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THURSDAY Vol. XXXX No. 11269 August 8, 2019 Dhul-Hijja 7, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Supporters guard home of Kyrgyz ex-president Iran minister praises Qatari New street gives leadership E the Deputy Prime Minis- better access to ter and Minister of State for HDefence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah yesterday received a telephone call from Iran’s Minister of Defence and Armed Forc- IAAF Doha es Logistics Brigadier General Amir Hatami. Bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to enhance them 2019 venue were discussed during the call. The Iranian minister praised the wisdom of the Qatari leadership in n preparation for the start of the per hour reducing traffi c time to more managing its crisis with neighbour- new academic year and the launch than 60%. ing countries. Iof the IAAF World Athletics Cham- In order to ensure traffi c safety, a He also invited HE the Deputy pionships Doha 2019, the Public Works median has been built. Besides, servic- Prime Minister and Minister of State Authority (Ashghal) yesterday an- es roads have been also set up on either for Defence Aff airs to visit Iran. For nounced the opening of the 1.5km-long side while pedestrian and cycle paths his part, HE al-Attiyah welcomed the Umm Al Jamajim Street in Murraikh to are being completed. invitation and stressed Qatar’s fi rm traffi c. “Umm Al Jamajim Street will create position that the security and stabil- The new street will result in easy ac- better traffi c connection for businesses ity of the region is the responsibility of cess to Khalifa International Stadium and sport facilities including Aspire all, which necessitates all the diff erent Supporters of Kyrgyz former President Almazbek Atambayev guard his house during an operation of state security forces to where the international event will be Zone,” Darwish pointed out. parties resort to the dialogue table, detain Atambayev, who was accused of corruption, in the village of Koi Tash near Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, yesterday. held from September 27 until October Umm Al Jamajim Street is located while stressing at the same time that 6, in addition to serving many schools in an area with many vital facilities Iran is a key player in the region’s se- and kindergartens in the area. such as Khalifa International Sta- curity and stability. — QNA “The opening of Umm Al Jamajim dium, Aspire Zone, Villaggio Mall, Street will improve traffi c movement Hyatt Plaza, and Equestrian Club for residents in Murraikh, Baaya, Luaib as well as many educational insti- and Muheirja and between Al Furousiya tutions. Umm Al Jamajim Street In brief Qatar joins United Nations Street and Al Waab Street,” Ashghal’s serves the areas of Baaya, Maherja Highway Project Department manager and Muraikh. QCB announces Eid engineer Bader Darwish explained in a To complete the upgrading works of holidays for banks Convention on mediation statement. the surrounding areas, Ashghal has an- The street which had only one lane nounced a closure of Al Baaya Street for Qatar Central Bank (QCB) has in each direction has been developed 45 days from today. Motorists can make announced that Eid al-Adha QNA into a two-lane road in each direction use of the parallel Al Kharrara Street. holidays for all banks operating Singapore to accommodate about 8,000 vehicles Page 24 in the country will start on Sunday, August 11. It said in a statement yesterday that the atar joined yesterday the United banks will reopen to th e public on Nations Convention on Interna- Wednesday, August 14. Qtional Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation, known as the ARAB WORLD | Confl ict Singapore Convention on Mediation. The instrument of accession to UN calls on Israel to the convention was signed by HE the cease settlements Minister of Justice and Acting Minis- The United Nations Special ter of State for Cabinet Aff airs Dr Issa Co-ordinator for the Middle East Saad al-Jafali al-Nuaimi, who heads Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, the state’s delegation to the high-level underlined that the advancement conference on mediation and interna- HE Dr Issa Saad al-Jafali al-Nuaimi signing the instrument of accession. of settlement units in the tional dispute resolution currently un- occupied West Bank “must cease derway in Singapore. tives from a number of countries of Qatar’s joining of this agreement re- immediately and completely”. With this accession, Qatar is at the the world, HE the minister affi rmed fl ects the state’s keenness to support “The Israeli authorities approved forefront of the signatories to this that Qatar’s signing of this important the international system in all that over the past two days the model convention aimed at facilitating agreement comes within the direc- would uphold the rule of law and pro- advancement of some 2,400 litigation procedures and providing al- tives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh vide the appropriate environment for housing units in settlements in ternative means of resolving disputes Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to estab- security, peace and social justice. Area C of the occupied West Bank,” in a quick manner, in accordance with lish a national legislative and legal sys- He stressed that the government of Mladenov said. “The expansion of the latest methods in place to establish tem to keep pace with the rapid devel- Qatar continues to develop and modern- settlements has no legal eff ect and completed justice. opments witnessed by the society and ise its legal system according to a deliber- constitutes a flagrant violation of During the signing ceremony, which the world in all fi elds. ate plan in line with the objectives and as- international law.” witnessed the presence of representa- HE al-Jafali also pointed out that pirations of Qatar National Vision 2030. ‘No-deal Brexit would harm UK safety, security’

O US, Britain back rapid pean arrest warrants. AFP adds from Washington: The top trade deal post-Brexit Basu said: “We have done a lot of US and British diplomats said yesterday contingency planning to put things in they were prepared to move “as soon as Agencies place. But there are some things you possible” on a trade deal after Britain’s London can’t put in place. So there is no con- planned withdrawal from the European tingency planning for not being given Union on October 31. passenger name records. Speaking in Washington, British For- he UK’s safety and security “It would create an immediate risk eign Secretary Dominic Raab urged the would suff er from a no-deal that people could come to this coun- EU to negotiate a new pact on Britain’s TBrexit and no amount of plan- try who were serious off enders, ei- departure to avoid a potentially calami- ning and preparation can erase the risk, ther wanted or still serial and serious tous “no-deal” Brexit. Britain’s head of counter-terrorism has off enders committing crimes in this Raab said after meeting US Secretary said. Neil Basu country, and we would not know about of State Mike Pompeo the two sides The Scotland Yard assistant com- it. It creates that risk. agreed on the need for quick nego- missioner, Neil Basu, said key crime- were developed in the EU for very “With my police leadership hat on tiations on a two-way trade deal after fi ghting tools would be lost and their good reason. They were very good. there would still be deep concern. Brexit strands Britain outside the cur- replacements would not be as good. We had just signed up to biometric There would be some damage to our rent US-EU trade pact. Speaking in a wide-ranging inter- sharing. safety. I can’t put a scale on that.” “America is our single largest bilater- view in which he also warned that “In a no deal we’d lose all that. We’d Meanwhile, Britain’s food and drink UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, left, and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo al trading partner. President Trump has boosts to police and security serv- have to renegotiate it.” lobby warned yesterday that the coun- shake hands during a joint press event at the State Department yesterday in made clear again that he wants an am- ice numbers were no longer enough The three key measures are fast ac- try will experience shortages of some Washington, DC. bitious free trade agreement with UK, to combat terrorism, he said: “We cess to intelligence and data through fresh foods for weeks or even months so I hope that we can make that happen can make them [the damaging ef- the Schengen Information System II if a disorderly no-deal Brexit leaves Retailers such as Tesco have warned would be problematic as so much fresh as soon as possible after we leave the fects] less, but they would be slower database, as well as passenger name perishable produce rotting in lorries at that leaving the European Union on produce is imported and warehouses EU on the 31st of October,” Raab told systems. Those systems and tools records, and the ability to use Euro- ports. October 31 without a transition deal are stocked full ahead of Christmas. reporters. Page 13 Gulf Times 2 Thursday, August 8, 2019 QATAR

Amir greets Qatar-Pakistan defence ties reviewed Ivory Coast embassy opens in Doha president of Ivory Coast

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani have sent cables of congratulations to the President of Ivory Coast Alassane Ouattara on the anniversary of his country’s Independence Day. HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani also sent a cable of congratulations to the Prime Minister of Ivory Coast Amadou Gon Coulibaly on the anniversary of his country’s Independence Day. HE the Chief of Staff of Qatar Armed Forces Lieutenant General (Pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen al-Ghanim met the Defence Attache at the embassy of Pakistan in Qatar, Commodore Saqib Ilyas, Ivory Coast ambassador Dr Abdul Kadir Cisse, Qatar Ministry of Foreign Aff airs Department of Qatar condemns yesterday. During the meeting, the two off icials discussed aspects of enhancing co-operation Protocol director Ibrahim Yousif Abdullah Fakhro and other dignitaries at a cake-cutting ceremony between the two countries in the military field. The meeting was also attended by President of the in connection with the off icial opening of the Ivory Coast embassy in Doha yesterday. Kabul bombings International Military Co-operation Authority, Brigadier General Abdulaziz Saleh al-Sulaiti. PICTURE: Ram Chand. Qatar has strongly condemned the two bombings targeting two police stations in the west of the Afghan capital, Kabul, causing deaths and injuries. In a statement issued yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs Education ministry summer activities for students conclude reiterated Qatar’s firm stance rejecting violence and terrorism, regardless of their motives and QNA objectives and enabled the par- Meanwhile, Adviser to the delivered a speech at the beginning reasons. Doha ticipants to gain a variety of skills Minister of Culture and Sports of the summer activities, praising Back to School campaign to The statement expressed the in the areas covered by the events. Abdulrahman al-Dosari told the role of developing and refi ning condolences of Qatar to the It witnessed a large turnout of QNA that the partnership be- the skills of the participating stu- take place from Aug 14-24 victims’ families, the government he summer centres at the students and their parents, espe- tween the Ministry of Culture dents and the role of partners and and the people of Afghanistan, Ministry of Education and cially as the programme this year and Sports and the Ministry of parents in their success. The Ministry of Education and competitions related to the wishing the injured a speedy THigher Education con- integrated several topics such as Education and Higher Educa- Head of Programmes and Ac- Higher Education is organising atmosphere of study, science recovery. cluded their activities yesterday. scientifi c, sports, cultural, rec- tion in organising the activity of tivities at the Ministry of Edu- the sixth edition of the annual and scientific ambition, in The programme was organised reational, artistic, community and summer centres this year in the cation and Higher Education, Back to School campaign for addition to recreational, Attack in Nigeria for more than three weeks in 14 technology, in a suitable environ- framework of integration and Fatima Yousef al-Obaidli deliv- the academic year 2019/2020 scientific and cultural activities, centres, including 7 for boys and ment, attractive and competitive co-operation between diff erent ered a speech at the ceremony, in under the slogan “With activities that are also related to condemned the same for girls, taking into ac- for the children, away from the sectors of the state. which she noted the ministry’s Education We Build Qatar” in health and safety and tips and count the geographical distribu- home atmosphere and stresses of Al-Dosari pointed out that the continuous role in developing collaboration with a number of guidance on traff ic rules. Qatar voiced strong tion of the regions of the coun- the school, with the full support of Ministry of Culture and Sports students’ abilities, enhancing partners. This campaign is one of the condemnation of the attack try, so those centres are close to trainers and supervisors. aims to achieve its vision of a their talents in a way that moti- The campaign will be held in successful initiatives of the which targeted a town in the accommodation of partici- The offi cial explained that the conscious community of the vates them to serve themselves KidZania from August 14-24 and Ministry of Education and Higher northeast of Nigeria and left pating students. next version of the summer ac- importance of health, pointing and their community positively. in Mall of Qatar from August Education. It seeks to enhance deaths and injuries. HE the Undersecretary of tivities will improve upon previ- out that the various programmes On the occasion, the directors 16- 24. the abilities and capabilities of In a statement yesterday, the the Ministry of Education and ous ones, as the centres attract have integrated science, culture of the boys’ centres were hon- The Back to School students and develop and fuel Ministry of Foreign Aff airs Higher Dr Ibrahim bin Saleh al- large numbers of students, in- and sports and have witnesses oured. campaign aims to enhance the spirit of competition and reiterated Qatar’s firm position Nuaimi told Qatar News Agency cluding those with special needs, high participation. The closing ceremony of the communication with the public, creativity through a number rejecting violence and terrorism, (QNA) that the various activities for whom the ministry allocated Al-Dosari said that the Minis- summer activities of the girls’ prepare school students and of useful advice, serving the regardless of their motives of these centres were organised two centres this summer, and try of Culture and Sports always centres will be held today. provide them and their parents educational process and the and reasons. The statement by the ministry in co-operation prepared and equipped in co- seeks to invest in the emerging Around 5,800 Qatari students, and the school staff with educational system in Qatar in expressed condolences of Qatar with the Ministry of Culture and operation with the Mada, Qatar generations and provide all sup- residents of public schools, and support and awareness. all its aspects and dimensions at to the families of the victims, Sports and in partnership with Assistive Technology Centre un- port to them. private school students from The campaign will include a the beginning of a new academic and the government and people Ibtikar Technology Solutions. der the Ministry of Transporta- HE the Undersecretary of the 6-18 years of age participated in variety of programmes and year. - QNA of Nigeria, wishing the injured a The programme achieved its tion and Communications. Ministry of Education and Higher the summer centres. speedy recovery.

Gulf Times 4 Thursday, August 8, 2019 QATAR

Zakat Fund provides assistance Envoy to Morocco worth QR25.7mn in July presents credentials US warship arrives Minister of Foreign Aff airs and The Zakat Fund of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic International Co-operation in Hamad Port Aff airs has extended assistance worth QR25.698mn in of Morocco, Nasser Bourita, July of 2019 to the beneficiaries of the registered families. received a copy of the credentials The assistance included tuition fees, healthcare, and Eid of Qatar’s ambassador, Fahad bin US warship, John P Murtha, arrived at Hamad Port to al-Adha-related expenses. The allocation of QR11,542,789 in Ibrahim al-Mana. The minister carry out maintenance during its trip. The visit, the first July 2019 was for periodic assistance. One-time assistance wished the ambassador success to Qatar, is an important step in the growing Qatar-US totalled QR2,083,422 for the month. Tuition and healthcare in his mission, and bilateral strategic partnership. fees were QR854,226 and QR694,048, respectively. relations further prosperity.

Entertainers to wrap up SiQ with music, laughter

s ‘Summer in Qatar’ and Qatari comedian Ha- (SiQ) comes to a close mad al-Amari bring down Aon August 16, an as- the house with their unique sortment of entertainment observations on August 15, options will end the festivi- while ever-popular crooner ties in a riot of colour and Kadim al-Saher will charm laughter. Some tickets are fans on August 16-17. Tick- still available for perform- ets for both these events can ances, Qatar National Tour- be purchased through ht- ism Council (QNTC) has an- tps://tickets.virginmegas- nounced. tore.me/qa. Opening on the fi rst day of As a special treat for all Eid and running until August South Indian movie fans in 17, Kuwaiti play Khutowat Qatar, Lusail Arena will host AlShaytan (Devil’s Steps) a galaxy of stars for the ‘8th will be staged at Qatar Na- South Indian International tional Theatre. Tickets are Movie Awards’ (Siima) on available through https:// August 15 and16. The two- www.gofortickets.com/. day extravaganza will cele- Qatar National Con- brate the best of South Indian vention Centre (QNCC) is cinema in Qatar, coinciding hosting many entertain- with the Qatar-India Year of ment events, beginning Culture. Tickets are avail- with visual arts perform- able through https://www. ers Blue Man Group, which aynatickets.com/. will enthral crowds from Shoppers get one more August 14-17. Tickets are week to avail of discounts up available through https:// to 70% with the last chance tixbox.com/en/. to win nine cash prizes worth The season’s second in- QR400,000 and a grand stalment of the Doha Com- prize of McLaren Spider edy Festival will see Brit- 570S (2018 model). The fi nal ish-Iranian Omid Djalili, raffl e draw will take place on Lebanese-American Nemr, August 16 at Mall of Qatar.

