QATAR | Page 16 SPORT | Page 1 Barshim wins high jump gold at Athletissima INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2, 16 COMMENT 14, 15 REGION 3 BUSINESS 1 – 12 meet in Pet shops a big draw 18,395.40 11,134.81 47.37 ARAB WORLD 3 CLASSIFIED 7, 8 -53.01 -51.33 +0.04 INTERNATIONAL 4 – 13 SPORTS 1 – 8 for kids and adults Lausanne -0.29% -0.46% +0.08% Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

SATURDAY Vol. XXXVII No. 10193 August 27, 2016 Dhul-Qa’da 24, 1437 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Show enthrals visitors

In brief Qatar likely to witness QATAR | Quake Emir condoles with Italian president HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, in a telephone further fall conversation with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, has expressed his condolences and those of the Qatari people on the victims of the devastating earthquake that hit the central parts the country on Wednesday. The Emir voiced Qatar’s in rents support for Italy. HE the Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin According to a number of brokers, ants have more “aff ordable” options Abdulrahman al-Thani, meanwhile, tenants have more “aff ordable” now within Doha and beyond it. held a phone call with Italian Foreign options now within Doha and “Of late, it has not been easy to fi nd Minister Paolo Gentiloni, during beyond it customers to fi ll many of the vacant which he expressed his condolences units. I receive calls from a number on the victims of the earthquake. By Ayman Adly of potential customers every day and The provisional death toll from the Staff Reporter show them the available options. How- earthquake yesterday rose to 281. ever, the number of people who actu- Page 9 My Little Pony show, a new addition to a wide range of entertainment off erings at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre ally take an apartment on rent is very (DECC), enthralled visitors yesterday with its charming characters who performed on stage. The show, which started on ents of diff erent types of residen- small. It seems many people are test- ARAB WORLD | Economy Thursday, will end on August 31, also the last day of the Qatar Summer Festival (QSF), organised by Qatar Tourism Authority. tial units in the country are sta- ing the waters and looking for the best Dressed in colourful costumes, the ponies welcomed visitors at DECC’s Entertainment Stage from 1pm to 9.40pm. The show had Rbilising or even declining in many possible off er and do not seem be in any Tunisia PM warns three breaks to give spectators and fans an opportunity to mingle with the characters for a “meet and greet” portion. Page 16 cases, Gulf Times has learnt from indus- major hurry to take a house on rent,” of austerity, job cuts try insiders. said a broker. If Tunisia does not overcome its There has been much speculation Sources familiar with the sector say economic diff iculties, an austerity over the issue in recent months, with some of the brokers, who are often ac- programme will be inevitable next many people expecting rents to fall con- cused of manipulating the market and year with thousands of public sector siderably while some others thinking increasing rents, have started looking job cuts and new taxes, prime major changes are unlikely and the rates for alternative sources of income in view minister-designate Youssef Chahed Turkey opens bridge between will stabilise. of the current scenario. told parliament yesterday. The North Interactions with real estate agents, One such “self-employed” agent African state is struggling with home-seekers and others associated complained that he could barely cover lower tourism revenues after two continents in megaproject drive with the real estate sector, however, his daily expenses or pay for the rented militant attacks on foreign tourists reveal that the rates have fallen across car. “I have managed to rent out only a last year hit what is one of its key properties and the trend is likely to con- small studio apartment in the last three industries. Strikes and protests for Reuters tinue. months. I also had to bring my commis- jobs have also hurt state phosphate Garipce, Turkey “All indicators show there is a strong sion down to QR500. But what option production. Page 3 possibility of a further reduction in do I have? People are simply not willing rents,” said an expatriate who works as to pay more. There are plenty of options FRANCE | Judgement urkey opened one of the world’s a real estate agent, drawing attention to for them in the market now,” he said. Court suspends biggest suspension bridges yes- the number of vacant properties in the Customers, on their part, are hope- Tterday, the latest megaproject in country. “This will happen as property ful that rents will come down further. ban on burkini a $200bn building spree that President dealers and agents try to lure tenants to “Things are a lot better than what they France’s highest administrative Tayyip Erdogan hopes will secure his fi ll up the numerous vacant units around used to be a year ago. It will be good for court yesterday suspended a place in history. the country.” home-seekers if the trend continues,” controversial ban on the burkini The bridge creates a new link across One can fi nd vacant residential units said a Doha resident. by a French Riviera town after it the Bosphorus Strait, which divides of diff erent sizes and types at places Industry observers stressed that the was challenged by rights groups. Asia and Europe. It is built in the style within Doha and outside it. These in- country’s real estate market would re- In a judgement expected to set a of New York’s Brooklyn Bridge and clude studio-type units (a room, kitch- main strong and vibrant for many years precedent, the State Council ruled boasts pylons higher than the Eiff el en space and toilet), the rent for some of and the current situation is just a course that local authorities could only Tower. It is 1.4 km long and 59m wide, which have come down to QR2,000 in correction following a period of high restrict individual liberties if wearing with eight vehicle lanes and two high- villas within Doha and lower than that rents. the Islamic swimsuit was a “proven speed rail lines. on the outskirts of the city. “It is normal for rents to stabilise risk” to public order. Page 9 “When man dies, he leaves behind Red and white air-balloons flying in the sky next to the Yavuz Sultan Selim bridge The real estate agent recalled that after a period of surging prices; it is a a monument,” Erdogan told a crowd of in Istanbul during its inauguration. The bridge – technically a hybrid between a the demand was a lot higher during healthy phenomenon for all, including EAST ASIA | Haze thousands waving Turkish fl ags at the suspension and cable-stayed bridge – is an architectural marvel spanning the steep the same period last year and people owners. Those who want to keep their opening ceremony on the shores of the banks of the Bosphorus at the entrance to the Black Sea. were willing to pay much higher rents buildings vacant for longer periods to Smog blankets Bosphorus next to the bridge. (QR3,200) for a studio apartment or control rents will eventually relent, Singapore “Be proud of your power, Turkey,” Offi cials say the bridge will ease money to be made by easing trans- even for a single room. as some others have already done and Acrid smog blanketed Singapore said a TV advert before the opening of congestion in a city of 14mn people, portation between Europe and Asia, According to a number of brokers, complied with the nature of the mar- yesterday as the city-state was hit the $3bn Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge on reduce fuel costs and save workers and this is why we are doing these including those working for licensed ket,” said a Qatari businessman who by the year’s first major outbreak the edge of Istanbul. It is named after a time. projects.” real estate companies as well as the ones owns a number of villas that have been of haze, an annual crisis sparked 16th-century Ottoman ruler. Turkey closed deals to secure $45bn As Arslan spoke, workers scaled the who call themselves “freelancers”, ten- given on rent. by forest fires in neighbouring Erdogan’s infrastructure drive is in private infrastructure investment bridge’s gleaming white steel cables. Indonesia. Singapore’s air quality transforming Europe’s biggest city, last year, absorbing 40% of the global Some 300 metres below, crude tank- index reached unhealthy levels with which straddles the Bosphorus Strait. total, according to the World Bank. ers rumbled north through the Bos- Real estate fi rm sees soft ening of rents for conditions deteriorating through In a little more than a decade, Istan- Other planned megaprojects in- phorus, one of the world’s busiest oil mid-range apartments in the third quarter the day, marking the worst haze bul’s skyline has soared, new highways clude the world’s biggest airport in transit points, connecting the Black episode in the city since vast parts have been built and the length of the Istanbul and a huge canal that would Sea and the Mediterranean. A report issued by global real QR1,000-1,500, while rents of many of Southeast Asia were blanketed in metro tripled. render a large chunk of the city an is- Each day, 650 new cars hit Istan- estate services firm DTZ recently villas fell by up to QR2,000-3,000 smoke in 2015. Page 6 The Yavuz Sultan Selim, which runs land. bul’s roads, Arslan said, making it the from the Garipce area on Istanbul’s Such undertakings trumpet Tur- word’s third-most congested city and noted that a softening of rents per month”. He also said vacancy was anticipated among mid-range rates for prime residential property PHILIPPINES | Accord European side to the region of Poyraz- key’s regional clout and drive the increasing travel times by 50%, ac- koy on the Asian side, is the third economy, Transport Minister Ahmet cording to TomTom Traffi c Index. residential units in the third quarter of between 5% and 10% were “now Government, rebels bridge to span the Bosphorus Strait Arslan told Reuters near the bridge The bridge “is a symbol and much of 2016. Rents of prime residential common”. The official also said sign ceasefi re deal and can withstand winds of 300km an site at Garipce. Construction ac- like Turkey a gateway”, said Paolo properties and office space had that increasing vacancy and new The Philippines government and hour. It ranks among the world’s big- counts for 6% of output and employs Astaldi, chairman of Astaldi which already fallen in the second quarter, supply indicated that there could be Maoist-led rebels yesterday agreed gest suspension bridges, in terms of 2mn people. owns a third of the joint venture. “It according to the “Q2 2016 Qatar a softening of rents for mid-range indefinite ceasefires as part of an width of deck, height of pylons as well “Turkey, by virtue of its geography, not only alleviates traffic in Istan- Market Report”. A Gulf Times article apartments in the third quarter. accord to accelerate eff orts to end as length of span. bridges Asia and Europe, the Balkans bul, it speeds movement of goods on the DTZ report had quoted According to the report, the new a conflict that has lasted almost five It has been built by Italy’s Astaldi and the Caucasus, but to benefi t from across Turkey and, as Syria stabi- an official as saying that “many supply is likely in places such as Bin decades and killed at least 40,000 and Istanbul-based IC Ictas which will this position, we need arteries and lises, the importance of the link will prime apartments saw rent fall by Mahmoud and Al Mansoura. people. Page 12 jointly operate it for about a decade. corridors,” he told Reuters. “There is increase.”

BeIN completes ‘largest deal’ to buy Digiturk Pledge to ‘cleanse’ border of militant threats

AFP and a major milestone in our global ex- France’s Ligue 1, among others. Reuters quarters in a province bordering Syria Syria will seize a swathe of border ter- Doha pansion,” said beIN chairman Nasser Digiturk also has a strong track Istanbul and Iraq came two days after Turkey ritory and embolden Kurdish insurgents al-Khelaifi . record in family broadcasting, airing launched its fi rst major military incur- on its own soil. He added that the Qatari group’s shows from channels such as Disney. sion into Syria, an operation meant to President Tayyip Erdogan said the atar’s beIN Media Group yes- expansion into the Turkish market was Yesterday’s announcement repre- urkish forces will remain in Syria drive Islamic State out of the border area bombing in Sirnak province would in- terday announced that it had an “essential step” for beIN. sented beIN’s second major acquisi- for as long as it takes to cleanse and stop Kurdish militias from seizing crease Turkey’s determination as it fi ghts Qcompleted the “largest deal in The statement did not say how tion this year after it bought Miramax Tthe border of Islamic State and ground in their wake. terrorist groups at home and abroad. its history” by buying Turkish satellite much beIN paid for Digiturk. studios in March. other militants, Prime Minister Binali Turkey, a Nato member and part of the Yildirim said there was no doubt the sports and entertainment company The Turkish pay TV broadcast- Qatari businessman Khelaifi is Yildirim said yesterday, after a truck US-led coalition against Islamic State, Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which Digiturk. er has more than 3mn customers also the chairman of French Ligue 1 bombing by Kurdish insurgents killed at has seen a series of deadly bombings this has waged a three-decade insurgency “This acquisition represents the and specialises in sport, showing football champions Paris Saint-Ger- least 11 police offi cers. year blamed on the radical Islamists. for Kurdish autonomy, was responsible. largest deal in the history of our group matches from Spain’s La Liga and main. The suicide bombing at a police head- But it also fears Kurdish militias in Pages 3, 9 Gulf Times 2 Saturday, August 27, 2016 QATAR QC opens orthopaedic surgery centre in Taiz Qatar condemns atar Charity (QC) has launched a project to month for diff erent types of orthopaedic cases. run an orthopaedic surgery centre in central “It is expected that more than 220 patients will re- QYemen for the benefi t of wounded people ceive the treatment. The project will also reduce the Turkey and children in the targeted areas of Taiz city in co- mortality, complication and disability rates and in- operation with Sobol Charitable Foundation. crease the eff ectiveness of treatment in the early stag- The decision comes in view of the suspension of es, enabling victims to get back to their normal lives.” bombing health services in the province as a result of a re- The offi cial said the health relief eredoff by Qatar source crunch, growing medical needs in areas af- Charity is part of its “Yemen… We stand with you” fected by the deteriorating security and economic campaign launched at the beginning of the Yemeni QNA conditions, increasing casualties on a daily basis in crisis. He also noted that QC was continuing its Doha areas of confl ict and the lack of a specialised ortho- charitable eff orts by launching a relief campaign paedic centre, QC has said in a press statement. titled “Treating Yemeni Casualties”. Mohamed Rashid al-Ka’bi, director of relief man- He commended the eff orts exerted by the Qatari atar expressed its con- agement at QC’s executive management operations, people towards supporting Yemenis. demnation and denun- noted that the project would help provide free ortho- Meanwhile, QC has said donors can make dona- Qciation of the bombing paedic surgical interventions for injured people in the tions for the campaign through Barwa Bank (IBAN/ which occurred near a police province, where a special orthopaedic centre is being QA39BRWA000000000200000007489), through checkpoint in the southeastern furnished and equipped in Al Taoun Hospital, Taiz, to the QC website (qcharity.org ) or its headquarters Turkish province of Sirnak yes- become the fi rst such specialised facility in Yemen. and branches within the State, and collection outlets terday, killing and wounding a The centre includes three operation rooms. in shopping malls. One can also donate to the cam- number of police offi cers. “The aim is to perform surgical operations for paign via SMS by sending the word “TY” to 92632 to In a statement, the Foreign 220-250 injured people through an agreement with donate QR50, to 92642 to donate QR100, to 92428 to Ministry said that Qatar strongly the hospital to perform surgical operations and carry donate QR500 or to 92429 to donate QR1,000. The condemns “these heinous crim- out medical examinations,” he said, adding the cen- campaign’s hotline is 44667711 for donating and re- inal acts aimed at destabilising tre performs four surgeries daily and 105 surgeries a sponding to queries. A large number of people are expected to benefit from the new centre. security and stability, affi rming full solidarity with the brotherly Republic of Turkey in all actions and measures to address these criminal acts and maintain se- curity and stability in country’’. ‘Non-communicable The Foreign Ministry reiter- ated Qatar’s rejection of violence and terrorism in all their forms diseases cause 69% and manifestations, whatever Qatar-Korea talks their motives and causes. The statement extend condolences of fatalities in Qatar’ to the Turkish government, peo- ple and families of the victims.

on-communicable nearly 85.7% of the outlay diseases (NCD) cause in 2014, the latest year for on vertical farms N69% of the fatalities which data is available. in Qatar according to a report In Per Capita terms Qatar New Indian published in The Report 2016 spent the most among the (Qatar) of the Oxford Business GCC countries on health, at Group. $2016. ambassador The most fatal non-com- The UAE ($1611) and Kuwait municable diseases in the ($1386) came second and third to continue: envoy country are cardio-vascular respectively. appointed diseases (24%), cancer (18), By Joey Aguilar hindered by fi nancial challenges. ince and a local Qatari company diabetes (9) and lung diseases A World Health Staff Reporter The embassy hopes the includes research collaboration (1%), it has said. Organisation data shows Kumaran has been ap- project will push through in the and knowledge transfer, pro- All other NCDs together nearly 42.3% of the local pointed as the next Indian near future using a public-pri- viding a series of trainings to account for nearly 17% of the population as obese Pambassador to Qatar, it was orea and Qatar will con- vate-partnership scheme. Qataris on how to operate plant fatalities, the report added, announced yesterday by the Min- tinue discussing ways to According to the envoy, South factories. quoting the local health min- This, however, likely un- istry of External Aff airs of India. Kdevelop vertical farming Korea also has a good potential It is learnt that vertical or in- istry sources. derstates the spending P Kumaran, a member of the in the country by using advanced of developing vertical or indoor door farming also adheres to Qa- The World Health Organi- power of the Qatari nation- Indian Foreign Service batch of technologies, South Korean am- farming using light emitting tar’s eff orts to properly and effi - sation (WHO) reckons that the als as close to 90% of the 1992, is presently joint secretary bassador Heung Kyeong Park diode and ICT technologies, in ciently use its energy and water probability of dying in Qatar country’s population are in the ministry. “He is expected told Gulf Times. addition to its accumulated ag- resources. It uses less electricity from one of the above four ail- expatriates who are not as to take up his assignment short- Similar to Qatar, the envoy ricultural knowledge and expe- and water, as well as space and ments for those in the 30-70 yet entitled to free public ly,” according to a press release noted that his country also has rience. manpower, to grow a wide range age group at 1:7. healthcare and for whom on the website of the ministry. small arable land with 70% “The embassy wishes to sup- of crops. As for the adult risk fac- employer-provided insur- Sanjeev Arora is the current mostly covered by mountains. port this kind of co-operation, Park stressed that South Korea tors, some 19.8% of the ance is not widespread, the Indian ambassador to Qatar. “So we developed various which would be benefi cial to Qa- South Korean ambassador will continuously exchange ex- population had diabetes, report added. technologies to enhance pro- tar, which has extreme weather Heung Kyeong Park. periences with Qataris on vari- according to a report of the The report has said the Qatar-Netherlands ductivity,” Park said, stressing conditions during summer, as ous fronts. A fourth high level International Diabetes Fed- country’s budget spending on that Qatar can also bank on such well as other countries adversely that vertical farming was highly strategic co-operation commit- eration. health hit QR20.9bn in 2016 ties discussed technology to attain food secu- aff ected by global warming,” suitable for Qatar. He believes tee meeting between the two A WHO data shows nearly from QR15.7bn in the previous rity. Park said. “With this technol- the technology will signifi cantly countries will take place in Seoul 42.3% of the local population year. HE the Minister of Foreign He pointed out that South Ko- ogy, we can avoid those kinds of boost agricultural production later this year. as obese. A ‘GCC Health Care In- Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin rea has a long history of eff orts to diffi culties.” even during the summer season. Discussions will focus on A similar WHO and State dustry’ report has forecast Abdulrahman al-Thani received resolve food shortage aimed at If successful, he expects verti- South Korea’s cutting-edge various fi elds of co-operation authorities’ survey in 2013 that Qatar healthcare mar- a telephone call yesterday from supporting its large population. cal farming in Qatar to become a technology will also help lessen such as trade and investment, showed the tobacco use at ket would clock a com- Foreign Aff airs Minister of the Previously, South Korea’s model that could be implement- Qatar’s reliance from agricul- industry, energy, infrastructure 12.1% among the adults. pound annual growth rate Netherlands Albert Gerard Gyeonggi province explored a ed and extended to other coun- tural exports by producing fresh and construction, healthcare, The report also said the of 12.7% in the five years to Koenders. They discussed joint project with Qatar on ver- tries in the region. vegetables and fruits. science and technology, ICT, country spent 2.2% of its 2020. Nearly 67% would be bilateral relations and the latest tical farming. However, Park A Qatari entrepreneur who Part of the previous agree- defence and security, education GDP on health with the for the outpatient care, it regional and international disclosed that it was reportedly visited South Korea in 2012 saw ment between Gyeonggi prov- and youth exchange. government contributing said. developments. Livestock farm owners attend training course

he Animal Wealth De- partment of the Ministry Tof Municipality and Envi- ronment (MME) has conducted a second training course for the livestock farm owners and work- ers at the farm complex in the Kheraib area. The course aimed at equip- ping the participants with the sophisticated skills to enhance livestock production in the country using the latest meth- ods and encouraging them to use scientifi c methods in improving the breeds of high quality. In addition, trainees were in- troduced to the best practices in the fi eld on how to take care of A section of livestock farm owners and workers who attended the Farm workers participating in the training course. Soil around a palm tree being cleaned in Doha. the animals (sheep and goats in training course. particular) and the proper ways of maintaining a timely schedule More than 30 farm owners Salal’s Department of Serv- for veterinary care, with special were invited to take part in the ices Aff airs removed around 18 focus on the mandatory vac- course, accompanied by a large tonnes of domestic and var- cinations to avoid any potential number of farm workers from ied garbage within the second infections. diff erent nationalities. quarter of this year (April, May Further, the course included a Meanwhile, the Municipal- and June), in addition to 5,193 fi eld training, where the trainees ity of Al Khor and Al Zakhira, in discarded tyres, 327 animal car- were instructed on the techni- collaboration with MME Pub- casses, and 93 abandoned vehi- cal specifi cations that should be lic Cleaning Department, con- cles and equipment. During the available at farms, the proper ducted a free cleaning campaign same period also, 3,833 requests way of using the available plot of covering some of the abandoned to combat insects were ad- land to maximise productivity, houses there. dressed, and 188 for rodents, be- balanced nutrition of animals, Insects and Rodents Control sides 1,908 periodical operations improving breeds, and evalua- Unit at the Municipality of Al Khor were conducted against insects tion of the status of animals re- and Al Zakhira conducted the fi rst and 242 for rodents. garding their weight and breed- phase of a campaign against in- As many as 33,540 seasonal ing suitability. sects and rodents at Al Khor City. fl ower seedlings were planted in A number of veterinary ex- The General Control Section the various areas of the munici- perts gave lectures at the train- at the Municipality of Al Khor pality and 212 Sidra trees were ing and helped the trainees with and Al Zakhira conducted an in- sprayed with insecticides. practical guidance and expertise tensive search campaign within The Public Gardens Depart- on various involved issues. As its jurisdiction, and 20 aban- ment at Doha Municipality has an integral part of the course, doned vehicles were removed. In conducted a soil cleaning op- trainees were given an opportu- addition, a number of violations eration around a considerable nity of an open question-answer of the Public Cleaning law were number of the palm trees with- session, where all their concerns spotted and the legal procedures in its jurisdiction to enhance and queries were discussed and were taken against the violators. their life and maintain a healthy clarifi ed by the experts. The Municipality of Umm growth. Fogging in progress against mosquitoes. Gulf Times Saturday, August 27, 2016 3 REGION/ARAB WORLD

AVIATION TERRORISM CONFLICT TRAGEDY COMMODITY Sudanese plane makes Iran employs measures to Iran denies US accusation Saudi roof collapse kills Egypt’s GASC draws off ers emergency landing in Saudi keep youth from IS of arming Houthis Ethiopian worker from 7 wheat suppliers

