the prov- of the population — from around the north, including the capital severely insecure Yemenis...who States supplying weapons and of wheat stocks at the Red Sea ince and beyond the capabilities of the local authorities,” Bakrit said, 8.5mn in coming months due to Sanaa. urgently require regular food as- intelligence, imposed a blockade Mills facility — enough to feed calling on a Saudi-led coalition backing the internationally recognised escalating war and a deepening As fi ghting intensifi es, partic- sistance to prevent them from on Hodeidah for several weeks at 3.7 mn people in northern and government in Yemen’s war to step in and provide support. economic crisis, the United Na- ularly around the main port city slipping into famine-like condi- the end of last year, saying it was central Yemen for one month, For his part, Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed bin Dagher called on tions food agency said yesterday. of Hodeidah, and the economic tions,” WFP spokesman Herve to prevent Houthis from import- Verhoosel said. international relief organisations to assist the eastern province. Militants fail to quit Syria

Matthew Hedges, a British academic, was seized at the Dubai airport as he attempted to leave the country buff er, throwing following a two-week trip. British academic charged deal into doubt AFP with spying by UAE govt Beirut

Reuters that Matthew Hedges, a British this month, but was not informed ilitants in Syria’s Idlib failed to Dubai citizen, has been charged with of any charges, his wife, Daniela meet a deadline yesterday to leave spying for and on behalf of a for- Tejada, said, adding that she had Ma planned buff er zone ringing the eign State, jeopardising the mili- been told his trial would resume country’s last rebel bastion, casting fresh British academic has been tary, economy and political secu- on Oct 24. doubt over a deal to avert bloodshed. charged for spying in the rity of the UAE,” the government “Matt was in the UAE to carry A Russian-Turkish truce agreement AUnited Arab Emirates, UAE said in a statement. out academic research for his reached nearly a month ago for the north- authorities said yesterday, fi ve Investigators had gathered PhD. Since he was detained on western region gave “radical fi ghters” until months after he was arrested at evidence from Hedges’ electronic May 5, 2018 he has only ever been October 15 to leave a proposed demilitarised the end of a study trip. devices and intelligence from granted two consular visits which area between government and opposition Matthew Hedges, a 31-year- UAE security agencies, the state- is in direct violation of his rights,” forces. old doctoral student at Durham ment said. The British Foreign she said. The accord was a last-ditch eff ort to stave University, was arrested on May 5 Offi ce did not immediately reply According to Durham Univer- off a regime onslaught on Idlib, the largest at Dubai airport after a two-week for a request for comment. British sity’s website, Hedges is a doctoral rebel stronghold left in war-ravaged Syria visit and has been kept in solitary authorities have said they raised student in the School of Govern- and home to around 3mn people. confi nement since then, his wife Hedges’ case with the UAE previ- ment and International Aff airs But the target date for the withdrawal Daniela Tejada said last week. ously. Hedges appeared at a court whose research interests include came and went without any hardliners leav- “The Attorney General of United in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi last civil-military relations, political ing. Arab Emirates...confi rmed today week, after a fi rst hearing earlier economy and tribalism. “We did not document the withdrawal of any fi ghters from the entire demilitarised zone,” Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor, said yesterday morning. Militants had until midnight Sunday to Damascus reopens key crossings yesterday to pull out, according to Abdel Rahman and two rebel commanders in Idlib. Syria’s government said it would take with Jordan, annexed Golan “time” to judge if the deal had failed. “We have to wait for the Russian reaction. A Syrian rebel-fighter from the National Liberation Front (NLF) enters a building in the Russia is monitoring and following the situ- rebel-held Al-Rashidin district of western Aleppo’s countryside near Idlib province, yesterday. AFP Muallem said after talks in Damascus with his Iraqi ation,” said Foreign Minister Walid Mual- Golan Heights counterpart Ibrahim Jaafari that the country’s Albu lem. from the buff er hit regime positions and acceptance of the Sochi deal and its imple- Kamal border post with Iraq would also reopen “as An Idlib resident said civilians in the killed two soldiers, the Observatory said, mentation”.The onus was now on Ankara soon as possible”. Even though Syria’s government northwestern region feared a spike in vio- indicating heavy arms may still be in the and Moscow — the deal’s two sponsors and losed for years due to the civil war, Syria still controls only around half of the border cross- lence if the Russian-Turkish accord col- zone. the chief powerbrokers of the Syrian war — yesterday reopened a vital border post with ings with its neighbours, Assad’s forces have made lapsed. The apparent violation came just ahead to overcome the missed deadline. CJordan as well as a crossing into the Israeli- major advances near Jordan and seized almost the “We fear the deal’s sponsors will fail to of the deal’s second and more consequential “October 15 is a test of Turkey’s ability to controlled Golan, as President Bashar al-Assad’s entire province of Quneitra this summer. implement all its points, and that the bom- deadline: a full militant withdrawal of the implement the deal, but at the same time it’s regime bolsters its control after sweeping advances Syrian businessman Hisham Falyoun, who lives bardment and battles will return,” he said. zone by yesterday, paving the way for Russia a test of Russia’s intentions and how serious against rebels. in Jordan with his wife and children, was the fi rst Hours before the cut-off time, Idlib’s and Turkey to monitor the area. it is about continuing the agreement,” Hel- Two white jeeps crossed into Israeli-controlled person to cross the border in his black Mercedes heavyweight group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham HTS has yet to take a formal stance on the ler said. territory during a low-key ceremony to mark the jeep. “I wanted to be the fi rst person to cross to vowed to continue fi ghting. Sochi accord and its most recent statement It would show whether Moscow was reopening of the Quneitra crossing in the Golan show everyone that Syria is safe, Syria is back,” said HTS and other, more extreme militants made no mention of the deadline. committed to keeping the deal alive or “im- Heights, four years after it was closed when Syrian Falyoun, who was hoping to surprise his parents in hold over two-thirds of the planned buff er But it and other militants appeared to plementing it to the letter,” he said. rebels seized nearby territory. Damascus. area, and over half of the rest of Idlib. have quietly pulled out their heavy arms in Russia has hinted it could accept a brief Dozens of kilometres to the south and three years The border crossing, known as Jaber on the Jor- Their withdrawal was seen as the real test line with the fi rst deadline on October 10. delay if it meant the spirit of the deal was after it too was closed, a black metal border gate danian side and Nassib on the Syrian side, was a key of the accord reached on September 17 be- That, observers said, could indicate that still upheld. opened at the Nassib crossing into Jordan as police trade route before Amman closed it after the post tween rebel backer Ankara and regime sup- hope was not yet lost for the buff er. Nicholas Heras, of the Center for a New and customs offi cials stood nearby. was overrun by rebels in April 2015. porter Moscow in the Russian resort town of “Even if the agreement is not fully imple- American Security, however warned HTS The Jordan crossing was previously a major trad- In Quneitra, the reopening was the result of a Sochi. mented today, it doesn’t mean that it’s not was “playing with fi re” and could cause ing route, while the remote Quneitra post is used deal between Israel, Syria and the United Nations. The deal provides for a 15-20 kilometre holding,” said Haid Haid, research fellow Turkey to use military power against it. primarily by a United Nations force which monitors It will allow forces from the UN Disengagement buff er zone semi-circling opposition-held at the International Centre for the Study of “While it is true that Turkey does not a ceasefi re line separating Israeli-occupied parts of Observer Force (UNDOF), which has around 1,000 areas in Idlib and the neighbouring prov- Radicalisation. want a battle against HTS in Idlib, the Turks the Golan Heights from Syria. troops, to patrol the area of the crossing, after inces of Latakia, Hama, and Aleppo. HTS would seek the “best possible sce- also want to keep the deal they made with Their reopening were indications of a clear trend withdrawing in 2014 when Al-Qaeda-linked rebels It set a fi rst deadline of October 10 for all nario” for its own survival, but that may in- Russia.” in Syria’s civil war, with Assad’s government — overran the area. Israel seized control of much of rebels and militants to pull heavy weapons clude “a partial withdrawal”. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said backed by Russian and Iranian military support — the Golan Heights from Syria in a 1967 war and from the zone, a task which Turkey, the Ob- Sam Heller, an International Crisis Group the Idlib is only “temporary,” and that the taking back huge swathes of land in the past year. later annexed it, in moves never recognised by the servatory, and rebels said was done on time. analyst, said the ambiguity in HTS’ state- area would eventually fall back to govern- Also yesterday, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid international community. But late Saturday, mortar rounds fi red ment “could be seen as a sort of implicit ment hands.

Navigation suspended at Kuwaiti ports over bad weather Troops shoot dead Palestinian in West Bank The Kuwait Ports Authority yesterday suspended maritime navigation at Shuwaikh, Agencies There was no immediate Pal- Palestinians began a wave of school had been the source of Shuaiba and Doha ports owing Jerusalem estinian comment. knife and car ramming attacks months of violence, with stones to bad weather in the country, Israel’s Shin Bet internal se- in the West Bank and in Israel thrown at a nearby major road QNA reported. curity service said the fi ghter, in 2015, after peace talks with used by its forces and Israeli The Kuwait Ports Authority told sraeli soldiers shot dead a whom it did not name, was a Israel collapsed. Such incidents settlers. Kuwait News Agency (Kuna) Palestinian who tried to stab resident of the West Bank vil- have become more sporadic. The school serves the Pal- that it stopped navigation in Ione of them in the occupied lage of Biddya and had no record Palestinians want the West estinian villages of As-Sawiya the three ports yesterday, due West Bank yesterday, the mili- of anti-Israeli activity. Bank, captured by Israel in the and Al-Lubban south of Nablus to low horizontal visibility as tary said. Biddya was the home village 1967 Middle East war, to be part and is located on a main road a result of a dust wave in the The incident occurred at a of a 47-year-old Palestinian of an independent state and through the West Bank. country. bus stop along a main highway woman who died of a head inju- most countries consider Jewish The Israeli army on Sunday Despite the abnormal weather near the large Jewish settlement ry on Friday caused by what her settlements built in the area to issued an order for the school condition as a result of a of Ariel. husband said were rocks thrown be illegal. to be closed, but students tried sudden sandstorm, aviation “A Palestinian attempted to at their car by Israeli settlers. Meanwhile, clashes broke to enter yesterday morning activities at Kuwait International stab a soldier at the site. Our The Shin Bet statement, in out in the occupied West Bank alongside some offi cials, AFP Airport continued as usual, said troops fi red at him and he was its reference to Biddya, made after Israeli forces ordered the journalists said. Israeli soldiers the Kuwait General Directorate killed. There were no casualties no mention of Friday’s incident, closure of a Palestinian school, and border police fi red tear gas Palestinians run away from tear gas fired by Israeli forces during of Civil Aviation (DGCA). among our forces,” the military which Israeli police are investi- AFP correspondents said. at protesters, including into the clashes over an order to shut down a Palestinian school in the town of said in a statement. gating. The Israeli army said the school premises. As-Sawiyah, south of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, yesterday. Gulf Times Tuesday, October 16, 2018 11 AFRICA

SUPERSTITIONS WAGE WOES TOURISM BOUNTY EMPLOYMENT Malawian kills 105-year-old S Africa plastics sector Kanye West gifts sneakers Missing billionaire’s E Guinea strongman hands grandmum for ‘witchcraft’ hit as thousands strike to Uganda’s Museveni family off ers reward top military posts to family

A Malawian man has been arrested for Thousands of South African plastics sector Kanye West and his wife Kim Kardashian The family of Tanzania’s only billionaire Mohamed Equatorial Guinea’s President Teodoro Obiang murdering his 105-year-old grandmother workers began a strike yesterday over pay yesterday paid a visit to Ugandan President Dewji, who was kidnapped last week in Dar Nguema, who has ruled the small, oil-rich state after suspecting her of “witchcraft,” police and benefits, halting operations at some Yoweri Museveni, gifting the 74-year-old leader es Salaam, yesterday announced a reward of with an iron fist since 1979, has appointed several said yesterday. Matias James, 30, beat his companies, the union and firms said. The workers, a pair of white sneakers. Rap megastar West is nearly half a million dollars for information on his members of his family to top military positions. grandmother Ellina Anderson to death represented by the National Union of Metal in the east African nation to finish recording his whereabouts. Gunmen snatched Dewji, 43, listed by His graft-tainted son Teodorin Nguema Obiang, with a wooden stick in southern Chiradzulu Workers of South Africa (NUMSA), are demanding ninth studio album Yandhi, which was meant to Forbes as Africa’s youngest billionaire, as he entered who is already vice-president, was appointed district after accusing her of using black the same rights as those in the engineering drop two weeks ago, until his surprise decision a hotel gym in Tanzania’s economic capital on major general in the army to mark the country’s magic to make him unable to get a job. sector represented by the Metal and Engineering to go and record in Africa to “feel the energy”. Thursday morning. “The family is off ering a reward 50th anniversary of independence from Spain Police spokesperson Yohane Tasowana told Industries Bargaining Council (MEIBC). NUMSA’s Museveni welcomed them to the country on his of a billion shillings ($437,000) to any person who late last week, a statement said yesterday. The DPA James had got drunk before going to spokeswoman Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said the Twitter account. “I held fruitful discussions with has information leading to the whereabouts of our 76-year-old leader also made his brother-in- his grandmother’s house and killing her on union members’ grievances included a reduction the duo on how to promote Uganda’s tourism son,” family spokesman Azim Dewji told a press law Victoriano Nsue Okomo and his cousin Friday. Cases of the elderly being killed over in the minimum wage from 40 rand ($3) to and the arts. I thank Kanye for the gift of white conference. Interior Minister Kangi Lugola said last Jose Eneme Obama generals. His son-in-law witchcraft are not uncommon in Malawi where 20 rand per hour, lack of bonuses as well as sneakers. Enjoy your time in Uganda. It is the week that security forces were “working day and Fausto Abeso Fuma was given the rank of air superstition runs deep. increased working hours without overtime pay. true Pearl of Africa,” he wrote. night” to find Dewji, with 20 people arrested so far. commodore.

Zimbabwe also needs a #MeToo moment, says acclaimed author

By Michelle Fitzpatrick, AFP Frankfurt

hirty years after her iconic debut novel, Zimbabwean Tauthor Tsitsi Dangarem- bga is back with a fi nal look at her heroine’s harrowing jour- ney through the Mugabe years, hoping to spark debate about violence against women in her country. Often praised as a leading fem- inist voice, Dangarembga shot to fame in 1988 with Nervous Con- Zimbabwean author Tsitsi ditions, a coming-of-age story Dangarembga speaks to AFP at about a girl’s battle to escape the Frankfurt book fair. poverty and get an education. The book became an instant one does manage.” classic. Nervous Conditions, recently Since then, Dangarembga said named by the BBC as one of 100 little had changed for women in stories that shaped the world, Zimbabwe. and its 2006 sequel The Book of “Women are still being si- Not were both narrated in the lenced,” she told AFP at the fi rst person — but the fi nal book Frankfurt book fair where she is written in the second person. presented This Mournable Body, Dangarembga said she opted the fi nal instalment in the trilogy for the unconventional “you” Supporters of former president Henri Konan Bedie play music ahead of a meeting of the Parti Democratique de la Cote d’Ivoire (PDCI) in Daoukro, Ivory Coast. featuring her bowed-but-not- point of view because some of broken protagonist Tambudzai. Tambu’s experiences were “so As in real life, the book de- emotional and painful” that she scribes a country where women needed distance from her. “suff er disproportionally” and The story ends at the turn of abuse by men is so normal it the millennium, around the time barely registers as gender vio- that Dangarembga, who is also Protesters demand Ivory Coast an award-winning fi lmmaker, lence, Dangarembga said. “Violence is very much part moved back to Zimbabwe after of the fabric of our society and I living in England and Germany believe we have to address this... for years. if we want to overcome it.” The author said she wanted to vote results, police use teargas see with her own eyes the land Dangarembga, 59, said she has been trying to get a #MeToo seizures she heard about on the AFP clashes which left one man dead. day morning by the Independent Elec- Ouattara and the historically dominant campaign started in Zimbabwe news. Abidjan “People had gathered outside the po- toral Commission and signed off by the PDCI, has ruled Ivory Coast since 2010. to highlight the abuse and dis- She witnessed Mugabe’s his- lice headquarters to demand that the representatives of all the candidates but But in the run-up to the Saturday’s crimination suff ered by women, toric ouster in a de facto coup last results be declared,” Georges Ezaley told by Sunday evening, they still hadn’t an- elections, their alliance broke down, with as the viral movement had yet to year but said she doesn’t “really iot police fi red teargas overnight to AFP, a candidate with the Ivory Coast nounced them,” Ezaley said. “There is each fi elding rival candidates in many ar- make waves in her country. see things changing in the post- break up crowds of demonstrators Democratic Party (PDCI). something amiss here.” eas. “I want to talk about my own Mugabe era”, as the country’s Rdemanding the release of results “At around 1am, the police broke up the By yesterday morning, the results had During the vote, a man in his 30s was story of abuse, which really wrecked economy undergoes a from a tense weekend election in Ivory crowd by fi ring tear gas, many people were still not been published. killed during clashes between rival politi- robbed me of eight years of my fresh bout of chaos. Coast, a candidate and witnesses said. wounded, mainly older people,” he said, Saturday’s elections were overshad- cal groups in Lakota, a town in the south, life. I want to be one of the people “I think that because of the A number of people were injured dur- his words confi rmed by a local resident. owed by tensions within the ruling RHDP where supporters of the independent in the #MeToo spots.” way Mr Mugabe was removed ing the incident which occurred over- “The people were surrounding the po- coalition, which is divided over who mayor clashed with those of his RHDP But her eff orts have oun-fl from power, the government night in Grand-Bassam, a beach resort lice headquarters to wait for the results, should be its candidate in the upcoming challenger. dered so far, she said, running today has to be more circum- town near Ivory Coast’s main city Abid- they were teargassed,” the resident said, presidential election in 2020. Scuffl es and clashes also occurred up against a lack of funding, the spect...it needs to cultivate le- jan and followed a day of tension over speaking on condition of anonymity. The two-party coalition, which com- elsewhere in the area where campaigning reluctance of families to let their gitimacy.” Saturday’s elections that were marred by “The results were validated on Sun- prises the RDR of President Alassane took place in a very tense atmosphere. daughters speak out and a lack But with Mugabe’s downfall, of support from civil society “a myth was done away with”. groups. “Now people believe that With her trilogy, Dangarembga things are possible, and that’s paints a bleak picture of the years good.” under former president Robert Dangarembga’s appearance at Google launches Motorbike Mode navigation in Kenya Mugabe’s rule, touching on eve- last week’s Frankfurt book fair rything from racism to economic came as African writers grabbed hardship and the traumas of the spotlight at the annual event Reuters Inc, already provides the service in Asian congested, making it hard for boda boda Malindi on the coast. The company has also post-colonialism and war. with a record 34 publishers from Nairobi nations, such as India. drivers to pick up customers when they set aside 100mn shillings ($992,000) to train Despite the sometimes des- 19 countries on the continent “For over a million Kenyans, boda bo- hail them by phone. Kenyan farmers in digital skills, it added. perate circumstances, Danga- showcasing their work. das are a convenient and aff ordable way to “What prevents us from picking some Google’s Kenya manager, Charles rembga said Tambudzai’s strug- “This is an exciting time to be oogle said yesterday it would off er move and transport goods from one place clients is lack of navigation. If the road Murito, said the company had targeted gles to fi nd employment or put an African author,” Dangarem- Motorbike Mode on Google Maps to another,” Google said in a statement. doesn’t have a clear name and you are new farmers because it employed 40% of the food on the table were never de- bga said, noting that there was Gin Kenya, off ering the voice navi- “With Google Maps’ new Motorbike to the area, you get lost,” said Ben Chelule, population and accounted for a third of void of hope. also “a big rush” to make African gation service for bike riders in Africa for Mode, users across Kenya will now be a 24-year old boda boda driver in Nairobi. gross domestic product (GDP). “This is about your average fi lms and television shows. the fi rst time. able to get directions and turn-by-turn Google also said it was launching its “We want to see the power of technol- Zimbabwean woman who is do- “These are where the new sto- Kenyan roads are full of motorcycles navigation, to suggest routes that are Street View service in Kenya for the fi rst ogy elevate small scale farming. We hope ing nothing special apart from ries are that shed another light taxis, known as boda bodas, that are more effi cient,” it said. time, allowing users to virtually explore via that through this initiative, we will see a surviving day to day,” she said. on our shared humanity. I think much cheaper rides to car taxis. Streets in Kenyan cities and towns are its images 9,500km of roads in cities such positive impact in food security, job crea- “Sometimes one doesn’t do it’s beautiful the world is begin- Google, part of the US fi rm Alphabet often poorly signposted and frequently as Nairobi and holiday destinations such as tion and GDP growth in Kenya,” he said. it elegantly, or very morally, but ning to understand that.”