Indian embassy Eid holiday

he Indian embassy will remain closed on August 11 on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, it was announced yester- Tday in a statement. Gulf Times Thursday, August 8, 2019 5 QATAR QIB’s mall branches to work during Eid holidays

atar Islamic Bank (QIB) has per their regular opening hours on announced that all its mall August 14. Qbranches will be open from QIB’s digital platforms will remain the evening of the second day of Eid available at all times (24/7). All cus- al-Adha. QIB’s branch at Hamad In- tomers are encouraged to use QIB’s ternational Airport (HIA) will remain award-winning mobile app, Inter- open around the clock to serve all net banking, call centre 44448444, customers. Interactive Teller Machines (Live QIB’s mall branches are located at Teller), and over 170 ATMs and cash Al Gharafa (Q-Mall), City Center, Dar deposit machines spread across the Al Salam Mall, The Gate Mall, Mall of country. Qatar, Doha Festival City, Tawar Mall, QIB’s management ensures an effi - and Mirqab Mall. cient banking experience for custom- QIB mall branches working hours ers throughout the mall branches and are from 9am to 2.30pm for the morn- the 24/7 digital channels and extends ing shift and 3.30pm to 9pm for the the warmest greetings and wishes to evening shift. During the Eid holiday, drawal and deposit services only. All all the people in Qatar on the blessed those branches will off er cash with- QIB branches will resume work as occasion of Eid al-Adha.

Ooredoo unveils New promotion on a host of off ers Samsung devices for Shahry, Hala users oredoo has announced a host of off ers for Eid oredoo has announced a new promotion on Oal-Adha to ensure cus- Samsung devices in celebration of the Eid tomers can stay connected Oal-Adha holidays. Customers purchasing a to friends and family via the corporate communications at new Samsung S10 or S10+ will get a host of extras Ooredoo Supernet during the Ooredoo, said: “We know be- with their new device. festive period. ing close to loved ones at special All Shahry and Hala customers – both exist- This Eid, Shahry customers times of the year is important to ing and new – buying a new Samsung S10 or S10+ can enjoy bonus free data when our customers as is getting great 128Gb in white or black will get up to 20Gb data free they subscribe to International value for their money, so we’re for one month, plus 1 Nojoom point for every QR1 Calling and Passport Packs via delighted to off er these amaz- spent, a value pack with Level U, a wireless charger, the Ooredoo app. ing deals to ensure they can stay and a device cover, and a voucher for 35% off Clear Shahry customers will en- connected to friends and fam- Coat device protection. joy 2Gb local data free for six ily via our Supernet during Eid Manar Khalifa al-Muraikhi, director, PR and months when they subscribe to al-Adha for less. We wish all our Corporate Communications at Ooredoo, said: “We an International Pack 35 or In- customers a happy, blessed fes- know accessing the latest technology is impor- ternational Pack 50, while those tive period.” tant for our customers, as is getting great value for signing up for a weekly Passport All subscriptions must be ac- money, and it’s important for us to be able to share pack will get 500Mb extra roam- cessed via the Ooredoo app. special celebrations such as Eid with them. We’re ing data free and new subscrib- Free data with weekly and delighted to off er this promotion, giving them ac- ers to a monthly Passport pack monthly Passports is added once cess to the latest devices and giving them plenty of will get 1Gb extra roaming data per Passport subscription. extras so they’re getting absolutely great value for free. For more information on their money.” Manar Khalifa al-Muraikhi, these off ers, customers can visit Customers can buy their new devices at the director, public relations and Ooredoo.qa eShop online or at any Ooredoo shops. Gulf Times 6 Thursday, August 8, 2019 QATAR Fifty One East unveils Ame’s Adha collection

ifty One East and Âme Paris, re- lélisme includes a necklace, earrings leased the brand’s Adha collection and bracelet in the shape of stars and Fwhere classic glamour meets a mod- fl owers in Mother of Pearl. ern twist, it was announced yesterday. Intersection in 18-carat white gold The Adha collection can be found at comprises a necklace and bracelet with Fifty One East in Lagoona Mall and at sparkling diamonds. Doux Rêves is an Al Maha Center on Salwa Road. 18K white gold necklace in the shape of The collection, pictured, presents a dream catcher. a uniquely styled selection of 18-carat “Âme Paris was created for women white gold with a studded cut of fi nest who have a true appreciation for the diamonds, with each piece meticulous- premium craftsmanship infl uenced ly handcrafted by Parisian designers. by a sense of sophistication and grace The pieces include sets like La and the new collection is under- Goutte that has oval-shaped motifs on pinned by this concept,” according to a white gold and diamonds. The Paral- statement.

Hybrid models of Toyota Camry, Prius, RAV4, Corolla and Lexus ES300h recalled Vodafone promo for The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in collaboration with Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros Co, has announced the recall of Toyota Camry, Prius and prepaid customers RAV4 hybrid models of 2019, Corolla hybrid model of 2020 and Lexus ES300h hybrid model of 2019 over a potential defect in the brake booster assembly. The ministry has said that it will co-ordinate with the at LuLu outlets dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out. odafone Qatar has an- nounced a campaign Vto reward its prepaid Mitsubishi Fuso Truck FA customers with the ‘Win and FI models recalled 1,000Gb’ promotion at LuLu outlets. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in Starting on August 8, cus- collaboration with Al Wajba Establishment, has tomers purchasing any Vo- announced the recall of Mitsubishi Fuso Truck FA dafone recharge worth QR10 and FI models of 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 over the or above at any LuLu outlet The new bumper data of- engine valve’s failure. will win free data, minutes, fer gives value-seeking prepaid The ministry confirmed the recall campaign comes or Flex. In addition, one lucky customers the convenience of within the framework of its ongoing eff orts to customer will win 1,000Gb recharging while doing their protect consumers and ensure that vehicle dealers of data every day, valid regular shopping at LuLu, along follow up on defects and repairs. for 90 days. with assured additional ben- The ministry has said that it will co-ordinate with the Vodafone Qatar is partnering efi ts in the form of free data or dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair with LuLu to off er prepaid cus- minutes or fl ex. works and will communicate with customers to tomers the chance to enjoy these The ‘Win 1,000Gb’ at LuLu ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out. additional benefi ts exclusively promotion, the latest by Vodafone The ministry urges all customers to report any when recharging at LuLu outlets. designed to provide value to pre- violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti- The more customers recharge paid customers, is valid until Sep- Commercial Fraud Department, which processes at LuLu, the more chances they tember 15, 2019. For more infor- complaints, inquiries and suggestions. will have to win. mation, visit www.vodafone.qa. Gulf Times Thursday, August 8, 2019 7 REGION/ARAB WORLD

Tunisia defence minister launches bid for presidency

Tunisian Defence Minister Abdelkrim Zbidi resigned yesterday and filed nomination papers Turkey, US agree on Syria safe zone operation centre for early presidential election. Zbidi submitted his candidacy for a presidential election on September 15 as an independent. Zbidi, 69, who has the support of secular parties including Nidaa Tounes and Afek Tounes, is likely to emerge as one of the frontrunners in the election, Reuters 400km along Syria’s northeastern They also said the safe zone Turkey’s Defence Minister Hulusi which was called early after the death of president Beji Caid Essebsi last month. Istanbul border with Turkey, much of it con- should be a “peace corridor,” and Akar said earlier that Washington Moncef Marzouki, the former president and chairman of Al Harak, filed also his nomination trolled by the Kurdish YPG militia that every eff ort would be made so was shifting closer to Ankara’s views papers for the presidential election scheduled for September 15. Marzouki did not outline that fought with US support against that Syrians displaced by war could on the proposed safe zone. He said his electoral platform, arguing that the campaign starts on September 3. Marzouki served as urkey and the United States Islamic State militants. return to their country. Turkey’s plans for a military deploy- president from late 2011 to December 2014. In the 2014 elections, he was defeated by Essebsi. yesterday agreed to establish Ankara sees the YPG as terrorists Neither side said whether they ment there were complete. The leader of Tunisian political coalition Popular Front, Hamma Hammami, off icially submitted Ta joint operation centre in who pose a grave security threat and had overcome two main points that “But we said we wanted to act to- papers to run as a candidate in the presidential election. (QNA) Turkey to co-ordinate and manage a has demanded that the United States had divided the two Nato allies. gether with our friend and ally, the planned safe zone in northeast Syr- sever its ties with the Kurdish militia. Washington has proposed a two-tier United States,” state-owned Ana- ia, a move that appeared to reduce Turkey has twice sent forces into safe zone, with a 5km demilitarised dolu Agency quoted him as saying. the chance of imminent Turkish northern Syria in the last three years strip bolstered by an additional 9km Three Turkish offi cials who spoke military action. to drive back YPG and Islamic State cleared of heavy weapons — stretching to Reuters this week had expressed The two countries gave few details fi ghters from the border, and Presi- in total less than half the distance into impatience over the talks and of the deal, which followed three dent Tayyip Erdogan had said on Syria that Turkey is seeking. warned that Ankara was ready to act days of talks between military del- Sunday a third incursion was im- Turkey has also said it must have on its own. egations and months of stalemate minent, targeting YPG-controlled ultimate authority over the zone, US President Donald Trump an- over how far the safe zone should territory east of the Euphrates river. another point of divergence with the nounced last year that US forces extend into Syria and who should The two countries said yesterday United States. would leave Syria and began an ini- command forces patrolling it. they agreed on the “rapid imple- The Turkish Defence Ministry tial withdrawal, a decision applaud- The proposed zone aims to secure mentation of initial measures to ad- said it would be giving no further ed by Ankara, and the two Nato allies a strip of land stretching more than dress Turkey’s security concerns”. details for now of the agreement. agreed to create the safe zone. Fresh clashes erupt in Aden

Reuters targeting the state’s institutions. Aden “We call on the Yemeni people not to respond to such calls as they only aim for war and only serve the outhern separatists clashed Houthis,” said Maysarri. yesterday with presidential The United Nations’ special en- Sguards in Aden, the seat of voy for Yemen, Martin Griffi ths, ex- Yemen’s government, and one per- pressed concern about the fl are-up in son was killed and at least two badly Aden. “I am alarmed by the military injured, local offi cials and residents escalations in Aden today, includ- told Reuters. ing reports of clashes in the vicinity The violence highlighted a rift of the Presidential Palace. I am also within the Saudi-backed coalition deeply concerned by the recent rhet- battling the Houthi movement in a oric encouraging violence against more than four-year war that has Yemeni institutions,” he tweeted. killed tens of thousands of people and The southern port city is the tem- pushed Yemen to the brink of famine. porary home of Hadi’s government, The separatists and the interna- Yemen’s southern separatists sit in the back of a vehicle with a coff in of though he himself is in Saudi Arabia tionally-recognised government Brigadier General Muneer al-Yafee killed in a Houthi missile attack, during a and the presidential palace is largely of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour funeral in Aden yesterday. empty apart from soldiers. Hadi are nominally united in their Yesterday’s fracas came after the battle against the Houthis. commander near the hilltop presi- Transitional Council (STC), Hani Ali STC on Tuesday alleged that an Is- But they have rival agendas for dential palace. Brik, called on supporters to march lamist party that is an important ally Yemen’s future, and a missile strike As the crowd chanted anti-gov- on the palace and overthrow the of Hadi was complicit in last week’s in Aden last week that killed dozens ernment slogans, shooting was ex- government, but there was no sign killing of the Security Belt soldiers. of southern soldiers raised friction changed with presidential guards. such a march had begun. “The people of the south are all on between them. The identities of the one dead and Yemen’s interior minister Ahmed the street. This is a movement by the Just before yesterday’s clash, two injured people were not imme- al-Mayssari said the government people that cannot be stopped, ex- hundreds of separatist supporters diately known. had so far practised restraint to cept with the government’s down- attended a funeral for some of the After the funeral, the vice-pres- maintain stability in Aden but was fall,” said one mourner, Abdelhakim southern soldiers and a prominent ident of the separatist Southern “fully ready” to combat any actions Tabaza. Gulf Times 8 Thursday, August 8, 2019 AFRICA Double suicide attack hits Nigeria; three dead

AFP through a crowd late on Tues- town among a group of local Nigeria that has seen it repeat- Separately on Tuesday, fight- bouring countries, including faction has ratcheted up as- Kano day in the town of Mafa, some women who had gone to fetch edly use female suicide bomb- ers burnt 11 houses and looted Chad and Niger. saults on the military since July 50km from regional capital fi rewood for cooking, Danbatta ers to attack soft targets such as food in an attack on the village The extremists have splintered 2018. Maiduguri. said. mosques, markets and bus sta- of Kotori, 12km outside Mai- into two major factions, after On Monday, ISWAP fight- wo female suicide “The female bombers killed Local district spokesman tions. duguri, Danbatta said, adding fi ghters loyal to the Islamic State ers made an incursion into the bombers killed three three people and wounded Adamu Mohammed, who Many of the bombers are that no one was hurt in that in- group broke away from long- garrison town of Monguno, Tcivilians and wound- eight others,” Bello Danbat- gave the same toll, said the young women and girls. cident. time leader Abubakar Shekau in 135km from Maiduguri, mili- ed eight in a suspected Boko ta, head of security for the bombers waited until around The last suicide attack was in Boko Haram’s decade-long 2016. tary and local militia sources Haram attack in northeast Ni- State Emergency Management 8.30pm before launching June when a triple bombing out- campaign of violence has left Shekau’s Boko Haram group said. geria, emergency services said Agency (SEMA) in Borno state, their attack. side a hall where football fans some 27,000 people dead, dis- has tended to attack civilian Three civilians were killed as yesterday. told AFP. Boko Haram has been waging a were watching a match killed at placed over 2mn across the re- targets, while the Islamic State the extremists exchanged fi re The twin blasts tore The assailants entered the 10-year insurgency in northeast least 30 people. gion and spilt over into neigh- West Africa Province (ISWAP) with troops, the sources said.

Madagascar recovers Ivory Coast celebrates Independence Day remains of UK girl who fell from plane

AFP say they tried in vain to stop Antananarivo her, investigators report. Anjajavy villagers launched a search for her body the day af- olice in Madagascar said ter the incident. yesterday that villagers Police provided pictures to Phave found the remains of the media of a coffi n being tak- a British student who apparently en off a helicopter at an airport jumped from a plane after open- in the port city of Mahajanga. ing the aircraft door in mid-air. It will be transported today to Nineteen-year-old Cam- the capital Antananarivo. bridge University student Alana According to investigators, Cutland, who was on a research Cutland had displayed erratic trip, fell from a light aircraft behaviour before the incident. shortly after it took off from an The natural sciences student Ivorian soldiers ride on board armoured vehicles yesterday in Abidjan as they take part in a parade airport in remote northwestern was supposed to have stayed 45 celebrating Ivory Coast’s independence from France. Madagascar. days in Anjajavy to study crabs Her body was found on Tues- but quit after 10 days. day in the Mahadrodroka for- In a statement issued est, police said. through the Foreign and Com- Three killed, seven hurt in Mozambique jail riot “Villagers have fi nally found monwealth Offi ce, the family Alana Cutland’s body after a described her as “a bright, in- hree people were shot dead gunshots,” Sahal told reporters at “Prisoners set fi re to several of- fortnight of searching,” chief dependent young woman”. and seven were wounded af- the hospital in the city of Nampula. fi ces where documents related to investigator Spinola Edvin No- “She was particularly excited Tter rioting broke out yester- Of the wounded, fi ve sustained their criminal cases were stored,” menjanahary said. to be embarking on the next stage day morning at the largest prison in serious injuries, while two prison reported O Pais newspaper. Police said she apparently of her education, on an internship northern Mozambique, according guards had minor injuries. They also broke windows in sev- jumped from the plane just a in Madagascar complementing to a health offi cial. According to local media, prison eral sections of the jail and vandal- few minutes after it took off her studies in natural sciences. Nampula Central Hospital’s guards at the Nampula Regional ised the kitchen and the clinic, ac- from a small airport at Anjajavy Her thirst for discovering more clinical director, Bainabo Sahal, Penitentiary used live fi re in a bid to cording to the newspaper. on a fl ight to the capital Antan- of the world always ensured she said that 10 people were brought in, contain the riots. The regional jail holds inmates anarivo on July 25. made the most of every second of three of them already dead. The reason for the rioting was not from across northern Mozambique, The pilot and another pas- her action-packed young life.” “At the (hospital) morgue we immediately known and prison au- including some accused of involve- senger, named as Ruth Johnson, received three bodies, victims of thorities have not yet commented. ment in militant attacks. Gulf Times Thursday, August 8, 2019 9 AMERICAS

