BUSINESS | Page 1
Kiwis spin
GULF TIMES
Qatar, Turkey sign pacts to cement ties
His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan co-chairing the Qatar-Turkey Supreme Strategic
Committee meeting in Istanbul yesterday.
z Amir, Erdogan co-chair fourth meeting of Qatar-Turkey Supreme Strategic Committee
z Economic partnership agreement aims at liberalising trade in goods and services
QNA
Istanbul
F
urther strengthening bilateral
ties, Qatar and Turkey yester-
day signed an agreement and a
number of memorandums of under-
standing in the presence of His High-
ness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Ha-
mad al-Thani and Turkish President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan at Vahdettin Pa-
vilion in Istanbul.
This followed the fourth meeting of
Qatar-Turkey Supreme Strategic Com-
mittee. An MoU was signed between
Qatar Civil Aviation Authority and
Turkey’s Directorate General of Civil
Aviation. Another was for the Cultural
Year 2019-2020 with regard to co-op-
eration in the field of culture between
the two countries.
Two co-operation protocols were
also signed. The first is on co-opera-
tion and training in the field of elec-
tronic warfare, and the second on the
exchange of members of the armed
forces.
A trade and economic partnership
agreement too was signed aimed at lib-
eralising trade in goods and services,
Qatar condemns
explosion in Somalia
Qatar has expressed its strong
condemnation and denunciation of
the explosion in a religious centre in
the city of Galkayo in Somalia, killing
a cleric and nine of his followers. The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated
Qatar’s firm stance rejecting
violence and terrorism regardless of
their motives and causes. Page 10
Nasa’s InSight lander
touches down on Mars
Nasa’s $993mn Mars InSight lander
has successfully touched down on
the Red Planet to listen for quakes
and study how rocky planets
formed, the US space agency said
yesterday. “Touchdown confirmed,”
a mission control operator said.
US warns Russia on
actions in Ukraine
The United States yesterday warned
Russia that “outlaw actions” like
the seizure of Ukrainian ships in
the Sea of Azov are preventing
normal relations from developing
between Washington and Moscow.
US ambassador Nikki Haley told
an emergency meeting of the UN
Security Council that outlaw actions
like this one continue to make that
impossible. Page 16
SPORT | Page 1
Qatar seen playing a key role
in China’s Belt and Road plan
co-operation in electronic commerce
and attracting investment between the
two sides.
The ceremonies were concluded by
signing the joint statement issued by
the fourth meeting of Qatar-Turkey
Supreme Strategic Committee.
Earlier, His Highness the Amir
and Turkish president co-chaired
the fourth meeting of Qatar-Turkey
Supreme Strategic Committee. At
the outset of the meeting, President
Erdogan welcomed His Highness the
Amir and the accompanying delega-
tion, and expressed pleasure for the
visit which comes in the framework
of the Supreme Strategic Commit-
tee.
The Turkish president praised the
level of relations and co-operation be-
tween the two countries which coin-
cides with the commemoration of the
45th anniversary of the establishment
of diplomatic relations. He underlined
that Turkey and Qatar have supported
one another in hard times, and proved
to be true friends on many occasions,
especially in hard days, referring to
Turkey’s efforts to lift the unjust siege
on Qatar, and Qatar’s great support to
Turkey during the failed coup in June
NTC launches Qatar’s first
global destination campaign
By Joey Aguilar
Staff Reporter
T
he National Tourism Council
(NTC) launched yesterday Qa-
tar’s first globally-co-ordinated
promotion campaign aimed at posi-
tioning the country as an attractive
destination, targeting 225mn interna-
tional travellers across 15 markets.
HE the Prime Minister and Interior
Minister and NTC’s chairman of the
board Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin
Khalifa al-Thani led the inauguration
of the tourism initiative at a special
ceremony, in the presence of diplo-
mats, dignitaries and guests.
The campaign, ‘Qatar. Qurated for you’,
focuses on providing unique and bespoke
experiences for various types of visitors,
which include ‘exclusivity thrivers’ (luxury
travellers), wander lusters, ‘together again’
(families), ‘mostly’ business, value con-
scious, and ‘authentic immersers’.
“We look forward to bringing the spirit
of Qurated to life, on people’s television
2016, as well as its support during the
fierce campaign against Turkey re-
cently.
President Erdogan, on behalf of the
Turkish people, expressed his deep
thanks for Qatar’s solidarity and its
strong stand in support of Turkey.
The Turkish president said the bi-
lateral meeting with His Highness the
Amir was very fruitful, noting it dis-
cussed the level of relations between
the two countries and means of bol-
stering the strategic co-operation and
expanding its horizons, stressing the
convergence of views on issues related
to regional developments.
His Highness the Amir expressed
thanks and gratitude to the Turkish
president for the warm hospitality, ex-
pressing pleasure to visit Turkey for the
fourth meeting of Qatar-Turkey Su-
preme Strategic Committee, which he
described as a strong model of fraternal
relations.
Responding to the Turkish presi-
dent’s thanks for Qatar for its support,
His Highness the Amir said that it was
the duty of Qatar by virtue of brother-
hood, affirming that Qatar will never
forget the support of the Turkish presi-
dent personally to Qatar in the crisis
HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister and NTC’s chairman of the board
Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani officially launches Qatar’s first global
destination campaign under the tagline ‘Qatar. Qurated for you.’
screens, in airports around the world, and
eventually here in Qatar where the world
is welcomed to experience our authentic
heritage and forward-looking vision,” NTC
official Hassan al-Ibrahim said.
He noted that NTC reviewed and
considered inputs from its public and
private sector partners (local and inter-
national) in developing the campaign
– designed to make Qatar ‘a top-of-
out of
control
on Yasir’s
10-wicket day
His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan in Istanbul yesterday. The two leaders reviewed areas of co-operation, mainly in politics, trade,
economy, investment and culture. Page 2
that started a year and seven months
ago.
His Highness the Amir noted that
Qatar was wronged in this crisis, but
Turkey stood with the truth and now
Qatar has proved to the world that it
was right and that the accusations
against it were false.
His Highness the Amir added that
the support for Turkey is the support
of all Qatar and the people of Qatar.
“We are advocates of peace and we do
not want problems, but be assured, Mr
President, that if Turkey needs any-
thing in the future we will always stand
with our friends and brothers.”
His Highness the Amir underlined
that Turkey will do the same thing and
will always support Qatar.
His Highness the Amir noted that he
discussed with the Turkish president
during the meeting a number of issues,
including the development of the eco-
nomic and trade relations and other
fields.
Talks covered the strategic co-oper-
ation relations between the two coun-
tries in various fields. The two sides
also exchanged views and consulted on
the most important issues on the re-
gional and international arenas.
mind’ destination through captivating
visuals, offering glimpses of its authen-
tic tourism offerings.
“This process is representative of our
ethos as an industry, which is deeply
rooted in the spirit of collaboration
and partnership to deliver exceptional
experiences at every touch point of the
visitor’s journey,” al-Ibrahim stressed.
To Page 2
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bl
Q since
is
AT 19
he R
d
A 78
in
TUESDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 11015
November 27, 2018
Rabia I 19, 1440 AH
www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals
His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani tweeted:
“We are proud of the successes achieved through the Qatari-Turkish partnership
since it was established in 2014. With the signing of more agreements, new horizons
for co-operation and brotherly relationships between the two countries are opened,
in a way that achieves the goals of our two peoples and serves causes of the region
regarding security and stability.
The meeting was attended by mem- seen off at Istanbul’s Ataturk Inter-
bers of the official delegation accom- national Airport by Turkish Minister
panying the Amir, and a number of of Foreign Affairs Mevlut Cavusoglu,
ministers and senior officials from the Qatar’s ambassador to Turkey Salem
Turkish side. Mubarak Shafi al-Shafi, Turkey’s am-
During the bilateral meeting which bassador to Qatar Fikret Ozer and the
was held prior to the fourth meeting Qatar embassy staff.
of Qatar-Turkey Supreme Strategic His Highness the Amir sent a cable
Committee, the Amir and the Turkish to Erdogan to express deep thanks and
president reviewed areas of joint co- appreciation for the warm welcome
operation, mainly in the fields of poli- and hospitality accorded to him during
tics, trade, economy, investment and the visit.
culture. His Highness the Amir expressed his
The two sides also discussed the lat- deep satisfaction with the positive and
est developments in the region, and constructive outcome of the meeting,
exchanged views on issues of mutual which will contribute to strengthening
concern. His Highness the Amir also and developing the strong relations be-
attended the dinner banquet hosted by tween the two brotherly countries and
the Turkish president at Vahdettin Pa- his best wishes of the best of health and
vilion. wellness for the president and further
His Highness the Amir Sheikh progress and prosperity for the Turkish
Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani was later people.
Police search villa outside
Istanbul in Khashoggi case
z One of the ‘killers’ had spoken to owner
of the villa a day before the murder: Turkey
about the destruction or disappear-
Reuters
ance of the body parts, the prosecu-
Yalova, Turkey
tor’s office said.
Police used sniffer dogs to search
T
urkish police searched a re- the garden of the villa and the nearby
mote villa in a coastal area wooded area, according to Reuters
southeast of Istanbul yester- cameramen at the scene. Officials told
day as part of the investigation into Reuters last month that Khashoggi’s
the killing last month of Saudi jour- killers may have dumped his remains at
nalist Jamal Khashoggi, officials said. a rural location near Yalova, which is a
Authorities believe that one of the 90-km drive southeast of Istanbul.
Saudi agents allegedly involved in They had halted the search yester-
the murder at the kingdom’s Istanbul day evening.
consulate, Mansour Othman Aba- Authorities have previously carried
hussain, called the villa’s owner a day out inspections at the kingdom’s consu-
before the killing, the Istanbul chief late and the consul general’s residence in
prosecutor’s office said. Istanbul as part of an investigation into
The owner of the property is a the killing of the journalist, a Washington
Saudi national, Mohamed Ahmed Post columnist and a prominent critic of
Alfaozan, who had the codename the Saudi government.
“Ghozan”, it said. Two officials told Khashoggi’s killing has strained
Reuters that Alfaozan had purchased Saudi Arabia’s ties with the West and
the property, near Yalova on the Sea battered the image overseas of its de
of Marmara, around three years ago. facto leader, Crown Prince Mohamed
The phone call was believed to be bin Salman (MbS). To Page 16
 Gulf Times
2 Tuesday, November 27, 2018
QATAR
Amir, Erdogan witness signing of deals
His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan witness the signing of agreements
between the governments of Qatar and Turkey in Istanbul yesterday.
Global destination campaign launched
From Page 1
The campaign will be
launched in all the markets in
which NTC has representation
(across the US, Europe, Asia
and Russia): Moscow, Russia;
Mumbai, India; Beijing, Shang-
hai, Guangzhou and Chengdu
in China; Singapore, which also
covers Malaysia; Istanbul, Tur-
key; London, UK (also Ireland);
New York, US; Milan, Italy; Ber-
lin (Germany, Austria and Swit-
zerland); and Paris, France.
“Qurated is more than an ad-
vertising campaign: we’ve close-
ly examined what this country
offers as a destination to bring
into sharp focus the essence of
the Qatar experience, and how
it can be tailored to each of our
visitor segments,” NTC repre-
sentative Rashed al-Qurese said.
He noted that NTC is part-
nering with some of the world’s
most popular travel platforms
such as TripAdvisor and Lonely
Planet “to deliver bespoke end-
to-end experiences to our visi-
tors while achieving true impact
for the industry.”
Al-Qurese pointed out that
such move will allow prospective
visitors to curate their next visit
to Qatar as they read about the
destination, through to making
their reservations and enjoying
the country’s a wide range of
cultural and natural attractions.
His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani being received by Turkish President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan at Vahdettin Pavilion in Istanbul yesterday.
His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani reviews a guard of honour upon arrival in
Istanbul airport yesterday.
Woqod opens Rawdat Al
Hamama-2 petrol station
Focus on delivering visitor-centric experiences
Q
atar Fuel (Woqod) yes- fers round-the-clock services,
terday opened Rawdat and includes Sidra conven-
Campaign Tagline: Qatar. Qurated for you. on a particular aspect of Qatar’s tourism roadshows and other media. Al Hamama-2 fixed ience store, manual car wash,
What does Qurated mean? offering. Conducted entirely online, the z 298 campaigns targeting tour operators petrol station, taking its net- oil change and tyre repair, sale
Curating requires professional or expert programme offers participants flexibility to and 157 media campaigns. work of various petrol stations of LPG cylinders, in addition
knowledge to select, organise and present suit their individual schedules and complete NTC’s promotion efforts targeting transit to 79. to sale of gasoline and diesel
unique experiences. As such, the Qurated each module’s test at their own pace. passengers (B2C): Rawdat Al Hamama-2, products for light vehicles.
campaign plays on both the word’s definition z There are more than 10,000 travel agents Studies have shown that travellers who enjoy spread over an area of 10,000sq “Woqod is currently oversee-
and the destination brand’s iconic Q to enrolled in Qatar’s Tawash programme. It memorable short-stays in a destination are m, has three lanes with six dis- ing the implementation of 17 new
underscore the country’s focus on delivering is available in several languages, including more likely to revisit it in the future. As such, pensers, it was explained in a petrol stations. Some of these
visitor-centric experiences. Arabic, English, Russian, French, Italian, NTC’s promotion efforts place particular statement. stations are expected to be op-
Qatar’s tourism offering categories: coastal and German and Turkish. focus on cruise and transit passengers “Woqod has recently accel- erational during the current year,
desert, culture and arts, urban lifestyle, future z Familiarisation trips: Qatar regularly arriving through Qatar’s air and sea ports. erated the process for the con- nine are in the bidding phase and
and sustainability, business events, and sports hosts delegations of travel and tourism z Free Doha city tours for transit passengers. struction of new petrol stations 14 in the design phase.
Tourism and travel platforms: Expedia, professionals to experience Qatar’s unique z ‘+Qatar’ campaign with Qatar Airways to meet the fuel and energy “As part of its strategic ex-
Lonely Planet, Booking.com, TripAdvisor, and tourism offerings first-hand. These trips which offered stopover passengers free needs of the country,” said Saad pansion plan, Woqod is target-
Google. include site visits to key attractions and accommodation in a 5- or 4-star hotel. Rashid al-Muhannadi, chief ing the achievement of a total
Prospective target markets: Australia and hotels as well as meetings with destination z 80,000+ travellers availed of the executive officer, Woqod. of 130 fuel stations by the end
Scandinavia (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, management companies and other service campaign’s offer tallying up more than The new petrol station of- of 2020,” he added.
Norway and Sweden) providers. 55,000 hotel nights.
NTC’s promotion efforts targeting travel & z To date, Qatar has hosted 1,500 +travel NOTE: NTC worked to facilitate
tourism trade (B2B): agents, 500+ media & 170+ social media disembarkation procedures for cruise
z Tawash, a destination training programme influencers. passengers, allowing them to make the most
comprised of five modules, each focusing z Targeted B2B marketing through of their stay in Qatar.
Besides running across print, of ‘Qurated’ comes at “an ex- which aims to develop solid Qatar’s revised visitor visa
television and digital platforms citing period of growth and de- tourism infrastructure and de- policies further complemented
in eight different languages (Ar- velopment” for Qatar’s tourism liver exceptional visitor experi- what NTC described as “foun-
abic, English, French, Italian, sector. Just a few weeks earlier, ences. dational developments,” making
German, Russian, Turkish and Qatar Tourism Authority and the Both the revised governance the country as the most open
Mandarin), ‘Qurated’ is also set Permanent Committee for Con- model and the global promotion country in the Middle East and
to partner with global television ferences was converted to NTC. campaign are critical components the eighth most open in the
networks such as CNN Interna- The new governance structure of the sector’s newest strategy world, based on the United Na-
tional, Al Jazeera Network, beIN, set the stage for the implemen- launched in 2017 (The Next Chap- tions World Tourism Organi-
Digiturk and Sky TV. tation of key initiatives across ter of the National Tourism Sector sation’s recently updated visa
According to NTC, the launch the public and private sectors, Strategy), NTC noted. openness rankings. The new Rawdat Al Hamama-2 Woqod petrol station.
 Gulf Times
Tuesday, November 27, 2018 3

QATAR
PM holds talks with FIA president

Council discusses
draft General State
Budget for 2019
T
he Advisory Council held
its weekly session yes-
terday under the chair-
manship of HE the Speaker
Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid
al-Mahmoud.
In a meeting attended by
HE the Minister of Finance Ali
Sherif al-Emadi, Public Works
Authority (Ashghal) President
Dr Saad bin Ahmed al-Mohan-
nadi, and a number of senior of-
ficials at the Ministry of Finance,
the Council discussed the draft
General State Budget for the fis-
cal year 2019 and the draft law
approving it.
The Minister of Finance
explained the government’s
view on the draft budget and
answered the questions and
queries raised by the members.
At the beginning of the dis-
cussion of the draft budget,
the Speaker thanked His
Highness the Amir Sheikh
Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani
for his wise guidance and
policies which enabled the
country to occupy this pres-
tigious position and enjoy
a strong economy capable
of growing at high rates and
gaining the confidence of
global financial institutions.
He added that it is a source
of satisfaction that the direc-
tives and visions of His High-
ness the Amir are embodied in
the draft budget as well as in
its objectives, foundations and
philosophy.
HE al-Mahmoud affirmed
that the foundations on which
the draft budget is based were
welcome, praised and support-
ed by the Council, adding that
they aimed to provide the nec-
essary allocations for the Qatar
National Vision 2030 plans and
projects, continue to increase
non-oil revenues and provide
financial allocations to complete
major projects and projects re-
lated to the 2022 World Cup, as
well as develop infrastructure
in the economic, industrial and
logistical areas, improve busi-
ness environment, enhance the
role of the private sector, sup-
port food security projects, al-
locate sufficient resources over
five years to develop an integrat-
ed infrastructure for citizens’
lands, and continue work to in-
crease the efficiency of public
spending.
He added that in light of these
foundations and goals, the draft
budget meets expectations
and is in line with the require-
ments of the stage. It opens the
horizons for further develop-
ment and construction in vari-
ous fields of development and
services to increase our econ-
omy strength and durability,
to preserve the country’s sov-
ereignty, free will and its inde-
pendent national decision, and
to achieve the ambitions and
aspirations of its people, he noted.
The Advisory Council Speaker
said that we take pride in our HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani
leadership and our loyal peo- met yesterday morning with International Automobile Federation (FIA) president Jean Todt, on
ple that our country is achiev- the sidelines of the International Traffic Safety Conference at Sheraton Hotel Doha. During the
ing all these achievements and meeting, bilateral relations were reviewed, especially in the field of traffic safety, in addition to
moving towards the future with discussing a number of topics on the agenda of the conference.
confidence, determination and
stability despite the unjust siege
imposed on it.
He thanked the Minister of Fi-
nance and the Ashghal President
and the accompanying team for Minister meets FIA president
attending the Council’s meeting
and responding to the queries of
its members.
After the extensive and objec-
tive discussions, the Advisory
Council praised the draft Gen-
eral State Budget for the fiscal
year 2019, and lauded the ef-
forts of the government and its
plans and programmes within
the framework of the National
Development Strategy 2018-
2022 and Qatar National Vision
2030. (QNA)

Ministry Minister affirms support for theatre

calls on
H
E the Minister of Cul- The meeting discussed the in this season, which includes
ture and Sports Salah reservations of the Qatar Na- five plays for adults and four

students bin Ghanem bin Nasser

al-Ali affirmed the ministry’s
support for the qualitative leap
tional Theatre as appropriate
to the preparations of the play-
wrights to present their new
plays for children. This number
of plays is a significant quan-
titative development in the

to benefit witnessed in the theatre and will

promote every theatre project
committed to developing aware-
plays in the categories of adults
and children, a statement is-
sued by the Ministry of Culture
theatre, as nine teams will par-
ticipate in the theatre compe-
titions of national and private

from digital ness in the community and

raising the taste of the public.
This came during the minis-
and Sports said.
The meeting saw a construc-
tive dialogue in which the play-
teams.
The statement revealed that it
was decided to organise the clos-

lessons ter’s meeting with the heads of

the national theatrical groups
and artists who represent some
of the private production insti-
wrights stressed their partici-
pation in the goal of the success
of the new season and agreed
on the schedule of distribution
ing ceremony of the season of the
theatre on 15 September 2019. Ac-
cordingly, the centre for theatre
HE the Minister of Culture and Sports Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali met with United
Nations (UN) Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety and president of International
Automobile Federation (FIA) Jean Todt, who is participating in the International Traffic Safety
affairs will make amendments to Conference (ITSC) in Doha. During the meeting, they discussed various topics related to the

T
he Ministry of Education
and Higher Education has
urged students to benefit
from the digital lessons offered
by the electronic department, to
support and enrich the sources
of learning.
The digital lessons cover all
subjects between the third grade
tutions to consecrate the princi-
ple of consultation between the
members of the theatre family
and enhance the spirit of team-
work to present a distinguished
theatrical season this year.
of theatrical performances in
co-operation with the centre
for theatre affairs.
They also agreed on extend-
ing the theatrical season to ac-
commodate the various plays
its annual calendar of theatrical
events throughout the year and will
provide the appropriate conditions
to facilitate the work of theatre
groups and the work of the theatre
evaluation committee. (QNA)
future of motorsports and ways to develop it, especially in Qatar and the Middle East, in addition
to reviewing future projects between FIA and Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation. They also
reviewed ways to attract youth to motorsport, which is a key area where young people express
their talents within the existing regulatory framework, which ensures the safety of practitioners.
The two sides also discussed means of enhancing traffic safety through exchanging experiences.

HMC warns against indoor carbon monoxide poisoning

and 12th grade. The ministry
gave out awareness flyers to stu-
dents to explain the steps needed
to access the lessons through
YouTube, then to the channel

of the needed grade and finally
to the playlist of the subject re-
quired. The YouTube channel is
continuously updated with new
lessons.
This aims to provide all stu-
dents with a series of digital
educational tutorials linked to
Qatar’s curriculum standards
from 3rd to 12th grade, to raise
the level of academic achieve-
ment and ensure that they meet
the subject goals. It also comes
as part of the ministry’s efforts to
provide learning sources that are
diverse and attractive to students
and to enable self-learning.
The digital lessons have been
launched three years ago and cur-
rently has nearly 3mn views and
more than 22,000 subscribers.
Students may use this link
to access the lessons: https://
www.youtube.com/channel/
UCeW65lIctwlk85F4Mghe-eg
(QNA)
H
amad Medical Corporation
(HMC) warned the public about
the dangers of carbon monox-
ide poisoning from burning coal and
firewood indoor for heating.
Last winter between 70 and 100
patients were treated each month
at HMC’s Emergency Departments
for carbon monoxide (CO) poison-
ing. In advance of the cooler tem-
peratures setting in, HMC is warn-
ing residents about the dangers of
burning charcoal and wood inside
their homes.
“During the colder months, we
see an increase in the number of pa-
tients with carbon monoxide posi-
tioning. Many people seek ways to
keep their homes warm and some
resort to burning coal or wood in-
side. When charcoal and wood burn
without oxygen, they produce fossil
fuels that release carbon monoxide –
a colourless, tasteless, and odourless
gas. Carbon monoxide is very hard
to detect, leading to people inhaling
When charcoal and wood burn without
oxygen, they produce fossil fuels that
release carbon monoxide.
it and being poisoned. This can hap-
pen very quickly and is extremely
dangerous,” said Dr Galal Saleh al-
Essai, an Accident and Emergency
Consultant at HMC.
Dr al-Essai explains that carbon
monoxide poisoning is so dangerous
because the signs and symptoms can
be easy to miss. “Many people with
mild carbon monoxide poisoning think
they have food poisoning or the flu and
dismiss the symptoms. Symptoms of
carbon monoxide poisoning can start
to appear within five to 20 minutes of
exposure but notes that lower concen-
trations may lead to a delay in the onset
of symptoms,” he said.
He urges anyone who develops
symptoms of carbon monoxide poi-
soning, which can include a headache,
dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath,
weakness, and confusion, to get into
the fresh air immediately and seek
emergency medical help.
“Most of the patients we receive at
the Emergency Department show flu-
like symptoms such as headaches, diz-
ziness, disorientation, nausea, and fa-
tigue. Some may also experience chest
pain, especially those with coronary
heart disease. If carbon monoxide has
been inhaled in a high concentration, as
is the case in the incidence of fire, pa-
tients could also experience impaired
vision, confusion, and loss of co-ordi-
nation,” added Dr al-Essai.
The HMC consultant said last win-
ter a number of patients were treated
at HMC Emergency Departments for
serious burns sustained due to using
small engines, stoves, lanterns, grills,
fireplaces, gas ranges, or furnaces as
heating sources. He said there were also
fatalities as a result of carbon monoxide
poisoning.
“Sadly there have been deaths as a
carbon monoxide poisoning. These
preventable poisonings were the result
of smoke inhalation from the burning
of coal and wood in enclosed areas. It is
essential that we raise awareness about
the dangers of this practice and the im-
portance of only using approved heat-
ing appliances,” said Dr al-Essai.
While anyone is at risk for carbon
monoxide positioning, some popula-
tion groups are particularly vulnerable,
including pregnant women, newborns,
and young children, elderly people, and
those with chronic illnesses, such as
pulmonary, respiratory, or cardiovas-
cular problems and anaemia.
Dr al-Essai recommends the follow-
ing tips to prevent carbon monoxide
positioning, including; never use a gas-
powered generator indoors, including
inside a camper or tent, ensure bat-
tery-operated electronic heating ap-
pliances are approved; approved appli-
ances will include an approval number
or mark, never burn charcoal or wood
indoors, unless it is in an approved in-
door wood-burning appliance, never
use a gas range or oven for heating as
using a gas range or oven for heating
can cause a build-up of carbon monox-
ide inside your home, cabin, or camper,
never burn charcoal indoors, and never
use a portable gas camp stove indoors
as using a gas camp stove indoors can
cause carbon monoxide to build up in-
side your home, cabin, or camper. He
advised keeping warm by wearing lay-
ers of warm clothing and drinking hot
fluids. (QNA)

Qeeri receives scientific delegation from Japan French universities and top
Q institutes to take part in expo
atar Environment and
Energy Research In-
stitute (Qeeri), part of
Hamad Bin Khalifa University
(HBKU), recently welcomed

high-ranking delegates from
Japan’s scientific community.
They were accompanied by Japa-
nese ambassador Seiichi Otsuka.
Touring Qeeri’s state-of-the-
art facilities were Prof Teruo Kishi,
science and technology adviser to
the Minister for Foreign Affairs of
Japan; Prof Yoshio Bando, execu-
tive adviser for Materials Nanoar-
chitectonics at the National Insti-
tute of Material Sciences; Masahiro
Takemura, director for Structural
Materials for Innovation, Japan
Science and Technology Agency;
and Kana Asano, science and tech-
nology researcher, Ministry for
Foreign Affairs of Japan.
During their visit, delegates
met with Dr Richard O’Kennedy,
The Japanese delegation with Qeeri officials.
vice president for Research,
Development and Innovation
at Qatar Foundation and vice
president for research at HBKU;
Dr Marc Vermeersch, executive
director at Qeeri; and manage-
ment and staff of the research
institute. Qeeri aims to tackle
the grand challenges of the Qa-
tar and the region by conduct-
ing groundbreaking research and
providing robust data that may
influence policy making for fu-
ture sustainability environment,
energy and water security.
F
rench universities and
higher education in-
stitutes, as well as the
French agency Campus France,
will be exhibitors at Univer-
sity Expo Qatar, which begins
tomorrow.
The event, held under the
patronage of HE the Minister of
Education and Higher Educa-
tion Dr Mohamed Abdul Wa-
hed Ali al-Hammadi, will take
place until Thursday at Qatar
National Convention Centre.
University Expo Qatar will
gather more than 50 universi-
ties from 15 countries. It is open
to students, parents, school
counsellers and career advisers.
Five French institutions will
take part in the expo: Campus
France, the French agency for
promotion of the French higher
education system, internation-
al student services and inter-
national mobility; HEC Paris
in Qatar; Toulouse Business
School; CESI, the engineer-
ing school; and Azurlingua, the
French foreign language school.
Franck Gellet, French ambassa-
dor to Qatar, will attend the open-
ing of University Expo Qatar.
“France welcomes many in-
ternational students and we
are very pleased that for this
important event, University
Expo Qatar, students and par-
ents will have the opportunity
to meet French institutions and
discuss with them about the
opportunities of studying in
France,” he said.
Ali Zainal, Permanent Del-
egate of Qatar to Unesco, will
give a presentation on stud-
ies in France from 11.15am to
11.45am tomorrow.
France is the fourth des-
tination in the world for in-
ternational students, with 73
universities, 225 engineering
schools, 220 business schools,
120 art schools, 20 architecture
schools and 3,000 other spe-
cialised institutions (hotels and
restaurants, health, journalism
schools, fashion, design, etc),
the French embassy has said in
a statement.
 Gulf Times
4 Tuesday, November 27, 2018

QATAR

Traffic safety
plan aims to
curb accidents
By Ramesh Mathew
HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani and other dignitaries at the opening of the
International Traffic Safety Conference yesterday. PICTURES: Shaji Kayamkulam

tending its support to the traffic

Staff Reporter safety campaigns being initi-
ated by the UN at the global level
Qatar’s Ministry of Transport

H
E the Minister of Trans-
port and Communica-
tions Jassim Seif Ahmed
al-Sulaiti said yesterday that the
Ministry of Transport and Com-
munications (MoTC) has begun
implementing its five-year traf-
fic safety plan, covering many
aspects, to curb accidents and
deaths and injuries resulting
from accidents.
Speaking at the opening ses-
sion at the International Traf-
fic Safety Conference, he said
the plan focuses on decreasing
deaths by 50% to finally achieve
the zero accidents vision.
There is also emphasis on build-
ing highly-efficient road networks
including second generation intel-
ligent strategy for transport which
reduces traffic congestion and
accidents and meets the develop-
ment requirements of the State
and the society.
HE the Prime Minister and In-
terior Minister Sheikh Abdullah
bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani
was present at the opening ses-
sion of the conference organised
jointly by the Ministry of Inte-
rior and Qatar University (QU).
While complimenting the
QU president Dr Hassan Rashid al-Derham addressing the opening
session.
achievements of Qatar, the min-
ister said it is a matter of utmost
satisfaction that the National
Traffic Safety Committee has
achieved results much beyond its
earlier expectations.
“Qatar has taken some re-
markable steps in the infrastruc-
ture development and a number
of world class expressways have
already been completed and
more are under construction.
The work of the Doha Metro is
in a very advanced stage,” he said
while informing that construc-
tion of all stadiums for the 2022
FIFA World Cup is in full swing.
“An ambitious plan is also un-
derway to link land, air and sea
transport.”
Acknowledging the role be-
ing played by the National Traffic
Safety Office in the last five years
since its establishment, he said it
has helped to develop a clear traf-
fic safety strategy at the national
level besides covering such areas
as sustainable development, na-
tional economy and security.
The minister said while ex-
and Communications has been
working round the clock to de-
veloping a well organised trans-
port system in the country.
“Our National Traffic Safety
Office is working together with
the UN’s ambassador of Traf-
fic Safety to develop and launch
meticulous plans as part of our
National Traffic Safety Strategy.”
HE al-Sulaiti also highlighted
the launch of the Qatar Road De-
sign Guide, Qatar Traffic Control
Guide and the comprehensive
plan for pedestrian crossings.
QU president Dr Hassan
Rashid al-Derham said the con-
ference is part of the framework
of the State’s interest in devel-
oping transport and enhancing
traffic safety, under the direct
supervision of HE the Prime
Minister and Interior Minister.
“QU, represented by the Qa-
tar Transportation and Traffic
Safety Centre, is one of the stake
holders in the implementation of
the decade-long National Traffic
Safety Strategy (2013-2022) and
is responsible for the implemen-
tation of 13 action plans at the
state level,” he added. HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani inaugurated
the Traffic Exhibition accompanying the conference.