Hi-tech peer-to-peer networks let Nigerian farmers log on for cash in tough times

Reuters Its co-founder and CEO Onyeka Aku- work on a subsistence basis and live on Lagos mah says the company has so far helped less than $2 a day. 7,000 small-scale farmers receive a total Farmers complain that they lack the of $6mn from 2,000 investors since it access to aff ordable loans needed to cov- t looked like the end had arrived for launched two years ago. er their costs until harvest time. Adewale Fatai’s chicken farm. Mon- He said 95% of investment comes from Farmcrowdy and another fi rm, Thrive Iey was running out. Built to house within Nigeria. Agric, allow investors to choose a farm 30,000 chickens, the farm was producing The typical investment starts from on the Internet and decide how much to fewer than 2,000 chicks. around 90,000 naira — $300 — too lit- invest. They advertise returns of around His family had no funds to lend, and tle to interest many banks but enough to 12% to 20% for investments in soybeans, Nigeria’s banks weren’t interested. help keep a small farm going until har- maize, tomatoes, poultry and cattle. Instead, he went online. vest. Investors buy a funding stake and are Two years later, Fatai now has 20,000 Since taking offi ce in 2015, President kept updated on the progress of crops. chickens. Muhammadu Buhari has said he aims to “One of the primary problems we were Flanked by thousands of chirping birds revitalise the agriculture sector in Af- trying to solve was solving the problem of at his farm in Nigeria’s southwestern rica’s most populous nation to reduce the access to funds for farmers: giving them the Ogun state, Fatai says his operation was Opec member’s reliance on oil exports right expertise for them to grow and also saved by Farmcrowdy, one of a breed of and cut down on costly food imports. linking them to markets,” said the CEO of new peer-to-peer lending companies But local farmers face multiple chal- Thrive Agric, Uka Eje, at his offi ce in Abuja. aiming to match farmers with small in- lenges — from fl oods, to a lack of elec- He said some $2.7mn had been raised vestors. tricity to regulate irrigation, to fi ghting by 1,670 investors for nearly 10,000 Farmcrowdy uses videos and photo- with semi-nomadic cattle herdsmen farmers since the company’s launched graphs to show off farms to prospective that has claimed hundreds of lives this in 2017. His company provides farmer investors, willing to tie up a bit of cash un- year. clients with expertise as well as fundrais- Men work on the Thrive Agric’s farm in Jere, Kaduna, Nigeria. til harvest time and collect a small return. Most of the tens of millions of farmers ing, he said. Gulf Times 12 Tuesday, October 16, 2018 AMERICA

US Senator Warren, mocked by Trump Trump, Melania arrive in as ‘Pocahontas,’ releases DNA test

By Doina Chiacu, Reuters hurricane-hit Panhandle Washington

Reuters Rescuers said they expected the S Senator Elizabeth Warren has released Eglin Air Force Base, Florida death toll to rise and they were using a DNA test that shows “strong evidence” cadaver dogs and heavy equipment Ushe has Native-American heritage, a to search collapsed homes in small smackdown of President Donald Trump’s ridi- S President Donald Trump towns such as Mexico Beach and cule of her as “fake Pocahontas” while she sig- and First Lady Melania Panama City for more victims. nals a possible 2020 presidential run. UTrump yesterday travelled Rescue eff orts have been ham- Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, said last to Florida’s storm-ravaged Panhan- pered by blocked roads and huge month she would take a “hard look” at running dle to see the destruction caused by piles of rubble in many communities for the Democratic nomination to challenge Re- deadly Hurricane Michael. such as Mexico Beach, which took publican Trump in 2020. The president and fi rst lady arrived a direct hit from the massive storm She and Trump clashed frequently through the at Eglin Air Force Base in the Panhan- that killed at least one person there. 2016 presidential campaign and Trump has cast as- dle, Florida’s northwestern region, “If we lose only one life, to me persions on her claim to Native-American ancestry. and were to check out part of Georgia that’s going to be a miracle,” Mexico “When I decided to run for Senate in 2012, I that also was hit by Michael before Beach Mayor Al Cathey told Florida never thought that my family’s Native American returning to the White House yester- media. heritage would come under attack and my dead day evening, the White House said. Cathey told ABC News that 46 parents would be called liars,” she said in a state- Trump last month visited North people out of the town of some 1,000 ment yesterday. “And I never expected the presi- and South Carolina after they were residents remained missing or unac- dent of the United States to use my family’s story hit by Hurricane Florence. counted for on Sunday. as a racist political joke.” Trump was expected to hold a Survivors grappled with power Trump taunted Warren over the issue at a July briefi ng with Florida Governor outages and shortages of food and rally in Montana. “I will give you a million dol- Rick Scott, a fellow Republican, at water amid the mazes of uprooted lars to your favourite charity, paid for by Trump, the base located about 160km west trees and debris. if you take the test and it shows you’re an Indian,” of where Hurricane Michael came Electricity and telephone serv- he said. “I have a feeling she will say no.” ashore on Wednesday as one of the ice were being slowly restored but it However, when Trump was asked yesterday most powerful storms on record could be weeks before power returns US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump make their way yesterday to board Marine One from the about the DNA test, he said, “Who cares?” as he to make landfall in the continental to the state’s most damaged areas. South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC. left Washington to visit hurricane-stricken areas United States. More than 1,700 search and res- in Florida and Georgia. Insured losses for wind and storm cue workers were deployed, Scott’s Air Force optimistic on hurricane-hit fi ghter jets Warren provided the DNA test results in a surge from Hurricane Michael will offi ce said, including seven swift- statement, showing the lineage goes back six to run between an estimated $6bn and water rescue teams and nearly 300 The United States Air Force said fighter jets that could not be flown out weathered the storm for mainte- 10 generations. $10bn, risk modeller AIR Worldwide ambulances. Sunday that a group of F-22 stealth to safe havens due to maintenance nance or safety reasons,” it added. The analysis of Warren’s DNA was done by said. In Panama City, Fire Chief Alex fighters left behind at a base to ride or safety reasons. The unit cost of the “Visually, they were all intact and Carlos D Bustamante, a Stanford University pro- Those fi gures do not include loss- Baird said search-and-rescue teams out Hurricane Michael were intact but aircraft is around $150mn, which soars looked much better than expected fessor who the Boston Globe reported was an ex- es paid out by the National Flood In- were now in “recovery mode” after it was too soon to say whether all of to over $330mn when research and considering the surrounding damage pert in the fi eld. surance Program or uninsured prop- largely giving up hope of fi nding any them would fly again. development are priced in. to some structures. The professor concluded that most of the sen- erty, AIR Worldwide said. more survivors. Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida “As we drove through the base and “Our maintenance profession- ator’s DNA shows European ancestry, but there is Michael hit the Florida Panhandle Trump is fully committed to help- was hit by the Category 4 storm on assessed the damage, it was clear als will do a detailed assessment of a Native-American segment. with 250kph winds as a Category 4 ing state and local agencies with the October 10 and suff ered extensive that the hurricane’s toll was severe in the F-22 Raptors and other aircraft Warren has said that her Native-American an- hurricane on the fi ve-step Saffi r- recovery, the White House said. damage, with some hangars partially places, especially around the Tyndall before we can say with certainty that cestry possibly goes back to the 1700s, including Simpson scale. It was announced late on Sunday stripped of their roofs, according to flightline,” said a statement attributed damaged aircraft can be repaired and Cherokee blood on her mother’s side, according At least 18 people in four states that he declared a state of emergency off icial footage of the coastal facility. to Secretary of the Air Force Heather sent back into the skies. to family lore. have died because of the storm. in Georgia, freeing up federal re- Numerous reports had speculated Wilson and other senior off icials. “However, damage was less than Warren’s release of the DNA results could be a Dozens of people remained miss- sources for the state. on the fate of an unspecified number “We also looked into each of the we feared and preliminary indications prelude to a possible presidential run. ing on Sunday in Florida Panhandle A similar declaration had already of the ultra-advanced fifth-generation hangars that housed aircraft which are promising.” Known as a liberal fi rebrand in her party, War- communities left in ruins. been made for Florida. ren is a former Harvard Law School professor who has championed populist economics in- cluding student loan reform and a higher mini- MIT backs $1bn college for artifi cial intelligence mum wage. Warren was an architect of the Consumer Fi- The Massachusetts Institute ing and AI by an American nancial Protection Bureau set up after the 2008 of Technology yesterday an- academic institution. ‘Harvard discriminates against Asian-Americans’ fi nancial crisis and has been a strong voice in the nounced plans to create a new The initiative comes amid US Senate on fi nancial issues. college of artificial intelligence growing concerns about the Reuters borne out on Harvard’s campus, Adam toric patterns of racial discrimination, Trump has repeatedly called Warren ‘Poca- with an initial $1bn commitment impacts of artificial intelligence Boston Mortara, a lawyer for SFFA, said in his hurts white people and Asian-Ameri- hontas’, the name of a 17th century Native Amer- for the program focusing on on global institutions, and fears opening statement. cans, who outperform other minority ican teenager, to draw attention to a controversy “responsible and ethical” uses of that China is overtaking the Harvard pushes down the scores groups on academic measures. over her heritage raised during Warren’s 2012 the technology. United States in this field. arvard University discrimi- Asian-Americans receive on “person- SFFA alleges that despite strong Senate race. Warren, campaigning with Demo- The prestigious university “There is no more important nates against Asian-American al” rating that measures an applicant’s scores on a variety of academic and cratic candidate Hillary Clinton in 2016, attacked said it would add 50 new faculty opportunity or challenge facing Happlicants in order to illegally subjective likability, grit and positiv- extracurricular measures, Asian- Trump as an “insecure money grubber” who is members and create an interdis- our nation than to responsibly limit how many it admits, a lawyer for ity and improperly allows race to play American applicants received the low- driven by greed and hate. ciplinary hub for work in compu- harness the power of artificial a group suing the school said yesterday a factor in those scores, Mortara said. est score of any group on a subjective “I hope she’s running for president, because I ter science, AI, data science, and intelligence so that we remain at the start of a closely watched trial. “There’s no other possible explana- “personal” rating assigned by Harvard think she’ll be very easy,” Trump said as he left related fields. competitive globally and The non-jury trial before US District tion,” he said. admissions offi cials. Asian-Ameri- the White House. A large part of the new funds achieve breakthroughs that Judge Allison Burroughs in Boston pits Harvard is expected to deliver its cans, who represent about 6% of the will come from a gift from will improve our entire society,” the Ivy League school against Students own opening statement later. US population, comprise 23% of Har- Stephen Schwarzman, chairman Schwarzman said. for Fair Admissions, whose 2014 law- It denies discriminating against vard’s current freshman class. and co-founder of the financial “We face fundamental ques- suit challenges the use of race as a fac- Asian-Americans, saying their rates The US Justice Department, which giant Blackstone, after whom tions about how to ensure that tor in college admissions decisions. of admission have grown signifi cantly launched a related probe of Harvard the new college will be named. technological advancements SFFA, which is headed by anti-af- since 2010. after Republican President Donald “As computing reshapes our benefit all — especially those fi rmative action activist Edward Blum, The lawsuit, backed by the Trump Trump’s election, has backed SFFA’s world, MIT intends to help make most vulnerable to the radical claims that Harvard illegally engages administration, could eventually reach case, saying that Harvard has not se- sure it does so for the good of changes AI will inevitably bring in “racial balancing” that artifi cially the Supreme Court, giving the newly riously considered alternative, race- all,” said MIT president Rafael to the nature of the workforce.” limits the number of Asian-American cemented fi ve-member conservative neutral approaches to admissions. Reif. The new college is slated to students at the elite school. majority a chance to bar the use of af- The Justice Department last month An MIT statement said the open in September 2019, with Even statistics showed Asian- fi rmative action to help minority ap- launched a similar investigation into initiative represents the single a new building scheduled to be Americans applicants outperformed plicants get into college. whether Yale University also discrimi- largest investment in comput- completed in 2022. other racial groups on academic meas- Conservatives argue that affi rma- nates against Asian-Americans, an al- ures, yet that was not necessarily tive action, which aims to off set his- legation it denies. Senator Warren ... blood trail Hard sell? Met Opera seeks to lure millennials

By John Biers, AFP weak period for ticket sales. help people make that fi rst step reduce crowding at the box of- New York New music director Yannick through the door because there’s fi ce because so many more peo- Nezet-Seguin signaled more less classical music knowledge in ple buy tickets at the last minute change in a September interview the younger generations that are compared with the subscription- he Metropolitan Opera is with the New York Times, an- coming through,” she told AFP. loving generations of the past. digging deep into its bag nouncing plans for collabora- Marketing around the per- The new space will allow for Tof tricks as it attempts to tors with the Public Theater and formances seems designed to post-performance drinks or lure in younger generations more the Brooklyn Academy of Music disabuse notions that the Met group talks. familiar with Mozart in the Jungle and plans for newer politically- will be stuff y, showcasing opera’s Surveys show young viewers than its long-dead inspiration. tinged works, such as an opera endless capacity for timeless are interested in social experi- At a ‘Fridays Under 40’ party adaptation of Dead Man Walking. yarns about betrayal, confl ict and ences, an endeavour that also earlier this month, young opera “This is a very strong message intrigue, as well as love and sex. helps publicise the Met if experi- prospects, some donning tuxedos that I want to send: about how Verdi’s Otello has been dubbed ences are posted to social media, and gowns, took selfi es with cast opera is actually for everyone,” Fatal Attraction, while Donizetti’s Brierley said. extras and mingled over wine and Nezet-Seguin told the newspa- comedy La Fille du Regiment pays Amanda Reyes, who is taking cheese in a space set below one of per. ode to the Pat Benatar’s campy a masters in industrial organi- the Met’s signature Marc Chagall “It’s an illusion to think that classic, Love is a Battlefi eld. sation psychology, said she was murals. everyone will love it. But it’s not Brierley said the marketing is drawn to opera while growing up Others gathered on a terrace an illusion to try to make every- intended to convey that the work in Ohio, but didn’t explore it un- overseeing Lincoln Center as an one feel welcome to it.” will satisfy audience hunger for til hearing about the Met’s pro- anticipatory buzz built ahead of Nezet-Seguin is the replace- narrative and storytelling. gramme. an opulently-staged perform- ment for James Levine, whose Potential opera converts are “I like the idea of it, but it ance of Samson et Dalila mo- exit was accelerated last year also focused on an opera’s title seemed like something out of ments later. amid accusations of sexual abuse. and composer, recognition of reach,” she said in an interview. The parties, 10 in all through- To an extent, the Met’s dilem- singers and production style, she “A lot of it is to know you won’t out the season and off ered at a ma is mirrored at other leading added. be the only younger person here.” discounted ticket price for a per- opera houses such as Paris and “It’s just wonderful to see the She has since come several formance, are part of the Met’s Milan, which have also launched surprise and the joy of people at- times, seeing Carmen and Mad- eff orts to reposition itself as it Guests attend the ‘Fridays Under 40’ event at Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center for the Performing programs to draw in millennials. tending for the fi rst time. ama Butterfl y, among others, and rethinks its artistic vision under Arts in New York City. But the Met’s size of around And once you get them com- bringing other newbies to the a new music director. 3,800 exceeds other major hous- ing for the fi rst time, invariably parties. The initiatives are meant to Ticket sales are stable, but well the Met’s credit rating, writing orchestra and chorus unions to es by more than 1,000 seats and they’ll come back,” she said, add- She tells friends, “’Come, you put the 135-year-old organiza- below the standards of opera’s that the opera group would “con- begin off ering Sunday matinees poses particular challenges. ing that a key “is to take away the can dress up, there’ll be drinks tion on stronger fi nancial footing golden era in the last century. tinue to attract audiences and next year, a potentially signifi - Another factor is that fewer intimidation of coming into the and snacks and you can enjoy by eff ectively off setting inevita- In the 2017-8 season, the donors,” but that “box offi ce rev- cant boost given the popularity schools in the US teach about building.” the space for a little bit,’” she re- ble declines in the audience that house sold 67% of seats out of enue will likely continue to soften of the Saturday matinee. music, notes Gillian Brierley, as- She said the Met planned to counted. remembers Pearl Harbor and the total revenue capacity, the same in keeping with sector trends.” In another key step, the Met sistant general manager for mar- make use of a second entrance “Even if people aren’t super- JFK shooting with one whose as the prior season, according to Just ahead of the start of the also announced it would extend keting and communications at that will become available in late interested in the opera, that’s seminal experiences were 9/11 Met data. 2018-9, the Met announced that its season into June and take a the Met. fall. usually enough to get them to say, and the fi nancial crisis. Moody’s in May downgraded it reached agreement with its mid-winter break in February, a “We have a lot of work to do to The revamp was needed to ‘Yeah I’ll check it out.’” Gulf Times Tuesday, October 16, 2018 13 ASIA Thai junta leader social media campaign backfi res

AFP est in standing in the election litical parties and campaigns Thai general election through talk in a polite way,” Puttipong Bangkok next year. were imposed after the military its proxies and affi liated parties told AFP. “I think the prime On Sunday, the premier’s ousted Yingluck Shinawatra’s since 2001. minister is fi ne with it.” man-of-the-people persona was government in a coup four years Puttipong Punnakanta, dep- One Facebook commenter n onslaught of nega- displayed on his newly launched ago, ushering in the most dra- uty secretary general to the pre- named Karnokporn Pongsat- tive feedback fl ooded Facebook page in a post ask- conian Thai government in a mier, played down the social me- tapichate voiced her “love and Athe offi cial Facebook ing for “suggestions” from his generation. dia push – which also includes a faith” in the junta leader amid page of Thailand’s premier followers on his government’s “Banning others from doing Twitter page and an offi cial web- the social media pummelling. Prayut Chan-O-Cha a day policies. campaign via social media but site, sleekly designed to show- “Stay as long as possible. We after it was launched over the The reaction was swift, gar- opening a Facebook account for case Prayut’s achievements and are afraid the bad guys will come weekend, backfi ring on the nering more than 9,000 com- himself?” said Suvipan Jampa in personal history. back and burn down the country junta leader’s attempts to get ments in less than 24 hours, with a comment that garnered 1,300 The website, which uses the again,” she wrote. “suggestions” on the social the majority of them negative. reactions. slogan “Stability, prosperity, Her comment got just 11 likes. media platform. “You are a burden for this “He is thick-skinned.” sustainability”, also features a A nationwide vote is required As Thailand counts down to country. You are a deadweight Some were more direct in their survey section where visitors can to take place by May and senior much-anticipated elections fol- of the country,” wrote com- condemnation. select their favourite policies by military leaders have fl oated a lowing four years of military menter Kraisorn Chuakram. “If “I will vote for Pheu Thai in the junta-led government. February 24 election date. rule, former general Prayut has you don’t resign, let’s make the the next general election,” said Puttipong said that Prayut’s However, a new constitution started portraying a softer side election free and fair.” Facebook user Sichai Patthana. social media outreach is “noth- written by the generals will see it to the public. Many also pointed out the hy- The Pheu Thai party, led by ing related to a political cam- asserting a strong infl uence over The gruff former general has pocrisy of launching an online former premier Yingluck be- paign” and is simply a way to any future civilian governments incited intense speculation over “campaign” while parties are fore she was deposed, is as- “communicate” with the Thai with a junta-appointed upper his political aspirations through still under a partial political ban, sociated with the Shinawatra public. house and a provision that ad- his frequent public appearances which bars them from public clan – a powerful and wealthy “It’s fi ne that people have ministrations must stick to their Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha attending a reception and photo opportunities – de- politicking or holding rallies. family that enjoys widespread negative comments or diff erent “national strategy” for the next in Bangkok. spite insisting he has no inter- Sweeping restrictions on po- support and has won every points of views, but they should 20 years. Maldives leader Bangladesh editors protest blames defeat on ‘disappearing ink’ AFP honeymoon island nation had ‘anti-press’ digital law been expected to romp home Colombo in the election, with opposi- AFP tion leaders jailed or exiled, Dhaka utgoing Maldives and warnings that he would President Abdulla try to fi x the vote. OYameen has told the But in a surprise turn of angladeshi newspaper Supreme Court that disap- events, a little-known united editors yesterday staged pearing ink and specially opposition candidate, Ibrahim Ba protest demand- treated ballot papers were to Mohamed Solih, was declared ing sweeping amendments to blame for his heavy election the winner, sparking celebra- a newly enacted digital law defeat last month. tions across the tropical holi- that journalists and rights The comments came as the day destination. groups say will curb freedom of court considered a petition by Yameen initially said he ac- expression. Yameen to have the September cepted defeat, and was ready Critics say the measures – 23 election result annulled due to step down when his term including prison sentences for to what his party called “ram- ends on November 17. But spreading “negative propagan- pant” vote-rigging. last week he launched the Su- da” – are an attempt by Prime Yesterday afternoon the preme Court challenge seek- Minister Sheikh Hasina to sti- fi ve-judge bench put off the ing a fresh vote. fl e dissent in the South Asian case until next day when it At a hearing on Sunday nation. will announce whether to al- which resumed yesterday, Sixteen members of the low testimony from three uni- Yameen’s lawyer Mohamed Sampadak Parishad, a council dentifi ed witness named by Saleem accused the printer of of top editors, stood in front Yameen’s lawyers. coating ballot papers with an of the National Press Club in Members of the Newspaper Editors’ Council of Bangladesh form a human chain in front of National Press Club demanding an amendment to His lawyers told a packed court unnamed substance to make Dhaka, holding their hands the newly enacted digital law yesterday. room that the trio of yet uniden- votes marked in Yameen’s box to form a human-chain – a tifi ed witnesses could substanti- vanish. popular form of protest in tences for spreading “negative in its current form it “opposes discuss the issues – but the pres- arrested during massive student ate Yameen’s allegations. Saleem said a “special pen Bangladesh. propaganda” on a digital de- independent journalism and ident went ahead and signed the protests in the capital Dhaka for However, the country’s in- with disappearing ink” was They also held a banner that vice about the country’s war of free press”. act into law last week. making “false” and “provoca- dependent Elections Com- also given to people who were read “abolish the anti-freedom independence or its founding He said nine sections of the Rights groups in Bangladesh tive” statements on Al Jazeera mission (EC) through its law- going to vote for his client, a of expression articles in the leader Sheikh newly passed law should be including Human Rights Watch and Facebook Live. yers insisted that the petition reporter at the hearing said. digital security act”. Mujibur Rahman. amended in the fi nal session and the International Federation He is being investigated for was based on false allegations Counting offi cials also alleg- According to the Digital Se- The law also allows police of parliament before the gen- of Journalists have condemned allegedly violating Bangladesh’s and should be dismissed. edly carried secret pens with curity Act 2018, a journalist to arrest a journalist without eral election, due to be held in the bill. already stringent internet laws Local media also reported which they marked ballots for could be convicted of espionage any warrant and confi scate his December or January. Prime Minister Hasina, how- enacted in 2006. four of the fi ve election com- the opposition. for entering a government of- equipment. Top editors and journalists had ever, defended the law saying “if Rights groups, UN rights ex- missioners have fl ed the coun- A lawyer for the EC denied fi ce and gathering information Mahfuz Anam, editor of the held a last-minute meeting with there is no criminal mind, there perts, Nobel laureates and hun- try and sought refuge in neigh- any wrongdoing, including secretly using any electronic mass circulation Daily Star government ministers demand- is no reason to worry”. dreds of academics have called bouring Sri Lanka following using any special ink. Yameen device – an off ence that would newspaper, said the protesters ing that nine sections of the The law was enacted weeks for the immediate release of the death threats after Yameen lost had also accused the EC of carry a 14-year jail sentence. were not against the principal legislation be changed. The law after top Bangladeshi journalist 63-year-old, who says he has the September 23 vote. colluding with the printer of It also carries similar sen- of a digital security law, but that minister promised that he would and activist Shahidul Alam was been beaten in custody. The strongman leader of the the ballots. Bhutan’s not-so-happy evicted Nepal puts royal minority – the Lhotshampa crown on display