Canada police find two bodies believed to be teen fugitives

Canadian police said yesterday they found two bodies which they believe are of the teenage boys charged with killing a university lecturer and suspected in the murders of two tour- Trump consoles shooting ists in British Columbia. Kam McLeod, 19, and Bryer Schmeg- elsky, 18, both from Port Alberni, British Columbia, had been on the run for nearly three weeks with confirmed sightings since July 22 and sparked an intense Canadian manhunt. Police said autopsies would be needed to confirm that the bodies found were those of the two suspects. The pair was charged with second-degree murder of Leonard Dyck, 64, victims, faces new criticism a botany lecturer at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. They are also suspects in the murders AFP son. Black, Hispanic and Asian of Chynna Deese, 24, of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Lucas El Paso, Texas Unemployment is the low- Fowler, 23, from Sydney, Australia. est (BEST) in the history of the United States!” he had tweeted July was warmest month in Alaska resident Donald Trump yes- on Tuesday. terday consoled victims of But his campaign speeches and The US state of Alaska reported its warmest month on record Pmass shootings in Ohio and tweets repeatedly link Hispanic in July, with an average temperature of 14.5C, according to US Texas but faced protesters demand- migrants to murder, rape and inva- government data released yesterday. That figure is 3C above ing gun control and denouncing sion. average for July in Alaska and just over the record for warmest what they say is his extremist rhet- As recently as May, the presi- month there, which was July 2004, the National Oceanic and oric on race and immigration. dent laughed and made a quip Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said. For the 48 contigu- The president landed in El Paso, when a supporter at one of his ral- ous states, NOAA said the average temperature in July 2019 Texas, where a self-declared white lies yelled that they should “shoot” was 23.6C, tying it with July 1917 as the 27th-warmest July in supremacist murdered 22 people illegal immigrants. 125 years of record-keeping. last weekend at a Walmart heavily Trump has also railed crudely frequented by customers of His- against a string of ethnic minority panic origin. Democratic opponents in the last Lightning blows up a toilet Protesters gathered, just as they few weeks. had at Trump’s earlier stop in Day- Where Trump and his mostly A bolt of lightning struck a septic tank in Florida, setting off ton, Ohio, where nine people died leftist opponents agree is on the a chain reaction that obliterated a couple’s toilet. Luckily, no in a separate mass shooting over unambiguous designation of the one was using the commode when it blew up during a storm the weekend. two events as terrorism. Sunday, said Marylou Ward, who owns the house in Charlotte Together with his wife Melania, Massacres by mostly lone gun- county in west-central Florida. “It used to be our toilet,” Ward Trump talked to patients and staff men are all but routine in the told the local news outlet Wink. “We have nothing now.” Photos at Dayton’s Miami Valley Hospital, United States, where guns are easy show the toilet in bits and, outside the house, a trail of what telling shooting survivors, “you to obtain legally and mass killings looks like freshly turned soil running from the septic tank to had God watching. I want you to have taken on a sort of cult status the bathroom. Lightning ignited methane gas from fecal mat- know we’re with you all the way,” in extreme circles. ter built up in the pipes, Jordan Hagadorn, owner of A-1 Aff ord- according to presidential spokes- Hardline defenders of gun own- able Plumbing, which dealt with the incident, told USA Today. woman Stephanie Grisham. ership have long resisted portrayal “The toilet exploded in home owners master bathroom send- Ohio Democratic Senator Sher- of such tragedies as anything more ing porcelain airborne like a missile (the porcelain penetrated rod Brown, a Trump opponent, Protesters march yesterday during the visit of President Donald Trump to Dayton, Ohio. than random, localized events. into wall). Most likely all sewer piping will need to be replaced said afterwards that the president But Trump on Monday said and septic tank,” the plumbing company wrote on Facebook. “was comforting and he did the Pro-Trump protesters also took “From my perspective, he is not In the speech, Biden accused he had told the FBI to treat such right thing” in the hospital. to the streets, illustrating the sense welcome here. He should not come Trump of fanning “the fl ames of crimes as “domestic terrorism.” Privacy fears for Messenger Kids But the senator denounced of division in the country ahead of here,” Escobar had said on Tuesday white supremacy.” Yesterday, Trump also said that Trump’s “racist talk and divisive next year’s presidential election. on MSNBC. “Watching Sleepy Joe Biden Republicans and Democrats were Democratic US senators Edward Markey and Richard Blu- talk” on immigration issues. Trump’s stop in El Paso risked Even the city’s Republican may- making a speech. Sooo Boring!” “close” to agreeing on stronger menthal have written to Facebook Inc questioning whether Outside the hospital, protesters being more awkward still. or off ered only a grudging wel- Trump commented. background checks for people there was a “worrying pattern” of poor privacy protection for held signs that called for restric- As a famed border city, El Paso come, stressing icily that he would Earlier yesterday, before leaving buying fi rearms — a measure op- children using its Messenger Kids app. The senators were “dis- tions on gun buying or, in one case, is at the centre of Trump’s high- greet Trump in his “offi cial capac- the White House, Trump insisted posed by gun rights lobbies. turbed” to learn that the application allowed thousands of chil- demanding impeachment pro- profi le political campaign against ity.” that critics of his rhetoric were op- “I think background checks are dren to join group chats in which not all members of the group ceedings. illegal immigration. Trump clearly had politics as ponents “trying to make points.” important. I don’t want to put guns were approved by their parents, they said in a letter addressed A Trump baby blimp, an infl at- The killer deliberately sought much as tragedy on his mind ahead “I think my rhetoric brings peo- into the hands of mentally unstable to Facebook chief executive off icer Mark Zuckerberg. The app, able effi gy of the Republican presi- out the city, claiming to be stop- of next year’s re-election bid. ple together,” he said. people or people with rage or hate,” launched in December 2017, is designed for users under the dent in a nappy that has featured in ping an “invasion” of illegal mi- Flying from Dayton to El Paso, Trump is infuriated by accusa- Trump said. age of 13. It lets them do video chats and send photos, videos protests in London and elsewhere, grants, a term that has been used he tweeted from Air Force One that tions that his administration seeks However, he said “there is no and texts. “Facebook has a responsibility to meet its promise to made an appearance. repeatedly by Trump as well. he was watching a televised speech to exploit racial divisions in the political appetite” for banning parents that children are not exposed to unapproved contacts, “We don’t want him here,” El Local Democratic congress- by the frontrunner in the race for country to whip up his core voter military style assault weapons, a promise that it appears that Facebook has not fulfilled,” they Paso resident Lynell Graham told woman Veronica Escobar said she the Democratic presidential nomi- base. which are widely available and are said. “Children’s privacy and safety online should be Messen- CNN. would not meet the president. nation, Joe Biden. “I am the least racist per- often chosen by mass killers. ger Kids’ top priority.” Gulf Times 10 Thursday, August 8, 2019 HOL STIC Wellbeing Do you really love those closest to you?

‘new’ body. Okay, so that’s not a bad reason, it’s a reason and it I’m sorry motivates a lot of people, and it’s usually one of the many reasons people stay fi t and active. The restaurants want to be part of the only problem is that she wasn’t growing trend of Vegansim. And even convinced, she wanted a let’s face it, who wouldn’t? Being guarantee. Vegan cuts your carbon footprint Right then and there, my in half, helps you to live longer, brain stopped functioning be- saves water each day, and means cause I could not process how improves health. But lying about she couldn’t fi nd any other rea- ingredients isn’t going to achieve son or motivation to improve her anything. Instead, we should be By Reem Abdulrahman Jassim health. All of a sudden, I blurted striving for more clarity about al-Muftah out, “then you don’t love your what every single meal consists husband, children or parents, be- of — more than ever before. cause if you did, then you would For a long time, the food industry ave you ever asked your- make sure to take care of yourself By Ghanim al-Sulaiti has often concealed the unhealthy self if you really love your so you could always take care of products in its foods – even Hfather, mother, husband, them.” She just stood their star- manipulating science to fool con- wife, child, sibling or even your ing at me and after a few seconds In what is off icially the ‘Year of sumers. But the beauty of a vegan best friend? It might seem like responded, “of course I do, I love the Vegan’. I am sorry. I am sorry diet is the truly ‘genuine’ nature to you do, by the end of this article, them.” At that moment, I saw her for the restaurants and cafés, eating plant-based — and so the you will fi nd out if you really do, mindset completely change and the food outlets and snack joints last thing we should be accept- so have you ever really put much it seemed she understood what I who think that, in order to profit ing of are companies claiming to thought into it? I have a theory, was trying to get at. I personally from one of the fastest growing create vegan food…(especially and it’s not just a theory, it’s a never even looked at it exactly dietary trends in history (switch- when they’re paying for Instagram basic principle to live by, which in that way before, but it made ing to plant-based foods), they will adverts showing #Vegan but on a should simultaneously work as sense to me when I said it out resort to falsehoods and fiction. photo of shrimp). motivation for you to be on top loud and thankfully, to her too! To ‘fake news’ and misleading Consumers’ choice is not always of your health and live a healthy So think about it, do you re- claims. Vegan means vegan, and respected when it is being lifestyle… ally really really love those you in our world we have always been manipulated by an industry that Here it goes… You should be health should be so that they can can care of and for your child. Is she was not convinced that there claim to love? I challenge you very clear about the definition of is intent on selling as much as trying your hardest to live an ac- always be there for their loved it starting to make sense? was a strong enough reason to to stop and think about it. And exactly what makes a food dish possible — and for this, I continue tive and healthy life, especially if ones. Think about it. In an ideal I recently dealt with a situation make the necessary changes in while you’re at it, ask yourself the ‘vegan’. Unlike the varied traits to regret witnessing how the you really love your loved ones. world, as the son or daughter to where I was trying to convince a her current lifestyle. The one most important question of all… of a vegetarian, which typically natural benefits of Vegansim are If you care for them at all, then your parents, you should cultur- lady to start taking charge of her reason she kept going back to was do you love the closest person to means meatless, Vegan is very sometimes side-lined in order to you care for yourself. If you don’t ally feel responsible to be and health. I kept reasoning why she that she would possibly make the you…yourself? If you do then you clear: no animal ingredients at all, ensure that the ‘bare minimum’ care for your health then, to me, stay healthy so that you can take should feel responsible to lead a changes if she was guaranteed would take care of yourself, it’s including milk or eggs. is on display — with, or without it may seem like you do not re- care of your parents as they took healthy and active lifestyle such a better body. Body confi dence that simple. However, despite the well-known mistakes. ally love those that you say you care of you. As a parent, you are as living longer, feeling stronger, was the only thing she felt was facts of what a vegan diet consist And so I urge all restaurants, cafes do. One of the primary reasons responsible to take care of and better sleep and improving her big enough of a reason, but only The author is a wellness advocate of, I continue to witness how the and food places that if you’re a person takes care of their own maintain your health so that you mood, but no matter what I said, if she was defi nitely getting her and infl uencer @keys2balance. public are marketed — or worse — committed to catering for Vegans, sold a ‘vegan’ product with animal it’s time to ensure education sur- ingredients. As recently as this rounding exactly what a Vegan week, an upcoming Doha startup diet consists of nothing but the branded a seafood dish ‘vegan’ — truth. Veganism is amazing, has The Unconscious Visual Lie — Why do we really use social media? which is not only misleading and made me who I am today — and inaccurate, but does more to com- I’m not stopping there. reinforce the behaviour of our plicate and tarnish the progress friends and followers with polite genuine vegan diets are making The author is an expert in vegan comments and euphemisms. So, around the globe. wellbeing and health. we are encouraged to beat the last On one side, it’s promising that Instagram handle: @Ghanim92 edited or (even more profession- ally, photoshopped), picture of ourselves — or at least match the previous one. How can we ask people to be themselves with us, if we cannot Wellness Meal Plan even be ourselves with ourselves? Again, I am not preaching to anyone, it’s just an observation and it is backed up by statistics By Sanah Thakur from a recent survey by LEWIS (2015) that 51% of men and 67% of women edit pictures they post Sharing of knowledgeable links, online to remove wrinkles, whiten quick status updates and photo- teeth, remove facial blemishes and graphs of our lives provide a peek other edits. Does this extend to through the window of one’s life. only putting photographs of our They make us look more worldly, homes online when it is in pristine intellectual, attractive and fun condition? Using profile pictures than the reality actually is and you from a long time ago when we know this! looked younger, slimmer or more However, I’m not going to be a hyp- attractive? Finding the truth online ocrite. I am caught in the web too. is becoming a more diff icult task I can see ‘the visual lie’ manifest in day by day. When was the last front of me with more clarity. The time you ‘checked in’ at work, at longer I engage, the duller my eye- Subway for lunch or the supermar- sight becomes, desensitised to the ket as opposed to at the airport, on glut of information that makes our the beach or in the most exclusive decision making more automatic nightspot? We don’t even know and unconscious by the second. what is everyday real or not I’ve put out positive statements anymore. to share my infectiously support- How can we chastise people for ive nature; even though minutes not taking us as we are when the prior I was probably annoyed by last time you appeared as you are someone or something which was probably when your parents compelled me to air my frustra- were still choosing your clothes tion, but I didn’t say that; and even – and even that is question- more frustrated at the lack of likes able? Most people are aware of or comments that validate my what I am saying, A lot of people perspective with other individuals remember a time before social choosing to interact. It’s like start- media, but when society comes ing a conversation at a table of to a point where all users of social friends and everybody getting up media have been ‘born’ into the to leave at the same time. age, there WILL BE NO ACTUAL And for those people who do post COMPARISON apart from a few about negative aspects of their are completely lost; and have no colleagues about the amaz- hype, people rarely talk about the anecdotes consigned to the his- day, there tends to be a paradoxi- idea of which direction to turn but ing events that I missed out on, often experienced emotional and tory books. cal underlying thread that displays that is hardly ever conveyed. It’s expecting to be marvelled like a mental ‘crashes’. They just hide There’s no turning around with this Vegan taco filling them as an assertive individual probably more a cry for help than young child hearing their favourite this with a feigned self-deprecating realisation, but there’s definitely who won’t stand for this kind of a declaration of independence. bedtime fairytale, the narrative meme, usually with the title ‘take space to think and perhaps be Ingredients: intrusion on their positive path. Our social lives are displayed rarely matches the cinematog- me back’ or some other synonym. more aware of our social media 1 cup chickpeas It’s rarely an expression of the through the deluge of photo- raphy they projected in their Pictures of ourselves are always habits. 1 cup sliced cauliflower vulnerability that the majority graphs of exciting travelling, perfectly framed photographs. the best! You don’t look like that, 1 cup mixed beans of the world experiences in their holidays and nights out. However, And on the occasions where the and neither do I. Sometimes I don’t The author can be contacted on 1/2 a cup of corn daily interactions. Some people when I speak to my friends and documenting did in fact match the even recognise you. However, we Instagram @sincerelysanah A handful of chopped kale 3 tbs tomato paste 3 tbs liquid aminos 1 lime juice Coconut oil Salt Pepper Be light, travel light Paprika Garlic powder It teaches us not to take or use negative impact on the environ- book to read – everything would Chili flakes more than you need in any area of ment. be so much easier. You will never Avocados to top your tacos with your life. If you went on a weekend break be weighed down, slowed down or The peace activist and change and took ten suitcases full of dif- inconvenienced. Method: maker Mahatma Gandhi was ferent fancy clothes, and outfits I use this analogy and apply it to Add your oil, cauliflower, chickpeas, corn, beans and spices to a hot quoted as saying beautifully, for every activity you did during my life. The more I used to accumu- pan. Then add the tomato paste, lime juice and liquid aminos to your “There is more than enough for the day, as well as lots of other late or try to accumulate, the more veggies and mix well. Add the kale once your mix is ready to make everyone’s need, but not enough unnecessary items, you would have I acquired, the more I got bogged sure your kale stays fresh; mix and fill your tacos with your delicious for any man’s greed.” He was had a headache at the airport. You down and the more diff iculties I vegan filling. You can top with avocado slices or guacamole or even sharing the idea of living a simple could get charged for all the excess used to face. So, I decided to travel some mangos or honey molasses! life. Over the last few years I have baggage, and you could possibly light in life and I found that my life disciplined myself to use only hurt your back from carrying all became easier, calmer and more Enjoy the taste of eating right! that which is necessary. I buy only that stuff ! peaceful. Expectations about life By Shefa Ali that which is essential. It doesn’t It would take extra time to get can weigh us down too. Expecta- mean that I live like a monk, but your baggage from the belt, then tions can lead to a lot of frustration; it means that I have cultivated a from the car to the hotel and so acceptance on the other hand One of my favourite things about sense of moderation and simplic- on. Your room would be cluttered brings a sense of peace and joy. If yoga is that’s its wisdom offers ity. Regardless of our financial with so many suitcases and you we live without expectations, we guidelines for living a beautiful, means, we don’t need to live would never be able to find what will always be in peace. meaningful and purposeful life. over extravagantly or surround you were looking for! On the other Aparigraha - which is kind of like ourselves with so many unneces- hand, if you came with just one bag The author is a consultant and one of the moral vows of Yoga lit- sary possessions, which results in with the necessities – clean clothes coach. Instagram handle: @miss_ erally translates to ‘non-hoarding.’ consumerism that ultimately has a for each day, your toiletries, a good shefa, Website: missshefa.com Gulf Times Thursday, August 8, 2019 11 ASIA