A Sudanese Antonov aircraft made an Iran said yesterday it is using preventative Iran yesterday denied US accusations it has An Ethiopian worker was killed and 18 Egyptians Egypt’s state grain buyer, the General Authority emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after takeoff measures to keep young people from delivered missiles to Yemeni rebels. Foreign were injured when the roof of a building under for Supply Commodities (GASC), received from a base used to bomb rebels in Yemen, developing sympathy for the Islamic State (IS) Minister Mohamed Javad Zarif said the construction collapsed in Saudi Arabia, a off ers from seven suppliers in a wheat tender the kingdom’s aviation regulator said, without extremist militia. Intelligence services observe comments by Secretary of State John Kerry newspaper reported yesterday. They were trapped yesterday. The tender was the first since the reporting injuries. The propellor-driven An-12 young people for signs of sympathy towards the on a visit to Saudi Arabia on Thursday were when the metal roof in Makkah collapsed on resignation of Egypt’s minister of supply, Khaled transport plane “made an emergency and terrorist organisation, and suspects are either “completely baseless”. “Iran has repeatedly Thursday, Okaz said on its website, citing the Civil Hanafi, on Thursday following an investigation safe landing” on Thursday at Baha airport in summoned to appear before authorities or said that Iranian military power will never Defence department. It did not say what caused into whether millions of dollars intended for southwest Saudi Arabia, the General Authority detained for a short period. The individuals are be a threat to any country and is merely for the collapse, which is under investigation. The subsidising farmers were used to purchase of Civil Aviation said. The plane was en route to then made clear that Islamic State has nothing to defence purposes,” Zarif said in a statement on men had been doing metalwork at the time, Okaz domestic wheat that only existed on paper. the Sudanese capital Khartoum with 10 crew do with Islam or the Holy Qur’an. “Prevention is the ministry’s website. The Saudi-led coalition reported. Fifteen of the Egyptians needed hospital Egypt’s supply ministry, which oversees GASC, is members, the aviation authority said. It said the more eff ective than trying to repair the damage intervened in Yemen in March last year after treatment. A day earlier, two Pakistanis died in a in charge of the country’s massive food subsidy Antonov had engine failure and its tyres had later,” Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi said. the rebels and their allies overran most of the separate construction accident in Makkah, the programme. Trade minister Tarek Kabil has been burst on landing in Baha. Iran is considered an arch-enemy of the IS. country. newspaper said. put in charge until a new minister is appointed. Kerry, Lavrov Israeli soldiers shoot dead unarmed Palestinian man

Israeli media reports say no weapons found on man’s push to fi nalise body; Military says it is investigating the shooting; Palestinian off icial says man was mentally ill

Reuters Syria deal Jerusalem

Reuters sraeli soldiers yesterday Geneva shot and killed an appar- Iently unarmed Palestinian who ran towards their position S Secretary of State John in a Palestinian village in the Kerry and Russia’s Ser- occupied West Bank, and the Ugei Lavrov sought yes- incident was under review, a terday to fi nalise an agreement military spokeswoman said. on fi ghting militants in Syria as A Palestinian offi cial said the the fi rst evacuees left a besieged 38-year-old man suff ered from Damascus surbub under a plan mental illness, and several un- which has aroused the UN’s con- sourced Israeli news websites cern. reported that no weapons were A deal on fi ghting jihadists in found on his body. Syria could help lead to an end to “(Israeli) forces identifi ed a fi ghting between the army and suspect running towards an IDF Israeli troops gather at the scene where a Palestinian was shot and killed by Israeli forces in the West its militia allies on one side and (Israel Defence Forces) post in Bank village of Silwad near Ramallah yesterday. non-jihadist rebels opposed to US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Silwad,” the military spokes- President Bashar al-Assad. Lavrov shake hands during a meeting on the Syrian crisis in Geneva. woman said. Palestinian leaders say assail- Israelis open fi re at Palestinian fishermen This could pave the way for “Upon the suspect’s advance, ants have acted out of despera- talks on a political transition to But the United Nations was cal and humanitarian eff orts in the forces shot the suspect, tion over the collapse of peace end the fi ve-year Syrian confl ict. not consulted on the plan and Syria, said in a statement after resulting in his death. The in- talks in 2014 and Israeli settle- Israeli naval boats at dawn attacked with gunfire several As Kerry and the Russian for- UN Special Envoy Staff an de holding talks with Kerry and La- cident is currently being re- ment expansion in Israeli-occu- yesterday opened machine gun Palestinian fishermen while eign minister met at a hotel on Mistura and UN humanitarian vrov. viewed.” pied territory that Palestinians fire at Palestinian fishermen and they were sailing off Gaza, Lake Geneva, residents and insur- co-ordinator Stephen O’Brien, Senior White House offi - Asked whether the Palestin- seek for an independent state. their boats in Deir al-Balah in Al- injuring a 25-old Palestinian gents began to leave the beseieged voiced deep concern about it cials from the National Secu- ian had been armed, she said Most countries view the set- Sudaniya in northern Gaza Strip. fisherman with a live shot. He Damascus suburb of Daraya where yesterday. rity Council (NSC) joined the that “the details are still being tlements as illegal. No casualties were reported was taken by the attacking civilians have been trapped since Civilians should be evacu- talks between Kerry and Lavrov, checked.” Israel disputes this. among Palestinian fishermen. force to nearby Ashdod seaport 2012, Reuters witnesses said. ated only if their safety could be which broke after four hours, but Since October, at least 209 Israel says incitement in the On Thursday, Israeli naval boats in southern Israel. Rebels and Syria’s army guaranteed and it was on a vol- were set to resume later. Palestinians have been killed, Palestinian media and personal agreed the plan on Thursday to untary basis, they said. While Kerry said this week 141 of whom Israel said were as- problems at home have been evacuate all the 4,000 residents “It is imperative that people that technical teams from both sailants. important factors that have On Wednesday, an Israeli stabbed him and thrown rocks and some 700 insurgents from of Daraya are protected in any sides were close to the end of Others died during clashes spurred assailants, often teen- soldier fatally shot a Palestinian from his car at a military vehicle Daraya in the coming days, end- evacuation that takes place, and their discussions, US offi cials and protests. agers, to carry out attacks. motorist who the army said had in the West Bank. ing one of the longest stand-off s that this takes place voluntarily,” indicated it was too early to say in the civil war. de Mistura, who leads UN politi- whether an agreement was like- ly. Erdogan, Putin agree to step up Aleppo aid “There are still issues that need to be ironed out,” a senior State Department offi cial said. Tunisia parliament set for vote on new govt Turkish President Recep after a deal in June normalising “We’re hopeful that today Tayyip Erdogan and Russian ties in the wake of the crisis could see resolution on at least counterpart Vladimir Putin sparked by Ankara’s shooting some of them, and that we can AFP from France in 1956. of his government will each also met with resounding applause, yesterday agreed to step up down of a Russian war plane move this plan forward,” the of- Tunis But as Tunisia continues to issue a declaration of interests said his government would give eff orts to ensure humanitarian last year. fi cial said, “But we’re mindful of fi nd its bearings after the 2011 within 15 days. priority to fi ghting corruption aid reaches citizens in Syria’s The statement said the two the challenges.” uprising that toppled longtime He stressed the “necessity” and “terrorism”. conflict-torn northern Aleppo leaders emphasised the need When Kerry launched the unisia’s premier-des- dictator Zine El Abidine Ben of his proposed unity govern- While Tunisia is considered province. to fight “all terror groups” in Syrian co-operation talks in July ignate called for “sac- Ali, Chahed would also be the ment to address mounting eco- a rare success story of the Arab In telephone talks “the two Syria, including Islamic State during a visit to Moscow, the Trifi ces” as parliament North African nation’s seventh nomic challenges not resolved Spring, the authorities have leaders... agreed to accelerate (IS) jihadists. proposal involved Washington convened yesterday to vote on a premier in less than six years. since the 2011 revolution. failed to resolve the issues of eff orts to ensure help reaches The Kremlin confirmed the and Moscow sharing military cabinet line-up he has proposed The prime minister-desig- “We have until now been un- poverty, unemployment, re- people in Aleppo,” the state-run telephone talks. intelligence to co-ordinate air to tackle pressing economic and nate addressed the assembly able to realise the objectives of gional disparities and corrup- Anadolu news agency said, “The leaders held a thorough strikes against Islamic State and security challenges. yesterday morning ahead of the the revolution. Our youth have tion that preceded Ben Ali’s fall. adding that Erdogan briefed exchange of views on the grounding the Syrian air force to It is likely that a majority of vote of confi dence, which is not lost hope, the trust of citizens in If his government is ap- Putin on the current Turkish situation in Syria. They noted stop it from attacking moderate parliament’s 217 members will expected before 2000 GMT. the state has decreased,” he said. proved, Chahed will also have operation inside Syria. the importance of joint rebel groups. vote for the line-up, mak- Parliament also took a mid- “We are all responsible” and to address security after a wave The phone call was the latest eff orts in line with the fight Kerry believes the plan is the ing Youssef Chahed, at 40, the day break before resuming de- “will all have to make sacri- of jihadist attacks, including sign of improving relations against terrorism,” it said in a best chance to limit fi ghting that country’s youngest prime min- liberations at 1400 GMT. fi ces”. two that killed dozens of foreign between Moscow and Ankara statement. is driving thousands of Syrians ister since it won independence Chahed noted that members Chahed, whose speech was tourists last year. into exile in Europe. Tears as town evacuation starts in symbol of Syria revolt

AFP was announced on Thursday by the UN envoy said. itable, it has been completely Daraya, Syria Syrian state news agency SANA, “The world is watching,” he destroyed,” he said. which said 700 rebels and their said. Daraya was seen as a sym- families would leave to rebel- Daraya is located just 15 min- bolic bastion of the uprising that yrian rebels and civilians, controlled Idlib, and thousands utes drive from the capital and began with peaceful protests many in tears, began yes- of civilians would be taken to lies even closer to the govern- against Assad’s government, be- Sterday evacuating the Syr- government reception centres. ment’s vital Mazzeh air base. fore degenerating into a war that ian town of Daraya after a four- A Syrian source on the ground It was one of the fi rst towns to has killed over 290,000 people. year army siege, in a blow for the said Thursday that the evacua- erupt in anti-government pro- In four years, just one food beleaguered opposition. tion could take four days to com- tests in March 2011. aid convoy entered the town, in The evacuation came after a plete and a military source said the Rebels accused the govern- June, shortly after a single con- deal struck by President Bashar army would then enter Daraya. ment of killing some 500 people voy went in carrying medicine. al-Assad’s government and op- “The civilians will go to re- in a military operation in Daraya The arrival of the food aid was position forces in the town, gions under regime control in August 2012. followed by heavy regime bom- which is close to the capital Da- around Damascus, rebels will go Yesterday’s evacuation pro- bardment that residents said mascus and was one of the fi rst to Idlib “or sort out their situa- voked anger and bitterness stalled distribution. to rise up against the regime. tion with the regime”, a rebel of- among opposition supporters, According to the United Na- The fi rst buses carrying evac- fi cial said. and the local rebel said residents tions, nearly 600,000 live under uating rebels and their families Daraya’s local council said on wept as they prepared to leave. siege across Syria, most sur- emerged from the devastated its offi cial Facebook page that “People are saying goodbye to rounded by government forces, town, accompanied by ambu- civilians would be taken to the one another, children are bidding although rebels and jihadists lances and Syrian Red Crescent government-held town of Hra- their schools farewell, mothers also use the tactic. vehicles. jela in Western Ghouta, outside are saying goodbye to the mar- Long government sieges have Inside the town, which has the capital. tyrs in the graves,” he said. prompted rebels in several loca- been surrounded by loyalist “From there they will con- “People are gathering their tions to agree evacuation deals troops since 2012 and suff ered tinue to the areas they wish to go memories and the few posses- with the regime, prompting activ- constant regime bombardment, to,” it said. sions they have left to preserve ists to accuse Damascus of using tearful residents said fi nal good- The council said that fi ght- the memory of the four years of “starve or surrender” tactics. byes, a local rebel fi ghter said. ers and their families would be A Syrian Arab Red Crescent convoy waits next to debris at the entrance of the besieged Damascus suburb siege, hunger and shelling.” Yesterday, the United Nations “This is the hardest moment, taken to northern Syria, escorted of Daraya, before rebels and residents start being evacuated yesterday. The rebel fi ghter said the de- said only a single full aid con- everyone is crying, young and by the Red Crescent. cision to evacuate the town had voy had reached besieged areas old,” he said, speaking on condi- The United Nations said it was Daraya to identify civilian needs. appeals to lift the siege of Daraya It was “imperative” that been taken because of deterio- of Syria in August, denouncing tion of anonymity. not involved in negotiating the deal, UN envoy Staff an de Mistura and cease the fi ghting, have nev- Daraya’s residents be protected rating humanitarian conditions. the “wholly unacceptable” level The deal to evacuate the town though a UN team was to enter said it was “tragic that repeated er been heeded”. and only voluntarily evacuated, “The town is no longer inhab- of access. Gulf Times 4 Saturday, August 27, 2016 AFRICA South African police deny targeting Gordhan

Reuters Gordhan has been summoned police unit to attend a meeting on and we are just doing our job. We The main opposition party about the unit he set up while at on Gordhan could rock the coun- Johannesburg by the elite Hawks police unit Thursday. deny these allegations. We are Democratic Alliance, which the South African Revenue Serv- try’s markets further as Africa’s over a suspected surveillance In the fi rst detailed remarks shocked,” Mulaudzi said, accord- strengthened its credentials by ice (SARS), that Gordhan is a tar- most industrialised economy unit set up years ago when he since Tuesday when news ing to the City Press newspaper. taking control of key cities in get of political pressure from a teeters near recession and credit outh African police have was in charge of the tax service, emerged that Gordhan had been He was not available when Re- the August 3 local government faction allied to Zuma. rating agencies consider down- denied being part of a po- which was alleged to have been summoned by police, the Hawks uters tried to reach him. elections, has called for a parlia- The president’s offi ce said in grading it to “junk”. Slitical conspiracy targeting used to spy on politicians includ- spokesman Hangwani Mulaudzi City Press said Mulaudzi de- mentary debate on what it called May that Zuma was not warring The rand, which had tumbled Finance Minister Pravin Gord- ing President Jacob Zuma. said the unit was not targeting clined to say whether Gordhan’s a “Zuma-mandated witch-hunt with Gordhan. 5% since Tuesday in response han, City Press newspaper said The minister on Wednesday Gordhan. refusal to report to the Hawks against sitting Finance Minister Zuma said on Thursday that he to the investigation, picked up yesterday after the main oppo- declined to meet the Hawks, “How many cases are we deal- meant that he would be arrested. Pravin Gordhan”. had confi dence in Gordhan but yesterday as the dollar retreated, sition party described the police saying that he had done nothing ing with every day? A lot. How “I’m not at liberty to say how Political pundits have said was powerless to stop the inves- with investors awaiting a speech investigation into Gordhan as a wrong and had no legal obliga- many high profi le cases do we in- this will unfold,” said Mulaudzi since February, when he was fi rst tigation into him. by the Federal Reserve for clues “witch-hunt”. tion to obey a summons from the vestigate? A lot. It’s our mandate according to the newspaper. asked questions by the Hawks Analysts said an ongoing probe on a rate hike in the United States. Anti-Mugabe protest