By Ashok Dahal, AFP as a royal doctor when the king’s its mystic draw, along with its ties also have to fi eld candidates IANS Beldangi refugee camp, Nepal edict was promulgated. pursuit of “gross national hap- in all 47 constituencies. Kathmandu “They humiliated us... they piness” – made offi cial policy in The rules have created a mono- said that we are not Bhutanese 1998 – over economic gains. lithic political environment leav- he Himalayan nation of and chased me and my people It only swapped absolute ing little room for minority rights, epal yesterday put on Bhutan, often described from the country,” Rai said. monarchy for constitutional eff ectively disenfranchising the display the royal crown Tas a “Shangri-La” where The king off ered him protec- monarchy in 2008 and the cur- Lhotshampa who remain in Bhu- Nused by former kings happiness is equated to wealth, tion from the Draconian rules, rent elections, due to wrap up tan from the electoral process. after 10 years of the abolition is holding elections this week. introduced under the pretext of on Thursday, are the country’s It is unclear how many of the of monarchy in the Himalayan But the Lhotshampa people, promoting “national harmony”. third. community are still in Bhutan: country. brutally driven out of the small But the doctor decided to join Bhutan still describes the a 2017 census did not include Amid a special ceremony in kingdom in the 1990s, won’t be his fellow Lhotshampa and left Lhotshampa as immigrants, questions about ethnicity, lan- the Narayanhiti Palace Mu- voting. Bhutan, becoming a refugee in justifying its nationalistic laws guage or religion, which would seum in Kathmandu, Nepali The Nepali-speaking Lhot- Nepal. as essential for cultural identity have given an indication of how Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli shampa were branded as immi- “They treated people of Nepa- and political stability, according many people identify as part of unveiled the royal crown, one grants and stripped of citizen- li origin like enemies. I cannot to Freedom House, a think tank. Nepali-speaking, mostly Hindu of the most important symbols ship rights when the then-king respect them any more, though The refugees in Nepal do not minority. of monarchy used by kings for introduced a “One Nation, One I admit that I used to clean their expect the elections to bring any The government has pre- hundreds of years. People” policy in 1985. wounds. I was their doctor,” the change. vented human rights groups Nepal exhibited the crown, The edict made following the 68-year-old said. “The election results in established by Nepali-speakers sceptre, tiara and the sword Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli observes the royal crown customs of the Buddhist major- Rai is one of just 7,000 peo- Bhutan will refl ect what the from operating, categorising among other valuable items of former monarchs of Nepal, placed inside a bulletproof box at ity mandatory, including wear- ple who remain in the camps in monarchy wants. Its decision them as political organisations used by the former royal fami- Narayanhiti Palace Museum in Kathmandu yesterday. ing their traditional dress, and Nepal. The majority have been won’t come in our favour,” said that do not promote national lies, exactly a decade after Ne- speaking Nepali was banned. resettled by the United Nations 80-year-old Durga Prasad Shar- unity, according to the US State pal was declared a federal re- ment, the crown consisted Although the museum was Those who resisted where la- in third countries including the ma – an outspoken pronounce- Department. public country, the Himalayan of 730 diamonds, over 2,000 open for the public from 2009, belled “anti-nationals”, arrested United States, Australia and ment that would be unheard of In the lead up to the 2008 and Times reported. pearls, precious rubies and oth- some of the priceless items in- and subjected to brutal treat- Norway. inside Bhutan where self-cen- 2013 polls there were reports of Speaking at the ceremony, er gems. The government said cluding the crown were not put ment, according to Amnesty In- But the UN programme ended sorship is rife and the monarchy small protests by Nepali-speak- Oli said that the crown refl ect- it had no estimate of the mon- on public display for security ternational. in late 2016 with those remain- still revered. ers unable to vote, and during ed the change in the political etary value of the royal crown reasons. The security forces made de- ing refusing resettlement be- Sharma fl ed Bhutan in 1994 the 2013 elections internation- system of Nepal and the rich as jewellers called it a priceless Now, the spectacular crown tainees sign declarations saying cause they say it absolves the with a bounty on his head af- al monitors also documented history of the country. artefact. has been kept inside a special they would leave Bhutan vol- Bhutanese authorities of what ter he joined a political par- Nepali-speakers being turned “We need to preserve and There was also no exact data bullet-proof glass box with untarily as a condition of their they did to the Lhotshampa. ty demanding rights for the away from polling centres. respect our history. The palace about when and where the layers of machinery and human release. Switzerland-sized Bhutan – Lhotshampa. “We are also Bhutanese and museum will be developed as a crown was made. The royal pal- security. Some 100,000 – one sixth sandwiched between regional gi- Such political parties are now we are not happy,” said 54-year- history museum that not just ace was converted into a mu- Among the 52 chambers in of Bhutan’s population – fl ed, ants China and India – has long banned under the constitution, old Rajman Gurung. “Lhot- refl ects about monarchy but seum after the abolition of the the palace, only 19 have been ending up in refugee camps in resisted outside infl uences, with which states that all parties have shampas in Bhutan are unhappy. also diff erent dynasties and 239-year-old monarchy and opened for public observation eastern Nepal. televisions only allowed in 1999. to promote national unity and We will be happy only if we are periods of Nepal, its culture departure of the last King of the so far while the government has One man who left Bhutan is Its fi ght against Westernisa- are barred from using ethnicity repatriated to our country and and diversity.” Shah Dynasty Gyanendra Shah expressed its commitment to Bhumpa Rai, who was serving tion is often seen as a source of or religion to attract voters. Par- given equal status.” According to the govern- from the palace in 2008. open up all soon. Gulf Times 14 Tuesday, October 16, 2018 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Taiwan invites Pope to visit after historic China deal

AFP sation of Pope John Paul VI on further detail on his response to dwindling number of diplomatic for his greetings and blessings,” 300,000 Catholics, has lost fi ve offi ce in 2013, but previous at- Taipei Sunday, Taiwan’s presidential the invitation. allies. Tsai said in a message on her allies to Beijing in the past two tempts foundered over Beijing’s offi ce said in a statement. The landmark agreement last China sees self-ruling demo- Facebook page. “We will use ac- years. insistence that the Vatican give Pope Francis asked Chen to month on the appointment of cratic Taiwan as part of its terri- tive and concrete actions to con- Relations between Taiwan and up recognition of Taiwan and aiwan has invited Pope send his greetings to President bishops paved the way for a rap- tory to be reunifi ed and demands tinue to support the Pope and China have deteriorated since promise not to interfere in do- Francis to visit the island Tsai Ing-wen and “indicated prochement between the Vati- its allies forfeit recognition of the Vatican to spread common President Tsai came to power in mestic religious issues. Tin a move aimed at deep- that he would pray for Taiwan”, can and China. the island. values of freedom, justice, peace 2016, as she does not recognise There are an estimated 12mn ening ties with the Vatican after the statement added. That raised questions over Taiwanese offi cials have said and caring to every corner in the the island is part of “one China”. Catholics in China, divided be- the Holy See signed a historic In footage aired on local TV, the future of offi cial ties be- that Chen’s visit would help world,” she added. The Vatican has not had dip- tween a government-run asso- deal with Beijing. Vice president Chen told reporters that the tween Taiwan and the Holy See deepen Taiwan-Vatican rela- Chen, a devout Catholic, also lomatic relations with Beijing ciation whose clergy are chosen Chen Chien-jen made the invi- Pope “smiled” when he was in- – the island’s only offi cial ally tions and that they believe the visited the Vatican in 2016 for since 1951. by the Communist Party, and an tation during an audience with vited to visit Taiwan. The presi- in Europe – as China makes a Vatican will not abandon Tai- the canonisation of Mother Ter- Pope Francis has sought to unoffi cial church which swears the Pope ahead of the canoni- dential offi ce said they had no concerted eff ort to poach its wan. “I want to thank the Pope esa. Taiwan, which has around improve relations since he took allegiance to the Vatican.

Ministers under fire for backing ‘okay to be white’ vote

Opinion poll shows Australia’s indigenous aff airs minister and several of his colleagues faced calls to resign yesterday, after they backed a failed parliamentary motion tabled by a controversial senator that declared: “It is okay to be voters warming to white.” Several government ministers – including those for trade, communications and Kim Jong-un Moon Jae-in indigenous aff airs minister Nigel Scullion – backed a resolution drafted by populist firebrand senator Pauline Hanson which Australia’s new PM railed against what it described Moon to lobby for as “the deplorable rise of anti- Reuters white racism”. Sydney Luke Pearson, the founder of Kim on Europe tour influential anti-racism group, IndigenousX, echoed a string ustralia’s new prime min- of calls for Scullion to resign AFP Trump and Kim in June. But ister extended his party’s after the vote. “The minister Paris some analysts believe the do- Anascent recovery, one for Indigenous Aff airs, voting vish South Korean leader has widely watched opinion poll in support of what is widely gambled too much on secur- showed yesterday, six days be- known to be a white supremacist South Korean President ing an end to hostilities on fore a crucial by-election, but the slogan, ‘It’s okay to be white’, Moon Jae-in said yesterday the peninsula and has so far main Labor opposition still holds makes his position as minister that world powers needed to secured only minimal con- a landslide-sized lead before entirely untenable. He needs to reassure North Korea’s Kim cessions from Pyongyang. elections due by May. resign,” Pearson wrote. Scullion, Jong-un that he had taken It has also put him at odds The Newspoll, published in The a white senator for the Northern the right decision to commit with Washington, which is Australian newspaper, showed Territory, has held the Indigenous to denuclearisation on the wary of the rapid pace of rap- the ruling Liberal-National coa- Aff airs portfolio since 2013. Korean peninsula. prochement between the two lition trailing Labor 47% to 53% During parliamentary debate Moon, who has met Kim Koreas and believes pressure on a two-party preferred basis, Hanson defended trying to codify Jong-un three times this year, needs to be maintained un- under which votes for minor par- what opponents see as race was set to convey the mes- til Kim fully dismantles his ties are redistributed according baiting. “Such a simple sentence sage to French President Em- weapons programmes. to Australia’s preferential voting should go without saying,” manuel Macron in Paris yes- But Moon defended his system. Hanson told the chamber, before terday as part of a seven-day strategy, saying that “despite The gap between the two main her motion was defeated 31 European tour that will see his young age, Kim Jong-un parties, twice as wide a month votes to 28. “But I suspect many him also stop in Rome, Brus- has demonstrated sincer- ago, tightened by two points members in this place would sels and Copenhagen. ity, simplicity, calm and po- since the previous poll. struggle to say it.” Greens leader Moon told Le Figaro news- liteness” during their talks, However, another poll in The Scott Morrison Richard Di Natale decried the paper, in comments pub- which explained the rapidly Sydney Morning Herald showed move. “It’s not just okay to be lished in French, that Kim had warming relations between the gap between the government Newspoll personal measures in- with the average Australian, es- Morrison to strike an agreement white in Australia, it’s actually a “expressed his frustration at the one-time foes. The two and Labor widening signifi cantly. cluding “capable of handling the pecially where it counts in the with independent lawmakers to ticket to winning the lotto. Look the continued scepticism of countries announced yes- The Herald’s Fairfax-Ipsos poll, economy”. Morrison is also seen marginal, outer-urban elector- continue in minority govern- around this chamber and see the international communi- terday that they will hold a based on a smaller sample than as more capable of delivering tax ates,” he said. ment. how many faces aren’t white,” he ty” during their talks. groundbreaking ceremony the Newspoll, showed Labor cuts, a key policy battleground However, Morrison faces By-elections typically produce said. “The reality is this ‘it’s okay “We have to reassure Kim for the reconnection of their leading 55-45, an increase of four where he burnished his creden- a by-election on Saturday in strong swings against sitting to be white’ slogan has a long Jong-un that he has made the railways and roads as early points since September. tials last week with a promise to Turnbull’s harbourside Sydney governments, with the affl uent history in the white supremacist right choice in denuclearis- as next month in yet another Both polls suggest a resound- reduce taxes on small businesses. seat, where voter anger over the seat of Wentworth seen as par- movement where both these ing and we need to support sign of the burgeoning ties. ing defeat for the government at “He’s doing better than Turn- revolving door of political lead- ticularly vulnerable because of clowns get most of their material his desire for durable and Moon, a Catholic, is set to a general election, which must bull. That’s not what you would ers has made a once-safe Lib- Turnbull’s personal popularity. from,” he said referring to solid peace,” Moon added. meet the Pope on Thursday be held by May. Nevertheless, have expected three months ago,” eral district a close contest. The The strongest challenger in the Hanson and another senator Moon, who met the North and said he will personally Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Haydon Manning, a politi- stakes are even higher because seat, polls suggest, is popular in- who supported the motion. Korean leader in April, May convey Kim’s desire for the did perform better with vot- cal science professor at Flinders the centre-right coalition clings dependent Kerryn Phelps, who Although one-in-two Australians and September, was instru- pontiff to visit North Korea. ers than Malcolm Turnbull, the University in South Australia to power by a one-seat margin in has promised to allow Morrison has a parent born abroad, racial mental in brokering a his- He visits Brussels on Fri- man he replaced in a party-room state. “He seems to have a way parliament, which means a loss to continue in minority govern- inequality and public discourse toric summit in Singapore day and Copenhagen on Sat- coup in August, on a range of with words, or more in common at the by-election would force ment. on the issue is fraught. between US President Donald urday.

Uighurs freed because they did nothing wrong: Mahathir

Malaysia freed 11 ethnic Uighur stunning election victory in May under great pressure from Anwar takes oath, returns to Muslims who fled to the and cancelled more than $20bn China to send the men there. Southeast Asian nation after a worth of projects awarded to Some Western missions sought Thai jailbreak last year because Chinese companies. to dissuade Kuala Lumpur they did nothing wrong there, China, which had asked for from sending them to China, Malaysian Prime Minister their extradition, said on Friday which has been accused of parliament after poll victory Mahathir Mohamad said that it “resolutely” opposed persecuting Uighurs. yesterday. Reuters, citing the Malaysia’s decision to release Beijing accuses separatist men’s lawyer, reported last week the 11 Uighurs and send them to extremists among the Uighur AFP that Malaysia had released the Turkey. minority of plotting attacks Kuala Lumpur 11 from detention and sent them Prosecutors in Muslim- on China’s Han majority in the to Turkey, disregarding China’s majority Malaysia dropped restive far western region of request to hand them to Beijing. charges against the Uighurs on Xinjiang and elsewhere. alaysia’s leader in wait- “They have done nothing humanitarian grounds, their China has been accused of ing Anwar Ibrahim re- wrong in this country, so they lawyer said. rights abuses in Xinjiang, torture Mturned to parliament are released,” Mahathir said in The men were detained and of Uighur detainees and tight as a lawmaker yesterday, and brief comments to reporters in charged with illegally entering controls on their religion and vowed to give former nemesis parliament, the first from the Malaysia after November’s culture. It denies wrongdoing. Prime Minister Mahathir Mo- Malaysian government since daring prison break, during Over the years, hundreds, hamad space to get on with run- their release. Malaysia’s move which they punched holes in a possibly thousands, of Uighurs ning the country. was likely to strain ties with prison wall and used blankets have escaped the unrest by MPs applauded as Anwar took China, which have already been as ladders. Reuters reported travelling clandestinely via the oath of offi ce following his tested since Mahathir won a in February that Malaysia was Southeast Asia to Turkey. weekend local election victory, a sight that would have been un- thinkable just months ago when he was an opposition leader lan- guishing behind bars. Cuddly cubs The former deputy pre- mier’s remarkable political resurrection was triggered by his alliance’s shock election victory in May, which toppled a corruption-riddled coali- Malaysia’s People’s Justice Party president and leader of the Pakatan Harapan coalition Anwar Ibrahim tion that had ruled Malaysia (right) waves before taking an oath as a member of the parliament during a swearing-in ceremony at the for six decades. Parliament House in Kuala Lumpur. Following the triumph, Anwar was pardoned and released from Anwar needed to be elected as an Anwar, wearing a traditional He also insisted he would not jail, where he had been impris- MP again to succeed Mahathir, black cap, brushed aside ques- take up a cabinet position. After oned since 2015 on widely criti- and he cruised to a thumping tions about when he will become their fallout, Anwar became a cised sodomy charges, and is victory in Saturday’s poll in Port premier, and insisted he would prominent opposition leader at now the presumptive successor Dickson, where his opponents let Mahathir have “the space, the head of a reformist alliance. to the country’s leadership. included a former aide whose the latitude” to get on with gov- But Mahathir himself turned Mahathir, 93, has pledged to sodomy accusations landed him erning. on the party he once headed as hand power to Anwar within two in jail. “That’s very important be- corruption allegations mounted years. The deal was struck when It is the fi rst time that Ma- cause some of the decisions that against Najib, and later teamed the pair, whose up-and-down hathir — who, during a fi rst stint have to be made by the prime up with Anwar. relationship has long loomed as premier, sacked Anwar and minister and the cabinet are Since his defeat, Najib has Chinese zookeeper feeds newborn White Bengal tiger cubs in Yunnan Wildlife Zoo in Kunming, over Malaysian politics, formed had him thrown in jail — and his key, fundamental decisions of been charged over the alleged Southern China. Three playful White Bengal cubs are charming tourists as they clamber around an unlikely alliance to take on former foe have been in the same policy,” the 71-year-old told re- plundering of state fund 1MDB. the enclosure at a zoo, days into making their first public appearance. the government of Najib Razak. government since the 1990s. porters. He denies any wrongdoing. Gulf Times Tuesday, October 16, 2018 15 BRITAIN Westminster MPs treated their staff ers like servants, inquiry finds

By Jessica Elgot All of the allegations of sexual included inappropriate physical ticular MPs or to make sure they the phone or being “routinely companied by a violent grab of ism also extended to parliamen- Guardian News & Media harassment detailed in the report contact like trying to force a kiss. were “never in a room alone with unpleasant, overbearing or con- the hand or arm, staff said. tary staff , the report said, with were made against male MPs or In her report, Cox said there them”. frontational” towards them and Of the 200 complainants who some managers running teams staff . were allegations of “some atro- Other MPs had acquired a rep- “treating us like servants”. came forward, almost 70% were “like fi efdoms”, with a “macho ame Laura Cox’s inquiry Women found themselves the cious treatment of young women utation as “serial off enders” for MPs frequently shouted abuse women, many of whom reported culture in which women in par- has laid bare the scale of target of jokes by gangs of “boor- by MPs”, and of “some women bullying staff , the report said. at staff , including yelling “you’re numerous complaints on behalf ticular are not welcome”. Dsexual harassment, in- ish” male MPs who made lewd being treated as [MPs’] personal Again, most allegations were (expletive) useless” at close of others. Some members of staff from timidation and bullying in West- comments and sexual gestures servants, with veiled threats to made by women, Cox said. quarters, a phrase described as Women were most often tar- minority ethnic backgrounds minster, the vast majority of it and made them answer “off en- have them moved if they failed to Staff described almost daily being used regularly by a number geted with the criticism that they reported racist abuse and being targeted at women, whose ca- sive and humiliating” questions comply with requests”. examples of some MPs shout- of diff erent people from diff erent were “not tough enough” for the frequently challenged as to their reers have been blighted by a lack about their sex lives, she found. Women were advised infor- ing at or belittling staff , swear- departments, the report said. job, the report said. right to be in particular parts of of action on the issue. Examples of harassment also mally by colleagues to avoid par- ing at them face to face or over Abusive language could be ac- Allegations of sexism and rac- the estate. Sturgeon calls for extension of Brexit PM May says Brexit transition period