Unexploded Australian jailed in fi rebomb discovered Myanmar over drugs in Bangkok Reuters AFP small amount of heroin, police Bangkok Yangon said. One man and one woman, who were working as house hai authorities recovered an un- Myanmar court yes- helpers for Dunkley, were later exploded fi rebomb at a market in terday sentenced a released. Tcentral Bangkok yesterday in what Aveteran Australian “Ross Dunkley and John they said was a device left over from co- media publisher to 13 years in McKenzie are sentenced to 13 ordinated attacks last week that wounded jail after a police raid uncov- years,” judge Myint Myint Maw four people. ered a stash of drugs at his told Yangon’s Western District Six small bombs and six fi re-bombs home last year. court yesterday. went off in the Thai capital last Friday Ross Dunkley, 60, has long Five Myanmar women also as the city hosted a meeting of South- had links with the media in- on trial broke down in tears as east Asian foreign ministers that was dustry across Southeast Asia, they were each sentenced to 11 also attended by top diplomats from co-founding English language years, while watching relatives the United States, China, and other newspaper The Myanmar shouted out in anger. world powers. Times when the country was Dunkley appeared shaken Thai police said the newly discovered in the tight grip of a military and declined to speak to report- fi rebomb at the Prathunam market in dictatorship. ers as he was led away from the central Bangkok was similar to those set He also used to be a co- court room. off on Friday. owner of Cambodia’s Phnom All defendants had denied “The device functioned, but the fi re Penh Post. the charges and it is not yet In this file photo, Ross Dunkley is escorted by Myanmar policeman as did not catch because it was hidden un- Police arrested him, his busi- clear if any will appeal. he arrives for a hearing at the Kamaryut township court in Yangon. derneath a pile of clothes so there was ness partner John McKenzie Myanmar is now believed not enough oxygen for the fi re,” a police and seven Myanmar nationals to be the largest producer of “Yaba” pills, made of cheap with Myanmar authorities. offi cer told Reuters on condition of ano- during a June 2018 raid on his methamphetamine in the world methamphetamine, are mean- In 2011 he was sentenced to a nymity because he was not authorised to home in the commercial capital in a shadowy, multi-billion while scooped up by users month in prison for the assault speak to the media. Yangon. dollar industry. across Thailand, Bangladesh of a woman at a Yangon night- “The device is timer-triggered and is Offi cers uncovered a stash Crystal meth pumped out and Myanmar at rock-bottom club, though the court allowed attached to a power bank, the same sort of crystal methamphetamine, from labs in eastern Shan state prices. him to walk free after tak- that were used in last week’s attacks, and low-grade “yaba” pills, three is traffi cked as far away as Last year’s raid was ing into account time already it was likely placed... around the same opium cakes, marijuana and a Tokyo, Seoul and Sydney. Dunkley’s second run-in served. time as other devices,” he said. 6-year-old Lanka army spies charged dies after being left in over attack on journalist

school bus AFP violent attacks against journalists Investigators have said that under former president Mahinda Colombo in Sri Lanka, and came two weeks Wickrematunge was assassinated Rajapakse, Gotabhaya’s brother. after Wickrematunge was am- by members of the same military Wickrematunge had accused DPA bushed and stabbed to death as he intelligence unit. the former defence secretary of Hanoi ri Lanka yesterday charged drove to his offi ce. But a decade after his death, taking kickbacks in arms procure- two army spies for a dec- Prosecutors told a magistrate no-one has been indicted over the ments, including the purchase of Sade-old serious assault of a that the two suspects, military incident, which sparked interna- second-hand MiG jet fi ghters. six-year-old boy was newspaper editor in the wake of intelligence offi cers Prema Anan- tional outrage. Rajapakse has been accused of found dead in his school the shock assassination of high- da Udulagama and Rajapaksage Wickrematunge, a prominent giving orders to a shadowy mili- Abus in Vietnam after being profi le anti-establishment jour- Lalith Rajapakse, used sharp and critic of the former administra- tary outfi t allegedly involved in left there alone for nine hours, nalist Lasantha Wickrematunge. blunt instruments to assault the tion, was stabbed days before he murdering journalists and politi- the school said in a statement Rivira editor Upali Tennakoon Thennakoons. was due to testify in a corruption cal dissidents during Sri Lanka’s yesterday. and his wife were lucky to survive “The offi cers were attached to the case involving the then-defence long-running civil war to carry Le Hoang Long, a fi rst-grader the attack in January 2009 out- Tripoli Military Intelligence platoon ministry secretary Gotabhaya out hits, an allegation he denies. at Gateway International School side the capital Colombo as they of the Sri Lanka army,” attorney- Rajapakse. He is expected to contest the in Hanoi, was found unconscious drove to work. general’s department spokeswoman The killing shone a light on hu- presidential elections due later in the bus on Tuesday afternoon, It was the latest in a string of Nishara Jayaratne said. man rights violations in Sri Lanka this year. the school said. He was immediately taken to hospital but died shortly afterwards, the statement said. Forensic ex-chief indicted over murder cover up Long had been in the bus for nine hours after failing to disem- Sri Lankan authorities yesterday However, a fresh autopsy A police investigation found that was abducted in a car owned by bark in the morning with tem- charged a former chief forensic following a change of armed forces members carried out the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, a peratures outside reaching above off icer with destroying evidence government in 2015 showed the murder and the perpetrators court was told in 2015. 30 degrees Celsius throughout in the notorious murder of a he was beaten with a blunt were in telephone contact with The Red Cross said the vehicle the day, the Vnexpress news site leading rugby player. instrument and burnt to death. the presidential secretariat on the was being used by a charity reported. The May 2012 killing of national Samarasekara has been charged night of the killing. headed by Shiranthi Rajapakse, According to the report, team captain Wasim Thajudeen with destroying evidence, and Mahinda Rajapakse, who was wife of the former president. teachers from the school said drew international condemnation if convicted could be sentenced president in 2012 and whose The Rajapakse family, including Long had been sitting in the last and was held as an example of Sri to death as a person guilty of son Yoshitha is also a former Shiranthi, face investigations row and was overlooked when Lanka’s failure to deal with high covering up a crime can get the national team captain, has denied over corruption and allegations arriving at school. profile crime. same sentence as the actual allegations by rival political that they siphoned off millions of The case has sparked outcry in Ananda Samarasekara, who was perpetrator. parties and media that he helped dollars of public money during Vietnam with the public blam- chief judicial medical off icer at A former police chief in Colombo cover up the murder. Rajapakse’s decade in power. ing the school for Long’s death. the time, ruled that Thajudeen is also facing prosecution for Thajudeen’s body was exhumed The family has denied the Police are investigating the was killed in a motor accident. suppressing evidence. after evidence emerged that he accusations. (AFP) circumstances.

Ship heads away from Vietnam Migrants ‘wrongly held in in South China Sea standoff Thai traffi cking shelters’

Thomson Reuters Foundation in its annual fl agship report rank- Reuters “Vietnamese ships pursued The off shore impasse has Bangkok ing nations on their anti-traffi cking Hanoi Haiyang Dizhi 8 as it returned stoked anti-China sentiment eff orts criticised Thailand for not to Fiery Cross Reef and now in Vietnam, where previous doing enough to tackle the problem. appear to be loitering just out- tensions between Beijing and hai shelters are hosting a A record-breaking 1,159 human Chinese survey ship side of Vietnam’s EEZ,” Thorne Hanoi over the disputed waters record number of potential traffi cking victims have been rescued which has been em- added. have erupted into protest. Ttraffi cking victims but many in Thailand so far this year, the hu- Abroiled in a tense Fiery Cross Reef is a man- Last week, a Vietnamese are in fact smuggled migrants, hu- man security ministry said, outstrip- month-long standoff with Vi- made island, controlled by fi shermen’s group urged the man rights campaigners said, as ping the previous high of 982 in 2015. etnamese vessels has headed China, built on a disputed government to take stronger the Southeast Asian nation seeks to Most are migrants from neigh- away from Vietnam’s Exclusive South China Sea reef, to which measures to remove the ships, boost its anti-traffi cking credentials. bouring Myanmar, transiting Economic Zone (EEZ), a Wash- Vietnam and the Philippines saying they were disrupting Thailand broadened the scope of through Thailand to work in Malay- ington-based think-tank said have competing claims. fi shing activities. its anti-traffi cking law in April to sian factories, it said. yesterday. It was not clear late on And on Tuesday, Vietnamese include forced labour as an off ence, Activists questioned whether all Since early July, Vietnamese Wednesday if China’s Haiyang police broke up a brief demon- following criticism of its failure to those rescued by police were traffi cked ships have closely tracked Chi- Dizhi 8 survey vessel planned stration outside the Chinese stop slavery and traffi cking in its sea- - which involves exploiting people for nese vessels operating within to return to Vietnam’s EEZ, embassy in Hanoi against the food and sex industries. fi nancial gain - rather than smuggled, the Southeast Asian country’s Thorne said. operations of the vessel and its Some 1,496 potential traffi cking vic- which merely means entering another EEZ, in the latest confrontation The survey ship, operated by escorts. tims are being held in nine government country illegally, often willingly. in waters that are a potential the China Geological Survey, Also on Tuesday, the Philip- shelters, awaiting trial or repatriation, “Human traffi cking is a political is- global fl ashpoint as the Unit- has been conducting what ap- pines, which is also embroiled according to the Ministry of Social De- sue,” said Adisorn Kerdmongkol, a coor- ed States challenges China’s pears to be seismic survey of in maritime disputes with Bei- velopment and Human Security, which dinator at the Migrant Working Group, a sweeping maritime claims. Vietnam’s off shore oil blocks, jing, said its president Rodrigo oversees anti-traffi cking eff orts. network of non-governmental organi- “Ship tracking data show according to the Windward Duterte would meet Chinese “We are almost reaching full ca- sations promoting migrant rights. that China’s survey ship has data. counterpart Xi Jinping soon to pacity... as there have been large There are about 4.9mn migrants in exited the Vietnamese EEZ US Secretary of State Mike discuss a 2016 arbitration case amount of (forced) labour (victims), Thailand, making up more than 10% for now, but at least two of its Pompeo has criticised Chinese over the South China Sea. especially after amending the law,” of the country’s workforce, accord- coast guard escorts remain in “coercion” in the disputed That ruling in inter- the ministry’s permanent secretary ing to the United Nations. the area of the survey,” Devin South China Sea, while Bei- national law invalidated Porametee Vimolsiri said. “If they are misidentifi ed (as traffi ck- Thorne, senior analyst at the jing’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, China’s claim, based on “In some cases, they may initially ing victims by the government), instead Center for Advanced Defense said last week that maritime its so-called “nine-dash be identifi ed (by police) as traffi cking of helping them, it is violating their Studies (C4ADS) told Reuters, problems involving Vietnam line”, to historic sovereignty victims, but turn out not being vic- human rights,” said Nattaya Petcharat, citing data from maritime ana- should not interfere with two- over most of the busy and tims after they are interviewed.” a project coordinator at Stella Maris lytics company Windward. way ties. resource-rich waterway. The US State Department this year Seafarers’ Centre, which helps migrants. Gulf Times 12 Thursday, August 8, 2019 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

Indonesia’s capital curbs private cars in bid to cut choking pollution

Reuters about three times that number numbers were odd or even, to by 2025, tighten emission tests did not have enough monitoring sions would be a better solution, Pangesti, said on Twitter. “Make Jakarta live in surrounding towns, swell- reduce traffi c jams on main thor- and rein in industrial discharges. devices to pinpoint the cause of he said, adding that this week’s better regulations, like banning ing emissions from vehicles, fac- oughfares. That eff ort was wid- However, experts said the gover- the pollution spikes. “If we look massive power outage had made old minibus with black exhaust tories and power stations. ened last year, ahead of the Asian nor needed to do more. at air quality issues, what you the city’s air cleaner. But ending smoke on the street ... if you want ndonesia’s capital announced In the current dry season, Ja- Games. “All the steps taken will in have to do is you have to fi nd what the city’s love aff air with cars ap- to reduce pollution, odd-even is new curbs on private cars yes- karta has consistently ranked Yesterday, it said this policy themselves improve the air qual- makes the air quality worsen, pears likely to be diffi cult. Jakarta not a solution.” Iterday as it moves to rein in among the world’s most polluted would be extended again to cover ity, but the overall impact will how much in percentages comes residents took to social media to Environmental groups have Jakarta’s choking air pollution, cities, based on data from Air smaller roads. This move comes not be big because they are not from transportation, and when, fi gure out how to get around the sued President Joko Widodo and but experts warned the measures Visual, a Swiss-based group that after an instruction last week by addressing the main problem,” and how much comes from coal restrictions, including strategies several government offi cials over were unlikely to stamp out the monitors air quality. In 2016, the Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said Almo Pradana, senior man- power plants and factories,” he such as changing car plates and Jakarta’s worsening air quality, problem. municipal government ordered to levy congestion charges for ager for energy and climate at the said. buying more cars. trying to force the government The traffi c-clogged city has curbs on private cars governed cars from 2020, set an age limit of World Resources Institute Indo- A strategic plan to cut pollution “It’s a burden for people, not to investigate the source of emis- more than 10mn residents, but by whether their licence-plate 10 years on vehicles on the road nesia. Pradana added that Jakarta based on an inventory of emis- eff ective!” one of them, Tito sions. Hong Kong lawyers march in silence to

support protesters Chinese paramilitary forces in Shenzhen in China’s southern Guangdong province, across the border from Hong Kong. AFP Hong Kong