Research sheds light on seat belt, child seat usage Official calls for action to
T reduce traffic congestion
here are high levels of According to the survey, 97% those who do own seats, only
awareness when it comes of participants think that seat 84% ‘always’ use them.
to protective powers of seat belts protect drivers, front-row Asked about the reasons for
belt but usage levels are particu- passengers and children. How- non-ownership of child car seats,

larly low among back-seat pas-
sengers, a new survey has found.
Besides the use of seat belts,
the study also “uncovers the root
causes for non-use and non-
ownership of child car seats”, QIC
Group has said in a statement.
The research was commis-
sioned by QIC Insured and Road-
Safety and conducted by YouGov
in September with a representa-
tive sample of 169 residents.
The use of seat belts increases
the chances of saving lives by
45% to 80% depending on the
accident’s impact, the location
of a person within the vehicle
(front/back) and the size/weight
(adult, child, baby) of the pas-
senger, the statement notes.
ever, this value drops to 79% with
regard to back-seat passengers.
In terms of the actual use
of seat belts, 76% ‘always’ use
them while driving, with 72% as
front-seat passengers. Only 5%
‘always’ use seat belts while in
the back seat.
“Drivers are like the captains
of aircraft and they must care
about the safety of their pas-
sengers. Hence, they have to ask
everyone in the vehicle to buckle
up, but only 51% of Qatar’s driv-
ers are such responsible drivers,”
according to the study.
According to the survey, the main
reasons cited by respondents for not
using/not asking others to use seat
belts are as follows: ‘When I sit on the
Ahmed Jarboey, senior claims
manager, QIC Insured.
back seat, I feel safe enough without
a seat belt’ - 63%; ‘It is not needed to
wear seat belts on short trips’ - 35%;
‘I am a safe driver and will not be in-
volved in an accident; hence I don’t
need seat belts’ - 12%; and ‘Seat belts
crinkle my clothes’ - 9%.
With regard to the use of child
car seats, 32% of Qatar’s parents
said they did not own a proper
child seat, the survey found. Of
the factors cited are as follows:
‘My kids don’t like to be strapped
in child seats or booster cushions’
- 38%; ‘Too expensive’ - 37%; ‘I
don’t know which child seat or
booster cushion to buy for my
kid’ - 23%; and ‘Passengers hold-
ing kids is as safe as child seats or
booster cushions’ - 13%; and ‘I am
a safe driver and will not be in-
volved in an accident’ - 13%.
Ahmed Jarboey, senior claims
manager at QIC Insured, said:
“Despite many technological de-
velopments, the seat belt remains
the single-most important device
to save passengers in an accident.
We have conducted the same sur-
vey throughout the GCC to show
our commitment to road safety.”
T
he Ministry of Interior’s
General Directorate of
Traffic Director General
and the National Traffic Safety
Committee (NTSC) vice-chair-
man Major General Mohamed
Saad al-Kharji has called for
more efforts on the part of resi-
dents to reduce road traffic ac-
cidents (RTAs).
While addressing the inaugural
session of the International Traf-
fic Safety Conference yesterday,
Major General al-Kharji said that
the first phase of the National
Traffic Safety Strategy (2013-17)
was successful, but there still is
need to reduce the mortality rate
in the RTAs by at least 10 per year
compared to the figures of 2017.
He said the target for 2022 is
130 and the pedestrian mortality
should be reduced significantly
from the present 32% to 17% and
serious injuries to 400 in four
years from now when the coun-
try hosts the 2022 FIFA World
Cup. Road traffic deaths in Qatar
stood at 159 in 2017.
“Actions need to be accelerated
to achieve the UN’s Sustainable
Development Goals endorsed by
Qatar by reducing traffic conges-
tion annually by 5%,” he said.
It could be achieved by proper
urban planning, development
of effective road and transport
networks and improving traffic
safety and addressing causes of
traffic accidents in the five traffic
areas and municipal areas iden-
tified by officials concerned.
Speaking on the sidelines of the
conference, NTSC Secretary-Gen-
eral Brigadier Mohamed Abdul-
lah al-Malki said over the last five
years Qatar has achieved significant
achievements in road safety owing
to the development of advanced road
networks that meet highest safety
standards. He said such develop-
ments would contribute to the crea-
tion of an environment conducive to
an integrated transport system.
Irrespective of a 5% increase
in number of vehicles in 2017
compared to 2016, accidents
with injuries declined by 1.3%,
as 6,140 cases were recorded in
2016 and only 6,061 last year.

UN envoy urges
new approach
U
nited Nations secre-
tary-general’s Spe-
cial Envoy for Road
Traffic Safety Jean Todt has
said almost 90% of the road
accidents are happening in
middle or low income coun-
tries across the world.
“There is greater neces-
sity of increasing invest-
ments and developing a new
approach to seriously deal
with the critical issue,” he Jean Todt addressing the
urged while explaining that conference yesterday.
more than a million road
accidents are happening ongoing efforts and hoped
every day across the world. the country would be suc-
Todt was addressing the cessful in eliminating road
International Traffic Safety traffic deaths completely
Conference,which began by 2050. Todt said there is
yesterday in Doha. greater need to develop a
While highlighting the comprehensive infrastruc-
necessity of improving road ture suitable for the require-
traffic safety, Todt said the ments of pedestrians, chil-
national goals of Qatar are dren and the elderly to allow
consistent with the UN’s such segments the freedom
general goals and it is heart- of moving away from
ening that the country is vehicles.
putting in place stringent “We must abide by the
traffic laws to reduce traffic traffic rules and ethical code
accidents remarkably by the of work, and this is the re-
turn of the decade. sponsibility of one and all,”
The official lauded Qatar’s he added.

Indian embassy Open House on Nov 29

The Indian ambassador
will hold an Open House
on Thursday, November
29, in the embassy
premises from 3pm to
4pm to listen / redress
any urgent labour and
consular issues of the
Indian nationals in Qatar, it
was announced yesterday.
 Gulf Times
Tuesday, November 27, 2018 5

QATAR

QBRI, Jordanian institute sign cancer research agreement

Q
atar Biomedical Research
Institute (QBRI), part of
Hamad Bin Khalifa Uni-
versity (HBKU), and the King
Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC) in
Jordan will work together to help
accelerate cancer research in the
region.
The collaboration was under-
scored through the signing of an
important research agreement be-
tween the two entities this month.
In attendance were Dr Omar
El Agnaf, acting executive direc-
tor of QBRI; Dr Asem Mansour,
director general of KHCC and Dr
Richard O’Kennedy, vice-pres-
ident for research, development
and innovation at Qatar Founda-
tion and vice president for re-
search at HBKU.
Dr El Agnaf said: “This agree-
ment between QBRI and KHCC
will bring together many teams
of accomplished researchers and
clinicians with aligned ambitions,
skills and objectives.
It also allows both institutions
to benefit from complementary
research assets and immediate
access to different populations.
Over the next five years, we hope
that this symbiotic relationship
will help us deliver innovative
breakthroughs that better address
this pressing healthcare challenge
and have regional and worldwide
resonance.”
Dr Mansour said: “Our collab-
orative agreement with QBRI is
a significant milestone in cancer
research at the regional level. We
are excited to see teams from our
institutions combining expertise
to deliver cutting-edge transla-
tional research and generate qual-
ity oncology-specific scientific
content from the region.”
QBRI’s research capabilities
will play a significant role in the
collaborative research conducted.
The all-encompassing agree-
ment ushers in new techniques
and methodologies in cancer-re-
lated research.
The agreement includes shar-
ing research data with KHCC
regarding new diagnostic and
predictive biomarkers for breast
cancer, potential novel biomark-
ers for cancer patients with dia-
betes, and the detection of circu-
lating tumour cells and protein
biomarkers in the plasma of pa-
tients with early stage cancer.
QBRI aims to improve and
transform healthcare through in-
novation in the prevention, diag-
nosis, and treatment of diseases.
In 2017, the institute won the
Best Arab Research Institute
Award in recognition of its efforts
in biomedical research.
KHCC is one of the leading
cancer centres in the region, with
more than 52,000 patients receiv-
ing treatment there since the turn
of the century.
These include an increasing
number from the GCC, in addi-
tion to many others from con-
flict-stricken countries around
the region who also benefit from
the invaluable support provided
by KHCC. QBRI and KHCC officials exchange the agreement documents.

Qatar University team

excels in Huawei contest
A
team of three students from
Qatar University walked away
with the Excellent Academy
award at Huawei’s International ICT
Group photo of participants of the 12th QU Life Sciences Symposium. Skill Competition finals and award
ceremony in Shenzhen, China.
The winners were selected follow-
ing a gruelling three months of quali-
The ICT Competition was made
possible through the co-operation
of 17 ministries across 10 countries.
In all, 226 colleges and universities
took part in total, and 65 participated
in Huawei’s roadshow and 950 stu-
dents additionally passed the Huawei
HCNA certification exam.
Excellent Academy Awards.
All participants underwent highly
selective examinations at the national
level. The participants worked in real
laboratories and tackled some of the
industry’s most complex challenges
related to cloud computing, switch-
ing, routing, and other key ICT solu-

Focus on food
fying rounds that saw participation
from 10 countries in the Middle East.
Their prizes were awarded at the ICT
Talent Cultivation and Award Cer-
emony in Shenzhen.
In all, 14,748 students across the
Middle East applied for the competi-
The 13 finalist teams had a unique op-
portunity to learn from Huawei’s lead-
ing global ICT on an all-expense paid
trip to Huawei’s headquarters in China.
The first prize went to Iraq, the sec-
ond to two teams from Lebanon and
Bahrain while the third prize went to
tions and technologies related to dig-
ital transformation.
The finalists competed in day-long
finals, participated in a technology
workshop by global ICT experts.
“Building a pool of high quality ICT
talent is a critical success factor for

security at QU
tion, from which 4,915 were selected
to take part in the preliminary rounds.
Of these, 214 students passed on to
the final round, and 39 in total from 13
teams travelled to China to compete
internationally.
three teams from Jordan, Saudi Arabia
and Pakistan. The remaining seven
teams won the Excellence Prize to ac-
knowledge their great participation.
Six tutors and 11 academic institu-
tions received the Excellent Tutor and
governments aiming to transition to
knowledge-based economies. As one of
the world’s leading innovators, knowl-
edge-transfer has always a core pillar of
the Huawei ethos,” said Charles Yang,
president, Huawei Middle East.

symposium MEC announces recall of three Nissan models

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry,
in collaboration with Saleh Al Hamad
Al Mana Company, has announced the
recall of Nissan Patrol, Sentra and Urvan
models of 2017 over a potential defect in
the ignition switch.
In a statement, the ministry said the
recall campaign comes within the
framework of itsongoing efforts to
protect consumers and ensure that car
dealers follow up on vehicle defects and
repairs.

Q
atar turned the threat posed by
the unjust blockade into an op-
portunity and made significant
strides in food security, it was high-
lighted at the 12th Qatar University
(QU) Life Sciences Symposium that
concluded yesterday.
The two-day event, themed ‘Food
Systems and Technology: Advancing
Food Production’, was hosted by the
Department of Biological and Envi-
ronmental Sciences (DBES) at QU’s
College of Arts and Sciences (CAS).
The symposium, which was organ-
ised in collaboration with the Minis-
try of Municipality and Environment,
aimed to create a transdisciplinary
framework for knowledge, skills and
exploration in food systems and tech-
nologies and provide opportunities for
applied, problem-based learning in
food systems, QU said in a statement.
The opening session was attended
by CAS dean Dr Rashid al-Kuwari,
DBES head Dr Radhouane Ben Hama-
dou as well as CAS faculty, staff and
students.
The symposium featured four ses-
sions: ‘Food Security: Challenges and
Policies’, ‘Food Production Systems:
Technologies and Innovation’, ‘Food
Biotechnology’ and finally, ‘Food Safe-
ty and Quality’.
The sessions included the presen-
tation of more than 15 research papers
from universities and institutions
Dr Rashid al-Kuwari
within and outside Qatar, and featured
posters presented by students.
Dr al-Kuwari said of the event: “This
symposium is one of many initiatives
to support Qatar National Vision 2030
as food security, sustainable food prac-
tices and food systems are areas of in-
creasing importance to Qatar and fall
under the ‘economic and social’ pillar
of Qatar National Vision 2030. It also
reflects QU’s interest in scientific re-
search as the nucleus of Qatar’s future
development and prosperity.
“Over the past years, the Life Sci-
ences Symposium has discussed many
topics related to the health of the indi-
vidual and the environment, the ma-
rine environment, biotechnology, en-
vironmental pollution and others.”
“The importance of the QU Life
Sciences Symposium stems from the
interest of Qatar, the region and the
world in the development of food pro-
duction technologies. The embargo
imposed on Qatar has increased the
need for food security in the country
through sustainable local food produc-
tion and the strengthening of strategic
reserves and economic reforms,” Dr al-
Kuwari added.
Dr Hamadou added: “This event
flourishes while Qatar is under a
blockade imposed unilaterally by the
neighbouring countries, which made
Qatar adapt to and establish new
sources as well as alternative and
more sustainable supply routes for
basic goods such as food and medi-
cine. The negative impacts of the
unjust blockade imposed by the four
Arab states on Qatar were temporary
and the economy managed to contain
these impacts and come out of it very
quickly.
“Qatar turned this threat into an
opportunity and, in the field of food
security, new farms and food produc-
tion and post-processing units just
bloomed to cover part of the local
needs for food commodities. It is nev-
ertheless time to turn these initiatives
into a sustainable framework joining
policies to integrated initiatives for in-
ternational trading (with sustainable
partnerships), local food production
and strengthening of strategic reserves
in the country.”

Italy’s Adorno Quartet to perform

today at Qatar National Theatre
T
he Italian musical ensemble
Adorno Quartet, whose mem-
bers are all former students of
the prestigious Chigiana Academy of
Siena, will perform today at the Qatar
National Theatre from 8pm, the Italian
embassy announced.
The Adorno Quartet comprises
four talented young Italian musicians:
Edoardo Zosi and Liu Pelliciari (vio-
lin), Benedetta Bucci (viola) and Danilo
Squitieri (cello).
Since its founding in 2015, the quar-
tet has performed for important pro-
moters, participated in festivals and
competitions and won prizes and rec-
ognition around the world.
Italian Ambassador Pasquale Sal-
zano said these young talented per- A handout photo of the Adorno Quartet performing on stage.
formers will play some masterpieces
representing the best European clas- and tighter cultural bonds between Italy culture, which has deep and ancient
sical music, from Beethoven and and Qatar,” the envoy noted. roots and is appreciated all over the
Schubert to Puccini, including a com- He added that the embassy imple- world,” Salzano said.
position by the contemporary Italian mented a wide and intense cultural “We look forward to seeing our Qa-
composer Silvia Colasanti. programme in the fields of design, arts, tari friends and the international and
“The Adorno Quartet is currently cinema and language this year, partici- Italian communities at this unique
engaged in a regional tour aimed to pro- pating at the recently-concluded Ka- concert to enjoy together an intense
mote the Italian outstanding traditions tara Dhow Festival. It featured Italy’s repertoire and to rediscover music as
in the field of classical music and once famous marine and artisanal traditions. one of the most powerful languages,
again Doha has been chosen as the first “Now it’s time to promote our out- able to bind peoples from different cul-
destination in recognition of the tighter standing interpreters and our music tures and countries,” he stressed.
 Gulf Times
6 Tuesday, November 27, 2018

QATAR

Changes to policy on
student assessment
QNA less, whether used in cheating or attempted charge of the conduct of the tests, where legal
Doha or not; if he obtained any equipment or action will be taken against anyone found to
any means that lead to the dissemination, be involved in any acts that interfere with the
broadcasting or promotion of the test ques- conduct of tests or abuse of the educational

H
E the Minister of Education and
Higher Education Dr Mohamed Ab-
dul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi has is-
sued a decision amending some provisions
of ministerial decision No. 22 of 2015 on stu-
dent assessment policies.
The amendments include the addition of
two articles to the student assessment poli-
cy for grades 4 through 11, as well as the ad-
dition of two articles to the policy for Grade
12, approved by the decision.
The policy amendment issued for grades
4 to 11 abolishes the student’s test in all
subjects, and stipulates that the student is
considered to have “failed” in his class, is
given the word “cancelled”, and is deprived
of study in the same academic year in the
following cases:
„ If any of the mobile devices or other
means of communication or reception,
whether wired or wireless, were obtained
in the examination committee and while in
session, whether they were used in cheating
or attempted or not.
„ If the student obtained in the exami-
nation committee and while in session any
equipment or any means that lead to the
dissemination, broadcasting or promotion
of the test questions or answers.
„ If the student participated in any social
networking sites, in a group of constituent
groups for the purpose of cheating or dis-
rupting the general system of examination.
The student’s test in all subjects will be
cancelled and he will be considered to have
“failed” in his class, given the word “can-
celled”, and deprived of study in the same
academic year and the following year if the
student photographed, published, broad-
cast or promoted by any means the ques-
tions or answers of any exam related to
different stages of education, with the in-
tention of cheating or disrupting the gen-
eral system of examination or abusing of
the educational system, whether this act
occurred before or during the examination
committee, or occurred inside or outside the
examination hall.
With regard to the 12th grade assessment
policy, as included in the decision, the stu-
dent’s test in all subjects will be cancelled
and he will be considered to have “failed”
in his class, given the word “cancelled”, and
deprived of study in the same academic year,
if the student obtained in the examination
committee and while in session any of the
mobile phones or other means of communi-
cation or reception, whether wired or wire-
tions or answers; or if he participated in any system in Qatar.
social networking sites, in a group of con- Al-Harqan further underlined that the de-
stituent groups for the purpose of cheating cision is in the interest of the students.
or disrupting the general system of exami- He noted that the ministry has made all
nation. possible efforts to provide the necessary sup-
The test of the student in all subjects port for them to raise the level of their aca-
will be cancelled and he will be considered demic achievement.
to have “failed” in his class, given the word He urged all students, whether in day
“cancelled”, and deprived of study in the schools or adult education schools, to make
same academic year and the following year every effort to memorise lessons, adhere to
if he photographed, published, broadcast or test controls and rely on themselves.
promoted by any means the questions or an- Meanwhile, he called on parents to urge
swers of any test related to different stages their children to make efforts to achieve suc-
of education, with the intention of cheating cess and excellence, educate them to be care-
or disrupting the general system of exams ful, to abide by the instructions for tests, and
or abusing the educational system, whether to not take any digital devices, whether wired
this act occurred before or during the ex- or wireless, to the test committees or par-
amination committee, or occurred inside or ticipate in groups on social networking sites HE the Minister of Education and Higher
outside the test hall. with an intention of disrupting the order of Education Dr Mohamed Abdul Wahed Ali
The decision also stipulates that the stu- the tests. al-Hammadi
dent’s employer would be informed of the
violation and the actions taken, if the stu-
dent is an employee.
The decision also forbids school person-
nel from participating in the tests and from
any prescribed remuneration for any of
these works if they printed, photocopied,
published, broadcasted or promoted by any
means the questions or answers of tests re-
lated to the various stages of education with
the intention of cheating or disrupting the
general system of tests or abusing the edu-
cational system, whether the act occurred
before or during the examination commit-
tee, or occurred inside or outside the exam
hall, or caused, because of negligence, any
of the actions mentioned in the previous
item, or helped the students to cheat by any
means.
Director of Evaluation Authority at the
Ministry of Education and Higher Educa-
tion, Khalid Abdullah al-Harqan, said that
the ministerial decision was issued in the
interest of the public interest and that it
strengthens the controls set by the minis-
try to conduct the tests, in order to ensure
justice and equal opportunities among stu-
dents.
He stressed that the ministry has the
mechanisms and procedures necessary to
implement the decision accurately, where
all students are inspected through electron-
ic gates and hand inspection devices, and
through co-ordination with the competent
authorities in the state.
He added that the amendments included
in the ministerial decision did not neglect
the accountability of school personnel in

Blue Salon unveils

Percival from
Parfums de Marly
B
lue Salon has un-
veiled Parfums de
Marly’s its “first ma-
rine fragrance for connois-
seurs” – Percival.
“Percival is a modern
and refined perfume whose
name evokes a mythical
thoroughbred from the
‘haras de France’. Present-
ing a subtle balance of cit-
rus and aromatic notes on
a woody base, (it) exudes a
fresh, sensual and refined
scent that will be remem-
bered,” a press statement
noted.
Created by Julien
Sprecher, the founder of
Parfums de Marly, in close
collaboration with Hamid
Merati-Kashani, a hu-
manist perfumer and tal-
ented nose of the Maison
Firmenich, this marine Percival from Parfums de Marly: created by founder Julien
fragrance complements Sprecher in close collaboration with Maison Firmenich ‘nose’
a collection in which this Hamid Merati-Kashani.
olfactory family was not
present. “unparalleled” captive molecules from
To create this “elegant, vivacious and ad- Maison Firmenich such as the Clearwood, a
dictive combination of scents”, a niche per- new asset to the palette of perfumers, offer-
fume “that incarnates body and density”, ing them new methods of working with the
Sprecher committed himself to the highest woody character of Patchouli, the Hedione
standards of ingredients. specific to the olfactory signature of Par-
“Among the top notes, scents of bergamot fums de Marly and Ambrox, which confers
and mandarin sublimated by a touch of aro- on Percival “exceptional power and unique
matic water offer a unique combination. The texture”.
heart notes that give Percival its character Percival is created for all perfume lovers,
and depth offer a blend of natural jasmine, always in search of luxury, authenticity and
violet and geranium overlapping with laven- noble raw materials.
der, coriander and cinnamon. “Everyone knows what they like to wear,
“On the skin, musk mixes with pepper, depending on the intimacy created with the
absolute balsam fir and, to give emphasis on skin, the clothes, but also depending on the
the scents, woody spices are revealed in the circumstances,” says the perfumer. “I’m just
base notes,” the press statement explained. inspiring a desire; everyone then has to de-
The choice equally emphasised certain cide.”
 Gulf Times
Tuesday, November 27, 2018 7

QATAR

Qatar Airways expands

operations in Iran with
new routes, more flights Qatar Airways expands its operations in Iran in 2019 with direct flights to
Isfahan and increased flights to Shiraz and Tehran.

Q
atar Airways announced
yesterday that it will ex-
pand its operations in Iran
with the launch of a new twice-
weekly direct service to Isfahan
International Airport, from Feb-
ruary 4, 2019, as well as introduc-
ing increased services to Shiraz
and Tehran, from early January
2019.
Isfahan will become the air-
line’s fourth non-stop gateway to
Iran, joining Tehran, Shiraz and
Mashad, with the service operat-
ing from Doha each Monday and
Friday by an Airbus A320 aircraft,
featuring 12 seats in Business
Class and 132 seats in Economy
Class.
Three extra weekly flights will
be introduced to the Shiraz serv-
ice on Mondays, Wednesdays
and Saturdays, taking the route
to daily operation from January
2, 2019.
The airline will also introduce
two extra flights on the Tehran
route, with the addition of an
extra flight on Wednesdays from
January 2, 2019 and Fridays from
January 4, 2019, taking the route
to a triple-daily operation every
day except on Tuesdays, when the
service runs twice-daily.
Qatar Airways Group chief
executive Akbar al-Baker said:
“With its incredible, age-old
architecture and bustling tradi-
tional bazaars, we are thrilled to
announce Isfahan as Qatar Air-
ways’ fourth-service gateway
into Iran.
“Isfahan is a city that is not
only steeped in history, but one
that has also emerged in recent
years to combine its rich cultural
heritage with modernity, making
it one of Iran’s most fascinating,
colourful and lively places for in-
ternational visitors. “We are also
delighted to announce that we are
increasing our weekly services to
both Shiraz and Tehran in Janu-
ary.
“These latest launches are fur-
ther evidence of Qatar Airways’
commitment to Iran, as well as
the expansion of our network in
this thriving market to provide
greater connectivity to both busi-
ness and leisure passengers alike.”
Standing at the foothills of
the Zagros mountain range, the
beautiful, ancient city of Isfahan
is a Unesco World Heritage Site,
famed for its stunning mosques
and palaces, magnificent public
squares, atmospheric traditional
tea houses, tranquil gardens and
exquisite historic hand-painted
tiling at every turn.
The newly-introduced flights
to Isfahan will operate every
Monday and Friday departing
from Doha at 1.45am, arriving at
Isfahan at 4am; with the return
flight departing from Isfahan
at 5.10am, arriving at Doha at
6.25am.
Qatar Airways has operated
flights to Tehran since 2004 and,
with the introduction of the two
extra flights, the airline will oper-
ate a total of 20 weekly non-stop
flights from Doha.
The southern city of Shiraz first
welcomed Qatar Airways flights
in 2011 and, with the introduction
of three extra flights on Mon-
days, Wednesdays and Saturdays
from January 2, 2019, will become
a daily service operating from
Doha. In addition to this, the air-
line’s Mashad route, which com-
menced in 2006, also currently
operates daily flights from Doha.
Passengers travelling in Busi-
ness Class on the new twice-
weekly service to Isfahan on
board the Airbus A320 can look
forward to relaxing and enjoy-
ing the five-star food and bev-
erage service, which is served
‘dine-on-demand’. In addition to
this, the airline’s award-winning
in-flight entertainment system,
Oryx One, is available to all pas-
sengers, offering up to 4,000 en-
tertainment options from the lat-
est blockbuster movies, TV box
sets, music and games.
As the national carrier, Qa-
tar Airways currently operates a
modern fleet of more than 200
aircraft via its hub, Hamad In-
ternational Airport, to more than
160 destinations worldwide. The
airline was named ‘World’s Best
Business Class’ by the 2018 World
Airline Awards, managed by in-
ternational air transport rating
organisation Skytrax.
It was also named ‘Best Busi-
ness Class Seat’, ‘Best Airline in
the Middle East’, and ‘World’s
Best First Class Airline Lounge’.
As part of its continued expan-
sion plans, Qatar Airways plans to
launch an array of new destina-
tions over the coming months,
including Mombasa, Kenya;
Gothenburg, Sweden; and Da
Nang, Vietnam.

Qatar Airways CEO meets EU parliamentarians in Brussels

Q
atar Airways Group chief
executive Akbar al-Baker
has met with influential
European Parliament members
and top decision-makers of the
European Commission this week
in Brussels, Belgium.
The aim of the series of meet-
ings and VIP dinner in the heart
of Europe was to strengthen the
already robust relationships that
the airline enjoys with key MEPs
and to demonstrate Qatar Air-
ways’ commitment to the Euro-
pean Union, the world’s largest
single market area, the airline
said in a statement.
During the visit, al-Baker held
successful one-to-one meetings
with MEPs Ramon Tremosa, Jose
Ignacio Salafranca and Ismail Er-
tug at the European Parliament
in Brussels. He also met with Eu-
ropean commissioner and vice-
president Maros Sefcovic and
Henrik Hololei, director-general,
Mobility and Transport, for the
European Commission.
“The support extended to our
country and airline by top Eu-
ropean decision-makers is truly
valued and appreciated,” said al-
Baker. “We come here today in
the spirit of pursuing enhanced
aviation opportunities for our
industries and businesses, more
options for travellers and long-
term prosperity for our econo-
mies, and I have no doubt we will
succeed.
“We appreciate the openness
and understanding demonstrat-
ed by the EU. We also thank the
EU for the flexibility and support
provided to Qatar under the cur-
rent blockade.”
During the evening, more than
16 MEPs enjoyed a VIP dinner
with keynote speeches in the
Presidential Salon of the Euro-
pean Parliament, with impressive
views over the city of Brussels.
This visit comes at a time when
Qatar and the EU are close to
completing the final stage of the
EU-Qatar Comprehensive Air
Transport Agreement, which has
offered Qatar and Qatar Airways
“an excellent platform to engage
in candid discussions with its
European partners on the poten-
tial growth and future co-opera-
tion between the two parties”, the
statement notes.
With 617 weekly flights to Eu-
rope, Qatar Airways flies an aver-
age of 91,000 passengers a week
to more than 50 key cities in the
region. Over the last 18 months,
the airline has further enhanced
this by launching 15 new routes to
Europe, including Nice, Dublin,
Malaga, Prague and London Gat-
wick. Further route launches are
planned in the next year, includ-
ing Lisbon and Valletta, which
will take the total number of des-
tinations in Europe up to 56.
Qatar Airways launched its
operations to Brussels in January
2011 with a five-times-a-week
service. This was increased to
a daily service in February 2013
and increased again to an eight-
times-a-week service in Decem-
ber 2015. The operation is cur-
rently operated by a Boeing B777
aircraft type. Qatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar al-Baker with dignitaries in Brussels.

QR3bn disbursed through Lexus hosts media test-drive for latest models
A
bdullah Abdulghani &

Ooredoo Payroll service Bros Co (AAB) has held

a Lexus test-drive event
for journalists and influencers.
The event gave participants the

A
s much as QR3bn has
been paid to employees
via the Ooredoo Money
Payroll service since its launch
in 2015, the telecommunications
provider announced yesterday.
“Every month the Ooredoo
Money Payroll service is used
to pay over QR115,000,000 to
employees across Qatar, directly
into their Ooredoo Money Wallet
which can be accessed through
their phone from anywhere,” it
was explained in a statement.
The Ooredoo Money Payroll
service was the region’s first
payroll service via mobile and
offers a secure and convenient
alternative to carrying cash.
Ooredoo Money Payroll serv-
ice is seeing huge demand with
over 150,000 employees ben-
efiting from the service. The
smart payment method, which
is compatible with Qatar’s Wage
Protection System, offers a sim-
ple access to financial services
for users unable to access a local
bank account, such as interna-
tional and local transfers, mobile
top-up, international airtime
top-up as well as an ATM card
that can be used across Qatar
and anywhere in the world.
The service is also designed to
achieve Qatar’s vision of Digitisa-
tion and help businesses to reduce
accounting and administration
costs, improving business effi-
ciencies, and above all improving
the lives of workers. Interested
employers can begin registration
for Ooredoo Money Payroll serv-
ice by e-mailing: mobilemoney-
payroll@ooredoo.qa.
Once registered, customers
can benefit from all the services
of Ooredoo Money instantly by
using Ooredoo Money App or
simply by dialling *140#, any-
where anytime.
The Ooredoo Money app is
available in seven languages
(English, Arabic, Hindi, Ma-
layalam, Bengali, Tagalog and
Nepali).
opportunity to test-drive the
latest models of Lexus vehicles,
with a special focus on hybrid
models, AAB said in a state-
ment.
AAB is the sole distribu-
tor for the Lexus brand in Qa-
tar. Journalists gathered at the
Lexus showroom, where they
were welcomed by R K Muru-
gan, AAB acting CEO, and Firas The participants at the Lexus showroom.
Mufti, senior marketing man-
ager. The AAB team explained to Sharq Village & Spa for the sation and performance,” the elements introduced in Lexus
many of the new features and fun day activities. While driv- statement noted. vehicles, as well as the level of
advanced technology of new ing the cars, each journalist was At the end of the event, which stability and superior control
Lexus vehicles that were to be accompanied by a Lexus staff lasted more than seven hours, along with the powerful per-
driven by journalists accompa- member to explain the most the media guests compared the formance and calm interior
nied by the AAB team. important technologies that vehicles and were able to high- while driving.
The driving experience start- have been introduced and how light some of their experiences The driving event included
ed from the Lexus showroom they could be of use to make the driving the models. Some of vehicles such as the Lexus LS
and headed towards Doha Fes- experience of driving a Lexus a the positive comments revolved Hybrid, ES Hybrid, LC Hybrid,
tival City and then proceeded rewarding one – “full of sen- around the safety and security RX Hybrid and CT Hybrid.

CMU-Q business graduates share experiences at reunion

A
s members of
Carnegie Mellon
University in Qa-
tar’s (CMU-Q) Class of
2013 gathered to celebrate
their five-year reunion,
business administration
graduates shared their
experiences in Qatar’s
evolving economic land-
scape.
Hussain Abdulla Hejji
works at Qatar Shell as
part of the marketing and
economics scheduling
team.
He can draw a direct
line between his educa-
tion and the skills he uses
in his career. “There is
a lot of focus on math-
ematics, calculations,
and economics, but also
let’s not forget what really
makes CMU-Q graduates
special: their interper-
sonal skills. The courses
you take at CMU-Q pre-
pare you for working in
this respect. At work it’s
not just the quality of data
that matters, it’s also the
way you present and put
things together.”
As technology becomes
infused in nearly every
aspect of big business,
Hejji also sees an advan-
tage for CMU-Q gradu-
ates, “This programme
is unique, as you are ex-
posed to mandatory pro-
gramming and computer
courses. These skills set
us apart from other busi-
ness graduates.”
Mohamed al-Rawahi,
who joined Commercial
Bank soon after gradu-
ation, and worked as an
analyst and corporate
assistant for three years
commented, “Business
Administration is quite
a comprehensive pro-
gramme. Along with pre-
paring you for your spe-
cific area, it gives you a
general idea of how things
work. CMU-Q provided
us with great skills, which
I think can be used any-
where, whichever indus-
try we are in.”
Al-Rawahi left Qatar
to pursue graduate stud-
ies in finance and invest-
ment in the UK. Today he
works for Oman Aviation
in Muscat, but still main-
tains strong ties to Qatar.
“Studying in Qatar, you
have many opportuni-
ties to learn, and we de-
veloped the transferable
skills that you need at
every job.”
Mohamed Hadi Takid-
din, who works as head
of finance in the com-
mercial branch of Qatar
Museums, commented,
“The way I looked at it
was different. My stud-
ies at CMU-Q were about
how to become a better
person, and how to think
outside the box so you can
stand out in the market-
place.”
Takiddin has worked
at Qatar Museums since
graduation, and he credits
his success and ability to
handle pressure on a solid
educational foundation:
“My major in Business
Administration was one
of the best decisions of
my life. If you start from
a good place and have a
good foundation, you will
move up.”
CMU-Q offers un-
dergraduate degree pro-
grammes in biological
sciences, business ad-
ministration, computa-
tional biology, computer
science and information
systems. Graduates from
the Class of 2013, and all
graduating classes, are
working at top organisa-
tions within Qatar and
around the world. Members of CMU-Q’s Class of 2013 at their five-year reunion.
 Gulf Times
8 Tuesday, November 27, 2018

REGION
Iran quake injures more than 700, Rouhani orders relief effort
Reuters of a 6.4 magnitude earthquake
Dubai on Iran’s western border with
Iraq that injured more than 700
people, most suffering minor
was felt in at least seven prov- “Rouhani has ordered officials were no fatalities. TV aired foot- 700 of them have been treated IRNA said another two earth-
inces of Iran, but most strongly to do whatever is necessary to age of damaged houses in the and released...some 18 peo- quakes measuring 5.2 and
in Kermanshah, where last year provide help for the victims of town of Sarpol-e Zahab in Ker- ple have been hospitalised,” 4.6 on the Richter scale had
more than 600 people were the earthquake,” TV reported. manshah where some people Houshang Bazvand, governor jolted Sarpol-e Zahab yes-

I
ranian President Hassan wounds, state television report- killed and thousands injured in The head of Iran’s Red Cres- remain homeless following last of the western province of Ker- terday morning following
Rouhani said no effort should ed yesterday. the country’s deadliest earth- cent Society, Mahmoud Moha- year’s 7.3 magnitude quake. manshah, told state TV. Sunday’s earthquake and 161
be spared to help victims The Sunday night earthquake quake in more than a decade. madi Nasab, told TV that there “We have had 729 injured, Iran’s state news agency aftershocks.
 Gulf Times
Tuesday, November 27, 2018 9

REGION/ARAB WORLD

UN envoy meets
officials to lay
groundwork for
Yemen peace talks
Head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI), Ali Akbar Salehi speaks in Brussels, yesterday.