By Pippa Crerar Guardian News & Media deal still ‘achievable’ icola Sturgeon has DPA warned EU leaders ahead of this the future relationship between called for an exten- Brussels week’s summit, while calling for Britain and the EU. Nsion of the proposed “every eff ort to reach the best Without a solution on these 21-month Brexit transition agreement possible”. issues, Britain will head for a no- period to give the govern- negotiated deal between Eff orts to close in on a deal deal Brexit. ment more time to negotiate a Britain and the European have “proven to be more com- Yesterday European Commis- compromise with opposition AUnion is still “achievable”, plicated than some may have ex- sion spokesman Margaritis Schi- parties to deliver a “common Sturgeon: If the last two years British Prime Minister Theresa pected. We should nevertheless nas said the bloc is preparing for sense” future relationship with have shown us anything, it May said yesterday, even as the remain hopeful and determined”, every scenario. the EU. is surely that more time will prospects for a breakthrough at Tusk writes in his summit invi- “While we are working hard “If the last two years have inevitably be needed to agree an EU summit this week faded. tation letter, noting that there is for a deal, our preparedness and shown us anything, it is surely the future relationship. “The shape of a deal across the “good will to continue these talks contingency work is continuing that more time will inevitably vast majority of the withdrawal on both sides”. and intensifying,” Schinas said. be needed to agree the future May to back a compromise op- agreement, the terms of our exit, “The fact that we are preparing No new negotiations are due to relationship, and so being able tion that would result in the UK are now clear,” May told lawmak- for a no-deal scenario must not, take place now before EU leaders to extend the transition period staying in the customs union ers in the lower house of parlia- under any circumstances, lead us meet in Brussels tomorrow. will be vital to avoid another and single market, Sturgeon ment, the House of Commons. away from making every eff ort to There, May is expected to brief cliff -edge scenario,” Scotland’s claimed that it was the only “We have made real progress in reach the best agreement pos- her 27 counterparts ahead of a fi rst minister said. course of action that could po- recent weeks on both the with- sible, for all sides,” Tusk writes. Brexit dinner to which she is not She urged Theresa May to re- tentially command a Commons drawal agreement and the po- “Let us not give up.” invited. consider her decision to with- majority. litical declaration on our future “We want to see an outcome The decision by both sides to draw the UK from the customs “[Chequers] is not a serious relationship,” she said, adding here that settles nerves, that al- “disengage” until after the sum- union and single market after and credible option. And the that negotiations were now in the lows us to move ahead with a mit is “frustrating and disap- Brexit, insisting that staying in only reason it is the only op- “fi nal stages”. managed, sensible Brexit,” said pointing”, Coveney said. would be the “least damaging” tion on the table is because the The fi nal sticking point – a deal Irish Foreign Minister Simon But German Foreign Minister option for the UK economy as a UK government has refused to aimed at keeping borders open on Coveney in Luxembourg, where Heiko Maas expressed confi - whole. countenance any others,” she the island of Ireland – was taking he was meeting his 27 EU coun- May: We have made real progress in recent weeks. dence that a deal is still possible, In a speech in London, Stur- said. time to resolve, she said. terparts. while stressing, “time is really geon also appealed directly to She also raised the pros- Talks on a “backstop option” “I still think it’s possible to do break time: “Everyone is aware London and Brussels are at pressing now and I would say: the Tory and Labour backbenchers pect of delaying the Article 50 insisted on by the European Un- that, but clearly it’s going to take of the fact that time is now very odds over how to prevent the re- sooner, the better”. to consider further compro- process – and the date the UK ion were being prolonged, she a bit more time than many people tight.” turn of a hard border between the Britain is due to leave the Eu- mises in the public interest, if would leave – to give ministers said, by a request for a fallback in had hoped,” he added. The EU summit would help Republic of Ireland and Northern ropean Union on March 29. and when the fi nal Brexit deal more time to look into alterna- case this did not completely work “There are one or two very dif- to determine “where the nego- Ireland, which would come into The withdrawal agreement is eventually subject to a par- tives. out: “a backstop to the backstop”, fi cult outstanding issues, but I tiators stand and how they can place once Britain – and with it will include a 21-month transi- liamentary vote. “That surely must be pref- as May described it. think we can get there. Whether move forward”, but may not re- Northern Ireland – leaves the tion phase during which Brit- “It is also time for individual erable to pressing ahead in a The two sides have been work- we do this week or not, who sult in agreement, he added. European Union. ain is still bound by EU rules, to members of the House of Com- reckless and damaging man- ing on a deal to prevent Britain knows,” added British Foreign In Dublin, meanwhile, Irish Free trade and travel are key el- prevent the chaos and economic mons to consider what com- ner,” she said. from crashing out of the EU in Secretary Jeremy Hunt. Prime Minister Leo Varadkar told ements of an Irish peace deal that cost of a disorderly exit for both promises they see as justifi ed Sturgeon predicted that the March without transitional ar- German government spokes- media that he thought “Novem- ended decades of confl ict. sides. – and which are not – if they government’s political decla- rangements in place. man Steff en Seibert hinted that ber/December is the best time May is also facing internal This would also give time to are to serve their constituents, ration of the UK’s future rela- A no-deal Brexit is “more the issue may not be resolved at for a deal”, in comments car- struggles in her Conservative negotiate the future trade rela- and the wider public interest,” tionship with the EU, if rushed, likely than ever before”, European this week’s EU summit, which ried by the Irish Times and RTE Party, which is deeply divided on tionship between Britain and the she said. would “lack precise detail” and Council President Donald Tusk had been billed as make-or- broadcaster. the Irish border issue as well as EU. However, she ruled out the would simply defer the risk of Scottish National Party (SNP)’s no deal until a later date. 35 MPs backing the prime “For MPs to support a bad or minister’s fi nal plan, suggest- blindfold Brexit – a cobbled- ing that her party had already together withdrawal agree- compromised enough as Scot- ment and a vague statement land had voted overwhelmingly about our future relationship 1,000mph car to remain in the EU at the ref- – would in my view be a der- erendum. eliction of duty,” she said. “It Sturgeon said in September is my strong view that such a that extending the timetable deal should be rejected – not in for Brexit negotiations must favour of no deal as some will hits the skids remain on the table if the UK try to suggest, but as a way of were to avoid an economic getting a better deal back on cliff -edge, but stopped short of the table.” By Gwyn Topham reaching more than 2mn chil- calling for a postponement at However, the Scottish Tory Guardian News & Media dren. that stage. constitution spokesman, Andrew Sheridan, a joint Last week she told the SNP Adam Tomkins, said: “If the conference that Brexit made SNP doesn’t back a deal, it is lans to build a British Bloodhound has already Scottish independence more automatically supporting a no- jet-powered car to speed built and tested a viable likely than ever, as she chal- deal scenario … and, of course, Pat more than 1,000mph racing car to speeds of lenged activists to increase they don’t care if outcomes are (1,600kph) through the desert 200mph their eff orts to persuade voters bad for Scotland, so long as have hit quicksand, after the across the country of the case they’re good for the prospects company behind the Blood- administrator at FRP Advi- for leaving the UK. of another independence ref- hound project entered admin- sory, said: “Bloodhound is a Setting out her reasons for erendum.” The jet-powered Bloodhound car seen during a test run at Newquay airport, Cornwall. istration. truly groundbreaking project. The dream of an ultra-fast Entering into administration car to break the land speed provides some breathing space record led to the creation of to identify an investor who will Bloodhound Programme Ltd in bring the guaranteed funding, 2007, with the idea of also en- impetus and expertise required Storm Callum batters Britain with gale-force winds, rain gaging schools and students in to drive the project forward.” engineering. He said discussions were be- Bloodhound has already ing held with a number of po- By Aamna Mohdin and eral hours on Friday as the storm and incidence of power outages. built and tested a viable racing tential investors. John Bennett swept across the north-west of “We also have yellow and am- car to speeds of 200mph, but “Whilst not an insignifi cant Guardian News & Media England. ber warnings of between 50mm the project is in debt and needs amount, the £25mn Blood- Western Power Distribution and 150mm of rain for Wales. to fi nd £25mn or face being hound requires to break the said that there were outages at “That’s quite a substantial wound up. land speed record is a fraction torm Callum has battered more than 950 homes in south- amount of rain to come and could Administrators have ap- of the cost of, for example, parts of the UK with winds west England and nearly 100 in bring fl ooding.” pealed for investors, compar- fi nishing last in a F1 season Sof up to 76mph and torren- south Wales. Sioned Warrell, the duty tacti- ing its cost and potential lega- or running an America’s Cup tial rain, leaving more than 1,000 In Northern Ireland, hundreds cal manager for Natural Resourc- cy favourably with the money team. homes without electricity. of homes and businesses experi- es Wales, said: “The forecast rain spent on Formula One and “This is an opportunity for The Isles of Scilly endured enced a loss of electricity. could cause fl ooding this week, other races. the right investor to leave a the fi ercest gusts, as the third Some fl ights were cancelled at especially in south and west So far, Bloodhound has lasting legacy.” named storm of the season swept Cardiff and Exeter airports, while Wales, and we are urging people been supported by partners Bloodhound’s chief engi- through southwest England, rail passengers in Wales and to prepare themselves. and sponsors including Rolls- neer, Mark Chapman, said: Wales, and northwest England, the southwest of England were “Our teams are doing all they Royce and the UK Ministry “With the right support we while 60mph winds lashed Cam- warned of disruption to services can to reduce the risk for com- of Defence, which has loaned have no doubt that the project borne in Cornwall and Milford amid high winds. munities, but if there is fl ooding prototype jet engines. will achieve its aims and could Haven in Pembrokeshire. Cheshire police said they had we want to make sure people are The Northern Cape regional be racing for the record in as The Met Offi ce said fl ooding received several weather-related doing all they can to keep them- government in South Africa little as 10 months.” and travel disruption were likely calls on Friday morning, while selves safe.” has also helped build an 11- The planned car is a com- across the UK. Cars caught in flood water after Storm Callum passed through the the Isle of Man constabulary Though Windsor escaped the mile long (18km), 1,500m- bination of jet, F1 car and It issued a 36-hour amber town of Carmarthen, west Wales. warned motorists of diffi cult worst of the storm, guests arriv- wide race track in the desert at spaceship that would cover the warning for much of south Wales, driving conditions. ing for the royal wedding were Hakskeenpan. length of four and a half foot- noting that heavy rain could pose On Friday morning, the yellow The Environment Agency is- The Met Offi ce meteorologist buff eted by high winds, with Bloodhound said its pro- ball pitches in a second. a risk to life. warning was extended to cover sued two warnings of fl ooding Alex Burkhill said: “We’ve got a some hats blown off . gramme had been a catalyst for The current world land Yellow warnings were ex- more of south-west England, across the south coast of England wind warning which covers all The southeast of England research and development, as speed record of 763mph was pected to remain in place until eastern Wales, western parts and more than 20 fl ood alerts. the western side of the UK. is expected to stay mainly dry, well as helping interest school- achieved in the Nevada desert midnight in the rest of Wales and of the Midlands, northern and More than 2,000 homes in “That in itself is likely to bring bright and windy, with tempera- children worldwide in science in 1997 in a UK-designed car, swaths of northern England and northeast England and southeast parts of Cumbria and Lancashire disruption to roads, and there is tures climbing to 24° Celsius (75° and engineering, with an as- Thrust SSC, led by the same southern Scotland. Scotland. were left without power for sev- likely to be some bridge closures Fahrenheit). sociated educational campaign team behind Bloodhound. Gulf Times 16 Tuesday, October 16, 2018 EUROPE Deadly fl oods hit southern France

AFP whose offi ce said he will soon of the fortress city of Carcas- one small bridge had collapsed. Villegailhenc, France visit the aff ected areas, off ered sonne. “Rescue teams were deployed “the sympathy and solidarity of “The water crashed through as quickly as possible, but op- the entire nation for the victims the building’s main door and on erations have proved to be com- t least 11 people died when of the Aude fl ooding and their through the door to her room, the plicated,” said interior ministry violent rainstorms turned families”. lowest in the convent,” said Sister spokesman Frederic de Lanouv- Arivers into raging torrents The rescue operations appear Irene, the mother superior. elle. in southwest France yesterday, to have put back an expected an- Elsewhere, fl ash fl oods over- In the town of Trebes, near prompting some of the deadliest nouncement on a government turned cars, ripped up streets and Carcassonne, the water in the Firefighters help youngsters evacuate during a rescue operation following heavy rains that saw rivers fl ooding in years, offi cials said. reshuffl e, triggered by the sud- battered buildings and bridges, Aude rose 8m (26’) in just fi ve bursting banks in Trebes, near Carcassone, southern France. The equivalent of three months den resignation of interior min- especially to the north of Carcas- hours, offi cials said. rainfall was dumped overnight in ister Gerard Collomb nearly two sonne where authorities ordered In total nine people died in burst, and thousands of homes ways triggers fl ash fl ooding. the Atlantic, which weakened to the region of Carcassonne in just weeks ago. bridges closed because of the ris- the city, which made headlines throughout the area were with- However, the French weath- a post-tropical storm as it made a few hours, sending rivers over Prime Minister Edouard ing Aude river. earlier this year after a jihadist out electricity after strong winds er forecasting service, Meteo landfall. their banks, including the Aude, Philippe, who is acting as interim The levels were still rising and attacker killed four people in a brought down power lines. France, suggested that these epi- Last week, another weather which reached levels not seen in interior minister, said the gov- expected to peak at around 9pm shooting spree, including a po- The storms were triggered sodes had recently become more system moving across the Medi- 100 years. ernment would ask insurers to (1900 GMT). lice offi cer who took the place of when a front of warm and humid frequent and more severe. terranean left 12 people dead on Local authorities in the Aude process disaster claims and pay- Evacuations were still being a hostage. air from the Mediterranean Sea An unrelated storm on Sun- the Spanish island of Majorca as department said 11 people were ments “as quickly as possible” carried out in several towns yes- Two elderly residents died slammed into colder air around day also hit Portugal, leaving 28 well as two people in southeast killed, down from a previous toll while he assessed the damage in terday afternoon, the Aude au- overnight in Villegailhenc, where the Massif Central mountain people with minor injuries and France. of 13 dead given by the interior the region. thorities said. the main bridge collapsed, and range, inundating an area from hundreds of thousands without Further north, nearly 100 peo- ministry. One of the overnight victims “There’s water everywhere in one person was killed in Villalier. the eastern Pyrenees to Aveyron power amid fl ooding in the re- ple have been evacuated due to At least one person was still was an 88-year-old nun who was the house. Everything is fl ooded,” Around 1,000 people were further north. gion around the capital Lisbon. fl ooding in Norway, where heavy missing and eight were injured, swept from her room by fl oodwa- Helene Segura told AFP by tel- evacuated in the area of Pezens, This well-known weather pat- The heavy rains, which later rainfall has been accompanied authorities added. ters at the Burning Bush priory in ephone from the hard-hit village also near Carcassonne, amid tern occurs three to six times a rolled on through Spain, were by warm temperatures that have President Emmanuel Macron, the village of Villardonnel, north of Villegailhenc, where at least fears that a nearby dam could year in the region and nearly al- the tail end of Hurricane Leslie in melted snow. Saudi preparing report to admit Turkey sacks 259 local offi cials over Khashoggi was killed: CNN ties to terror groups

From Page 1 could have been rogue killers. An investment conference Reuters in the largely Kurdish south- Until now, Riyadh has not al- Who knows?” seen as a platform for the crown Ankara east. lowed Turkish investigators to After critical talks in Riyadh prince and dubbed the “Davos in “Following the arrest of mu- search the consulate — offi cially today, Pomepeo was expected in the Desert” which was scheduled nicipality heads from the HDP, Saudi territory — with reports Turkey tomorrow to meet Turk- to take place in Riyadh next week, urkey has dismissed 259 the appointment of trustees to both sides were at odds over the ish Foreign Minister Mevlut Ca- has been hit by a string of promi- local offi cials for sus- municipalities and the removal conditions. vusoglu, the state-run Anadolu nent cancellations. Tpected links to terrorist of immunity and arrest of par- But late yesterday evening — news agency said. Business barons including groups or unsuitable behav- liamentarians, it is now the after Turkish authorities placed The search came after Turkish British billionaire Richard Bran- iour, the government said yes- mukhtars’ turn,” Meral Danis high iron barriers in front of the President Recep Tayyip Erdogan son and Uber CEO Dara Khos- terday, a move the pro-Kurdish Bestas said in a statement. consulate — a motorcade of six and King Salman also had their rowshahi, as well as media pow- opposition said was aimed at A spokeswoman for the HDP cars drew up and Turkish po- fi rst telephone talks since the con- erhouses Bloomberg and CNN, helping the ruling AK Party said she did not know how lice and prosecutors entered the troversy erupted, in what appeared have pulled out of the Future In- ahead of 2019 polls. many of the dismissed offi cials premises. to be a conciliatory conversation vestment Initiative (FII). The elected offi cials, known came from the southeast. Some police were in uniform according to offi cial readouts. In a major new blow for the as “mukhtars”, serve as the Some 94 of 102 municipali- while other offi cials were in suits While lurid claims have ap- event, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie lowest administrative author- ties in Kurdish-majority cities carrying printers and fi les, an peared in Turkish media — in- Dimon and Ford chairman Bill Ford ity in Turkey. and towns are now adminis- AFP correspondent said. cluding that Khashoggi was also cancelled plans to attend as Although not offi cially tered by trustees rather than by A Saudi delegation had entered tortured and dismembered — well as Larry Fink, the head of in- members of any political party, their elected mayors. the consulate one hour before Turkey’s leadership has so far re- vestment giant BlackRock, and they are infl uential in deci- Authorities removed those the Turkish police arrived and frained from pointing the fi nger Steve Schwarzman of Blackstone. sion-making in their villages mayors, elected in the last mu- appeared still to be inside as the directly at Riyadh in public com- A section on the glitzy event and local districts. nicipal elections in 2014, in a search was conducted. ments. website with pictures of the The offi cials were dismissed crackdown that followed an at- A Turkish forensic expert was King Salman emphasised the speakers has now been taken pending an investigation, the tempted military coup in 2016. seen on the roof close to the con- importance of the Turkey-Saudi down. interior ministry said, adding Last week the government sulate’s fl ag. relationship and said no-one US Treasury Secretary Steven they were suspected of links to dismissed 559 village guards After over three hours work, Turkish forensic team arrives at the Saudi Arabia’s consulate in should be able to “undermine Mnuchin said he still plans to at- groups that threaten Turkey’s for suspected terrorist links the teams were still inside the Istanbul yesterday to search the premises in the investigation over the strength of this relationship,” tend but would “take (it) into ac- security or of behaviour not and another 76 for suspected consulate. missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Saudi’s offi cial media reported. count” if more information came befi tting their duties. involvement in human and Trump’s comments came after The controversy has troubled out. It did not elaborate on the drug smuggling. a telephone conversation with knowledge of whatever may have denying any such order had been Saudi’s traditional Western allies Saudi stocks have also been charges. Village guards are locals King Salman, father of the crown happened ‘to our Saudi Arabian given. — who are key arms suppliers to hit, suff ering days of heavy loss- The ministry did not give a armed and paid by the state prince, the fi rst such talks since citizen’,” Trump tweeted. “The denial was very, very the kingdom — and also under- es, but made a strong comeback geographic breakdown of the to protect their communi- the crisis erupted. Riyadh’s most recent com- strong,” Trump later told re- mined eff orts by Mohamed bin yesterday with the Tadawul All- dismissals, but a parliamentar- ties, mostly in the east and the “Just spoke to the King of ments have focused on having porters at the White House. “It Salman to present himself as a Shares Index (TASI) rising over ian from the pro-Kurdish Peo- southeast. Saudi Arabia who denies any no knowledge of any killing or sounded to me like maybe these modernising ruler. 4%. Business Pages 2, 4 ples’ Democratic Party (HDP) They are frequent targets for said the move was the latest PKK militants. attempt by President Recep The PKK is deemed a ter- Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party rorist organisation by the US, Three hurt in Cologne hostage-taking situation to curtail the HDP’s infl uence Turkey, and Europe. Outgoing Swedish prime minister German police not ruling out a Molotov cocktail, leaving a ‘terror’ motive 14-year-old girl with burns. tasked with forming government An eyewitness told journalists AFP how she heard screams and saw Sweden’s outgoing Social Democrats Prime Minister Stefan Lofven Cologne “a girl running for her life” with has been given a mandate to form a government, a day after a rival fl ames spreading up her leg, be- centre-right leader failed in his first attempt. fore she was helped by bystand- Neither centre-left nor the centre-right bloc won a majority in man who hurled a burn- ers. a September 9 election after a far-right, anti-immigration party ing Molotov cocktail, then As the sprinkler system acti- gained ground and left Sweden caught in political deadlock. Atook a woman hostage at vated and water rained down in Both blocs have refused to make a deal with the Sweden a major German railway station the fast-food restaurant, the man Democrats, a party with roots in neo-Nazi groups and the latest far- yesterday may have acted with a entered an adjacent pharmacy right movement to advance at the ballot box in Europe. “terrorist” motive, police said. and took another woman hos- Under Sweden’s political system, the speaker of the house has four Police said they found a pass- tage, whom he also threatened to chances to task a candidate to form a government that lawmakers port issued to a 55-year-old Syr- burn in the ensuing drama, said will accept. ian man at the scene, and that police. Sweden faces new elections if the speaker fails. the suspect had claimed to be a Police negotiated with him in a member of the Islamic State mil- bid to defuse the tense situation itant group. and ascertain his motive, then Norway finds Viking ship remnants “The investigation is consid- stormed the pharmacy around ering all possibilities and we are 3pm (1300 GMT). Archaeologists said yesterday that they have found what they not ruling out terrorism,” Co- The man was holding a pis- believe are traces of a Viking ship buried in southeast Norway, logne deputy police chief Miriam tol – said to be either a replica or a rare discovery that could shed light on the skilled navigators’ Brauns told a news conference. real, when commandos stormed expeditions in the Middle Ages. Heavily-armed police com- the site, and he was also in pos- The boat-like shape was detected about 50cm underground in mandos using stun grenades had session of a fl ammable liquid and a tumulus, a burial mound, with the use of a ground-penetrating shot the man when they stormed camping gas containers, two of radar in Halden, a municipality located southeast of Oslo. the scene, freeing the female them taped together. Passengers wait outside the main train station in Cologne after the train station was closed due to a “In the middle of the mound, we discovered what is called an hostage who suff ered minor in- “Special response units over- hostage-taking situation. anomaly, something that is diff erent from the rest and clearly juries. powered the man. During the po- has the shapes and dimensions of a Viking ship,” Knut Paasche, Two other people were in- lice action, he hurt two bystand- ument was known to police for Police set up a webpage where In June 2018, German po- an archaeologist at the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage jured and the attacker was badly ers, one of them seriously,” police previous off ences including theft members of the public could up- lice said they foiled what would Research (NIKU), told AFP. wounded with multiple shots. said in a statement. and illegal drugs possession. load pictures and video related to have been the fi rst biological at- Authorities had received an Police said they could not Klaus-Stephan Becker, head of the incident, while their own in- tack with the arrest of a Tunisian alert at 12.42pm local time (1042 yet positively identify the hos- Cologne criminal police, also told vestigations were “at full pitch”. suspected religious extremist in 16 injured in German train collision GMT) at Cologne railway station, tage-taker, who was undergoing news channel NTV that “it could Germany remains on high alert possession of the deadly poison one of the busiest in Europe. surgery, but believed he was a be a foiled terrorist attack”. over the risk of a religious ex- ricin and bomb-making mate- At least 16 people were slightly injured yesterday when a regional They evacuated the scene and 55-year-old Syrian migrant. The man had carried a suitcase tremist attack, having suff ered rial. train in southern Germany collided with truck at a crossing, halted all trains at the station Syrian identity documents had and bag, which he left in the res- several in recent years. Germany remains a target for firefighters said. next to Cologne’s iconic twin- been found in the pharmacy for a taurant, and had also demanded The bloodiest claimed by the religious extremist groups, in The regional Interrefio-Express train was carrying around 100 spired cathedral. man who had been issued a resi- “the release of a Tunisian wom- Islamic State group was a truck particular because of its involve- passengers when it hit the truck at the crossing at 0547 GMT in The man sparked panic when dency permit in Germany valid an”, said police commander Klaus rampage through a Berlin Christ- ment in the coalition fi ghting IS Sipplingen close to Lake Constance, authorities said. he entered a McDonald’s restau- until 2021. Rueschenschmidt, without giv- mas market in December 2016 in Iraq and Syria, and its deploy- Both the train conductor and the driver of the vehicle were among rant inside the station and hurled The man identifi ed in the doc- ing further details. that left 12 people dead. ment in Afghanistan since 2001. the 16 injured. Gulf Times Tuesday, October 16, 2018 17 INDIA

Amid criticism, stone laid for ‘Museum of Prime Ministers’

IANS ing former prime minister Man- He said the museum would tion of all PMs, including Morarji housing the Nehru Memorial He argued that “the museum asked the Jawaharlal Nehru Me- New Delhi mohan Singh had been opposing depict modern India through Desai, Charan Singh, Rajiv Gan- Museum Library (NMML) was itself must retain its primary fo- morial Fund, chaired by Congress the move, saying that the gov- “the collections relating to each dhi, V P Singh, Chandra Shekhar, also Nehru’s residence for 16 cus on Jawaharlal Nehru and the leader Sonia Gandhi and housed ernment was trying to “dilute” prime minister of India, their P V Narasimha Rao, Atal Bihari years until his death on May 27, freedom movement because of in the Teen Murti Estate, to va- mid severe criticism from India’s fi rst prime minister Jawa- lives, works and signifi cant con- Vajpayee, H D Deve Gowda, I K 1964, has courted much contro- his unique role having spent al- cate the premises on grounds Congress leaders, the foun- harlal Nehru’s legacy by chang- tributions made towards nation- Gujral, Manmohan Singh and versy over the past few months. most 10 years in jail between the of “unauthorised occupation.” Adation stone for the “Mu- ing the character of the Nehru building”. Narendra Modi,” Sharma said. In a letter to Modi sent last early 1920s and mid-1940s.” Sources told IANS that the move seum of Prime Ministers” was laid Memorial Museum Library. The minister said the national He said the state-of-the-art de- month, Manmohan Singh urged Singh said there is hardly any was to procure space for the up- yesterday by Culture Minister Ma- Sharma the museum to be capital at present has memorials sign of the museum “is symbolic of him to “leave the Teen Murti space in the complex for the con- coming museum. hesh Sharma and Minister of State built at a cost of Rs2.7bn will dedicated to only three of India’s an emergent and rising India”. Complex undisturbed as it is”, re- struction of the “Museum of Prime However, N Balakrishnan, for Housing and Urban Aff airs have a basement, a ground fl oor prime ministers - Nehru, Indira The central government’s minding him that it is a memorial Ministers” without altering the administrative secretary of the Hardeep Singh Puri at the Teen and a fi rst fl oor, with galleries on Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri. move to construct the museum of the fi rst prime minister. “This Nehru Memorial Museum Library. Fund, rejected the charge of un- Murti Estate in New Delhi. all levels, and will be completed “The people of the country inside the premises of the Teen way we will be respecting both The Ministry of Housing and authorised occupation and asked The Congress leaders includ- within a year. deserve to know the contribu- Murti Estate, which, apart from history and heritage.” Urban Development last month that the notice be withdrawn. Rahul confi dent Congress will win MP polls, hits out at Modi