ong Kong lawyers held a Police drill video raises fears silent march in support Hof anti-government pro- testers yesterday, highlighting AFP New Zealand rebukes China aft er student scuffl e the movement’s enduring broad Beijing appeal despite increasingly omi- New Zealand has rebuked of expression would be nous warnings from Beijing. Chinese envoys for praising upheld and maintained, the Hundreds of lawyers dressed housands of Chinese riot pro-Beijing students who website Newsroom said. “The in black marched under the police staged a drill just scuff led last week with government has rebuked China scorching sun from the city’s Tacross the border from supporters of Hong Kong’s over its recent comments and highest court to the justice sec- Hong Kong, in what appeared to pro-democracy movement on actions where it sought to retary’s offi ce. The rally came as be a thinly veiled warning from a university campus, a news suppress freedom of speech daily demonstrations have be- Beijing about its ability to end website said yesterday. China’s and voiced support for violent come increasingly violent and two months of protests in the consul general in Auckland opposition to Hong Kong China ramped up its warnings global fi nancial hub. praised the “spontaneous protesters in New Zealand,” it to protesters, saying on Tuesday The exercise, which took patriotism” of some Chinese added. that “those who play with fi re place Tuesday in Shenzhen — a students who opposed a A New Zealand foreign ministry will perish by it”. city in southern China that bor- group hanging Hong Kong spokeswoman confirmed the The legal professionals — who ders the semi-autonomous city independence posters at the meeting but declined further usually eschew demonstrations — instantly attracted online at- University of Auckland. Police comment. “Discussions took — have now marched twice since tention given the close resem- said they were investigating the place,” she said in an e-mail to early June. They are backing the Lawyers and workers in Hong Kong’s legal sector gather outside the Department of Justice during a blance between the drill and incident. Reuters. China’s embassy in protest movement’s demand for protest in Hong Kong. the ongoing clashes in adjacent Foreign ministry off icials New Zealand and the foreign an independent inquiry into law Hong Kong. met China’s representatives aff airs ministry in Beijing did enforcement tactics but they also that hospitalised 45 people — and portant element in law. If law Some expressed sympathy The footage showed squads in New Zealand on Monday not immediately respond to a said they were marching against only on the less serious charge of enforcement is done poorly, how with the more hardcore protest- of police facing down “protest- to reiterate that freedom Reuters’ request for comment. politically motivated prosecu- unlawful assembly. In a state- can we tell others that Hong Kong ers battling police. One man, ers” dressed in construction hats tions from the city’s Department ment after the march, the city’s has rule of law?” said 22-year- wearing a suit, donned the pro- and facemasks — reminiscent of of Justice. Justice Department insisted it old law student Michelle Wong, test movement’s signature gog- demonstrators in Hong Kong. And though Shenzhen police said On Tuesday, China’s central “I really dislike how this gov- engaged in “objective and pro- who joined the march. gles, mask and a construction As the crowd attacked police the anti-riot drills were organ- government issued its harshest ernment uses scaremonger- fessional assessment” to deter- Tuesday march was a peaceful helmet. with long, wooden poles, offi cers ised as public security measures warning yet to Hong Kong pro- ing and divisive tactics,” senior mine which cases to prosecute. and now rare sight as Hong Kong On the helmet he had written pushed back with riot shields and ahead of the 70th anniversary testers, and said “those who play counsel Anita Yip told AFP. “The DoJ will not handle the buckles under increasingly vio- the words “Won’t sever ties even deployed tear gas. celebrations in October of the with fi re will perish by it.” “They carry out prosecutions cases diff erently due to the polit- lent clashes between protesters in the event of a nuclear explo- “All police forces in Shenzhen People’s Republic of China, that The PLA has maintained a selectively... How would people ical beliefs or background of the and police. sion” — implying he would stand are always ready!” Shenzhen po- hasn’t stopped netizens from garrison in Hong Kong since the still have confi dence in the gov- persons involved,” the statement On Monday the city witnessed by the protesters no matter what. lice wrote in an online post about commenting on the similarities former British colony was re- ernment?” she added, referring added. Protesters accuse the po- a rare general strike and the most Yip, the lawyer, said the broad Tuesday’s drills, which it said in- with Hong Kong. turned to China in 1997, but its to the perceived diff erence be- lice of using excessive violence widespread unrest in two months consensus on the demand to set volved 12,000 police offi cers. “Right now, (Chinese Presi- troops generally keep a low pro- tween how police have treated against their movement and of demonstrations — with police up an independent commission It is the second video in less dent) Xi’s top priority is to keep fi le and are rarely seen in uniform protesters and their opponents, turning a blind eye to triad gangs fi ring 800 rounds of tear gas in a of inquiry should be respected than a week where Chinese se- the Hong Kong situation under in public. pro-government thugs with sus- — accusations the force strongly single day at a dozen locations. as the city reels under its worst curity forces are shown crack- control so the October 1st cel- According to Hong Kong’s pected triad links. denies. They have also vowed to “It’s very important to show political crisis in decades with no ing down on protesters — fuel- ebrations won’t be aff ected,” said Basic Law, troops from main- Hong Kong police have ar- keep the movement going un- that there can be peaceful and exit ramp in sight. ling speculation about a possible political analyst Willy Lam. land China can operate in the rested more than 500 protesters til their core demands are met, eff ective demonstrations,” said “The only commonality ap- intervention by the military or Hong Kong has been plunged city if local authorities request and charged dozens with rioting such as an independent inquiry 77-year-old lawyer Warwick pears to be holding a public in- mainland police in Hong Kong. into its worst crisis in recent his- it. Hong Kong authorities may, — which carries a maximum 10 into police tactics, a permanent Haldane. quiry. I know it may not be easy Last week China’s military, the tory after millions of demonstra- “when necessary”, ask the central years in jail. withdrawal of the bill, amnesty “No one is going to throw any- but (the government) needs to People’s Liberation Army (PLA), tors took to the streets — and government for assistance from But they have so far only ar- for those arrested, and universal thing, and I hope we’re not going think about how to accomplish released a slick propaganda video sporadic violent confrontations the garrison “in the maintenance rested 19 men for last month’s suff rage. to get tear gassed or charged by this,” she said. showing a drill of armed troops between police and pockets of of public order and in disaster re- attacks on democracy protesters “Law enforcement is an im- anyone,” he added. quelling a protest in Hong Kong. hardcore protesters. lief”, according to Article 14.

Evidence of ‘Herculean’ parrot found in New Zealand Japan abuzz over

AFP putting our money on it be- New Zealand, home to the The bird was approximately giant parrot — anywhere,” as- wedding bells for Wellington ing fl ightless,” Paul Scofi eld, the now-extinct fl ightless bird the size of the giant “dodo” pi- sociate professor Trevor Worthy senior curator of natural history moa which was up to 3.6m geon and twice the size of the from Flinders University said. at Canterbury Museum, told AFP tall with neck outstretched, critically endangered fl ightless “We have been excavating these telegenic son of he remains of a super- Wednesday. is well known for its giant New Zealand kakapo, previ- fossil deposits for 20 years, and sized parrot that stood When the bones were found birds ously the largest known parrot. each year reveals new birds and Tmore than half the height in 2008 no one was certain what Evidence of the parrot was un- other animals... no doubt there former PM Koizumi of an average human and roamed they were, and they spent 11 years and strength — and the unex- earthed in fossils near St Bathans are many more unexpected spe- the earth 19mn years ago have gathering dust on a shelf until the pected nature of the discovery. in southern New Zealand, an area cies yet to be discovered in this been discovered in New Zealand. team looked at them again earlier “Heracles, as the largest par- that has proved a rich source of most interesting deposit.” Reuters porters at the prime minister’s Judging by the size of the leg this year. rot ever, no doubt with a massive fossils from the Miocene period Last year, scientists found the Tokyo offi ce where his father led the bones, the bird would have stood “The thought they were from parrot beak that could crack wide which extends from about fi ve remains of a giant burrowing bat country from 2001 to 2006. about 1m (39 inches) tall and a giant parrot did not enter our open anything it fancied, may million to 23mn years ago. that lived millions of years ago in “I can be myself, this really weighed up to 7kg (15.5 pounds), minds. We thought it could be well have dined on more than New Zealand, home to the the same region. From the teeth he son of Japan’s former helps me,” he added. according to a report by an inter- some type of eagle until we went conventional parrot foods, per- now-extinct fl ightless bird moa and bones of the animal, which leader Junichiro Koizu- He gave no hint of a wed- national team of palaeontologists back and looked at it again,” haps even other parrots,” Mike which was up to 3.6m tall with lived 16 to 19mn years ago, it is Tmi and a popular choice ding date and said Takigawa is published in the latest edition of Scofi eld said. The parrot has Archer, from the University of neck outstretched, is well known estimated to be three times the for prime minister in his own due to give birth early next year. ‘Biology Letters’. been named Heracles inexpec- NSW Palaeontology research for its giant birds. “But until now, size of an average modern bat and right set the country afi re yes- Takigawa, born in Paris to a “It could have fl own but we’re tatus to refl ect its Herculean size centre, said. no-one has ever found an extinct weighed 40g (1.4 ounces). terday with news that he will French father, worked for many marry and soon become a fa- years as a newscaster in Tokyo. ther. Shinjiro Koizumi, who She became a household name inherited the political mantle after speaking about Japan’s and lustre of his father, said traditional “omotenashi” hos- he will wed Christel Takigawa, pitality in the bid for the Tokyo Firing of Australian bureaucrat over tweets is legal: High Court a French-Japanese television games. The announcement was personality known as the face the hottest topic on Japanese of Tokyo’s successful bid for Twitter, with users pleased and n Australian bureau- found to be behind an anony- seriously undermine public con- and local workers, an Australian ruled in her favour, saying the the 2020 Summer Olympics. surprised that one of Japan’s crat who was sacked af- mous Twitter account. fi dence in the bureaucracy. public service union said. Banerji public service’s code of conduct Koizumi, 38 and a member of most eligible young politicians Ater sending anonymous The High Court yesterday said Banerji said she was disap- ran the Twitter account, “LaLe- around the use of social media the lower house of parliament, was tying the knot. tweets criticising the govern- Banerji’s employment termi- pointed with the ruling, saying gale,” which posted thousands of “unacceptably trespassed on said the two had been dating Koizumi regularly tops polls ment’s immigration policies has nation was not unlawful as she “we’ve failed” to affi rm the free- opinions critical of the govern- the implied freedom of political since 2018. Takigawa, who is as the most suitable succes- been found to be in breach of the had breached the public service dom of speech of public servants. ment’s immigration policies and communication.” pregnant and turns 42 in Octo- sor to current Prime Minister public service code of conduct. code of conduct by posting po- “It’s not just a loss for me, it’s a treatment of asylum seekers and However, the High Court disa- ber, said they had been friends Shinzo Abe. In a May survey Michaela Banerji, a former im- litical messages on social media. loss for all of us. I’m very, very immigration detainees. greed, saying the tribunal erred for several years. “When I’m by the Asahi Shimbun daily, he migration department employee, The court said allowing public sorry,” teary-eyed Banerji told After Banerji was fi red, she in the interpretation and “the with her I can forget about the led a fi eld of six potential can- had asked for compensation, ar- servants to criticise government reporters outside the court. lodged a workers’ compensation implied freedom of political political battlefi eld, take off my didates with an overall 29% ap- guing she had been unlawfully policies or members of parlia- The decision will have an ad- claim, which was refused, but the communication is not a personal armour, lay down my weapons proval rating and 32% among dismissed in 2013 after being ment, even anonymously, could verse eff ect for 2mn federal, state Administrative Appeals Tribunal right of free speech.” and relax,” Shinjiro told re- women. Gulf Times Thursday, August 8, 2019 13

BRITAIN

‘Innocent people caught up’ in welfare state surveillance system

Guardian News and Media personal information passed by “It’s not. It will soon aff ect eras – including footage owned terrifi ed by what the DWP might shared information. sharing with the department,” he London police to the department for work everyone and leave the society by supermarket chains, access know about them,” he said. “The Pring claimed the force had said, pointing out that the GMP and pensions. much worse off . Everyone needs to personal bank statements and idea that information the police admitted to a “written agree- had released no details about the Both warnings came before a to pay attention and insist on de- conversations on social media – gather at protests about some of ment” between it and the DWP to alleged agreement. he UN’s investigator into conference in Belfast yesterday cent limits,” he said. are disabled rights campaigners those taking part could be passed share data about benefi t claim- A spokesperson for the DWP global poverty has said in- on the use of surveillance powers Alston said the UK’s surveil- in Manchester. to the DWP for welfare fraud in- ants who take part in protests insisted there was “no formal Tnocent people are being and its impact on social security lance system stood the presump- Rick Burgess, an activist with vestigations is Stasi-like.” against cuts. agreement with the police for caught up in the mass surveil- recipients and asylum seekers. tion of innocence on its head. Manchester Disabled People The climate of fear that Bur- He said a formal agreement this scenario”. lance system used by the UK’s Philip Alston, the UN’s spe- He said this was because every- Against Cuts, said fears that gess and his colleagues describe existed under the guise of the “The department does not re- welfare state to combat benefi t cial rapporteur on extreme pov- one applying for a benefi t was footage of his members and sup- has been heightened after in- Data Protection Act. Pring also quest referrals from the police and fraud. erty, described it as a tragedy that “screened for potential wrong- porters demonstrating was being vestigations by the disability claimed he had evidence of this there is no obligation on either the His warning comes as disabled people imagined that “the ever- doing in a system of total surveil- passed from police to the DWP activist John Pring. On his Dis- via a series of freedom of infor- police or members of the public to rights activists in the north-west more intrusive surveillance sys- lance”. had had a “chilling eff ect” on ability News Service website mation requests he put in to the provide referrals. In the event we claim that demonstrators with tem by the UK welfare state” was Among those to complain that people’s willingness to protest. Pring alleged that Greater Man- force. receive information from the po- disabilities protesting against used only against alleged welfare they have been caught up unfairly “There are people who are not chester police (GMP) had an “The worrying thing is we lice, we consider it on its merits,” austerity cuts are having their cheats. in the state’s use of CCTV cam- protesting today because they are agreement with the DWP over don’t know exactly what they are the spokesperson said.

BA services restart after UK to face food latest IT meltdown shortages in Reuters London

ritish Airways said its fl ights were returning to no-deal Brexit, Bnormal after passengers had to endure cancellations, de- lays and long queues at London airports as the airline suff ered its third major computer failure in a little more than two years. Yesterday’s woes are the lat- warns industry est in a string of problems at BA, which was fi ned $230mn last Reuters and working with suppliers to who manage this port, I’ve been month for a huge customer data London increase stocks of dried goods in- talking to people who are re- breach and is bracing for poten- cluding pasta, bottled water and sponsible for freight that travels tial strikes in a pay dispute with toilet paper. to Europe and I’ve been talking to its pilots. BA, owned by Interna- ritain will experience After three years of Brexit dis- those who manage other ports in tional Airlines Group, apologised shortages of some fresh cussion, it is still unclear on what order to make sure...that people to customers for yesterday’s dis- Bfoods for weeks or even terms the UK will leave the Euro- can receive in their supermarkets ruption and warned it would take months if a disorderly no-deal pean Union with options ranging and shops everything that they time for operations to return to Brexit leaves perishable pro- from a last-minute exit deal or need.” normal. duce rotting in lorries at ports, delay to an acrimonious divorce Rycroft said they estimated More than 60 fl ights to and Britain’s food and drink lobby that would knot the sinews of that the cost of preparing for a from Heathrow and Gatwick were warned yesterday. trade. no-deal exit, including reserv- cancelled and more than 100 were Retailers such as Tesco have Prime Minister Boris Johnson ing warehouse space, using al- delayed, according to the depar- warned that leaving the Europe- has repeatedly warned the Euro- ternative distributors and losing ture boards at the two airports. an Union on October 31 without pean Union that unless it agrees orders in congested ports, would The problems started when a transition deal would be prob- to do a fresh divorce deal then cost the industry up to £100mn a people tried to check in for the lematic as so much fresh produce he will lead the country out of week. fi rst fl ights of the day and lasted is imported and warehouses are the bloc on October 31 without “A lot of money will be spent,” for about 12 hours. stocked full ahead of Christmas. a deal. Rycroft said, referring to how the BA would not confi rm how The industry — which employs As winter approaches, the UK industry prepared for two previ- many people have been aff ected 450,000 people in the UK — becomes more dependent on im- ous Brexit deadlines in March but said it had experienced a views Brexit as the biggest chal- ported food so a Halloween no- and April. “systems issue” aff ecting check- lenge since World War II, dwarf- deal Brexit is potentially more The UK food and drink industry in and fl ight departures at Hea- ing previous crises such as the disruptive. accounts for 19% of the manu- throw, Gatwick and London City horse meat scandal of 2013 and Britain imports around 60% facturing sector by turnover and airports. the mad cow disease outbreaks of of its food by the beginning of employs over 450,000 people in Customers could not check in the 1980s and 1990s. November — just the time that Britain across 7,000 businesses in- online, while others complained “We’re not going to starve but delays caused by a no-deal Brexit cluding Associated British Foods, of being stuck on planes unable there will be shortages of fresh could be clogging up ports and Nestle and PepsiCo. to take off for hours. food and some specialist ingre- motorways, Rycroft said. Some of the bigger compa- Passengers from as far away as dients. It’s going to be a little bit Fresh fruit and vegetables, nies have tested diff erent ports Japan and India complained of unpredictable,” the Food and which have a short shelf-life of to avoid the main route of Do- delays. Stuart Jackson, a photog- Drink Federation’s chief operat- only a few days, cannot be stored ver-Calais while pharmaceuti- raphy business manager, said he ing Offi cer Tim Rycroft said. for long so any checks at Calais cal companies have reserved air was stuck on a grounded plane “Given that food very often is could lead to signifi cant disruption freight capacity to fl y in supplies at Heathrow and had missed his perishable and has a short shelf at Dover, Britain’s biggest port. if needed. connecting fl ight, disrupting life, we expect that there will be Michael Gove, the minister The trade body has urged the months of planning and wasting some selective shortages of food responsible for no-deal prepara- government to waive some com- thousands of pounds. in the weeks and months follow- tions, said he was confi dent that petition rules to allow retailers “When I do arrive, I will have ing no-deal Brexit,” Rycroft said. a resilient food supply system and suppliers to be able to work to just fl y home again,” he said “There will be some shortages would ensure people would have together to provide the most ef- on Twitter. “BA is a complete and price rises.” “a wide range and the choices fective coverage for the country catastrophe and I will never fl y Part of the problem is that that they need” whatever hap- in such a situation. with them again.” The IT failure Brexit could change everything pened. Rycroft said the industry had occurred as tens of thousands of — or, possibly, nothing. “If we do leave without a deal repeatedly asked the govern- people in Britain prepared to jet Ahead of the original Brexit on October 31 there will inevita- ment to provide a guarantee that off for summer holidays on what deadline of March 29, supermar- bly be bumps in the road,” Gove companies would not be fi ned is one of the busiest weeks of the kets and retailers spent millions told BBC TV on a visit to Dover. for engaging in anti-competitive year for the country’s airports. People wait inside Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport, London, as IT problems caused delays yesterday. of pounds preparing for Brexit “I have been talking to people behaviour. Police examine Putin’s Travelling Cabinet Body of teen who fell from plane ‘found’