Judge Masipa reading her verdict during the state appeal hearing descends into chaos at the high court in Johannesburg. AFP former vice-president Joice Mu- Right: Zimbabwe Harare juru. opposition party Opposition leaders gave a news leaders Tsvangirai, conference where they con- former vice-president Judge Masipa rejects iots erupted in Zimba- demned the brutal repression of Mujuru, and former bwe’s capital Harare yes- the protest and vowed to increase minister Mutasa at Rterday after police fi red pressure on Mugabe’s regime. the press briefing in appeal over ‘lenient’ tear gas and beat protesters who “If that was meant to cow us Harare. responded by throwing stones from demonstrating, I want to in the latest of a string of tense say we are going to do the same Below: An opposition Pistorius sentence demonstrations. next week Friday,” former Mu- supporter runs near The violence came a day after gabe ally and ex-cabinet minister a burning barricade a High Court judge had ordered Didymus Mutasa told reporters. during clashes with AFP He described it as fl awed and police “not to interfere (with), Protests “will continue until police. Johannesburg that “another court may fi nd obstruct or stop the march”. the day we vote”, said Mutasa, a that this court misdirected it- Dozens of police blocked off former top member of ZANU- self”. the site of an opposition rally to PF who is now a senior member South African judge Pistorius is serving his sen- demand electoral reforms be- of Mujuru’s party. “We have had has rejected an ap- tence at Kgosi Mampuru II fore 2018 when 92-year-old enough of ZANU-PF misrule.” Apeal by state prosecu- prison in the capital Pretoria. President Robert Mugabe, who Tsvangirai has warned that tors against Oscar Pistorius’s Masipa had also originally has ruled the southern African the public would not be easily “shockingly lenient” six-year convicted Pistorius of the less- country for decades, will seek re- calmed. jail sentence for killing his girl- er charge of culpable homicide, election. “The people’s anger is very friend. the equivalent of manslaugh- AFP correspondents saw deep. The people’s desperation Thokozile Masipa – the ter, in 2014. armed police fi ring tear gas and is very deep,” he said. “Today’s same judge who imposed the But an appeals court up- water cannon at protesters gath- brutal suppression of the people punishment on the Paralympic graded his conviction to mur- ered on the fringes of the central will not stop them from exercis- athlete last month – said that der in December last year. business district who were wait- ing their rights.” she was not persuaded there Pistorius’s defence said it ing for the march to start. Tsvangirai said the regime was was a “reasonable prospect of was an “insult” to suggest that Demonstrators then began in its “sunset hour”, warning that success on appeal”. the court’s sentencing had throwing stones at police while eff orts to suppress the protests “The application for leave to been fl awed and that it was some set tyres ablaze and others would backfi re. appeal against the sentence is time the case came to a close. pulled down the sign for a street “Citizens are like a spring: the dismissed with costs,” she said “Enough is enough. What named after Mugabe. more they are suppressed, the in the High Court in Johannes- does the state want?” defence Some people caught up in the greater the rebound,” he said. burg. lawyer Barry Roux said. melee, including children going Charles Laurie, an analyst with Prosecutors had been push- “This case has been ex- to a nearby agricultural show, Verisk Maplecroft in London, ing for a tougher sentence hausted beyond a point of any ran for shelter in the magistrate’s agreed that the government was against the fallen 29-year-old conceivable exhaustion,” he court while riot police pursued on the verge of losing control. double-amputee sprint star added, accusing the prosecu- the demonstrators and threat- “The government is nearing over the murder of his girl- tion of sending Pistorius “like a ened journalists covering the a tipping point in its ability to friend Reeva Steenkamp in ping pong ball between courts”. rally. control a population long used to 2013. However, the prosecution The usually-bustling pave- violence and hardship, and who They now have the option still has recourse to a higher ments were clear of street hawk- now have little to lose in putting of directly petitioning the Su- court. ers and some shops were closed, themselves at risk in forcing po- preme Court of Appeal to ask “Any party who has to apply with rocks, sticks and burn- litical concessions,” he told AFP. it to extend the term – which to the trial judge for permission ing tyres strewn across the city “If the current anti-government is less than half the minimum to appeal and is unsuccessful, streets. momentum continues, we can 15-year sentence for murder in the option is open for them to Opposition protesters also expect the imposition of martial South Africa. petition the Supreme Court clashed with supporters of the law and further draconian steps around 150,000 would disrupt And the Canadian embassy sponsored” and aimed at seeking Masipa presided over Pis- of Appeal,” said Stephan Ter- ruling ZANU-PF party who had to re-assert government con- business and traffi c. also said it was “increasingly “regime change”. torius’s lengthy trial in the blanche, a law professor at the refused to clear their street stalls. trol.” Foreign diplomatic missions concerned with reports of vio- Zimbabwe has seen a mount- glare of the world’s media, and University of South Africa. ZANU-PF youths hurled Thursday’s court order was is- based in Harare called on the lence and human rights viola- ing tide of violent protests in re- South African law empowers Terblanche said that the Su- stones at the opposition activists sued a day after police violently authorities to ensure that basic tions in response to public pro- cent weeks, with demonstrators the trial judge to grant or reject preme Court would study the but were overpowered and their put down another march by op- human rights and freedoms are test”. demanding the resignation of applications to appeal their grounds of appeal and those stalls were set on fi re. position youths, fi ring tear gas respected during policing. Yesterday’s march was to de- Mugabe, who has been in power own judgments. opposing the appeal, and make The march was organised by and water cannon and beating The Australian embassy issued mand free and fair elections. since 1980. “The sentence of six years a decision without conducting 18 opposition parties including them as they staged a protest a statement expressing concern The last elections in 2013 were Under his rule, there has been is shockingly lenient and dis- a hearing. the Movement for Democratic against police brutality. over the recent unrest, saying won by Mugabe in a vote the op- an economic collapse that has turbingly inappropriate,” pros- Pistorius, who pleaded not Change (MDC) led by Morgan Police had tried to “discour- that the use of violence was “not position said was rigged. caused food and cash shortages, ecutor Gerrie Nel argued in guilty at his high-profi le tri- Tsvangirai and the Zimbabwe age” yesterday’s march, saying acceptable under any circum- Top offi cials have suggested with the country battling to pay court. al, has always denied killing People First formed this year by that the anticipated crowd of stance.” the protests were “Western- public servants. Pistorius shot Steenkamp, 29-year-old Steenkamp in a a model and law graduate, in rage, saying that he was trying the early hours of Valentine’s to protect her. Day in 2013, claiming that he South African media reports mistook her for a burglar when earlier this month said the ath- he fi red four times through the lete had been put on suicide Seven killed by Shebaab door of his bedroom toilet. watch following mysterious At his sentencing in July, wrist injuries. Masipa listed mitigating fac- He said he sustained the in- tors, including the athlete’s juries after falling from his bed militants in beach attack claim that he believed he was and his family denied that he shooting an intruder. had tried to kill himself. Yesterday the prosecution The year before he killed AFP escape from the restaurant dur- two other civilians were injured. again questioned Pistorius’s Steenkamp, Pistorius – known Mogadishu ing the gunfi ght. It is the second time this failure to testify during the as the Blade Runner – became The Shebaab claimed re- year the group has attacked the sentencing hearings, saying it the fi rst double-amputee to sponsibility for the attack in a Lido beach area and its many raised the question of whether race at Olympic level when he even people were killed in statement distributed via the eateries, including upmarket he had shown remorse. appeared at the London 2012 an attack by Shebaab Is- Telegram messaging service, establishments popular with Nel also said the punishment Games. Slamist militants on a pop- claiming to have killed “scores”. business people and diaspora had “resulted in an injustice The Steenkamp and Pis- ular beachfront restaurant in It said the restaurant was tar- Somalis who have returned and had the potential to bring torius families could not be the Somali capital Mogadishu, geted because it was frequented home to the city. the administration of justice reached for immediate com- Residents look inside the wreckage of a car bomb outside Banadir beach city authorities said yesterday. by “apostates” indulging in In late January, Shebaab gun- into disrepute”. ment. restaurant a day after the attack by Shebaab militants. “Nine people, including two “obscenity and vice”. men detonated a bomb before Shebaab gunmen, were killed The Shebaab is fi ghting to bursting into the Lido Sea Food in the attack” on Thursday, overthrow the internationally- Restaurant and spraying gunfi re Mogadishu city spokesman Ab- backed government in Mogad- at customers, killing 20 people. difatah Halane told AFP. ishu, seeking to impose an aus- The group is expected to try Al Qaeda-linked Shebaab tere Islamic rule on the country. to disrupt elections due to be Vaccination drive in Kinshasa hits target militants attacked the Banadir By morning offi cials said the held in September and October. Beach Restaurant close to the attackers had been killed. Despite abandoning the capi- city’s Lido Beach, setting off a All the “attackers have been tal fi ve years ago, Shebaab still Reuters the World Health Organisation vaccinate 14mn people in the two The campaign wrapped up car bomb before exchanging fi re gunned down and the restau- launches regular attacks against Kinshasa (WHO) said yesterday. countries by the end of August to yesterday, but health workers with security forces. rant is now under the full com- government, military, civilian Health offi cials began a cam- halt the spread of the disease be- will continue over the coming The assailants also threw gre- mand of the Somali government and foreign targets. paign to vaccinate 7.5mn people fore the rainy season next month. days to seek out individuals they nades at the security services soldiers”, police commander The Islamist militants have vaccination campaign in Kinshasa last week to combat As of Thursday, 6,925,276 peo- missed, said the WHO’s Congo who cordoned off the area. Colonel Abshir Bishaar told the also staged repeated attacks in against yellow fever in the worst outbreak in decades of ple, or 91.3% of the target popu- spokesman, Eugene Kabambi. One man with a head wound Somali National News Agency. neighbouring Kenya and a re- Athe Congo’s capital is al- the haemorrhagic virus. lation, in Kinshasa were vacci- “We had to resolve this before was detained by the authorities “The terrorist attack killed cent security analysis warned most complete, but the gains More than 400 people have nated in the latest campaign, the the rains ... it’s a big success,” which accused him of being the nine persons, fi ve of them were that the group was expanding may be reversed by the looming died in the Democratic Republic WHO said in a weekly report. Kabambi said, adding that addi- bomber. civilians, two security forces its horizons with cells active in rainy season and the spread of of the Congo and neighbouring About 2mn people were vac- tional preventive measures need The restaurant is popular and the other two were the mili- Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tan- the disease to areas where peo- Angola since December. cinated in Kinshasa during cam- to be taken to defi nitively stop with youths and offi cials. tants who carried out the at- zania and Uganda as well as So- ple have not yet been vaccinated, In all, health authorities aim to paigns in May and July. transmission. Around 20 people managed to tack,” Bishaar said, adding that malia. Gulf Times Saturday, August 27, 2016 5 AMERICAS Foundation Ottawa pledges aid, issue is not peacekeepers to UN a threat, The new premier is taking an active Whereas his Conservative predecessor Trudeau has said French speakers in have off ered can be best deployed to best role on the international scene Stephen Harper sought distance from the the Canadian military are in demand in meet the needs of our missions”, said Du- hotspots in some former French or Belgian jarric. says Clinton UN, Trudeau has signalled that Canada AFP now intends to play an increased role be- colonies, including Haiti and the Central This could include helicopters for the Ottawa yond its borders through the global body. African Republic. UN mission in Mali after Dutch forces AFP by outside sources. I made pol- According to government fi gures, 31 Sajjan recently returned from a fi ve- said they were planning to withdraw Washington icy decisions to keep Ameri- Canadian soldiers were deployed this year country scouting mission in Africa, pro- seven helicopters from the west African cans safe. I believe my aides anadian Prime Minister Justin Tru- on UN peacekeeping missions in Haiti, the viding a hint of possible countries in which operation. also acted appropriately,” she deau’s government yesterday com- Jerusalem region, South Sudan, Cyprus, Canada may deploy troops. “We would look towards those coun- illary Clinton said yes- said on MSNBC. Cmitted 600 troops and C$450mn the Democratic Republic of Congo and International Development Minister tries who have the capacity to replace terday she was certain “We have gone above and ($350mn) over three years to United Na- South Korea, down from a reported peak Marie-Claude Bibeau also visited Co- those helicopters,” said Dujarric. Hno revelations from e- beyond most of the legal re- tions peacekeeping operations around the of 3,000 in 1993. lombia earlier this year, opening the door “We are going to have a discussion with mails or foreign entities’ ties to quirements, beyond the stand- world. Trudeau also announced in February, to Canada playing a role in an upcoming the Canadians to see where and how their her husband’s charitable foun- ards to voluntarily disclose do- Touted by the Liberal administration when he hosted UN secretary-general Ban ceasefi re observer mission following a contributions can be best put to use.” dation will derail her bid for the nors and to reduce sources of as a recommitment to multilateralism, Ki-moon in Ottawa, that Canada would truce between the government and rebel The announcement came ahead of a US presidency. funding that raised questions the move also positions Canada to make a seek a seat on the Security Council, hop- forces. meeting in London on September 6 aimed “I am sure, and I am sure — not that we thought they stronger bid for a rotating seat on the UN ing to erase the humiliation of its fi rst The United Nations yesterday ap- at boosting UN peacekeeping, following because I have a very strong were necessarily legitimate, Security Council. failed bid in 2010 under the previous Tory plauded Canada’s decision to commit 600 US president Barack Obama’s pledging foundation of understand- but to avoid those questions,” Ottawa’s “commitment to increase administration. troops and funding to peacekeeping, say- conference. ing about the foundation” and she said. Canadian participation in UN peace op- In a statement yesterday, the government ing it will have a big impact. At that conference, more than 50 coun- the good work it has done, the Clinton said her critics erations and supporting its mediation ef- said the Canadian deployment would tack- UN offi cials will quickly begin talks with tries pledged more than 40,000 troops for Democratic candidate said in should look at the good work forts, preventing confl icts, and engaging le “multifaceted confl icts, requiring politi- Ottawa to nail down the specifi c details of deployment in UN missions worldwide. an interview with MSNBC. the foundation has done, for in post-confl ict reconstruction” will give cal, security, development and humanitar- the contribution, which could also include The pledges represent a major boost to Clinton, who is leading in the instance making low-cost HIV Canada “a stronger voice on the world ian responses brought together under the helicopters, desperately needed for the UN UN peacekeeping, which relies on vol- polls, has come under with- medicines available to millions stage,” foreign aff airs minister Stephane broad umbrella of ‘peace operations’”. mission in Mali. untary contributions from UN member ering scrutiny over whether around the world. Dion told a news conference. Funding would go to protect displaced “This will have a big impact,” said UN states to run its 16 missions worldwide. Clinton Foundation donors Bill Clinton announced this The announcement comes ahead of a persons, refugees, women and children, spokesman Stephane Dujarric. The Canadian prime minister will tour received favoured access at week that if his wife is elected, major peacekeeping conference in London as well as to support “early warning, con- “We have no doubt the Canadian armed the Great Wall, shoot hoops with retired the state department while she the foundation will accept only in two weeks. fl ict prevention, dialogue, mediation and forces can help us bolster our capabilities basketball star Yao Ming and host a round- was secretary of state during US contributions, that he will In order to attend, countries must make peace-building, and the empowerment of across the globe.” table of women entrepreneurs when he President Barack Obama’s fi rst step down from the board and a tangible peacekeeping pledge. women in decision-making for peace and Military transport aircraft will also be travels to China next week to bolster trade term. will no longer raise funds for A decision, however, has not yet been security”. deployed and training provided for UN and diplomatic ties, his offi ce said yester- Republican rival Donald the charity. made about where to deploy the military The 600 personnel will include ground troops and police, according to Canadian day. Trump earlier this week called Asked why the foundation personnel, said defence minister Harjit troops and commanders, with engineer- offi cials. There will be bilateral meetings with for an independent investiga- didn’t simply turn over its pro- Sajjan. ing and medical expertise and military and In the coming days, UN offi cials “will Chinese president Xi Jinping and senior tion after a fresh batch of Clin- grammes to the Bill and Melin- Trudeau is likely to identify a specifi c police training. actively engage with the government of government offi cials during the August 30 ton e-mails released as part of da Gates Foundation or some mission or missions when he goes to the Military transport aircraft will also be Canada to explore when and when the to September 6 trip, which includes stops a Freedom of Information Act other charity, she said it was UN General Assembly next month. deployed. broad range of services and troops they in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. lawsuit showed foundation now looking for partners. donors lobbying her top aides “We are going to be testing for access. that. The Associated Press, That’s why the foundation is meanwhile, reported that more looking for partners and, you Yesterday on NBC than half the people outside know, there are potential part- government who met Clinton ners for some of the work but while she was secretary of state not necessarily the same part- donated money to the Clinton ner for all of the work. Foundation. I think winding down the “My work is not infl uenced programme takes time.”

Former Tory PM Harper quits politics

AFP dustrialised nations, he not- Ottawa ed, Canada “came out in the strongest position of them all”. Harper’s spokeswoman anada’s former prime Anna Tomala said the former minister Stephen Harp- prime minister has formed a Cer announced yesterday consulting group to provide he was quitting politics, 10 advice to international clients. months after voters tossed his “The fi rm will work in tech, Tories out of offi ce in a general fi nance, energy, infrastruc- election. ture and manufacturing along The awkward career-poli- (with) other fi les, in the US, tician, who was more at home Europe, Middle East and Asia,” plowing through economic she said in an e-mail. theory than glad-handing vot- Regulatory documents show ers on the campaign trail, said Harper created a company last in a statement that he was December called Harper & As- stepping down as a member of sociates Consulting Inc Cole Whittle, JinJoo Lee and Joe Jonas of the band DNCE perform on NBC’s Today at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. parliament after nearly 18 years with former aides Ray Novak of public service. and Jeremy Hunt. Summarizing the previous Since his party’s defeat at Tory government’s accom- the hands of Justin Trudeau’s Panic as crickets, plishments over nearly 10 years Liberals on October 19, 2015, with him at the helm, Harper Harper has kept a low profi le, worms let loose pointed to tax cuts, stiff er appearing only once in public It could have been a scene criminal sentences, and steer- in May at a Tory rally in Van- Canada twins plead guilty straight out of a horror movie. ing the economy “through the couver. A woman trying to sell crickets worst global recession since It was the fi rst time he ad- and worms on a crowded New the Great Depression” in 2008. dressed his party and Canadi- York City subway car became Of the Group of Seven in- ans since his election defeat. frazzled by some teenagers to terrorism, face jail time and let the critters loose on riders, then urinated on herself, according to social media posts AFP liament building in Ottawa, dian Mounted Police as a top pri- 20% of total extremist travel- and news reports. Toronto Ashton allegedly bragged to an ority, Goodale’s spokesman said. lers from Canada, in some cases Riders on the subway train Bank robber named undercover agent that he had Goodale has overall respon- taking their children to confl ict were locked in close quarters “bigger plans”. sibility for law enforcement, in- zones, the report said. with the critters for half an hour anadian twin broth- Within hours of his arrest in cluding the RCMP and Canadi- Although it is commonly during rush hour on Wednesday in crossbow deaths ers who had hoped to January 2015 after a lengthy in- an Security Intelligence Service. assumed that women travel evening after a passenger Cjoin the Islamic State vestigation, his brother Carlos The main security threat abroad to marry extremists, pulled the train’s emergency (IS) group pleaded guilty to was apprehended as he boarded comes from individuals acting some may take on secondary brake while they were on the Reuters way outside a nearby garage. “terrorism” off enses and were a fl ight at Montreal’s interna- alone or in small groups who are roles within militant groups, Manhattan Bridge. The teenagers Toronto One of the victims made a sentenced yesterday to prison tional airport. inspired by militant groups such while others appear to be taking had pushed the woman as she 911 call before dying, accord- terms, prosecutors announced. Carlos acknowledged in court as Islamic State and Al Qaeda part in combat, the report said. off ered the creepy-crawlies ing to a local newspaper re- The brothers, Ashton and that he was planning to join the rather than directed by them. It was the fi rst major security for sale, and she tossed the Toronto man linked to a port, and the suspect was also Carlos Larmond, both 25, re- IS group in Syria. The report comes just two report issued since the Liberal container holding them into the string of bank robber- wounded. ceived sentences of 17 and seven At the time of their arrest, the weeks after an Islamic State government came into power air, the New York Post reported, Aies was charged with Ryan was jailed for three years, respectively. trio were presented by the Royal supporter who was in the fi nal last year. citing witnesses. three counts of fi rst-degree years and nine months in the A third man, Suliman Mo- Canadian Mounted Police as an stages of preparing an attack on The Liberals campaigned on a It was unclear if the teens murder after three people were bank robbery cases, according hamed, 23, faces a seven-year extremist “cluster”. a Canadian city with a home- plan to scale back a 2015 law that pushed her accidentally. After killed in a crossbow attack on a to the Canadian Broadcasting term for conspiring with the The number of people who made bomb was killed during a gave increased powers to securi- the crickets were set free, some quiet suburban street, police in Corp His lawyer declined to twins. have travelled overseas from police raid at his home in On- ty authorities in the wake of two of them jumped on passengers, Canada’s largest city said yes- comment. In court, prosecutor Douglas Canada and are suspected of tario. deadly attacks by homegrown according to the Post. “Never terday. Ryan, who next appears in Curliss described Ashton as the involvement in radical activi- At the end of last year, the radicals in 2014. seen a crowd get so panicked Brett Ryan, 35, who ap- court on September 2, was “organiser and director” of an ties has grown, security offi cials government was aware of about Since the thwarted attack so fast, everyone rushed to the peared in court briefl y yester- dressed in what appeared to unspecifi ed extremist plot. said in a report that found the 180 individuals with a connec- earlier this month, the govern- other side of the train,” one day morning, was previously be a white poncho during his Police alleged that he had number of women leaving to join tion to Canada who were abroad ment has said it will continue rider, Ezra Mechaber, wrote on arrested in 2008 and faced court appearance. urged others to wage jihad after Islamic State was also on the rise. and suspected of “engaging in with its plans to reform the law Twitter.”Mass hysteria in a locked, numerous charges as the “fake He kept his hands clasped, his mother alerted the authori- At the end of 2015, 60 of what terrorism-related activities”, and is beginning national secu- enclosed space is something beard bandit”, who committed blinked rapidly and did not ties of his plan to travel to Syria Canada calls “extremist travel- the report said. rity consultations. else.” Some people whipped robberies in disguise, police make eye contact with the to join the IS group in 2013 and lers” had returned to the coun- That is up from approximate- A gunman killed a soldier at out smartphones and began said. public gallery. the government revoked his try, according to the annual ly 130 individuals in 2014. Ottawa’s national war memo- recording. In one video posted Two men and a woman died In another incident on passport. report released on Thursday by More than half of the 180 are rial before launching an attack online, the woman yelled, “Why’d at the house in the city’s east Thursday that police said was Later, on the day in Octo- Public Safety Minister Ralph believed to be in Turkey, Iraq or on Parliament in October 2014, you have to hit me?” and “My end on Thursday. related to the killings, police ber 2014 when a gunman shot Goodale. Syria, where the ongoing con- while a man ran down two sol- crickets!” In another, the woman Police responding to a call evacuated a downtown build- dead a ceremonial guard and These returnees are being fl ict has destabilised the region. diers in Quebec, killing one, is seen screaming uncontrollably about a stabbing found the ing due to a suspicious pack- attempted to storm the par- monitored by the Royal Cana- Women now make up about around the same time. as riders tried to console her. three bleeding on the drive- age. Gulf Times 6 Saturday, August 27, 2016 ASEAN US fears IS expansion plans in Southeast Asia

AFP with militant groups around the ton with Asia-based journalists. tants from Southeast Asia fi ght- on IS affi liates in the region, but Gigih Rahmat Dewa, is accused under its internal security law Singapore world, including in Egypt, Libya “There have been people that ing with IS in Iraq and Syria have analysts fear the group could be- of planning the attack with after discovering they intended and Nigeria, and wants to broad- have pledged affi liation and al- been deployed in a unit called the come more eff ective. Bahrun Naim, a leading Indone- to travel to Syria to fi ght for IS. en its reach in the region, accord- legiance to IS at the group level. Katibah Nusantara, and could Indonesian police earlier this sian militant who is believed to be Siberell spoke yesterday after slamic State (IS) Islamist mil- ing to Justin Siberell, acting co- “We’re certainly concerned pose a threat when they return to month arrested six suspected fi ghting with IS in Syria. he travelled to Bali earlier this itants are eyeing expansion ordinator for counter-terrorism about that, we’re concerned their home countries. militants over a plot to launch a In January IS-linked militants month for a meeting on prevent- Iinto Southeast Asia by join- at the US State Department. about the rise of new IS affi liates “We’re certainly concerned rocket attack on an up-market launched a deadly gun and bomb ing the cross-border movements ing forces with local extremists, “My understanding is that they and we’re working with govern- about IS’s ability to expand or to Singapore waterfront district attack in Jakarta which left four of known or suspected terrorists. a senior US counter-terrorism have looked at existing groups ments to do what they can to pre- establish branches,” he said. from the nearby Indonesian is- attackers and four civilians dead. He also visited Jakarta, Malay- offi cial warned yesterday. across the region,” Siberell said in vent that.” There have been only relatively land of Batam. Singapore on August 19 an- sia and Singapore before return- IS has a history of partnering a conference call from Washing- Siberell also noted that mili- minor attacks and plots blamed The suspects’ alleged leader, nounced it had detained two men ing to Washington.

Myanmar army chief Singapore is shrouded reshuffl es senior in smog as haze returns offi cers AFP Reuters Singapore Yangon

crid smog blanketed Sin- yanmar’s army chief, gapore yesterday as the Senior General Min Acity-state was hit by the MAung Hlaing, reshuf- year’s fi rst major outbreak of fl ed top posts yesterday, pro- haze, an annual crisis sparked moting his intelligence chief and by forest fi res in neighbouring other offi cers leading eff orts to Indonesia. present the military as a respon- Singapore’s air quality in- sible partner in a democratic dex reached unhealthy levels transition. with conditions deteriorating Military intelligence chief through the day, marking the Lieutenant General Mya Tun Oo worst haze episode in the city was promoted to the joint chief since vast parts of Southeast of staff of the army, navy, and Asia were blanketed in smoke in air force, the de-facto third most 2015. senior position and one seen as Last year’s haze outbreak was a stepping stone to becoming among the worst in memory, army chief. shrouding Malaysia, Singapore, The promotion comes shortly and parts of Thailand in acrid after Min Aung Hlaing decided smoke. to continue staying on as army The blazes are started illegally chief for the next fi ve years, and to clear land, typically for palm appears aimed at consolidat- oil and pulpwood plantations, ing his power base as he forges and Indonesia has faced intense a delicate relationship with new criticism from its neighbours government leader Aung San over its failure to halt the annual Suu Kyi. smog outbreaks. The military ruled Myanmar Indonesian police said a total with an iron fi rst for nearly 50 of 463 people have been arrested years until it began stepping over forest fi res so far in 2016. back from politics in 2011 and This is more than double the paved the way for a historic elec- number arrested over the blazes tion last November. in the whole of 2015 but the data Suu Kyi’s National League suggest that most of this year’s for Democracy (NLD) defeated arrests involved smallholders. the army-backed Union Soli- Singapore’s National Envi- darity and Development Party ronment Agency (NEA) said the in the vote and went on to form Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) the fi rst democratically-elected breached “very unhealthy” lev- government in more than half a els of 215 during the day. century. PSI levels above 100 are After a tense beginning for deemed unhealthy and people the new administration, punc- are advised to reduce vigorous People take photos near the Singapore Flyer observatory wheel tuated by military objections outdoor activity. shrouded by haze. Indonesia deploys 7,200 fi refi ghters to battle forest blazes to the NLD’s move to establish The NEA added that the a special post for Suu Kyi, rela- smoke was being blown from he was worried the haze would pollution index soared to haz- Indonesia has deployed 7,200 personnel to fight for- The Straits Times newspaper reported that as of 5pm tions between the military and fi res in central Sumatra, the In- agitate his asthma. ardous levels following three est fires as smog from blazes spread to neighbouring yesterday, Singapore’s 24-hour Pollutant Standard government have improved, ob- donesian island just across the “I know I’m supposed to wear weeks of being cloaked in smoke. Singapore and took air pollution there to unhealthy Index stood in the unhealthy range. servers say. Malacca Strait from Singapore. a mask so I don’t have another Indonesia’s Meteorology, Cli- levels, an off icial said yesterday. Six Indonesian provinces have issued forest fire Min Aung Hlaing has attended Visibility from high-rise of- asthma attack. But do you think matology and Geophysics Agen- Forest fires have been detected in at least five alerts on fears of a repeat of last year’s catastrophic events that are symbolically im- fi ces and other vantage points anyone will want to eat food cy said on its website that the districts in Riau province on Sumatra island, said Su- blazes, which cost the country $16bn. portant for Suu Kyi and the two was virtually zero. served by someone wearing a number of “hotspots” on Su- topo Nugroho, spokesman for the National Disaster Forest fires are an annual hazard in Indonesia and sides are collaborating in eff orts An AFP photographer said mask?” he said. matra had increased in the past Management Agency. the resulting haze often impacts neighbouring Singa- to forge peace with ethnic mi- that he could hardly see the sky- Smog was also visible in Kuala 48 hours. “Fires are on the rise in Riau,” he said, adding that pore, Malaysia and Thailand, driving air pollution to nority rebels. line from one of the city’s high- Lumpur, the capital of neigh- A hotspot is an area of intense they were the cause of Singapore’s haze. hazardous levels. Western defence attaches see est points at Mount Faber, while bouring Malaysia, over a few heat detected by satellites, indi- Mya Tun Oo as an astute mili- haze kits sold out at a drugstore days last week but did not breach cating a blaze has already broken tary operator with sound aware- chain by lunchtime. unhealthy levels. out or that an area is very hot and two days earlier, the agency said. fi res occur every year – there However there were far fewer ness of international relations Food server Marcus Tan, 28, Singapore last September likely to go up in fl ames soon. In the Indonesian part of Bor- were 31 hotspots as of midnight fi res than at the peak of last and regional politics, capable of who works at a riverside restau- closed schools and distributed As of yesterday, there were 69 neo island – another area where on Thursday local time, the year’s crisis, when hundreds navigating a diffi cult political rant with outdoor seating, said protective face masks as the air hotspots on Sumatra, up from 43 large numbers of smog-belching agency added. burned out of control. transition.