IANS a long string of sexual harass- Datia, Madhya Pradesh ments. Akbar has rejected the allega- tions as “wild and baseless” and ongress president Rahul has launched defamation cases, Gandhi yesterday exuded starting with journalist Priya Ra- Cconfi dence that the party mani, who fi rst accused him of will return to power in Madhya the sexual misdemeanour. Pradesh. In Madhya Pradesh, too, He also tore into Prime Minis- women are afraid of moving out ter Narendra Modi for his “empty of their homes as was the case Supporters of the Congress party scuff le with police during a protest demanding the resignation of Minister of State for External Aff airs M J Akbar, in New Delhi yesterday. slogans” that Gandhi said have across the country, Gandhi said. not helped farmers, women and Gandhi reminded the people small traders. that the Congress-led govern- “The government that the ment had waived off farm loans Congress will form in the state worth Rs700bn. will be responsive to farmers, By contrast, the Modi govern- small traders, women, and party ment had in the last four years workers,” Gandhi said at a public “waived loans worth Rs3.5tn of meeting in Datia. 15-20 rich industrialists”. Akbar fi les defamation The Congress has been out of “He (Modi) has place only for power since 2004 and is keen on industrialists in his heart, not for dislodging Chief Minister Shiv- women, Dalits and farmers. He raj Singh Chouhan’s Bharatiya stays quiet if anything happens Janata Party government in the to them.” state. The state goes to polls on Gandhi also raked up the Ra- November 28. fale fi ghter jet deal, alleging that case against journalist Gandhi, on a two-day visit the off set contract was taken of Madhya Pradesh ahead of away from state-run Hindustan Agencies had warned of legal action. Kapur said Akbar was a vet- in a statement that she shared on Comedians, authors, actors, the assembly polls, reiterated Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and New Delhi Akbar’s lawyers fi led the case eran journalist and had authored social media. fi lmmakers and journalists have his promise that the Congress, given to a private company. against Priya Ramani - the fi rst several renowned books. “Rather than engage with the been outed on Twitter in recent if elected, will waive off farm The Congress chief earlier in female journalist to name him - He had a long career in jour- serious allegations that many days as alleged culprits. loans within 10 days of govern- the day accused Modi of insult- inister of State for Ex- under sections 499 and 500 of nalism and launched India’s fi rst women have made against him, India’s #MeToo campaign has ment formation. He also prom- ing the people of India. ternal Aff airs M J Akbar the Indian Penal Code, which weekly political news magazine, he seeks to silence them through gathered pace over the last fort- ised to open a food processing “The prime minister said from Mhas fi led a defamation relate to criminal defamation. Sunday, in 1976, and two daily intimidation and harassment,” night after actress Tanushree unit in every district where the ramparts of the Red Fort that lawsuit against a journalist who In the suit, Akbar accused Ra- newspapers The Telegraph and she added. Dutta claimed that she was har- farmers can profitably sell their the nation had been asleep for 70 accused him of sexual harass- mani of “wilfully, deliberately, The Asian Age in 1989 and 1994 In another major case arising assed by a colleague on the set of produce. years,” he said. “This is an insult ment, his lawyers said yester- intentionally and maliciously respectively. out of the #MeToo storm, ac- a 2008 fi lm. He mocked the prime minister to every section of the society.” day, as the #MeToo movement defaming” him on “completely It was not clear whether Ak- tor Alok Nath fi led a defamation Female journalists have ex- and the ruling BJP for paying lip On August 15, Modi criticised continues to gain ground in the false, frivolous, unjustifi able and bar would be suing other jour- case against writer-producer pressed anger at Akbar’s denial service to the cause of women’s the Congress that has ruled for country. scandalous grounds,” according nalists who have made allega- Vinta Nanda who accused him saying he should resign pending safety. long years since India’s Inde- Akbar, 67, a prominent news- to his lawyer Sandeep Kapur. tions against him. of raping her nearly 20 years ago. investigations into the cases. “When BJP MLA (Kuldeep pendence in 1947. He had said paper editor-turned-politician, The minister said the journal- “The truth is the best defence Singh Sengar) rapes a girl in Un- that India was earlier a sleeping is the most high-profi le fi gure so ist had caused “great humilia- in any defamation case. I’m not Bishop granted bail in nun rape case nao, the UP chief minister and elephant, which had woken up far in India to be linked to #Me- tion” to him, irreparably dam- worried,” Ramani told the Kolk- the prime minister tried to save and started running. Too, which began in the United aging his reputation in the eyes ata-based Telegraph on Sunday, Bishop Franco Mulakkal accused Jalandhar in Punjab, has denied him. Neither was he expelled US President Donald Trump States in response to allegations of public as well as his family, before legal proceedings were of raping a nun was granted the allegations and has called from the party nor did the PM fi nds India and China competing against Hollywood producer friends, colleagues and the po- confi rmed. bail yesterday in a case that has the scandal a conspiracy against speak a word about him. The ac- with the US, Gandhi said. “We Harvey Weinstein. litical fraternity. And yesterday Ramani said triggered rare dissent within the the church. The nun first made tual slogan should be ‘Beti Pad- have reached this stage because More than a dozen women His lawyer said the woman Akbar was trying to “silence” country’s Catholic Church. Mu- the allegations in June but police hao aur Beti ko BJP ke MLA se of the contribution of farmers, who worked with Akbar during journalist had mentioned inci- the voices “through intimida- lakkal was arrested on Septem- only started formal questioning Bachao’ (Educate your daughter workers, small businessmen and his days as an editor have come dents which allegedly occurred tion and harassment”. ber 21 in Kerala on suspicion of in September as fury over the and save her from BJP MLA),” women over the past 70 years.” out with allegations ranging 20 years ago and she had simul- “I am deeply disappointed that raping the nun 13 times between case mounted. The lack of action Gandhi said. Gandhi reached Gwalior by a from sexual harassment to as- taneously admitted that Akbar a union minister should dismiss 2014 and 2016. Pope Francis provoked outrage and five nuns Gandhi’s attack on Modi and special plane yesterday and then sault. had not done anything to her. the detailed allegations of several suspended him the day before - in a rare public show of dissent his government comes in the went to the Pitambara Peeth Akbar, who returned from Akbar listed two senior women women as a political conspiracy. his arrest, appointing another within the Indian Church - and midst of a raging #MeToo cam- temple in Datia, accompanied an official trip abroad on journalist and four other people as By instituting a case of criminal bishop in his place. Mulakkal, dozens of supporters staged paign in which federal minister by party leaders Kamal Nath and Sunday, called the allegations witnesses to prove his defamation defamation against me, Akbar has 53, who headed the diocese of days of protests. M J Akbar has been accused of Jyotiraditya Scindia. “false” and “baseless” and charges against the woman. made his stand clear,” Ramani said

Tensions rise over women’s Air hostess hurt after falling out of plane entry to Sabarimala temple Agencies Hospital, where the fl ight attend- Mumbai ant was taken, was not immedi- AFP capital Thiruvananthapuram to- agitation plan to protect the tem- ately available for comment. Thiruvananthapuram day,” police spokesman Pramod ple, its centuries-old traditions Debt-laden Air India has been Kumar said. and sentiments of devotees,” fl ight attendant fell out of hit by a string of technical glitch- Local media showed thou- Kerala BJP president P S Sreed- an Air India plane while es and other embarrassing inci- housands of devotees sands participating in the march haran Pillai told NDTV. Atrying to close its door dents, including staff turning up joined street marches in supported by the local unit of Pillai warned the state govern- yesterday, the airline said, re- late for fl ights, over the years. TKerala yesterday as ten- Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ment of even bigger protests if portedly breaking her leg when The state carrier last week sions mounted over a recent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). the issue wasn’t resolved within she landed on the tarmac. grounded two pilots after one of Supreme Court verdict revok- the next 24 hours. The accident occurred at its jets carrying 136 people hit an ing a ban on women entering the “We will meet each Dipak Misra, Chief Justice of Mumbai’s international airport airport perimeter wall on take- Sabarimala temple. villager in Kerala and India at the time the ban was re- as the crew were getting ready to off and then fl ew for almost four The temple has traditionally chalk out a massive voked, said banning the entry welcome passengers aboard the hours with a damaged body be- barred all women between the agitation plan to protect of a large section of women was New Delhi-bound fl ight. fore landing safely. ages of 10 and 50. the temple” discriminatory and violated their “The cabin crew member fell In December 2015 a technician But the top court revoked the rights. off while closing the back door working for Air India died after ban in September, ruling that Smaller protests have also tak- “Prohibiting women (from of the Boeing 777 and sustained being sucked into a jet engine as patriarchy cannot be allowed to en place elsewhere in India in re- entering the temple) violates the injuries on,” Pravin Bhatnagar, the plane pushed back for takeoff trump faith. cent days including in Ahmeda- right of a woman to worship and a senior manager at Air India, at Mumbai airport. Those protesting against the bad in Gujarat. practise religion,” he said. said. The tragedy happened when court’s decision yesterday, in- The BJP - which has histori- Women in India have been in- “She is receiving treatment in the co-pilot mistook a signal cluding hundreds of women, cally been on the margins of state tensifying campaigns in recent hospital. An investigation will be from ground staff and started the warned they would step up their politics in Kerala - and its allies years to be allowed to enter tem- carried out to determine the ex- engine. protests before the temple reo- have supported these marches in ples and other religious sites. act cause of the incident.” Last month an Indian pas- pens tomorrow, when it will have diff erent parts of the state over In 2016, women campaigned Harsha Lobo, 53,was con- senger sparked panic in mid-air to allow all women entry as per the last few days. in Maharashtra to successfully scious but suff ered serious inju- when he tried to open a plane the court order. Several other local religious end a ban on women entering the ries, multiple fractures including door, apparently mistaking it for “These protests have taken and political organisations have Shani Shingnapur temple. a compound fracture in the right the toilet. place in several districts over the also given their support to the Women were also prevented leg, both heels, soft tissue in- The man, who according to last few days. We don’t yet have protest marches. from entering Mumbai’s Haji Ali Protesters take part in a rally against a Supreme Court verdict jury in chest, abdomen and lower media reports was a fi rst-time an exact number but the people “We will meet each villager in Dargah until the court scrapped revoking the ban on women’s entry to Sabarimala temple, in spine and a cervical sprain. fl yer, was travelling on a GoAir ended their march in the state Kerala and chalk out a massive the rule in 2016. Thiruvananthapuram yesterday. A spokesperson for Nanavati fl ight from New Dehli to Patna. Gulf Times 18 Tuesday, October 16, 2018 INDIA

CONTROVERSY PROTEST POLITICS SURVEY SAFETY Media distorted my March in solidarity Kamal Nath blames Indians prefer short Railways plans to words, says Tharoor with AMU students Shivraj for bad roads breaks over long vacation install black boxes

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has accused Students of the Kashmir University staged a Madhya Pradesh unit Congress chief Kamal Indians have changed the way they have been Indian trains will soon have voice recorders or black media of distorting his words on the Ram temple silent march yesterday to show solidarity with Nath yesterday accused Chief Minister Shivraj holidaying very significantly over the past boxes in a bid to facilitate investigators trying to issue and stressed that whatever he said was his Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) students Singh Chouhan’s government for the bad road few years. Instead of one big break, they now identify the cause of accidents and assess crew personal opinion and not his party’s. “I condemn the facing sedition charges for trying to off er funeral condition in the state. All previous records prefer multiple short breaks in addition to one performances, an off icial said yesterday. Keeping malicious distortion of my words by some media prayers in absentia for a slain PhD scholar- of corruption pale when compared to the big family vacation, according a Yatra.com’s in mind the safety of passengers, the railways has in the service of political masters. I had said, ‘Most turned-militant commander. Manan Bashir Wani, Bharatiya Janata Party’s rule of corruption in the five-year comparative survey data. The data, decided to install the Loco Cab Voice Recording Hindus would want a temple at what they believe who was a Ph D scholar in AMU before he joined state, the off ice of Kamal Nath tweeted sharing which reveals travel trends during the peak (LCVR) devices in locomotives, a Railway Ministry to be Ram’s birthplace. But no good Hindu would militant ranks in January, was killed in a gunfight a broken road photo in the state. He also shared season, shows that Indians are now showing an off icial said. The system is in developmental stage, want it to be built by destroying another’s place of with security forces on October 11 in Jammu and a video showing a car stuck in a muddy road, inclination to visit new and unexplored domestic the off icial added. The video/voice recording system worship’,” Tharoor tweeted yesterday. “I was asked Kashmir’s Kupwara district. AMU authorities had saying the Chouhan government should stop as well as international destinations every time in locomotives would provide data to investigators for my personal opinion at a literary festival and suspended three Kashmiri students last week hiding its failure. Chouhan responded to the they travel as it provides them with bragging to help them understand events leading to an gave it as such. I am not a spokesperson for my who tried to hold the funeral prayers inside the Congress accusation saying the photos were rights within their peer group. Rolled out accident and to identify operational issues and party and did not claim to be speaking for it,” he campus. In a letter to the university authorities, of Bangladesh roads. “Earlier, Digvijayji (former across key metro cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, human factors. Aircraft currently have black boxes. added. Human Resource Development Minister 1,200 Kashmiri students studying at the AMU chief Minister Digvijay Singh) brought Pakistan’s Bengaluru and Kolkata among a sample size of It is made of two separate pieces of equipment – the Prakash Javadekar said he was “astonished” to have threatened to leave if the charges against Bridge to Bhopal, and now Kamal Nathji took over 2,000 respondents, the survey underlines flight data recorder and a cockpit voice recorder know that Tharoor believes that “true Hindus don’t the suspended students were not withdrawn by Bangladesh’s road to Madhya Pradesh,” he the key booking trends across travel budget, and is usually kept in the tail of the aircraft where want a Ram temple in Ayodhya”. tomorrow. tweeted in Hindi. accommodation and booking pattern. they are more likely to survive a crash.

Attack on Mohanlal Delhi enforces is unfair: AMMA emergency IANS Thiruvananthapuram

he Association of Ma- layalam Movie Artists measures to T(AMMA) yesterday came out in support of its chief, su- perstar Mohanlal, who has been slammed by a women’s organi- sation over the way a case in- volving an actress’ kidnap case was handled. fi ght pollution AMMA has come under fi re after it readmitted popular actor Agencies ties are powerless to prevent some cause the subsidy for SMS and Dileep who was suspended for New Delhi sources of pollution. mulching machines wasn’t cov- his alleged role in the abduction “Our aim is to stop the air qual- ering the costs of the equipment and sexual assault of the actress. ity from deteriorating further and the labour involved. It was “AMMA fi nds it unfair that elhi’s biggest coal power though certain factors are out of still much cheaper and easier to Mohanlal is being targeted,” plant was shut down yes- our control such as crop burn- burn the residue. spokesman and actor Jagdish Dterday as a new emergency ing, wind speed and lack of public “Farmers know about the re- said in a statement. plan to improve air quality in one transportation,” environment au- percussions of burning crop “Dileep’s case is currently in of the world’s most polluted cities thority offi cial Bhure Lal said. stubble and that’s why you won’t court and unless the court gives came into force, offi cials said. Late last year, Delhi and a large come across a single farmer who its fi nal ruling, no one can come Under the new strategy, re- part of northern India were cov- really wants to continue with the to a conclusion if he is guilty or strictions on construction sites ered in a dangerous toxic smog practice,” said Hardev Singh, 58, not. AMMA has not come to any and traffi c will be imposed de- that forced authorities to shut who grows rice and wheat in the conclusion if Dileep is innocent pending on the air quality in the schools, ban diesel-run gen- village of Shahjahanpur, which is or guilty,” the statement said. megacity of some 20mn people. erators, construction, burning of part of Haryana’s Karnal district. “The decision of the general When the air is classed as garbage and non-essential truck But the cost of disposing of body which was against the ex- “poor”, as it was yesterday, au- deliveries. crop residue is so prohibitive that ecutive committee decision to thorities will ban the burning of The WHO said earlier this year most farmers are forced to set the oust Dileep was based on the le- garbage in landfi lls as well as fi re- India was home to the world’s 14 stubble on fi re, Singh said. gal opinion that AMMA got. So crackers and certain construction most polluted cities, with Delhi It is also time consuming, and it’s not right to attack Mohanlal activities. ranked the sixth most polluted. the farmers do not have a lot of alone,” said Jagdish. When the air is “very poor” As pollution levels climbed to time. After harvesting rice, farm- Dileep was in jail for 85 days diesel generators will be halted, 12 times the recommended limit ers get a short window to plant and is now out on bail. parking fees hiked and more pub- and the Indian Medical Asso- winter crops such as wheat and At a press conference on Oc- lic transport provided. ciation declared a public health rapeseed, and late sowing means tober 13, Women’s Collective in “Severe” measures include emergency in the capital last year, lower yields. Cinema (WCC), led by actress closing brick kilns. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Ke- The farmers also complained Revathy, alleged that AMMA had When it reaches “severe+”, a jriwal called the city a “gas cham- about the lengthy bureaucratic not supported the victim where- new category, authorities will ber.” On Friday, he warned the city processes to claim the subsidies as Dileep had got all the backing. stop the entry of trucks except may face the same fate this year for the machines. Others who took part in the those with essential goods and because of the unrestrained stub- “The fact that government of- conference included Rima Ka- regulate the number of cars on the ble burning. fi cials want us to use expensive llingal, Remya Nambisan and road. After last year’s crisis, the In- machines like SMS clearly shows Geetu Mohandas, who had earli- The Badarpur thermal plant dian government introduced that they are far removed from er quit AMMA to protest against was temporarily closed yesterday some measures aimed at curbing reality,” said Sandeep Pannu, who the way the kidnapping issue because of its high contribution to the crop fi res, in particular off er- leases his farms to small growers was handled by the actors’ body. pollution in the city. ing to pay up to 80% of certain in Phulak village in Haryana. AMMA secretary and veteran Smog spikes during winter farm equipment, such as a Straw For most farmers, burning actor Siddiq said in Kochi yes- in Delhi, when air quality often Management System (SMS) that the residue does not cost more terday that the allegations by eclipses the World Health Organi- attaches to a harvester and shreds than Rs2,000 per acre but using WCC members were baseless. sation’s safe levels. the residue. the machines raises the cost to “It’s unfortunate that Re- Cooler air traps pollutants – The plan was for the shred- Rs6,000 despite an 80% subsidy vathy has not taken part in a such as from vehicles, building ded material to be mulched using from the government, Pannu said. single general body meeting sites and farmers burning crops another machine and irrigated at The message from Haryana and for the past 24 years. There is stubble in regions out side the In- least twice to get it to decompose. Punjab could be disconcerting for no question of taking back the dian capital – close to the ground. All this would be done without the government of Prime Minister three WCC members (Rima, Re- Authorities in the sprawl- any crops being burned. Narendra Modi, whose offi ce has mya and Geetu) because it was A farmer burns the stubble in a rice field in Karnal in the northern state of Haryana. After last year’s ing city attempted to implement The only problem is that many been actively involved in framing they who resigned. If they wish crisis, the government introduced some measures aimed at curbing the crop fires, in particular off ering similar measures last winter but farmers in Haryana and Punjab policies and taking initiatives to to return, they should come to to pay up to 80% of certain farm equipment, such as a Straw Management System (SMS) that attaches to little avail. said the plan wasn’t working. help avoid the repeat of last year’s AMMA,” said Siddiq. to a harvester and shreds the residue. This is partly because authori- They say that was largely be- dangerous spike in pollution levels.