Guardian News and Media said she became sick during her role in Salisbury attack time in Madagascar, possibly due London to prescription medication, with Guardian News and Media sistant commissioner Neil Basu, the Russian pair with conspiracy police investigating whether London the head of UK counter-terror- to murder Skripal, who sold Rus- olice on the island of a possible reaction to an anti- ism policing, said the investiga- sian secrets to Britain before set- Madagascar searching for malaria drug led her to open the tion into the attack was continu- tling in the UK. They have also Pa British teenager who fell plane door on purpose. cotland Yard has exam- ing. Basu said the issues involved been charged with conspiracy to out of a plane have found a body The plane’s pilot said Cutland ined the role of the Russian in bringing charges over the at- murder his daughter, Yulia, and believed to be that of the Cam- had a headache when she board- SPresident, Vladimir Putin, tack were complex. “You’d have police offi cer Nick Bailey, who bridge University student. ed and stayed silent during the in the novichok nerve agent at- to prove he (Putin) was directly fell ill after going to the Skripals’ Alana Cutland, a 19-year-old fl ight. Mahefa Tahina Rantoani- tack in Salisbury, it has been re- involved,” he said. home. natural sciences student, was on na told the Sun he had “no idea” vealed. “In order to get an EAW, you But there is speculation that a research trip in the remote area why Cutland had opened a door Putin is assessed by UK intel- have to have a case capable of be- more people may have been in- of Anjajavy when she fell from of the tiny plane mid-fl ight and ligence agencies as having been ing charged in this country. We volved in the attack. the light aircraft on July 25. “jumped” out. “likely” to have approved of the haven’t got a case capable of be- Basu said: “The two that we Madagascan police are in- It was previously reported that attack in March 2018 on Sergei ing charged. announced in the press confer- vestigating whether Cutland, Cutland had suff ered “paranoia Skripal, a former Russian mili- “We’re police offi cers, so we ence are wanted by us for ex- from Milton Keynes, deliberately attacks” while on the trip. Police tary offi cer, and his daughter, have to go for evidence. There tradition to be charged in this threw herself out of the plane to said she was in regular contact both of whom were left seriously has been a huge amount of spec- country. The whole of the in- her death as the two-door air- with her parents and was mak- ill but survived. ulation about who is responsible, vestigation is still a live crimi- craft fl ew over the savannah. ing her way home via the island’s Another woman, Dawn Stur- who gave the orders, all based nal investigation.” The local police chief, main airport. gess, later died after coming on people’s expert knowledge The two Russians charged are Spinola Nomenjanahary , told In an earlier statement, her across a discarded perfume bot- of Russia. I have to go with evi- believed to be part of Russia’s the Sun: “They have found a family paid tribute to “a bright, tle used by two Russian intelli- dence.” GRU military intelligence agency. human body north of the site independent young woman, who gence agents to carry the military The two Russian intelligence They were further charged with where she fell.” He said the was loved and admired by all grade nerve agent. agents charged are still in Russia the use and possession of novi- body would be flown back to those that knew her”. Two Russian agents have been and liable to be arrested if they chok, contrary to the Chemical the Madagascan capital An- They said: “Alana grasped charged over the attack, and leave. They were named by UK Weapons Act. tananarivo. The British em- every opportunity that was of- Britain wants them extradited police as Alexander Petrov and Sturgess and Charlie Row- bassy had been informed. fered to her with enthusiasm and has issued a European arrest Ruslan Boshirov, believed to be ley became unwell on June 30 in Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon chairs a Travelling Toxicology tests will also be and a sense of adventure, always warrant (EAW) and Interpol red aliases. Amesbury, Wiltshire. They are Cabinet meeting in Stirling, central Scotland, yesterday as conducted on the body when it seeking to extend her knowledge notice for their detention. British prosecutors said there believed to have been unwitting part of a series of visits across the country. arrives, the paper reported. and experience in the best ways The Metropolitan police as- was enough evidence to charge targets of the Russian plot. Cutland’s uncle has previously possible.” Gulf Times 14 Thursday, August 8, 2019 BRITAIN Winter energy bills to fall as regulator lowers price cap

Reuters er, Innogy’s npower, E.ON and prices,” Ofgem said in a state- and is intended to be a temporary likely fall in the coming months profi t last Wednesday at its re- iff cap each April and October London EDF’s EDF Energy. ment. measure lasting until 2023 at the but there are still cheaper tar- tail unit, as the UK price cap in and can adjust it according to The regulator, Ofgem, said Wholesale UK gas and power latest. iffs available which people can squeezed margins. changing costs such as wholesale the price cap for average annual prices have steadily lost up to half Around 11mn customers are on choose to switch to. “The market in Great Britain is energy prices. nergy bills are set to fall consumption will fall by £75 to their value since last September. SVTs. “I do not think the cap is currently particularly challeng- It is calculated using a for- for millions of households £1,179 from October 1. In April Ofgem was tasked with taking Last month, the Competition conservative. If you look at the ing,” E.ON chief fi nancial offi cer mula that includes wholesale gas Ein Britain this winter after the cap was raised by more than action by parliament last year and Markets Authority made pressure it has put on energy Marc Spieker said. prices, energy suppliers network the country’s energy regulator 10% to £1,254. after lawmakers said customers changes to a pre-payment meter supply firms to make efficiency Months of weak gas prices costs and costs of government told suppliers to reduce bills by “Wholesale energy prices have were being overcharged for elec- cap which will lower costs by £25 cuts and up their game....then it have hurt the bottom line of some policies, such as renewable pow- 6% from October 1, following a signifi cantly fallen between Feb- tricity and gas. a year for another 4mn custom- is not a ‘soft-touch’ price cap,” gas suppliers such as Centrica, er subsidies. drop in wholesale gas and power ruary and June 2019. A combina- The price cap applies to the ers. he said. which reported a near 50% drop Ofgem said the wholesale en- prices this year. tion of low demand during the so-called standard variable tar- Dermot Nolan, chief execu- The shares of UK-listed Cen- in adjusted operating profi t for ergy cost part of the cap fell by Britain’s big six energy sup- winter, strong gas supply and iff (SVT), the most popular type tive of Ofgem, told journalists trica and SSE were little changed. the fi rst half of 2019, sending its £75 to £446 and other costs, such pliers are Centrica’s British Gas, relatively healthy storage lev- of rate off ered by the big six, as that the difference between German energy group E.ON shares to a 21-year low. as VAT and supplier profi ts, fell SSE, Iberdrola’s Scottish Pow- els have pushed down wholesale well as to other default deals, SVTs and other tariffs will posted a 75% drop in operating Ofgem reviews the default tar- slightly. Pension tax rules set to change in bid to halt NHS crisis

Guardian News and Media The DHSC will also shortly London publish a consultation document proposing wide-ranging “fl ex- ibilities” to the pension scheme n NHS pension “tax trap” to ensure that from the next fi - blamed for deterring sen- nancial year, frontline staff can Aior doctors and nurses remain in it without fear of fi - from taking on additional shifts nancial penalty. for fear of being hit with hefty tax The move was welcomed by bills are to be overhauled, minis- the British Medical Association ters have announced. (BMA), which has been leading The Health Secretary, Matt the campaign to get the rules Hancock, said the move would changed, as a “step forward”. ensure senior clinicians in Eng- However, the HCSA union, land and Wales fully benefi ted representing hospital doctors, from any extra work they took warned that it would not be suf- on. fi cient to prevent a “winter melt- However, some hospital doc- down” in the NHS. A woman unloads her car as residents return to the town of Whaley Bridge in northern England yesterday. tors warned that the NHS was “We are heading for a full- already facing “a full-blown blown winter meltdown as a winter meltdown” as a result of result of the government’s inac- the crisis caused by the pension tion on the NHS pensions crisis. rules, while other experts cau- A fi fth of senior hospital doctors tioned that further reform was plan to quit in the next 36 months needed. or have already left as a result of Rule changes introduced in the issue.” She added: “It is bit- 2016 meant rising numbers of terly disappointing that the gov- Whaley Bridge residents consultants and other senior ernment is resorting to spin and staff were facing unexpected tax hot air when it has known for bills linked to the value of their many months that the crisis was pensions. deepening. The time for talking Operations and clinics were is long since over. We need to see cancelled as NHS senior staff the taper scrapped right now.” allowed to return home withdrew from working extra Other NHS organisations shifts that would put them in the welcomed Hancock’s an- Guardian News and Media stream in the Goyt valley had Agency (EA) were confi dent of the work to repair the dam- with friends or family living on pension penalty zone. The fi asco nouncement, but warned that London now passed. that the reservoir would cope. age done and reduce the wa- higher ground. was blamed for an increase in much more would be needed She said: “The hard work and She stressed that the dam was ter coming into the reservoir, Derbyshire police said there waiting times and led to cancer to sort out what had become dedication to achieve this has not yet fi xed but said a 24-hour I am able to confirm it is safe would be a visible police pres- scans going unread for as long as a major staffing issue. Chris round 1,100 residents of been quite simply incredible pumping operation had reduced for people to go back to their ence in and around the area for six weeks. Hopson, chief executive of NHS a Derbyshire town have and means that I am now able to water levels to below the dam- homes.” the next seven days to help the Some NHS staff were report- Providers, said it was having a Abeen allowed to return lift the evacuation order placed aged section. Bill Derbyshire, from the EA, community and address any ed to have had to remortgage “significant and direct negative home almost a week after they on Whaley Bridge and the sur- “Over the coming days and said: “The Toddbrook dam re- concerns. They thanked resi- their homes to cover their tax impact” on patient care. “We were evacuated when a nearby rounding area. weeks further work will be com- quires signifi cant engineering dents for their patience with the bills, while others were faced won’t enable key staff to work dam threatened to collapse. “At the forefront of our pleted to ascertain the damage works to bring it to a condition emergency operation. with the choice of cutting their the extra hours needed and put Parts of Whaley Bridge were thoughts are the communities caused to the dam wall and what where its long-term safety can “The resolve, community hours, opting out of the pension off ideas of early retirement un- evacuated on Thursday last aff ected by this incident who actions are required for the fu- be assured. The Environment spirit, kindness and generosity scheme, or taking early retire- til we have a clear, definitive so- week after heavy rain damaged have been steadfast in the face ture. We must not forget that the Agency expect the Canal and to their fellow residents, busi- ment. lution fully in place. So we have the dam at Toddbrook reser- of the peril that lay behind that dam is broken,” she said. River Trust to do the necessary nesses, friends and family shown In a joint statement the de- to move fast.” Siva Anandaciva, voir, which sits high above the dam wall. The danger posed by “The Environment Agency investigations and engineering in the face of such danger has partment for health and social chief analyst at the King’s Fund town. the millions of tonnes of water, has confirmed that the meas- work to make the dam safe and been extraordinary,” said Swann. care (DHSC) and the Treasury thinktank, warned that senior The deputy chief constable which would have destroyed ures remaining in place at the protect the community.” “That same kindness was given said the changes would provide clinicians were not the only of Derbyshire police, Rachel homes and livelihoods, could not dam will be able to manage After seven nights away from to the hundreds of multi-agency an “immediate solution” for ex- staff affected. “It appears that Swann, said the decision had be underestimated.” the levels of rain forecasted, home, residents were allowed to workers at the dam, whose sole perienced doctors and nurses health service managers have been taken because the imme- Though heavy rain is forecast modelling against a number of return yesterday, with the help focus has been to ensure the facing sizeable tax rises in the been left out of the plans, de- diate danger posed to Whaley for the next few days, Swann said scenarios. With this, and con- of police. The vast majority of resolution to this unprecedented current fi nancial year. spite high vacancy rates.” Bridge and the areas down- experts from the Environment firmation of the effectiveness people had sought sanctuary crisis.”

Killer appeals against Malaysian divers scour 27-year sentence

Guardian News and Media McConnachie argued that the river for missing teen London trial judge, Lord Matthews, had attached too great importance to two sentencing reports which AFP through the forest near the resort. was open and she had disap- he lawyer of Aaron Camp- were unduly pessimistic regard- Seremban, Malaysia A helicopter, two drones, sniff er peared,” Quoirin said by phone bell, the teenager convict- ing Campbell’s capacity for re- dogs and 214 people from various from Venisy, in north-central Ted of the brutal rape and habilitation, and thus imposed government agencies had already France where he is the mayor. murder of six-year-old school- an excessive punishment of 27 alaysian divers scoured a been deployed in the hunt for the “After an 18-hour fl ight and a girl Alesha MacPhail, has argued years to his life sentence. river yesterday, joining a girl. Che Zakaria Othman, deputy seven-hour time diff erence you that his sentencing last March Lady Dorrian, Scotland’s sec- Mlarge team hunting for a police chief of Negeri Sembilan would sleep soundly and not go to a minimum terms of 27 years ond most senior judge, told Mc- Franco-Irish teenager with learn- state where the resort is located, for a stroll at night,” he said. was “excessive and amounted to Connachie that the case law ing diffi culties who vanished from said around 20 witnesses, includ- The family had planned to stay a miscarriage of justice”. indicated that in sentencing a rainforest resort. ing family members, had been in- for two weeks, he said, and Nora Defence QC, Brian McCon- children factors that may not ap- Nora Quoirin went missing on terviewed. was “absolutely not” in the habit nachie, who represented Camp- ply to adults should be taken into Sunday morning after checking Forensics experts were also able of running off . Malaysian Home bell during his trial in February, account, such as their immaturi- in with her family to the Dusun to take fi ngerprints from the win- Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, how- told three appeal court judges in ty and whether personality traits Resort, about an hour from the dow panel of the girl’s bedroom ever, said police do not believe Edinburgh yesterday morning in juveniles were more transitory capital Kuala Lumpur. but did not say who they belonged anyone else was involved. that the killing of the school- and capable of rehabilitation. Family members said they to, he told reporters in the state “What other people say is not girl on the Isle of Bute last July But she went on to point out found the window of her room capital Seremban. important because the police was “an appalling and heinous that the sentencing reports on open in the morning without any “We are not ruling out any pos- know better,” he was cited as say- crime”. Campbell’s case suggested he trace of her. sibilities but so far we don’t have ing by offi cial news agency Berna- That would be a matter for the had an “extremely limited ca- The 15-year-old lives in Lon- any information,” he added. ma. “Everyone who comes to our parole board, said McConnachie, pacity” for change. don and is the daughter of a Fran- “We still believe she is in the country is safe and does not face and the appellant accepted that McConnachie argued: “The co-Irish couple. area because there is no informa- problems.” day may never come. reports are incredibly negative Her family suspect foul play, tion that says she has left.” The Dusun is a 12-acre resort in Campbell – who was 16 at the and pessimistic but they are a but the Malaysian government Police have classifi ed her dis- the foothills of a mountain range time of the murder – watched snapshot in time of the person we has stressed police do not believe appearance as a missing person and next to a forest reserve. the proceedings via video link have today”. He continued: “But she was abducted and are calling case, but her grandfather, Syl- The resort’s management said from Polmont young off enders to wait until he is 43 years of age for an end to speculation about vain Quoirin, said she had gone in in a Facebook post that its em- institution. He could be seen by is an extraordinarily lengthy pe- her disappearance. “extremely mysterious” circum- ployees were “extremely dis- the court, wearing a black polo riod of time which does not allow As the hunt entered a fourth stances and was not in the habit tressed and worried” about her shirt and listening attentively as for the process of maturation, day yesterday, a small team of of running off . disappearance and were assisting McConnachie put his arguments development of responsibility or divers searched a river running “In the morning, the window in the search. Nora Quoirin: mysterious disappearance forward. healthy adult personality”. Gulf Times Thursday, August 8, 2019 15 EUROPE