Iran N-chief warns of unpredictable

AFP
Riyadh consequences if deal breaks down
U
nited Nations envoy Martin Griffiths Reuters parties to the accord — China EU diplomat involved in talks
met Yemeni officials in Riyadh yes- Brussels and Russia — hope to convince with Iran.
terday as part of efforts to kick-start Tehran to respect the curbs that “The SPV isn’t going to be
peace talks next month between Houthi the deal placed on its nuclear a game changer,” said another

rebels and the Saudi-backed government.
The visit comes as a tenuous calm settles
over Yemen’s rebel-held port city of Hodei-
dah, a vital lifeline for imports and aid that
had seen fierce clashes in a renewed offensive
by a Saudi-led military coalition.
Under heavy international pressure, the
Yemeni government and the coalition have
largely suspended their five-month-old bat-
tle to seize Hodeidah.
Griffiths, who is spearheading efforts to
hold peace talks in Sweden in December, met
Yemen’s Vice President Ali Mohsen al-Ah-
mar and Foreign Minister Khalid al-Yamani
in the Saudi capital, the Yemeni state-run
news agency Saba said. The Yemeni lead-
ers discussed with Griffiths arrangements
for the upcoming negotiations and possible
“confidence building measures” to test the
“rebels’ seriousness” about peace efforts,
Saba reported.
The UN envoy, who visited Hodeidah last
week to assess the humanitarian situation,
was also expected to meet with Yemen’s
internationally recognised President Abd-
Rabbu Mansour Hadi, a Saudi government
source said.
Fighting in the Red Sea city intensified in
early November as coalition-backed loyalist
forces attempted to enter the city, but calm
returned after Griffiths arrived in Yemen on
Wednesday.
Griffiths has urged the warring parties to
“keep the peace” in Hodeidah.
While the loyalist advance there has largely
A Yemeni child receives a polio vaccination during an immunisation campaign at a health
centre on the outskirts of the capital Sanaa, yesterday.
Loyalists did not confirm the attack. But
pro-government military officials said yes-
terday that their operations in the east and
south of the Red Sea city had been suspend-
ed.
Both warring sides have expressed sup-
port for the UN envoy’s current effort to hold
talks, which marks the biggest push for a
peace deal in Yemen in two years.
But in a sign of lingering distrust, coali-
tion spokesman Turki al-Maliki told report-
ers in Riyadh yesterday that efforts to hold
turn to Sanaa or secure the evacuation of
wounded rebels to Oman.
Previous talks broke down in 2016, when
108 days of negotiations in Kuwait failed to
yield a deal and left rebel delegates stranded
in Oman for three months.
The heads of the UN’s humanitarian and
children’s agencies have said the recent de-
escalation in fighting in Hodeidah is provid-
ing a desperately needed respite to hundreds
of thousands of civilians.
According to the World Health Organisa-
I
ran’s nuclear chief warned
the European Union yes-
terday of “ominous” con-
sequences if it did not follow
through with action to keep the
economic benefits of the 2015
nuclear agreement alive.
Ali Akbar Salehi said the Eu-
ropean Union was “doing its
best” after the United States
pulled out of the deal and re-
imposed sanctions on Iranian
oil exports this month, even
as the bloc’s efforts to salvage
trade ties have floundered.
But Salehi, the head of Iran’s
Atomic Energy Organisation,
told reporters in Brussels:
“If words are not turned into
deeds, then...it is very omi-
nous, the situation would be
unpredictable.”
The EU and other remaining
Palestinian shot dead in West Bank
Reuters
Beit Ummar, West Bank
programme, despite Washing- EU official. “The prospects
ton’s pull-out and the its sanc- are pretty grim.”
tions that aim to force the rest No EU country has yet
of the world to stop buying Ira- agreed to host the SPV and
nian oil. progress in creating it is likely
Striving to circumvent to be slow, despite the po-
those sanctions, EU nations litical will in Paris, Berlin and
plan to facilitate non-dollar London.
transactions with Iran. “This is a hugely complex
A so-called Special Purpose and unique undertaking,
Vehicle (SPV) would act as a technical work has been ad-
barter system offsetting Ira- vancing,” Europe’s Climate
nian exports with purchases and Energy Commissioner
of EU goods. Miguel Arias Canete said at a
Speaking on the sidelines joint briefing with Salehi.
of talks on civilian nuclear “Nobody should have any
co-operation, EU diplomats doubt on the level of politi-
admitted they could only do cal ambition and determina-
so much to urge firms to brave tion by the member states
the risk of US penalties and do involved, in particular France,
business with Iran. Germany and the United
“What we are doing now is Kingdom to swiftly opera-
a lot of symbolism,” said one tionalise the SPV.”
Palestinians, many of them individuals with-
out known associations with fighter groups, car-
ried out a wave of car-ramming attacks in the
West Bank in late 2015 and in 2016, but the fre-

stalled, minor clashes have continued.
Military officials quoted by Saba on Sun-
day evening said the loyalists had foiled a
Houthi “infiltration attempt” into a camp in
Hays, a district about 100 kilometres south
of Hodeidah. The rebels said they had deto-
nated an explosive device near the eastern
entrance of Hodeidah, “destroying a (pro-
government) military vehicle...killing and
wounding soldiers inside”, Houthi-run Al-
Masirah TV reported yesterday.
the Sweden talks were progressing “despite
Houthi efforts to obstruct them”.
President Hadi — whose UN-recognised
government was pushed out of Sanaa by
rebels who overran the capital in 2014 — has
said he backs peace efforts but has vowed to
“liberate” Hodeidah.
In September, a previous round of UN-led
peace talks faltered when the Houthis refused
to travel to Geneva, accusing the world body
of failing to guarantee their delegation’s re-
tion, nearly 10,000 people have been killed
since the Saudi-led intervention began,
though some rights groups estimate the toll
could be five times higher.
Humanitarian organisations are desperate
to see the current peace push translate into a
more permanent halt to the conflict.
UN agencies say 14mn Yemenis are at risk
of starvation and the closure of Hodeidah
port would further exacerbate the humani-
tarian crisis.
A
Palestinian was shot dead while carrying
out a car-ramming attack yesterday that
injured three Israeli soldiers in the occu-
pied West Bank, the Israeli military said.
The military said one of the soldiers sustained
moderate injuries and the other two were slightly
hurt when the Palestinian crashed his vehicle
into them along a West Bank road north of the
city of Hebron.
Another soldier then shot and killed the fight-
er, the military said.
quency of such incidents has since decreased.
There was no claim of responsibility for yes-
terday’s incident, which drew praise from the
Hamas group as “a response to crimes carried out
by the occupation”, a term it uses to refer to Israel.
Israel captured the West Bank in a 1967 Mid-
dle East war. Palestinians seek to establish a state
there and in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, with East
Jerusalem as its capital.
Israeli-Palestinian peace talks collapsed in
2014.

POLITICS
Israeli minister
to attend Bahrain
conference
Rebels hand four-year-old Chemical weapons Death toll
An Israeli cabinet minister said
yesterday he had been invited to girl to her Belgian mother agency to investigate soars after
attend a conference next year in
Bahrain, in what he described as
part of Israel’s emerging relations AFP
alleged Aleppo attack massive IS
with some countries that do not
formally recognise it, Reuters
reported. Israel’s diplomatic push in
Bab al-Hawa
Reuters
The Hague/Geneva
since 2013, while the per-
petrators of six others have
offensive
A
the Gulf, where it sees some states rebel administration in not been sufficiently iden-
as its natural allies against regional Syria’s last major insur- tified. World Health Or- AFP

T
powerhouse Iran, has become in- gent stronghold of Idlib he global chemical ganisation spokesman Ta- Beirut
creasingly public after years of cov- handed over a four-year-old weapons agency will rik Jasarevic said the WHO
ert contacts. Shared worries about girl to her Belgian mother yes- investigate an alleged had “received unconfirmed

Iran or needs in terms of security,
agriculture and water have thawed
hostility toward Israel among some
Arab governments. After a surprise
trip to Oman last month, Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netan-
yahu on Sunday hosted a first visit
by Chadian President Idriss Deby.
“I myself received a personal invita-
tion to Bahrain,” Israeli Economy
Minister Eli Cohen said in a radio
interview.
LEGAL
UAE releases
British academic
The United Arab Emirates yesterday
pardoned and released a British
academic jailed for life on spying
charges, granting a request for
clemency after showing a video
of him purportedly confessing
to membership of the UK’s MI6
intelligence service. The case has
strained ties between the long-time al-
lies, leading London to issue a forceful
diplomatic response after last week’s
verdict was handed down. The UAE
president issued the pardon as part of
a mass clemency of more than 700
prisoners to mark the country’s Na-
tional Day, according to a statement
on state news agency WAM. The
pardon was effective immediately
and Matthew Hedges, will be allowed
to leave the country “once formalities
are completed,” the statement said.
terday after a custody dispute
following her father’s death.
An AFP journalist saw the
tiny girl named Yasmine,
dressed in a bright pink coat
and clutching a gift-wrapped
teddy bear, being led to the
Turkish border to meet her
mother.
Her handover was over-
seen by the civilian branch of
the powerful Hayat Tahrir al-
Sham (HTS) alliance, which is
led by the jihadists of Syria’s
former Al Qaeda affiliate.
“Yasmine was handed over
today to her Belgian mother
Hajer after the dispute was
solved between those who were
her guardians here and her
mother,” Fawaz Hilal, head of
the administration, said.
“There was communication
with the Turkish side to hand
over the girl to her mother who
was in Turkey,” he said.
Ibrahim Shasho, another
member of the rebel admin-
istration, said the mother
“filed a petition for custody of
her daughter after her father
died”. The father’s “friends”
had looked after Yasmine since
his death and insisted she re-
main in their care, Shasho said,
without providing any further
details on their identity.
“The (HTS) judiciary looked
into the case and found in fa-
vour of the mother,” added the
Members of the civilian branch of the powerful Hayat Tahrir
al-Sham (HTS) alliance, which is led by the militants of Syria’s
former Al Qaeda affiliate, escort four-year-old girl named Yasmine
near the Bab al-Hawa crossing with Turkey, yesterday.
bearded man, who brought the
wide-eyed child into a press
conference to have her photo
taken.
The officials did not say
whether the child’s father was
a fighter, or to what armed
group he might have belonged.
There was no immediate in-
formation from the Belgian or
Turkish authorities.
HTS controls more than half
of the Idlib region, but other
militants including the Al-
Qaeda-linked Hurras al-Deen
group are also present in the
northwestern region bordering
Turkey.
Turkey-backed rebels hold
most of the rest of the region.
Idlib has since September
been protected from a mas-
sive regime assault by a fragile
truce deal between regime ally
Russia and rebel backer Turkey.
Thousands of foreign fight-
ers are present in the region,
where they are members of
HTS but also other militant
groups.
Some of them have band-
ed together to create what is
known as the “French battal-
ion”, which is close to Hurras
al-Deen, according to the Syr-
ian Observatory for Human
Rights.
In February, two Canadians
— a man and a woman — were
released to Turkish authori-
ties after being held by HTS for
several weeks.
Jolly Bimbachi and a male
friend had crossed into Syria
from Lebanon, searching for
her two sons, she said.
gas attack in Syria’s Aleppo
on Saturday that reportedly
wounded up to 100 people,
the head of the agency said
yesterday.
The Syrian government,
which accused rebels of fir-
ing chlorine, asked the Or-
ganisation for the Prohibi-
tion of Chemical Weapons
(OPCW) to send a fact-find-
ing mission to the city, Fern-
ando Arias, the OPCW’s new
head, said.
Arias said the OPCW had
asked the United Nations
department of security to
say whether it was safe to
deploy a team to Aleppo,
where government forces
two years ago ousted rebels
from the last pocket of terri-
tory that they controlled.
UN war crimes investi-
gators, who have a stand-
ing mandate to examine all
human rights violations
committed in Syria, are also
collecting information and
asking sources for any evi-
dence, a UN official in Ge-
neva said.
“Once they have some-
thing concrete and credible
that meets their standard of
proof, they will be able to
report publicly,” he said.
The panel has attributed
33 documented chemical
attacks to the government
reports of patients arriv-
ing in health facilities in
Aleppo with symptoms that
may be consistent with ex-
posure to chemical agents”.
Under new powers granted
in June, the OPCW will be
able not only to determine
whether a chemical weap-
ons attack occurred but
also to assign blame.
That responsibility had
fallen to a joint UN-OPCW
mission until Russia blocked
a UN Security Council reso-
lution to extend its mandate
a year ago.Past investiga-
tions by the joint mission
found that Syrian govern-
ment forces had used chlo-
rine and sarin several times
in the civil war, while the
radical militant group Is-
lamic State was found to
have used sulphur mustard
gas once.
Other rebel groups have
not been found in formal
reports to have used banned
toxic munitions.
A health official in Aleppo
said victims had suffered
breathing difficulties, eye in-
flammation and other symp-
toms that suggested the use
of chlorine gas.
Chlorine is a widely avail-
able industrial chemical, but
its use as a weapon is banned
internationally.
U
S-backed fighters in
Syria suffered record
fatalities in an assault
by the Islamic State group, a
war monitor said yesterday,
as holdout militants kept up a
fierce defence of their last Syr-
ian redoubt.
It said a total of more than
200 people have been killed
since around 500 IS fighters
burst out of the fog shrouding
the area in eastern Syria near
the border with Iraq to launch
their deadly assault on Friday.
According to the Syrian Ob-
servatory for Human Rights, 92
of the dead were fighters from
the Syrian Democratic Forces
(SDF), the Kurdish-led ground
units that have spearheaded the
US-backed fight against IS in
Syria.
At least 61 militants and 51
civilians, mostly their relatives,
also died in the violence which
saw US-led coalition air strikes
help the SDF recover positions
it had briefly lost.
The militants used suicide
bombers, suicide commandos
and sleeper cells in the coun-
tryside around their bastion of
Hajin to inflict maximum dam-
age, it said.
“It’s the largest number of
SDF fighters killed (by IS) in a
single battle since it was found-
ed” in 2015, said Observatory
chief Rami Abdel Rahman.
 Gulf Times
10 Tuesday, November 27, 2018

AFRICA
CONSERVATION
Lion poachers arrested
from South Africa farm
Eight suspects will appear before a South African
court to face charges of illegal possession of game
products including lion parts and a tiger’s carcass,
police said yesterday. Police found lion bones,
lion meat, a tiger skin, gas cylinders, gas burners,
containers, a saw, knives and other equipment
when they intercepted the suspects’ two vehicles
headed to an unused farm in the North West
province on Sunday. “As far as how many (lions),
from our side there’s been no definite number
really...but its quite a few of them,” Captain
Tlangelani Rikhotso told AFP. Of the eight
suspects, aged between 22 and 60, two are South
African and six are Vietnamese nationals.
WEATHER WOES
Floods ravage rice crop
in Niger’s Diffa region
Floods destroyed more than 400 hectares of rice
in Niger’s southeastern Diffa region, already beset
by deadly attacks by Boko Haram militancy, the
local governor said. Nearly 3,000 tonnes of rice
worth 717mn CFA francs ($1.13mn) have been lost
as a result, Governor Mahamadou Bakabe said
on state television late Sunday. Grain deficits this
year have already threatened food security for
thousands of small farmers in Diffa, according
to the government. The UN Office for the Co-
ordination of Humanitarian Affairs said last month
that flooding had claimed 45 lives since June. The
rains destroyed nearly 17,400 homes and killed
more than 33,000 heads of livestock, it said.
POLITICS
Main Togo opposition
coalition boycotts vote
The main opposition coalition in Togo said yesterday
it will boycott December 20 general elections and
call for further protests over what it alleged was
a “fraudulent” poll. “We’re not going to give our
blessing to this masquerade being prepared,” a
coordinator in the coalition, Brigitte Adjamagbo-
Johnson, told local radio. Togo’s Constitutional Court
has validated ballots for 12 parties — but not any for
the 14-party opposition coalition that has staged
protests in the former French colony over the past
year. Ballots for 17 independent candidates have also
been approved. Adjamagbo-Johnson vowed “we
will do everything so that the elections don’t happen
— we never want fraudulent elections in Togo.”
ECONOMY
Ramaphosa signs minimum
wage bill into the law
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has
signed into law the national minimum wage bill,
his office said yesterday, part of efforts by the
government to tackle wage inequality in Africa’s
most industrialised economy. The National
Minimum Wage Act sets South Africa’s minimum
wage at 20 rand ($1.45) an hour, equal to 3,500 rand
per month. The law will come into force on a date
to be determined by Ramaphosa, the presidency
said. Supporters of the minimum wage say it will
reduce inequality and stimulate economic growth
as workers spend more. But critics say it could
lead to increased unemployment because some
employers won’t be able to afford higher wage bills.
GRAFT
Kenya charges 3 Chinese
rail workers with bribery
Prosecutors in Kenya yesterday charged three Chinese
men with trying to bribe detectives investigating fraud
involving ticket sales on a $3.2bn railway built by a
Chinese company. The charges are the latest in a series
of high profile corruption prosecutions and come
at a time of growing complaints about immigrants
from China, a country that has played a key role in
improving Kenya’s infrastructure in recent years.
The three were arrested on Saturday in Mombasa
for attempting to bribe investigators with amounts
totalling 900,000 Kenyan shillings ($8,800). The
men “jointly offered a financial advantage as an
inducement to influence an ongoing criminal
investigation in their favour,” the charge sheet said.

Shebaab kill cleric and 14 DR Congo rejects

US warning of a
‘terrorist threat’
others in Somalia attacks By Bienvenu-Marie Bakumanya, AFP
Kinshasa

T
Reuters he Democratic Republic of Congo yes-
Mogadishu terday accused Washington of sparking
“needless fear” after the US embassy
in Kinshasa warned of a “possible terror-

S
hebaab gunmen and a suicide
car bomber yesterday struck
a religious centre in central
Somalia, killing a cleric and at least
14 of his followers, a police officer
said.
The Islamist militant group had
accused the cleric of insulting the
Prophet, which he denied.
The group was forced from
Mogadishu in 2011 and most towns
and cities but it retains a strong pres-
ence outside the capital and launches
frequent bombings and other attacks
in a campaign to topple the federal
government.
“The (security) operation is now
over. Shebaab killed 15 people includ-
ing the cleric, his wife, his followers
and his guards,” Captain Nur Mo-
hamed, a police officer, told Reuters
from Galkayo by phone. “Three mili-
tants who stormed the centre were
also shot dead.”
The group took responsibility for
the attack and put the number of
dead at 26.
It said some soldiers who respond-
ed to the first attack also died as they
tried to remove a second car bomb.
“We killed 26 people including the
owner of the centre, his followers, his
bodyguards and soldiers,” Abdiasis
Abu Musab, Shebaab’s military op-
eration spokesman, said.
“The owner of the centre was the
man who abused the Prophet. The
soldiers that died tried to drive a
second car bomb that was left by the
armed Mujahideen.”
Residents of Galkayo and a re-
gional official said Abdiweli may have
also been targeted because his centre
hosts mostly youths who play music
and dance.
Shebaab said last year the cleric
People gather by the site of a blast after a car bomb detonated at a busy market in Mogadishu yesterday.
had insulted the Prophet, an accusa-
tion denied at the time by Abdiweli.
Abdirashid Hashi, the governor of
Mudug region, told Reuters that She-
baab had threatened Abdiweli on nu-
merous occasions.
An elder in Galkayo said Abdiweli
had provided free boarding to former
pirates, street boys and jobless men
and they became his followers.
“He used to tell teenagers: “If you
were a pirate, or a bandit, stop it and
come and dance, eat food and sleep
here. God will forgive your sins. Some
other ignorant teenagers thought he
was as saint...and so joined him,” local
elder Ismail Abdirahman told Reuters.
Shebaab controls small sections on
Mudug region, but it does not include
Galkayo.
In a separate attack yesterday in
Mogadishu, at least three people died
when a car bomb exploded in front of
shops in the Wadajir district of the
capital, police and witnesses said.
“A parked car laden with explo-
sives exploded in front of shops. So
far we know three people died,” Major
Mohamed Hussein, a police officer,
told Reuters.
“Death toll may rise because there
are many shops there.”
ist threat” against its mission in the country
ahead of a key election.
“You have to distrust information coming
from people who want to spread needless fear
and uncertainty among the Congolese a few
days before elections,” government spokes-
man Lambert Mende told AFP.
The conflict-prone central African country
heads to the polls on December 23 to elect a
successor to longtime President Joseph Ka-
bila as well as lawmakers for national and
provincial parliaments.
“Now that the holding of three elections on
December 23, 2018, is a certainty, those who
have no control over the electoral process in
the DRC are trying to distract the Congolese,”
said Mende, who is also the country’s com-
munications minister.
The embassy on Saturday cited “credible
and specific information of a possible terror-
ist threat against US government facilities in
Kinshasa”, which were closed yesterday.
Relations between Kinshasa and the West
have been strained under Kabila, and DRC’s
electoral commission Ceni said yesterday
that no EU or US observers would be invited
to oversee the poll.
“There will be no invitations for EU ob-
servers or from the Carter Center,” a Ceni of-
ficial said, referring to former US president
Jimmy Carter’s organisation which has mon-
itored dozens of elections around the world.
He said an “unprofessional” assessment
by the Carter Center of the DR Congo’s 2011
elections “almost provoked a war.”
The EU for its part fell out of favour with
Kinshasa when it froze the assets of 15 Con-
golese officials after Kabila extended his
mandate beyond its official December 2016
expiry date.
The official said Ceni had invited observers
from various African organisations including
the African Union, asking rhetorically: “Are
elections valid only if the EU and the Carter
Center are on hand?”
Last month the Congolese authorities said
the vote, for which campaigning ends on De-
cember 21, would go ahead without help from
the international community.

Cop shoots wife, her brother dead in South Africa courtroom
AFP The incident in South Africa’s
Johannesburg southeastern port city of Durban oc-
curred on the eighth floor of the re-
gional magistrate court building as
spokeswoman Colonel Thembeka
Mbele told AFP, adding that the
hearing had been about to resume
after the break.
has been taken to hospital where he is
in a critical condition,” she said.
Mbele confirmed the suspect was
an off-duty police officer.
paper said visibly shaken court staff,
including clerks and interpreters,
were escorted from the building.
Security is usually tight at South
A police statement meanwhile said all
measures would be taken to ensure candidates’
security, with a 25-strong special police de-
tail already drawn up for opposition hopefuls
Martin Fayulu, Gabriel Mokia, Jean-Philibert
Mabaya, Yves Mpunga and Noel Tshany.
The statement added that arrangements

A
n off-duty policeman yester-
day opened fire inside a divorce
court in South Africa, killing
his estranged wife and her brother
during a tea break in legal proceedings.
the court heard the annulment case
between the couple.
“At around 11am...the suspect
shot at the wife and her brother
and both died at the scene,” police
The two victims suffered several
gunshot wounds, she said.
The suspect, 32, turned the gun on
himself but survived.
“He tried to commit suicide and
Local reports said that the two vic-
tims were in the court’s public gallery
when the shooter tried to talk to them
before opening fire.
South Africa’s TimesLive online
African courts where visitors and
workers pass through metal detectors
and bags are X-rayed.
Police officers are allowed to go in
with their firearms if they are on duty.
for others would be made by Thursday, with-
out mentioning by name Felix Tshisekedi,
son of historical opposition leader Etienne
Tshisekedi, the late founder of the Union for
Democracy and Social Progress.

Nigeria mulls arming highway police – but would guns and traffic chaos mix?
By Joel Olatunde Agoi, AFP Nevertheless, industry sources
Lagos said an armoury had been built
for the agency in the capital,
Abuja, should the green light be
aggravate tensions, as security drivers already have a lot to deal
forces deal with threats from with. They include over-zealous
Boko Haram jihadists or violence traffic police with sticks and spike
between herders and farmers. strips to burst tyres, officers from

F
rom dealing with daily
traffic snarls and potholes
to unruly drivers in rick-
ety vehicles with expired docu-
ments, Nigeria’s highway patrol
officers have a lot on their plate.
At the same time, they have to
face the risks from armed robbers
who attack unsuspecting road us-
ers idling in monster traffic jams.
But an increase in crime on
the roads has sparked fresh de-
bate over whether members of
the Federal Road Safety Corps
(FRSC) should be allowed to car-
ry firearms.
The chief marshal of the FRSC,
Boboye Oyeyemi, has said some
70 operatives were either shot
dead by robbers or knocked down
by hit-and-run drivers in 2016.
Those deaths would have been
prevented if his operatives had
guns, he claimed.
FRSC spokesman Bisi Kazeem
said officials were legally entitled
to do so. “The provision is there
in the FRSC Act but the govern-
ment has to approve and gazette
it before it can be implemented,”
he told AFP.
given.
Last year, the lower chamber of
parliament, House of Represent-
atives passed a resolution urg-
ing the government to procure
weapons for the road marshals.
Nigeria, Africa’s most popu-
lous country of more than 180mn
people, returned to civilian rule
in 1999 after decades of military
rule.
Politicians having replaced
generals are in charge of the
country.
But uniforms are still every-
where — and many of those who
wear them are armed.
They include the army, navy
and air force, the police, cus-
toms, immigration and prison
service, officers from the anti-
drug agency and the civil defence
corps.
Some believe adding to the list
is a recipe for disaster — particu-
larly for anyone dealing with Ni-
geria’s hot-headed and frequent-
ly frustrated motorists under the
tropical sun.
Opponents believe it will fur-
ther militarise the country and
The gun is seen as the ultimate
symbol of power in Nigeria and
there have been well-document-
ed cases of human rights abuses,
including torture and extra-judi-
cial killings.
Recently, a police special an-
ti-robbery squad was forced to
change its name following public
outrage at atrocities by its offic-
ers against civilians.
“Allowing the FRSC to bear
arms is tantamount to militaris-
ing the polity and unnecessary
proliferation of arms,” said Don
Okereke, a security consultant.
“There are too many outfits
carrying arms in the country
such that people continue to live
under constant fear. This is not
healthy for the civil society.”
Okereke said there would be
more killing of innocent people
in what the police claimed was
due to “accidental discharge” if
the FRSC is armed.
A retired FRSC commander,
who asked not to be identified,
agreed.
“The timing is wrong. Now
that elections are approaching
Motorists wait in a traffic jam under banners bearing a portrait of President Muhammadu Buhari in Lagos.
we should not encourage any- tives to use their guns against
thing that can heat up the polity,” their opponents, he added.
he added. Nigerians go to the polls on Feb-
Unscrupulous politicians ruary 16 next year to elect a new
could pay corrupt FRSC opera- president and parliament, with
state governorship and local as-
sembly polls held two weeks later.
On the roads of Lagos, Nigeria’s
biggest city where traffic is a con-
stant headache and tempers flare,
the FRSC and its local equivalent the
Lagos State Traffic Management.
Add in the so-called “area
boys” or gangs who run the bus
stops and depots for the battered
yellow minibuses or danfos, driv-
ing often resembles a city-wide
shakedown for cash.
“Without weapons, the FRSC
is already a fearsome unit,” said
Olufemi Oluwaseye, a communi-
cations student who is a regular
user of public transport.
“They (the FRSC) have this
unique way of instilling disci-
pline, even if temporary, into even
the harshest drivers,” he said.
The argument that they need
arms to defend themselves does
not fly, he said.
“We know the argument from
government would be that the
privilege won’t be abused or that
the lives of the FRSC officers on
duty are always at risk without
weapons,” he said.
“But the issue is that we would
only be creating more power-
drunk officers and civilians, un-
fortunately, would be at the re-
ceiving end.”
 Gulf Times
Tuesday, November 27, 2018 11

AMERICAS
Senior House
Agents tear gas migrants Democrats tap
the brakes on
trying to breach border
Reuters
Trump probes
Reuters
Washington
Washington

A
fter capturing the US House of Repre-

P
resident Donald Trump said
yesterday that Mexico should
send Central American mi-
grants seeking asylum in the United
States back to their home countries,
a day after US authorities shut the
country’s busiest southern border
crossing and fired tear gas into the
crowd.
US officials reopened the crossing
at the San Ysidro port of entry be-
tween the US city of San Diego and
the Mexican city of Tijuana on Sun-
day after closing it for several hours.
Sunday’s incident, which took
place after a group of people rushed
at the border fencing, was the latest
chapter in a weeks-long saga that has
pitted Trump’s hardline stance on
immigration against a group of thou-
sands of migrants who have made
their way north through Mexico from
violent and impoverished Central
American countries.
As news pictures showing chil-
dren fleeing tear gas prompted sharp
criticism from some lawmakers and
rights advocates, US government
agencies defended the response.
Rodney Scott, chief US Border
Patrol agent in San Diego, said yes-
terday authorities had arrested 42
people.
The vast majority of those assem-
bled at the border were economic
migrants who would not qualify for
asylum, he told CNN, adding that
there were few women and children.
“What I saw on the border yes-
terday was not people walking up to
Border Patrol agents and asking to
claim asylum,” Scott said.
US Customs and Border Protec-
tion officers “were struck by projec-
tiles thrown by caravan members”
and “perpetrators will be prosecut-
ed,” Homeland Security Secretary
Kirstjen Nielson said on Twitter
Sunday night.
The migrants, mostly Hondurans,
have travelled to the border in large
groups, or caravans and now number
more than 8,000.
Many of the thousands who have
gathered in Tijuana have said they
will wait there until they can seek
asylum.
US soldiers and border patrols fire tear gas towards migrants from the US side of the border fence between Mexico and the United States in Tijuana on Sunday.
If they enter the United States, le-
gally or illegally, they have a right to
seek asylum.
Trump has said the migrants
should not easily enter the country
and yesterday again threatened to
shut down the US-Mexico border,
which stretches 3,200km.
Although Sunday’s incident took
place at a part of the border where
there is already a physical barrier,
Trump again urged Congress to fund
his long-promised border wall, as
well as reiterating his unsubstanti-
ated assertion that there are many
criminals among the migrants.
“Mexico should move the flag
waving Migrants, many of whom are
stone cold criminals, back to their
countries. Do it by plane, do it by
bus, do it anyway you want, but they
are NOT coming into the USA. We
will close the Border permanently if
need be. Congress, fund the WALL!”
Trump tweeted.
Mexican government officials has
no immediate response.
Mexico has been in negotiations
with the United States over a possible
plan to keep migrants in Mexico while
their asylum claims are processed.
US lawmakers returned to Wash-
ington yesterday after the Thanks-
giving holiday break and face a
deadline to approve funding for the
federal government before some
funding runs out on December 7.
Trump has repeatedly threatened
to shut down the federal government
unless Congress pays for the wall.
Some 7,400 of the migrants are
now gathered in the Mexican border
state of Baja California, in the cities
of Tijuana and Mexicali, and tensions
had been rising in recent days amid a
series of daily protests.
On Sunday in Tijuana, hundreds of
caravan members including women
and children protested peacefully.
Mexican authorities intervened,
prompting a rush toward the border
by some people, before US agents
fired tear gas.
It was not immediately clear
whether those throwing objects at
US agents were part of the caravan,
MSNBC reported.
Democrats and other critics called
the Trump administration’s use of
tear gas toward the migrants an over-
reaction, and blamed the adminis-
tration for rejecting efforts to address
larger immigration issues.
“Tear gassing families seems un-
necessary,” Lee Gelernt, the deputy
director of the ACLU Immigrants’
Rights Project, told CNN.
For weeks before the November
6 congressional elections, Trump
raised the alarm about the migrant
caravans and ordered some 5,800 US
troops to the border to support bor-
der patrol agents.
Critics said this was aimed largely
at bringing the immigration issue to
the fore with his core supporters.
The president now has just a few
weeks left to push his fellow Repub-
licans, who currently control both
chambers of Congress, to make good
on funding the proposed wall before
Democrats take control of the US
House of Representatives in January
following their election gains.
Democrats in Congress want more
comprehensive immigration reform in
addition to additional border security,
but strongly oppose Trump’s wall.
“The time is long overdue for Con-
gress and this president to say we
need comprehensive immigration re-
form,” US Senator Bernie Sanders, an
independent who caucuses with the
Democrats, told CBS This Morning.
US authorities need to “minimise
the level of force that is being used,”
he added.
Senator Angus King, another in-
dependent, told the Hugh Hewitt
syndicated radio programme yes-
terday the wall did not appear to be
a high priority for Republicans or
Democrats in Congress.
Republican US Senator Joni Ernst
told CNN on Sunday she did not
want a government shutdown but
that “we’re seeing results” from
Trump’s efforts on asylum seekers.
sentatives with a campaign that spoke
of holding President Donald Trump ac-
countable, some powerful House Democrats
are now urging restraint and a focus on policy,
at least at the outset.
An aggressive examination of the president
is still needed, senior lawmakers and aides told
Reuters.
But Democratic leaders are trying to chart
a measured path forward from early Janu-
ary when they will take over the House from
Trump’s Republicans.
That path will seek to avoid igniting political
battles, for now, over matters such as Russian
meddling in the 2016 US presidential election,
as well as possible collusion between Moscow
and the Trump campaign and obstruction of
justice.
Many Democrats want to probe these vola-
tile topics, using subpoenas to get at docu-
ments and testimony they say Republicans
have ignored for two years, lawmakers and
aides said.
They also said they want to dig into Trump’s
property holdings, son-in-law Jared Kush-
ner’s businesses and daughter Ivanka Trump’s
use of private emails for official business.
But the investigative hard-chargers do not
appear to be prevailing in shaping the Demo-
crats’ early 2019 agenda.
That is because other Democrats — includ-
ing key committee leaders — want to focus
on immigration, rising student loan debt,
high-cost prescription drugs and the federal
response to hurricane disasters, especially in
Puerto Rico.
The Democrats’ agenda will solidify in six to
eight weeks.
When it does, it will greatly shape the rela-
tionship for the next two years between Capitol
Hill and Trump, who has not yet dealt with a
chamber of Congress under opposition control.
Voters handed a House majority to Demo-
crats in the November 6 elections.
With that comes more resources for investi-
gations, but some members of key committees
said they are concerned that rushing to wield
that power could turn off voters.
Representative Jerrold Nadler, likely chair-
man of the House Judiciary Committee, is
discouraging talk of an immediate push to im-
peach Trump.
Other Democrats are doing the same.
At the House Intelligence Committee,
members are debating whether to reopen
the panel’s 2016 Russian election-meddling
probe, said sources who requested anonymity.
Representative Adam Schiff, on track to be-
come the panel’s chairman, is leading a faction
that wants to hold off on reopening the Rus-
sian inquiry, said sources.