Punjab CM lays stones for Sack Sidhu for anti-south fi ve projects in Amritsar

India remarks, says BJP IANS from the Railways Ministry. Amritsar The projects, the chief min- ister said, would go a long way IANS with anti-India mindset,” Rao said you abuse in English 10 times, one in boosting the infrastructure of New Delhi citing the recent incidents of mi- abuse in Punjabi overpowers all.” unjab Chief Minister Am- the old town and reducing traffi c gration of north Indians from Gu- Hitting out at Sidhu, Rao said arinder Singh yesterday congestion. jarat and Congress’ stand during his analogy was an attempt to Plaid foundation stones Noting that big cities like Am- he Bharatiya Janata Party action against urban Naxals. poison the minds of people to di- for fi ve infrastructure projects ritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and yesterday accused the “This was done with a politi- vide diff erent parts of India and to worth Rs1.27bn in Amritsar, Patiala were facing acute water TCongress of turning it- cal narrative and the genesis of create a negative and adverse im- and announced an additional problem, the chief minister said self into an organisation with an all this goes back to the manner age of south India. Rs500mn for tubewells to en- with water levels receding, the anti-India mindset, and sought in which Cambridge Analytica, a “You should apologise and you sure supply of water in the Sikh water received by these regions an apology from its president Ra- company which was retained by have to sack Sidhu from Punjab holy city. was becoming unfi t for drinking, hul Gandhi and sacking of Punjab Congress, creates social and com- cabinet. Nothing short of sacking The chief minister also an- leading to the spread of diseases. minister Navjot Singh Sidhu for munal confl icts and caste divide,” will satisfy people from South. nounced a slew of tourism de- Announcing his government’s his analogy between visiting Pa- Rao said. We will certainly raise this issue. velopment projects totalling decision to provide canal wa- kistan and south India. The BJP’s attack comes in the We will hold protests against Sid- Rs1.87bn for upgrading Amritsar, ter to these four cities, the chief BJP spokesman G V L Narasimha wake of Sidhu’s recent remarks at hu and Rahul Gandhi. We will take to showcase it as a global tourism minister underlined the need for Rao said the Congress has been fol- an event, where he drew an anal- to streets. Rahul Gandhi must destination. regular and thorough testing of lowing a double-pronged strategy ogy between visiting Pakistan and apologise and sack Sidhu within Singh laid the foundation water. – hoping to make an entry in Paki- south India. this week. Otherwise be ready to stone through remote of two Sidhu lashed out at the former stan’ politics by showing its “love Implying that Pakistan’s cul- face political consequences when railway over bridges, one rail- Akali Dal government for failing and aff ection” for it and by follow- ture was more similar and familiar you visit south,” Rao said. way under bridge and a fl yover, to develop the city during its 10- ing a “break India campaign”. to Punjab than south India, he had He said Sidhu had no business besides extension of the existing year rule. “Break the country is the new said: “I can’t understand the lan- to insult the people of south India. Bhandari bridge. The Akalis had built only one slogan of Rahul Gandhi. He is fol- guage, it’s just one or two words. “You may love your leader, you The inauguration took place bridge in 10 years, while the lowing a strategy creating division Not that I don’t like the food, but I may love your pasta and pizza or in the presence of Local Gov- present government had started and disaff ection between diff erent cannot have it for a long time, the you may love Karachi kulche we Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and Local Government ernment Minister and Amritsar work on fi ve, he said, adding that regions of the country. The Con- culture is totally diff erent. When have no problem but you have no Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu press a remote button during the legislator Navjot Singh Sidhu, tenders were being issued for gress is no longer a political party I go to Pakistan, the language is business to say that I like Pakistan inauguration ceremony to lay the foundation stone of five projects in whom Singh credited with facili- these projects and work would be but has become an organisation the same, like you know, when more than south India.” Amritsar yesterday. tating the necessary permissions completed within a year. Gulf Times Tuesday, October 16, 2018 19 LATIN AMERICA Bolsonaro may ‘revise pre-salt oil contracts’ Reuters its pre-salt oil fi elds was rolled out by the leftist Rio de Janeiro Workers Party, which ran Brazil for 13 of the last 15 years, and has been blamed by many for a weak Hondurans, fleeing poverty and violence, reach for donated food outside the local church after a long walk, part of their journey in a caravan economy and endemic graft. toward the United States in Ocotepeque, Honduras. razil’s far-right presidential front-runner Reformed by the center-right government Jair Bolsonaro could revise the country’s of Michel Temer, who took offi ce in 2016 after Bmodel of production-sharing contracts former president Dilma Rousseff was impeached, in its coveted pre-salt oil fi elds if he wins this the production-sharing model has proved suc- month’s election, newspaper Valor reported yes- cessful in recent auctions, luring oil majors like terday. Exxon Mobil Corp Chevron Corp, Repsol SA, Honduran migrant group The poll leader ahead of the October 28 run-off Royal Dutch Shell Plc, and BP Plc. vote could also end overseas fi nancing by state Higher oil prices and the need to replace development bank BNDES, Valor reported, citing shrinking reserves have boosted oil majors’ ap- unnamed campaign sources, as Bolsonaro looks petites for costlier off shore ventures, pumping to overhaul the country’s state-run entities. much-needed money into Brazil’s coff ers. grows, on way to the US A longstanding advocate of state control over The Valor article did not give details on how key strategic assets like government-run Petro- Bolsonaro would tweak the production-sharing leo Brasileiro SA and Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras model, but cited campaign sources who said the Reuters The US Embassy in Honduras March organizer Bartolo The plan is to cross Guatemala SA, Bolsonaro has recently changed tack, falling aim was to attack some of the political abuses Tegucigalpa said it was deeply worried about Fuentes told Reuters that par- and reach Tapachula in southern more closely in line with key advisors who favor perpetrated by previous administrations. the group and that people were ticipants were not being off ered Mexico to apply for humanitar- privatizing assets. Under Rousseff , Brazil’s government used the being given “false promises” of or promised anything but were ian visas that allow people to But a rival camp of advisors, made up of mili- BNDES to off er loans to countries like Venezuela, growing group of more being able to enter the United fl eeing poverty and violence back cross the country or get asylum, tary generals, have urged Bolsonaro to maintain Cuba and Mozambique that they would use to than 1,500 Honduran States. home. Fuentes said. control of Petrobras and other assets they con- contract Brazilian fi rms. Amigrants headed for the The embassy said the situation Fuentes, a former Honduran Honduras, where some 64% sider strategic, Reuters reported last week, open- The Brazilian government, under Rousseff , had United States moved toward the in Honduras was improving. lawmaker, said the group had of households are in poverty, ing up a split that could disappoint investors who agreed to act as the guarantor of the loans. Guatemalan border on Sunday, Honduras’ government echoed grown on its journey to some is afflicted by gangs that vio- snapped up Petrobras shares in the wake of Bol- The funds were used by Venezuela and Mozam- witnesses and organizers said. part of that language, saying it 1,800 migrants from 1,300. lently extort people and busi- sonaro’s fi rst-round win. bique to pay works carried out by Brazilian fi rms. The migrants, who included regretted the situation and that The so-called migrant cara- nesses. Bolsonaro’s campaign did not immediately re- In May, Brazil said it would continue to insist families of adults and children, citizens were being “deceived.” van, in which people move in Last week, Pence told Cen- spond to a request for comment. Petrobras shares Venezuela and Mozambique pay back nearly 1bn and women carrying babies, be- Mexico’s government issued a groups either on foot or by vehi- tral American countries that the were up 2.2% in late morning trading. reais ($281.05mn) in loans they defaulted on to gan a march on Saturday from the statement on Saturday remind- cle, grew in part because of social United States was willing to help Brazil’s production-sharing contract model for BNDES and Switzerland’s Credit Suisse. violent northern city of San Pedro ing foreign nationals that visas media. with economic development and Sula, days after US Vice Presi- should be requested in consulates, The group began to arrive in investment if they did more to dent Mike Pence called on Central not at the border, and said migra- Nueva Ocotepeque, near the tackle mass migration, corrup- America to stop mass migration. tion rules were “always observed.” Guatemalan border, on Sunday. tion and gang violence. Assange’s communications to be partly restored by Ecuador govt Managua arrests 20, uses stun grenades to end demo

AFP the Ecuadorian government said at the time. London It came days after he used Twitter to challenge AFP civilians,” OAS chief Luis Almagro wrote on Britain’s accusation that Russia was responsible Managua Twitter. for the nerve agent poisoning of a Russian former “Deeply concerned by this morning’s arrests he Ecuadorian government will partially double agent in the English city of Salisbury. in Nicaragua. The repression the Nicaraguan restore communications for Julian As- He also attacked the arrest in Germany of ome 20 protesters were arrested Sunday people are being put through must stop,” Costa Tsange at the country’s embassy in London, former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont when Nicaraguan police swooped in to Rican President Carlos Alvarado tweeted. Wikileaks has said. The Wikileaks founder, who under an EU warrant issued by Spain over Puig- Sbreak up a meeting of demonstrators Police had earlier announced that they has been holed up at the embassy since 2012, was demont’s failed bid last year to declare independ- gathering for a march against the government would not allow any unauthorized demon- stopped from using the internet or a mobile phone ence for his Spanish region. of President Daniel Ortega. strations. to communicate with the outside world in March. Ecuador installed a jammer to prevent him Police wielded clubs and hurled stun gre- Hundreds of anti-riot police offi cers were “Ecuador has told WikiLeaks publisher Julian from accessing email and restricted the number nades to break up the demonstrators gath- deployed early in the day to key points of the Assange that it will remove the isolation regime of visitors he can receive. ering at a shopping mall parking lot, beating A Nicaraguan woman is arrested by riot capital Managua as well as to the highway to imposed on him following meetings between two Assange took refuge in the diplomatic mission in men, women and even some elderly people. police during a protest against the govern- the restive city of Masaya. senior UN offi cials and Ecuador’s President Lenin 2012 after a British judge ruled he should be extra- Those arrested were dragged down the ment of President Daniel Ortega in Managua Government supporters took over city Moreno on Friday,” Wikileaks said in a statement dited to Sweden to face allegations of sexual assault street to be later loaded onto police patrol ve- on Sunday. roundabouts where protesters had planned to late on Sunday. there. Assange claims the accusations were politi- hicles. Some reporters were also beaten and gather. Kristinn Hrafnsson, Wikileaks editor in chief, cally motivated and could lead to him being extra- briefl y detained, local independent reporters tion of American States and the president of Anti-government demonstrations began described the move as “positive” but said it is dited to the United States to face imprisonment said. “They respect no one, not even older neighboring Costa Rica. on April 18, initially protesting changes in the “of grave concern that his freedom to express his over WikiLeaks’ publication of secret US military people or children,” said Azhalea Solis, head “We demand the government of #Nica- social security system. opinions is still limited”. The decision to cut off documents and diplomatic cables in 2010. of the Civic Alliance, an umbrella group that ragua release the protesters who have been Since then the demonstrations have grown Assange’s communications was taken because the Sweden dropped its investigation last year, but represents business people, students and so- detained, that it respect the right to peace- in size and the protestors are calling for the Australian had broken a 2017 promise to not inter- British authorities say they still want to arrest cial groups. ful protest nationwide, and stop repression resignation of Ortega and his wife and vice fere in other countries’ aff airs while in the mission, him for breaching his bail conditions. And there was outrage from the Organiza- and all intimidation of political leaders and president Rosario Murillo. Fleeing electricity, Mexico’s Mennonites seek new home

By Herika Martinez Prado, AFP Nearly a third of the village hands the Mennonites hire from Those who are leaving plan to Sabinal, Mexico plans to move across Mexico a nearby hamlet. sell it for $7,000 per hectare. to the southeastern state of On Sundays, Mennonite teens Sabinal’s sprawling fi elds are Campeche, where another Men- with a rebellious streak can be dotted by houses adorned with he desert of northern nonite community has already found in the fi elds covertly lis- colorful fl owers. Mexico seemed so per- settled. tening to reggaeton and Enrique Chickens and cows roam the Tfect when the Mennonites “They want to conserve the Iglesias — music picked up from yards, along with playing chil- moved here 26 years ago: a place faith. They don’t want change,” the workers — through battery- dren who shout excitedly in Low free from electricity, television or says Isaac Redecop, who runs the powered speakers. German when they see a stranger cars. local store. It is nearly impossible to to- arrive, then run and hide. But then the government in- Other Mennonites around the tally isolate them from the world In a place where families have stalled the fi rst power lines. world “have already changed. beyond — especially since the up to 17 kids, most of Sabinal’s And now, this deeply tradi- They use cars, while we’re still Mennonites are hugely success- residents are children. tional, tight-knit community is using horses,” he told AFP. “But ful farmers. They go to school six months divided between those who want as far as I can tell, we have more They make 1.5 tonnes a day of a year — six years total for girls, to stay in Sabinal, their far-fl ung, peace and quiet than they do.” cheese, which has become popu- seven for boys — studying sub- dusty village, and those who soon For those who want to stay, lar in the surrounding area and jects such as reading, writing, will load their wagons, hitch up electricity is a blessing — and one draws a stream of customers to math, Mennonite history and the their horses and move to a new, that is not necessarily prohibited Sabinal. Bible. even more remote home. by their faith. “It’s the only cheese around Their parents are apprehensive “When the power lines ar- Besides the convenience of without chemicals. Custom- about the changes that technol- rived, they decided to go,” says electric lights and fans, it helps ers don’t want chemicals. This ogy could bring to a community Sabinal resident Enrique Friesen, them irrigate their fi elds — no cheese is pure milk,” says Re- that still prefers to fi t its horse- 37, who for his part plans to stay, small task in the desert. decop. drawn tractors and carriages with with his wife and eight children. But those who want to leave His store is one of a handful metal wheels. “They don’t want electricity — Mennonite girls pose at the Sabinal community in Ascencion municipality, Chihuahua State, Mexico. say the outside world has already of businesses in town, alongside “People say (electricity) is bad. just horses. They say electricity encroached far enough on their a doctor’s offi ce, a pharmacy, a They say there are bad things on is a sin.” erlands for Russia, then Canada made overalls, while the women even rubber tires for their horse- religion and culture. feed shop and a hardware store. television. But I don’t think eve- The Mennonites of Mexico and fi nally Mexico. opt for long, fl owing dresses. drawn carriages. Sabinal is four hours from the Besides making cheese, the rything on television is bad,” says are the descendants of strictly Today, the people of Sabinal Their native language is Low Of the estimated 60,000 Men- nearest city, Ciudad Juarez, on Mennonites also farm cotton, Jacobo, an unmarried 19-year- conservative Protestants whose live in the Chihuahuan desert al- German. nonites in the state of Chihua- the border with the United States sorghum and vegetables, having old whose family plans to stay. denominations emerged out of most like an isolated indigenous In a sign of their limited con- hua, Sabinal’s 1,500 residents are — it is located down a series of tamed the desert with a vast sys- “They also say if people get the 16th century Reformation in tribe — except that their skin is tact with the rest of Mexico, they among the most cloistered. dirt roads that wind through tem of wells. rubber tires, they just use them to Europe. white, their hair typically blond, often speak little Spanish. But the arrival of electricity is mountains, hills and pastures. When they moved here in drive to town and buy liquor. But Their ancestors fl ed persecu- and their eyes blue. They generally reject cell bringing modernity — and con- But outside infl uence has crept 1992, they bought their land for that’s their own fault. You can’t tion in Germany and the Neth- Men traditionally wear hand- phones, television, cars and troversy — to their door. in, mainly through the farm- $172 per hectare. blame the tires.” Gulf Times 20 Tuesday, October 16, 2018 PAKISTAN

Pakistan to host global Imran holds on to slim students convention

Internews majority after by-polls Islamabad Widow of slain Pakistani Nawaz Sharif unable to cast vote aft er forgetting to bring his identity card candidate wins his seat in akistan will host a four- by-election Former prime minister Nawaz day International Student Sharif was not allowed to vote PConvention (ISC) and Internews/AFP/DPA/Reuters in Sunday’s by-election after he Expo 2018 from December 10 Lahore/Islamabad forgot to bring his identification in the federal capital under the card to the polling station, Express theme “securing the future of News reported. youth”, according to a press re- rime Minister Imran The Pakistan Muslim League – lease. Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek- Nawaz (PML-N) supremo arrived According to the press re- Pe-Insaf (PTI) suff ered a only minutes before the closing of lease issued this week, the main blow in Sunday’s by-elections polling at the Government College objectives of the mega activ- as the opposition alliance gained of Technology on Lahore’s Rail ity include revitalising the role fi ve more seats in delicately-bal- Road with his daughter Maryam of youth towards development, anced National Assembly (NA), Nawaz, where party supporters peace building, and achieving further reducing the ruling par- had gathered to welcome him. Sharif and Maryam arrived at the polling station only minutes the UN Sustainable Develop- ty’s margin for formation of the PML-N supporters chanted before the elections closed. ment Goals (SDGs). federal government. slogans in Sharif’s favour and Participants from 30 coun- By-elections were held on showered his vehicle with flowers. ted to vote by polling staff . overcoming the Pakistan Tehreek- tries will get a chance to interact total 34 National and provincial Notwithstanding, the former pre- The pair had gone to vote in e-Insaf (PTI)’s Ghulam Muhiuddin. with leading personalities and assembly seats. mier forgot his ID card at home, Lahore’s NA-124, which PML-N Prime Minister Imran Khan cast his subject experts of their interests The PTI had a major upset, and as a result he was not permit- leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi won, vote in Islamabad’s NA-53. from across the globe. as voters in two constituen- They will also be able to ex- cies – NA-131 Lahore and NA-35 Each overseas Pakistani vote cost Rs15,000, says Election Commission perience a diverse group across Bannu – changed their mind and the spectrum from academic elected members from opposi- It was a historic event when for the first time overseas through the Internet voting system – 5,117 votes for the mainstreams to madrassa stu- tion parties. Imran Khan: analysts say tough decisions taken by his government Pakistanis cast their votes in the by-polls on Sunday. National Assembly seats and 1,116 votes for Provincial dents and other marginalised These seats were won by PTI aff ected his party’s by-election performance. More than 83% registered voters used the facility to Assembly seats. segments. chairman Khan just two months cast their votes through the Internet. This works out to RS15,241 per voter. More than 30 sessions and ago in the July 25 general elec- This seat was vacated by precedent, as overseas Pakista- The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) spent The ECP received three complaints from the overseas competitions have also been tion. Prime Minister Khan. nis who registered were able to Rs95mn to arrange for voting via the Internet. Pakistanis. designed to ensure maximum The by-election results have In Punjab, the by-elections cast their votes for the fi rst time. The turnout for iVoting was 83.5%. The results of the Internet voting will be sent to return- participation of students round changed the party position in were held for 11 seats, out of According to the Election According to sources, a total of 6,233 votes were cast ing off icers after the approval by the ECP. the clock, says the press re- the National Assembly. which the PML-N won six, the Commission of Pakistan (ECP), lease, adding that the ISC and Now the opposition numbers PTI stood second with three 84% of registered overseas vot- Expo 2018 will feature observ- have increased by fi ve seats, seats, and two seats were won by ers cast their vote. nine constituencies in Punjab, among those elected to parlia- husband’s provincial seat in by- ing international human rights while the ruling alliance secured independents. It has also been learnt that it one in Sindh, and one in Khyber ment after missing out in the election. day, vice-chancellors forum on six seats. In Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa, the was a tough day for the IT of- Pakhtunkhwa. July elections. Samar Bilour won the KP As- youth development, diplomatic The PTI number of seats in PTI won fi ve seats, three went fi cials handling e-voting in The by-elections come after The by-elections indicate a sembly seat that her husband forum and corner, university the National Assembly has in- to the Awami National Party Pakistan, as more than 10,000 the national vote on July 25 pro- dip in popularity for Khan, just Haroon Bilour, a member of the pavilion, books pavilion, digital creased by four, its ally party, (ANP), and the PML-N bagged cyber-attacks were reported on pelled former World Cup crick- two months after his PTI party’s ANP, had been scheduled to technologies pavilion, tourism the Pakistan Muslim League – one seat. the offi cial website. eter Khan to power, an outcome election victory. contest in July. and culture pavilion, job fair, ca- Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q)’s seats For two Sindh Assembly seats, However, all the attacks were that was rejected by the main Political analysts say Khan’s Haroon Bilour was killed reer counselling sessions, model went up by two, the Pakistan by-elections were held in PS-30 foiled and the process was com- opposition parties. popularity has suff ered due to along with 19 others in a suicide UN and National Assembly ses- Muslim League – Nawaz (PML- and PS-87 constituencies, and pleted without any major hin- Most of the National Assem- tough decisions his government attack in Peshawar, the provin- sions, talent hunt, ideas corner, N)’s number of seats increased both were won by the Pakistan drance. bly seats had been open as Pa- has had to take to tackle an eco- cial capital, claimed by the Pa- workshops, seminars, sports by four, and the Muttahida Maj- People’s Party Parliamentar- Elections were held on 24 seats kistan allows candidates to run nomic crisis, including possibly kistani Taliban weeks before the activities, competitions, and lis-e-Amal (MMA) got one more ians (PPPP, the Pakistan Peoples of the Provincial Assemblies: 11 in multiple constituencies, but seeking a bailout loan from the July 25 polls. many other activities projecting seat in the NA. Party’s parliamentary arm). seats of the Punjab Assembly, keep only one seat. International Monetary Fund The attack prompted a delay a positive image of Pakistan all The major setback for the PTI In Baluchistan, one seat was nine of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, The PML-N’s Shahid Khaqan (IMF). in voting for that seat. over the world. came in NA-131 (Lahore), where won by Baluchistan National and two each of Sindh and Balu- Abbasi, who served as prime Meanwhile, the wife of a poli- His father, senior ANP leader The event is being jointly or- PML-N candidate Khwaja Saad Party (BAP) while the other was chistan. minister after Nawaz Sharif tician killed in a Taliban suicide Bashir Bilour, was killed in a sui- ganised by Inter-University Rafi que defeated the PTI’s Hu- won by an independent. For 11 National Assembly was removed from offi ce by the attack during campaigning for cide bombing in the run-up to Consortium for Promotion of mayun Akhter Khan. The by-elections also set a seats, by-elections were held in Supreme Court last year, was the July 25 election won her Pakistan’s last election in 2013. Social Sciences Pakistan in col- laboration with Commission on Science and Technology for Pakistan authority to block smuggled Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS), the Higher mobile phones after October 20 Education Commission Paki- stan, the Punjab Higher Educa- In an attempt to curb the illegal import of mobile devices, the tion Commission, the United Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has started to send Nations Information Centre messages through Short Messaging Service (SMS) to all mobile Pakistan, the Pakistan Institute subscribers to create public awareness about Device Identification, of Parliamentary Services, the Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS). Paigham-e-Pakistan, the Uni- Any mobile device that reflects a non-compliant status after versity of Lahore, the Institute October 20 would be blocked in accordance to PTA/DIRBS of Peace and Diplomatic Studies, regulations. the National Democratic Foun- The system facilitates legitimate device importers and mobile dation, the National Book Foun- device users and improve overall security situation. dation, and other top-ranking As per the information issued, the telecom consumers can verify Pakistani and foreign universi- the status of their mobile device by sending its International ties. Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number via SMS to 8484, on the Meanwhile, the organisers DIRBS website www.dirbs.pta.gov.pk, or by downloading the DIRBS have started registration of the In these photographs taken on October 4, artist Bilal Asif works on Android mobile application from Google Play Store. students and relevant institu- his studio in Karachi. With a sharp eye for detail, he carefully files The final phase of DIRBS shall begin on October 20. tions. down pencils as part of a quest to set a world record for creating A senior PTA off icial said that illegal and unregistered mobile Leading academics, heads of the largest swing made from pencil parts. handsets are a threat to public security. government departments and In most of the cases, it had been observed that mobile handsets, vice-chancellors have, through usually without any identity are used in criminal activities. their messages, have expressed These handsets are either brought from other countries, local their appreciation for the ini- market, or were snatched or stolen from the people. tiative and assured their full co- Artist aims PTA had implemented a system called DIRBS, which would simply operation in the successful hold- make a non-compliant handset useless. ing of the event. for record with swing More cases reported as #MeToo made of movement picks up in Pakistan pencils Internews which is a positive sign in fi ght from lodging their complaints”. Islamabad against sexual harassment at Meanwhile, according to the AFP workplace,” she said. FOSPAH’s annual report, of the Karachi According to the FOSPAH’s 244 cases of sexual harassment he number of cases of sex- annual report, in the period from reported to the secretariat, 87 ual harassment at work- July 2017 to June 2018, as many happened in Islamabad, 131 in ith an eye for detail, Tplace reported to the Fed- as 244 cases of harassment at Punjab, 17 in Sindh, and nine in Bilal Asif carefully la- eral Ombudsperson Secretariat workplace were registered with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Wbours over his quest has increased from eight to over the secretariat: 161 reported by “There are millions of public for a pointedly unusual world 40 per month. females, and 83 by males. and private organisations based record – crafting the largest Federal Ombudsperson for Some 73 of these cases were in Karachi, but it is surprising to swing ever made from pencils. Protection against Harassment reported from the public sector see fewer cases being reported Asif combs over his creation (FOSPAH) Kashmala Tariq said and the rest from offi ce in the from there,” Tariq said, adding inside his studio in the southern this week that since March 2018, private and semi-private sector. that it might be because of a lack megacity of Karachi, fi ne-tun- there had been a drastic increase Of the total number of case, of awareness among the people ing details with a razor blade, in the number of cases being 213 have been decided so far living in Karachi. and mulling new decorative ad- In this photograph taken on October 4, artist Bilal Asif poses for a photograph with his pencils artwork fi led. while 31 are in progress. “The process of lodging com- ditions. at his studio in Karachi. “The shocking fact is that the “The federal ombudsperson plaint with the ombudsperson is “My main objective was not majority of cases are being re- secretariat is also receiving cases simple, and the decision comes only to make the pencil swing structure a touch of South Asian But Pakistan, which split from work but I don’t react to them,” ported from government offi ces of sexual harassment at work- within two months,” she ex- but I aspired to make it with as fl amboyance, drawing striking India at independence from he said. across the country,” she said. place from men which shows plained. “The victim needs not much creativity as I could,” said similarities to the artwork dec- Britain in 1947 and has viewed He likes to point out that the Tariq believes that the #Me- that even men are being victim- hire a lawyer or spend money for the artist. orating the ubiquitous “jingle it as an archrival ever since, has swing is not just about breaking Too movement is playing a key ised,” she maintained. any legal work. He or she only has By January, Asif plans to reg- trucks” that barrel down roads yet to match its neighbour’s records, drawing a line between role in motivating not only the According to Tariq, the to fi le a complaint and the rest of ister his work for the Guinness across Pakistan. enthusiasm for quirky world his art and his quest to promote victims of sexual harassment number of cases reported from the work, like investigation, is Book of World Records. Striving to break world record glory. friendship abroad. to come forward and fi ght their the public sector is higher than done by the ombudsperson.” He has used up to 30,000 records is the norm in neigh- The Guinness record achieve- “This is not only a world case, but also the local media to those in the private sector “be- The ombudsperson said that pencils in total, cut into more bouring India, which holds ment would cement a goal record but this is a message of highlight what was earlier con- cause in government offi ces, President Arif Alvi had also than 100,000 pieces. a suite of peculiar Guinness sketched out since Asif’s youth, peace from the whole Pakistan sidered a taboo in the Pakistani people are not scared of being stressed the need for empower- The swing rests on massive plaudits, including the largest when he began collecting pen- to the other countries through society. fi red, while private sector em- ing women and providing them posts resembling pencils, while number of people to sing a na- cils from all over the world. this art,” Asif adds. “This is my “Now people are opening up, ployees are scared of losing their safe and secure working environ- colourful pastel designs give the tional anthem in unison. “Some people criticise my aim.” speaking up and seeking justice job, which discourages them ment. Gulf Times Tuesday, October 16, 2018 21 PHILIPPINES