MOTORING ON TRACK PEDAL POWER NAME GAME MARATHON TALKS Speed-crazy tourists Italian Senate supports French Deliveroo cyclists Princess to stop using royal Nations agree landmark fined in south France train link with France urge boycott in pay dispute title for commercial projects UN climate report

Five South Korean tourists behind the wheels of The Italian Senate yesterday rejected a motion Cyclists whisking meals for the food courier service Norwegian Princess Marta Louise will no longer Negotiators from 195 countries yesterday finalised high-performance Porsches have been slapped with by one of the ruling coalition parties, the 5-Star Deliveroo in France yesterday called on clients to use her royal title in connection with commercial the most comprehensive scientific assessment yet hefty fines after they were caught racing at more Movement, to block an alpine rail link with boycott the brand, after management imposed projects, the palace said yesterday. Earlier this year, of how the land we live off aff ects climate change, than 200kph on a highway in southern France, France, paving the way for the long-contested new pay rules they say will lower their wages. the 47-year-old princess drew some criticism for after marathon talks in Geneva, sources told AFP. police said yesterday. The drivers, aged 27 to 38, project to continue. The planned line, meant “Today we want clients to know what’s going using her title in connection with a lecture tour in The land use report from the United Nations’ were spotted on Tuesday evening as they sped to connect the Italian city of Turin with Lyon in on. Just for today, we’re asking them not to Denmark and Norway with her new partner, Durek Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), from the southwestern city of Bordeaux toward France, includes a 58km tunnel through the Alps. order via Deliveroo or to connect to the site, to Verrett, billed ‘The Princess and the Shaman’. Her running over 1,000 pages compiled by 108 scientists Vichy, a roughly 4-hour trip when observing the It is fiercely opposed by 5-Star but supported by support the movement,” said Jean-Daniel Zamor, father, King Harald, in June told public broadcaster drawing from thousands of data points, is expected 130kph speed limit. They were clocked at 204- its coalition partner, the right-wing League, and president of a Paris collective of freelance food NRK that the royal family would discuss the use of to spell out the stark choices facing a warming 207kph in their rented Porsches, prompting police by most other parties in parliament. The upper deliverers. Riders have already been carrying her title. The palace statement issued yesterday planet with a growing, hungry population. Experts to confiscate their driver’s licences on the spot. house of parliament rejected the 5-Star’s motion out blockages and protests in recent days, after said the princess and royal family have agreed from around the world have spent the last few days Only after each paid a 750 euro fine ($840) were by 181 votes to 110. A subsequent motion by the Britain-based Deliveroo said it would no longer that she will use her title in connection with off icial poring over the report’s summary for policymakers they allowed to continue on their way, though opposition Democratic Party, in favour of the guarantee a minimum of 4.70 euros ($5.25) per duties and in private, and only use Martha Louise in — a concise run-down of the science containing a their passengers had to take the wheel. TAV, was passed by 180 votes to 109. delivery in Paris — a rate that changes for each city. connection with commercial projects. range of possible solutions and trade-off s.

Mum’s the word! SOS out as Malta and Italy spurn migrant vessel

AFP Rome

Spanish charity yesterday appealed for help af- ter Malta and Italy turned away its Open Arms Arescue vessel carrying 121 migrants plucked from the Mediterranean. “Six days have gone by without a reply, without the dignity of those on board being recognised,” the non- profi t organisation Proactiva Open Arms wrote on Twitter. “Malta has denied the right to disembark and Italy is not answering,” it said. “We do not recognise this Europe, with its cowardly states, its empty policy...Help us.” Italy’s hardline Interior Minister Matteo Salvini did reply with a ban on the Open Arms entering Italian ter- ritorial waters and a threat to seize it. “It had time to go to Spain,” Salvini posted on Twitter. “Open Arms should not forget, Italian territorial waters are closed to them and we are ready to seize the ship,” Salvini said. Italy’s parliament on Monday had passed further se- curity legislation imposing stiff er penalties on NGO mi- grant rescue boats. Vessels involved in search and rescue operations can be confi scated and captains fi ned up to 1mn euros ($1.1mn) for entering Italian waters without permission. Proactiva Open Arms founder Oscar Camps had called on Monday for European countries to agree to take in the 121 migrants rescued last week from two boats off Libya. A crow feeds its chick by a fountain at Moscow’s Manezhnaya Square. In a telephone interview with AFP, he urged that a similar deal be struck to that on Sunday which saw doz- ens of migrants from the German rescue vessel Alan Kurdi shared out between European states. Salvini has insisted since coming to power last year that rescued migrants can land in Italy only if an agree- ment is already in place with other European countries to look after them. The Open Arms currently lies in international wa- ters southwest of Malta and east of the Italian island of Zelenskiy urges Putin Lampedusa, according to the website vesselfi nder.com. 18 migrants injured trying to cross Bosnia-Croatia border

Eighteen migrants were injured while trying to reach the Eu- ropean Union by crossing illegally from Bosnia into Croatia, Bosnian off icials said yesterday. The migrants, all men from to resume peace talks Pakistan and Iraq, were taken to a local hospital overnight by police, the off icials said, declining to give further details. Reuters France and Germany ended major Tuesday’s four deaths marked led to civilian casualties. lenskiy had discussed the prospect Doctors said all of them were released after it was deter- Kyiv confl ict in eastern Ukraine in 2015, the highest toll of Ukrainian troops Both sides agreed to intensify of such a meeting. mined they did not have serious injuries. Several men with though small-scale clashes still oc- in a single day since Zelenskiy took work on prisoner exchanges. “It is necessary to meet with the their hands and arms in casts told Bosnian regional television cur regularly. offi ce. Russia holds dozens of Ukrainian leaders of the Normandy four as that the Croatian police had beaten them, taken away their kraine’s President Volo- Bringing peace to the Don- “I said that this doesn’t bring us captives from the confl ict but it is soon as possible...And to end this mobile phones and pushed them back to Bosnia. dymyr Zelenskiy yester- bass region was a top campaign closer to peace,” Zelenskiy said of unclear how many Russians are be- war,” Zelenskiy said. Croatian police said they had prevented 18 men from ille- Uday pressed Russian leader pledge for Zelenskiy, helping him the phone call. “I beg you to in- ing held in Ukraine. Kyiv accuses Moscow of wag- gally crossing into Croatia on Tuesday night but that accord- Vladimir Putin for a resumption to a landslide presidential election fl uence the other side so that they The leaders of Ukraine, Russia, ing an undeclared war in eastern ing to information gathered so far, the off icers had not used of peace talks after four Ukrainian victory in April. He strengthened stop the killing of our people.” France and Germany last met in Ukraine, supplying troops and force. “There were no visible injuries on these people nor did soldiers were killed by shelling in his power base in a parliamentary He said the Russian president 2016 for their “Normandy Format” heavy weapons to the Donbass. any of them ask for medical assistance,” the Croatian police the eastern Donbass border region. election last month. had promised him something, de- talks on the Donbass. Zelenskiy Russia, which denies the accusa- said in a statement, adding that the Interior Ministry will Confl ict between Ukrainian He said that, in a phone call with tails of which would be disclosed said he planned to speak to French tion, says Ukraine is not honour- investigate allegations that migrants were injured by police. troops and Russian-backed forces Putin yesterday, he had urged his later. President Emmanuel Macron and ing commitments under a cease- Bosnia, not an EU state, was largely bypassed during the ref- has killed an estimated 13,000 peo- Russian counterpart to exert infl u- Putin in turn said Ukrainian German Chancellor Angela Merkel fi re agreement brokered in Minsk ugee crisis, which peaked in 2015. It has seen a sharp increase ple since 2014. ence over the Donbass fi ghters and forces must stop the shelling of about arranging more talks. in 2015, including giving a special in migrant arrivals since the following year, when EU members A ceasefi re deal brokered by agree to relaunch peace talks. settlements in the Donbass that The Kremlin said Putin and Ze- status to the Donbass region. Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia began closing their borders.

Italian hydroponics farm bets on ‘red gold’

By Ella Ide, AFP impact on farming, it pushed Further on, vast basins shim- amid reports of contaminated Grosseto, Italy me to imagine a more effi cient, mer in the midday heat where farm produce and a sharp rise in technological way of farming styrofoam boards holding baby cancers, malformations and birth that produces more with less,” he lettuces are fl oated on a nutri- defects. he Italian tomato is prized said. ent-rich, oxygenated solution. The so-called “agro-mafi a” around the world, but its Hydroponics is a method of As the company expands, it business — the infi ltration of Treputation has soured in growing plants without soil, us- hopes to grow cabbages, spinach, organised crime along the agri- recent years over reports of mafi a ing water fortifi ed with mineral courgettes, peppers and auber- food chain in Italy, from pickers infi ltration, slave labour and tox- nutrients and oxygen instead. gines as well. to distributors — is worth 24.5bn ic fi res that poison water sources. Galimberti’s farm produces a Galimberti tapped private in- euros, according to a July report Southern Europe’s biggest hy- kilogramme of tomatoes or let- vestors and banks to raise the by farming association Coldiret- droponics farm is out to change tuce using just two litres of water, 20mn euros ($22.4mn) needed to ti. all that, by growing pesticide- compared to 75 in fi elds, he says. open the 13-hectare greenhouse, “The exploitation of work- free crops in environmentally Of those two litres, over 90% is which now employs 230 people ers combined with exhausting friendly greenhouses — and get- collected rainwater. and produces crops every day of conditions make picking in the ting bees to do the hard work. It relies on natural organisms the year. south an ignoble job,” said Gal- Set among organic vineyards to control pests and disease and Italian tomatoes — particularly imberti, who says his company’s in Tuscany, Sfera Agricola was the few plants that need to be the canned variety — have re- proper contracts and paid over- launched in 2015 by Luigi Gal- treated chemically are separated ceived bad press in recent years, time are “a rare thing in the sec- imberti as a response to repeated and their fruit destroyed. with rights charities warning tor”. UN warnings that food produc- “We use bumblebees to pol- that foreign workers are eff ec- Sfera Agricola has bet on a re- tion will need to increase sharply linate the fl owers, and we re- tively used as slave labour. turn to the Italian tomato’s glory An employee picks tomatoes at the Sfera Agricola hydroponic farm in Gavorrano. to feed the growing global popu- lease a series of insect predators The fruit dubbed “red gold”, days, producing three varieties lation. to combat the insects we fear,” destined for supermarket shelves that have fallen out of favour with and the fruit no longer drops off ripe, so they have to be picked the biggest players in the sector “The UN reminds us every year Galimberti said, adding that it around the world, is plucked in farmers and distributors, but that the vine when ripe,” he said. and eaten relatively quickly, he in Europe. that by 2050 there will be 10bn had led to the creation of new bee back-breaking conditions under the company is “bringing back to Thanks to the cubes of rock- said. But his toughest competition of us, and we’ll need double the colonies in a boost for the local a pitiless sun, for pitiful wages, supermarket shelves”. wool — a hydroponic growing “But they do not have ‘innova- may be much smaller, and closer amount of water and double the ecosystem. largely by Africans who live in “Over the last 50 years, the medium that mimics soil and tive’ characteristics, which gives to home. land to produce food for every- Pickers shuttle back and forth shanty towns. market has evolved rapidly for supports the roots — “the plant them a fl avour advantage,” Gal- “In Italy almost everyone has one,” Galimberti told AFP. on solar-powered platforms, The illegal dumping and burn- distribution and commercial is protected and we can use older, imberti said. someone in their family who “Along with the problems of delicately tying back the plants’ ing of toxic waste particularly in reasons. weaker varieties,” he added. He aims to build 500 hectares produces their own tomatoes. Or a suddenly-changing climate, upper branches as the fruit below southern Italy has also spooked Tomato skins have thickened Those have thinner skins and of hydroponic greenhouses in the their neighbour does, or the old which is having an ever-greater ripens. consumers over recent decades, so they last longer on the shelf, tend to fall off the plant when next 10 years, to become one of man next door.” Gulf Times 16 Thursday, August 8, 2019 INDIA

CRIME MYSTERY JUDICIARY APPOINTMENT CELEBRATIONS Punjab CM’s wife duped of No clue yet in Kerala film Court notice to Swamy on Two ex-journalists in Youngest Essar scion Rs2.3mn in online fraud director’s kidnapping doping charge against Rahul race for top post engaged to girlfriend

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh’s Police in Kerala investigating the kidnapping of A court has issued a notice to Bharatiya With Ashok Malik’s two-year term as the Wedding bells may soon ring in the Ruia family wife Preneet Kaur was duped of Rs2.3mn in Malayalam film director Nishad Hassan are yet Janata Party MP Subramanyam Swamy who President’s Press Secretary coming to an with the youngest member of the family, an online fraud, policed said yesterday. The to get any clue. Hassan was allegedly abducted has accused former Congress president end, several names are doing the rounds Rewant, the son of Essar founder Ravi Ruia, fraudster, who claimed to be a manager in on Wednesday morning in Peramangalam in Rahul Gandhi of consuming drugs. The as likely successors, including two from the getting engaged to his girlfriend Karishma the State Bank of India, was arrested and the Thrissur. A police off icial said hinted that there Jaipur Additional District Judge (ADJ)-1 Court Observer Research Foundation (ORF). Malik, Choraria, sources said. Considered one of the money had been recovered, the police said. was a dispute between the director and a yesterday asked Swamy to be present in the a journalist for 20 years before he joined most eligible bachelors of corporate India, The Patiala police said Kaur, a Congress MP, producer of the film Viplavam Jayikkanullathanu. court on September 11 at 10.30am and submit ORF as Distinguished Fellow and head of its Rewant’s engagement was organised at the was in New Delhi last week to attend the According to Hassan’s wife, who was injured in a reply to his statement made on July 5. Neighbourhood Regional Studies Initiative, Taj Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad last week. monsoon session of parliament when she the scuff le as she tried to prevent the abduction, Swamy had claimed that Gandhi takes cocaine declined an extension of the two-year term. The ceremony was attended only by close got the fraud call. The man sought her bank the couple were on way to pray for the success and he would fail a dope test if done. “This The names of Gautam Chikermane, vice family members and friends. Rewant’s fiancée account number, ATM pin and later the OTP of a film, released recently. “A car overtook our statement was aired across media channels, president at ORF and a former journalist, is Karishma, who grew up in London has a (one-time password), generated on her mobile vehicle and stopped in front of us. Three people, publication houses and hence the entire doing the rounds, as well as that of Hindol Marwari father and a Norwegian mother. The phone. As she shared her bank transaction wearing masks, forcefully took him away.” She nation came to know of it,” Congress general Sengupta, Senior Fellow at ORF, an award- couple has been in celebratory mood for some details, she received an SMS from the bank spoke to the media from a hospital, where she secretary Sushil Sharma said. “Those coming winning author and former journalist. When the time now. Recently, the two with some friends saying Rs2.3mn had been withdrawn from is under treatment for injuries on her neck. to the Congress office mocked us,” he added. government named Malik as press secretary, it took a private jet to a music festival in Miami. her account. She immediately informed the Viplavam Jayikkanullathanu, directed by Hassan Sharma filed a plea in the court saying that was made clear that the appointment was for The youngest Essar scion was in the news cyber cell of the police, which traced the caller and released last Friday, has created a record for the statement had been issued to tarnish the an initial term of two years. Earlier, it had been recently when NuMetal made a bid to take to Ranchi in Jharkhand. The police said the being the longest uncut movie. The nearly two- image of Gandhi and the Congress as well as the norm for the press secretary’s term to last over Essar Steel facing insolvency procedure fraudster was arrested along with a few others. hour-long film was made in a single shot. to reap political benefits. as long as the president’s. in the bankruptcy court.