Students plan rally calling for 1MDB arrest Trainee pilot dies in army jet crash

Reuters The lawsuits repeatedly re- AFP Kuala Lumpur ferred to a high ranking offi cial, Hanoi only identifi ed as “Malaysian Of- fi cial 1”, who received more than efying Malaysian Prime $700mn of the misappropriated Vietnamese trainee pi- Minister Najib Abdul funds. lot was killed when his DRazak’s crackdown on The organisers of the planned Afi ghter jet crashed into dissent, student activists made rally have seized on that descrip- a rice fi eld, an offi cial said yes- plans for a mass rally today to call tion to call the government to ac- terday, the third deadly military for the arrest of an unnamed of- count. plane accident since June. fi cial who US investigators say “To Malaysian Offi cial 1, you The pilot was the only one received $700mn skimmed from will not be able to run away from on board when the plane went a sovereign fund. the people’s power. Wherever down in south-central Viet- A source familiar with the US you hide, the people’s power will nam, the ministry of defence investigations has told Reuters catch you and drag you to face said on state-run television. that the unnamed offi cial is Na- justice,” Anis Syafi qah Md Yusof, The L39 fi ghter jet belonged jib, though he has denied any a student representative, said at to the air force pilot training wrongdoing in the scandal that a press conference earlier this college near the crash site in Soldiers and rescuers are seen at the site of the crash, on a rice fi rst erupted over 1Malaysia De- week. coastal Phu Yen province, chief field in the outskirts of Tuy Hoa in the central province of Phu Yen. velopment Bhd (1MDB) last year. The students plan to gather at administrator of the provincial The planned protest in Kuala Kuala Lumpur’s Dataran Mer- people’s committee told AFP. of northern Nghe An province, Communist Vietnam has Lumpur comes at a time when deka, or Independence Square, Najib: has denied any wrongdoing in the 1MDB scandal. “During its training session, with only one of the pilots res- been keen to update its almost Najib has tightened his grip on defying warnings from the coun- the fi ghter jet crashed into the cued. exclusively Russian-made mili- the ruling party, and wielded try’s police chief to stay away into force, giving Najib sweeping society groups, including de- rice fi eld, killing the trainee pi- Days later, a military search tary hardware amid tensions draconian security and sedition from the square, where Najib security powers that some crit- mocracy watchdog Bersih 2.0., lot on board,” Ho Thi Nguyen plane deployed to fi nd the miss- with Beijing over disputed ter- laws to cow critics in the main- supporters also plan to hold a ics say could be used to disallow have voiced support for today’s Thao said. ing pilot lost contact and was ritory in the South China Sea. stream political opposition and counter-rally, raising the risk of protests. student protest. Though Vietnam’s civil- later found crashed with all nine It is increasingly looking to stifl e free speech by suspending clashes. The last time students held Tens of thousands of protest- ian aviation sector has a strong people on board dead. Western nations to buy military media groups and blogs. “Let this rally be the starting mass rallies was in 2014, when a ers joined a rally organised by safety record, there have been One of the worst accidents in equipment, including the Unit- Najib’s government was jolted point for us to reignite our spir- lecturer with the law faculty of Bersih last year, demanding Na- several recent accidents involv- recent years was in July 2014, ed States after President Barack in July, when US prosecutors fi led its,” the organisers said in a state- the University of Malaya (UM) – jib’s resignation over 1MDB. ing military aircraft. when 19 people were killed after Obama lifted a Cold War-era a number of civil lawsuits over ment yesterday. the country’s oldest university – Earlier this month, the group In June, a jet fi ghter carry- a Russian-made Mi-171 chop- ban on arms sales to the coun- money allegedly defrauded from Earlier this month, a new Na- was charged with sedition. said it plans another rally, but has ing two pilots crashed during per crashed in the capital Hanoi try during his visit to Vietnam 1MDB. tional Security Council Act came Opposition parties and civil still to say where and when. a training mission off the coast during a training exercise. in May. Gulf Times Saturday, August 27, 2016 7 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA

Hotels ‘ordered’ to block Reading of Nauru fi les at people from fi ve Aussie embassy planned countries By Amelia Hill, Guardian the event with seven other ty as is their right under interna- fi les revealed that children were In July that year, a child un- – many involving children – that Sydney members of the alliance. “We tional law,” said Nadine ElEnany, vastly over-represented in the der the age of 10 undressed and have never previously been dis- want everyone to hear these another alliance organiser. “We reports. invited adults to sexually abuse closed. Reuters documented incidents of abuse, have chosen to read the report More than half of the 2,116 re- her; in February 2015, a young The most damning evidence Beijing reading of more than self-harm, humiliation and out in front of Australia House ports – 1,086 incidents, or 51.3% girl gestured to her private parts emerges from the words of the 2,000 leaked incident squalor that is the everyday life because this narrative of abuse of the total – involve children, and said a male asylum-seeker staff working in the detention A reports from Australia’s for refugees on Nauru.” directly contradicts the image although children made up only “cut her from under”. centre themselves – the people olice have ordered some detention camp for asylum- “The duration, monotony and the Australian high commission about 18% of those in detention In the fi les, there are seven who compile the reports. low-end hotels in the seekers on the remote Pacifi c repetition entailed in the read- seeks to convey of Australia as on Nauru during the time cov- reports of sexual assault of These case workers, guards, PChinese metropolis of island of Nauru will be narrated ing of each fi le echoes the nor- a progressive nation and a de- ered by the reports, May 2013 to children, 59 reports of assault teachers and medical offi cers Guangzhou not to allow guests in a 10-hour protest outside the malisation of the violence and sirable destination for tourists, October 2015. on children, 30 of self-harm have been charged with caring from fi ve Muslim-majority Australian high commission in tedium endured by refugees in students, highly skilled workers The fi ndings came just weeks involving children and 159 of for hundreds of asylum-seekers countries to stay, though China’s London. indefi nite detention,” she said. and international investors.” after the brutal treatment of threatened self-harm involving on the island. foreign ministry said it had never Totalling more than 8,000 The Nauru fi les – the larg- “Nauru Files Reading embod- young people in juvenile deten- children. “The Australian government heard of the policy. pages, as published by the est cache of leaked documents ies the ongoing racist violence tion in the Northern Territory The fi les raise stark ques- detains refugees indefi nitely [on Three hotels with rooms cost- Guardian earlier this month, released from inside Australia’s that has defi ned the settler col- was exposed, leading to the Aus- tions about how information is these islands] as part of its off - ing about 150 yuan ($23) a night the personal accounts of sexual immigration regime – set out as ony of Australia since its incep- tralian prime minister, Malcolm reported on Nauru, one of Aus- shore detention policy designed told Reuters that they had re- abuse, torture and humiliation never before the assaults, sexual tion,” she added. Turnbull, announcing a wide- tralia’s two off shore detention to deter refugees from arriving in ceived police notices from as infl icted on children held by abuse, self-harm attempts, child The protests are timed to co- ranging public inquiry. centres for asylum-seekers who Australia by boat,” said ElEnany. early as March telling them to Australia in off shore detention abuse and living conditions en- incide with a national day of Some reports contain dis- arrive by boat. “More than 500 refugees are turn away people from Pakistan, will be narrated by members dured by asylum-seekers held by action in Australia, with events tressing examples of behaviour They highlight the ongoing detained on Nauru, including Syria, Iraq, Turkey and Afghani- of the International Alliance the Australian government. planned across the country to by traumatised children. risks to children and adults held many children.” stan. Against Mandatory Detention, The picture they paint is one demand that the government According to a report from on the island. “Refugees on Nauru are regu- “I’m not clear of the reason. which has organised the event. of routine dysfunction and de- immediately close the camps September 2014, a girl had sewn They show how the Austral- larly subjected to abuse, vio- We just can’t take them,” one “We want Australia to be in- liberate cruelty. on Nauru, Manus Island and her lips together. ian government has failed to lence, sexual assault and rape. hotel worker said by telephone. ternationally shamed,” said Sa- “These detainees must be set- Christmas Island. A guard saw her and began respond to warning signs and Self-harm and suicide attempts The notice appears only to ap- rah Keenan, who co-organised tled in the Australian communi- The Guardian’s analysis of the laughing at her. reveal sexual assault allegations are common,” she said. ply to cheaper hotels at the bot- tom of the price scale. All of the fi ve countries have been beset by terrorist attacks in the past few years, or in the case of Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, have been in states of war. Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post said yesterday that the rule appeared to be a secu- rity measure coinciding with a development forum being held in Guangzhou this week, and also ahead of next week’s G20 summit in Hangzhou, though the two cities are more than 1,000km (620 miles) apart. Foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said he was not aware that such an order had been is- sued in Guangzhou. “I’ve never heard that there is this policy being followed in China,” Lu told a daily news briefi ng. “Moreover, as far as China is concerned, our policy in principle is that we encour- age people from China and other countries to have friendly ex- This file photo taken on February 5 shows Assange as he comes changes and are willing to pro- out on the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy in London to vide various convenient policies address the media. in this regard.” The Guangzhou city govern- ment information offi ce and police in the southern city could not be reached for immediate Lawyer: Australia comment. Two high-end hotels told Re- uters that they had not been told they had to turn away guest from has done nothing the fi ve countries. Guangzhou is the capital of the GOTTA EAT THEM ALL! People line up to buy ‘Pokeburgs’ at Down N’ Out Burger restaurant in Sydney yesterday. export powerhouse province of Guangdong and is home to a size- to help Assange able foreign population, many of whom are traders from Africa. China has a Muslim popula- Restaurant launches Pokemon burgers DPA Assange is wanted by Swed- tion of its own, many of whom Sydney ish authorities for an interview live in the violence-prone far in relation to a suspected rape western region of Xinjiang Reuters from the blockbuster smart- Charmander or green Bulbasaur mented-reality game. in 2010, an allegation he has where the government says it Sydney phone game. burger. Pokemon Go, developed by lawyer and adviser to vehemently denied. faces a concerted campaign from Sydney’s Hashtag Burger and Staff said the Pikachu burger Niantic and an affi liate of Ja- WikiLeaks founder Ju- Barns said that if Assange Islamist extremists. its pop-up restaurant Down N’ with corn chip ears had proved pan’s Nintendo Co Ltd, sees Alian Assange said the leaves the London embassy China has also been courting Sydney restaurant is cap- Out Burgers are off ering 100 the most popular but the res- players walk around real-life Australian native’s govern- there is near certainty that he the Muslim world, and the oil- italising on an appetite ‘Pokeburgs’ a day until Septem- taurant had decided that cus- neighbourhoods to hunt down ment has done nothing for As- would be arrested and extra- rich Middle East in particular, Afor all things Pokemon ber 3, with long queues of peo- tomers couldn’t choose which virtual cartoon characters vis- sange despite repeated calls for dited to Sweden, from where he and has for many years also had Go by selling a limited number ple lining up yesterday to get a character they get, in line with ible only on their smartphone assistance to help the whistle- could be sent to the US for an close ties with Pakistan. of burgers based on characters taste of a yellow Pikachu, pink the surprise element of the aug- screens. blower out of years of legal and ongoing investigation in con- diplomatic troubles. nection with WikiLeaks’ pub- Assange, an Australian na- lication of secret diplomatic tional, has been holed up in- cables. side the Ecuadorean embassy Earlier this month, Sweden in London since June 2012, welcomed Ecuador’s decision Mum fi ghts kangaroo Statistics bureau chief expelled after he sought asylum follow- to allow Swedish prosecutors ing a legal battle he lost against to question Assange inside the extradition to Sweden to face embassy, but Barns said no to save her toddler AFP Senior Chinese general arrested for corruption allegations of rape. progress has been made to set Beijing Assange fears being taken to the date for the proceedings. A Chinese general has been arrested in China for violating party discipline, Sweden would clear the way “This has become a hu- DPA and scratches while sparring a Hong Kong newspaper cited two unnamed sources as saying, describing for him to be sent to the United man rights issue now. No one Sydney with the kangaroo. he “morally bankrupt” him as one of the most senior incumbent military off icials to be targeted in States, where he faces charges should have to be confi ned for A neighbour’s yell distracted former head of China’s Beijing’s crackdown on corruption. for publishing classifi ed gov- four years without any charge. the marsupial away from them. Tstatistics bureau, respon- Wang Jianping, 62, deputy chief of the joint staff department under the ernment material. It’s common decency,” Barns mother in northeast Mileah, who was knocked sible for calculating the coun- powerful Central Military Commission, was taken into custody in Chengdu “There is an inaction on our told DPA during an interview Australia wrestled a unconscious, was rushed to try’s economic fi gures, has been in southwestern Sichuan province, the South China Morning Post re- government’s part. We have in Sydney. “My view is that the Akangaroo to save her a local hospital where she re- expelled from the ruling Com- ported, citing one of the sources. made many attempts, but Australian government should two-year-old daughter after ceived 17 stitches to her chest. munist Party for actions includ- Wang’s wife and secretary were also detained, the newspaper said. there has been no response intervene on the grounds of she was attacked outside their Abejaron said the doctors ing “superstitious activities” and China’s defence ministry did not immediately reply to a fax seeking com- from Canberra. It’s almost like basic humanity.” home, it was reported yester- had told her that Mileah’s scars “insatiably” trading power for ment on the newspaper report. this is not an issue for Aus- A UN panel of independent day. would likely remain for life. sex, a watchdog said yesterday. tralia,” Greg Barns, a lawyer legal scholars has said Assange “The kangaroo was about the “One side of her face is Wang Baoan headed the Na- and adviser to Assange, said has been subject to arbitrary same size as me, and I thought scraped and across her body, tional Bureau of Statistics until Questions have repeatedly strict admonitions against pub- yesterday. “The high commis- detention since his arrest in I could take it on. But it was she just has razor-like marks. January, when an inquiry into been raised about the accuracy licly breaking party discipline. sion in London has not reached London in 2010. really strong,” Argie Abejaron There are some marks on her him was announced hours after of offi cial Chinese economic sta- The CCDI statement said out to assist Assange even once A spokesperson for the Aus- told local Queensland newspa- neck too,” Abejaron said, add- he spoke at a press conference in tistics, which critics say can be Wang was “morally bankrupt” ... and there is a great hostility tralian Department of Foreign per the Fraser Coast Chronicle. ing she hoped Mileah would Beijing on China’s economy. subject to political manipulation. and that his off ences included against him among the foreign Aff airs said the government The incident took place on not remember the attack. In a statement on its website, Wang is among the latest of- frequenting hotels, indulging in and defence offi cials here be- “stands ready to provide ap- Tuesday. Mother and daughter have the ruling party’s Central Com- fi cials to fall to the much-publi- expensive entertainment, and cause of what he revealed.” propriate consular assistance She said she ran outside their been released from the hospi- mission for Discipline Inspection cised anti-corruption drive un- exploiting his position for sex. Barns said that Australia had to Mr Assange”. Point Vernon home when she tal, but the family has avoided (CCDI), its internal anti-corrup- der General Secretary Xi Jinping, “Wang accepted gifts and doggedly followed cases of its “Mr Assange has not taken heard her older son scream returning to their home. tion watchdog, said that it had although critics say it can be used money and used his infl uence to citizens in mix-ups in other up the Australian govern- and saw her two-year-old A wildlife ranger, who visited found Wang “completely lacks for internal faction-fi ghting, seek benefi ts and business con- countries, including China and ment’s repeated off ers of con- daughter, Mileah, pinned to the the area to assess the situation, political beliefs”. with its highest-profi le victim veniences for relatives and oth- Indonesia. sular assistance, which remain ground by the animal. counted 93 kangaroos sur- He had “chronically engaged the once hugely powerful securi- ers, and is suspected of having “The reluctance comes from open,” the offi cial said in an e- “I kicked and wrestled the rounding the house. in superstitious activities, seri- ty chief Zhou Yongkang, who was committed bribery,” it said. not wanting to upset their big- mail statement yesterday. kangaroo, it tried to grab me “Allowing for the building of ously violated political discipline sentenced to life in prison. The party decided to expel gest allies: the United Kingdom The authorities did not re- but I didn’t have anything it houses on their habitat is forc- and political rules, and in major The anti-graft campaign has Wang due to his “serious viola- and the United States. When it spond to specifi c questions could hold on to,” Aberjaron ing human and wildlife inter- issues has expressed views con- been accompanied by an expan- tions” of party discipline, it said, comes to foreign policy stance, about the allegations of gov- said. action,” Chad, Mileah’s father, trary to the CPC Central Com- sion of the rules governing ap- adding that his case would be Australia is joined to the hips ernment inaction in trying to The mother suff ered bruises told the paper. mittee”, it said. paratchiks’ behaviour, including sent to judicial authorities. with Washington.” free Assange. Gulf Times 8 Saturday, August 27, 2016 BRITAIN

All steamed up Virgin boss injured in bike accident

AFP The bike fell off a cliff in the London accident. Branson said he had travelled to Miami for hospital scans but ritish billionaire Richard would still be able to take part Branson said yesterday next month in the biking, hiking Bhe thought he was going and running Virgin Strive Chal- to die in a biking accident in the lenge that he was training for. British Virgin Islands earlier Branson has set a series this week in which he injured of aviation and nautical ad- his cheek and tore some liga- venture records, although he ments. failed, despite numerous at- Virgin boss Branson, who tempts, to become the fi rst has built a vast business em- person to circumnavigate the pire and is known for his dare- globe non-stop in a balloon. devil stunts, said the accident These exploits brought happened when he was cycling Branson close to tragedy in with his children, Holly and 1998 when he and his co-pilot Sam, and hit a bump on a road had to ditch their balloon in the on the Caribbean island of Vir- Pacifi c Ocean after low pres- gin Gorda. sure forced the craft down. “The next thing I knew, I was His Virgin Galactic space being hurled over the handle- tourism venture suff ered a set- bars and my life was literally back in 2014 when a fatal explo- fl ashing before my eyes,” the sion brought down its Space- 66-year-old wrote in a blog ShipTwo, killing its co-pilot. post, accompanied by graphic Branson is known as a cam- photos showing his injuries. paigner for drug law reforms “I really thought I was going and a string of environmental to die,” he said, adding that the initiatives. helmet he was wearing prob- He was also a key voice in fa- ably saved his life. vour of staying in the EU.

Steampunk enthusiast attends the first day of ‘The Asylum Steampunk Festival’ in Lincoln, northern England. The four-day alternative lifestyle festival is the largest and longest running steampunk festival in the World; combining art, literature, music, fashion and comedy. Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction or science fantasy that incorporates technology and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery. Bomb squad called after fi ve arrested

Reuters the operation. Police said two London men, aged 32 and 37, were ar- rested in the Stoke area of Staf- fordshire while three others, Labour meet security n army bomb disposal aged 18, 24 and 28 were ar- team was deployed to rested in Birmingham, Britain’s Aan area in Birmingham, second-biggest city. central England, yesterday af- “Police are searching a ter police arrested fi ve men on number of properties in the suspicion of preparing acts of Stoke and Birmingham areas as terrorism. part of the investigation; these stand-off resolved The West Midlands police searches are ongoing,” they force said as a result of one of said in a statement. Labour is facing controversy at Liverpool, north west England, on Sep- More recently, however, it had appeared to undermine Corbyn were motivated by the arrests, an army bomb dis- “The arrests were intelli- every turn tember 25, the day after the leadership to put the problems behind it. his support for renationalising the rail- posal team had been called in gence-led and part of an ongo- contest result reveals whether veteran A spokesman for the Labour Party said ways. as a precautionary measure to ing investigation.” Reuters left-wing party leader Jeremy Corbyn has it did not comment on commercial ar- But far from shunning the company, La- the Lee Bank area of Birming- Britain is on its second- London clung on to his job. rangements. bour has done a deal with Virgin to give its ham. highest alert level of “severe”, Large security barriers and airport-style The GMB trade union, which represents members a 20% discount on Virgin train The Fire Brigade said it had meaning an attack is consid- scanners are usually placed around po- security industry workers, has objected to tickets to Liverpool during the party an- been assisting the police with ered highly likely. ritain’s opposition Labour Party said litical party conference venues to protect the use of security provider Showsec, say- nual conference in the city. yesterday it had found a new secu- politicians and delegates. ing it had refused to sign a union recogni- In the latest twist to the traingate saga, Brity company to guard its confer- In 1984, the Conservative Party con- tion agreement. Labour said it had “teamed up with Virgin ence, avoiding an embarrassing confron- ference was bombed by Irish Republican The GMB has threatened to picket the Trains to off er an exclusive discount on rail tation with a union that had objected to militants. conference if Showsec is chosen. travel to all attendees of Annaul Confer- the previous fi rm and threatened to picket Earlier a potential replacement, G4S, The union, which describes itself as the ence 2016”.For its part Virgin said: “La- Three charged with the event. has declined a last-minute request to step third-largest affi liated to Labour, has do- bour’s annual conference is one of the high Labour, already in the throes of a divi- into the breach. nated more than £1mn ($1.3mn)to the par- profi le political events in Europe. sive leadership contest, had faced a stand- Labour’s National Executive Commit- ty this year, according to electoral com- Attracting over 10,000 people it’s the selling ‘horsemeat’ off with the GMB union, traditionally one tee voted last year to boycott long-term mission data. ideal place to network, share great ideas of its biggest supporters. conference security provider G4S over its A Labour Party source said the confer- and an opportunity to mingle with like- GMB, which represents security indus- links to Israeli prisons, but the company ence would still take place and security minded people.” Reuters tion Service (CPS) said Ulrik try workers, had objected to the use of said it had yesterday been asked by the contract negotiations were ongoing. It even suggested that party delegates, London Nielsen, Alex Ostler-Beech security provider Showsec, saying it had party to step in. Large security barriers and airport-style who took up the off er, would get a seat on and Andronicos Sideras are ac- refused to sign a union recognition agree- “This is a large, complex event, which scanners are usually placed around po- the trains. cused of conspiring together ment. we would ordinarily plan up to a year in ad- litical party conference venues to protect It said: “With regular trains from Lon- hree men have been and with others to sell as beef Labour general secretary Iain McNicol vance,” Eric Alexander, managing director politicians and delegates. don Euston, we can get you straight to charged with fraud for a mixture of what was in fact said in a statement yesterday afternoon for G4S Events (UK), said in a statement. While Jeremy Corbyn has been engaged Liverpool in just 2hrs 14mins, giving you Tallegedly selling horse- horsemeat and beef. the party had reached an agreement with “Our team of more than 100 security in a public spat with Virgin Trains, it has the time to put your feet up or make those meat as beef in Britain in 2012, The charges relate to activities another fi rm, OCS Group, provider of se- staff has secured the Labour Party’s an- now emerged that his party has “teamed last-minute preparations. prosecutors said yesterday. between January and October of curity to venues such as the Oval cricket nual conference for over 20 years... up” with the company to off er discount Our trains will deliver you to the heart Eating horsemeat is cultur- 2012 and follow an investigation ground in London. Clearly we were disappointed not to tickets to Labour’s annual conference in of Liverpool arriving fresh and prepared.” ally taboo in Britain and in 2013 by City of London Police. Showsec said it had decided to with- continue such a successful working rela- Liverpool next month. Earlier this week Corbyn campaign di- the country’s food industry “After carefully consider- draw its services in the interest of its staff tionship. On Tuesday Virgin Trains denied that rector Sam Tarry said that by highlight- was rocked by scandal when it ing evidence from the UK and after seeing the tone of the union com- Safety for delegates and our staff is our Corbyn was forced to sit on the fl oor of ing the row on his Twitter feed Branson emerged that horsemeat was overseas, the CPS has decided ments. “Showsec are not anti-unionist,” priority and at this late stage and with our what he claimed was a “packed” train from had helped fuel the public’s desire to bring being sold in some imported that there is suffi cient evidence the company said on its website, noting teams committed elsewhere, we are not in London to Newcastle on his way to a La- back the railways into public ownership. beef products. to provide a realistic prospect it had a long-running partnership agree- a position to step in.” bour leadership debate in Gateshead. He also described Branson as a “tax ex- Investigations at the time of conviction and it is in the ment with GMB relating to many of its G4S, the world’s largest security com- When the company questioned Cor- ile” who was “laughing all the way to the found that companies including public interest to charge these staff . pany, has been involved in a string of con- byn’s integrity by issuing CCTV images of bank”. Asked about the Labour deal with Britain’s biggest supermarket three men,” the CPS said a There was no immediate comment from troversies in Britain, including failing to empty seats on the train, some of the La- Virgin, Tarry told the Guardian he was not Tesco and fast-food chain Burg- statement. the union on whether the new arrange- supply enough staff for the 2012 London bour leader’s supporters called for a boy- aware of it. er King were selling beef prod- They will appear at City of ment was acceptable. Olympics and overcharging the govern- cott of Virgin’s products and services. He added: “I’m not an offi cial for the ucts that contained horsemeat. London Magistrates Court on Labour is due to begin its conference in ment in a contract to tag criminals. Others suggested that Virgin’s attempt Labour party, I’m for Jeremy’s campaign.” The Crown Prosecu- September 27.