Boracay island Aquino faces new charge now a ‘sight to over alleged fund misuse behold’ By Ma. Reina L Tolentino chief justice. It was the clear chairmen of the House appro- the charges are purely based Manila Times criminal intent to use public priation and Senate finance on truth and justice.” DPA funds not for the purpose they committees, with the bless- Meanwhile, Abad said Manila were intended by the legisla- ing of the then president,” it former Ombudsman Conchita group yesterday fi led a ture but for their own selfish added. Carpio Morales “has already malversation complaint and individual interests,” the “Respondent Mar Roxas is found in her investigation that he popular tourist island Abefore the Offi ce of the group said. likewise a co-conspirator in there was no graft nor techni- of Boracay in the Philip- Ombudsman against former The DAP, a stimulus package the crime of malversation by cal malversation involved in Tpines is cleaned up and president Benigno Aquino and under the Aquino administra- direct participation through the use of the DAP funds.” ready for visitors again, Envi- other individuals in connec- tion that aimed to fast-track the clandestine meetings with The Office of the Ombuds- ronment Secretary Roy Cimatu tion with the alleged misuse of public spending and push eco- senator-judges,” the group man earlier cleared Aquino said yesterday as it was opened the Disbursement Acceleration nomic growth, was declared said. and Relampagos of any ac- after a six-month clean-up. Programme (DAP) funds. partly unconstitutional by the Relampagos signed the Spe- countability in the implemen- “I guarantee that the water The Truth & Justice Coali- Supreme Court in July 2014. cial Allotment Release Orders, tation of the programme from is now very clean. The island is tion, represented by its presi- “In fairness to the respond- according to the complaint. 2011 to 2013. now a sight to behold. Boracay dent Greco Belgica, filed the ents, out of the three (3) DAP In its complaint, the group But it found basis to charge will even be grander in the near complaint against Aquino, tranches, the evidence showed mentioned circumstances that Abad with usurpation of legis- future,” Cimatu said. former Budget secretary that only the first and second allegedly made Trillanes a co- lative powers — a matter that Boracay, famous for its pow- Florencio Abad, former Rep. tranches were used to influ- conspirator such as the grant stemmed from the issuance der-sand beaches and coves Joseph Emilio Abaya (also a ence the legislators in con- of amnesty to him through of National Budget Circular welcomed only local tourists former House appropriations nection with the impeachment Presidential Decree 50 dated (NBC) 541 to carry out the im- during the soft opening yester- committee chairman), former and conviction of the late chief Oct 11, 2010 and his alleged re- plementation of the DAP. day. On October 26, it will be Interior secretary Manuel justice. A total of 139 House ceipt of P100mn worth of DAP Later, in a resolution ap- open to foreign tourists as well. “Mar” Roxas 2nd, Sena- members and 21 senators re- from Dec 13 to 22, 2011. proved on June 14, the Om- President Rodrigo Duterte tor Franklin Drilon (a former ceived the first tranche of the “The amnesty, the ghost budsman only partly granted closed the island in April after chairman of the Senate finance DAP from the respondents… project and the project not the motion for reconsideration complaining that it had become committee), former Budget For the second tranche, there listed in the Filipino-Chi- filed by the complainants — a “cesspool.” Boracay was visited Undersecretary Mario Relam- were 95 House members and nese Chamber of Commerce who argued that the Ombuds- by more than 2mn foreign and pagos, Yolanda Doblon, Sena- 19 senators,” the group said. (FCCC) website are matters man “committed grave errors local tourists in 2017, the tourism tor. Antonio Trillanes 4th and “As mentioned earlier, Sec- that distinguishes Senator of facts and laws” in not find- department said. John Does. tion 59 of the 2011 GAA (Gen- Trillanes from the rest of the ing basis to charge Abad and Many residents, put out of It alleged that DAP funds eral Appropriations Act) is DAP recipient senators who Aquino with graft and techni- work due to the temporary clo- were given to some legislators the provision on the use of voted for the conviction of Co- cal malversation — and found sure, joined the clean-up eff ort. to influence them to remove savings. The phrase ‘for their rona,” it said. basis to charge Aquino before The full rehabilitation of ports, former chief justice Renato respective offices’ contained Aquino: new charges According to the group’s the Sandiganbayan with usur- roads, sewage, drainage and Corona. in Article VI, Section 25 (5) of statement, Belgica, also a pation of legislative powers. other facilities will continue un- “The cross-border transfer the Constitution was omit- transfer of savings is not pro- possible through the Depart- commissioner of the Presi- In the same resolution, the til December next year, Tourism to the legislators was to influ- ted therein. Without the re- hibited by law any more. ment of Budget and Manage- dential Anti-Corruption Ombudsman denied Abad’s Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat ence them in ousting the (late) strictive phrase, cross-border This provision was made ment (DBM) secretary and the Commission, “clarified that plea for reconsideration. said. Army chief assures ‘agile Uson seeks seat as Kasosyo nominee force to fi ght terrorism’ By William Depasupil Manila Times Manila Times a year in the major service com- Manila mand under the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). logger and former Presidential Communica- Alberto’s statement stemmed tions Operations Offi ce assistant secretary ajor General Macairog from the fi ve-month long siege in BMargaux “Mocha” Uson yesterday fi led her Alberto, newly-installed Marawi City by the Islamic State- certifi cate of candidacy as nominee of Kasosyo par- MPhilippine Army chief, linked Maute group in 2017 that ty-list. yesterday vowed to make the killed hundreds of soldiers, civil- Uson, a former dancer of the group Mocha Girls, Army an “agile force” that would ians and even the terrorists them- campaigned hard for President Rodrigo Duterte gallantly fi ght terrorism in the selves. during the 2016 polls that eventually landed her a country and “guard the fragile Alberto, a former chief of the job as assistant secretary. peace we have so far achieved.” Intelligence Service of the AFP She resigned recently over a controversial video “Today, we still continue to (ISAFP), also committed to de- about federalism and also drew the ire of the public display the same gallantry and velop the Army’s land power ca- for mocking the deaf community, which many be- heroism in our vigilance against pability “to where it is needed,” in lieve prompted the president to let her go. the threat of terrorism. Extremist support of the military’s general But Uson maintained that she was not fi red by the groups still seek to destroy our so- headquarters missions. president and came out with another video with Du- ciety and our way of life, we must “I will also look after the morale terte, who expressed his support to her candidacy. guard the fragile peace we have so and welfare of our troops by sup- The president has consistently defended Uson far achieved,” Alberto said in his porting our soldiers’ family pro- amid criticisms that she is a purveyor of fake news. speech during the turnover at Fort grammes and improving the way Uson expressed confi dence that her party-list Bonifacio, Taguig City. we care for our wounded soldiers group would get the required votes to earn her a seat “I will therefore endeavour to and surviving family members,” in the House of Representatives. make the Philippine Army a more he said. Like the president, according to her, she would agile force, one that is prepared Alberto is a graduate under push for legislation that would benefi t the people, and able to meet current and the Philippine Military Acad- particularly overseas Filipino workers. emerging threats in the country,” emy’s (PMA) “Sinagtala” Class of With more than 5mn followers on Facebook, Uson said Alberto, replacing Lt. Gen. 1986 while Bautista is under the said she was confi dent that popularity would help Former assistant secretary of the presidential communications operations off ice Esther Margaux “Mocha” Uson arrives Rolando Bautista, who served for “Sandiwa” Class of 1985. her land a congressional seat. at the Commission on Elections off ice in Manila, yesterday to register for the May 2019 mid-term election. Go, Poe and Villar register for senatorial race

By William Depasupil for the soaring prices of goods (DoTR) jeepney modernisation tions chief Nicanor Faeldon. “Let us make a deal or prom- Manila Times and services, stressing that the programme, which she said was With the filing of his CoC, ise, or make a commitment to government is trying to ease not equitable and eff ective. Go is deemed to have resigned the Filipino people. This elec- infl ation by suspending the in- Former senator Lito Lapid was from his post as Special Assist- tion, strictly neutral all of us. ore than a dozen sena- crease in fuel tax under Train 2 accompanied by son, former ant to the President. The armed forces, the police, torial aspirants, includ- in 2019. Pampanga governor Mark Lapid, Go, 44, said he was unfazed and the uniformed personnel Ming President Rodrigo “We know that there is really a when he fi led his CoC. by survey results. of government, I am asking you Duterte’s top aide, Christopher rice cartel, onion cartel. We were Lapid neither spoke nor en- “I’m not counting on the not to indulge in partisan poli- Lawrence “Bong” Go, fi led their not able to control it and in a way tertained questions from the surveys because there are those tics,” he said. Certifi cates of Candidacy (CoCs) failed to implement the law that media. included who are not running In its latest survey, the Social yesterday. is supposed to break the cartel, Mangudadatu, who is run- and there are those who were Weather Stations (SWS) found Twelve candidates seeking especially agricultural cartel,” ning under the administration’s not included but they are run- that six of those who made it seats at the House of Represent- she said. PDP-Laban Party, said that if ning. So let’s wait for the final to the “Magic 12” were re-elec- atives under party-list groups Villar is one of the signatories elected, he would work for unity day of the filing to see who are tionists, while four are trying to also fi led their CoCs on the third of the Train law. in Mindanao. really running. Let us let the stage a comeback in Congress. day of fi ling at the Commission Poe meanwhile criticised the He said the president con- people choose,” he said. The other two are new faces. on Elections (Comelec) offi ce in government for the slow imple- vinced him to run for senator, Also yesterday, President According to the survey Intramuros, Manila. mentation of programmes that so that there would be a Muslim Duterte urged the military and commissioned by Lakas- So far, 63 senatorial candi- could have cushioned the impact representation in the Senate. police to stay “strictly neutral” Christian Muslim Democrats dates have fi led their CoCs. of high fuel cost and rising prices Go, the Special Assistant to President Rodrigo Duterte raises the hand of his top aide Christopher as he vowed that there would be (Lakas-CMD) Deputy Secre- Senator Cynthia Villar, of goods and services. the President, fi led his CoC Lawrence “Bong” Go, after he filed his certificate of candidacy. clean and honest elections next tary General Alde Pagulayan, Maguindanao Rep. Sajid Man- She was also one of the law- shortly before the cut-off time year. 52% of Filipinos said they gudadatu, Magdalo Party-list makers that supported the Train set by the poll body. drugs. “Foremost on my agenda decision that I will have to make In his speech during the would vote for Poe, who ranked Rep. Gary Alejano and Sen. law. He was accompanied by Pres- is the establishment of more in my life,” a teary-eyed Go told Philippine Army’s change of first. She was followed by Vil- Grace Poe were the early birds. “The reason why we support- ident Rodrigo Duterte and in- Malasakit Centers, which the reporters. command in Taguig City, Du- lar, with 46%. Villar, accompanied by hus- ed that was because the govern- cumbent and former members president has already started,” “I will be distancing myself terte said he would not allow Former senator and Taguig band, former Senate president ment needed funds to roll out its of the Cabinet. Go added. from the president but I will try the administration’s candi- Rep. Pia Cayetano came third Manuel Villar, daughter Camille programmes. We agreed to sup- “After months of contemplat- He also stressed the need to my best in my private capacity dates, even his top aide Go, to with 37%, followed by Sen. and son Paolo, is running under port (it) because there are sup- ing and consulting with people revisit the Juvenile Justice Law, to help him. I am still beside use government resources. Nancy Binay, former senator the Nationalist People’s Coali- posed to be built in social miti- that the president and I trust, I which exempts children 15 years him,” he added. “Bong is not my aide any- Lito Lapid and Sen. Aquilino tion (NPC). gating measures,” she said. came to a decision — that is to old and below from imprison- Those who accompanied more. The moment he signed “Koko” Pimentel 3rd, former Villar said if she gets re- The problem, Poe said, was run for public offi ce. Like the ment and other penalties, to save Go were Executive Secretary his certificate of candidacy, he senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, elected, she would push for pro- taxes were collected but the sup- president, I like to put the nation children from a life of crime. Salvador Medialdea, National ceased to be a government em- Sen. Sonny Angara, Davao City grammes that would benefi t the posed support to the poorest of and the people fi rst,” Go said. Before heading to the Come- Security Adviser Hermogenes ployee,” Duterte said. Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio farmers, particularly helping the poor, like the conditional If elected, he said he would lec, Go went to the San Miguel Esperon Jr, Presidential Com- “Nobody but nobody can and Ilocos Norte Governor them deliver their products di- cash transfer and fuel voucher push for legislations to boost Church near Malacanang and munications Secretary Mar- use government resources, not Imee Marcos. rectly to the consumers. for public transport, were not the economy and expand medi- then met with the president. tin Andanar, Commission on even Bong. I will not allow (it),” Opposition stalwarts Mar Villar said the Tax Reform delivered with dispatch. cal services for the people, and “This is the fi rst time that I’m Higher Education officer-in- he added. Roxas and Sen. Paolo Be- for Acceleration and Inclusion Poe also criticised the De- strengthen the fi ght against cor- joining the elections. I am nerv- charge Prospero de Vera, and The president asked the mil- nigno Aquino rounded up the (Train) law should not be blamed partment of Transportation’s ruption, criminality and illegal ous. I am also saddened by the incoming Bureau of Correc- itary to stay out of politics. magic 12. Gulf Times 22 Tuesday, October 16, 2018 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES The sirens are sounding to save the planet Last week Hurricane Michael wiped out entire communities in Florida, and last month Florence wreaked havoc in the Carolinas in the United States. The Earth is getting hotter, and more intense storms are only one result. If we don’t stop the warming, the changes will be irreversible. Hundreds of millions of people are at risk, with damages in the trillions of dollars. Among the problems: severe coastline fl ooding, more intense droughts and worsening wildfi res; declining Did Kerala’s dams exacerbate fi sh catches and crop yields; mass migrations of people, especially from the tropics; and the collapse of ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland, accelerating sea level rise. That scenario was described in detail by the UN’s panel India’s once-in-century fl oods? on climate change, in a report it dropped as Hurricane Michael was forming. The panel, the world’s defi nitive By Euan Rocha, Rajendra Jadhav and days of August 15 to August 17 were from source on climate science, is by nature conservative. Its Promit Mukherjee within the catchment areas of big dams. Kochi/Mumbai While opposition parties in Kerala have 91 scientists from 40 countries analysed more than 6,000 demanded a judicial probe into the release studies. of dam water, state offi cials have blamed In the Paris pact of 2015, countries pledged to reduce oby Pathrose, a farmer living a the India Meteorological Department kilometre away from the usually (IMD) for poor forecasts and the release greenhouse gases enough to limit the rise in temperature languid Periyar river in southern of water into Idukki reservoir from above preindustrial levels to 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit. The JIndia, was woken in the night by the Mullaperiyar — a dam managed by next- panel analysed a lower threshold of 2.7 degrees, and found sound of rushing waters. door Tamil Nadu state — for exacerbating Hours later his plantations and the fl ooding. that beyond that number, dire changes start to cascade. everything he owned were completely In court fi lings, Tamil Nadu said the Given the current lack submerged. water released from the Mullaperiyar dam of progress, the UN “There was absolutely no warning only constituted a small part of the spill The UN report from the government side,” said Pathrose, from the much bigger Idukki reservoir. says we’ll see those describing the devastating fl ooding that The IMD has also responded, saying is a warning. changes by 2040, way hit his village of Okkal, in Kerala state, on it “issued all necessary severe weather earlier than previously August 15. warnings”. Monster storms forecast. Put the urgency Pathrose says local authorities had KSEB’s Pillai said forecasts failed to advised his fi elds were safe, despite the predict the intensity of the rain. are the alarm: in perspective: An infant incessant rains that battered Kerala at the “If reliable forecasting is done in born today will graduate peak of the monsoon. respect of very heavy and extremely The window is college around then. More than 5mn people in Kerala were heavy rainfall, we can manage dam aff ected and over 200 were killed amid operations very effi ciently,” said Pillai, short The panel was direct torrential rain and fl oods in August. warning that more conservative water in its prescription: The fl ooding, dubbed the worst to hit storage would lower KSEB’s power Transform the world’s energy system, period. Nothing the southern state in nearly a century, generation ability. caused billions of dollars of damage to “If somebody strongly believes these else will work. That means a 40 to 50% reduction in fi elds, homes and other infrastructure. dams should be used for fl ood control, I emissions by 2030, and a carbon-neutral world by As the rain intensifi ed in mid-August can only diff er with them,” he said. 2050. It means more solar and wind energy. It means state authorities were forced to release Nayan Sharma, an expert on river an aggressive push toward electric cars. It means a tax water from 35 dams to manage rising engineering and a former professor at IIT waters in reservoirs, many of which are Roorkee, says hydroelectric dams incentivise on carbon emissions. It means planting more trees, and used to generate hydroelectricity. operators to stockpile water as turbines are inventing ways to remove greenhouse gases from the air. Pathrose and others living near the A combination photo shows a supply truck transporting boats to flooded areas most efficient at full reservoir levels. And it means the virtual elimination of burning coal _ the Periyar say the sudden opening of dam through a water-logged road in Aluva, Kerala, India, on August 18, 2018 (top) and In January, CWC published guidelines gates without proper warnings to those people commuting along a road in Aluva, on September 8, 2018. for preparing operating manuals for easiest way to get carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere is living downstream was a big factor in the dams. to never put it there. devastation. 2, or more than double their 10-year villages dotting the banks of Kerala’s It even cited examples of plans to be This calls for leadership that grasps the threat and has More than half a dozen experts whom historical averages for that time of the biggest river, the 244km Periyar, say they followed to prevent the need for “heavy Reuters consulted were divided on year. faced no fl oods despite torrential rain in peak fl ood releases in panic”. the courage to take tough steps. But President Donald the extent to which dam water spills Dam management experts who late July and early August. This came after a 2017 report from Trump is steering the US towards a climate disaster. His contributed to the fl ooding, but almost spoke to Reuters said such levels were All of them said waters only rose India’s Comptroller and Auditor General, administration has moved to weaken limits on power all, including India’s Central Water dangerously high for the middle of India’s overnight on August 15. the government spending watchdog, Commission (CWC), said reservoirs levels monsoon season. That was when more intense rainfall criticised the lack of dam operating plant emissions and roll back fuel effi ciency standards. were too high ahead of the disaster. “One of the key advantages of a dam is it forced KSEB to rapidly ramp-up releases manuals and emergency action plans He plans to remove the US from the Paris agreement. And “Because of this carelessness the can help moderate fl oods,” said SANDRP’s of water from Idukki and Idamalayar (EAPs) for reservoirs in many states. he wants to burn more of what he calls “clean, beautiful disaster proportions were multiplied,” Thakkar, an engineering graduate from the reservoirs, which feed into the Periyar. Kerala’s revenue secretary and head of coal.” said Himanshu Thakkar, co-ordinator elite Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Water management experts note state disaster management, PH Kurien, told of the South Asia Network of Dams, Mumbai. “That didn’t happen as Kerala’s authorities and the KSEB issued an alert Reuters he has twice written to KSEB This recklessness isn’t like Nero fi ddling as Rome burns. Rivers and People (SANDRP), a non- dams were already full by end-July. on Idukki’s high water levels on July 31, requesting EAPs and has yet to receive them. This is Nero pumping gasoline onto the fl ames. governmental body that advocates for Dams aren’t supposed to be full before when the reservoir was 92% full, but only KSEB’s Pillai said EAPs and dam Trump expressed skepticism about the report while better water management practices. the end of the monsoons.” began a slow release of water on August 9, operation manuals were still being The release of dam water, sharply India’s monsoon season runs from when levels were at 98 %. prepared. saying he would look at it. But his representatives had to criticised by some water management June through September, and southern Data shows Idamalayar spills began CWC said it was working with Kerala’s approve the panel’s conclusions, and did. His Pentagon experts, has put a focus on reservoir states such as Kerala also typically receive only when it exceeded its full capacity on government to speed this up. says climate change is a national security issue. operations and the need for better fl ood heavy rain in the months of October and August 9. The Kerala Chief Minister’s offi ce did mapping and warning systems in India. November as monsoon winds reverse. James Wilson, who works for the not respond to requests for comment. But Trump isn’t alone in his dereliction. Big emitters State government offi cials say the The data also shows that if the water Kerala government as special offi cer on Authorities in towns visited by Reuters, like China and India aren’t doing their share. The UN severity of the fl ooding was due to a levels in Idukki and Idamalayar had been a inter-state water advisory committee, meanwhile, say that evacuation warnings report is a warning. Monster storms are the alarm: The once-in-a-century storm that could not slowly lowered to closer to their historical said blaming KSEB was unfair, as Kerala’s were given. window is short. The potential for destruction is huge. reasonably have been prepared for, and that averages in the two weeks before the dams only have the capacity to store less “We made repeated microphone the spilling of dam water had little impact. worst fl ooding began they would have than a tenth of the state’s annual rainfall, announcements about the opening of The world must act. Now. Reuters has learned the two largest been able to absorb all the rain that fell and even less in years of extreme rainfall. dam gates and asked people to move reservoirs in Kerala — Idukki and during the mid-August storm. “However you prepare you have a to safe places,” said NR Jayaraj, deputy Idamalayar — have been operating for “The release could have started problem with these type of events,” said superintendent of police in Aluva, a town years without any emergency action plans earlier so that by August 9 there would Wilson, adding Kerala’s steep hills and on the Periyar’s banks that was badly hit To Advertise — a basic requirement for major dams have been left-over capacities in the relatively short river lengths give offi cials by the fl oods. worldwide. reservoirs to store the water,” said little time to react to freak rainfall. Many people interviewed by Reuters [email protected] The reservoirs also lack “rule curves”, Biswajit Mukhopadhyay, director of water CWC also said the rain in Kerala would who live close to the Periyar said they Display another key safety protocol that dictates resources at US-based engineering fi rm have led to fl ooding regardless of whether got no warnings at all, while those that the level of water that can safely be IEA, who analysed some of the publicly water had been spilled from the dams. did said the information provided was 44466621 44418811 maintained behind a dam at any point available data at the request of Reuters. “The release from reservoirs had only inadequate. given seasonal factors. NS Pillai, chairman of the Kerala State a minor role in fl ood augmentation,” said “We were told the dam gates would Classified These protocols, while recommended Electricity Board (KSEB), a state-run CWC in a report seen by Reuters. be opened and we’d have to be alert, but 44466609 44418811 by the CWC, are not yet mandated by law. body that manages most of Kerala’s The report noted however, that most no one was warned to expect this much CWC says it is merely an advisory body big dams, said that was a “highly of the dams were already “at or very water,” said KC Anupama, who works at Subscription and it hopes a new dam safety bill, under hypothetical and imaginary conclusion”. close to” full reservoir levels just before a school in Neriamangalam, adding the federal consideration, will make dam Heavy rain had not been forecast and the most intense rain, and it called for a school is 20 feet above the river and was [email protected] operators more accountable. blaming the dams for the fl ooding was review of water storage norms at all major still fl ooded. Reuters has also analysed historical data “not justifi able”, he said. reservoirs in Kerala. “No one in their wildest dream thought that shows both reservoirs were at more Still, dozens of fl ood victims It also shows nearly half the outfl ows this would happen. No one thought © 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved than 90% of their full capacity on August interviewed by Reuters, who live in into the Periyar between the peak fl ood waters would get here.” - Reuters Gulf Times Tuesday, October 16, 2018 23 COMMENT The new disappeared