Storm strands holiday At the same time, Schiff is talking publicly

about investigating Trump’s ties to Russia,
which has denied interfering in the 2016 elec-

travellers, more than tion to favor Trump.

Democrat Joaquin Castro, an Intelligence
Committee member, favours committees

1,240 flights cancelled starting the 2019-2020 Congress with hear-

ings on issues such as the separation of immi-
grant children from their parents.
But he told Reuters that Republicans have
Reuters The storm was bringing winds “turned a blind eye to key leads in the inves-
Chicago from 48kph to 56kph, with gusts tigation into Russia’s interference in our 2016
of up to 72kph 80kph. Snowfall election...
totals were expected to be 15cm “In the next Congress, we will be sure to

M
any holiday travellers
in the United States
were stuck at airports
on the final day of Thanksgiving
weekend after more than 1,240
flights were cancelled because of
a blizzard that swept across the
Midwest, according to weather
officials.
Blizzard warnings were issued
in areas stretching across north-
east Kansas to Chicago, with
snow already falling in some re-
gions including Kansas, central
Missouri, southeast Nebraska
and southern Iowa, said Bob
Oravec, meteorologist for the
National Weather Service.
to 30cm across those areas.
Oravec said Kansas and Chi-
cago were likely to see “high im-
pact” blizzard conditions.
More than 1,240 fights headed
to or from the United States were
cancelled by Sunday evening, ac-
cording to FlightAware.com.
Most of the cancellations were
of flights departing or arriving
at Chicago O’Hare International
Airport and Chicago Midway
Airport, which combined saw a
total of about 900 flights can-
celled.
At Kansas City International
Airport, nearly 200 flights were
cancelled.
revisit all those leads, while at the same time
actively examining whether Russians were
money laundering through the Trump Organi-
zation, gaining any leverage over the presi-
dent.”
Republicans have already begun criticising
Democrats, even before their first investiga-
tion is launched, embracing the term “presi-
dential harassment” that Trump likes to use.
Democratic committee member Carolyn
Maloney said she was pushing Cummings to
probe the administration’s decision to add a
question about citizenship to the US Census.
Matt Cartwright, another Oversight Demo-
crat, said, “I’m against weaponising the com-
mittee, however, I don’t want to defang the
committee by the same token...Our committee
A woman shovels snow around her stuck car during a snowstorm in Arlington Heights, Illinois. should be more than a political loudspeaker.”

Canada francophones gear up for fight over education, rights

By Michel Comte, AFP with personal (grudges or other) “I know personally from hav- Francophone groups have tion and government services in tion that failed to secure a majority. gotiated solution may be reached
Ottawa against any Franco-Ontarians.” ing taught French in Vancouver, dusted off their picket signs and French recognised. Trudeau’s Liberals have sought with Ford, but added that his
“They’re great people,” he told from having spoken with minor- plan to march for their rights in This included a Manitoba in- to make the rights row an elec- group is ready to go to court to
reporters. “But we also cancelled ity communities right across the 40 locations across Ontario on surance broker’s 1976 Supreme tion issue in 2019, as Ford’s gov- fight for its linguistic rights.

A
French-language univer-
sity cancelled by Ontario’s
government this month
has kindled the passions of Can-
ada’s francophone minority, who
are set to replay their historical
rights struggle.
In addition to nixing the pro-
posed university that was to open
in Toronto in 2020, the province
with the largest francophone mi-
nority in the country — outside
of Quebec — also cut funding for
francophone theatre troupes.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford,
the brother of Toronto’s late
crack-smoking mayor, respond-
ed to a barrage of criticism, say-
ing the move “has nothing to do
three other universities, English-
speaking universities.”
Ford insisted that budget con-
straints were behind the decision
which will save Ontario C$80mn
(US$60mn) over seven years.
But it has rattled Ontario’s
600,000 francophones, who
represent about 4% of Ontario’s
population.
The move also drew criticism
and calls to reverse course from
the federal government and oth-
ers including the government of
Quebec, where francophones are
the majority.
Canada’s nearly 8mn franco-
phones represent 20% of its pop-
ulation, but most are in Quebec.
country, how much they look to
the federal government to try
and stick up for them, regardless
of what the provinces do,” Prime
Minister Justin Trudeau said.
“And we will certainly be en-
gaged with the provincial govern-
ment to try to ensure they do this.”
His father, the late prime min-
ister Pierre Trudeau, enshrined
bilingual language rights in the
Constitution.
Justin Trudeau’s languages
minister, Melanie Joly, an-
nounced C$5mn for a “court
challenges programme” which
provides financial assistance for
important court cases that ad-
vance constitutional rights.
December 1.
“We feel betrayed,” said Carol
Jolin of the lobby group As-
semblee de la Francophonie de
l’Ontario.
Ford had pledged during the
June election support for the
new university that was to enrol
3,000, Jolin told AFP.
“Everything was going pretty
well for francophones in Canada
in recent years,” he said. “But
we’re worried now about a back-
sliding.”
The late 1960s and the two
decades that followed had
marked a turning point for Cana-
dian francophones in their fight
to have their rights to an educa-
Court challenge of a parking
ticket issued only in English as
a means to restore French lan-
guage rights in that province,
and a 1990s battle against budget
cuts to keep open Ontario’s only
francophone hospital, Montfort
in Ottawa.
French language rights were laid
out in the 1982 Charter of Rights
and Freedoms, and other laws.
New Brunswick went the fur-
thest, making French one of its
two official languages in 1969.
But the province suffered a re-
lapse in September when a fringe
party that campaigned on slashing
“costly” French services emerged
as a potential kingmaker in an elec-
ernment is closely allied with the
federal opposition Conservatives
and their leader Andrew Scheer.
“This decision is unaccept-
able,” Joly said, demanding that
Ford back down and “that An-
drew Scheer denounce it too.”
Scheer, however, distanced
himself from Ford on the issue.
“We are a bilingual country
with many francophones out-
side of Quebec and the federal
government must work with the
provinces to ensure that all Ca-
nadians have the same rights and
access to services and programs,”
the Conservative leader said dur-
ing a Quebec tour.
Jolin held out hope that a ne-
He noted that demographic
trends point to Toronto, Cana-
da’s largest metropolis, becom-
ing the nation’s biggest franco-
phone cluster outside of Quebec
within a few years.
If 100,000 francophone students
in Ontario — along with 200,000
enrolled in French immersion pro-
grammes — cannot continue their
post-graduate education in the
language of Moliere, the commu-
nity will decline, Jolin said.
“It’ll contribute to the assimi-
lation of our young people,” he
said. “If they study in English
and then go on to work in Eng-
lish, French will stop being a part
of their life.”
 Gulf Times
12 Tuesday, November 27, 2018
ASIA
China building projects at
inflated prices: Maldives
Reuters
New Delhi
M
aldives’ new finance
minister said yester-
day that China is ex-
ecuting infrastructure projects
at vastly higher prices than
originally proposed but the is-
land nation cannot get out of its
commitments now.
President Ibrahim Mo-
hamed Solih’s administration,
which took office this month,
is reviewing contracts award-
ed by his predecessor Abdulla
Yameen. Most went to Chinese
firms and are feared to have left
the country in debt.
During a five-year build-
ing spree, China built a sea
bridge connecting the capi-
tal city of Male to the main
airport on another island
and is developing the air-
port itself as well as build-
ing mass housing on land
reclaimed from the sea.
But Finance Minister Ibrahim
Ameer told reporters during a
visit to New Delhi that his offi-
Mohamed Nasheed waves as he addresses the country after
returning from exile in Male last month.
Court clears Nasheed
of terror conviction
AFP
Colombo
T
he Maldives top court
overturned a terror-
ism conviction yester-
day against the country’s first
democratically elected leader
Mohamed Nasheed, who fled
into exile after being sen-
tenced to 13 years behind bars.
The Supreme Court said
Nasheed was wrongfully
charged and should not have
been convicted in the 2015 tri-
al described by the United Na-
tions as politically motivated.
Nasheed went into exile a
year later while abroad seek-
ing medical treatment, and was
branded a fugitive from justice.
“President Nasheed’s en-
tire trial was a politically-
motivated sham,” his lawyer,
Hisaan Hussein, said after his
conviction was quashed.
“It is appalling that an in-
nocent man was unjustly
forced to spend a year in jail,
35 months in exile, and was
prevented from standing for
political office.”
The opposition icon only
returned to the Maldives this
month after his political rival
Abdulla Yameen, who ruled
the Maldives with an iron fist
Ousted PM’s party vows to take over state finances
AFP
Colombo
S
ri Lanka’s ousted prime
minister Ranil Wickremes-
inghe initiated moves yes-
terday to take control of state fi-
nances as a power struggle with
the country’s president entered a
second month.
Wickremesinghe’s United
National Party (UNP) said it
would call a parliamentary
vote this week to block spend-
ing by the new administra-
tion installed by President
Maithripala Sirisena.
cials had spend the first week in
office trying to reconcile loans
that the previous government
took for these projects and the
sovereign guarantees that it
gave for them.
“We believe that most of
these projects are at inflated
prices, and so we are looking at
them,” Ameer said.
But he said the government
could not go back on the con-
tracts because many of these,
including the bridge, were al-
ready completed.
“We cannot do much in terms
of renegotiation but going for-
ward our objective would be
to reduce the cost of our infra-
structure projects,” he said.
One of the projects was a
hospital in Male awarded to
China which had already run up
a cost $140mn, far more than
a rival offer of $54mn that was
originally made, Ameer said.
China has built ports, bridg-
es and highways in countries
stretching from Bangladesh,
Nepal, Sri Lanka, and its ally
Pakistan as part of its Belt and
Road Initiative for a trade and
for five years, was beaten in a
presidential election.
The strongman president
jailed or exiled most of his op-
ponents but since he departed
office political prisoners have
been freed and opponents
abroad have returned.
Nasheed, the leader of the
opposition Maldivian Demo-
cratic Party, was expected to
contest the September poll
but was barred on account of
his terrorism conviction.
His party’s nominee, Ib-
rahim Mohamed Solih, ran
and unexpectedly defeated
Yameen despite curbs on op-
position campaigning.
Nasheed risked arrest if he
ever returned to the Maldives
while Yameen remained in
power.
Nasheed was elected presi-
dent in the Maldives first-ever
democratic poll in 2008, oust-
ing an authoritarian president
who had ruled the honeymoon
islands for 30 years.
But he was toppled in what
he called a coup in 2012, and
found guilty of terrorism three
years later.
His appeal against his 13-
year jail sentence had lan-
guished before the courts for
years before Yameen’s defeat
and the case reopened.
The UNP says that as Sri Lan-
ka does not have a recognised
government all spending pow-
ers should revert to parliament,
where the UNP and its allies have
a majority.
Sirisena set off the consti-
tutional crisis on October 26
by sacking Wickremesinghe,
naming the country’s former
strongman president Mahi-
nda Rajapakse as prime min-
ister, and seeking to dissolve
parliament.
But the Supreme Court and
legislators have blocked Sirisena
and the parliament’s speaker
has declared that neither Wick-
transit corridor across Asia and
into Europe.
But of late it has faced criti-
cism that many of its massive
projects costing millions of
dollars are pushing the smaller
countries into debt.
India, which has been tradi-
tional partner for most of the
South Asian countries, has in
addition viewed the expansive
Chinese diplomacy as aimed at
securing an outpost in some of
the island nations such as Sri
Lanka and the Maldives.
Maldives’ foreign minister
Abdulla Shahid said he had as-
sured Indian leaders that his
country wanted the best of ties
with its immediate neighbours
and would return to an “India
First” policy.
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi attended Solih’s inau-
guration and said India stood
ready to help the country tide
over its financial difficulties.
China has rejected allegations
it was driving the Maldives to
debt and said it hopes the new
government will continue with
policies to attract investment.
Bangladesh faces refugee anger over
term ‘Rohingya’, data collection
Reuters
Cox’s Bazar
R
ohingya refugees from
Myanmar in camps in
Bangladesh began a pro-
test yesterday, demanding that
Bangladesh recognise their
ethnicity as Rohingya and that
officials and aid agencies stop
sharing their family information
with Myanmar.
Markets were shut at several
of the refugee camps in south-
east Bangladesh because of the
protest. Rohingya working with
non-government groups and the
UN High Commissioner for Ref-
ugees also boycotted their jobs
as part of the strike.
Star cricketer defends
move to politics
AFP
Dhaka
B
angladesh cricket super-
star Mashrafe Mortaza
has defended his decision
to enter politics as the “need of
the hour” after angering some
fans by contesting upcoming
elections.
Mashrafe, who enjoys rockstar
status in cricket-mad Bangla-
desh, divided opinion when he
announced he would run in the
December 30 polls on an Awami
League ticket.
A photograph of the 35-year-
old alongside party leader and
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
dominated headlines for days.
But it split fans in the South
remesinghe nor Rajapakse are
prime minister.
Wickremesinghe, who occu-
pies the prime minister’s resi-
dence, and Rajapakse, who has
the premier’s offices, have both
refused to back down.
UNP spokesman Champika
Ranawaka said a majority in the
225-member legislature would
vote on Friday to freeze spending
by Rajapakse’s disputed min-
isterial team. The UNP and its
allies have 122 MPs.
“In the absence of a govern-
ment, all financial control trans-
fers to parliament,” Ranawaka
told reporters. “We will di-
Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, right, meeting with her Maldives counterpart Abdulla Shahid in
New Delhi yesterday.
“The term ‘Rohingya’ is very
important because we have been
persecuted because of our iden-
tity,” the protesting refugees said
in a statement, adding that while
the term was banned in Myan-
mar, it should not be banned in
Bangladesh.
More than 700,000 Mus-
lim Rohingya fled a sweeping
army crackdown in mostly
Buddhist Myanmar’s Rakhine
State last year, according to
UN agencies. The crackdown
was launched in response to
Rohingya insurgent attacks on
security forces.
Rohingya regard themselves
as native to western Myanmar’s
Rakhine State but Myanmar au-
thorities and many citizens re-
Asian nation of 165mn, which
this year witnessed major ral-
lies against the Awami League,
which has jailed opponents and
stifled dissent.
“I believe that every con-
scious, worthy and honest Bang-
ladeshi should enter politics,”
Mashrafe said late Sunday in his
first public remarks since an-
nouncing his candidacy.
“Maybe many can’t find the
courage for different reasons and
mental limitations. I thought
that it was important to break
this mental barrier. So, I myself
took the initiative to fulfil my
desire,” he said in a Facebook
post.
Earlier, the Awami League
confirmed the one-day inter-
national captain would contest
rectly have control over gov-
ernment spending through the
legislature.”
Rajapakse has lost two no-
confidence motions and two
other votes in parliament but
still insists he is in charge.
Ranawaka said the fifth mo-
tion against Rajapakse on Fri-
day would seek to stop him from
spending state funds.
“We are informing the Treas-
ury that they cannot release
any money for the purported
government. It will be the par-
liament which will exercise its
powers of finance directly from
Friday,” Ranawaka said.
gard them as illegal immigrants
from the Indian subcontinent.
Many are stateless as a 1982
law restricts citizenship for the
Rohingya and other minorities
not considered members of one
of Myanmar’s “national races”.
The Myanmar government
refuses even to use the word
“Rohingya”, as that would imply
a distinct identify, instead call-
ing them “Bengali”.
Bangladesh has been urg-
ing the refugees to accept smart
cards that help with identifica-
tion and the distribution of aid.
The smart cards however, iden-
tify an individual as a “forcibly
displaced Myanmar national”
and not as Rohingya.
The protesters also ex-
a parliamentary seat from his
home town Narail in southwest
Bangladesh.
A cricketer moving into poli-
tics is nothing new in South
Asia, where star players com-
mand god-like devotion from
millions of fans.
It is however rare for a current
player to make the change.
Mashrafe is expected to skip-
per Bangladesh in a three-match
ODI series against the West
Indies on home soil starting
December 9.
The fast bowler said his po-
litical ambitions called at a time
when he is contemplating his fu-
ture, with speculation he could
retire from international cricket
after next year’s World Cup.
“I don’t know what is waiting
The political crisis wors-
ened Sunday when Sirisena
announced that he will never
reinstate Wickremesinghe as
prime minister even if he has a
parliamentary majority.
“We warn the president to
respect the majority of MPs and
recognise Hon. Wickremesin-
ghe,” Ranawaka said. “He must
realise he can’t pick (and) choose
a PM like shopping at a super-
market.”
Sri Lanka’s power vacuum is
so acute that no budget for 2019
has been passed. Government
finances will stall on January 1
|unless a vote is taken.
pressed concern about a UN-
HCR plan to collect biometric
data and copies of documents,
as they fear the UNHCR and
Bangladeshi authorities could
share the data with Myanmar,
which could use the informa-
tion against them.
Bangladeshi authorities were
not immediately reachable for
comment.
Firas al-Khateeb, a UNHCR
representative, said data was be-
ing collected for a verification
process which would help Ro-
hingya refugees get better pro-
tection and ensure their access
to services in Bangladesh.
“It is not linked to repatria-
tion,” he said, adding that the
data was jointly maintained by
Mashrafe Mortaza ... new career
for me in the next four and half
years after the World Cup. So I
made an assessment of the time.
I listened to the need of the hour.
Because I believe, work should be
done in due time,” he said.
Former Cambodian monk jailed after
allegedly stabbing ex-girlfriend
A former Cambodian monk
has been jailed while awaiting
trial after he was arrested,
defrocked and charged over
the weekend for allegedly
attempting to kill his ex-
girlfriend, local media reported
yesterday.
A court in northwestern
Banteay Meanchey province
charged Toan Savorn, 52, on
Sunday for the attempted
murder of his 46-year-old
girlfriend after she left him for
another man, the Khmer Times
reported.
Savorn, formerly of
Chamsathea Veas pagoda in
Banteay Meanchey, allegedly
stabbed Seng Phalla, a
businesswoman, with a chisel,
Vietnamese
city flooded
after storm
DPA
Hanoi
M
uch of Vietnam’s larg-
est city was underwa-
ter early yesterday in
the wake of a storm which has
left one person dead.
Tropical storm Usagi
dropped 444mm of rain on the
region in the 36-hour period to
7am (0000 GMT), the Central
Steering Committee for Dis-
aster Control and Prevention
said.
At least 40 major roads
are still underwater from the
storm, which was downgrad-
ed to a tropical depression
before it hit Hanoi on Sun-
day, the Vnexpress news site
reported.
Flooding had caused traffic
chaos across the city by early
yesterday.
Schools have shut down city-
wide, affecting some 1.7mn stu-
dents, and international flights
have been cancelled.
No deaths have been reported
from the flooding, although the
steering committee said that
a man died Sunday after a tree
fell on him while he was riding a
motorbike.
Bangladesh and the UNHCR.
Refugees are refusing to return
to Myanmar under a repatriation
plan unless demands for justice,
citizenship and the ability to go
back to their original villages and
lands are met.
The refugees say they had to
flee from their homes after My-
anmar soldiers and Buddhist
civilians massacred families,
burned villages and carried out
gang rapes.
UN-mandated investigators
have accused the Myanmar army
of “genocidal intent” and ethnic
cleansing.
Myanmar denies almost all
the accusations, saying its forces
engaged in a counter-insurgency
operation against “terrorists”.
Mashrafe, who has undergone
more than half a dozen knee sur-
geries, has already retired from
Twenty20 international cricket
and has not played a Test match
since 2009.
which he carried inside his robe,
while the pair were discussing
their breakup on Saturday, local
police told the Times.
She was taken to hospital with
serious injuries.
He faces up to 10 years in
prison if convicted.
Buddhist monks are not
permitted to marry or have
romantic relationships.
The former couple reportedly
planned to marry after Savorn
left the monkhood.
Police said that the ex-monk
gave Phalla money he collected
from alms to help her open a
money exchange and electronic
payment franchise in Poipet
City, a casino town near the
border with Thailand. (DPA)
 Gulf Times
Tuesday, November 27, 2018 13

ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

China bars US citizens from leaving over ‘economic crimes’

AFP vented from leaving the country vented from flying home despite have been restricted from leaving or compel family members or col- The siblings claim they are inno- it was in “close contact” with Vic-
Beijing after they arrived in June. not having been charged with a China by Chinese police.” leagues to co-operate with Chi- cent and are being used to pres- tor and Cynthia Liu.
The children say police are crime, the newspaper said. Chinese law does not recognise nese authorities. sure their father, Liu Changming, An official said: “US citizen
preventing them from return- China’s foreign ministry yes- dual citizenship. US-born Victor, 19, was set to a wanted man in China. A former siblings Victor and Cynthia Liu

C
hina yesterday said that it
has barred three reported
US citizens– a woman
and her two grown children –
from leaving the country because
they are suspected of “economic
crimes”. According to the New
York Times, Chinese-born moth-
er Sandra Han and her children,
Cynthia and Victor Liu, were pre-
ing home to compel their father,
a former executive at a Chinese
state-owned bank, to return to
China to face criminal charges,
according to the Times. Their
mother is allegedly being held in a
secret site known as a “black jail”,
the Times reported. The siblings
told American officials and fam-
ily associates that they were pre-
terday defended the decision.
“As we understand it from the
relevant authorities, these people
you have mentioned all have legal
and valid identity documents as
Chinese citizens,” Chinese foreign
ministry spokesman Geng Sh-
uang told a regular press briefing.
“They are suspected of having
committed economic crimes and
While China is known to bar
naturalised foreign citizens who
are former Chinese nationals from
leaving, it is rare that one of those
being held was born in the United
States. The US State Department
issued a travel advisory in January,
warning its citizens about the use
of “exit bans” to compel Ameri-
can nationals to resolve disputes
start his second year at George-
town University while his sister,
Cynthia, 27, was heading back to
work with consulting firm McK-
insey & Company, according to
the Times.
They have unsuccessfully tried
to leave three times and have been
moving between cities and living
with an uncle, the paper reported.
executive at the Bank of Commu-
nications, Liu is accused of help-
ing to carry out one of the coun-
try’s biggest bank frauds, in which
$1.4bn in illegal loans were issued
to property developers. He fled
China in 2007 and his children say
he is estranged from the family,
cutting off ties in 2012.
The US State Department said
have been unable to leave China
since June 2018 due to an exit ban.
“US officials, including the Sec-
retary of State, regularly raise the
issue of exit bans with the Chinese
government.”
The official added: “We rou-
tinely call for a more transparent
process and fair treatment for US
citizens.”

Royal visit

China heaps pressure

on Taiwan president
after election defeat Global Times, said in its editorial
Reuters
Taipei that the DPP’s “radical thinking”
had led it astray, though the same
paper last week had called Tsai’s

C
hinese state media heaped
pressure on Taiwan
President Tsai Ing-wen
yesterday after her ruling pro-
independence party suffered
heavy defeats at local elections
at the weekend, as party officials
sought to work out what went
wrong.
Tsai, who faces presidential
elections in a little over a year,
resigned last week as chair-
woman of the Democratic Pro-
gressive Party (DPP) after losing
key battleground cities in may-
oral polls to the China-friendly
Kuomintang. The DPP now only
controls six cities and counties to
the Kuomintang’s 15.
Han Kuo-yu, the
Kuomintang’s mayor-elect in the
southern port city of Kaohsiung
and the most high profile of the
party’s winners, said he would
open the door to contacts with
China. Beijing has refused to deal
with Tsai’s administration since
she took office in 2016, accusing
her of pushing for the island’s
formal independence. That is a
red line for China, which consid-
ers the proudly democratic island
sacred Chinese territory.
Tsai has said she wants to
maintain the status quo with
China but will defend Taiwan’s
security and democracy, espe-
cially in the face of ramped up
Chinese pressure such as whit-
Tsai Ing-wen
tling down Taiwan’s dwindling
band of diplomatic allies. In the
run-up to the election, Tsai had
warned against Chinese efforts
to interfere and that people must
stand up for democracy. The of-
ficial China Daily said in an edi-
torial Tsai had ignored Beijing’s
“co-operative stance” and forced
relations into a deadlock, and
that “her separatist stance has
lost her the support of the people
on the island”.
“Cross-Straits communica-
tion and co-operation between
local governments are expected
to be strengthened as a result of
the election, which will bring
more opportunities and help
deepen mutual understanding,”
it wrote. The Kuomintang has
sent delegations to China since
Tsai took office, where they have
been warmly received, and that
contact is now likely to increase.
Hung Mong-kai, a Kuomintang
spokesman, said he was “cer-
tain” there would now be more
interaction with China.
Chiu Chui-cheng, deputy
minister of Taiwan’s Mainland
Affairs Council, told Reuters the
government had always wel-
comed exchanges with China,
but Beijing’s “political precon-
ditions” had hindered such con-
tacts. “We are always positive
on city-to-city exchanges with
mainland China, but it’s them
who set a limit: they treat blue
and green differently,” he said,
referring to the colours repre-
senting the Kuomintang and
DPP.
Another state-run Chinese
paper, the widely read tabloid the
China policies “measured”. Close
Tsai aide Chen Chu, secretary
general of the presidential office,
said there were “no excuses” for
the poor performance and that
they had to think deeply.
“We must accept this les-
son from the people,” she wrote
on her Facebook page, without
putting forward any solutions.
Senior DPP member and legis-
lator Lo Chih-cheng told Reuters
the party had failed to please an-
yone with its moderate approach
to both China and domestic is-
sues, and the DPP needed a re-
think and maybe a more radical
agenda to reach its core support-
ers. “The party is in turmoil,”
Lo said, suggesting one way to
please people would be to snatch
back some of the smaller coun-
tries with which China has ties.
“We’ve been pushed into a
corner, without fighting back.
And that again disappointed our
supporters,” he said. Still, Tai-
wan’s stock market was cheered
by the Kuomintang’s gains, on
expectations of better ties with
China, closing up more than one
percent. The Taiwan dollar also
strengthened.
China has done little to hide its
glee at the DPP’s poor showing.
One source with ties to China’s
leadership, asked how Beijing felt Jordanian King Abdullah II, Queen Rania al-Yassin are greeted by Japan’s Emperor Akihito and
about the outcome, told Reuters Empress Michiko upon their arrival at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.
simply: “They’re really happy.”

145 whales die on NZ beach Australia PM holds emergency

AFP float the remaining whales was
Wellington extremely low,” said Ren Lep-
pens, the Department of Con-
servation’s operations man-
meet as electoral oblivion looms
the remainder were saved by
transporting them by road to
the more-sheltered east coast
20km away.

U
p to 145 pilot whales
have died in a mass
stranding in a remote
part of New Zealand, with au-
thorities saying yesterday they
ager on Stewart Island.
“The remote location, lack
of nearby personnel and the
whales’ deteriorating condi-
tion meant the most humane
“It’s highly stressful for the
whales, but they’ll be using
suitable padding to protect
them,” he told Fairfax Me-
dia. They were to be kept in a
Reuters Newspoll showed support of just coup in August. Morrison struck
Sydney 35% for the government, just one a deal with an independent law-
percentage point above its record maker to continue ruling in mi-
low. With such a heavy loss on the nority but the government faces