Searching for history along the Thames

Reuters London

torch on his head, Jason Sandy scours the nighttime London foreshores of the AThames river, searching for objects that could off er a glimpse of life in the British capital hundreds of years ago. As the occasional party boat passes by, its music blasting and lights fl ashing, the 42-year- old architect only has a few hours while the tide is low to make his fi nds. Pipes dating from 1580 to 1900 and Tudor coins which have been excavated from the River Sandy has been mudlarking for a hobby for Thames by mudlark Jason Sandy are displayed at his home in London. the last fi ve years, scouring the river banks for historical artefacts. Some of his fi nds are so rare searched the Thames’ shores for items to sell. which a permit from the Port of London Author- they are displayed in museums. These days, history and archaeology fans are ity is needed. Digging also requires consent. “Over 2,000 years of time, everything has been the ones hoping to fi nd old relics such as coins, The select Society of Thames Mudlarks thrown into the Thames, accidentally lost... ceramics, artefacts or everyday items from counts just a few dozen members, who have the dropped so 2,000 years of history are down across centuries. necessary licences and can access restricted ar- there,” he said. They wait for the low tide and then scour spe- eas along the river. “It’s really the thrill of almost like time trav- cifi c areas of exposed shores. Collaborating with the Museum of London, elling and knowing that the last person to touch “If you’re in a fi eld you could be out all day the mudlarks record their fi nds with the Port- this was from that time period,” he added, de- long, with the river you’re restricted to about able Antiquities Scheme. scribing the feeling of making a fi nd. two or three hours,” mudlark Nick Stevens said. Any item over 300 years old must be recorded. Sandy, originally from Chicago, has found “Unlike fi shing where there’s one of 10 fi sh that “It’s quite exciting to go down to a part of numerous artefacts like a Tudor comb, Victo- you’re likely to catch, with mudlarking there is London that is only accessible for a very short rian toothbrush and a Roman women’s hair pin, an infi nite amount of variety in terms of what amount of time,” Sandy said. which the Museum of London dated to AD 43. you could fi nd.” “Thousands of years of London’s history Mudlarking is believed to trace its origins While many just use the naked eye for their is still waiting to be discovered there on the to the 18th and 19th century, when scavengers searches, others rely on metal detectors for Thames foreshore.” A mudlark uses a torch to look for objects under London Bridge on the bank of the River Thames. Gulf Times Saturday, August 27, 2016 9 EUROPE Eastern European Union leaders call for joint army

AFP in Warsaw is part of a string of in the areas of security and de- However, the concept of a The Kremlin’s sabre-rattling highly controversial issue on the leaders in the area of technol- Warsaw meetings among various groups fence,” she said. common army is a thorny issue in the Baltic region has also agenda, with eastern members ogy. We want to off er well-paid of countries ahead of a summit “Brexit is not just any event, within the European Union (EU). spooked Nato and EU members the Czech Republic, Hungary, jobs. We have a lot to do,” Merkel on the EU’s future following the it’s a breaking point in the his- All fi ve EU countries at yes- there. Poland and Slovakia refusing to added. astern EU countries pushed June 23 British referendum. tory of EU so we need to work out terday’s Warsaw talks are also EU leaders from 27 states meet take in refugees under an EU- Yesterday Poland urged lead- yesterday for the bloc to Leftist Czech Premier Bo- a very careful response,” Merkel members of the 28-member Nato on September 16 in the Slovak wide quota system championed ers to focus on economic growth Ecreate a joint army as they huslav Sobotka, for his part, said added, according to the offi cial Western defence alliance. capital of Bratislava for an infor- by Berlin. and address a perceived lack of met Germany for talks on sketch- that “we should also begin a dis- English translation of her words. However, six of the EU’s 27 mal summit that will go ahead Merkel insisted yesterday that democracy in European institu- ing Europe’s post-Brexit future. cussion about creating a com- In an early response to Brit- post-Brexit membership do not without Britain. remaining members must fo- tions. “We must prioritise security, mon European army”. ain’s shock vote to exit the EU, belong to Nato: Austria, Cyprus, Talks are likely to be challeng- cus on strengthening the bloc Right-wing Prime Minister and let’s start by building a com- German Chancellor Angela Poland’s powerful right-wing Finland, Ireland, Malta and Swe- ing as Berlin’s preferred vision through boosting the economy Beata Szydlo urged “reforms mon European army,” Hunga- Merkel also supported the idea of leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski called den. of a centralised, federal Europe and “fi nding common ground” that Europeans expect allowing ry’s right-wing prime minister, stronger security but urged cau- for EU institutional reforms that EU and Nato ties with Rus- clashes with proposals for a con- despite divisions over issues like the European Union to become a Viktor Orban, said at talks with tion on how plans were translat- would forge a confederation of sia plunged to their lowest point federation of nation states popu- migration policy. stronger, development-oriented Czech, German, Polish and Slo- ed into acts. nation states under a president since the Cold War after Mos- lar among leaders of eastern EU “People will only accept Eu- EU – but above all for Europeans vak leaders. “Security is a fundamental is- in charge of a powerful common cow’s 2014 annexation of the members. rope if it will ensure their (eco- to feel they are in charge of the The fi ve-nation gathering sue ... we can do more together military. Crimean peninsula from Ukraine. Migration policy is another nomic) well-being. We must be European Union”.

Appeal case over Breivik’s Italy quake toll hits 278 Reuters so long that the sun never rises Pescara del Tronto, Italy again. I am convinced that Ama- ‘inhuman’ trice will rise again. We owe it to the (218) people who died here.” opes of fi nding more Prime Minister Matteo Renzi treatment survivors from Italy’s has declared a state of emergen- Hpowerful earthquake cy for the region, allowing the faded yesterday with the death government to release an im- in January toll rising to 278 and the rescue mediate €50mn ($56mn) for the operation in some of the stricken relief work. areas called off . He has promised to rebuild AFP Three days after the quake the shattered homes and said Oslo struck the mountainous heart he would also renew eff orts to of the country, sniff er dogs and bolster Italy’s fl imsy defences emergency crews continued against earthquakes that regu- orway’s appeal against to scour the town of Amatrice, larly batter the country. being found guilty of which was levelled in the disas- “We want those communities Nsubjecting mass mur- ter, but there was no sign of life to have the chance of a future derer Anders Behring Breivik to beneath the debris. and not just memories,” he told “inhuman” treatment by keep- “Only a miracle can bring our reporters in Rome on Thursday. ing him in solitary confi nement, friends back alive from the rub- Italy has a poor record of re- will go to court in January, judi- ble, but we are still digging be- building after quakes. cial offi cials said yesterday. cause many are missing,” town About 8,300 people who were In an April 20 verdict that mayor Sergio Pirozzi told re- forced to leave their homes after stunned observers, the Oslo dis- porters, saying, around 15 peo- a deadly earthquake in L’Aquila trict court found Norway guilty ple, including some children, in 2009 are still living in tempo- of violating the European Con- had not been accounted for. rary accommodation. vention on Human Rights by In nearby villages, such as Insurance association ANIA keeping the right-wing extrem- Pescara del Tronto, rescuers estimates that less than 1% of ist in isolation. pulled out after all the inhabit- Italy’s 33mn homes have private Breivik, who is serving a 21- ants had been accounted for. quake coverage, meaning the bill year sentence for killing 77 peo- Italy plans to hold a state fu- for insurance companies was ple in a gun and bomb rampage neral for around 40 of the vic- likely to be low. in July 2011, has now been held tims today, which will be held in That means that the recon- apart from other inmates for the nearby city of Ascoli Piceno. struction bill will have to be paid more than fi ve years. A day of national mourning by the heavily indebted state. He enjoys comfortable con- was announced, with fl ags due A drone photo shows quake damage in Saletta, central Italy. Infrastructure Minister ditions at the Skien Prison, to fl y at half-mast around the Graziano Delrio said yesterday with three cells at his disposal country for the dead, who in- Salvatore Petrucci, 77, who came ings scattered in the debris. were struggling to pin down how Later in the day, a funeral that he did not think rebuild- equipped with two showers, as clude a number of foreigners. from the nearby hamlet of Tris- “We have removed the last many visitors were present when service for six other victims, in- ing costs would reach the €14bn well as two televisions, an Xbox, The civil protection depart- unga. “We may be the last ones bodies that we knew about,” said the quake hit. cluding an eight-year-old boy earmarked for L’Aquila. a Playstation, books and news- ment in Rome said 388 people to have lived in Trisunga.” Paolo Cortelli, a member of the The Romanian foreign minis- and two girls aged 14 and 15, Most of the buildings in the papers. were being treated for injuries in More than 1,050 aftershocks Alpine Rescue national service try said that 17 Romanians were was held in their hometown of Amatrice area were built hun- But he testifi ed that his isola- hospitals, and 40 of them were have hit the area since the 6.2 who assisted in the recovery of still missing. Pomezia, south of Rome. dreds of years ago, long before tion regime was having nega- in critical condition. magnitude quake early on about 30 corpses from Pescara Italy has a large Romanian Offi cials said 181 of the vic- any anti-seismic building norms tive eff ects on his health, citing An estimated 2,500 people Wednesday, bringing fresh dam- del Tronto. community, and some of the tims had been identifi ed, in- were introduced, helping to ex- headaches and concentration were left homeless by the most age to structures still standing. “We don’t know, and we victims were residents in the cluding at least 21 children. The plain the widespread destruc- diffi culties. deadly quake in Italy since 2009. These included a bridge lead- might never know, if the number country. youngest was just 5-1/2 months tion. The state has appealed against Survivors with nowhere else ing to Amatrice, which had to be of missing that we knew about The fi rst funeral of a victim old. The eldest was 93. Cultural Minister Dario the ruling. to go are sleeping in neat rows closed yesterday, further com- actually corresponds to the peo- was held in Rome yesterday for Hardly a single building was Franceschini said all 293 cul- The appeal case was initially of blue tents set up close to their plicating the rescue operation. ple who were actually under the Marco Santarelli, the 28-year- left unscathed in Amatrice, turally important sites had ei- scheduled to begin on Novem- fl attened communities. The original quake was so rubble.” old son of a senior state offi cial, which was last year voted one of ther collapsed or been seriously ber 29 but Breivik’s lawyer, Oys- The government has promised strong that the town nearest the The foreigners who died in the who died in the family’s holiday the most beautiful old towns in damaged. tein Storrvik, was unavailable at to rebuild the region, but some epicentre, Accumoli, sank by disaster included six Romani- home in Amatrice. Italy and is famous for its local Italy sits on two fault lines, that date because of a prior case local people feared that would 20cm (7.87”), according to Ita- ans, a Spanish woman, a Cana- “I cannot fi nd the words to cuisine. making it one of the most seis- commitment. never happen. ly’s geological institute. dian and an Albanian. describe the grief of a father who “Amatrice will have to be mically active countries in Eu- The decision to delay the ap- “I’m afraid our village and Yesterday most of the outly- Three British holidaymakers, outlives his own children. Per- razed to the ground,” said mayor rope. peal case until January was others like it will just die. Most ing communities were empty, including a 14-year-old boy, also haps there are no words,” Mar- Pirozzi, who urged youngsters Almost 30 people died in therefore taken “for practical people don’t live here year round buildings lying in crumpled died. co’s father, Filippo Santarelli, not to leave the area, saying that earthquakes in northern Italy in reasons”, Appeals Court director anyway. In the winter time the mounds, the innards of homes The area is popular with va- told Corriere della Sera newspa- would mean the end of their 2012 while more than 300 died in Mari Fjaertoft Trondsen said. towns are virtually empty,” said exposed to the skies and belong- cationers and local authorities per. community. “No night can last the L’Aquila disaster. Breivik, now a self-pro- claimed Nazi, killed eight people in a bombing outside a govern- ment building in Oslo and then gunned down another 69, most of them teenagers, during a ram- 11 police killed in PKK suicide bombing page at a Labour Youth camp on Utoya island on July 22, 2011. During the lower court hear- AFP against Islamic State (IS) group place 50m from the building, at a tacks since a two-and-a-half ing, Breivik aired a long list of Istanbul but also a Syrian Kurdish militia control post. year truce collapsed in July 2015, complaints about his prison detested by Ankara. The PKK said it carried out leaving hundreds of police offi c- conditions, ranging from cold The blast tore the facade off the assault in retaliation for the ers and soldiers dead. coff ee and food to his restricted he outlawed Kurdistan the headquarters of the Turkish “continued isolation” of the Turkey’s operation in Syria contact with the outside world. Workers’ Party (PKK) has riot police in the town of Cizre, group’s jailed leader Abdullah aims to push both IS and the Norway was found guilty of Tclaimed a suicide truck a bastion of PKK support just Ocalan and the “lack of informa- Kurdish People’s Protection violating Article 3 of the Euro- bombing on a police building in north of the Syrian border. tion” about his welfare. Units (YPG) militia that is fi ght- pean Convention on “inhuman” Turkey’s southeast that killed The local governor’s offi ce said Cizre, a majority Kurdish ing the Islamist militants out of and “degrading” treatment. 11 offi cers and wounded dozens 11 offi cers were killed and 78 peo- town, has been badly hit by re- the border region. But the court ruled that prison more. ple injured. newed violence between the PKK Ankara considers the YPG, authorities had not violated his The blast came two days after Four people were said to be in and government forces since the which has links to the PKK, as a right to correspondence, guar- the Turkish army launched an critical condition. collapse of a ceasefi re last year. terror group bent on carving out anteed by Article 8 of the con- Smoke rises from damaged police headquarters after the suicide off ensive in Syria that the gov- The state-run Anadolu news Turkish security forces have an autonomous Kurdish region vention. truck bombing in Cizre. ernment says is not only aimed agency said the explosion took been hit by near daily PKK at- on Turkey’s border. France’s top court suspends town’s burqini ban

AFP The court said that local au- Police have fi ned women for “French authorities must now ments from the Human Rights swimsuit she was wearing under Nice on July 14, are not suffi cient Paris thorities could only introduce wearing burqinis on beaches in drop the pretence that these League and an anti-Islamopho- her top, over a pair of leggings, to legally justify a ban.” measures restricting individual several towns, including in the measures do anything to protect bia group (CCIF). when the picture was taken. Ange-Pierre Vivoni, the mayor freedoms if wearing the Islamic popular tourist resorts of Nice the rights of women,” Amnesty’s A court in Nice had upheld The administrative court in of the small Corsican town of rance’s highest administra- swimsuit on beaches represented and Cannes, sparking controver- Europe director John Dalhuisen the Villeneuve-Loubet ban this Nice said on Monday that the Sisco, said that he would keep tive court yesterday sus- a “proven risk” to public order. sy in France and abroad. said. “These bans do nothing to week. Villeneuve-Loubet ban was the ban in place because the issue Fpended a ban on the burqini The judges said that there The mayor of one town in Cor- increase public safety but do a lot Anger over the issue was fur- “necessary” to prevent “public had sparked a violent beachfront (also spelled burkini) by a French was no such risk in the case be- sica said he would keep his ban in to promote public humiliation.” ther infl amed this week when disorder” after the Nice attack brawl earlier this month. Riviera town after it was chal- fore the court concerning Vil- place in defi ance of the ruling. CFCM secretary general Ab- photographs in the British me- and the murder 12 days later of a “I introduced the ban for the lenged by rights groups. leneuve-Loubet, a resort on the The bans have triggered a fi erce dallah Zekri said: “This victory dia showed police surrounding a Catholic priest by two Islamist safety of property and people in In a judgment expected to Cote d’Azur between Nice and debate about women’s rights and for common sense will help to woman in a headscarf on a beach militants in northern France. the town because I risked having lead to bans being overturned Cannes. the French state’s strictly-guard- take the tension out of a situation in Nice. But in its ruling, the State deaths on my hands,” he said. in around 30 towns, the State The French Council of the ed secularism. which has become very tense for The mayor’s offi ce denied Council said: “In the absence of The vague wording of the pro- Council ruled the measure was a Muslim Faith (CFCM) hailed the Amnesty International said our Muslim compatriots, espe- the woman had been forced to such risks, the emotion and the hibitions, which never mention “serious and clearly illegal viola- ruling as a “victory for common the decision had “drawn an im- cially women.” remove clothing, telling AFP concerns arising from terrorist the word burqini, has caused tion of fundamental freedoms”. sense”. portant line in the sand”. The State Council heard argu- that she was showing police the attacks, especially the attack in confusion. Gulf Times 10 Saturday, August 27, 2016 INDIA Floods raise risk of kids being sold into slavery