By Nina L Khrushcheva where he also served as vice-minister today’s authoritarians have for New York of public security. Meng’s abduction national borders when it comes to was particularly shocking, because silencing their detractors. Precisely many Chinese trumpeted his 2016 what happened to Khashoggi is still rom the military juntas that appointment to Interpol’s highest unknown, but Turkey’s government, ruled Argentina and Chile in post – which made him the fi rst led by President Recep Tayyip Erdo an, the 1970s and 1980s to Joseph Chinese citizen to lead a major global has insisted that he was killed while in FStalin’s iron-fi sted regime institution – as a sign that the country the consulate. in the Soviet Union, dictatorships had fi nally arrived at the top tier of the According to the Turkish authorities, have a long history of making their international order. two teams, totaling 15 people, fl ew detractors “disappear.” Today, this Yet Chinese President Xi Jinping from Riyadh to Istanbul on the day sinister practice seems to be making a was willing simply to throw away that of Khashoggi’s appointment and comeback. public relations victory. Eventually, it left within hours. This, too, is grimly Under the military regimes in Chile was announced that Meng had been familiar to Russians: Stalin also had or Argentina, a person might be tossed detained and was being investigated special assassination teams, one into the sea from a helicopter, never for bribery. The decision, justifi ed of which carried out the murder in to be found. They might be killed as part of China’s ongoing anti- Mexico of his archenemy, Leon Trotsky. and then burned beyond recognition corruption campaign – an endeavour Unsurprisingly, the Saudis have denied or coated in lime, to accelerate that critics say is a cover for any wrongdoing. Khashoggi, they claim, decomposition, and buried in an eliminating political fi gures disloyal to left the consulate. unmarked grave. Xi – revealed an utter lack of regard, or Russia’s own experience In Stalin’s Soviet Union, someone even contempt, for world opinion. with government-orchestrated could be picked up and taken to the In fact, Xi is something of a serial disappearances is not limited to the past. Lubyanka (the KGB headquarters) or kidnapper. Since he came to power President Vladimir Putin’s regime has some other nightmarish facility at in 2012, all sorts of people – from also been known to target detractors for any moment. During the purges of small-scale book publishers in Hong elimination on foreign soil, as allegedly the 1930s and later, members of the Kong (including some holders of happened with the nerve-agent attack Communist Party were particularly non-Chinese citizenship) to Chinese on the former Russian spy Sergei Skripal vulnerable, and millions of Soviet business leaders – have been covertly and his daughter Yulia in the United citizens disappeared forever in prisons kidnapped and returned to China. Kingdom in March. or the gulag. After a long period of silence and The question is whether autocrats’ Today, modern authoritarians are seclusion, they emerged to renounce contempt for borders or sovereignty in reviving such behaviour, suddenly and their past work. silencing opponents is worth the cost. covertly snatching people, including That is what happened to Fan In the majority of the Western world, well-known fi gures and high-ranking Bingbing, China’s biggest movie star, Putin is regarded as an outcast, Xi is offi cials, to be detained or worse. who disappeared last July, when her fl irting with a similar loss of credibility, In many cases, the “vanished” do previously very active account on the and Prince Mohamed’s reputation as a eventually resurface, but with an Sina Weibo social media platform FILE PHOTO: Human rights activists and friends of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi hold his pictures during a protest reformer has been severely damaged, apparently transformed perspective (China’s answer to Twitter) suddenly outside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, on October 8. perhaps beyond repair. All of them on their past work or the government went silent. No one knew what may soon face a realisation like that that detained them. Here, China and happened, but it was assumed that the which she credited for her success Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohamed Then, last week, Jamal Khashoggi, of Joseph Fouché, Napoleon’s police Saudi Arabia stand out – though government had something to do with as an actress. It was all depressingly bin Salman ordered the detention an exiled Saudi journalist, vanished chief, after the abduction and sham they are by no means alone – for it, and businesses with which she had familiar, recalling as it did the pathetic of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad after entering Saudi Arabia’s consulate trial of the Duke of Enghien: “It was orchestrating a series of increasingly spokesperson deals cut ties with her. confessions of Nikolai Bukharin, Hariri, who was on an offi cial visit to in Istanbul to obtain a document worse than a crime; it was a mistake.” – brazen abductions or vanishings of Finally, Fan resurfaced earlier this the editor of the Communist Party Riyadh. Hariri was isolated even from confi rming his divorce, so that he could Project Syndicate their detractors. month, issuing a grovelling apology newspaper Pravda, and others during his bodyguards and forced to resign. marry a Turkish woman the next day. China was behind last month’s for having evaded taxes, for which she Stalin’s purges. Weeks later, and evidently enlightened His fi ancée waited at the consulate’s zNina L Khrushcheva is professor of disappearance of Interpol President will now face massive fi nes. Tellingly, Saudi Arabia has also executed to his captors’ satisfaction, he was entrance; he never re-emerged. International Aff airs at The New School Meng Hongwei on a trip from France, her statement included plenty of praise a series of high-profi le, politically permitted to return to Lebanon and Khashoggi’s disappearance is and a senior fellow at the World Policy where Interpol is based, to Beijing, for the Communist Party of China, motivated kidnappings. Last year, resume his role as its elected leader. further evidence of how little regard Institute.

Three-day forecast The martyrdom of Jamal Khashoggi TODAY Maximum Temperature : 380c Minimum Temperature : 300c

Daoud Kuttab once brought down a president Independent journalists have WEDNESDAY Maximum Temperature : 340c Amman – President Donald Trump’s one goal: to find the truth and administration routinely attacks share it widely. When governments Minimum Temperature : 280c independent journalists, labelling can repress those journalists THURSDAY he London-based daily them traitors, paid agents, and with impunity, and when others Maximum Temperature : 320c Al-Araby Al-Jadeed recently purveyors of “fake news.” compromise their supposed Minimum Temperature : 280c Trump may simply be trying commitment to basic human rights published a cartoon, by Fisherman's forecast the Jordanian artist Emad to appease his right-wing base for political or partisan goals, the T WARNING Hajjaj, depicting a faceless man and avoid accountability for his truth remains hidden, with serious innumerable mistakes and misdeeds. consequences. Inshore : Nil wearing a red and white keffiyeh and Offshore : Expected Thundery sweeping his brown thawb in such But his attacks on the US press, I have known Khashoggi for rain associated with a way that it looks almost like he is together with his silence on attacks years, both in a professional and strong wind and high performing a magic trick. Whipped occurring elsewhere, have gone a a personal capacity. He is a Saudi sea WEATHER up by his movement, papers float long way to embolden violators of patriot, who is not opposed to his Inshore : Relatively hot daytime around him. At the bottom of the press freedom around the world. country’s system of rule. Yes, he with some clouds by af- frame, the hand of another man, It does not help that many of those has critiqued policies, such as the ternoon and moderate temperature at night. wearing what appears to be a white press-freedom violators – including inhumane war in Yemen and how Offshore : Partly cloudy to cloudy button-down shirt, reaches up, Saudi Arabia – are among America’s Saudi rulers deal with dissent. But with a chance of rain apparently having let go of his pen in closest allies. Trump has been his arguments were always based my be thundery at times. order to try to grab onto something, true to America’s all-too-frequent on facts. He is not a dissident or a WIND to save himself. The caption reads, Jamal Khashoggi willingness to place lucrative rebel, but a monarchist who wants Inshore : Southwesterly-South- “The disappearance of Saudi military contracts ahead of human to see his country do better than it easterly 05-15 KT Offshrore : Southwesterly-North- journalist Jamal Khashoggi.” between radical Islamist regimes rights, saying that he would be “very is. And now he may have paid the westerly 05-15/30KT The cartoon names the victim, and military rule. Efforts presenting upset and angry” if Saudi Arabia ultimate price for that. but not the perpetrator. True, any democratic alternatives have been were found to be responsible for For Arab freedom fighters, the Visibility : 4-8 KM Arab – indeed, virtually everyone systematically repressed. Khashoggi ’s death, while ruling out road ahead is long and treacherous. Offshore : 2-4/9 FT Building on the sacrifices of true – knows exactly who is responsible Discrediting, constraining, or a halt to big military contracts. Around the region for Khashoggi’s disappearance: otherwise silencing independent The US authorities have said heroes and genuine democrats, Weather Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman journalists is a key tool of this nothing about Al Jazeera journalist journalists and cartoonists like Weather tomorrow Max/min of Saudi Arabia. But the fact that repression. Autocratic governments Mahmoud Hussein’s nearly two-year Hajjaj will continue to speak truth today Max/min M Cloudy 36/22 a well-known cartoonist had to create laws and regulations to detention in Egypt. to power, as they fight for basic Baghdad P Cloudy 37/25 Sunny 37/25 disguise the culprit’s image speaks protect themselves and their cronies Nor has the Trump administration human rights like freedom of the Kuwait City Sunny 37/25 Sunny 36/28 volumes about the fear felt by from criticism or exposure by commented on the fact that, press. It is truly unconscionable, Manama Sunny 36/28 M Sunny 31/26 independent journalists in the Arab independent media. They claim that in March 2017, the United Arab however, that they must go into Muscat P Cloudy 32/26 P Cloudy 20/12 world. Khashoggi’s disappearance only the journalists on their payroll Emirates sentenced the Jordanian battle without the support of those Tehran P Cloudy 20/14 has only deepened their anxiety. – who praise their rulers and the journalist Tayseer al-Najjar to who claim to have their backs. – Arab countries have a long history regime’s opponents – are legitimate; three years imprisonment and Project Syndicate of rewarding journalists who toe all others are enemies of the state. a fine of 500,000 UAE dirhams the official line, while punishing Such behaviour is not limited (approximately $136,000) over a z Daoud Kuttab was Ferris those, like Khashoggi, who dare to to dictatorships. Even in the Facebook post. Even countries that Professor of Journalism at Princeton speak truth to power. Since the failed United States – long admired for are not particularly close US allies – University and the head of the Arab Spring revolutions – of which its robust free press, protected such as Myanmar, where two Reuters press freedom committee within the Tunisia is the only success story by the First Amendment of the journalists have been sentenced to board of the International Press – citizens across the region have US Constitution, and powerful seven years imprisonment – do not Institute. Follow him on twitter.com/ found themselves with a stark choice investigative journalism, which face pushback from the US. daoudkuttab.

Around the world Weather Weather today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Live issues Athens Sunny 24/14 M Sunny 24/15 Beirut S T Storms 27/23 S T Storms 26/22 Bangkok S T Storms 33/27 S T Storms 33/26 Berlin P Cloudy 21/08 Sunny 22/08 Cairo M Sunny 30/19 M Sunny 29/19 Surgeons to use Apple Watch to monitor patients Cape Town P Cloudy 19/12 Sunny 21/14 Colombo S T Storms 29/24 S T Storms 28/24 Dhaka M Sunny 32/22 Sunny 33/22 By Manas Mishra medical facilities in states ahead of surgery or Zimmer Biomet executive Dan Hong Kong Cloudy 24/21 M Cloudy 24/21 Reuters including Massachusetts, recovering afterwards. Williamson said. Istanbul P Cloudy 22/16 M Cloudy 21/16 California, Colorado and More than a million knee “We believe this is going Jakarta S T Storms 33/26 S T Storms 33/26 Michigan will receive stats and hip replacements occur to create a new ecosystem in Karachi P Cloudy 34/24 Sunny 34/24 p to 10,000 including heart rate, steps every year in the United orthopaedics that ultimately London Sunny 21/11 M Cloudy 18/12 Americans due to taken and standing hours States, making them two of drive less anxiety in patients, Manila T Storm 32/26 S T Storms 33/26 have hip or knee from patients waiting for or the most common surgeries and more visibility from the Moscow P Cloudy 17/06 M Sunny 16/04 Ureplacements will recovering from hip and knee Americans undergo. surgeon.” New Delhi P Cloudy 33/21 Sunny 34/21 be able to funnel basic health replacement surgery. “When you look at what Apple has been working New York P Cloudy 15/09 M Sunny 16/06 data directly from their Apple The multi-year study in patients have to do when on new health initiatives for Paris Sunny 26/12 P Cloudy 23/12 Watches to their surgeons collaboration with Apple they undergo hip and knee its users, announcing the Sao Paulo M Cloudy 23/18 S T Storms 27/19 under a new app being tested Inc will allow doctors replacement, in some cases Apple Watch Series 4 last Seoul P Cloudy 19/06 M Sunny 17/07 by prosthetic limb specialist and their teams to gauge they have very low support month, which can detect heart Singapore T Storm 29/25 S T Storms 30/25 Zimmer Biomet. better how well patients or guidance before and after problems, positioning the new Sydney S Showers 20/16 S Showers 20/16 Four hospitals and are following prescribed surgery, which creates a lot of watch as a more comprehensive Tokyo Clear 21/16 Cloudy 21/15 more than a dozen other physiotherapy or regimes unnecessary fear and anxiety,” health device. Gulf Times 24 Tuesday, October 16, 2018 QATAR

Dusty conditions were experienced in Doha and other places yesterday. PICTURE: Ram Chand Unstable weather ahead: Met dept he Qatar Met department „ Rainy spell expected from tomorrow until beginning has said unstable weather, Tmarked by rain as well as of next week winds and dust in some places, is expected in the country from tomorrow until the beginning of „ Doha experiences heavy dust, strong winds and next week. The forecast came even as Doha lightning on Monday, rain reported from other places and other parts of the country experienced dusty conditions, strong winds, poor visibility and lightning yesterday while some places, particularly towards the north, received moderate to heavy rain. In a report yesterday, the weather offi ce said the unstable weather will be caused by an “ex- tension of a low-pressure system with good humidity and cooling in the upper atmospheric levels, which will help in the formation of clouds from tomorrow until the start of next week”. The skies are expected to be- come cloudy at times and there is a chance of scattered rain, which will mostly be light to moderate in intensity. In addition, thundery A dust-shrouded West Bay in Doha yesterday. PICTURE: Jayan Orma cells are likely to form in some ar- eas and this will be accompanied conditions and not to hesitate to poles, and stay away from open next few hours,” it added. A sub- by moderate to heavy rain and stop the car by the side of the road water sources. sequent post noted that a thun- strong winds – which, in turn, in case of reduced visibility. A number of social media us- derstorm north of Doha was mov- may result in dusty conditions. In another tweet, the MoI ers posted images and videos ing eastwards towards the sea. In view of the expected condi- said heavy rain accompanied by of the rain, lightning and dusty The situation improved later tions, the Met department has strong winds had been reported conditions from diff erent parts in the evening as the winds died urged people to be cautious, check from Umm al-Amd area towards of Qatar. The Met department down and visibility became a lot the weather before venturing into Al Shamal and visibility was al- tweeted about the latest radar im- better. Today, thundery rain is the sea and follow the latest up- most zero in those areas. “Please ages showing thundery rain north expected in off shore areas along dates through its offi cial social be careful and pay attention to of Al Sheehaniyah and towards with strong winds and high seas. media accounts. weather conditions,” it noted. Al Khor, accompanied by strong Inshore, it will be relatively hot Meanwhile, yesterday’s dusty On its part, the Met depart- winds that caused rising dust and during the day and some clouds spell – which turned severe at ment advised motorists to take poor visibility. “Please be careful,” are expected by the afternoon, times – and winds led to a drop extra care while driving in rainy it advised. while moderate temperature is in visibility in Doha and other af- conditions and avoid using mobile In another post in the evening, forecast at night. fected places, prompting the au- phones. It also issued safety tips the weather offi ce said dusty con- The maximum temperature thorities concerned to issue safety to be followed during thunder- ditions and poor visibility were expected today is 38C in Doha alerts. The Ministry of Interior storms, noting that people should being observed in some areas, in- and Abu Samra, followed by 37C (MoI) tweeted about “low visibil- stay indoors in such conditions, cluding Doha, due to temporary in Al Khor. Yesterday, too, the ity in most parts of the country” close the windows if they are in- strong winds associated with lo- maximum temperature was 38C due to strong dusty winds, advis- side a vehicle, avoid standing on cal thunderstorms. “Visibility ex- in Doha, Abu Hamour, the Qatar ing people to pay attention to road roofs or near trees and electricity pected to improve gradually in the University area and Ghuwairiyah. Lightning illuminates the West Bay skyline. PICTURE: Ram Chand

Qatari designers sparkle at Russian couture show Experiments with Truth

s part of the Years of Cul- expo to begin at Katara ture programme, Qatar AMuseums (QM) presented fortnight-long exhibition titled Experiments with Truth an exclusive fashion show and will be held at Katara from today to commemorate the ses- jewellery exhibition at Russia’s Aquicentennial anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The expo, largest museum of photography hosted by the Indian embassy, will be formally inaugurated by am- and multimedia. bassador P Kumaran at 6.30pm. The event will shed light on the The show, titled ‘Qatari Sea- teachings of the Father of Indian Nation and the happenings that sons’, was hosted for the fi rst time infl uenced Gandhiji’s life during the freedom struggle. in Moscow at the Multimedia Art At the exhibition, contributions made by Mahatma Gandhi dur- Museum and introduced audi- ing the Independence struggle will be showcased. ences to modern Qatari design- A spokesperson of the Indian embassy said besides the coun- ers. try’s Indian expatriates and Qatari citizens, the event is also ex- The high-profi le event was pected to draw a considerably large number of other nationalities attended by several VIP guests who have shown interest to learn and understand the Gandhian from Qatar and Russia, includ- teachings of non-violence or ‘Ahimsa’. The expo will be held until ing Qatar ambassador to Russia October 31 at Katara’s Building 19, from 10am to 10pm. Fahad bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, gallerist and artist Aidan Sala- khova, designer Olga Tompson, Tretyakov Gallery director Zelfi ra Tregulova, and Olympic cham- pion Anzhelika Timanina, among others. Participating Qatari fashion designers included Wadha al- Hajri, who showcased a demi- couture collection of her brand specially created for the event, Waad Mohammed, creator of fashion brand Waad and Qatari jewellery brand, Noudar. On the Participating Qatari fashion designers included Wadha al-Hajri, who showcased a demi-couture collection of her brand specially created for next day after the event at Multi- the event, Waad Mohammed, creator of fashion brand Waad and Qatari jewellery brand, Noudar. media Art Museum, special pop- up project with collections of cal and international platforms ‘Russian Seasons’. The exhibi- developed under the guidance of and heritage. Such initiative also Noudar, Waad and Wadha brands of expression. tion will celebrate contemporary QM’s chairperson HE Sheikha Al provides tangible opportunities was presented at Tsum – the As an extension to Qatari Sea- Russian fashion design. Curated Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa to build sustainable links and main Moscow department store. sons, the Fire Station in Doha by Frol Burimskiy, it will be open al-Thani in 2012. It is designed to co-operation between creative The event comes as part of will present an exhibition by in- from today to October 23. deepen understanding between members of Qatari and Russian QM’s commitment to nurture ternationally acclaimed fashion Qatar Russia 2018 is part of nations and their people through society and foster continuous emerging talent by providing lo- designer Vika Gazinskaya, titled the Years of Culture initiative mutual exchanges of arts, culture collaboration.