made the “heart-breaking”
decision to euthanise dozens
that lay stricken on the shore.
The stranding was discov-
ered by a hiker late Saturday on
Stewart Island, 30km off the
southern coast of the South
Island.
Half of the whales were al-
ready dead and due to the con-
dition of the remaining whales
and the remote, difficult-to-
access location, the decision
was made to euthanise the re-
mainder.
“Sadly, the likelihood of
being able to successfully re-
Ancient Chinese painting auctioned for almost $60mn
A nearly 1,000-year-old ink
painting by one of China’s
greatest literati masters
Su Shi fetched US$59.5mn
(HK$463,600,000) at auction,
Christie’s said yesterday. The
auction house has described
the Song Dynasty artwork
created by Su as “one of the
world’s rarest Chinese paint-
ings”. Entitled “Wood and
Rock”, the ink-on-paper hand-
scroll depicts a dragon-like old
tree with withered branches
and a sharp rock resting at
its root. The painting was the
thing to do was to euthanise.
“However, it’s always a heart-
breaking decision to make.”
It was one of four strandings
discovered on New Zealand
shores over the weekend which
stretched DOC resources. In
the far north of New Zealand,
eight pygmy killer whales were
transported by truck to the
east coast from the west where
sea conditions were too rough
to refloat them.
Two of the pod had to be
euthanised, but Daren Grov-
er of the marine conserva-
tion group Project Jonah said
most expensive item ever sold
in Christie’s Asia, it said.
Su Shi, also known as Su
Dongpo, is one of the most
important cultural figures in
Chinese history and was an
esteemed scholar, poet, prose-
writer, painter, calligrapher and
statesman. The 185.5cm-long
scroll is inscribed with cal-
ligraphy and the poems of four
important literati of the 11th
century in China, and also ex-
hibits the seals of 41 collectors.
“The number of the works
securely attributed to him are
stream overnight and refloated
at high tide next morning.
There were two other whale
strandings over the weekend in
New Zealand, where beachings
are relatively common with the
conservation department re-
sponding to an average 85 in-
cidents a year, mostly of single
animals.
A sperm whale which
beached in Doubtless Bay died
overnight on Saturday, while
the body of a dead female pyg-
my sperm whale was found at
Ohiwa on the west coast of the
North Island.
very few, probably only two or
three. They are extremely rare,”
Jonathan Stone, deputy chair-
man for Christie’s Asian art
department, said in an earlier
preview. In 2010, “Dizhuming”,
a Chinese calligraphy scroll
by Huang Tingjian — Su Shi’s
student— sold for $64mn at
Poly Auction in Beijing.
Hong Kong’s auction houses
have seen frenzied bidding
among Asian buyers in recent
years, with sales of diamonds,
paintings and ancient ceram-
ics shattering world records.
A
ustralian Prime Minister
Scott Morrison held an
emergency meeting with
members of his embattled Lib-
eral party yesterday as his minor-
ity government stared down the
barrel at a heavy election defeat
within the next six months.
Morrison met lawmakers from
Victoria, Australia’s second-
most populous state, where
voters overwhelmingly turned
against the Liberals in a state
election on Saturday, stoking
panic within the Liberal-Nation-
al coalition.
Australian Treasurer Josh
Frydenberg, who is from Victo-
ria, said the meeting was pro-
ductive but declined to specify
what was said. “We had a good,
honest discussion about lessons
to be learned from the state cam-
paign,” Frydenberg told reporters
Uber driver found guilty over passenger’s death in Sydney
An Uber driver whose passenger
died after exiting a vehicle and
being hit by a bus at a Sydney in-
tersection has been found guilty
of negligent driving occasioning
death, local media reported.
Nazrul Islam, 32, had denied re-
sponsibility for the instant death
of Englishman Samuel Thomas.
The 30-year-old was killed after
being caught off balance when
Australian PM Scott Morrison
in Canberra. The meeting came
just hours after Australia’s pre-
eminent opinion poll showed the
government on course for a heavy
defeat by the Labor opposition at
the next national election, which
is due by May.
A Newspoll for The Austral-
ian newspaper showed Morri-
son’s government was on course
to lose 21 seats in the 150-seat
lower house of parliament. The
Islam accelerated after dropping
him off around dawn in June
2017. During yesterday’s verdict,
Downing Centre Local Court
magistrate Mary Ryan said the
driver “did not keep a proper
lookout” when the passenger
opened the door, Australian
Associated Press reported. The
“only explanation is that Mr
Islam was much more fatigued
horizon, liberal and more con-
servative elements of Morrison’s
party clashed publicly over the
need to change policy. Tim Wil-
son, a backbench lawmaker from
Victoria, said the state result
showed voters wanted the gov-
ernment to move away from fossil
fuels such as coal.
Former prime minister Tony
Abbott dismissed the suggestion,
arguing for stronger conservative
policies. The split came as Morri-
son faced a hostile parliament for
the first time since his govern-
ment was confirmed in minor-
ity. Morrison lost his one-seat
parliamentary majority earlier in
November when an independent
candidate won a by-election for
the affluent Sydney seat held by
former prime minister Malcolm
Turnbull, who quit politics after
he was ousted in a party-room
than he admitted,” Ryan said.
Islam had worked for 21 hours
before the incident and despite
indicating he had seven hours
of sleep it was not continuous
rest, she said, before finding the
driver guilty. The magistrate said
while Islam was of good char-
acter with no criminal record,
“people of good character also
do commit offences for the first
an anxious final two-week parlia-
mentary session for the year.
The numerical disadvantage
forced Morrison’s government
into an immediate and embar-
rassing climb-down over the
setting up of an anti-corruption
body. It had rejected Labor’s calls
for such an organisation, but
sided with the opposition when
it became obvious it would lose a
vote on the floor.
Labor could also seek a parlia-
mentary vote to demand Home
Affairs Minister Peter Dutton be
referred to Australia’s High Court
for a ruling on whether he is eligi-
ble to remain as a sitting member.
Dutton, who has financial inter-
ests in daycare centres that re-
ceive government funding, risks
falling foul of Australia’s consti-
tution, which bans lawmakers
from benefiting from state funds.
time.” He will be sentenced at
a later date. Islam, who is from
Bangladesh, had started work-
ing for Uber just three weeks
prior to the death. The incident
forced the ride-sharing company
to review its policy and last year
implement an automated log-off
period of six hours for drivers
who have been on the road for
12 hours straight.
 Gulf Times
14 Tuesday, November 27, 2018
BRITAIN
Flood threat may see people being moved to new areas: Gove
Guardian News and Media
London
P
eople may have to be
moved away from high-
risk areas as climate
change makes flooding more
likely and more severe in the UK,
the government has said.
Announcing the biggest re-
view of climate change in Britain
for nearly a decade, the Environ-
ment Secretary, Michael Gove,
said flooding was one of the key
ways in which changes would
Labour to block
People’s Vote
taking part
in TV debate
Guardian News and Media
London
L
abour will not allow a rep-
resentative of the People’s
Vote campaign to take part
in any televised Brexit debate in-
volving Theresa May and Jeremy
Corbyn, with the party instead
pushing for a format that would
allow the opposition leader to
criticise the prime minister’s
domestic policies.
May’s team has proposed hold-
ing a live primetime TV debate
ahead of a crunch parliamentary
vote next month on Britain’s exit
from the EU, prompting a discus-
sion over the debate format and
which broadcaster would host it.
It also led to calls from parties
that support a second EU referen-
dum – including the Scottish Na-
tional party, the Green party and
the Liberal Democrats – to have a
representative on the panel.
Corbyn’s team swiftly jumped
at the offer and confirmed their
willingness to take part, saying:
“Jeremy would relish a head-to-
head debate with Theresa May
about her botched Brexit deal
and the future of our country.”
Despite this, there is no cer-
tainty that Corbyn will be in-
volved if Labour cannot agree
terms with a broadcaster and No
10 in the next fortnight.
Sources aware of Labour’s
plans emphasised the party
would only be willing to con-
sider a debate that pitched the
two main party leaders against
each other, leaving no space for
an proponent of a second ref-
erendum. Labour believes this
format would also allow Corbyn
to get May to broaden the debate
beyond Brexit and hold her to ac-
count on issues such as austerity.
Anti-Brexit groups called on
broadcasters to insist on includ-
ing a supporter of a second ref-
erendum.
“While it is welcome that the
Coastal communities ‘to
get £1mn funding boost’
Guardian News and Media
London
M
ore than two dozen
coastal communities in
England are to receive
regeneration funding to preserve
historical landmarks and help
boost local economies.
They include six heritage sites
that have been classified as “at
risk” by Historic England, rang-
ing from a former ice factory in
Grimsby to a miners’ chapel in
Cornwall and an historic artil-
lery fort in Essex.
The total £1mn payment from
the Coastal Revival Fund will
help to prevent the seaside sites
– which also include piers, lidos
and promenades – from falling
into disrepair and bring iconic
buildings back into use.
Northwood House Rotunda on
the Isle of Wight, a grade II listed
building, and the 19th century
Rock Gardens in Ramsgate will
also receive grants from the de-
partment for communities fund.
Ministers have been under
pressure to invest in so-called
become manifest in the UK.
“It will not always be possible
to prevent every flood,” he told
an audience of department for
environment, food and rural af-
fairs (Defra) stakeholders. “We
cannot build defences to protect
every single building or rein-
force every retreating coastline.
We will be looking at ways we
can encourage every local area
to strive for greater overall resil-
ience that takes into account all
the different levers from land-
use planning to better water
storage upstream, and tackles
prime minister is finally agreeing
to turn up to a debate, the argu-
ment for the people to be given
the final say on Brexit must be
heard loud and clear in that dis-
cussion,” said the Best for Britain
chief executive, Eloise Todd.
One Downing Street source said
formal talks with broadcasters had
yet to begin, with questions around
scheduling still to be decided. The
BBC is the most likely home for
a debate, but Sky News, Channel
4 and Channel 5 are among those
who are thought to have expressed
an interest in giving a platform to
the prime minister.
Discussion about the format
of leaders’ debates has become
a cornerstone of British poli-
tics over the past decade, with
months spent trying to agree a
debate format during the 2015
general election. Time pressure
means political parties have a
matter of days to come to an ar-
rangement this time.
The Daily Telegraph has been
briefed that the prime minister fa-
vours holding a “primetime, Sun-
day night televised debate” with
Corbyn, with a “Question Time-
style session with a televised
audience hosted by David Dim-
bleby” lined up if terms cannot be
agreed with the Labour leader.
However, Downing Street’s
desire for a peak slot may come
against the brutal reality of TV
schedules. The prime minister’s
team want the largest possible au-
dience for such a debate, but the
only logistically possible Sunday
night that could work is December
9, which could bring its own prob-
lems if they wish to appear on one
of the biggest terrestrial channels.
That evening, BBC One is set
to show Countryfile, the season
finales of Doctor Who and David
Attenborough’s Dynasties, plus
Strictly Come Dancing and a
new drama by Jimmy McGovern.
Meanwhile, ITV will be showing
the final of I’m a Celebrity … Get
Me Out of Here.
“left behind” coastal commu-
nities which have suffered from
decades of under-investment
and played a key role in the result
of the Brexit referendum.
Jake Berry, the coastal com-
munities minister, on a visit
to the Withernsea Pier Tow-
ers project in the East Riding of
Yorkshire, said: “From White-
haven to Weymouth, we’re sav-
ing some of the nation’s most
cherished coastal heritage assets
and landmarks from falling into
disrepair. The coastal commu-
nities fund also helps regener-
ate our coastal communities and
support them to grow by bring-
ing these sites back to life and
making them the focal points of
their communities once more.
“It’s all part of our plan to in-
vest nearly a quarter of a billion
pounds in our seaside areas by
2020, providing thousands of
jobs, training places and oppor-
tunities up and down the Great
British coast.”
The fund has paid out almost
£5mn in grants since 2015 for
repairs and restoration. Other
grants include almost £40,000
both flood prevention and re-
sponse.”
Defra is spending £2.6bn on
flood defences between 2015
and 2021, and aims to protect
300,000 homes from flooding
by that date. The Met Office said
the UK could expect warmer and
wetter winters as a result of cli-
mate change.
The Environment Agency is
preparing for 4C of warming in
planning the UK’s flood defences,
though the Paris agreement aims
to limit warming to no more than
2C above pre-industrial levels.
Leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom (left), Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond (centre), Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson (second right) and Secretary
of State for Exiting the European Union Stephen Barclay (right) listen as Prime Minister Theresa May gives a statement to the House of Commons in London yesterday.
UK will head into unknown
if Brexit deal rejected: May
Reuters
London
P
rime Minister Theresa
May yesterday warned
Britain would be thrust
into the unknown if the parlia-
ment rejects the Brexit deal she
has negotiated with the Euro-
pean Union, as lawmakers from
all sides lined up to criticise the
agreement.
Under the deal secured with
EU leaders on Sunday, Brit-
ain will leave the bloc in March
with continued close trade ties,
but the odds now look stacked
against May getting it approved
by a divided parliament.
As May tried to win over her
critics, lawmakers from both her
own Conservatives and opposi-
tion parties attacked the deal,
for the repair and protection
of the two iconic 19th century
lighthouses at the entrance to
Whitehaven harbour.
A further £50,000 will go on
the refurbishment of grade II
esplanade shelters in Weymouth
while the same amount will pay
for a new foot and cycle bridge
across the Arnside viaduct along
the route from Morecambe to
Barrow.
Deborah Lamb of Historic
England said: “Restoring local
gems can attract investment and
help to tackle the deprivation
that is a problem in a number of
our coastal areas. There are great
examples of restoration projects
in our seaside towns, often
bringing together the private,
public, voluntary and social en-
terprise sectors. This funding
will inspire more.”
Other projects to receive
funding include a 1900 model
boating lake in Southwold and a
historic vessel in Hull, as well as
feasibility reports into desalting
a lake near Blackpool so it can be
used for sailing and other water-
sports.
Gove said: “We need our com-
munities and infrastructure to
be better prepared for floods
and coastal change, so that they
recover more quickly from the
damage and disruption and,
where necessary, to help people
and communities move out of
harm’s way.”
New flood protection meas-
ures will include natural de-
fences such as planting trees,
restoring heathland and in-
stalling “leaky dams”, as well
as in some cases allowing wa-
ter to breach sea walls to create
warning that parliament would
not support it, and urging her to
set out an alternative plan.
“There is not a better deal
available,” May told the House
of Commons. “We can back
this deal, deliver on the vote of
the referendum and move on to
building a brighter future or this
House can choose to reject this
deal and go back to square one.”
“No-one knows what would
happen if this deal doesn’t pass.
It would open the door to more
division and more uncertainty,
with all the risks that will entail.”
Parliament will vote on the
deal on December 11 after a total
of five days of debate, May’s of-
fice said.
May has warned lawmakers
that if they reject it, Britain could
face leaving the EU without a
deal — something businesses say
Gift for libraries
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon visits the Loanhead
Centre in Edinburgh. Sturgeon visited the centre to highlight
funding which will allow a full set of Muriel Spark novels to be
distributed to every public library in Scotland.
new wetland habitats for birds.
Next year, Defra will publish a
long-term policy statement on
flooding and coastal erosion and
the Environment Agency will is-
sue a new 50-year flood strategy,
which Gove said should “explore
new philosophies”, going beyond
traditional flood defences such
as sea and river walls and other
“hard” barriers.
Gove said the new data in the
UK Climate Projections report,
compiled by Defra and the Met
Office, would help communities
and businesses to protect them-
would hurt the world’s fifth larg-
est economy.
The EU has also been clear
that there is very little appetite
to reopen the Brexit negotiations
if parliament votes it down.
Her plan faces opposition
from both eurosceptics and eu-
rophiles among her party’s 314
lawmakers and around 313 law-
makers from opposition parties.
The 10 lawmakers of the
Democratic Unionist Party, the
Northern Irish group that props
up May’s minority government,
said at the weekend they will
vote against the deal.
May needs to win a simple
majority in parliament — 320
votes if all active lawmakers turn
out and vote — but former whips,
who have long studied parlia-
mentary arithmetic, say the
prime minister may end up need-
selves better from the increasing
flood risk.
In a wide-ranging speech, the
secretary of state also promised
new domestic policies aimed at
reducing greenhouse gas emis-
sions, using resources more ef-
ficiently and tackling waste,
planting more trees and restor-
ing peatlands.
Next year an England Peat
Strategy will be published, set-
ting out how the condition of the
country’s peatlands – only 13%
of which are in near natural con-
dition – will be improved. A new
ing only 305 votes if illnesses and
abstentions are accounted for.
“This will never get through...
it is as dead as a dodo,” Conserv-
ative lawmaker Mark Francois
said, adding he agreed with the
Sun newspaper’s verdict that the
deal was “a surrender”.
“Prime Minister I plead with
you, the House of Commons has
never ever surrendered to any-
body and it won’t start now.”
Asked if May was confident
of getting a deal through parlia-
ment, her spokesman told re-
porters: “Yes.”
May said her deal was in the
national interest, but opposition
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn
said ploughing on with a deal
that did not have the support of
parliament was “an act of na-
tional self-harm”.
May also sought to reassure
EU court rejects
British expats’ plea
Reuters
Luxembourg
E
uropean Union judges
dismissed a case brought
by a World War II veteran
and other Britons living on the
continent against the Brexit
negotiation, ruling yesterday
that their rights as EU citizens
had not yet been infringed.
Harry Shindler, a 97-year-
old living in Italy, was among
13 expatriates who complained
to the EU’s General Court that
Brexit would deprive them of
EU citizenship, and that the
decision last year by the bloc’s
council of member states to
accept notification of Brit-
ain’s withdrawal next March
breached their rights because
they had been denied a vote in
the 2016 referendum.
The court yesterday dis-
missed the action as inadmis-
sible because the council’s
move to start talks with Lon-
don did not in itself carry any
definite consequences for their
rights.
“The decision of the coun-
cil authorising the opening of
taskforce will also be set up, in-
volving farmers, conservation-
ists and academics.
Farmers will be central to
many parts of the climate strate-
gy, with Gove promising reforms
around how fertilisers are used
and a new emissions reduction
plan for agriculture, at the same
time as encouraging farmers to
grow more food. Farmers would
be supported by the government
in reducing the emissions from
their land and activities, Gove
said, but he did not specify what
form this support would take.
pro-Brexit lawmakers angered by
comments from French President
Emmanuel Macron on Sunday
demanding access to UK fishing
waters after Brexit. These remarks
deepened worries that Britain will
be forced into a so-called back-
stop to avoid a return of controls
on the border between Northern
Ireland and the Irish republic.
“The EU have maintained
throughout this process that
they wanted to link overall access
to markets to access to fisheries.
They failed in the Withdrawal
Agreement, and they failed again
in the Political Declaration,” May
said.
“It is no surprise some are al-
ready trying to lay down markers
again for the future relationship,
but they should be getting used
to the answer by now: it is not
going to happen.”
negotiations on Brexit does
not produce binding legal ef-
fects capable of affecting the
interests of the applicants
by bringing about a distinct
change in their legal position,”
it said.
Julien Fouchet, a French
lawyer acting for the plain-
tiffs, said they would appeal to
the Court of Justice, the EU’s
top court. “Unacceptable,” he
tweeted. “The fight goes on.”
Shindler had taken a de-
mand that all expatriates be
given a vote in the referendum
to London’s High Court.
Judges there ruled two
months before the vote that
this would be too difficult for
the authorities.
Campaigners say millions of
British citizens fall foul of a law
depriving them of a vote after
15 years abroad.
Under Article 50 of the EU
treaty, Prime Minister Theresa
May notified the European
Council on March 29, 2017,
that Britain would leave the
bloc, setting in motion a two-
year countdown that will see
Britain leave in four months’
time.

Sainsbury’s launches food bank labelling scheme for customers
Guardian News and Media
London
D
edicated shelf-edge labels
alerting shoppers to food
and drink items that are
most useful to food banks are to
be introduced by a major super-
market for the first time after a
trial led to a three-fold rise in do-
nations.
From Friday, customers visit-
ing more than 1,400 branches
Faulty
implants
kill 1,000
patients in
three years
Guardian News and Media
London
M
ore than 1,000 people
have died in just three
years after problems
with faulty medical implants, an
investigation has found.
UK regulators received 62,000
‘adverse incident’ reports be-
tween 2015 and 2018 linked to
components such as pacemakers,
artificial hips, breast implants and
contraceptives.
A third of the incidents had
serious repercussions for the pa-
tient, and 1,004 resulted in death.
Experts have long warned that
medical devices are poorly regulat-
ed, particularly when compared to
pharmaceuticals. Professor Derek
Alderson, president of the Royal
College of Surgeons, said the find-
ings “underline the need for drastic
regulatory changes”.
He said many devices are in-
serted without proper evidence
they work or are safe.
“In contrast to drugs, many
surgical innovations are intro-
duced without clinical trial data
or centrally held evidence,” he told
The Guardian.
There have already been a
number of high-profile safety
scares over medical implants.
The new figures have been un-
covered by the International Con-
sortium of Investigative Journalists,
a 252-strong team including staff
from the British Medical Journal.
In some instances, patients
were given faulty pacemakers even
though manufacturers were aware
of problems. Regulators are also
said to have approved spinal disc
replacements that disintegrated.
One shocking case centred on a
wireless pacemaker. Maureen Mc-
Cleave, 82, from Essex, became the
first person to be given the implant,
because of an irregular heartbeat.
She told the BBC she was ‘over
the moon’ to be the first to receive
the implant.
Three years after it was fitted,
its battery failed and surgeons
could not get it out. She now has a
traditional pacemaker keeping her
alive – but the wireless version is
still sitting inside her heart.
Diabetes charity’s deal with
fizzy drinks firm attacked
Daily Mail
London
B
ritain’s biggest diabetes
charity has come under
fire for signing a £500,000
contract with the makers of Tan-
go and Pepsi.
The three-year partnership
between Diabetes UK and fizzy
drinks firm Britvic will fund the
charity’s schools, education and
awards programmes.
Doctors and campaigners de-
scribed the deal as “appalling”.
Diabetes UK has long warned
that sugary food and drink is
fuelling Britain’s diabetes epi-
demic. Just last week the charity
released figures showing 7,000
under-25s are being treated for
type 2 diabetes – 10 times more
than previously thought. How-
ever, it said it was ‘thrilled’ by the
partnership with Britvic.
The charity’s chief executive,
Chris Askew, defended the deal,
stressing that his organisation
of Sainsbury’s will be urged to
include priority items such as
tinned fish, meat and vegetables,
longlife fruit juice and dried or
UHT milk in their shopping, for
donation after checkout.
The supermarket is expanding
its year-round food collection
scheme to encourage more suit-
able – and long-lasting – dona-
tions to help feed those dealing
with hunger or in need. It has
teamed up with hundreds of
charity partners across the UK
Harry visits Zambia
Prince Harry arrives at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka, Zambia, yesterday.
“cannot tackle the diabetes crisis
in isolation”.
He said: “We recognise that
partnerships – and the oppor-
tunities they present both to
influence industry, and to am-
plify our work – are one of the
key ways for us to make change
happen.”
He insisted the new deal is “in
line” with the charity’s funding
policy, written just five months
ago, which states: “No com-
mercial partnership will be en-
tered into with a company whose
product or service is considered
to be detrimental to people living
with or at risk of diabetes.”
It rules out working with to-
bacco firms, and insists that
deals with food and drinks com-
panies “will be subject to a full
risk assessment”.
Dr Simon Tobin, a GP from
Merseyside, told The Sunday
Times: “I’ve been diabetic lead at
my practice for 25 years. I cannot
recommend my patients are sup-
ported by Diabetes UK. How can
which will distribute the essen-
tial foodstuffs to local communi-
ties in time for Christmas.
As part of the same initiative
involving Sainsbury’s sister com-
pany and retailer Argos, shoppers
will also be able to donate new
toys in store until December 16.
The Help Brighten a Million
Christmases campaign is being
launched during the festive season
when it aims to attract at least 1mn
donations of foods and toys. But
as demand for donated or surplus
they trust a charity that has part-
nered with Britvic?”
Radio presenter Jon Gaunt,
who put his type 2 diabetes into
remission by cutting out sugar,
described the deal as ‘blood
money’, adding: “This is a com-
pany that still pushes sugary
products. Diabetes UK has lost
all credibility by doing this.”
The charity was originally
founded as The Diabetic Asso-
ciation in 1934 by HG Wells, who
had the disease. Last year it had
an income of £40mn, of which
£29mn came from public dona-
tions and legacies.
The deal with Britvic specifi-
cally relates to type 1 diabetes
– an autoimmune disease which
has no link to obesity or diet. It
will fund Diabetes UK’s schools
programme, which provides in-
formation packs to help schools
look after pupils with type 1
diabetes. As part of the partner-
ship, Diabetes UK will also help
Britvic’s 2,000 staff ‘understand
how to live healthy lives’.
food in the UK continues to soar
against a background of growing
dependence on food banks and
rising homelessness, the perma-
nent scheme will be the largest of
its kind in the country.
The eye-catching labels were
the brainchild of a group of teen-
agers working on a summer so-
cial project in Exeter who noticed
that customers only spotted food
bank donation baskets after fin-
ishing their shopping.
As part of a National Citizen
OBE for Best
Irish rugby player Rory Best poses with his medal after
being appointed an Officer of the Order of the British
Empire (OBE) at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham
Palace, London, for services to rugby.
Service (NCS) initiative, which
aims to encourage community
and social cohesion, the teenag-
ers created the shelf-edge label
to remind customers during their
shopping and signpost appro-
priate items. After successfully
pitching the idea to the manager
of Sainsbury’s Exeter branch, the
labels were implemented in store
and donations tripled as a result.
“We’re excited to be working
together to expand Sainsbury’s
food donation programme and to
Homebuyers
being offered
super-sized
mortgages
Daily Mail
London
F
irst-time buyers are sad-
dling themselves with
record levels of debt as
banks launch super-sized mort-
gages for up to six times people’s
salaries.
Britons buying their first home
now borrow an average of 3.68
times their annual income – the
highest since records began in
the 1970s.
In the summer of 2007, the
lead-up to the financial crisis,
people typically borrowed 3.39
times their salary.
A quarter of mortgages are
now for 4.5 times someone’s sal-
ary or higher, compared to a fifth
just three years ago, according to
Bank of England data.
Some banks are lending as
much as six times borrowers’
salaries – rates branded ‘irre-
sponsible’ and ‘alarming’ before
the housing crash a decade ago.
Families are already a record
£25bn in the red – equivalent to
more than a fifth of the annual
NHS budget.
With house prices soaring by a
third in just five years, to an aver-
age of £233,000, mortgages are
helping to push up debts to levels
never seen before.
This week, Darlington Building
Society launched a mortgage of-
fering professionals up to six times
their salary. It last offered loans for
up to six times’ income in 2007,
just before the housing crash.
Barclays and Santander are
also offering loans of up to 5.5
times income to high earners,
while Clydesdale Bank offers
the same rate for some newly-
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
BRITAIN
launch Argos’s toy donation pro-
gramme” said Claudine Blamey,
Sainsbury’s head of corporate
responsibility and sustainability.
“It’s been brilliant to work with
NCS graduates to permanently
roll out their label initiative to all
our stores and help reach our tar-
get of 1mn donations.”
Mark Richardson, the manager
of Exeter food bank, added: “The
result of this initiative just goes
to show that sometimes you just
need a new mind on an old prob-
qualified professionals.
Sainsbury’s and Virgin offer
up to five times people’s income.
Most other banks have a maxi-
mum loan-to-income ratio of
between 4.0 and 4.75, according
to financial data site Moneyfacts.
A spokesman for debt charity
StepChange said: “Super-sized
mortgages reflect the real prob-
lem, which is the cost of housing
and the difficulty of accessing it
affordably as a result.
Some banks are lending
as much as six times
borrowers’ salaries – rates
branded ‘irresponsible’
and ‘alarming’ before the
housing crash a decade
ago
“The more borrowing you
have relative to your income, the
higher the risk you face if either
the cost of your borrowing rises
or your income falls.”
Since 2014, banks have had to
analyse everything from spend-
ing habits and utility bills to
career prospects to determine
whether you can afford a loan.
They are also banned from
offering more than 15% of new
lending at or above 4.5 times’
income. But the Bank of England
has noticed lenders are offering
growing numbers of loans just
below this threshold.
David Hollingworth, of L&C
Mortgages, said: “Given the high
house prices and demanding
deposit sums required as a con-
sequence, it’s no surprise that
first-time buyers may be tempt-
ed to push their mortgage bor-
rowing to the limits.
“It’s crucial that the mortgage
doesn’t stretch borrowers too far
Boy stabbed to death
‘due to his postcode’
Guardian News and Media
London
T
he sister of a 16-year-
old boy who was fatally
stabbed in Coventry on
Saturday night has said he was
killed because of his postcode.
Jaydon Washington James was
with friends just before mid-
night when they were attacked
in Wood End, in the north of the
city. Two of his friends sustained
serious injuries and remain in
hospital.
Writing on Facebook, Jayda
James said of her brother: “He
didn’t fight, he wasn’t part of a
‘gang’, he was friends with eve-
ryone and tried to keep the peace
whenever he could. Jaydon was
stabbed to death because of his
postcode, because he was a Wood
End boy. I can’t believe someone
took my brother’s life simply be-
cause of the neighbourhood he
lived in.”
She described Jaydon as “the
sweetest, funniest, most kind-
hearted boy” and thanked peo-
Gulf Times
15
lem. Sometimes the most simple
ideas have the greatest impact.
This campaign has already had
fantastic results locally, and I’m
excited to see how it can ben-
efit food banks and their clients
across the UK.”
Among the hundreds of Sains-
bury’s charity partners are the
UK’s biggest food bank network
the Trussell Trust – which oper-
ates 428 food banks – the Salva-
tion Army, the Felix Project and
City Harvest.
which is why the key test of af-
fordability takes account of out-
goings as well as income.”
In its recent Financial Stabil-
ity Report, the Bank of England
said: “Banks’ risk appetite in
mortgage lending has increased
over the past few years, possibly
in response to weak demand.”
However, it added: “In the past
few months, the trend to looser
lending standards has shown
some signs of reversing.”
Earlier this year, it said there
were ‘pockets of risk’ in the
economy, including “risks re-
lating to household indebted-
ness and mortgage underwriting
standards”.
Its data reveals first-time buy-
ers now typically borrow £145,000.
This is almost a quarter – or
£28,000 – more than just five years
ago. At the same time, deals where
buyers need less than a 10% deposit
have risen by 50% since 2013.
Chris Hunter, of Darlington
Building Society, said: “We will be
individually underwriting every
case. This is not a computer saying
yes or no. We will not lend to any-
one who cannot afford it.”
Santander said it only offered
higher loan-to-income ratios to
“a select few customers and, as
always, on the basis of afford-
ability and credit scoring”.
A spokesman for UK Finance,
which represents lenders, said:
“High loan-to-income mortgag-
es are only likely to be available
to those who have good pros-
pects for wage increases, such
as those in certain professional
roles. Before they are able to offer
any mortgage, lenders must un-
dertake a strict affordability as-
sessment in accordance with the
rules outlined by the regulator.”
ple for their messages of sup-
port.
She paid tribute to those who
waited with Jaydon for help to
arrive and who told her and her
mother about what had hap-
pened. “All we want to do now
is find out who took Jaydon’s
life, so we can seek justice,” she
wrote.
At a press conference yester-
day, chief superintendent Mike
O’Hara, of West Midlands po-
lice, said detectives were pursu-
ing several lines of inquiry.
“Clearly the death of anyone
is horrendous and tragic, but
the death of a child just makes it
even more emotional,” he said.
“We’ve got a number of options
which we are investigating. I’m
not going to join in conjecture
into whether it is gang-related
or not.”
In 2015, Wood End was ranked
the eight most deprived area in
England by Oxford Consultants
for Social Inclusion (OCSI), in a
report commissioned by the de-
partment for communities and
local government.
 Gulf Times
16 Tuesday, November 27, 2018
EUROPE
Kyiv moves
to declare
martial law
Russia-Ukraine tensions soar
after sea confrontation
AFP
Kyiv
K
yiv and Moscow faced
their worst crisis in years
yesterday as Ukraine and
its Western allies demanded the
release of three ships fired on and
seized by Russia near Crimea.
Russian forces boarded and
captured the ships on Sunday,
with Moscow accusing the ves-
sels of illegally entering Russian
waters off the coast of Crimea in
the Sea of Azov.
Ukraine’s military was on high
alert and parliament was meet-
ing to vote on a request to impose
martial law from President Petro
Poroshenko who accused Mos-
Macron heeds fuel tax anger
after Paris ‘battle scenes’
Reuters/DPA
Paris
F
rench President Em-
manuel Macron, caught
off guard by violent dem-
onstrations against diesel tax
hikes, warned his cabinet yes-
terday that the protests threat-
ened to tarnish France’s image
and he said the government
needed to listen to voter anger.
The 10 days of unrest, which
on Saturday left some Paris-
ian boulevards transformed
into battlefields, hit Macron as
he sought to counter a sharp
decline in popularity, and have
again exposed him to charges of
being out of touch with voters.
However, the French leader
has shown no signs of revers-
ing the diesel tax hikes, which
he says are needed to help spur a
switch to greener energy, though
he is now indicating a willing-
ness to soften the blow for mo-
torists on modest incomes.
Police on Saturday fired tear
gas, water cannons and rubber
pellets at thousands of protest-
ers who trashed restaurants and
shop-fronts and set wheelie
bins ablaze on Paris’s upmarket
Champs Elysees boulevard, a
major tourist magnet.
“We shouldn’t underestimate
the impact of these images of
the Champs-Elysees (...) with
battle scenes that were broad-
cast by the media in France and
abroad,” government spokes-
man Benjamin Griveaux said,
recounting the president’s
words.
Now in their second week, the
“yellow vest” protesters have
blocked roads across the coun-
try, at times impeding access to
fuel depots, out-of-town shop-
ping malls and factories.
“Behind this anger there is
obviously something deeper
that we must respond to, be-
cause this anger, these anxieties
have existed for a long time,”
Griveaux said.
“France expects answers to its
Last Emperor director Bertolucci dies at 77
Bertolucci: had been
wheelchair-bound for years
cow of a “new phase of aggres-
sion”.
The incident has raised fears of
a wider military escalation.
The UN Security Council met
in an emergency session, where
US ambassador Nikki Haley
warned Russia against “outlaw
actions”.
The confrontation is a danger-
ous development in the conflict
pitting Ukraine against Moscow
and Russian-backed rebels in the
east of the country.
More than 10,000 people have
been killed since the Moscow-
backed insurgency broke out in
April 2014 following Russia’s an-
nexation of Crimea from Ukraine.
The United States and EU have
already imposed sanctions on
Russia over the conflict and yes-
terday European capitals rallied
behind Kyiv.
This picture taken on Sunday near the Arc de Triomphe on Paris’s Champs-Elysees avenue shows
broken barriers a day after a rally by yellow vest (Gilets jaunes) protesters.
anger,” he said. “That means a
new method, and that is part of
what will be discussed tomor-
row, but not a change of direc-
tion.”
Protesters will be looking for
concrete answers from Macron
when he and his ecology minis-
ter unveil a new long-term en-
ergy strategy today.
Macron has doubled down
in his defence of the diesel tax,
aware that the French treasury is
hungry for the revenues the levy
generates and that unwinding
the tax would damage his green
credentials.
He has already earmarked
some €500mn to help poorer
citizens buy less-polluting ve-
hicles as he sought to answer
criticism that his reforms have
eaten into household spending.
However, it was not enough to
AFP
Rome
I I
talian film director Bernardo
Bertolucci, whose films in-
clude Last Tango In Paris
and 1900, died yesterday.
Considered one of the giants
of world cinema, Bertolucci was
the only Italian ever to win the
Oscar for best film, snapping up
the award in 1988 for The Last
Emperor.
Ukraine’s Western allies ac-
cused Russia of using force with-
out justification in the naval con-
frontation, while Kyiv urged its
partners to impose further sanc-
tions on Moscow.
“These were planned acts of
aggression by the Russian Fed-
eration against Ukraine,” Foreign
Minister Pavlo Klimkin told re-
porters in Kyiv. “We will demand
(at the Security Council) the im-
mediate release of our sailors and
the liberation of our ships.”
In a televised address to the
nation, Poroshenko accused
Russia of taking the two coun-
tries’ long-running conflict to
another level.
“(Russia) entered a new phase
of aggression,” Poroshenko said,
adding that the incident showed
“the arrogant and open partici-
pation of regular units of Russian
avert the wave of unrest.
The weekend’s violence
also exposed tensions within
the amorphous “yellow vests”
movement, so-called because
the protesters don the high-
visibility jackets that all motor-
ists in France must carry in their
vehicles.
Yesterday they strove to
maintain a united front, forming
a committee tasked with secur-
ing a meeting with the presi-
dent.
Government spokesman
Griveaux said an encounter
would take place if they came
forward with concrete propos-
als.
But some in the movement
said divisions were coming to
the fore.
“The ‘yellow vests’ are clearly
splintering,” Benjamin Cauchy,
He had gained notoriety
for his 1972 erotic drama Last
Tango In Paris starring Marlon
Brando and Maria Schneider.
The filmmaker died at his
home in Rome early yesterday,
his press office Punto e Virgola
said in an e-mail.
He was 77.
He had been wheelchair-
bound for several years because
of back problems.
Bertolucci’s biographical
masterpiece about the last Chi-
A Ukrainian serviceman watches activists digging trenches on the coast of the Sea of Azov, near the Ukrainian city of Mariupol.
troops” after Moscow always in-
sisted its forces were not directly
involved in Ukraine.
Moscow blamed Kyiv for the
incident, with Kremlin spokes-
man Dmitry Peskov saying: “The
Russian side acted strictly within
both domestic and international
law.”
The crisis unfolded as two
small Ukrainian warships and a
tugboat were heading through
the Kerch Strait, a waterway that
gives access to the Sea of Azov
from the Black Sea and which is
used by both Ukraine and Russia.
Ukraine said a Russian border
guard vessel rammed the tugboat
and then fired on the ships.
It said the Kerch Strait was
blocked by a tanker and that Rus-
sian military aircraft were flying
over the area.
Russia’s FSB security service,
who has been at the forefront of
the protests in the southwestern
city of Toulouse, told BFM TV.
He said hardliners on both the
right and left were hijacking the
movement, which mushroomed
via social media, and that he was
quitting.
Other protesters denounced
Cauchy’s own right-wing con-
victions and said he was acting
in his own interests.
Despite Saturday’s violence
in Paris, there are signs the pro-
tests are weakening and becom-
ing less effective.
Shopping malls saw a 15% fall
in consumer footfall on Satur-
day compared with the same
day last year, according to the
CNCC umbrella group of shop-
ping centres.
Last week the impact was
worse, with a 45% decline.
nese emperor won a total of nine
Oscars, all of those for which it
was nominated.
He won an honorary Palme
d’Or for his life’s work at the
2011 Cannes Film Festival.
Former festival president
Gilles Jacob said he was sad-
dened by the death of “the last
emperor of Italian cinema, the
lord of all epics and all esca-
pades”.
“The party is over: it takes
two to tango,” Jacob told AFP.
which oversees border forces,
confirmed weapons had been
fired and the vessels seized, ac-
cusing the Ukrainian ships of
“violating the Russian border”.
Ukraine’s interior minister
released a video on Twitter ap-
parently from aboard one of the
Russian ships, showing the tug-
boat being chased down and the
collision, interspersed with com-
mands and swearing in Russian.
Russian television networks
showed a similar video, but with
the voices removed and without
the moment of collision.
Ukraine said six of its service-
men were injured in the incident,
two seriously.
The FSB said only three had
suffered non-life threatening in-
juries.
Russian officials said 24
Ukrainian servicemen had been
Russia sues Google
over search results
Reuters
Moscow
R
ussia has launched a
civil case against Goog-
le, accusing it of fail-
ing to comply with a legal re-
quirement to remove certain
entries from its search results,
the country’s communications
watchdog said yesterday.
If found guilty, the US In-
ternet giant could be fined up
to 700,000 roubles ($10,450),
the watchdog, Roscomnadzor,
said.
It said that Google had not
joined a state registry that lists
banned websites that Moscow
believes contain illegal infor-
mation and was therefore in
breach of the law.
A final decision in the case
will be made in December, the
watchdog said.
Google declined to com-
ment.
Over the past five years, Rus-
sia has introduced tougher In-
ternet laws that require search
Police search villa outside
Istanbul in Khashoggi case
From Page 1
Saudi Arabia has said the
prince had no prior knowledge
of the murder. After offering
numerous contradictory ex-
planations, Riyadh later said
Khashoggi had been killed and
his body dismembered when
negotiations to persuade him
to return to Saudi Arabia failed.
Turkey’s President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan has said the
Austrian rail strike hits 100,000 passengers
Trains stopped running across
Austria yesterday as last-
minute pay negotiations failed
to avert a planned two-hour
strike, disrupting travel for
100,000 travellers in Europe.
Salvini leads mafia villa demolition
Reuters
Rome
taly’s Interior Minister Mat-
teo Salvini personally began
the demolition yesterday of a
villa illegally built in Rome by the
city’s most infamous mafia clan.
Wearing a white hard hat, Sal-
vini, who heads the League party,
boarded a digger and knocked a
chunk from the roof of the villa
before the army took over.
detained, and Peskov said a
criminal investigation had been
opened.
“I condemn Russian use of
force in Azov Sea. Russian au-
thorities must return Ukrain-
ian sailors, vessels & refrain from
further provocations,” EU Presi-
dent Donald Tusk tweeted.
France also called on Russia
to release the sailors and ships,
with the foreign ministry saying
“nothing appears to justify the
use of force” by Russia.
German Foreign Minister
Heiko Maas said any Russian
“blockade” of the Sea of Azov
was “unacceptable” and pro-
posed French-German media-
tion to resolve the crisis.
Tensions have been build-
ing over the Kerch Strait, where
Russia has built a new bridge
that gives it a land connection to
engines to delete some search
results, messaging services to
share encryption keys with se-
curity services, and social net-
works to store Russian users’
personal data on servers within
the country.
At the moment, the only
tools Russia has to enforce
its data rules are fines that
typically only come to a few
thousand dollars, or blocking
the offending online services,
which is an option fraught with
technical difficulties.
Three sources familiar with
the matter told Reuters yester-
day that Russia planned to im-
pose stiffer fines on technology
firms that fail to comply with
Russian laws.
The plans for harsher fines
are contained in a consulta-
tion document prepared by the
administration of President
Vladimir Putin and sent to in-
dustry players for feedback.
The legislation, if it goes
ahead, would hit global tech
giants such as Facebook and
Google.
killing was ordered by the high-
est level of Saudi leadership but
probably not from King Salman,
putting the spotlight instead on
the 33-year-old crown prince.
US President Donald Trump
said last week Washington
would remain a “steadfast
partner” of Saudi Arabia de-
spite saying that Prince Mo-
hamed may have known about
the plan to murder Khashoggi.
Wedged between eight
countries including Italy,
Germany, Switzerland, Hungary
and the Czech Republic,
Austria is an important hub for
European rail travel.
The villa property will be con-
verted into a children’s play-
ground, Salvini said.
Just last week, eight other vil-
las belonging to the Casamonica
mob family clan were confis-
cated.
Speaking to dozens of report-
ers and cameras, Salvini prom-
ised that he will chase criminals
“neighbourhood by neighbour-
hood, street by street, villa by
villa and shop by shop”.
In July, 33 members of the
Crimea, annexed by Moscow in
2014.
Kyiv has accused Moscow of
blocking access for Ukrainian
ships though the strait, the only
way in and out of the Sea of Azov
to the Black Sea.
In recent months both sides
had deployed more naval and
border vessels to the area.
“The incident marks a sig-
nificant escalation of the conflict
between Russia and Ukraine,” re-
search firm Eurasia Group said.
“Western governments will side
with Ukraine against Russia over
the incident ... making new sanc-
tions against Russia likely.”
Protesters gathered in sev-
eral Ukrainian cities to denounce
Russia’s actions, with several
hundred far-right activists
marching to parliament in Kyiv
and setting off flares.
Hospital halts
stool study after
donor deluge
A Paris hospital which made a
public appeal for stool samples
for a study on intestinal diseases
said this week that it had
suspended the project after being
inundated by donors hoping for
an easy €50.
“We had to cancel the call for
donors and halt the study
because it had gotten out of
control,” professor Harry Sokol,
the gastroenterologist leading
the study at the Saint-Antoine
hospital, told AFP.
Originally donors were sought
via posters at the hospital and
at medical schools, offering
compensation of €50 ($57) if
accepted.
“Someone took a picture and it
spread rapidly on the Internet
and social media, because the
message had been altered:
People thought it meant: Give us
your stools, we’ll give you €50,”
Sokol said.
The telephone hotline and e-mail
for potential donors was quickly
overwhelmed.
Doctors worldwide are studying
faecal transplants, which aim
to treat a range of chronic gut
diseases by introducing stool
bacteria from a healthy person
into affected patients to help
replenish a normal bacterial
balance.
Helicopter crash in
Istanbul kills four
Four Turkish soldiers were killed
and another wounded yesterday
when a military helicopter
crashed in a residential area
in Istanbul during a training
exercise, officials said.
The helicopter went down in the
Sancaktepe district of Istanbul,
on the eastern edge of the
city’s Asian side, in an area of
apartment buildings.
It had been carrying out a
training exercise at the nearby
Samandira air base, Istanbul
Governor Ali Yerlikaya told the
Anadolu news agency.
Defence Minister Hulusi Akar,
who visited the scene, said an
investigation was underway.
Four soldiers were killed and one
was in intensive care, he said.
There were no reports of civilian
casualties.
group – which is involved in
loan sharking, extortion, and the
drugs trade – were arrested in
raids on gaudy properties which
were filled with gilded mirrors,
marbled sculptures of animals
and extravagant, regal furniture.
Salvini has promised to take a
hard line against organised crime
and irregular immigration since
taking over the ministry in June,
and he has railed against Roma
camps for years, promising to
bulldoze them.