Thomson Reuters caused by global warming Foundation leave the already poor even New Delhi more vulnerable. The breakdown of social in- stitutions in devastated areas omen and children creates diffi culties in securing in India’s fl ood-hit food and humanitarian sup- Weastern region are plies, leaving women and chil- at risk of being preyed upon dren at risk of kidnapping, sex- by human traffi ckers and sold ual exploitation and traffi cking. into slavery in middle class Government offi cials in Bihar homes, restaurants and shops, said they were aware of the risk and even brothels, aid workers of exploitation and were work- warned yesterday. ing with charities such as Save A protester throws back a teargas shell fired by the Indian police during a protest in Srinagar. Heavy monsoon rains have The Children, ActionAid and caused rivers including the the UN children’s agency Unicef Ganges and its tributaries to to curb instances of traffi cking. burst their banks, forcing more “Before the current fl oods, than 200,000 people into relief we had held meetings early this camps in the states of Bihar, Ut- month on the issue of human tar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, traffi cking,” said Imamudin Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. Ahmad, Director of Bihar’s so- The deluge has killed at least cial welfare department. Mehbooba fl ies to Delhi for “We are sensitising people 300 people, submerged thou- sands of mud-and-brick villag- and are involving everyone in- es and destroyed large swathes cluding the police department, of farmland — aff ecting millions labour department and social of people across the fi ve states. welfare departments.” Charities working in the worst Offi cials added that authori- talks as unrest continues aff ected regions of Bihar and Ut- ties were also checking trains, tar Pradesh said traffi cking was often used to transport victims, The chief minister was summoned tell Mehbooba,” one of the sources said. in other clashes across the valley after the tion but made it clear that “the intended widespread in the aftermath of originating from impoverished to Delhi after Home Minister Rajnath The source said state and central intel- Friday prayers. result at the issue is early vacation by Pa- previous disasters in the region, districts where children labour Singh’s two-day visit to the valley, ligence agencies have prepared a list of The security restrictions were tightened kistan of its illegal occupation”. such as last year’s earthquake in is commonly sourced. according to sources around 170 ringleaders, found inciting the yesterday amid apprehensions that sepa- “I would like to confi rm that the foreign neighbouring Nepal and fl oods unrest and provoking people to take to the ratist leaders may stoke further trouble. secretary has indeed responded to his Pa- in Bihar in 2008. Thousands of children are IANS streets and throw stones at security forces. They had asked people to gather in Eidgah kistani counterpart’s letter of August 19 “Children are always the taken to cities every year New Delhi Most of these ringleaders are from south prayer grounds for a pro-freedom protest regarding Jammu and Kashmir. most vulnerable during emer- by gangs who sell them Kashmir, the bastion of Mehbooba’s Peo- rally in the heart of the volatile old Srina- In his letter dated August 24, the foreign gencies — especially during into bonded labour ples Democratic Party. gar city. secretary has conveyed (to Pakistan) that fl oods, when families are forced hief Minister Mehbooba Mufti fl ew Jammu and Kashmir police have “not But the government thwarted the pro- India seeks a result-oriented dialogue on to move to higher ground, With schools destroyed to New Delhi yesterday evening for acted and the alleged troublemakers are test march to the sprawling prayer ground. the subject,” Swarup said. leaving their homes for an ex- or shut down, aid agencies Ctalks with Prime Minister Narendra roaming about free”, the source claimed, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who heads the Swarup said foreign secretary Jais- tended period of time,” said said they were creating “child Modi as the Kashmir Valley remained on adding that the chief minister was being Hurriyat Conference, was held outside his hankar has reiterated that the basis of Thomas Chandy, CEO of Save friendly spaces” to give chil- the boil with one more civilian killed in fi r- pressurised to crack down on them. upscale Hyderpora residence as he defi ed re- further discussions would be the Shimla the Children India. dren a safe environment to play, ing by security forces. As Mehbooba jetted off to Delhi, one strictions and attempted to march to Eidgah. Agreement of 1972, the Lahore Declaration “While a child’s parents may learn and be with their families. Government sources in Delhi and Sri- more civilian died after security forces The moderate Hurriyat chairman, Mir- of 1999 and the joint statement of 2004. not always remain in their close “The company of others, nagar told IANS that the meeting between opened fi re in south Kashmir’s Pulwama waiz Umar Farooq, was also arrested near “The foreign secretary has made it ex- proximity, and with the pres- along with trained facilitators, Modi and Mehbooba was scheduled to take district. This took the death toll in the on- his Nigeen house. Both the separatist plicit that the agenda before India and Pa- ence of strangers, the threat of ensures that children are able place this morning at his offi cial 7 Race going unrest to 70. leaders were briefl y detained at police sta- kistan today is to put an end to ‘cross-bor- sexual abuse and child traffi ck- to discuss their challenges and Course residence. More than 7,000 civilians and 4,000 se- tions near their houses. der terrorism’ and incitement to violence,” ing is high. There are organised reduce their anxiety,” said Ra- The sources said the chief minister was curity personnel have been injured during Meanwhile, the ministry of external af- the MEA spokesman said. groups of off enders who are fay Hussain, General Manager summoned to Delhi after Home Minister the unrest – the deadliest the valley has fairs (MEA) has said India is ready to en- India also reiterated that Pakistan must quick to seize opportunities to for Save the Children in Bihar. Rajnath Singh’s two-day visit to the valley. suff ered in six years. gage with Pakistan for a “result-oriented heed international opinion and extradite exploit the plight of children.” “From our experience, we They said the home minister had asked Police said Shakeel Ahmad Ganai, 22, was dialogue” that seeks to end what he called Dawood Ibrahim. South Asia is the fastest- have seen that children need the the chief minister to act tough against and killed after he sustained bullet injuries in a “cross-border terrorism”. The spokesman cited the confi rmation growing and second-largest company of their parents, family round up those perpetrating a deadly civil- clash with the security forces in Haal village. Responding to a query about the Indian by United Nations about six of the nine region for human traffi cking in and friends during such crises — ian unrest triggered by the July 8 killing of A doctor at the sub-district hospital at foreign secretary’s response to Pakistan’s addresses of Dawood Ibrahim provided by the world, after East Asia, ac- and every eff ort should be made Hizbul commander Burhan Wani. Pulwama said Ganai had been hit by a bul- invitation for talks, MEA spokesperson India. cording to the United Nations to ensure that they do remain in “Rajnath Singh carried the same mes- let that pierced through his heart. Vikas Swarup said foreign secretary S Jais- “We hope Pakistan will heed interna- Offi ce for Drugs and Crime. such company, for their safety sage and that is what Modi is expected to Some three dozen people were injured hankar did respond to Pakistan’s invita- tional opinion on this issue,” he said. India alone is home 40% of and overall well-being.” the world’s estimated 45.8mn India usually experiences slaves, according to a 2016 glo- monsoons from June to Sep- bal slavery index published by tember which are crucial for the Australia-based Walk Free its agriculture sector, making Foundation. up 18% of its gross domestic Pravasi Bharatiya Divas to be held in Bengaluru from January 7 Thousands of children, product and employing almost mostly from poor rural areas, half the country’s 1.3bn people. are taken to cities every year But in many states the rains IANS press conference that format of the an- The main function of the event will be expecting around 3,000 people and the by gangs who sell them into frequently cause landslides and New Delhi nual function has been changed and the on January 9 that would see a participa- actual number may go up,” she said. bonded labour or hire them out fl ooding that wash away crops, event will now be “result-oriented” in- tive session with the diaspora. The participants can withdraw with full to unscrupulous employers. demolish homes and devastate stead of a cultural function. There would also be a Youth PBD on refunds by December 7 this year, the min- Many end up as domestic livelihoods — pushing already he 14th edition of Pravasi Bharatiya “The format has been changed. The January 7. ister said. workers or labourers in brick impoverished families to brink. Divas (PBD) will be held in Ben- event will now be result-oriented,” she said. Sushma Swaraj said that Prime Minis- Karanataka Chief Minister Siddaramai- kilns, roadside restaurants or The fl oods in Bihar this year Tgaluru from January 7 to 9, 2017, The participants can register them- ter Narendra Modi’s fervent engagement ah said his state was keen to host the event small textile and embroidery have killed at least 130 people. and around 3,000 people are likely to par- selves through the portal that also gives with the Indian diaspora has had an im- and was preparing to make it “a huge suc- workshops. Many women and Almost 1mn people across ticipate in the event, it was announced all the information and details about the pact and the number of participants in cess”. girls are sold into brothels. 24 of Bihar’s 38 districts have yesterday. event. this year’s event has gone up. Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated in Experts say post-disaster been evacuated from their Launching a new logo and a portal for The registration fee has been reduced “Till a few years ago, the number of India each year to mark the contribution human traffi cking has become homes and are either in relief the three-day event in New Delhi, Exter- this time and fi xed as $100 for the January participants was in hundreds. Last year of the overseas Indian community to the common in South Asia as an camps or have sought shelter nal Aff airs Minister Sushma Swaraj told a 9 event, she said. it was around 2,500 and this year we are development of India. increase in extreme events on embankments and roads.

Foreign seed fi rms rally behind Balancing act Monsanto in Indian alliance

Reuters solidarity with Monsanto, which has operated in New Delhi India for decades but is now being investigated by the anti-trust regulator on whether it misused its near-monopoly on GM cotton seeds to jack up ajor international seed companies in In- prices. dia formed an alliance yesterday, seeking “Our new association is driven by the funda- Mthe support of their peers after a fl urry of mental value of respecting research and intel- regulatory steps in recent months by Prime Min- lectual properties of each other,” M Ramasami, ister Narendra Modi’s government. a founding FSII member, read out from a state- Executives from companies including the lo- ment. cal businesses of Monsanto, Bayer, Dow, Dupont “The association believes that no single com- Pioneer and Syngenta announced the alliance in a pany has all the solutions and hence collabora- crowded Press Club of India conference room. tions, joint ventures, licensing arrangements The newly-formed Federation of Seed Industry and similar approaches are necessary among the of India (FSII) says its goal is to address diffi culties members of the industry.” in the industry. Monsanto, a takeover target of Germany’s Bay- Reuters reported earlier this week that Mon- er, has said it contemplated quitting India because santo had withdrawn an application to sell its of heightened regulation. next-generation genetically modifi ed (GM) cot- But yesterday its India head, Shilpa Divekar ton seeds in India on concerns over the security of Nirula, said there was a need to align Modi’s goal its intellectual property. of doubling farmers’ income by 2022 with what India is Monsanto’s biggest market outside the fi rms like Monsanto can off er. Americas. She declined to comment specifi cally about her Monsanto objected to a government proposal company and left with her media managers im- that would force it to share its technology with lo- mediately after the conference. cal seed companies. “I would always want a very transparent sys- It has also taken the government to court over a tem around licensing,” said Sharad Khurana, cut in the royalty it gets from seed companies for country manager for DuPont Pioneer. “Forceful licensing use of its patented technology. licensing stifl es innovation. Nobody would want An acrobat performs in Nagaon district in Assam. The New Delhi press conference was a show of to invest.” Gulf Times Saturday, August 27, 2016 11 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN Sharif seeks regional solution to social ills

Agencies Pakistan and Sri Lanka — par- digenous sources of energy. He Asian Economic Union. Islamabad ticipated in the day-long con- said that connectivity is criti- In his welcome address, Pa- ference, Xinhua news agency cal to progress and prosperity of kistan’s Finance Minister Ishaq reported. the region which is why Pakistan Dar said the South Asian region akistan Prime Minister Offi cials said the delegates supports, in principle, road, air, is blessed with immense re- Nawaz Sharif yesterday discussed proposal to move from rail and water connectivity in the sources and has the potential to Purged countries in the re- the South Asian Free Trade Area region. meet the growth requirements gion to work jointly in chang- to the South Asian Economic The prime minister also ap- of its peoples. He said that joint ing the economic landscape of Union, focus on customs-relat- prised the participants about strategies is the way forward to South Asia and help get people ed trade facilitation measures, economic policies being pursued exploit this potential for the so- out of the clutches of poverty, il- and fi nalising the draft on Saarc by the Pakistan Government, cio economic uplift of the peo- literacy and other social ills. agreement on promotion and their acknowledgement by the ples. “Three decades back the protection of investment. multilateral institutions and He expressed the confi dence South Asian leadership made a Also coming up for discussion their ‘trickle-down’ eff ect. that the vision of South Asian commitment to accelerate eco- was implementation of the Saarc “For economic and social He said that Pakistan has made Economic Union will promote nomic growth, social progress Agreement on Trade in Services progress of the masses, progress in bringing economic economic co-operation, invest- and cultural development of our (SATIS), avoidance of double increasing connectivity, stability in the country and the ment and connectivity amongst region,” Sharif said while ad- taxation and mutual administra- ease of communication, reforms agenda of the Govern- the regional countries. dressing the inaugural function tive assistance in tax matters and freer trade and fi nding ment is aimed at strengthen- He said the leaders of Saarc of a meeting here of Finance transactions in local currencies. solution to hunger, ing regulatory and supervisory countries have repeatedly been Pakistani paramedics give treatment to an injured policeman at a Ministers of the South Asian As- Sharif said that in this era of poverty and food framework and safeguarding of emphasising upon greater eco- hospital following an attack in Gwadar late Thursday. sociation for Regional Co-oper- globalisation, the world focuses insecurity has helped the the national economy. nomic integration and co-op- ation (Saarc). on fi nding regional solution to world enhance regional Addressing the conference, eration. He said though signifi- “For economic and social common problems and that for and sub-regional co- Secretary General Saarc Arjun cant headways have been made progress of the masses, increas- economic and social progress of operation” Bahadar Thapa said that the in this regard, however, there is ing connectivity, ease of com- the masses, increasing connec- South Asian region has the po- need to remove non tariff bar- Govt offi cial among 7 munication, freer trade and fi nd- tivity, ease of communication, of humanity and reservoirs of tential to become the global eco- riers and the simplication of ing solution to hunger, poverty freer trade and fi nding solutions untapped wealth and under-uti- nomic force. He said that since procedures in order to enhance and food insecurity has helped to hunger, poverty and food in- lised resources, which provide the last Saarc Summit, signifi - cooperation in different sec- killed in Baluchistan the world enhance regional and security has helped the world opportunities for development cant progress has been made to tors including trade, invest- sub-regional co-operation.” enhance regional and sub-re- and prosperity in the region. bolster economic cooperation ment and energy cooperation. Sharif expressed the confi - gional co-operation. He said that to optimally har- amongst member states. He said that such a course will Reuters he said. The dead included a dence that the deliberations of He said trans-boundary ef- ness this potential for peace and He said the leaders of Saarc help achieve our goal aimed at Quetta senior local government of- the Finance Ministers would fects of climate change, spread prosperity of the people, Saarc countries have set an ambitious betterment of the region. fi cial. complement the agenda of the of disease, economic spill over provides platform to work col- target of establishing South Ishaq Dar said Pakistan ad- Separatist groups in Balu- 19th Saarc summit, which Paki- and social evils are being coun- lectively to make the region free Asian Economic Union which heres to the Saarc vision to make unmen in Pakistan chistan, a sparsely populated stan looks forward to hosting on tered by joint strategies at the of economic constraints and so- requires deeper interaction it a successful regional organi- killed six soldiers and but vast province bordering November 9-10 this year. regional level. cial ills. amongst member-countries. sation. He said the proposals Ga provincial govern- Iran and Afghanistan, have Ministers and senior offi cials The prime minister said South Nawaz Sharif said Pakistan He expressed the confidence fi nalised in yesterday’s meeting ment offi cial in an ambush on launched sporadic attacks on from Saarc member-nations — Asia is endowed with abundant is a strong advocate of stepping that the meeting of finance would be presented before the their convoy in the insurgency security forces during their Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhu- human and natural resources up regional eff orts to ensure ministers will give impetus to Saarc summit to be held in No- plagued southwest province of decades long struggle for an tan, India, Nepal, the Maldives, and that it is home to one-fi fth energy security by sharing in- speed up the process of South vember in Islamabad. Baluchistan, a senior offi cial in independent homeland. the region said yesterday. Pakistan is particularly sen- The attack took place sitive to attacks on Chinese about 80km from Gwadar, a workers and interests in Balu- port that will play a vital role chistan, and promised them in a planned $46bn China- protection. American university attack hits Pakistan economic corridor Militants have mostly tar- stretching from the Arabian geted government personnel sea to China’s far-western and security forces during the at heart of Afghan liberal learning Xinjiang district. past decade, but attacks on ci- The convoy had been re- vilians do occur. turning from dealing with a Last year gunmen stormed Reuters sity of Afghanistan (AUAF) had frequently attack places where land dispute late on Thursday Jewani airport in Baluchistan, Kabul/Islamabad grown to accommodate 1,700 foreigners live or gather, leav- when gunmen fi red rockets killing engineers and destroy- students, off ering some of the ing the American University and hurled grenades at the ing radar systems. country’s most respected de- even more vulnerable. group, Tufail Baloch, a depu- Baluch activists say security ith its spacious, leafy grees craved by young people Two teachers from the uni- ty district commissioner for forces have carried out hun- campus, foreign pro- restless for opportunities. versity, an American and an Gwadar, said. dreds of extrajudicial killings, Wfessors and English- A slick promotion video on Australian, were abducted at “It was a sudden attack. and thousands of people have language MBAs, the Ameri- the university’s website shows gunpoint from a road near the They also used AK-47 rifl es,” disappeared. can University in Kabul off ers smiling Afghan men and wom- campus on Aug 7.They are still young Afghan students the en in traditional Western robes missing. kind of Western-style educa- and mortar boards preparing to Among the wounded in tion unimaginable for most of graduate. Wednesday’s attack was a their peers. Pupils range from poorer Ugandan professor, according The image of an island of lib- Afghans on scholarships to to the Kabul emergency hospi- PM makes Zamir de- eralism and learning in a coun- the sons and daughters of the tal where he was being treated. try plagued by militant vio- country’s elite. Despite security concerns, lence has been shattered. The university also off ers the university’s reputation and fence secretary 54-year-old Shahid Jamil Rana on his motorbike. On Wednesday evening, at overseas exchange programmes unique setting have continued least two gunmen stormed to the United States and Germa- to attract overseas teaching staff , classrooms after a suspected ny, a further incentive to those even as the insurgency grew and Agencies government for appointment as car bomb was used to get into deciding whether to go back. foreigners were targeted. Islamabad the defence secretary long be- the walled complex, and killed “When the university reo- Some 60% of professors are fore Gen Khattak completed his seven students and a professor. pens, I will be the fi rst to enter foreign and the wider academic tenure, the daily said. Motorcyclist on The death toll could have been and continue my education. staff are drawn from 16 coun- akistan Prime Minister The government rejected far higher, with most students The terrorists can never stop tries including Afghanistan, Nawaz Sharif has ap- the nomination and asked the managing to barricade them- us from learning,” said Wahida said Shamroz Khan Masjidi, a Ppointed retired Lt Gen military to nominate some selves in classrooms or fl ee to Faizi. university spokesman. Zamirul Hassan Shah as the other offi cer. peace mission in safety, even if it meant breaking There has been no claim Ten academics joined from new defence secretary. “The government had some bones as they jumped from the of responsibility for the raid, overseas shortly before the Gen Shah assumed offi ce reservations about Gen Shah’s second fl oor of a building. which ended after security start of classes in mid-August. on Thursday, marking an end nomination,” the Dawn quoted As security forces patrolled forces cleared buildings early Security had been beefed to what had virtually become a source in the Prime Minister Gilgit-Baltistan the 5-acre campus on Thursday on Thursday. up since 2014, when a wave of a stand-off between the gov- Offi ce as saying. and university staff visited the Islamist militants have in- bombings in Kabul targeting ernment and the military on The army refused to change wounded in hospital, students creasingly targeted educational foreign guesthouses, restau- the posting, Dawn reported the nomination and insisted Internews The 54-year-old peace weighed up the risks of return- institutions in countries in- rants and clubs drove many ex- yesterday. that Gen Shah must be ap- Islamabad activist started his journey ing to their education. cluding neighbouring Paki- patriates to leave the city. He replaced retired Lt Gen pointed, the Dawn said. from Lahore on July 13 and “Now my parents say I stan, in an eff ort to frighten the At the university, accom- Alam Khattak, who completed The government then con- plans to reach Peshawar via should stop studying there if public and damage centres of modation for foreign faculty his two-year contract on Au- sidered diff erent options in- hoever said age is a Chitral. it reopens, but I want to con- learning they deem out of place members was built on site a few gust 5. cluding continuing with Major factor clearly never His last destinations are tinue, because is there another in their vision of an Islamic so- years ago, overseen by a watch- Gen Shah had retired from General Abid Nazir as the act- Wmet 54-year-old Quetta and Karachi — two cit- institution like it in the whole ciety. tower and armed guards, and military service earlier this ing secretary. Shahid Jamil Rana, who is on a ies which have been plagued by country?” said Farooq, an in- Taliban insurgents who con- expatriates were chaperoned by year. But Sharif’s advisers coun- countrywide motorbike ride for extreme law and order situations ternational relations student. trol swathes of rural Afghani- an Afghan if they left the cam- His last posting was adju- selled him to avoid straining peace. over the years. Opened in 2006 and partly stan and want to topple the pus compound. tant general of Pakistan Army. relations with the military He was warmly received by “Whenever I take a break funded by US aid, the not- Western-backed government Still, security would have to The military had recom- on the issue and accept Gen locals in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Di- from my journey, people look for-profi t American Univer- of President Ashraf Ghani also be tightened further. mended Gen Shah’s name to the Shah’s nomination, it said. amer Valley, thus dismissing any at me with interest and start security apprehensions he may gathering around me,” said have had. Rana, who has worked as a A resident of Lahore, Rana is tourist guide in the past and on a peace journey which may visited various parts of the last up to two-and-half months country with foreigners. American guitarist uses music as healing force in Kabul before he rides his way through “We are lucky to have four the whole country. seasons in the country and that “I was told Chilas and some is our strength.” He said people Reuters “My hope is that everybody the pain of losing my two sis- other parts are not tourist- of the country should capitalise Kabul in Afghanistan will pick up a ters,” Mursal said. friendly, but that is not what I on this aspect to make tourism guitar and sing and make mu- “My ambition is to become found,” Rana said this week. fl ourish. sic,” Cordola said. “Music is a a good guitarist and a guitar “It is a perfect place and He believes the devolution trumming their guitars healing force. It’s a peace mak- teacher in the future.” the people are extremely hos- of tourism to the provinces has and clapping together, ing force. It’s a way to commu- “I wish for peace and stability pitable something I realised hindered the promotion of the SAmerican musician Lanny nicate things without even hav- in Afghanistan and I also urge after meeting them,” he said, industry on an international Cordola and his Afghan pupils ing to know languages.” the people to encourage girls to referring to locals of Diamer, scale. sing a Bob Marley tune as they Cordola, originally from Los learn guitar so they can become of whom he had heard a lot The motorist, who has un- sit on a hill in Kabul. Angeles, said he was moved a better future for Afghanistan,” through the media and friends dertaken this mission with- The song is one of several the to act after hearing about two said 14-year-old Shiba Rahma- in the recent past. out any external funding, guitarist has taught the children to sisters Parwana and Khorshid, ni, another student. It has been almost two weeks said his goal was to make the play at The Miraculous Love Kids who were killed in a suicide at- Cordola, who has worked since Rana arrived in G-B from country peaceful and he was music school he founded where tack four years ago while selling with the likes of Guns N’ Roses Mansehra via the Babusar Pass. ready to sacrifice his life if he hopes to help some 50 students, items on a street in Kabul. guitarist Slash and singer Nancy With his motorbike painted need be. mostly girls from poor families. He raised money and moved Sinatra, has also collaborated with slogan of “Ride for Peace”, “Balochistan and Karachi are He wants to help them find their family into a new home in Lanny Cordola with Pakistani singers on other Rana meets people wherever he risky places, but if my death a safe place to express them- Kabul. projects for children in Afghan- stops and tells them about the helps restore lasting peace, I am selves and escape the hard- One of his best students is and Khorshid’s sister. me happy and it takes me to my istan and Pakistan, according to purpose of his visit. ready to accept it.” ships of daily life in Kabul. 12-year-old Mursal, Parwana “Playing guitar really makes dream world but it cannot ease the school’s website. Gulf Times 12 Saturday, August 27, 2016 PHILIPPINES Lawmakers take drug test, deny illegal trade in prison