Group urges halt to hunt for dead American on island
Reuters
Port Blair/ New Delhi
A
rights organisation urged
police yesterday to call
off efforts to recover the
body of an American missionary
believed to have been killed by an
isolated tribe on a remote island
due to the risk of introducing
them to diseases.
John Allen Chau, 26, is be-
Row mars
Kartarpur
corridor
ceremony
IANS
Dera Baba Nanak, Punjab
A
massive political slug-
fest was played out yes-
terday in full public view,
shoving protocol to the side in
the presence of Vice President
M Venkaiah Naidu, as politi-
cal leaders from opposing sides
in Punjab bared it at what was
meant to be solemn celebration
related to the Kartarpur Sahib
gurdwara corridor project.
Naidu and Punjab Chief Min-
ister Amarinder Singh laid the
digital foundation stone of a
road project that will link the
Kartarpur corridor in Pakistan
by pressing a button.
The actual foundation stone
was removed by the authori-
ties just three hours before the
event after Punjab minister and
local legislator Sukhjinder Singh
Randhawa objected to the names
of former chief minister Parkash
Singh Badal, Shiromani Akali Dal
president Sukhbir Singh Badal
and federal minister Harsimrat
Badal on the foundation stone.
A clearly upset Randhawa an-
nounced that he would ‘boycott’
the foundation stone ceremony
and even put a black tape on the
stone where the names of Chief
Minister Amarinder Singh, Pun-
jab minister Vijay Singla and his
own were put on the foundation
stone along with the names of
the Badals.
Officials of the National High-
way Authority of India (NHAI),
sensing that the situation could
get unpleasant in the presence of
dignitaries, removed the foun-
dation stone and replaced it with
the digital one.
The foundation on the screen
carried the names of Naidu,
Punjab Governor V P Singh Bad-
nore, Amarinder Singh and Road
Transport and Highways Minis-
ter Nitin Gadkari.
Though the ceremony was to
celebrate the approval of the gov-
ernments of India and Pakistan to
allow the Kartarpur corridor to
Airlines web check-in fee
under ministry’s scanner
IANS
New Delhi
T
he central government
yesterday said it was ex-
amining the issue of some
airlines charging a fee for ad-
vance seat selection through web
check-in.
“MoCA (Ministry of Civil Avia-
tion) has noted that airlines are
now charging for web check-in
for all seats,” the ministry tweeted.
“We are reviewing these fees to
see whether they fall within the
unbundled pricing framework.”
The ministry’s decision comes
in the wake of some passen-
ger carriers starting to charge a
fee for all seat selections done
through web check-in.
Earlier, only a section of seats
was subjected to advance selec-
tion fees.
On its part, IndiGo said there
was no change in the airline’s
web check-in practice.
“Keeping in mind consumer
lieved to have been killed last
week after travelling to North
Sentinel – part of the Andaman
and Nicobar islands in the Bay
of Bengal – to try to convert the
tribe to Christianity.
Police are working with an-
thropologists and psychologists
to see if a plan can be forged to
recover the body of Chau, an of-
ficer said yesterday.
But Survival International,
a body that campaigns for the
enable people to pray at the Siokh
shrine in Pakistan, leaders of the
Akali Dal and its ally Bharatiya Ja-
nata Party on one side and Pun-
jab’s ruling Congress on the other
not only indulged in running each
other down and claiming credit
for getting the project cleared but
even raised slogans against each
other in the presence of the vice
president.
Harsimrat Badal, in her ad-
dress at the function, took a dig
at the Congress leaders over the
1984 anti-Sikh riots.
There was immediate sloga-
neering against her by Congress
leaders and activists.
When Gurdaspur MP and
Punjab Congress president Su-
nil Jakhar was giving his vote of
thanks, he hit back at the Akali
Dal leadership by making Punjab
a drugs hub.
This led to protests and sloga-
neering by Akali Dal leaders, in-
cluding Harsimrat’s brother and
former minister Bikram Singh
Majithia.
Earlier, Randhawa was seen
speaking and gesturing angrily
to officers while they were mak-
ing arrangements for the high-
profile function. The minister,
the Congress legislator from Dera
Baba Nanak, was visibly dis-
turbed and shouted at officers.
He later told a TV channel:
“I will not boycott the function
but I will boycott the founda-
tion stone itself. I cannot see my
name and those of my ministe-
rial colleagues along with the
Badals.”
He said “the Badals have no
contribution in getting the Kar-
tarpur corridor project cleared.
They ruled Punjab from 1997
to 2002 and again for 10 years
(2007-17). Did they come here
to offer prayers while in power?
They are only trying to take
credit (for the Kartarpur cor-
ridor) just because they have an
alliance with the BJP,” the min-
ister said.
Randhawa blamed the NHAI
officers for the foundation stone
controversy.
preferences and market demand,
IndiGo makes dynamic deci-
sions about pricing for advance
seat selection. This segmenta-
tion helps us to serve different
customer segments as per their
requirements. This is to further
clarify that IndiGo custom-
ers will NOT compulsorily have
to pay for the seats. The pric-
ing is only for advance selection
of seats. When the customer
checks in at the airport, the seats
would be assigned for free. Ad-
vance selection for a small fee
helps consumers reserve the seat
of their choice on their flight.”
Sharat Dhall of Yatra.com
said: “Web check-in provides
convenience to travellers allow-
ing them to opt for preferential
seats. However, making all seats
chargeable will deter individu-
als from web check-in prior to
their departure, resulting in
longer airport queues both at
the boarding desk as well as self
check-in kiosks.
“With a hike in taxes on ATF
rights of indigenous tribals, said
the attempts were dangerous
for the Indian officials as well as
the Sentinelese, who face being
“wiped out” if any outside dis-
eases were introduced.
“The risk of a deadly epidemic
of flu, measles or other outside
disease is very real, and increases
with every such contact,” they
said. The Sentinelese, generally
considered the last pre-Neolith-
ic tribe in the world, have vio-
Divya Salaskar, daughter of slain policeman Vijay Salaskar, pays respects at the Police Memorial, during an event to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 2008 Mumbai
terror attacks yesterday.
India pays tributes to
victims of 26/11 attacks
Agencies
Mumbai
I
ndia yesterday paid tribute
to the more than 160 people
killed in a 2008 terror attack
in Mumbai, the 10th anniversa-
ry of an assault that raised fears
of war with Pakistan.
Senior politicians laid
wreathes and paid tribute to the
victims at a Martyrs’ Memorial
in Mumbai, while other events
were held at some of the sites of
the three-day attack, which be-
gan on November 26, 2008.
Six Americans were among
the 166 people killed by 10
gunmen who infiltrated the fi-
nancial hub by boat and spent
three days spraying bullets and
throwing grenades around vari-
ous city landmarks.
“A grateful nation bows to
our brave police and security
forces who valiantly fought the
(aviation turbine fuel), rupee de-
preciation and capacity increase,
the airlines are levying these an-
cillary charges to try and make up
for the higher operational costs.
However, travellers looking for
extra comfort and avoiding the
airport queues may not get dis-
couraged by these charges.”
Aviation expert Kinjal Kirit
Shah said in a bid to survive in the
current environment of escalat-
ing costs and flat yields, airlines
are resorting to several measures
for enhancing their revenues and
rationalising their costs.
“Over the past few years, the
industry players are increas-
ingly resorting to sale of ancil-
lary services, similar to those
in developed countries, so as to
improve yields.”
Shah said that most Indian
airlines still earn less than 10%
of their revenues from ancillary
services, as against much higher
share of revenues (10-20%) in
developed markets, particularly
Europe and the US.
lently resisted any contact with
outsiders.
The Indian government has for
years placed the island off-limits
to visitors to protect the tribe.
“We are in constant touch
with anthropologists and psy-
chologists,” said Dependra
Pathak, director general of po-
lice in the Andaman and Nicobar
islands.
“If they suggest any method-
ology to interact without dis-
terrorists during the Mumbai
attacks,” Prime Minister Naren-
dra Modi said on Twitter.
Played out on TV news chan-
nels around the world, the
bloody events – widely known
as 26/11 – have been compared
in India to New York’s suffering
on September 11, 2001.
The co-ordinated attacks on
the city of nearly 20mn people
hit luxury hotels, the main rail-
way station, a restaurant popu-
lar with tourists and a Jewish
centre.
Residents and railway offi-
cials also paid their respects at
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
train station where Mohamed
Kasab, the only gunman caught
alive, and another attacker
killed almost 60 people and
wounded at least 100 others.
The Taj Mahal Palace and
Tower Hotel held a private serv-
ice to remember the 31 people
who died there.
President Ram Nath Kovind and Chief Justice of India Ranjan
Gogoi attend the inauguration of Constitution Day celebrations
in New Delhi yesterday.
turbing them then we can draw
(up a) strategy,” he said.
“At this stage we don’t have
any plan to confront our Sen-
tinelese.”
A group of anthropologists,
journalists and activists said in
a joint statement that continu-
ing with the efforts to recover
Chau’s body could lead to fur-
ther violence and “completely
unwarranted loss of life”.
“The rights and the desires
Over 60 hours, four attack-
ers shot dead guests and hotel
staff, detonated explosives and
set ablaze parts of the building
– including its famous dome.
Dramatic scenes of comman-
dos battling the heavily armed
gunmen, and guests tried to es-
cape from windows down bed-
sheet ropes were beamed around
the world on live television.
Security forces only retook
control of the hotel on the
morning of November 29.
More than 30 people also died
at the Oberoi and Trident hotels
in a 42-hour siege involving
shootings, explosions and hos-
tage-taking.
Six hostages – including a rab-
bi and his pregnant wife – were
killed at Nariman House, a Jewish
cultural and religious centre.
The current rabbi, Israel Ko-
zlovsky, unveiled a new memo-
rial listing the names of all those
who died in the 26/11 attacks.
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
INDIA
of the Sentinelese need to be
respected and nothing is to be
achieved by escalating the con-
flict and tension, and worse, to
creating a situation where more
harm is caused,” they said.
Chau, who described him-
self in social media posts as an
adventurer and explorer, made
several trips to the island by ca-
noe on November 15.
He told fishermen who took
him to the island a day later he
“Those who gave their life
for the country, those who gave
their life for us, they deserve to
be remembered and they de-
serve to get their honour and
tribute,” he said.
Kasab, the gunman caught
at the railway station, was ex-
ecuted by India in 2012 after
being found guilty of charges
including murder and waging
war against India.
India has blamed militants
linked to the Pakistan-based
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) group
for the attacks and said the gun-
men were Pakistani.
Pakistan condemned the at-
tack, denied involvement of
any of its agencies and offered
to co-operate with India in the
investigation.
Nevertheless, tension soared
between the nuclear-armed
neighbours after the attacks.
India and the United States
accused Hafiz Saeed, who
Protecting constitution
a shared job: Kovind
IANS
New Delhi
P
resident Ram Nath Kovind
yesterday said safeguard-
ing and strengthening the
constitution was a shared respon-
sibility of the judiciary, the execu-
tive and the legislature in partner-
ship with the people of India.
Addressing a function to mark
the Constitution Day, Kovind
touched upon social justice, tech-
nology and plugging of fund leak-
ages by linking Aadhaar with the
delivery of social welfare schemes.
He also expressed concern over
disruptions in parliament, de-
scribing them as unfortunate.
“Dr Ambedkar and his col-
leagues in the Constituent As-
sembly were remarkably gen-
erous in their approach. They
allowed for flexibility in amend-
ing the constitution and were
accommodative of various
streams of thought.
“They trusted the wisdom of
future generations to expand
the frontiers of freedom and lib-
Gulf Times
17
would not be returning, Pathak
said previously.
Seven people who helped
Chau reach the island have been
arrested.
Separately, Andaman and
Nicobar authorities issued a
statement yesterday reiterat-
ing that the island remained off
limits to foreigners as well as In-
dians after some media reported
relaxations of restrictions for
visitors.
founded the LeT, of being the
attack mastermind.
He denied involvement but
Pakistani authorities placed
him under house arrest for dif-
ferent periods.
He was most recently re-
leased in November 2017.
US Secretary of State Michael
Pompeo called on Pakistan
to uphold their UN Security
Council obligations to imple-
ment sanctions against those
responsible for this attack, in-
cluding LeT and its affiliates.
“It is an affront to the fami-
lies of the victims that, after ten
years, those who planned the
Mumbai attack have still not been
convicted for their involvement,”
Pompeo said in a statement.
The US State Department
also announced a reward of up
to $5mn for any information
leading to arrests or convictions
of those involved in the execu-
tion of the 2008 Mumbai attack.
erty, justice and fraternity, fair-
ness and equality. They trusted
future generations to not just
amend the constitution, but to
constructively reimagine and
reinterpret it,” he said.
The constitution is the mod-
ern scripture of independent
India and is more than just a col-
lection of articles and clauses,
Kovind said.
“For us Indians, it is an inspi-
rational and living document, an
ideal of the society we are and
the even better society we are
striving to be,” he said.
The president said the people
of India were the “ultimate cus-
todians” of the constitution and
it was in them that sovereignty
vests and it’s in their name that
the constitution was adopted.
“The constitution empowers
the citizen, but the citizen too
empowers the constitution – by
following it, by adhering to it, by
protecting it, and by persevering
to make it more meaningful with
words and deeds. The constitu-
tion is nobody’s preserve – and it
is everybody’s preserve,” he said.
 Gulf Times
18 Tuesday, November 27, 2018

INDIA
EDUCATION
No homework for classes
1 and 2, says ministry
The central government has asked states
and Union Territories to ensure that there is
no homework for students of Classes 1 and 2
and that the guidelines capping the weight of
school bags for classes 1 to 10 are adhered to.
The guidelines said school bags for students in
Class 1 and 2 should not weigh more than 1.5kg.
The weight should be 2 to 3kg for Classes 3 to 5,
4kg for Classes 4 and 5, 4.5kg for Classes 8 and
9 and 5kg for Class 10. The Human Resource
Development Ministry has said schools should
not ask the students to bring any additional
books or materials that could increase their
burden of weight. The government also said
that Classes 1 and 2 students should be taught
only one language and maths and Classes 3 and
4 only language, environmental studies, and
maths.
PUNISHMENT
CPM suspends Kerala
MLA for ‘misbehaviour’
The Kerala unit of the Communist Party of India
(Marxist) yesterday suspended party legislator P
K Sasi for misbehaving with a woman member,
a statement said. The decision was taken after
a meeting examined a detailed probe report
submitted by a party committee consisting of Law
Minister A K Balan and Kannur Lok Sabha member
P K Sreemathi. The statement said the Shornur
legislator had not behaved befitting his stature and
position while speaking to the woman. The woman
member had to write to party general secretary
Sitaram Yechury after her August complaint to the
state leadership did not yield action. In November,
she wrote to Yechury that she had lost faith in the
state leadership as even three months after the
incident there had been no action against Sasi.
The action came just a day ahead of the Kerala
Assembly session.
TRANSPORT
Train 18 successfully runs
at 115kmph during trials
The Research Designs and Standards Organisation
yesterday said the trial run of indigenously
developed engineless train Train 18 was
successfully conducted at a speed of 115kmph
on tracks in Moradabad division of Northern
Railway. RDSO’s executive director M Z Khan said
the train will now be sent to Kota division in West
Central Railways for validating its performance at
its designed speed of 160kmph. The official said
the performance of the newly-built train has been
satisfactory and that the trials are progressing
as per the schedule. Khan said the railways will
be initiating the process for obtaining necessary
approvals from authorities for induction of Train 18
into commercial service after completion of the trials
in Kota. Built by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in
Chennai, the train will promote ‘Make in India’, and is
capable of running at a speed of 160kmph.
REBELLION
Eight Maoists killed in
Chhattisgarh gunfight
Eight Maoists were killed and one was injured
yesterday in a gunfight with security forces in
Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district, police said. A joint
team of paramilitary forces and police went
inside the core area of the People’s Liberation
Guerrilla Army (PLGA) – an armed wing of the
banned Communist Party of India-Maoist – as
part of an operation against the rebels. It started
around 10.30am in a forested stretch near Sakler
village. Over 150 leftwing extremists clashed
with troopers of the Central Reserve Police Force
(CRPF) and the District Reserve Group of the
Chhattisgarh police, an official said. “Security
forces of different units went inside the PLGA’s
core area from different directions,” CRPF
Deputy Inspector General M Dinakaran said. All
eight bodies were recovered while the injured
PLGA member was taken into custody.
PROTEST
Kalinga Sena withdraws
threat to throw ink at SRK
The Kalinga Sena yesterday withdrew its threat
of throwing ink at Bollywood star Shah Rukh
Khan during his visit to Odisha for participating
in the opening ceremony of the Men’s Hockey
World Cup today. The fringe group took the
decision following an appeal from Hockey India
president Mohamed Mushtaque Ahmad. “We
have decided to withdraw our pledge following
the request by Hockey India president. Since it
is an international event and Shah Rukh Khan
is a promoter, we don’t want to protest, as that
would give a bad name to Odisha,” Kalinga Sena
chief Hemant Rath said. He, however, said that
the people of Odisha had not forgiven Khan for
insulting their sentiments and distorting history
in his film Asoka that was released 17 years ago.
The Kalinga Sena had demanded an apology
from Khan.

Campaigning
for assembly
polls in MP,
Mizoram ends
IANS Madhya Pradesh – 2,63,01,300 Madhya Pradesh Congress
New Delhi men, 2,41,30,390 women and chief Kamal Nath, former federal
Telangana Congress chief Uttam Kumar Reddy, Telangana Jana Samithi chief M Kodandaram, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader L Ramana and 1,389 comprising the third gen- minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and
CPI state secretary Palla Venkat Reddy release the Congress manifesto ahead of Telanagana assembly elections in Hyderabad, yesterday. der – will decide the fate of 2,907 several top leaders of the party

A
high-decibel campaign, candidates. camped in various parts of the
often marked by bitter There are 62,172 voters who state and held many election ral-
personal attacks, ended can exercise their franchise lies and road shows.

Rahul, Andhra chief minister yesterday in Madhya Pradesh

and Mizoram which go to polls
tomorrow to elect new assem-
blies.
through postal ballots.
The BJP has fielded candidates
for all 230 seats in the central
state, while the Congress is con-
Some video clips of Nath also
sparked a controversy which
gave the ruling BJP an oppor-
tunity to attack the opposition

to share dais at Telangana rally

IANS ment Degree College in Kham-
Hyderabad mam where the ‘grand alliance’
public meeting will be held.
They said the public meet-
leaving the rest for its allies.
The TDP is contesting 13 seats.
Meanwhile the BJP’s cam-
paign in Telangana is set to
formed a government in Rajas-
than which goes to polls on De-
cember 7.
“Our party had promised
The electioneering saw both
the Bharatiya Janata Party, which
is power in Madhya Pradesh for
the past 15 years, and the ruling
Congress in Mizoram trying to
stave off anti-incumbency to re-
tain power.
In a virtually BJP versus Con-
gress fight, the saffron party’s
testing for 229 seats leaving one
seat, Jatara in Tikamgarh dis-
trict, for Loktantrik Janata Dal
(LJD) of former Janata Dal (Unit-
ed) leader Sharad Yadav.
The Bahujan Samaj Party has
fielded 227 candidates and the
Samaj Party is contesting for 51
seats.
party.
The keenly-watched constit-
uency will be Budhni, the home
turf of the chief minister.
The Congress has pitted
former federal minister and
former Madhya Pradesh Con-
gress Committee chief Arun Ya-
dav against Chouhan.

C
ongress president Ra-
hul Gandhi and Telugu
Desam Party leader and
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minis-
ter N Chandrababu Naidu will
share dais at their first public
meeting at Khammam tomor-
row to campaign for “grand
alliance” candidates in Telan-
gana’s assembly elections.
This is the first time two top
leaders of the Congress and
TDP will be sharing the stage
at an election rally since they
agreed to work together to form
an alliance of non-Bharatiya
Janata Party groups at the na-
tional level.
In a dramatic shift of TDP’s
stand towards Congress, Naidu
met Gandhi this month and
they agreed to bury the past and
work together to unite opposi-
tion parties.
Congress Party’s Telangana
unit working president Mallu
Bhatti Vikramarka and TDP
leader Nama Nageswara Rao
yesterday visited the Govern-
ing will not only bolster the
alliance’s campaign but will be
significant for national politics.
Vikramarka said the meet-
ing would send a message to the
whole country.
The Congress is leading the
‘grand alliance’ in Telangana
which includes the TDP, the
Communist Party of India (CPI)
and the Telangana Jana Samithi
(TJS).
TDP’s Telangana unit chief L
Ramna and leaders of CPI and
TJS shared dais with Congress
leaders Sonia Gandhi and Ra-
hul Gandhi at a public meeting
at Medchal near Hyderabad on
Friday.
For the Khammam public
meeting, the Congress has also
invited CPI general secretary S
Sudhakar Reddy and TJS leader
M Kodandaram.
Elections for 119-member
assembly will be held on De-
cember 7.
The Congress has fielded
candidates in 94 constituencies
gather further momentum with
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
scheduled to address two elec-
tion rallies in the state today.
Modi will address the first
meeting at Nizamabad at 11am and
will then reach Mahabubnagar to
address another meeting in the af-
ternoon, state BJP leaders said.
These meetings are expected
to intensify the campaign of the
BJP for the elections.
According to BJP’s Telangana
unit president K Laxman, Modi
will again campaign in Telan-
gana on December 3.
He will address a public
meeting in Hyderabad.
BJP president Amit Shah on
Sunday addressed four public
meetings in different parts of
the state. He is scheduled to ad-
dress more meetings tomorrow
and on December 2.
The party is contesting all 119
assembly seats on its own.
Also yesterday, Gandhi
promised to waive off farmers’
loans in 10 days if the Congress
farmers in Punjab and Kar-
nataka elections loan waivers
and we waived farmers’ loan
there,” Gandhi said adding that
he doesn’t make false promises
unlike the prime minister.
He also ridiculed the planned
bullet train. He said the Indian
Railways had an annual budget
of Rs1 lakh crore and transport-
ed millions of people but the
cost of a bullet train that will
carry around 2,000-3,000 peo-
ple to Mumbai a day was almost
the same.
He was addressing an elec-
tion rally in Jalore in Rajasthan.
“And the profit of this train
will be passed onto industrial-
ist Adani and not to the poor of
the nation. It should be named
Adani railways.”
Gandhi also questioned rea-
sons for removing the chief of
the Central Bureau of Inves-
tigation at the stroke of mid-
night. It was because he was in-
vestigating the Rafale deal with
France, Gandhi said.
campaign in Madhya Pradesh
was spearheaded by political
heavyweights, including Prime
Minister Narendra Modi, BJP
president Amit Shah and Chief
Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan,
who is straining every nerve to
secure a fourth term while the
rival campaign was led by Con-
gress president Rahul Gandhi
and other senior party leaders
who addressed several rallies to
woo the voters.
However, in the battle for
supremacy in the election to
40-member Mizoram Assembly,
the fight is largely between the
Congress and the Mizo National
Front led by former chief min-
ister Zoramthanga. The BJP and
others are also in the race.
Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla
of the Congress is seeking a hat-
trick of wins this time and claims
there is no incumbency against
his government.
Voting in both the states will
be held tomorrow.
Over 50mn registered voters in
There are 1,102 independent
candidates in the fray.
The prime minister, who ad-
dressed three election rallies
in Rajasthan yesterday, did not
campaign in Madhya Pradesh on
the last day.
He, however, addressed two
election rallies in the state on
Sunday.
In his campaign, Modi attacked
the Congress on corruption, dy-
nasty politics and several other is-
sues and also gave accounts of the
achievements of the state and the
central governments.
Besides addressing several
rallies, Shah on the last day held
a road show in Indore.
Chouhan toured extensively in
the state and sought votes in the
name of development.
On his part, Gandhi attacked
the prime minister and his gov-
ernment on issues of corruption,
unemployment, farmers’ plight
and the promises made by Modi in
the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and
by Chouhan in the 2013 elections.
In the last assembly poll, of
the total 230 seats, the BJP won
165, Congress 58, BSP four and
independents three.
In Mizoram, a total of 209
candidates are in the battle.
The ruling Congress has field-
ed 40 candidates while opposi-
tion parties in the state, the BJP
and Mizo National Front (MNF),
are contesting in 39 and 40 as-
sembly constituencies respec-
tively.
Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla
is contesting from two seats –
Serchhip and Champhai South.
Mizoram is the last bastion of
Congress in the northeast as is
the only state in that part of the
country where BJP has no pres-
ence.
The state is being ruled by the
Congress since 2008.
Around 770,000lakh voters
will decide the fate of 209 can-
didates.
Counting of votes in both
states will be held on the De-
cember 11.

AAP wants Delhi police Thousands bid emotional

farewell to Ambareesh
brought under elected govt IANS Studio from the Kanteerava Sta-
dium in the city centre.
Bengaluru
IANS take immediate steps, in the the police were not accountable Though traffic was cleared for
New Delhi large public interest, to initiate to the elected government, the the funeral procession on the

T
necessary steps to bring the po- legislators and the assembly who housands of people, in- 15km route and hundreds of po-
lice in Delhi under the control of were charged with the responsi- cluding celebrities and lice were deployed en route, the

T
he Delhi Assembly yes-
terday demanded that the
national capital’s police
be brought under the elected
government and to make the
force accountable to the legisla-
ture like in other states.
Delhi Home Minister Saty-
endar Jain moved a resolution
which was passed during a spe-
cial session of the assembly.
The resolution demanded that
“necessary steps be initiated by the
Government of India to devolve
certain powers to the elected gov-
ernment so that it is in a position
to have control over Delhi police in
implementing its decisions.”
The demand came after Chief
Minister Arvind Kejriwal was at-
tacked with chilli powder at the
Delhi Secretariat last week, with
the ruling Aam Aadmi Party
(AAP) blaming the Bharatiya Ja-
nata Party and Delhi police for
the incident.
“The Union government must
the elected government of Delhi
and to make it accountable to
the legislative assembly as in
the case with any other state in
India, by way of amending the
constitution and relevant laws,”
Jain said in the assembly.
He said that Delhi had became
totally “unsafe for its inhabitants”.
“The elected chief minister
and ministers can be attacked
in their own office and at pub-
lic events hosted by the elected
government. Those who attack
the CM have the audacity to file
complaint against the elected
CM and pressure Delhi police
to register FIR against the chief
minister.”
He also said that in spite of
police officials being the wit-
nesses to such attacks, the po-
lice force “tries to hush them up
with grossly illogical arguments
which have turned the Delhi po-
lice sadly in to a butt of ridicule”.
The minister also said that
bility of looking after the overall
well-being of the people.
The elected government, Jain
added, was not in a position to re-
move deficiencies in the service of
people on account of certain limita-
tions imposed by the constitution
which kept “police out of the pur-
view of the elected government”.
He also said that it was neces-
sary for the elected government to
have certain degree of control over
law enforcing agencies to ensure
that decisions taken by it in public
interest were implemented.
Kejriwal, supporting the
resolution, added that, “due to
subversive, disruptive and an-
ti-people instructions given to
Delhi police by union govern-
ment through Lt Governor, the
elected government is not in a
position to enlist any support
from Delhi police even in en-
forcing central laws such as Es-
sential Services Maintenance
Act when needed.”
political leaders, bid an
emotional farewell to iconic
Kannada actor M H Ambareesh
at a state funeral yesterday.
Ambareesh, 66, popularly
known as a ‘rebel star’, died on
Saturday night following a car-
diac arrest.
His only son Abhishek lit the
funeral pyre after the state re-
serve police gave a gun salute
and a police band sounded the
bugle at the state-run Kanteer-
ava Studio in Bengaluru’s north-
west suburb.
The funeral site of the former
Lok Sabha member from Con-
gress and ex-federal minister is
located adjacent to the memorial
of Kannada matinee idol Rajku-
mar, who passed away in April
2006.
The funeral was delayed by
two hours as the flower-be-
decked cortege, carrying the
Ambareesh’s body being taken to the Kanteerva Studio in body in a glass casket, took more
Bengaluru yesterday. than three hours to reach the
cortege moved slowly as hun-
dreds of thousands thronged
the route for a final glimpse of
the popular actor, draped in tri-
colour with the famous Mysuru
‘peta’ (headgear) crowning his
head.
Kannada stars Srinath, Jai
Jagadish, Shiva Rajkumar,
Puneeth Rajkumar, Upendra and
Jaggesh, Telugu actor Mohan
Babu and multi-lingual actress
Jaya Prada were among the many
from film world who attended
the funeral.
Congress general secretary K
C Venugopal, Karnataka Chief
Minister H D Kumaraswamy,
Deputy Chief Minister G Para-
meshwara, many cabinet minis-
ters, including D K Shivakumar
and H D Revanna, Congress state
president Dinesh Gundu Rao,
Bstate unit president B Y Yeddy-
urappa and other political lead-
ers and lawmakers were present
at the funeral.

Crime menaces migrants on Mexico border
Reuters
Tijuana, Mexico
U
naccompanied minors
and other vulnerable
migrants risk falling vic-
tim to crime in the Mexican bor-
der city of Tijuana, where thou-
sands of Central Americans
from caravans may be stuck for
months as authorities tighten
Rosneft chief
‘complains’ to
Maduro over
oil shipments
Reuters
Washington/Mexico City
T
he head of Russian oil
company Rosneft, Igor
Sechin, flew to Caracas
this week to meet Venezuelan
President Nicolas Maduro and
complain over delayed oil ship-
ments designed to repay loans,
two sources briefed on the con-
versation said.
The visit, which was not
publicly disclosed, is one of the
clearest signs of strain between
crisis-stricken Venezuela and its
key financier Russia.
Over the last few years, Moscow
has become Venezuela’s lender
of last resort, with the Russian
government and Rosneft handing
Venezuela at least $17bn in loans
and credit lines since 2006, ac-
cording to Reuters calculations.
State oil company PDVSA
is repaying almost all of those
debts with oil, but a meltdown in
its oil industry has left it strug-
gling to fulfil obligations.
Sechin and a large delegation
of executives met with officials
at PDVSA in a Caracas hotel this
week. Sechin also met with Ven-
ezuela’s leftist leader Maduro,
and chided him over oil-for-
loans shipments that are behind
schedule.
“He brought information
showing that they were meeting
obligations with China but not
with them,” said one source with
knowledge of the talks.
“They’re running around in
PDVSA because of this,” added
the source, asking to remain
anonymous because he was not
authorised to speak to media.
The country’s oil production has
fallen to just 1.17mn barrels-per-
day, a 37% drop in the last year, ac-
cording to reports from secondary
sources to Opec, leaving it strug-
gling to ship Russian entities the
roughly 380,000bpd it has agreed
to send, according to PDVSA doc-
uments seen by Reuters.
Venezuela reaches $1.4bn
deal to hold on to Citgo
Reuters
Caracas
C
ash-strapped Venezuela
settled a $1.2bn arbitra-
tion claim that will pre-
vent a creditor from stripping
away its crown jewel foreign
asset, the US-based Citgo Pe-
troleum Corporation refining
business, according to Canadian
court documents.
The deal with Crystallex In-
ternational suspends the Ca-
nadian mining company’s push
for a court-ordered auction of
control of Citgo as a way of col-
lecting on an arbitration award
against Venezuela that has
grown to more than $1.4bn with
interest.
Citgo is based in Houston,
Texas.
Venezuela completed an ini-
tial payment of $425mn, mostly
in the form of “liquid securities,”
on November 23, according to
a filing in the Ontario Court of
Justice, where Crystallex sought
protection from creditors in
2011.
up asylum rules, advocates say.
Some 4,600 migrants from
the bedraggled caravans whose
advance has angered US Presi-
dent Donald Trump are camped
out with blankets and little food
in an overcrowded stadium in
Tijuana, whose mayor has de-
clared a “humanitarian crisis.”
Among the Central Ameri-
cans, many of whom are Hon-
durans fleeing violence and pov-
The closing of a dock at Ven-
ezuela’s main oil export port,
through which the vast majority
of shipments to Rosneft transit,
has delayed millions of barrels in
crude since August.
Sechin handed Maduro
graphics about oil shipments to
Russian entities compared with
China, the two sources said.
Top financier China, which
has ploughed more than $50bn
into Venezuela, also gets reim-
bursed in oil.
According to Reuters calcula-
tions based on PDVSA data, the
Caracas-based company deliv-
ered around 463,500bpd to Chi-
nese firms between January and
August, a roughly 60% compli-
ance rate.
That compares with around
176,680bpd to Russian entities,
or a 40% compliance rate.
Rosneft and PDVSA did not
immediately respond to a re-
quest for comment.
One of the sources with
knowledge of Sechin’s visit, as
well as two separate sources, said
a Chinese delegation was also in
Caracas this week.
As of early 2017, PDVSA began
to fall months behind on ship-
ments of crude and fuel under the
loan deals with China and Russia
due to problems in its oil industry,
home to the world’s biggest crude
reserves, according to documents
reviewed by Reuters.
The problems include opera-
tional mishaps, such as refining
outages and delayed cleaning
of tanker hulls, and financial
disputes with service providers
owed money by PDVSA.
This April, Rosneft and PD-
VSA signed a refinancing agree-
ment designed to allow the Ven-
ezuelan company to catch up on
delayed loan payments by deliv-
ering more crude to Rosneft.
Under the refinancing, PD-
VSA has to provide Rosneft with
some 380,000bpd, up from
around 310,000 bpd, according
to Reuters calculations.
Part of the payment was
made in bonds issued by Ven-
ezuela and its state oil com-
pany, PDVSA, according to a
Venezuelan finance industry
source with knowledge of the
issue.
Venezuela agreed to pay the
remainder in instalments by
early 2021.
If Venezuela fails to post col-
lateral by January 10 for the re-
maining payments, Crystallex
can restart legal proceedings.
A US judge in Delaware was
scheduled to hear on December
20 Crystallex’s arguments for a
court-ordered auction of control
of Citgo.
The company’s three US re-
fineries are a key destination for
Venezuela’s crude exports, and
Citgo has been valued in the bil-
lions of dollars.
Venezuela has managed to
protect Citgo even though the
country has been crippled by an
economic crisis and US sanc-
tions, and has halted payments
on tens of billions of dollars of
debt.
Caracas made payments last
erty in the struggling region, are
about 80 minors between the
ages of 10 and 17, according to
migrants rights groups.
Josue, a 15-year-old Hondu-
ran in Tijuana, said that dur-
ing a previous attempt to cross
into the US last year he was
kidnapped and badly beaten
in Mexico by drug traffickers
claiming to be from the notori-
ous Zetas gang.
Protesters demand work and aid
Demonstrators shout slogans during a protest to demand work and aid from the government, ahead of the G20 Summit which will be held on November 30, in Buenos
Aires, Argentina, yesterday.
Argentina close to inking
two-way beef deal with US
Reuters
Buenos Aires
A
rgentina is on the verge
of signing a deal with
the US that would al-
low two-way trade of fresh beef
for the first time in nearly two
decades, the South American
country’s International Trade
Secretary, Marisa Bircher, said.
The agreement, expected to
be signed within days, would
simultaneously open beef im-
ports to both countries, Bircher
said in an interview.
“We are negotiating the reo-
pening to happen over the days
ahead,” she said. “All the tech-
month to investors who hold
bonds secured by Citgo shares.
Venezuela expropriated a
Crystallex gold mining project in
2011, which led to the 2016 arbi-
tration award.
Crystallex and Venezuela
reached an agreement last year,
but Caracas failed to maintain
payments after transferring
$75mn.
As Venezuela’s debt defaults
have piled up and US sanctions
have isolated the country, credi-
tors have closed in on overseas
assets of PDVSA.
ConocoPhillips said in Oc-
tober it had received $345mn in
the third quarter from PDVSA as
part of a four-year deal to settle
a $2bn arbitration award stem-
ming from the loss of assets dur-
ing a 2007 nationalisation drive.
Rusoro Mining reached a set-
tlement with Venezuela in Oc-
tober.
The Canadian mining com-
pany began pursuing Citgo this
year to collect on a $1.3bn arbi-
tration award over the nation-
alisation of its gold assets in the
country.
“I ended up in the hospital, I
don’t know how, because I arrived
there half-dead,” he said, declin-
ing to give his second name. Once
he was well enough, authorities
deported him, he said.
Reuters was not able to inde-
pendently corroborate details of
his story. Mexico’s immigration
institute did not immediately re-
spond to a request for comment
about the case.
nical and administrative ques-
tions have been settled.”
At a time when the country
is seeking to boost beef sales
abroad, the agreement would
allow Argentina to show other
prospective buyers that its meat
is healthy enough to enter a
country with some of the world’s
toughest sanitary protocols.
The deal would also open a
new market for the US cattle
sector, although demand for US
beef is low in Argentina.
The country is famous for
its quality steaks, some tender
enough to be cut with a spoon
as demonstrated with a flour-
ish by waiters in the iconic steak
houses of Buenos Aires.
Waters concert
British musician Roger Waters performs on stage during a
concert in San Jose, Costa Rica. Waters is one of the co-founders
and principal songwriters of the rock band Pink Floyd.
LATIN AMERICA
Tijuana was rated by Mexican
think tank Seguridad Justicia y
Paz as the fifth most violent city
in the world in 2017, with a high-
er murder rate than the Central
American cities from which the
migrants are escaping.
Juan Manuel Gastelum, Ti-
juana’s mayor, said late Thurs-
day that the city was facing a
humanitarian crisis and that
supporting the migrants was
Argentina will have a 20,000
tonne limit on its exports to the
US, Bircher said, while there
will be no limit on US beef going
to Argentina.
The US department of ag-
riculture and US Trade Rep-
resentative’s Office in Wash-
ington, and the US embassy in
Buenos Aires did not respond to
requests for comment.
Bircher said Argentina
stopped exporting beef to the
US about 17 years ago due to US
concerns about Argentine cattle
being contaminated by foot-
and-mouth disease.
“We have eliminated that
through a vaccine programme
in our livestock sector,” she said.
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
costing more than 500,000 pe-
sos ($25,000) a day.
He urged international agen-
cies to help Tijuana.
Activists fear the Central
Americans could be stranded for a
long time in the city, where some
protests against the presence of
the caravan have broken out.
In May, citing a lack of
processing space at the same
crossing, US immigration offi-
Another senior Argentine of-
ficial confirmed that Argentina
and the US were “close” to a
deal. The last time the US sent
fresh beef to Argentina was in
1999, according to Argentina’s
official statistics agency.
Once one of the world’s top
five beef suppliers, Argentina
was hobbled under the anti-
farm policies of the country’s
previous president, Cristina
Fernandez. The country fell off
the top 10 list of beef exporters
during her eight-year presi-
dency.
It is back in the top 10, ac-
cording to USDA data and
could get into the top five next
year thanks to the free market
Chile sends planeload
of Haitians home
Reuters
Santiago
C
hile yesterday returned
a second planeload of
Haitian immigrants to
their native country and will
make use of the return flight
from the Caribbean island to
bring home Chileans stranded
in crisis-stricken Venezuela.
After dropping off nearly
180 Haitian citizens in the
Haitian capital of Port-au-
Prince, the Chilean air force
plane will stop in Caracas to
pick up nearly 100 Chileans
and fly them back to Santia-
go, Interior Minister Andres
Chadwick told reporters.
Oil-rich Venezuela’s econ-
omy has sunk into crisis un-
der President Nicolas Maduro
with as many as 1.9mn Ven-
ezuelans having emigrated
since 2015, according to the
United Nations.
“This will be a humanitarian
flight on the way there, and on
the way back,” Chadwick said.
A total of 1,600 Haitians
have signed up for the flights
back to Haiti from Chile, part
Gulf Times
19
cials stalled a previous caravan
that also drew Trump’s anger.
Eventually, they began letting
in a trickle of people from the
group. To manage flows of asy-
lum claimants, Mexican and US
authorities have in recent years
maintained a waiting list.
Lawyers and human rights
group Amnesty International
have said such measures slow
the process.
policies of President Mauricio
Macri and a sharp weakening
of the local peso currency this
year.
It’s a delicate time for the
world food system.
Traditional trade routes of
grains and oilseeds have been
interrupted by a trade war be-
tween Washington and Bei-
jing. The world’s two biggest
economies are now looking for
new commercial partnerships
to strengthen their positions to
bolster their positions in their
trade war.
A US beef deal with Argentina
could provide a glimmer of good
news for US farmers after weeks
of bearish trade war headlines.
of a programme labelled as
“humanitarian flights” by the
government of centre-right
President Sebastian Pinera but
criticised by migrant groups as
“forced deportations.”
The policy is aimed at Hai-
tians who have struggled
to find work in one of Latin
America’s richest economies,
in some cases lured to the An-
dean nation by people traffick-
ers with false promises.
Earlier this month, 176 Hai-
tians returned to Haiti aboard
another Chilean air force flight.
The cost-free return trip requires
those leaving to sign a declara-
tion that they will not return for
nine years, and asks they take
immediate family with them.
The policy has generated
controversy among some
migrant groups, rights cam-
paigners and academics.
Haiti is one of the world’s
poorest countries, blighted by
natural disasters, political up-
heaval and poor security.
Chile’s government has said
that there are approximately
112,000 Haitians in Chile, or
about 10% of the total immi-
grant population.
 Gulf Times
20 Tuesday, November 27, 2018

PAKISTAN

PTI govt touts

successes in its
first 100 days
Internews steps for improvement of econ- sle between the PTI and opposi- China, the UAE and Malaysia,
The website (http://pm100days.pmo.gov.pk/) allowing members of the public to track the PTI
government’s progress.

the sister of the prime minister,

Islamabad omy. tion parties over the issue of the and that too, on special aircraft. who had recently regularised her
Presenting the salient points chairmanship of powerful Public According to the opposition, foreign property after paying a
of the economic policy of the PTI Accounts Committee. Prime Minister Khan has also fine.

A
furious opposition in par-
liament, a bailout pack-
age from Saudi Arabia,
Tehreek-e-Labbaik (TLP) pro-
tests, “U-turns”, re-emergence
of religious militant atacks, peace
overtures to India, and its much-
hyped austerity drive amid eco-
nomic upheaval were some of the
main features of the Pakistan Te-
hreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government
during its first 100 days.
While opposition parties are
terming the 100-day perform-
ance of the government as “un-
impressive, ridiculous and full of
lies and U-turns”, the ruling par-
ty leaders are touting the period
of “remarkable achievements”,
saying that the country has been
put on the right track.
Months before the July 25
general elections, PTI chairman
Imran Khan unveiled his party’s
ambitious “agenda”, outlining
the party’s commitments for
starting work within the first 100
days of forming government.
The salient features of the
agenda were expeditious merger
of the Federally Administered
Tribal Areas (Fata) with Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa, the bifurcation of
Punjab, and reconciliation with
estranged Baloch leaders.
The 100-day agenda also con-
tained a plan for introducing a
development package for Karachi
and a programme for alleviation
of poverty, besides a number of
government, Asad Umar, who
is now the finance minister, had
promised that the government
would create 10mn jobs, revive
manufacturing, rapidly grow the
small and medium enterprises
sector, facilitate private sector
to build 5mn houses, reform tax
administration, and transform
state- owned-enterprises.
Later, speaking at the first for-
mal press conference after the
elections and before assuming
the charge as finance minister,
Umar had said that offering any
relief or subsidy to the people
during first 100 days was like giv-
ing lollipops.
He said that the first 100 days
would also not see a decision that
would change the destiny of the
nation, but a clear direction on
what “we promised and where
we are headed for stock-taking”.
The opposition parties allege
that the government has totally
failed to deliver at almost all the
fronts, particularly economy and
law and order situation.
According to the opposition,
the government has not done its
homework properly.
The delay in the formation of
committees of the National As-
sembly (NA) has almost made the
parliament non-functional.
NA Speaker Asad Qaiser, who
has been struggling to run the
house smoothly, is on a tight
rope because of the ongoing tus-
He has stopped the process of
the formation of parliamentary
committees due to the opposi-
tion’s threat to boycott all panels
if the ruling party does not offer
the PAC chairmanship to Oppo-
sition Leader and Pakistan Mus-
lim League – Nawaz (PML-N)
president Shehbaz Sharif as per
“parliamentary tradition”.
Due to having no legislative
work to do, almost all previous
sittings of the lower house of the
parliament witnessed debates
and speeches on petty matters
with members continuing their
corruption tirade against each
other, causing uproars and even
scuffles that resulted in a ban on
the entry of Information Minis-
ter Fawad Chaudhry to the up-
per house of the parliament by
Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani,
due to former’s refusal to tender
an apology for making “personal
attacks” on opposition leaders on
the floor of the parliament.
While mentioning the U-turns
taken by the government, the
opposition parties – mainly the
PML-N and the Pakistan Peoples
Party (PPP) – remind the PTI
that after the first cabinet meet-
ing, the information minister had
declared that the prime minister
would not undertake any foreign
visit in the first three months and
would only travel in commercial
flights, but he had already under-
taken the visits of Saudi Arabia,
taken a U-turn on his promise to
not seek loans from abroad, hav-
ing sought aid from Saudi Arabia,
China, and the UAE.
Defending his actions, the
prime minister, during a recent
talk with media reporters, said
that taking U-turns was a sign of
leadership.
This statement provided an-
other opportunity to his critics
to target him, forcing a number
of PTI stalwarts and loyalists to
defend their leader, offering dif-
ferent interpretations of Khan’s
statement.
The government also had to
face the challenge of handling
protests by the religio-political
groups, including the Tehreek-e-
Labbaik (TLP), in the aftermath
of the Supreme Court’s verdict in
Aasia Bibi case.
The government’s decision to
strike a deal with the protest-
ers, who had used abusive and
seditious language against state
institutions, drew the ire of the
opposition as well as on social
media.
The PML-N and the PPP, in
separate statements, termed “the
100 days of the PTI government a
tale of 100 U-turns and 100 lies”,
and criticises it for hike in prices
of oil, gas, and electricity.
Instead of talking about gov-
ernment policies, the main focus
of the main opposition parties,
however, remained Aleema Khan,
“The main achievement of the
PTI government in its 100 days is
to give an NRO to Aleema Khan,”
said both PML-N spokesperson
Marriyum Aurangzeb and PPP
information secretary Dr Nafee-
sa Shah in their separate state-
ments.
The National Reconciliation
Ordinance (NRO) grants amnesty
to individuals accused of crimes.
“When will Imran Khan tweet
about Aleema Khan’s illegal as-
sets? When will the money looted
by Aleema Khan be brought back
to the country by the PM who
used to shout claims of bring-
ing every penny of looted public
money and evaded tax back to
Pakistan?” Aurangzeb asked.
“From the miracle of the PM’s
visit to Saudi Arabia on a camel
to the millions of jobs and houses
built on Google, (and) the illegal
occupation of the PM on govern-
ment land in Banigala, those who
vowed committing suicide in-
stead of borrowing went begging
from country to country, expos-
ing the government’s revolution-
ary economic turnaround policy,”
she said, adding that “the gov-
ernment has nothing to show for
these 100 days other than their
incompetence and inability”.
“Every word said in these 100
days was a lie, every promise a
farce, and every claim a hopeless
failure, during which merit was
murdered and bureaucracy polit-
Chaudhry: no scandal had
surfaced during the first 100
days, making the PTI
government the country’s ‘first
clean government’.
icised and pressured for favours,”
she alleged.
Similarly, the PPP’s Shah said
that the first 100 days of the PTI
government had set an example
of “bad governance”.
On the other hand, Informa-
tion Minister Chaudhry said
theirs was the only government
which had set targets for first 100
days.
He said that no scandal had
surfaced during the first 100
days, making it the “first clean
government” of the country.
Responding to the opposition’s
allegations regarding the prime
minister’s sister, Chaudhry said
that Aleema Khan had nothing
to do with the government or
the PTI, and that if the opposi-
tion believed she had committed
some offence, they could take le-
gal action against her.
Aurangzeb: Every word said
(by the PTI-led government) in
these 100 days was a lie, every
promise a farce, and every claim
a hopeless failure.
The minister accused the op-
position of making the parlia-
ment “non-functional” by turn-
ing the PAC chairman issue into a
controversy.
He, however, said the govern-
ment had already formed a par-
liamentary committee on alleged
polls rigging, besides initiating
steps for reviewing the account-
ability act.
He admitted that the prime
minister could not give much
time to the parliament because
he had to undertake foreign visits
due to the “economic mess” in-
herited by the government.
Chaudhry said that the prime
minister would take the nation
into confidence over the govern-
ment’s achievements, in a func-
tion to be held at the Convention
Centre in Islamabad on Thursday
(November 29).

PM and army chief visit North Waziristan

Owners agree to surrender lands
for Dasu hydropower project
Internews ings with the landowners/affect- sues under the land acquisition
Islamabad ees by involving local politicians act, powers conferred to the
and notables. government officers under the
“At the meetings, most of the law for resolving such issues, ex-

A
s the World Bank once
again extended the dead-
line for Dasu hydropower
project funds utilisation, the
government of Pakistan has fi-
nally managed to convince most
of the project affectees to sur-
render their lands to facilitate
the launch of main civil works
without further delay, it has been
learnt.
Officials privy to the develop-
ment said that a majority of the
landowners gave an undertaking
Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa are seen with other officials during their visit to Miran to a Hazara division commis-
Shah, the administrative capital of North Waziristan, yesterday to get an update on the security situation. The prime minister was sioner-led committee that they
briefed about the ongoing stability operations, socio-economic development projects, and the rehabilitation of the Temporary would not demand an increase
Displaced Persons, a tweet from the military’s media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. Khan later visited the Ghulam Khan in compensation amount and for
Terminal to check on the progress on border fencing. He later addressed a jirga (assembly of leaders) of local elders at Miran Shah, the change of land category in future.
ISPR said. Located on the Indus River,
some 240km upstream from
Tarbela dam, in the Kohistan
area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,
the 4,320MW Dasu hydropower
project is being funded by the
participants were unanimous
that there were some lacunas in
the process initiated in the past
to acquire land for the project.
“However, the teams noted
their current demands and asked
them to submit in writing on
stamp papers with the undertak-
ing that they wouldn’t demand
more in future,” a senior official
said.
He added that a majority of the
landowners handed over the af-
fidavits to the committee mem-
bers.
The official explained that a
comprehensive report would be
submitted to a steering commit-
tee that would finally forward the
document to the federal govern-
ment.
It would be up to the fed-
eral government to accept the
demands, approve and release
funds in this regard.
ecutives’ jurisdiction, limits of
the project steering committee,
award of compensation to the af-
fectees etc.
“The situation is improving
gradually, as the teams have suc-
ceeded in convincing many af-
fectees. You can say that there
are positive signs related to land
acquisition,” added the official
who requested anonymity.
Another official said that the
Water and Power Development
Authority (Wapda) needed a total
of 9,875 acres for the project.
Of this, he said, it urgently re-
quired 1,987 acres for civil works
and a colony, while the remain-
ing 7,888 acres were needed for
the reservoir and other purposes.
He said that 740 acres of the
total 1,987-acre priority land had
been acquired last year, and the
latest development meant that
most of the remaining 1,247 acres

Anti-graft body returns millions to government World Bank.

Internews government departments and
Lahore private parties after recovering
the amount from embezzlers.
NAB Lahore director general
(for Rs46.8mn), the Pakistan
Customs (for Rs26.795mn), the
Punjab government (Rs13.5mn),
and Lahore Development Au-
from corrupt elements, a record
recovery within a year.
In line with the clear direc-
tions from the NAB chairman,
For a third time, the dead-
line for utilisation of the project
funds, which were approved in
2014, has been extended by a year
due to slow progress attributed
mainly to the issue of land acqui-
sition.
The committee constituted
over two weeks ago had been
asked to compile and submit a
report about the meetings, the
affectees’ demands, the financial
impact (in case of acceptance of
demands), and recommenda-
tions within 15 days or so.
had been acquired.
The total financing of the
World Bank for the project is
$588.44mn, with an IDA (In-
ternational Development As-
sociation) guarantee of $460mn
and an IDA allocation of about
$115mn.

T
he National Account-
ability Bureau’s (NAB)
chapter in Lahore has re-
turned Rs167.2mn ($1.29mn) to
Shahzad Saleem handed over thority (Rs9.3mn) in a ceremony Rs1.5bn had been returned to “During ongoing extensive ef- However, it may take another According to a World Bank re-
cheques to the representatives held at the bureau. the affectees of different scams forts, the teams formed by the month to file the report as it is port, only 5.6% of the allocation
of the Lahore Parking Company Saleem said that the Lahore or deposited with the national committee held a series of meet- currently looking into legal is- has been disbursed.
(for Rs71.337mn), a private bank NAB had recovered Rs4.14bn exchequer.

Man involved Senior Punjab cop wins prestigious global award

in illegal hundi
business arrested
The Federal Investigation Agency
(FIA) conducted a raid on a
Mughal Prize Bonds dealer in
Nankana Sahib district of Punjab,
A senior police officer has been named
among world’s 40 best police officers by the
International Association of Chiefs of Police
(IACP) for his leadership in law enforcement and
community service.
Faisal Mukhtar, who is currently serving as
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Punjab,
in US in which leaders from law enforcement
from around the globe participate.
This year the ceremony was organised in
Orlando, where US President Donald Trump
addressed the world law enforcement leaders.
Mukhtar, 38, has also won the Hubert Humphrey
Fellowship in 2016.
Chinese raise funds for slain officers
Internews Gwadar port and Economic Zone
Islamabad would also raise funds in this re-
gard.
Zhao spoke out on micro-
expresses gratitude to police-
men, reflecting a special feeling
to Pakistan, which is also very
touching,” he said in a tweet.

and arrested a person involved
in illegal business of currency
exchange/hundi hawala.
According to a FIA spokesman,
during search, Rs900,000, prize
bonds of Rs679,000, $400, 3,600
Indian rupees, 1,500 Saudi riyals,
receipts and other documents
related to the illegal hundi hawala
business were seized.
A case has been registered
against the accused.
has been nominated by the IACP, the world’s
largest and most influential professional
association for the police leaders.
This award programme is designed to recognise
40 law enforcement professionals under the age
of 40 from around the world who demonstrate
leadership and exemplify commitment to their
profession.
With more than 30,000 members in 150
countries, the US-based IACP is a recognised
leader in global policing.
The IACP arranges an annual police conference
As Humphrey scholar, he partnered with the
district probation department to implement
rehabilitation practices for the prisoners released
on probation and parole.
Mukhtar has implemented a number of police
welfare projects to reduce stress, improve
mental health, and build resiliency among
Punjab’s officers.
Mukhtar empowered women police officers
by posting them as assistant station clerks, a
managerial position in police stations, for the
first time in the district police.
T
he Chinese deputy head of
mission in Pakistan, Lijian
Zhao, has announced that
Chinese nationals are raising
funds for the families of the two
police officers who died foiling
a militant attack on the Chinese
consulate in Karachi, Express
News reported.
The Chinese diplomat also
shared that the Chinese firm be-
hind Beijing’s investment in the
blogging site Twitter, saying that
China Overseas Port Holding is
raising funds in the Free Eco-
nomic Zone in Gwadar.
Senior officials of the company
will also take part in the fund-
raising process, he added.
“Pakistan’s friendship to Chi-
nese is deeply rooted and gener-
ated from heart. To protect us,
they left their lives behind. Chi-
nese enthusiasm for donation
On November 23, security
forces averted an attack on the
Chinese consulate located in the
upscale Clifton neighbourhood
of Karachi.
Four people, including two
police officials, were killed before
the three attackers were taken
down by security forces.
Diplomatic staff inside the
consulate were unharmed in the
attack.
 Gulf Times
Tuesday, November 27, 2018 21

PHILIPPINES
Experts defuse bomb

Lorenzana rules out troop

in Maguindanao town
Army bomb experts from the
explosive ordnance disposal
(EOD) defused late Saturday a
powerful roadside bomb that
villagers found in an aban-

deployment in new regions

doned hut along a highway
in Datu Odin Sinsuat town,
Maguindanao, Manila Times
reported.
Responding soldiers and police-
men closed to traffic for more
than an hour a stretch of the
By Dempsey Reyes “So, (the memorandum) is said human rights would be menares, who said that such highway straddling the spot
Manila Times one of our ways to ensure that respected in areas covered by was the plan of the adminis- where the improvised explo-
the campaign and election it- the memorandum. tration, given the timing of sive device (IED) was found
self will be peaceful and fair,” The order was issued in the order’s release. to enable them to clear the

P
resident Rodrigo Duterte’s
order to deploy additional
police and military troops
to Samar, Bicol and Negros will
not be expanded to other re-
gions, Defence Secretary Delfin
Lorenzana said yesterday.
Lorenzana said the places
under Memorandum Order 32
were areas prone to attacks by
the communist New People’s
Army (NPA).
“No need (for expansion).
Those are only areas where the
NPA are strong,” he said in an
interview with radio station
dzRH.
The Defence chief also
warned the NPA could inter-
fere in the May 2019 elections.
Lorenzana stressed.
He also allayed fears that the
memorandum would be a prel-
ude to nationwide martial law.
“The people have nothing
to fear since there is no mar-
tial law (nationwide). There is
no martial law indicated in the
order, this is just to heighten
our efforts in maintaining
the peace and order in (those)
places, especially in the coun-
tryside,” Lorenzana said.
Col. Noel Detoyato, Armed
Forces public affairs chief, said
critics of Memorandum Order
32 were siding with lawless
groups.
“This memorandum is in-
tended to freely check all the
Delfin Lorenzana: allaying fears
activities of the enemies. You
know, the lawless elements
are scared with the presence of
additional law enforcers,” he
said in a radio interview.
Detoyato and Lorenzana
response to the massacre of
nine sugarcane workers in
Sagay City and the ambush of
the police-escorted convoy
of Food and Drug Adminis-
tration Chief Nela Charade
Puno in Camarines Sur.
Malacanang yesterday said
the order of President Du-
terte to deploy more soldiers
and policemen to Samar, Ne-
gros Oriental, Negros Occi-
dental and the Bicol Region
was not meant to weaken the
opposition months before the
2019 mid-term elections.
In a news briefing, Palace
spokesman Salvador Pan-
elo denied the claim of Bayan
Muna chairman Neri Col-
“I think he has not read the
memorandum. The memo-
randum precisely and ex-
pressly says that we should
respect the rights of the in-
dividual. That Memoran-
dum 32 was done pursuant
to the constitutional duty of
the president to protect and
preserve the people,” Panelo
said.
“There were series of acts
committed against civilians,
against soldiers and police-
men in those areas and there-
fore there is a need to deploy
troops, as well as PNP forces
in that area to secure the peo-
ple, for their own safety and
peace of the area,” he added.
roadsides of other IEDs. Local
Islamic State-inspired militants,
particularly the Bangsamoro
Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF)
are known for their practice
of planting two or three more
IEDs not too far from the
primary bomb they detonate
when a passenger or a military
vehicle comes close. The IED
that villagers found along a
portion of the Cotabato-Isulan
Highway in Daiwan, Barangay
Tanuel, Datu Odin Sinsuat, was
fashioned from an 81-millimetre
mortar round rigged with a
blasting cap that can be deto-
nated from a distance using a
mobile phone.