Manila Times had clashed with de Lima when Lingayen, Pangasinan she was Justice secretary in 2012, after she fi led a murder case against him for allegedly mas- epresentative Amado terminding the killing of Infanta T Espino Jr and former town mayor Ruperto Martinez in Rprovincial administrator December 2011. Raff y Baraan, named along with “How come I’m affi liated and Senator Leila de Lima in Presi- connected to de Lima now?” Es- dent Rodrigo Duterte’s “matrix” pino asked. of individuals allegedly behind His co-accused in the murder Philipines Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza (left) and the Chairman of the National Democratic Front of Philippines (NDFP) Luis Jalandori (right), shake hands in front of the the illegal drug trade in the New case was Jesus Celeste, now a Norwegian Minister of Foreign Aff airs Boerge Brende after signing a joint declaration in which both parties undertake unilateral ceasefires without time constraints yesterday in Oslo. Bilibid Prison, voluntarily sub- Pangasinan representative, who mitted to a drug test and denied was earlier included by Duterte the accusations yesterday. in his list of “narco-politicians.” Provincial police director Sr. Also named in the matrix was Supt. Ronald Oliver-Lee said Es- Provincial Board Member Raul pino and Baraan executed affi da- Palisoc-Sison, a relative of Ron- vits and voluntarily went to him nie Palisoc-Dayan, de Lima’s to clear their names, after he was former driver-bodyguard who tasked by the regional director, allegedly collected money from Chief Supt. Gregorio Pimentel, drug syndicates at the prison. Government, rebels to conduct a probe. Sison’s son, Raul Sison, the Baraan is the brother of former mayor of Urbiztondo town Justice undersecretary Francisco where de Lima allegedly bought “Toti” Baraan, who was also a house for Dayan and where included in the drug matrix re- Dayan is a resident, rejected the leased by the president, but he accusations. has denied the allegations. Mayor Sison told reporters his Both Espino and Raff y Baraan father was not involved in the il- sign ceasefi re deal told Manila Times there was no legal drug trade inside the Bili- concrete evidence to link them bid, saying the politician would Both sides agree to hopes that a peace agreement ing back more than 50 years. iled founder of the Communist Both sides urged President to illegal drug operations inside submit himself to an investiga- accelerate peace talks; could be reached within a year “I hope this has been an in- Party who lives in the Nether- Rodrigo Duterte, who helped the national penitentiary. tion after returning from the Norway hopes Colombian after the Oslo talks, the fi rst spiration,” he said after the fi ve- lands, told Reuters. unblock the negotiations by re- Espino pointed out that he United States this week. peace agreement will formal meeting for fi ve years. day meeting in Oslo. He called the Philippines leasing 16 detainees before the inspire; Philippines The guerrillas, who reiterated Norway has been a long- “semi-colonial” and “semi- talks, to proclaim an amnesty conflict has lasted demands for “revolutionary standing facilitator for peace feudal”. for all insurgents. 22 police officials sacked in Cagayan almost five decades change”, stopped short of set- deals in Colombia and the Phil- The rebels want sweeping Rebels said that such an am- ting a deadline. ippines. reforms to redistribute land to nesty, which would also need The Philippine National Police ation under project “Double Reuters Both sides, at a signing cere- Under the Philippines ac- poor farmers and to nationalise approval by Congress, could (PNP) regional office here fired Barrel” that found the perform- Oslo mony in a hotel on the outskirts cord, the rebels indefi nitely industries. cover about 530 jailed guerril- 22 chiefs of police (COPs) in ance of the police chiefs unac- of Oslo, hailed the ceasefi re deal extended a week-long ceasefi re The government and the Na- las. Cagayan Valley for alleged ceptable. and measures to step up nego- that had been due to expire after tional Democratic Front (NDF), Duterte says he wants to end unsatisfactory performance Sosa said their removal is part he Philippines govern- tiations as a breakthrough after the Oslo talks. the political wing of the Com- guerrilla wars with both com- in implementing the govern- of a reorganisation to strength- ment and Maoist-led 30 years of fi tful peace talks. The government reaffi rmed munist Party, agreed to meet munist and other militants that ment’s campaign against illegal en the PNP’s all-out war against Trebels agreed indefi nite Norwegian Foreign Minis- an open-ended ceasefi re since again in Oslo from Oct 8. have been hampering economic drugs, Manila Times reported. illegal drugs in Cagayan Valley ceasefi res yesterday as part of ter Boerge Brende, hosting the Aug 21 that could have been “There is still a lot of work development. Chief Superintendent Gilbert in compliance with President an accord to accelerate eff orts ceremony, urged both sides to called off if the guerrillas failed to be done ahead.Let us all stay The 3,000-strong New Peo- Sosa, acting police regional Rodrigo Duterte’s priority pro- to end a confl ict that has lasted mirror an agreement between to match it. the course together, no matter ple’s Army, the armed wing of director, said he ordered the gramme of eradicating illegal almost fi ve decades and killed at Colombia’s government and “There is a clear plan to ac- what,” said Jesus Dureza, Phil- the communist party, operates sacking of the COPs based on drugs in the country within six least 40,000 people. Marxist Farc rebels to end Latin celerate the peace negotia- ippines presidential peace ad- mainly in the east and south of a performance audit and evalu- months. The government expressed America’s longest confl ict, dat- tions,” Jose Maria Sison, the ex- viser. the Philippines. Kill drug lords and burn their homes, top cop tells addicts

AFP quiry this week that the con- Manila fi rmed number of people to have died in the drug war was 1,946. He said police had shot dead he Philippines’ police 756 suspects in self-defence. chief has called on drug He said there were another Tusers to kill traffi ckers 1,190 killings under investiga- and burn their homes, escalat- tion, but they were likely due to ing President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug gangs murdering people deeply controversial crime war who could implicate each other. Soldiers arrive at a camp after an armed encounter with members of militant group Abu Sayyaf at the that has claimed 2,000 lives. He also emphasised the crime village of Bongkaong, Patikul town, Sulu province on the southern island of Mindanao yesterday. “Why don’t you give them war had so far been a success. a visit, pour gasoline on their “I admit many are dying but homes and set these on fi re to our campaign, now, we have the register your anger,” Ronald dela momentum,” he told the Senate. Rosa said in a speech aired on Many Filipinos continue to television yesterday. support Duterte, accepting his 11 militants killed in “They’re all enjoying your argument that drastic measures money, money that destroyed are needed to stop the Philip- your brain. You know who the pines becoming a “narco state”. drug lords are. Would you like to But criticism has continued gun battle with troops kill them? Go ahead. to mount, with fears that secu- Killing them is allowed be- rity forces and hired assassins cause you are the victim.” are roaming out-of-control and DPA Dela Rosa was speaking killing anyone suspected of be- Manila Thursday to several hundred ing involved in drugs or for other drug users who had surrendered Philippine National Police director general Ronald dela Rosa, gesturing reasons. in the central Philippines. while speaking during the Senate inquiry into the alleged spate of The US government on Mon- leven militants were Dela Rosa’s comments fol- extra-judicial killings in the war against crime. day expressed its concern about killed yesterday in a gun lowed Duterte’s own controver- “reports of extrajudicial kill- Ebattle with government sial directives that have sparked in Manila: “If you know of any due to an “emotional outburst”. ings”. troops in the southern Phil- criticism from the United Na- addicts, go ahead and kill them “Yesterday, I said that because Local media have also report- ippines, a regional military tions and human rights groups. yourself as getting their parents I felt so bad. I was in front of ed a growing number of chil- spokesman said. Duterte, 71, won May elec- to do it would be too painful.” those poor people, pushers and dren who have been killed in the Seventeen soldiers were also tions in a landslide on a vow to The UN special rapporteur users, they looked like zombies. crossfi re. injured in the clash in Patikul kill tens of thousands of sus- on summary executions, Agnes I was so mad, that’s why I said Human Rights Watch released town on Jolo Island, where the pected criminals in an unprec- Callamard, said such directives that,” he told reporters. a statement condemning the militants beheaded a Filipino Soldiers wounded in an encounter with members of militant group edented blitz that would elimi- “amount to incitement to vio- “I’m sorry if I said something death of a fi ve-year-old girl who hostage two days ago, said Ma- Abu Sayyaf, receive treatment at a military hospital in Jolo town. nate illegal drugs in six months. lence and killing, a crime under unpleasant. Many people are re- was shot this week when un- jor Filemon Tan. He promised on the campaign international law”. acting. I am very sorry. I am just known gunmen reportedly en- The troops were on patrol The two Canadians John Ridsdel beheaded 18-year-old Patrick trial that 100,000 people would However Dela Rosa and Du- a human being who gets mad.” tered her home and tried to kill when they encountered a group and Robert Hall were executed Jhames Almodavar after his be killed and so many bodies terte have insisted they are When asked earlier yesterday her grandfather, an alleged drug of about 100 members of the in April and June after a ransom family failed to pay a 1mn-peso would be dumped in Manila Bay working within the law and their if Duterte supported Dela Rosa’s user, who was wounded. Abu Sayyaf terrorist group, he was not paid, while the Filipino ($22,000) ransom. that fi sh would grow fat from aides have dismissed some of call to murder and commit ar- “Duterte’s aggressive rhetoric said. was freed in June. Philippine President Rod- feeding on them. their comments as merely “hy- son, presidential spokesman Er- advocating violent, extrajudicial Among those killed was a jun- The rebels are still hold- rigo Duterte has directed the Days after his election win, perbole” meant to scare drug nesto Abella denied that was the solutions to crime in the Philip- ior leader who was allegedly in- ing captive Norwegian Kjartan military to crush Abu Sayyaf Duterte also off ered security of- traffi ckers. police chief’s intent. pines has found willing takers,” volved in the kidnapping of two Sekkingstad, fi ve Malaysians, and also warned that the group fi cials bounties for the bodies of After a barrage of bad head- “There is no such call. It’s a the US-based group’s Asia dep- Canadians, a Norwegian and a eight Indonesians, a Dutchman could be a source of recruit- drug dealers. lines, Dela Rosa yesterday apol- passionate statement,” Abella uty director, Phelim Kine, said in Filipino on the southern resort and several Filipinos. ment for the Islamic State And when he took offi ce on ogised for his remarks the previ- said, without elaborating. a statement. island of Samal in September. On Wednesday, Abu Sayyaf extremist group. June 30, Duterte told a crowd ous day and described them as Dela Rosa told a Senate in- Gulf Times Saturday, August 27, 2016 13 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL

Nepal govt to accord Political links behind top priority for enhanced ties with militant attacks: minister New Delhi, Beijing

Home Minister Asaduzzaman hind Gulshan and Sholakia He said when the militant the incidents will be brought Bangla Bhai at Bagmara in Ra- IANS tions,” Xinhua news agency Khan has said those militant attacks in Bangladesh. groups were becoming active to book soon. Like 1971, the jshahi district.You also know Kathmandu quoted Mahat as saying. arrested in connection “Those arrested in connec- in Bangladesh, a group alleged country’s people have got unit- better who were at the helm of The new government, he with the attacks had links tion with the attacks had in- that militancy was creation of ed at the call of Sheikh Hasina our affairs then,” he added. said, wants to have cordial ties with Jamaat-e-Islami volvement in Jamaat-e-Islami media. against militancy and terror- Asaduzzaman Khan said, epal’s new Foreign with neighbouring and other politics. Later they joined dif- “The killers of 1971 who had ism,” he said. “The country’s police force Minister Prakash Sha- friendly countries to promote By Mizan Rahman ferent militant groups,” said killed Bangabandhu Sheikh “Not only the cadres of should not be considered as Nran Mahat yesterday mutually benefi cial co-oper- Dhaka the minister while responding Mujibur Rahman in 1975, are Jamaat-e-Islami, they are also they were in the past. The said his country will accord top ation. Addressing a separate to a question at a book launch now hatching a conspiracy cadres of banned militant out- present security force is very priority to enhancing relations programme on the same day, programme organised by ruling against Prime Minister Sheikh fits. You also know as to who skilled and professional.” and trust with neighbours In- the foreign minister expressed ome Minister Asaduz- Awami League’s student front Hasina.Our government is fac- have sheltered and instigated Militancy will be uprooted dia and China. the hope that high-level ex- zaman Khan yesterday Bangladesh Chhatra League at ing all conspiracies strongly,” them to become militants. from the country through the “Neighbouring India and change of visits between India Hsaid the police have Bangadesh Krishibid Institu- said the minister. You have also witnessed the united efforts of the country’s China are two very important and Nepal will take place in the found political instigation be- tion auditorium in Dhaka. “The masterminds behind emergence of militant kingpin people, he hoped. countries in our foreign rela- near future. UN chief to begin three-day People are ‘anti-India’ due to close relations with ruling party visit to Sri Lanka on Aug 31 IANS can tolerate India today? Why the Rampal project, keeping in Dhaka they are so anti-Indian? It mind that she won the Cham- should not have happened....” pions of the Earth award for IANS He made the remarks while her contribution in tackling Colombo angladeshis are “largely talking about the protest climate change. anti-India” because of against the Rampal power BNew Delhi’s close rela- plant project, an India-Bang- He made the remarks N Secretary General Ban ki-Moon tions with the ruling Awami ladesh joint venture near the while talking about will arrive in Sri Lanka on August League, a key adviser to chief Sundarbans, bdnews24 re- the protest against U31 on a three-day offi cial visit, the of the opposition Bangladesh ported. the Rampal power Foreign Ministry said yesterday. Nationalist Party Khaleda Zia He urged the Indian gov- plant project, an India- Ban will hold discussions with Presi- has said. ernment to build relations Bangladesh joint venture dent Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Professor Emajuddin with “the people of Bangla- near the Sundarbans Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, among Ahamed, former Dhaka Uni- desh, (and) not any particular others. versity vice-chancellor, on party”. Environmental groups have He will also deliver a speech here on the Thursday said: “They are “Democracy is flourishing expressed concern that the UN’s global development goals. anti-India because of your re- in India magnificently. Your power plant could alter the Ban will arrive in Sri Lanka from My- lations with the present gov- country has adopted the sys- critical water balance in the anmar and will highlight the importance ernment in Bangladesh.” tem, then why not here? Why Sundarbans — one of the larg- of development and human rights in both He was apparently refer- don’t you utter a single word est mangrove forests in the the countries. ring to Indian Prime Minister on the matter,” he wondered. world — and pollute the sur- The UN chief will also visit a resettle- Narendra Modi. Ahamed also said Prime rounding water and air as well ment site for displaced people in Jaff na Ahamed recalled how In- Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ad- as increase the risk of oil and in the north and take part in a conference dia helped Bangladesh during ministration was being “very coal spills — all of which, they on youth and reconciliation in Galle in the Liberation War and asked: weak” towards India. say, could seriously damage the south. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will begin a three-day visit to Sri Lanka on August 31. “Why no one in Bangladesh He said Hasina should scrap the mangrove forest. New bus service to Bangladesh to aid northeastern Indian states

By Mizan Rahman senger has to pay 1,600 taka-1,800 than 16 hours, sources said. Earlier, Dhaka taka for travelling to Kolkata and vice Hasina and Modi jointly inaugurated versa. the Dhaka-Shillong-Guwahati and In another development towards Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala bus servic- new bus service named ‘Royal road connectivity between Bangladesh es during Modi’s visit to Bangladesh Coach’ on Brahmanbaria- and India, Tripura bus operators also on June 6 last year. AKolkata route started yesterday, launched a bus service linking Kolkata The two countries have long been aiming to boost connectivity between and Agartala via Dhaka. operating the Dhaka-Kolkata and the residents of the two neighbouring Bangladesh and West Bengal have Dhaka-Agartala bus services and Dha- countries. been operating their buses since Prime ka-Kolkata train services. Brahmanbaria lawmaker RAM Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian The Dhaka-Kolkata bus service be- Ubaydul Muktadir Chowdhury inau- counterpart Narendra Modi signed the gan in June 1999. gurated the bus service in the morning agreement on Kolkata-Dhaka-Agarta- And a separate Agartala-Dhaka at Municipal Bus Terminal in the east- la bus service and its protocol on June service started in September 2003. ern district town of Bangladesh. 6 last year. Both the countries are also in con- Agartala in the Indian state of Tripura Transport Minister Manik sultations to introduce new bus serv- Tripura is just a stone’s throw away Dey had earlier fl agged off the bus ices on the Khulna-Kolkata and Jes- from Brahmanbaria. service at the Tripura Road Transport sore-Kolkata routes. ONE SMOKER. Indians living in northeastern (NE) Corp international bus terminus de- During his visit to Bangladesh, Modi states of India can also avail the Brah- pot. The buses, scheduled to ply twice agreed to consider Bangladesh’s pro- manbaria-Kolkata bus service, offi - a week, have a fare ranging between posal to introduce the second Maitree cials said. Rs1,800 and Rs2,000. Express train between Khulna and Two buses will leave the town every The route connecting West Ben- Kolkata. TWO PATIENTS. day for Kolkata while two others will gal’s capital with Tripura’s capital Bangladesh and India are also work- leave the West Bengal capital for Bra- through Indian soil is 1,675 kilome- ing on railway sector development to hamanbaria, said Obayed Hossain, a tres, and the journey takes around establish the Akhaura-Agartala rail- representative of ‘Royal Coach’. Every 36 hours. However, the 515km jour- way link and the revival of the old rail- bus can carry 34 passengers and a pas- ney via Dhaka will not take more way links. Flooding fears as river TOBACCO KILLS swells in Rajshahi region

By Mizan Rahman The Padma, the main distributory of the Ganges, enters Dhaka Bangladesh from India near Chapainawabganj and meets the Jamuna River in Goalundo, Rajbari. The city of Rajshahi, a major centre in the country’s north, angladesh faces imminent fl ooding of a devastating sits on the banks of the mighty river. nature as the Padma River in northwestern Rajshahi Flowing 120 kilometres ahead, the consolidated stream Bregion swelled by 18.3 metres at around 3:00pm yes- then meets the Meghna River at Chandpur before fl owing terday. into the Bay of Bengal. The danger level of the city is at 18.5 metres. The Farakka Barrage, which stands across the Ganges Riv- Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud directed er in the Indian state of West Bengal, roughly 16.5 kilome- his ministry to immediately inquire into the sudden rise in tres from the border with Bangladesh near Chapainawab- water level of the Padma River. ganj, has been the cause of a long-standing dispute between “Such overfl ow has not been witnessed in years,” said SM Bangladesh and India. Ali Mortuza, a sub-divisional engineer of Rajshahi unit of Bangladeshi experts and environmental activists have state-run Water Development Board. criticised the barrage, saying it aff ects biodiversity in Bang- The river Padma in Bangladesh is rising dangerously after ladesh by cutting off the water supply. India opened all gates to the Farakka Barrage to stop one of According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre, its states from fl ooding.The water level may cross the danger Padma’s waters increased by 12cm at Pangkha point, 11 cen- level in the next 24 to 28 hours, Bangladesh Water Develop- timetres at Rajshahi point and 13 centimetres at Hardinge ment Board (BWDB) offi cials have said. Bridge point until 9am yesterday. The fi gures, however, are India opened Farakka’s 106 gates to save Bihar from fl ood- still below the danger level by 17, 22 and 21 centimetres at the ing. three points respectively. At the Rajshahi point, Padma has risen by 12 to 13 centi- Engineer Mir Mosharraf Hossain said: “The water level metres each day in the past week, BWDB administrator Mir may cross the danger level (which is 18.50 centimetre) by Issued in Public Interest by GULF TIMES Mosharrof Hossain told mediapersons. Saturday night if the fl ow continues at the same speed.” Gulf Times 14 Saturday, August 27, 2016 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Production Editor: C P Ravindran The battle against doping