Filipino drivers in Europe become

victims of unfair labour practices
De Lima seeks investigation into
Manila Times
Manila
over Copenhagen, Denmark
and Berlin, Germany.”
“Actually, we have dis-
them to its partner agency,
to Poland HBT International
Transport, a Polish company
customs bureau ‘militarisation’
covered that it might involve which in turn sends them By Javier J Ismael the Technical Education and

A
bout 500 Filipino truck around 500 Filipino truck to other truck companies to Manila Times Skills Development Author-
drivers in Europe may drivers all over Europe,” Ar- Europe notably Kurt Beier ity (Tesda) and replaced him
be victims of unfair riola told the committee on in Denmark; Andersen Euro with the head of the Maritime

labour practices but some of
those who had been rescued
have refused to go home, an
official from the Department
of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said
yesterday.
Undersecretary Sarah
Lou Arriola, head of the Of-
fice of the Undersecretary
for Migrant Workers Affairs
(OUMWA), stressed this dur-
ing the Senate public hearing
on the alleged “social dump-
ing” of 22 truck drivers in
Padborg, Germany.
Arriola said that the issue
did not only involve just one
country, Denmark. “In fact,
we have four posts in Europe
that are involved now in try-
ing to look into this case:
Warsaw, Poland, Hague,
Netherland, Oslo, Norway
because it has jurisdiction
labour chaired by Sen. Joel
Villanueva.
The panel has invited of-
ficials from DFA, Philippine
Overseas Employment Ad-
ministration (POEA), and
Overseas Workers Welfare
Administration (OWWA) to
shed light on the reported
plight of some Filipino truck
drivers in Denmark.
Asked by Villanueva
whether the Filipinos were
all victims of alleged social
dumping, she said, “Actually,
the thing is most of them who
are recruited here in the Phil-
ippines are by United Prime
Mover. It’s a POEA-licensed
(firm).”
“But some of them came
from Saudi Arabia. So they
were all over the place. (The)
United Prime Mover sends
Handel in Warsaw, Poland
and Hoekman Logistics
which is Dutch company op-
erating in the Netherlands,”
she said.
“The drivers are legally
working in Denmark so it’s
not a police case. The police
have visited the company
but has not found any illegal
so far. The Filipinos do not
want to go home,” Arriola
said.
She added, “We talked to
them but they prefer to talk
to the unions who are re-
negotiating their contracts.
They would like to stay and
continue working there.
They are asking assistance
to have better living condi-
tions, and to have the terms
of their employment con-
tracts renegotiated.”
D
etained Senator Leila de
Lima yesterday called
for a Senate inquiry into
President Rodrigo Duterte’s
move ordering the military to
temporarily take over the Bureau
of Customs (BoC) to stamp out
corruption.
In filing Senate Resolution
(SR) 949, De Lima expressed
concern over the adverse effect
of appointing military person-
nel on the regular functions of
the agency. “The militarisation
of the BoC may impede the op-
erations of the BoC and as a re-
sult, may gravely affect collec-
tion of revenues, the lifeblood
of government,” she said.
The senator noted that the
functions of the BoC, under
Republic Act 10863, include
“assessment and collection of
customs revenues from im-
ported goods and other dues,
fees, charges, fines and penal-
ties; border control to prevent
entry of smuggled goods; and
prevention and suppression of
De Lima: expressing concern
In October, Duterte ordered
the Armed Forces of the Philip-
declaration of a state of law-
lessness in the country.”
Industry Authority (Marina),
retired AFP chief Rey Leonardo
Guerrero.
The Palace later backtracked
and said the “takeover” of the
military merely meant that
heads of offices and sections
within the bureau would be
placed on floating status and
the military would be on hand
to assist the agency.
De Lima said Duterte should
follow the Constitution, which
provides that military officers
in active service cannot be ap-
pointed to civilian positions in
the government, especially be-
cause there is no “state of law-
lessness” in the BoC.
“The operationalisation of
the military takeover of the
BoC threatens to violate the
provisions of the Constitution
on the proscription against the
assumption by active military
officers of civilian functions
and civilian offices, aside from
other basic principles of a re-
publican and democratic gov-

Poe wants Chinese tourists smuggling and other customs

fraud,” among others.
pines (AFP) to take over the bu-
reau, saying it was “part of his
Duterte transferred Cus-
toms chief Isidro Lapena to
ernment as enshrined therein,”
she said.

seeking jobs refused permit

Manila Times Immigration (BI), Philippine
Manila Amusement Games Corp (Pag-
cor), among others.
“I think we should have a
House approves amended anti-wiretapping law
Manila Times to commit coup d’etat; robbery in band; An- the parties, origin, destination, date, time
Manila ti-Piracy and Anti-Highway Robbery Law of and duration of the communication unless

S
enator Grace Poe yester- policy that says unless neces- 1974; violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt otherwise ordered by a court of competent
day urged the Bureau of sary, they shouldn’t come in Practices Act; syndicated illegal recruitment jurisdiction for purposes allowed under

Immigration to raise “red
flags” on any work permit ap-
plication from Chinese who
initially entered as tourists.
Poe stressed this yesterday
during the public hearing on
the reported influx of Chinese
nationals working in online
gaming, construction, food,
and business process outsourc-
ing (BPO) sectors.
“It should be like this, if they
apply for tourist visa, they ar-
Poe: opposing work permit
rive here, they seek a change in
their status, shouldn’t that be a
red flag already?” Poe asked the
concerned agencies.
Sen. Joel Villanueva, chair-
man of the Committee on La-
bour, had invited officials from
the Department of Labour
(DoLE), Department of For-
eign Affairs (DFA), Bureau of
here under false pretenses,”
said Poe, chairman of the
Committee on Public Services.
“Otherwise we will be en-
couraging more influx of that
kind of situation here and we
don’t have the expertise to ac-
tually evaluate,” she said.
Poe added, “Obviously, they
were trying to fool us. They said
they are tourists but it turned
out they have plans to work
here.”
T
he House of Representatives approved
on third reading a bill that would ex-
pand the coverage of the anti-wiretap-
ping law or Republic Act (RA) 4200.
Voting 216-0-0, lawmakers approved yes-
terday the House Bill 8378 or an act amend-
ing Republic Act (RA) 4200 which prohibits
and penalises wire tapping and other related
violations of the privacy of communication
and for other purposes.
The measure now covers violations of the
Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of
2002; coup d’etat, conspiracy and proposal
as defined and punished under the Migrant
Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995;
violation of the Anti-Money Laundering Act
of 2001.
The bill also provides that it shall be
“unlawful for public telecommunication
entities and other similar enterprises en-
gaged in the business of voice and data
transmission through wire, radio, digital or
electronic means, to retain for more than
one year records of voice and data, which
are not the subject of any pending case,
including information on the identity of
Section 3 of this Act.”
Under RA 4200, authorities are allowed —
provided that there is a written court order
— to wiretap in cases involving treason, es-
pionage, sedition, rebellion, and kidnapping.
Violators of the measure will be punished
by imprisonment from six months to six
years without the benefit of probation and
with the accessory penalty of perpetual ab-
solute disqualification from public office if
the offender is a public official. If the offender
is an alien, he shall be subject to deportation
proceedings after the service of sentence.

Beijing peddling ‘false’ narrative on sea dispute

By Glee Jalea over the relevant waters as well as the trolled (South China Sea) at any time in to the South China Sea.”Carpio’s state-
Manila Times seabed and subsoil thereof,” is a recent its history.” “Even under China’s Maps ments came just days after Chinese
claim that was submitted to the UN only of National Humiliation, the Spratly Is- President Xi Jinping’s state visit, which
in May 2009. lands and Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal the Chinese leader said was meant to

A
cting Chief Justice Antonio Car-
pio yesterday urged Filipinos to
assert the country’s sovereignty
over the West Philippine Sea (South
China Sea), pointing out that the Chi-
nese narrative on the disputed territory
is “totally false.”
During the West Philippine Sea forum
at the House of Representatives, Carpio
said the Chinese claims stretching sup-
posedly to more than 2,000 years ago
could be easily disproven by old maps.
Carpio, who joined the Philippine legal
team that secured a victory against Chi-
na from a United Nations (UN)-backed
arbitration tribunal in 2016, noted that
China’s nine-dash-line map, encom-
passing an area in which it supposedly
“enjoys sovereign rights and jurisdiction
Beijing refuses to recognise the ruling
of The Hague-based tribunal, which in-
validated China’s historical claims to the
area.
China’s narrative means China and
the Philippines share a common border
that lies just 64 kilometres off the coast
of Balabac Island in Palawan, the south-
ernmost island in Palawan; 70km off
of Bolinao in Pangasinan, and 44km off
Y’ami Island in Batanes, he said.
The Philippine team submitted over
170 ancient maps — the highest number
of ancient maps ever submitted to an in-
ternational tribunal — including Chinese
maps from the Song to the Qing dynas-
ties, Philippine and Southeast Asian
maps, and European maps of Asia — to
prove that China “never owned or con-
(in the South China Sea) were not part of
Chinese territory,” Carpio said.
National humiliation maps were pro-
duced for mass education in China to
“mourn the loss of national territories”
since the early 20th century.
China’s nine-dash-line map dating
to 1947 is the first to claim the Spratlys.
Scarborough Shoal appeared on the map
without an exclusive name, unlike all
other features drawn as part of China.
The Philippines in reality owns most
of the features in the Spratlys, Carpio
said. It named Scarborough Shoal “Pa-
nacot” as early as 1734, he said.
Carpio called on the public to “help
the Philippines, among other claim-
ant countries, to explain to the Chinese
people that China has no historic claim
“deepen political mutual trust” amid
“differences” that needed to be handled
“properly” through consultations and
dialogue.
He said the West Philippine Sea should
be a “sea of friendship and co-opera-
tion” that would create a bond of friend-
ship between China and the Philippines.
Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni”
Robredo and some lawmakers have
called for a protest against China after a
Filipino TV news crew aired a documen-
tary showing a Chinese Coast Guard pre-
venting it from filming and conducting
an interview in the disputed area.
GMA News’ “Reporter’s Notebook”
team accompanied a group of Filipino
fishermen to Panatag Shoal on Novem-
ber 8. Carpio: call to assert sovereign rights
 Gulf Times
22 Tuesday, November 27, 2018
COMMENT
CHAIRMAN
Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka
Deputy Managing Editor
K T Chacko
P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar
editor@gulf-times.com
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GULF TIMES
Real Madrid need
Ramos as a player,
not as a brawler
An hour after the final whistle had sounded on Real
Madrid’s 3-0 humiliation by Eibar on Saturday, Sergio
Ramos began to let rip.
Deep in the belly of the tiny 7,083-capacity Ipurua
stadium, Ramos said his side’s attitude had been off, their
intensity lacking. “When you don’t match your opponent,
you become a vulgar team,” he said.
It was not the result Real wanted before they travel to
Roma in the Champions League today, when the winner is
likely to go through top of Group G.
Then Ramos moved onto the anti-doping allegations
published on Friday by German magazine Der Spiegel.
The most damaging among them claimed Ramos tested
positive for dexamethasone after the 2017 Champions
League final and failed to declare it, as is required according
to World Anti-Doping Authority regulations.
Responding for the first time, Ramos said: “You can tell a
lie many times over but it is still a lie.”
The issue may have been exceptional but the sharpness of
tongue and apparent readiness for confrontation has become
a vivid part of Ramos’ football persona.
In September, Antoine Griezmann was in the firing line
when Ramos used a Champions League press conference to
slap down the Frenchman’s pinings for the Ballon d’Or.
“Ignorance is bold,” Ramos said, poker-faced.
More recently, he turned Antonio Conte from favourite
to no-hoper in the running to replace Julen Lopetegui as
Real coach. “Respect is earned, not imposed”, Ramos said,
supposedly a dig at Conte,
The pugnacious a renowned disciplinarian.
This pugnacious Ramos
Ramos off the off the pitch chimes so
perfectly with his demonic
pitch chimes so reputation on it and so it
perfectly with seems possible that one
of the game’s most reviled
his demonic characters has begun to
revel in the noise that
reputation on it surrounds him.
He is loved by Real
Madrid, their captain and winner of four Champions League
titles, as well as another four in La Liga. He is liked too at the
Benito Villamarin, where Real Betis fans still appreciate him
for leaving their rivals, Sevilla.
But there are few stadiums where the sound of screeching
whistles are not heard as soon as Ramos leaves an opposition
striker in a heap.
Lionel Messi knows the feeling. In 2010, Ramos lashed him
to the ground with a swinging left boot and in 2017, clattered
him again, sliding in as Barca threatened a counter-attack.
Both times, Ramos was sent off, two of his 19 La Liga red
cards, the most of any player still playing by quite a distance.
There would be more if referees had interpreted differently
all flailing arms, charging shoulders and misplaced feet too
ambiguous to be deemed deliberate.
Mohamed Salah missed most of the World Cup finals
after one such tussle in the Champions League final. More
than 530,000 Liverpool fans signed a petition demanding
retrospective action against Ramos.
Ramos admitted on Saturday he had been aware for
months of the anti-doping allegations and it is possible
angst has taken its toll.
It is also true the 32-year-old has often underperformed at
this stage of the season, only to become faultless around the
time the trophies are handed out in May.
With a new coach, the Champions League group stage
getting tight and six points to make up in La Liga, Madrid
could do with that upswing to come early.
They need Ramos now more than ever, not the brawler or
the bravado, but the player.
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© 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved
‘When you rescue a trafficked
child it’s like saving a life’
By Amrit Dhillon
New Delhi
H
alf a million passengers pass
through Old Delhi railway
station each day.
Some of those hurrying
out of its arched facade are children
who will be sold to sweatshops or
brothels by their adult companions.
As the trains roll in – about 250
of them a day – and people fill the
concourse, Ajish has just minutes to
spot trafficked children before they
leave the station and melt into the
throng outside.
Amazingly, this small window of
opportunity is all he and his team at
the Childline India Foundation need
to rescue 90-100 children from the
clutches of traffickers each month.
Today, Ajish has his sights set on the
Kalka Mail from Calcutta, which glides
into platform 11.
A passenger has called Childline
from the train to say that four boys in
his compartment look out of place and
unhappy.
When the Childline team based at
the station board the train and find
the boys, they approach the “uncle”
travelling with them.
He pushes his way through the crowd
and flees.
“Uncle [the trafficker] told my
parents I am going to get a good job
and free jeans,” says 10-year-old Anil
Paswan, “and enough money to send
money home to my parents every
month. They can buy food for my
brothers and sisters with that money.”
Ajish hears a similar story every day.
The reality is that “Uncle” was
planning to sell him to an employer who
would make him slave 12-14 hours a day
in filthy conditions at a roadside food
stall, factory, or garment sweatshop.
Indian railways carry 25mn
passengers daily.
But they are also a fulcrum for human
trafficking.
Three years ago, the Childline
Foundation – set up under the auspices
of the Ministry for Women and Child
Development – started collaborating
with Indian Railways with the aim of
rescuing children in transit.
That meant training railway staff,
who are the first to set eyes on the
children and most likely to detect
something amiss.
“We began training the entire railway
system – the porters (who board the
train as it arrives), ticket collectors,
catering staff, platform staff, platform
vendors, sweepers. All of them are
taught to be alert, to look out for telltale
signs. That’s the only way to intercept
children en route, to catch them before
it’s too late,” says Dr Anjaiah Pandiri,
executive director of the foundation.
Railway personnel are trained to look
out for children who appear distressed
or confused; children dressed more
shabbily than the adults accompanying
them, or speaking a different dialect;
children who give limited, repetitive,
or evasive answers about where they
are going; and any kind of mismatch
between the children and the adults
with them.
Neeraj Kapoor, who runs a kiosk
selling books and newspapers on
platform one, has dialled up his
antennae.“Once you know the signs,
it’s not hard to detect trafficked
children. It’s just that earlier we weren’t
paying attention. Earlier, I had no idea
the problem was so serious,” he says.
In 2016, a total of 8,132 cases of
human trafficking were reported across
India, an 18% jump from the 6,877
cases reported in 2015, according to the
National Crime Records Bureau.
Apart from the staff, the public had to
be sensitised too.
Trains and platforms were adorned
with 200,000 posters advertising the
Childline Helpline number.
The railways added the number to
labels on packaged water bottles and
disposable tea cups.
And announcements asking
passengers to be vigilant about
abducted or trafficked children are now
made on the PA systems of major trains
and stations.
“The response has been amazing.
We get hundreds of calls a day from
passengers suspicious of something.
Often we get calls from disgruntled
members of the trafficking gang who
weren’t paid their share and are calling
to inform on the others,” says Heenu
Singh, regional head of Childline.
Childline kiosks were set up at 83
stations deemed high-risk on the basis
of their location.
They are manned 24/7 by a team of a
dozen staff.
Night trains are used regularly by
traffickers trying to avoid detection.
By March, another 75 stations will
have Childline kiosks on platforms.
“We still have a long way to go. Out
of a total of some 8,000 stations, about
1,000 are the risky ones: the major
junctions for the main cities where
children are taken. We know which
stations are on the trafficking belt,” says
Pandiri.
He is pleased with results to date.
More than 48,000 children have been
rescued since 2015.
Howrah station in Calcutta alone
rescues roughly 150 children a month.
Childline estimates that about 40%
of these children were going to be
trafficked; the rest were runaways from
troubled homes, where an alcoholic
Ajish at the Childline India office at Old Delhi railway station. Photograph: Amrit Dhillon
father or an uncaring stepmother had
driven the child away, or children on a
lark that had gone wrong.
But even the latter, if seen looking
confused and lost, are vulnerable to
being preyed on by begging gangs and
traffickers, and may never make it
home.
One of Ajish’s jobs is to train railway
staff on how to deal with children at the
station.
It requires a gentle, delicate approach
that cannot be rushed.
Not only do you need detective skills
to get to the truth, says Ajish, you need
patience to wait until a child feels at
ease and is ready to reveal the truth.
“You have to sift through the lies the
children tell. The uncle has told them
that he is a good guy helping the child
and the parents. Then we appear on the
scene as the good guys saying the uncle
is a bad guy. That’s very confusing for
the child. It takes days for them to trust
us enough to open up,” he says.
A few days earlier, six boys who had
been told they would be trained as
electricians sat in the Childline office
looking dazed, refusing soft drinks and
biscuits, and struggling to hold back
their tears.
Their handler was arrested after Ajish
boarded the Avadh Assam Express from
Guwahati, almost 2,000km from Delhi.
A porter called Ajish when he saw one
of the boys crying.
Ajish and his team rushed over and
boarded the train while telling the
Railway Protection Force to remain on
the platform.
Although they have been trained
by Childline too, their uniforms can
frighten children.
Ajish recalls the difficulty he had with
a trafficked girl, aged about 13, who was
going to be sold either to a placement
agency as a maid, or to a brothel.
She lied about her name and age for
three days.
The trafficker had told her that if she
spoke the truth to anyone, her parents
would be tortured and she would be
thrown into jail.
“Some are tutored in advance and say
the man with them is their real uncle.
Others are taken aback and get
confused.
They tell me they have come to see
the Taj Mahal, not knowing it is in
another city, or say they have come to
Delhi to celebrate Diwali, not knowing
it’s the wrong month,” says Ajish.
From the station, the children are
taken to a nearby shelter where, after
getting plenty of food, seeing the safe
environment, and watching other
rescued children being well-treated,
they begin to let down their guard.
That’s when the patient approach
of Ajish and his colleagues pays off.
“Usually, when one child, an older
child, decides to trust us and tell us the
real story, that’s when the others also
decide it’s safe to do so,” he says.
Once at a shelter, the children are
evaluated by a government child welfare
committee to decide the next steps.
The primary objective in most cases
is to reunite the children with their
families.
If parents sold them to traffickers
out of poverty, Childline, through local
NGOs, takes the children back home
but follows up after the reunion.
They counsel parents on why they
acted wrongly and warn them that
doing so again will invite punishment.
The Childline team have to be
one step ahead of the traffickers,
anticipating their latest tricks.
For example, to avoid detection they
have started getting off at a smaller
station, just before Old Delhi, and then
taking a bus to their destination.
“Earlier they used to travel in the
general compartment where you don’t
have to show your ID to the ticket
collector. That’s the obvious place
for us to look. But now they often buy
the more expensive tickets for better
compartments to escape suspicion,”
says ticket collector Bhagwat Prasad
Sharma.
For Ajish, the impact of what they do
lies in the stark contrast in the figures.
Before 2015, the Railway Protection
Force used to rescue about two or three
children a month at the station.
Now the figure is about 100.
“When you rescue them, you have a
feeling of saving a child’s whole life –
their education, their health and family
life – and of course their childhood,” he
says. – Guardian News and Media
 Gulf Times
Tuesday, November 27, 2018 23

COMMENT

Brexit and the global economy today’s disruptive politics are fuelled be much harder to maintain global
By Mohamed A El-Erian
Washington, DC by economic disappointment and norms and standards, let alone pursue
frustration, identity is the tip of the international policy harmonisation
spear. It has exposed and deepened and co-ordination.

T
he singular issue of Brexit
has consumed the United
Kingdom for two-and-
a-half years. The “if,”
“how,” and “when” of the country’s
withdrawal from the European Union,
after decades of membership, has
understandably dominated news
coverage, and sidelined almost every
other policy debate. Lost in the mix,
for example, has been any serious
discussion of how the UK should boost
productivity and competitiveness at a
time of global economic and financial
fluidity.
At the same time, the rest of
the world’s interest in Brexit has
understandably waned. The UK’s
negotiations with the EU dragged on
through multiple déjà vu moments,
and the consensus is that the economic
fallout will be felt far more acutely
in Britain than in the EU, let alone in
countries elsewhere.
Still, the rest of the world is facing
profound challenges of its own.
Political and economic systems are
undergoing far-reaching structural
changes, many of them driven by
technology, trade, climate change,
high inequality, and mounting political
anger. In addressing these issues,
policymakers around the world would
do well to heed the lessons of the UK’s
Brexit experience.
When Britons voted by a margin
of 51.9% to 48.1% to leave the EU,
the decision came as a shock to
experts, pundits, and Conservative
and Labour Party leaders alike. They
had underappreciated the role of
“identity” as a driving force behind
the June 2016 referendum. But now,
voters’ deeply held ideas about
identity, whether real or perceived,
can no longer be dismissed. Though
political and social divisions that are as
uncomfortable as they are intractable.
Experts also predicted that the UK
economy would suffer an immediate
and significant fall in output following
the 2016 referendum. In the event,
they misunderstood the dynamics
of what economists call a “sudden
stop” – that is, abrupt, catastrophic
dysfunction in a key sector of the
economy. A perfect example is the
2008 global financial crisis, when
financial markets seized up as a result
of operational dislocations and a loss
of mutual confidence in the payments
and settlement system.
Brexit was different. Because
you cannot replace something with
nothing, there was no immediate break
in British-EU trade. In the absence of
clarity on what type of Brexit would
ultimately materialise, the economic
relationship simply continued “as
is,” and an immediate disruption was
averted.
It turns out that when making
macroeconomic and market
projections for Brexit so far, “short
versus long” has been more important
than “soft versus hard” (with “hard”
referring to the UK’s full, and most
likely disorderly, withdrawal from the
European single market and customs
union). The question is not whether
the UK will face a considerable
economic reckoning, but when.
Nonetheless, the UK economy is
already experiencing slow-moving
structural change. There is evidence
of falling foreign investment and
this is contributing to the economy’s
disappointing level of investment
overall. Moreover, this trend is
accentuating the challenges associated
with weak productivity growth.
There are also signs that companies
FILE PHOTO: Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May attends a news conference after an extraordinary EU leaders summit to
finalise and formalise the Brexit agreement in Brussels, Belgium November 25, 2018.
with UK-based operations have begun
to trigger their Brexit contingency
plans after a prolonged period of
waiting, planning, and more waiting.
In addition to shifting investments
out of the UK, firms will also start to
relocate jobs. And this process will
likely accelerate even if British Prime
Minister Theresa May manages to
get her proposed exit deal through
Parliament.
The Brexit process thus showcases
the risks associated with economic
and political fragmentation, and
provides a preview of what awaits
an increasingly fractured global
economy if this continues: namely,
less efficient economic interactions,
less resilience, more complicated
cross-border financial flows, and
less agility. In this context, costly
self-insurance will come to replace
some of the current system’s pooled-
insurance mechanisms. And it will
Tax and regulatory arbitrage are
likely to become increasingly common
as well. And economic policymaking
will become a tool for addressing
national security concerns (real or
imagined). How this approach will
affect existing geopolitical and military
arrangements remains to be seen.
Lastly, there will also be a change in
how countries seek to structure their
economies. In the past, Britain and
other countries prided themselves as
“small open economies” that could
leverage their domestic advantages
through shrewd and efficient links with
Europe and the rest of the world. But
now, being a large and relatively closed
economy might start to seem more
attractive. And for countries that do
not have that option – such as smaller
economies in East Asia – tightly
knit regional blocs might provide a
serviceable alternative.
The messiness of British party politics
has made the Brexit process look like
a domestic dispute that is sometimes
inscrutable to the rest of the world.
But Brexit holds important lessons
for and about the global economy.
Gone are the days when accelerating
economic and financial globalisation and
correlated growth patterns went almost
unquestioned. We are also in an era of
considerable technological and political
fluidity. The outlooks for growth and
liquidity will likely become even more
uncertain and divergent than they
already are. – Project Syndicate
zMohamed A El-Erian, Chief Economic
Adviser at Allianz, was Chairman of
US President Barack Obama’s Global
Development Council and is the author
of The Only Game in Town: Central
Banks, Instability, and Avoiding the
Next Collapse.

Looking past Donald Trump Three-day forecast

TODAY
Maximum Temperature : 270c
By Mira Rapp-Hooper are experiencing slow growth and
Minimum Temperature : 220c
Project Syndicate population decline, raising questions
about whether they can pick up WEDNESDAY
the slack. And trust in America’s Maximum Temperature : 250c

I
n the last two years, a consensus dependability has declined sharply Minimum Temperature : 190c
has emerged among foreign around the world. THURSDAY
policy experts that Donald Trump Yet at home, Americans remain Maximum Temperature : 250c
is singlehandedly demolishing remarkably steadfast in their Minimum Temperature : 190c
America’s global standing. support for multilateral institutions, Fisherman's forecast
By starting trade wars, withdrawing alliances, and the role of the US
from multilateral accords, treating as a global leader. So the question WARNING
Inshore : Nil
friends like enemies and dictators is whether the US can return to
like friends, Trump seems to be business-as-usual and regain its Offshore : Expected strong wind
violating all the rules. He prefers previous international status after and high sea
unilateral action, holds a narrow view Trump leaves office. WEATHER
Inshore : Mild daytime with
of American economic and national Rather than assume that it can, the scattered clouds and
security, and has little interest in the time has come to start auditing the relatively cold by night.
vast web of international institutions, damage inflicted by Trump and closely
Offshore : Partly cloudy
norms, and rules of law that the analyse the domestic and international
United States helped build and has forces that are reshaping America’s WIND
supported since 1945. role in the world. Inshore : Northwesterly-Norther-
ly10-18 KT Gusting 22
But Trump is less the architect of Americans do not have the luxury KT
the major geopolitical shifts we are of waiting until the current political Offshrore : Northwesterly15-25 KT
witnessing than he is an avatar for paroxysm passes to begin considering Gusting to 30 KT at
times.
domestic and international forces how the US can craft a credible and
that will almost certainly outlast his US President Donald Trump waves as he walks on South Lawn of the White sustainable foreign policy in a hyper- Visibility : 4-8 KM
presidency. House upon his return to Washington, US, after the Thanksgiving Holiday in partisan environment, and how it can
Florida, on November 25. Offshore : 4-7/10 FT
Domestically, income inequality do more with less.
and fears inspired by globalisation Americans must start crafting a new Around the region
and automation have increased over to foreign policy issues, where world’s most powerful country for foreign policy that reflects twenty- Weather
Weather
Americans’ skepticism toward trade bipartisanship has proved most decades, it will find it increasingly first century interests, objectives, tomorrow
today Max/min Max/min
and immigration. resilient. difficult to achieve longstanding and constraints – and that recognises Sunny
Baghdad P Cloudy 19/11 21/10
Political polarisation has divided Internationally, China’s rapid ascent foreign policy objectives in the Asia Trump for what he is: a symptom Sunny
Kuwait City Sunny 21/13 22/13
Congress, the media, and citizens implies America’s relative decline. Pacific region. of deep processes that he probably P Cloudy
Manama Sunny 23/19 24/19
into hostile camps, and could spill Even though the US will remain the Both there and in Europe, US allies understands only dimly, at best. Sunny
Muscat P Cloudy 27/22 26/21
Tehran Sunny 12/04 Sunny 13/06

Live issues
Toddlers may sleep better in cribs until age 3
By Carolyn Crist temper tantrums and self-regulating during the night and resisting less at in developing a protocol that helps
Reuters Health behaviours. bedtime. families make the crib-to-bed
“At this age, parents and caregivers “What stuck out to us was how transition, since it could cause some
are the ones paying attention to, and remarkably consistent the benefits sleep problems that didn’t exist Around the world

P
arents who wait to start the being affected by, their toddlers’ were at each toddler age group,” previously. Weather Weather
crib-to-bed transition until sleep,” Williamson told Reuters Health Williamson said. “This is what we see “Some strategies that already exist today Max/min tomorrow Max/min
toddlers are 3 years old may by phone. “It’s important to record a clinically as well.” for helping kids to stay in bed, such as Athens S Showers 20/14 S Showers 18/10
find that both they and their caregiver’s report as much as objective In future studies, Williamson and role-playing games, could also prepare Beirut M Sunny 23/17 M Sunny 24/18
children get better sleep, researchers measures of sleep.” the research team will use the app to children for that transition,” said Sarah Bangkok M Cloudy 30/23 M Cloudy 30/24
say. Williamson and colleagues collected investigate how parents start the crib- Honaker, a sleep psychologist at Riley Berlin M Cloudy 02/-3 P Cloudy 03/-2
In a survey of parents and data from 1,983 caregivers with to-bed transition and what motivates Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, Cairo P Cloudy 27/13 M Sunny 28/15
caregivers across five countries, toddlers aged between 18 and 36 them. In some cases, parents with Indiana, who wasn’t involved in the Cape Town Cloudy 18/13 Cloudy 18/13
those who delayed the transition months living in Australia, Canada, another baby on the way begin to study. Colombo S T Storms 31/23 S T Storms 30/23
from crib to bed longer were more New Zealand, the UK and the US. The move their toddler to a bed so they Sleep experts and paediatricians Dhaka Sunny 31/18 Sunny 30/18
likely to report less resistance at data was submitted by caregivers using can use the crib again. Others start the tend to recommend an adjustable crib Hong Kong Rain 23/19 Showers 23/21
bedtime, fewer night awakenings and the Johnson’s Bedtime baby sleep app, transition because their toddler climbs that transitions lower to the ground Istanbul P Cloudy 18/14 Rain 16/09
longer sleep duration for children, a free smartphone application offered out of the crib or seems physically too as the child ages, Honaker said. This Jakarta S T Storms 32/25 S T Storms 31/26
the study authors report in the by Johnson & Johnson. J&J Consumer big to stay in the current crib. helps the toddler get comfortable with Karachi P Cloudy 31/18 Sunny 31/19
journal Sleep Medicine. Inc also funded the study. “Adults tend to see cribs as cages, a sleeping arrangement that feels more London Rain 09/08 Showers 14/11
“Research during the last decade The research team found that rates but that’s not how children see like a bed and reduces injuries and Manila M Sunny 32/24 P Cloudy 32/25
has shown how important healthy of crib-sleeping decreased steadily them,” said Lisa Meltzer, a paediatric falls if the child tries to climb out of Moscow S Showers -3/-6 P Cloudy -4/-8
sleep is across the lifespan, but with age, with 63% of toddlers psychologist at National Jewish Health the crib. New Delhi Fog 27/15 Fog 27/13
especially during childhood,” said sleeping in a crib from ages 18 to 24 in Denver, Colorado, who wasn’t “A 3-year-old is more likely to New York M Sunny 08/02 Cloudy 08/03
lead study author Ariel Williamson of months, as compared to 34% still in a involved in the study. have the cognitive development to Paris Showers 08/06 Showers 11/08
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in crib at 24 to 30 months and 13% from “Children like small spaces as they remember the rules of staying in bed,” Sao Paulo P Cloudy 23/16 P Cloudy 25/16
Pennsylvania. 30 to 36 months. feel safe and comfortable with them,” she said in a phone interview. “Buying Seoul P Cloudy 13/-2 P Cloudy 09/-3
In previous studies, Williamson Crib sleeping was associated with she said by e-mail. “If you watch a crib with an adjustable mattress can Singapore S T Storms 30/26 T Storm 30/25
and colleagues have found that going to bed earlier, falling asleep young children play, they like to play prevent parents from having to make a Sydney P Cloudy 21/17 Rain 19/16
toddlers deprived of sleep tend to sooner, waking up less often during under the table or in large boxes.” transition that their child may not be Tokyo Cloudy 18/10 Cloudy 16/09
have a more difficult time with tasks, the night, sleeping for longer stretches Other researchers are interested developmentally ready to make.”
 Gulf Times
24 Tuesday, November 27, 2018
QATAR
Some of the guests at the event.
City College marks official unveiling Ministry of Education and Higher
By Joseph Varghese
Staff Reporter
C
ity College, a Qatari higher
education institution, was
officially opened at a spe-
cial ceremony yesterday at the
college premises at Barwa Com-
mercial Avenue. Dr Khalid al-Ali,
assistant undersecretary for edu-
cation, and director, Higher Edu-
cation Institutions Affairs at the
New GCC strategy on vocational training to be floated soon: Ministry
By Joseph Varghese
Staff Reporter
A
GCC strategy for vocational
training will be introduced
soon, a top official at the
Ministry of Education and Higher
Education disclosed yesterday.
Education, announced the open-
ing.
Dignitaries including Dr Hessa
al-Jaber, prominent Qatari busi-
nesswoman Aisha Alfardan, Qatar
Foundation’s Community Devel-
opment president Machaille al-
Naimi, and Qatar Career Devel-
opment Centre director Abdulla
al-Mansoori were present.
City College provides a learn-
er-centric and practical approach
“Qatar and GCC are very much
interested in vocational train-
ing development. At a very re-
cent GCC meeting in Kuwait,
we have formed a GCC strategy
for vocational training. It needs
to be reviewed one more time
before implementation and will
be launched thereafter,” said Dr
to vocational higher education
offering internationally accred-
ited business programmes. The
college admitted its first batch of
students in September 2018, and
runs three intakes a year (in Sep-
tember, January and April).
Nicholas Evans, director of
education, City College, high-
lighted the aim of the College to
foster national sustainability and
to contribute directly to national
growth in Qatar. “Our interna-
Khalid al-Ali, assistant under-
secretary for education and di-
rector, Higher Education Institu-
tions Affairs.
Dr al-Ali was speaking to the
media on the sidelines of the of-
ficial opening of City College,
one of the newest vocational
training colleges in Qatar of-
tionally and nationally recognised
courses are academically rigorous
and also rooted firmly in employ-
ability and business competency,
and tailored to the Qatar business
world and of course to the global
economy. Our students study for
a UK Honours degree but only
spend one year abroad, so get to
take advantage of the security and
familiarity of their home life here
in Qatar,” noted Evans.
Through its part-time and
fering business programmes.
“The Gulf countries are keen
to have a very good vocational
education as the market needs
highly-skilled professionals. We
are trying hard to prepare such
skilled workers for the market
in Qatar. We have several such
schools including City College
Dr Khalid al-Ali formally opens City College yesterday. PICTURES: Jayan Orma
evening programmes, City Col-
lege also caters to employees who
wish to pursue their studies while
working, and has close links with
major companies in Qatar.
City College designs tailor-
made, internationally-accredited
education programmes for all in-
dustries and sectors and for both
government and private entities.
Through its partnership with
the University of Portsmouth,
City College also offers preferen-
and College of North Atlantic
Qatar. These colleges will help
in developing a large number of
trained professionals in several
areas,” explained Dr al-Ali.
He also highlighted the unique
features of vocational learning
encouraging private investors in
Qatar to contribute to the quality
tial entry for its students to pursue
their Honours degree in the UK.
They also have the choice to join
more than 339 other universities
worldwide. City College promises
students its own degrees in the
near future.
Representing City College stu-
dents, Nasser al-Noaimi, said,
“City College appealed to me due
to its practical teaching meth-
odology and the supportive stu-
dent-centred bespoke learning
and diversity of higher education
in the country. The official also
said that there are a number of
new applications for setting up
vocational training colleges in
Qatar. “We do have several files
for such colleges, for example a
German University file is on our
desk to review and there are sev-
environment. There is a unique
bond between the students and
the lecturers at City College, who
take real interest in students and
care about us doing as well as we
can to reach our potential.”
City College courses are devel-
oped by the Business and Tech-
nology in Education Council, UK
and approved by Pearson Educa-
tion and offers the same business
programmes as its international
partner.
eral more for consideration. We
plan to expand the vocational
training programme with many
more institutes.
This is an area we need to ex-
pand and attract more students
to meet the demand of the coun-
try based on our vision,’ added Dr
al-Ali.