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar in elite sports need to go on [email protected] Telephone 44350478 (news), Advances in detection, 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) of whose records have yet to be broken. methods for detecting a wider variety becoming a reality, WADA is already however impressive, seem But the drawbacks of anabolic steroids of substances. working to counter it. Gene doping has Fax 44350474 were no less obvious: those same Among the more recent innovations been prohibited since 2003, and the fi rst to be continually outpaced athletes often experienced infertility, is a testing method that detects detection method, based on EPO’s gene cardiovascular problems, tumours and long-term metabolites left behind sequence, was implemented this year. by innovations in doping other adverse eff ects. by anabolic steroids. Re-analysis of The key to that method is Since the implementation of a test samples from the 2008 and 2012 distinguishing between normal By Malene Lindholm doping test for these steroids in 1975, Olympic Games using these techniques genes, which contain both coding and Solna, Sweden numerous athletes have been caught indicates that up to 8% were positive non-coding elements, and artifi cial GULF TIMES and sanctioned. Yet these substances for doping, compared with the 1% genes, which contain only the coding remain the most commonly abused in previously detected. To maximise the elements. DNA without non-coding lite sports and doping have elite sports. impact of these techniques, doping elements that has leaked into plasma long been deeply interlinked. tests are now required more frequently, is evidence of gene doping. Other UN council must act But the damning report by the not only during competitions, but also potential detection methods, likely EWorld Anti-Doping Agency Doping in sports has between them. to be implemented in the near future, (WADA) on Russia’s far-reaching state- But just as the technology for could identify traces of the viral sponsored doping programme, released most likely been detecting substances improves, new vector or detect activating substances against Syrian regime shortly before this year’s Summer methods of artifi cial performance used to enhance activity of the newly Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, going on for centuries enhancement emerge. In particular, introduced gene. brought it to the forefront of public the rise of gene therapy has raised The battle against doping in elite consciousness. We should take this as Another common doping substance the possibility of introducing genes sports can sometimes feel interminable. for chemical attacks an opportunity to redouble our eff orts is recombinant erythropoietin or genetically modifi ed cells into the Advances in detection, however to end this deeply unhealthy practice – (EPO), a protein that increases body to boost athletic performance. impressive, seem to be continually Syrian government troops were responsible for two and save elite sports. endurance by stimulating production The process would entail introducing a outpaced by innovations in doping. toxic gas attacks and Islamic State militants used Reaching an elite level in sports of oxygen-carrying red blood cells. performance-enhancing gene into the And the downsides to the practice – requires a tremendous amount of The downside is increased risk for modifi ed genetic material of a virus, irreparable damage to the athlete’s sulphur mustard gas, a joint investigation by the United hard work, dedication and focus. By stroke and myocardial infarction. In which can enter cells and spur them health, not to mention to their and their Nations and the global chemical weapons watchdog has defi nition, few succeed, but those one of the greatest doping scandals to replicate the gene. That viral vector country’s reputation, if they get caught fi nally found. who do may enjoy great personal and of the twenty-fi rst century, Lance would then be injected directly into – seem not to outweigh the potential fi nancial rewards. Using performance- Armstrong, seven-time Tour de France muscle, where it would cause cells to benefi ts in the eyes of ambitious The year-long UN and Organisation for the enhancing substances can seem like winner, was found to have used it after start copying the gene, leading to the coaches and athletes. Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) inquiry – an easy way to boost one’s chances of years of denial. production of a functional protein. But giving up is not an option. unanimously authorised by the UN Security Council reaching – or remaining at – that top Some athletes also resort to so- Clinical trials are ongoing for several Doping deeply undermines the integrity level. called blood doping – transfusions genes of interest for enhancing athletic of elite sports, which are supposed to – focused on nine attacks in seven areas of Syria, where Doping in sports has most likely of oxygenated blood before an event, performance, including EPO, as well be a demonstration of what the human a separate OPCW fact-fi nding investigation had already been going on for centuries. But the which achieves a similar result as EPO. as strength-related genes like growth body can achieve – not how far extreme successful isolation of androgenic Since its establishment in 1999, hormone and insulin growth factor 1. pharmaceutical manipulation of the determined that chemical weapons had likely been used. anabolic steroids brought a surge in WADA has been leading the charge Past experience suggests that the many human body can take us. - Project Eight of the attacks investigated involved the use of the practice in the 1930s. The eff ects to curb doping by improving known and unknown risks associated Syndicate, chlorine. The inquiry was unable to reach a conclusion on performance can be seen in the detection and testing. And over the with gene therapy will do little to deter extraordinary results of East German years, researchers have continually its use for doping purposes. zMalene Lindholm is a researcher at in six cases, though it said that three of those cases athletes in the 1970s and 1980s, some developed new, more accurate With “gene doping” close to Karolinska Institute in Solna, Sweden. warranted further investigation. The excuse for dilly-dallying are over. The Security Council should now impose sanctions and take other strong measures against the Syria regime in the wake of the inquiry. The 15-member Security Council is due to discuss the report on Tuesday. The inquiry found there was suffi cient information to conclude that Syrian regime helicopters dropped devices that then released toxic substances in Talmenes on April 21, 2014 and Sarmin on March 16, 2015, both in Idlib governorate. Both The use of cases involved the use of chlorine. prohibited It also determined weapons such as there was suffi cient information to chemical weapons conclude that is a war crime Islamic State militants were under customary the “only entity international law with the ability, capability, motive and the means to use sulphur mustard gas in Marea on 21 August, 2015”. The Chemical Weapons Convention prohibits the development, production, stockpiling, transfer and use of chemical weapons and requires states parties to destroy chemical weapon stockpiles. The use of prohibited weapons such as chemical weapons is a war Chinese 100 yuan banknotes are seen on a counter of a branch of a commercial bank in Beijing. crime under customary international law. Syria agreed to destroy its chemical weapons in 2013 under a deal brokered by Moscow and Washington. The China’s painful structural transformation Security Council backed that deal with a resolution that said in the event of non-compliance, “including unauthorised transfer of chemical weapons, or any By Zhang Jun Previously, the economic activities all sectors eventually, and contributes emerging from the shift to a new Shanghai that are now fl ourishing weren’t to the sustained and balanced growth growth model are demanding far use of chemical weapons by anyone” in Syria, it would categorised as manufacturing of Asian economies”. Examining more from China’s current economic- impose measures under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter. industries at all, but as “services”. economic development trends in governance system than it can bear. or more than a year, headlines But services do not exist in a vacuum. South Korea, the authors fi nd that Further structural reforms would Chapter 7 deals with sanctions and authorisation of worldwide have been pointing All businesses need manufactured the average value added per worker go a long way toward fi xing this military force by the Security Council. The body would to a Chinese economic products, transportation, information in transportation, real estate and problem, but they will also require need to adopt another resolution to impose targeted Fslowdown. But a closer look at and communications technology ICT is now higher than the average China’s leaders to make tough political regional dynamics within China tells a (ICT), logistics, real estate, fi nance, in manufacturing, and they point to decisions that won’t please everyone. sanctions – a travel ban and asset freeze – on people or diff erent story – one that is less about insurance and more. Thus, new demand similar dynamics in the United States, Another fundamental challenge entities linked to the attacks. deceleration than changing gears. for new services has virtuous-cycle Japan and China. is China’s slow rate of urbanisation, However, Russia and China have previously protected According to China’s National eff ects in terms of capital investment in This fi nding suggests that rapid which is still lagging, even after 25 Bureau of Statistics, the resource- infrastructure and equipment. development in China’s service years of export-led growth. Each of the Syrian government from council action by blocking rich province of Shanxi has suff ered economy could reverse the externally- a thriving service economy’s major resolutions, including a bid to refer the situation in Syria an economic slowdown, but the China’s cities will be triggered dampening of growth since components – ICT, fi nance, insurance, to the International Criminal Court. The council must southwestern provinces of Chongqing 2008. But, as the Japanese and South transportation and real estate – needs and Guizhou have experienced Korean transitions from export to the others to prosper, and cities are now demonstrate a robust response to the report. vibrant growth. Hebei and three other a key ingredient of its domestic demand-driven growth what bring them all together – a In the case of the attack in Sarmin, the UN/OPCW northeastern provinces are feeling long-term economic demonstrate, structural transformation phenomenon of network externalities. inquiry found that the remnants of the device dropped the eff ects of recession, but the is a slow and painful process. Unfortunately, China’s enduring heavy-industry economies of Tianjin, success China is in the midst of that system of dividing urban and rural “are consistent with the construction of a barrel bomb”. Shandong and Jiangsu are booming. process and it must be careful not to regions, together with poor urban Barrel bombs are steel drums full of shrapnel and After the 2008 fi nancial crisis, Contrary to the conventional undermine existing sources of growth planning, has led to fragmented and when slower growth became the “new wisdom, the growth of services in lest it fall into a structural trap where scattered metropolitan communities explosives dropped from the air. normal” for many countries, China China to meet domestic demand does the cost of transition itself derails new without diversifi ed networks that began to accelerate its economic not mean the end of manufacturing gains. It is not a good sign that the high would otherwise have helped boost rebalancing by shifting the drivers and capital investment, much less of costs in many Chinese provinces have productivity. To Advertise of growth from manufacturing and economic growth. been weighing down overall growth. China’s cities will be a key ingredient exports toward goods and services for Service sectors stand to make up This points to fundamental challenges of its long-term economic success. [email protected] domestic consumption. for much, if not all, of the growth ahead, notwithstanding the signifi cant Urbanisation should start accelerating Display This transition has had far-reaching lost to lower output in export- economic potential of Chinese today, and over the next 10-15 years, implications for the future dynamics oriented manufacturing branches. consumers. For starters, economic with the expansion of metropolitan Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 of China’s economy. With its previous China’s transportation, ICT, fi nance, development based on diversifi ed areas geared toward the needs of Classified export strategy, the government’s main insurance, real estate, education domestic demand is more complicated services-led economic growth. If China priority was to integrate domestic and health-care sectors have long than export-driven development, can rise to that challenge, it will be Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 manufacturing operations into global had inappropriately low labour because these new sectors rely more well positioned to clear the remaining Subscription production chains. Now, however, productivity, which means they have heavily on sophisticated fi nancial hurdles in its path toward high-income [email protected] its aim is an economy that meets signifi cant room to grow faster. services, free and equitable market status.-Project Syndicate domestic consumers’ diverse demands According to a paper by the access, better educated workers, and and it is the industries closely economists Jong-Wha Lee and higher investment in research and zZhang Jun is professor of economics 2016 Gulf Times. All rights reserved connected to those demands that are Warwick J McKibbin, service-sector development. and director of the China Center for quickly expanding. productivity growth in Asia “benefi ts As a result, the new businesses Economic Studies at Fudan University. Gulf Times Saturday, August 27, 2016 15 COMMENT LEGAL HELPLINE Employer obliged to pay gratuity Employees are entitled for entitlement and its calculations were when there is an arbitration clause The right to object to the court obligates the employer conducting done as per the provisions of Law No in the contract? hearing the dispute on the basis of an medical check-up only for workers gratuity and other benefi ts 3 of 1962 as it states the agreement SF, Doha agreement to arbitrate is likely to be exposed to the dangers of infection even if the company is in concluded between the employer and lost, if the other party failed to make the with vocational diseases. The check- employee shall decide the gratuity A: According to Article 192 of the objection at the fi rst hearing. up should be carried out in accordance Belgians hunt fi nancial diffi culties entitlement. civil and commercial procedure law, with the measures specifi ed by the the arbitration agreement implies the Medical check-up competent authorities. The employer books, instead By Nizar Kochery Payment through relinquishment of the parties’ right to shall keep the results of these check- Doha refer the dispute to the courts having for the employees ups in the fi les concerning the workers. post-dated cheque original jurisdiction. If the result of the check-up shows the If a dispute arises in respect of the Q: Is it mandatory to conduct infl iction of the worker with one of the of Pokemon QUESTION: My uncle has been Q: One of our clients is off ering to execution of a contact that includes annual medical check-up of all occupational diseases, the employer running a small workshop (with six give a post-dated cheque to our arbitration, and one of its parties brings employees? A company I know of is shall notify the department thereof By Maria Haase Coelho employees, including technicians, company for a completed project. an action before the competent court, off ering executive check-ups for its within three days from the date of its Reuters, Brussels driver and helpers) to repair air- How is it possible to confi rm the the other party may raise arbitration as supervisory staff every two years. knowing. conditioners since 2000 but now availability of fund in the account an objection to the non-acceptance of What does the employment law due to some fi nancial issues, he on the cheque date? Is there any the court action. In practice, the courts stipulate in this regard? zPlease send your questions by nspired by the success of wants to close it down and look way to prevent the fund from will generally stay proceedings on a valid AB, Doha e-mail to: [email protected] Pokemon Go, a Belgian primary for a new opportunity somewhere transferring? application pursuant to this provision. A: Article 105 of the Labour Laws (Mobile:55813105) school headmaster has developed else. My questions are: Are the UH, Doha Ian online game for people to workshop employees entitled search for books instead of cartoon for gratuity? If yes, what is the A: The payee can ask the drawer or the LEGAL SYSTEM IN QATAR monsters, attracting tens of thousands minimum job period required for client for the certifi cation of the cheque of players in weeks. them to be entitled for gratuity? to secure the payment. According to According to Article 119, the expiry of the company’s fi nancial year. compensation for attending board While with Pokemon Go, players How is gratuity accounted in Qatar Article 566 of Trade law, the drawer company’s regulations set forth the The board of directors invites all of directors sessions and expenses use a mobile device’s GPS and camera Labor Law? Is it 30 days’ salary per has the right to ask for certifi cation of methods adopted to determine the shareholders to attend the general allowances, and any other amounts to track virtual creatures around annum or diff erent? The gratuity the cheque and such certifi cation shall remuneration of the members of the assembly meeting by issuing in whatever capacity it may be; town, Aveline Gregoire’s version is should be paid on current salary confi rm the availability of suffi cient board of directors. The remuneration invitations through registered mail (2) Benefi ts in cash and in kind played through a Facebook group enjoyed by the chairman of board or or at the salary when person was funds against payment on the date of may be a percentage of profi t, which and also by publishing the convening called “Chasseurs de livres” (“Book shall not exceed 10% of the net profi t of the general assembly in two daily member during the fi nancial year; (3) hired? the endorsement and the bank shall hunters”). after deduction of depreciation local newspapers either of which is to Remunerations proposed by the board SM, Doha set aside the funds for payment of the Players post pictures and hints and legal reserves and dividends of be issued in Arabic, or on website of of directors to be distributed among cheque when it is presented. shareholders which should not be stock market and on company website the board members; (4) The amounts about where they have hidden a book ANSWER: Employees are entitled for The drawee shall not refuse the less than 5% of the company paid at least 15 days before the general allocated for each member of the and others go to hunt them down. gratuity and other benefi ts even if the certifi cation of the cheque if there is capital were distributed among assembly. board; (5) Any transactions in which a Once someone has fi nished reading company is in fi nancial diffi culties. As a suffi cient fund against payment. shareholders. The invitation shall be accompanied board member or the director has had a book, they “release” it back into the per Article 4 of the Labour law, any The signature of the drawee on the As per Article 120, every fi nancial by an agenda of the general assembly, an interest in confl ict with the interest wild. release, compromise or waiver of the face of the cheque is deemed as its year, the board of directors shall all the above mentioned statements of the company; (6) Amounts actually “While I was arranging my library, I entitlements prescribed for the worker certifi cation. prepare the balance sheet of the and documents and the report of the spent for any form of advertisements realised I didn’t have enough space for by labour law shall be deemed void. The funds against payment of company, statement of profi t and loss, auditors. Copies all the documents with the details for each amount; and all my books. According to Article 54 of the the certifi ed cheque shall remain cash fl ow statement and explanations, should be submitted to the concerned (7) Donations with a report about Having played Pokemon Go with Labour Laws - Law No14 of 2004 -, frozen with the drawee and under his to be compared with the previous department also. the recipients and justifi cations and my kids, I had the idea of releasing the employer is obliged to pay end-of- responsibility in favour of its bearer, fi nancial year and audited by the According to Article 122, at least details. the books into nature,” Gregoire told service gratuity to any employee who until the end of the period set for company’s auditors together with a three days before the session of the Banks and other fi nancial Reuters. has completed one or more years of presenting the cheque for payment. report on the company’s activities general assembly called upon to institutions are required to prepare a Though it was only set up a few continuous service. and its fi nancial position during the consider the balance sheet of the report on the monetary loans, credit weeks ago, more than 40,000 people The end-of-service benefi t shall be previous fi nancial year, and the future company and the board of directors’ facilities, or guarantees granted to the are already signed up to Gregoire’s calculated at the rate of three weeks’ Arbitration plans for the coming year. report, the board of directors shall chairman or board members during Facebook group. last drawn basic salary per year of agreement The board prepares these reports make available for examination the fi nancial year and the report The hidden tomes range from books service. The employee is also entitled to and papers within a period not by the shareholders, a detailed should be annexed with the auditors’ for toddlers through to Stephen King be paid gratuity pro-rata for fractions Q: We have a contract dispute for exceeding three months from the end statement that includes the following report certifying that the foregoing horrors, placed around Belgian towns of service. which the resolution is through of fi nancial year of the company and information: (1) All the amounts were made without violating the and countryside, often wrapped in However, for employees who were arbitration. We are told that these shall be presented to the general received by the chairman and every provisions of this law. The chairman clear plastic to keep off the rain. in service with a national fi rm prior to arbitration is expensive. In order to assembly that should be held within board member during the fi nancial of the board of directors and any of the Gregoire is now contemplating its eff ectiveness (January 2005) of the reduce expenses, will we be allowed four months from the date of the year by way of fees and salaries and members should sign the report. taking the game a step further and prevailing Labour Law, the gratuity to proceed with court case even creating an app for it. Weather report Three-day forecast

TODAY High: 41 C Low : 33 C Hazy to misty at places at first becomes hot daytime with some clouds and relatively humid by night

SUNDAY An artist’s impression of a view of High: 39 C the surface of the planet Proxima b Low: 33 C orbiting the red dwarf star Proxima Sunny Centauri, the closest star to the solar system.

MONDAY High: 40 C Low: 32 C Closest potentially Sunny habitable planet to

Fishermen’s forecast solar system found OFFSHORE DOHA Wind: SW-NW 03-12 KT Waves: 1-3 Feet INSHORE DOHA QNA Wind: NE-SE 05-15 KT Washington Waves: 1-2 Feet

Around the region esearchers have confi rmed Weather Weather the existence of a rocky planet today Max/min tomorrow Max/min named Proxima b orbiting Abu Dhabi Sunny 44/29 Sunny 45/30 Proxima Centauri, the closest Baghdad Sunny 49/31 Sunny 49/30 R star to our sun, according to a new Dubai Sunny 42/30 Sunny 43/31 Kuwait City Sunny 47/31 Sunny 44/30 study. Manama Sunny 43/31 Sunny 42/32 It is the closest exoplanet to us in the Muscat Sunny 36/26 Sunny 35/26 universe. Riyadh Sunny 44/29 M Sunny 45/29 Given the fact that Proxima b is Tehran Sunny 36/24 Sunny 35/24 within the habitable zone of its star, meaning liquid water could exist on the surface, it may also be the closest possible home for life outside of our solar system. Because of its location, the researchers hope it provides an opportunity for possible “robotic exploration in the coming centuries”. Proxima Centauri coexists with a binary star in Alpha Centauri, a well- studied star system that serves as a neighbour to our sun. Proxima b is a mere 4.2 light- years away from our solar system, or 266,000 times the distance between the Earth and the sun, which are 92.96mn miles apart. Previous rocky exoplanet discoveries, like those orbiting ultracool red dwarf star TRAPPIST-1, were described as “close” at 40 light- Around the world years away. Weather Weather Proxima b is a rocky, terrestrial today Max/min tomorrow Max/min planet with a surface - unlike a gas Athens Sunny 31/22 Sunny 31/22 Beirut Sunny 30/24 Sunny 29/24 giant, such as Jupiter - that is 1.3 times Bangkok S T Storms 34/27 S T Storms 34/27 the size of Earth and orbits its star Berlin Sunny 32/17 Sunny 33/19 every 11.2 days. Cairo Sunny 37/24 Sunny 36/24 It is in a close orbit of Proxima Cape Town Sunny 26/13 P Cloudy 21/12 Colombo T Storms 28/26 T Storms 29/26 Centauri: only 5% of the distance Dhaka S T Storms 34/27 I T Storms 33/27 between the Earth and the sun. Hong Kong S T Storm 31/27 P Cloudy 30/27 They are even closer together than Istanbul S Showers 27/21 S Showers 28/21 Mercury and the sun. Jakarta T Storms 32/25 S T Storms 32/25 Karachi P Cloudy 33/27 T Storms 32/27 But because its star is much cooler London S T Storms 26/17 S Showers 24/14 and fainter than our sun, Proxima b has Manila S T Storms 31/26 S T Storms 31/26 a temperature that is suitable for liquid Moscow Sunny 27/16 Sunny 21/09 water to exist on the surface without New Delhi T Storms 32/27 S T Storms 33/27 evaporating. Gulf Times 16 Saturday, August 27, 2016 QATAR

A number of fun-filled games at the Entertainment City test visitors’ skills. PICTURES: Joey Aguilar Children wait for their turn. Shows, rides and games delight visitors at Qatar summer festival

By Joey Aguilar propriate art and drawing en- Staff Reporter vironment for many children at the festival. She stressed that their zone y Little Pony show, a also served as a “good alter- new addition to a wide native” for children who want Mrange of entertainment to spend the day doing some off erings at the Doha Exhibition colouring and drawing activi- and Convention Centre (DECC), ties besides other activities at enthralled visitors yesterday DECC. “Many children still with its charming characters love to move around and they who performed on stage. want to try all the thrill rides, The show, which started on video games and drive Go Karts Thursday, will end on August here,” the staff said. 31, also the last day of the Qatar She also encouraged parents Summer Festival (QSF), organ- to bring their children to the ised by Qatar Tourism Author- Qatar Foundation’s National ity. Reading Campaign section, Dressed in colourful cos- which offers a number of inter- tumes, the ponies welcomed esting games and activities to visitors, including a large motivate children to read more. number of families at DECC’s Amusement rides continue to attract visitors at the Entertainment City. Water rides are a big hit at the festival. Other entertainment of- Entertainment Stage from 1pm ferings include a karaoke sec- to 9.40pm. Entertainment Stage told Gulf lies and children to watch the and QTA expects the number to verse range of offerings, re- from neighbouring GCC coun- tion, wider rides, inflatable The show also had three Times that they expect the show in the last five days of the increase further this year, cit- duced ticket prices and acces- tries. play area, interactive and video breaks to give spectators and number of visitors at the festi- festival,” she said. “I believe it ing a bigger venue and a wide sible venue for the staging of Another staff assigned at the games among others. fans an opportunity to min- val to increase due to the popu- would exceed last year’s record range of entertainment activi- the month-long QSF this year ‘Colour Your Summer’ zone QSF 2016 will conclude on gle with the characters for the larity and appeal of My Little of more than 200,000 visitors.” ties, amusement rides, fun- have been attracting a large said they have been getting a August 31 with a spectacular ‘meet and greet’ portion. Pony. The first six days of QSF had filled games, and shows. number of domestic and for- lot of positive feedback from fireworks display on the Doha A QSF staff assigned at the “We hope to see more fami- seen more than 40,000 visitors The staff noted that the di- eign visitors, including those parents for providing an ap- Corniche in the evening. Souq Waqif pet shops a big draw for young and old

By Peter Alagos Business Reporter

oha residents, Gayle So- riano and Carla Lacson Dhad never owned pets back home in the Philippines but yesterday they found themselves strolling from one pet store to another at Souq Waqif looking for a scratching post for a grey longhair they have both adopted a couple of months back. They found the cat loitering outside their fl at and the feline decided to stay longer, waiting A young girl pets a rabbit while a toddler looks on. PICTURES: Peter Alagos for leftover food from the owners Cats are popular among visitors at Souq Waqif’s pet shops. of its newfound home. But they stopped giving leftovers after a veterinarian recommended that they should, instead, feed it with cat food. “I never thought it would be this expensive to own a cat!” complained Gayle, who added that she now spends extra to buy cat food, cat litter and other pet necessities. “But we’ve grown fond of her because she’s quiet and housebroken,” she added. In another pet shop, a mother Cat owners Carla Lacson and Gayle Soriano was having a light banter with check out some of the rabbits while looking Colourful lorikeets add to the festive mood that visitors enjoy her two sons, who tried but for a scratching post. at the souq. failed to convince her to buy them a Persian cat. are one of the “best” attractions “While many people visit the and dogs,” the father said. “We used to own some cats and crowd drawers at Souq Wa- shops, there are only a few who When asked what pets are pop- and dogs back in our country qif, which is renowned among buy pets. But once residents ular among customers, Mohamed but our home here in Doha is too Qatar residents and tourists start coming back from their va- said customer preference “always small, making it very diffi cult alike for its restaurants, souvenir cation, maybe our sales will pick varies and depends on how much for us to take care of a pet,” she shops and antiquated ambience. up,” he noted. they are willing to spend for a pet.” told Gulf Times. “Perhaps, next However, demand for pets One family visiting the Souq He said a Maltese puppy sells time,” she said, comforting the has dropped in recent months, said a trip to the pet shops is a for QR2,500, while a Persian kit- obviously disappointed young which he attributed to the sum- must for their children. “While ten can be bought for QR1,000. A boy as they walked away from mer season and the exodus of we do not buy any pets, our chil- small turtle, he added, costs QR45. the store. many expatriate workers aff ect- dren enjoy looking at the variety Love birds range from QR60 to Mohamed, who manages one ed by company downsizing since of fi sh and other animals. They QR120 and an African grey parrot A young girl enjoys petting some of the animals on display. of the pet shops, said the stores oil prices fell. also enjoy petting the rabbits costs QR1,500.