Church sacks Kerala nun over protest Sushma given against bishop in rape case state funeral IANS Wayanad, Kerala

he Franciscan Clarist Con- gregation (FCC) yester- Tday dismissed Sister Lucy as top leaders Kalapurakkal from the church at Manathavady in Kerala for diso- beying church authorities. A high level committee of the FCC took the decision on May 11 after getting clearance from the Vatican. pay homage Sister Kalapurakkal had last year supported a protest by nuns IANS one of the tallest leaders in In- years and who passed away last in the state demanding the arrest New Delhi dia,” he said. month. of Bishop Franco Mulakkal, who Others spoke about her moral Swaraj and Dikshit were the has been accused of rape. values and the skills. only two women to rule the na- Mulakkal headed the Roman he last rites of former “She was always present when tional capital. Both died of car- Catholic Diocese in Jalandhar at foreign minister Sushma the party needed her. She had diac arrest. the time. TSwaraj were held at the values and she was aff ectionate Both were among the promi- A nun had fi led a case accusing Dayanand crematorium on Lo- to people,” said Raj Kumar Shar- nent women politicians in the against Mulakkal of raping her at dhi Road in New Delhi yesterday ma, a BJP worker from Haryana’s country. Kerala’s Kuravilangad church with full state honours. Ballabgarh area. When Dikshit died on July 20, between 2014 and 2016. Mu- The 67-year-old veteran Swaraj had tweeted: “We were lakkal was arrested in September Bharatiya Janata Party leader “Above all, it was her warm opponents in politics but friends following the protest and is cur- died on Tuesday night following personal qualities that in personal life.” rently out on bail. a cardiac arrest. Her body was brought a special lustre Madan Lal Khurana, a Jan However, Sister Kalapurakkal kept at the party headquarters in to her years in public and Sangh and BJP stalwart who became a target of the church the heart of the capital for public political life” was the chief minister of Delhi, authorities after she joined the to pay homage. passed away in October 2018 af- nuns’ protest against the delay Prime Minister Narendra Congress leader Sonia Gandhi ter a prolonged illness. in Mulakkal’s arrest. Modi, Vice President Venkaiah said Swaraj was a woman of ex- Sahib Singh Verma, another Since then she had been re- Naidu, BJP stalwart L K Advani, traordinary gifts and gave Indian BJP chief minister of Delhi, was ceiving notices from the church federal Ministers Rajnath Singh diplomacy a human face as she already dead by then. on fl imsy charges such as airing and Amit Shah and senior lead- reached out to help citizens in In her political career span- her opinion about the bishop on ers of other parties attended the distress. ning over fi ve decades, Swaraj TV channels, owning a car and funeral. In her condolence letter to got the credit of being the fi rst writing a book. Earlier, amid heavy deploy- Swaraj’s husband Swaraj Kaush- on many counts. Speaking to the media at her ment of commandos, and hun- al, Gandhi said: “I am shocked She was the fi rst full-time convent, Sister Kalapurakkal dreds of armed Delhi police and deeply saddened at the sud- woman external aff airs minister said that two senior nuns yester- personnel, Swaraj’s body was den passing away of your belov- (2014-19). Former prime min- day asked her to sign a letter. “I brought to the crematorium. ed wife.” ister Indira Gandhi headed the told them I will not sign the let- Her admirers were in tears as Gandhi said Swaraj’s courage, ministry for a short span multi- ter till I read it. It was after that her mortal remains made their determination, dedication and ple times. they allowed me to read the let- way from her residence to the ability were manifest in every Swaraj was also the fi rst wom- ter. The fi rst sentence said that I BJP headquarters. position she held. an Leader of Opposition in the have been dismissed and asked It was a short journey but “Above all, it was her warm Lok Sabha – between 2009 and to vacate the convent in 10 days,” scores of admirers who sprinted personal qualities that brought a 2014. she said. along with the vehicle trans- special lustre to her years in pub- She entered politics when few “I never did anything wrong. porting her body ahead of the lic and political life,” she said. women did so. She was not only All I did was to lend support last rites kept shouting slogans The death of Swaraj, a politi- the fi rst woman spokesperson in to the hapless nuns, who were hailing the veteran politician – cian of many fi rsts, marks an end the BJP but also in any national protesting. What’s the problem, and frequently breaking down. to a political era in Delhi, where party. if I own a car or write a book?” Many explained why they she was the last of surviving She became the youngest cab- asked the nun. were drawn to Swaraj. former chief ministers after the inet minister in Haryana at age “I will now seek legal recourse “She was one of the best MPs death of Congress veteran Sheila 25 in 1977. with the help of my well-wish- we had, a good orator and above Dikshit. Born to a father who was ers. I don’t think I am bad in any all she was a human with a heart Swaraj became the fi rst wom- a member of the Rashtriya respect compared to the over of gold,” Thirunavukkarusar, a an chief minister of Delhi in Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), 7,000 nuns in our congregation. Congress MP from Tamil Nadu, 1998, albeit for a short period. Swaraj joined the BJP after the I consider myself a very good A worker decorates an ambulance with flowers and a picture of former foreign minister Sushma told IANS. Her successor was Dikshit, who 1975-77 Emergency – and stead- nun,” she added. Swaraj at the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters in New Delhi yesterday. “She will be remembered as went on to occupy the post for 15 ily rose in the ranks.

23 properties of IMA scam ‘Air hostesses’ to give fl ight-like accused seized The Karnataka government service on Vande Bharat train has seized 23 properties of an accused in the IMA Jewellers scam valued at Rs300 crore IANS ing to be named. The move is service but also “improve commu- in five districts across the New Delhi part of a six-month pilot project nication” with passengers. southern state, an official said to take forward Prime Minis- The pilot project was launched yesterday. ter Narendra Modi and Railway a month ago and the response “We have seized 23 properties fter its high-tech interi- Minister Piyush Goyal’s dream has been “amazing”, he said. belonging to Mansoor Khan in ors and tasty meals, the of making the railways more If the project is successful, the Bengaluru, Chikkamagaluru, Asuperfast Delhi-Varanasi competitive by providing world IRCTC would fl oat a tender to Davangere, Hassan and Kolar as Vande Bharat Express will now class service to passengers. hire more such personnel for the part of the investigation into the have smartly-dressed ‘air host- Besides adding to passenger Vande Bharat Express as well as multi-crore ponzi scheme scam,” esses’ on board handing out food comfort, the railways also hopes other premium trains like Rajd- Bengaluru Urban District Deputy to passengers. the move will help minimise hani, Shatabdi, Tejas and Hum- Commissioner K. Srinivas said in Indian Railways has hired over complaints about shoddy be- safar Express trains. a statement. 34 ‘air hostesses and fl ight stew- haviour of pantry staff . IRCTC spokesperson Sid- The previous Congress-Janata Dal ards’ to care for passengers on Just like on an airline fl ight, dharth Singh said that air host- (Secular) coalition government Vande Bharat, which was inau- the air hostesses and fl ight esses and stewards would be had set up a Special Investigation gurated on February 15. stewards would greet passen- paid Rs25,000 a month. Team (SIT) on June 11 to probe The air hostesses, attired in gers with a smile and ‘namastey’ Earlier, the pantry staff the scam in which about 40,000 white shirt and black trousers while boarding and thank them were paid around Rs8,000 to people from across the state and with a black sleeveless jacket, a while leaving. Rs10,000 a month by a private outside were allegedly duped of silk scarf, and with the hair smart- IRCTC managing director company hired for providing their hard-earned money they ly combed back, would wheel in M P Mall told IANS, “We have services. invested in Khan’s scheme in the food trolleys, laden with food hired 34 air hostesses and fl ight The prime minister fl agged off the form of deposits, gold and and drinks for the passengers. stewards from the Air Borne the Vande Bharat Express chair- jewellery. The Indian Rail Catering and Air Hostess Academy in Delhi car train from New Delhi to his “We are seeking the special Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to provide fl ight-like hospital- parliamentary constituency court’s permission to interrogate has hired the air hostesses and ity services on board the Vande Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh on Khan as he is lodged in the fl ight stewards on Vande Bharat, Bharat Express.” February 15. It covers the 850km central jail under a 14-day judicial which was earlier named Train He said the pilot project is aimed distance in eight hours, com- The pilot project was launched a month ago and the railways hopes the move will help minimise custody since August 1,” an SIT 18, a railway offi cial said, declin- at not only improving the catering pared to 12 hours by other trains. complaints about the shoddy behaviour of pantry staff. off icial told IANS. Gulf Times Thursday, August 8, 2019 17 INDIA Modi’s strongarm move is a gamble, say analysts

AFP land and jobs, is widely seen as clampdowns it has seen. there will be an escalation of vio- of growing resentment. status after independence. stan, whose Prime Minister Im- New Delhi Modi’s most spectacular eff ort Tens of thousands of extra lence,” he told AFP. “People are not going to take But many remain uncomfort- ran Khan vowed on Tuesday to yet to push his nationalist agenda troops enforced a blanket curfew D S Hooda, a retired lieutenant this lying down,” said Iltija Javed, able with the manner in which challenge India’s “illegal” action after a landslide election victory on top of a total communica- general who once commanded daughter of former Kashmir chief that status was stripped away, at the UN Security Council. rime Minister Narendra in May. tions blackout, but reports still Indian forces in Kashmir, also minister Mehbooba Mufti who using a presidential decree with Sadanand Dhume, an ana- Modi’s strongarm move to His government insists it will emerged of sporadic protests and voiced fears of “anger, alienation was detained at the weekend. no debate in Kashmir and only lyst at the American Enterprise Ptighten control on Jammu bring peace and prosperity, but gunfi re in the streets. and law and order disturbances”. “It’s not physically possible to token discussion in the parlia- Institute in Washington, said and Kashmir is a gamble that the massive military reinforce- A S Dulat, a former chief of India already had 500,000 keep people under captivity for ment. it was still too early to say if could trigger conflict with Pa- ment that accompanied the the Indian intelligence serv- troops in Kashmir before the re- the rest of their lives,” Javed told “The manner of its execution Modi’s move would be seen “as kistan and re-ignite an insur- measure is a clear acknowledge- ice and government adviser on inforcements arrived. AFP from Srinagar. – while extraordinarily effi cient a wise decision or an historic gency that has already cost tens ment of the underlying risks. Kashmir, said keeping a lid on Militant activity, after some Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party – has brought deceit, disinfor- blunder.” of thousands of lives, experts While many Hindus celebrat- violence was critical if Modi years of decline, reared up after believes it is righting a histori- mation and communal politics, “But two things are clear: India warn. ed, the Kashmir Valley – focus of was to claim victory for his dra- the killing of charismatic rebel cal wrong which saw outsiders once again, to the centre stage,” has ignored Kashmiri sentiment, Revoking Kashmir’s special a 30-year-old insurgency against matic power play. leader Burhan Wani in 2016, – mainly Hindus – excluded South Asia counter terrorism ex- and taken a risky decision with status, stripping away constitu- Indian rule – was smothered un- “But, my own apprehension is and Kashmiris say the current from economic power when pert Ajai Sahni told AFP. almost unfathomable implica- tionally guaranteed privileges to der one of the heaviest security there will be repercussions and lockdown will only fuel a sense Kashmir was granted privileged Another key concern is Paki- tions,” Dhume said. Displaced Pandits hope to eventually return home

Agencies said Hak, who lives close to New New Delhi Delhi. The Pandit community says nearly 400,000 of them had to indus forced out of Mus- fl ee Kashmir. lim-majority Kashmir Many want accountability for Hdecades ago are jubilant violence back then. at the government’s decision to “Finally Kashmiri minorities, allow all citizens the right to set- particularly the Kashmiri Pan- tle there, with many considering dits, will receive justice,” Vijay K an eventual return home if con- Sazawal, representing the Indo- ditions are secure. American Kashmir Forum, said Aiming to integrate the state in a statement. fully into India, Prime Minister The Global Kashmiri Pandits Narendra Modi’s government has Diaspora praised Modi’s move as scrapped rules under Article 370 a vindication of their members’ of the constitution restricting aspirations. A man walks past closed shops in Jammu yesterday. Armed federal police manned mobile checkpoints across the city, limiting people’s movement. property purchases, state jobs and “It brightens the prospect of college places to residents only. a return to their homeland with “It is a welcome fi rst step,” said honour and dignity and restitu- Surinder Koul, international co- tion according to their free will,” ordinator of the Global Kashmiri it said. Pandit Diaspora, which represents Meanwhile, the government is displaced Hindus from the region. likely to put in place a provision Hundreds of thousands were of ‘domicile’ requirement for Kashmir streets deserted forced out of Kashmir, losing various purposes like purchase homes and many lives, when a of land to protect the interests of revolt erupted against Indian rule the citizens of the newly-formed in 1989. Union Territory. Many of them were Hindu The requirement of domicile is minorities – known as Kash- likely to be modelled on Himach- as sporadic protests erupt miri Pandits – who later lived in al Pradesh and some other states. camps across India. Senior Bharatiya Janata Party Reuters over the telecoms clampdown By night, police vans had pa- were also frequently stopped at staff numbers dwindle. Most have not gone back. leader of Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar that began on Sunday. trolled the streets, with loud- checkpoints, with access some- “If we go, we don’t know Now they want the govern- Nirmal Singh, said his party unit “These (protests) are mostly speakers warning residents to times blocked. whether we’ll be able to come ment to propose a concrete plan has already given this suggestion localised because of the heavy stay indoors. The principal of Srinagar’s back in case there’s any compli- for their resettlement. to the central government and it housands of security forc- troop deployment,” said a police Jammu and Kashmir Governor Government Medical College, cation,” said Syed Tabasum, a A 2015 blueprint by Kashmir’s is under consideration. es kept a lid on protests in offi cer who sought anonymity Satya Pal had asked offi cials to which runs the state’s largest cancer surgery patient worried state government to resettle “Some elements are spreading TJammu and Kashmir yes- because he was not authorised ensure people had enough sup- hospital network, comprising at having to leave before her dis- Pandits proposed guarded colo- that after the end of Article 370, the terday, helped by the continued to speak to media, adding that plies and assured them of their about 3,500 beds, has to per- charge set for tomorrow. nies with schools, malls, hos- jobs and land of the citizens of Jam- suspension of telephone and In- police used tear gas and pepper security, ANI news agency said in sonally visit district officials Srinagar’s fi re offi cials also fear pitals and playgrounds, people mu and Kashmir will be snatched ternet services after the state’s spray to scatter the protesters. a report. to co-ordinate services or seek people might not be able to reach with knowledge of the plan said. away. This disinformation needs to special status was scrapped this A witness described an epi- Local authorities have not approvals, a hospital official them in emergencies. Many from the community re- be countered,” he said. week. sode of hours of stone-throwing declared a curfew, but instead said. “Communication is a lifeline,” jected that, saying it was insuffi - Explaining the concept of China and Pakistan have on Tuesday in the Old Barzullah clamped down on non-essential “The principal doesn’t have said one fi re offi cial, who re- cient to ensure their security. domicile, he said there could be voiced fi erce opposition to In- area near the city centre, saying, travel and gatherings of four or any means of communication,” quested anonymity. Despite Hindu delight at Mo- a provision that anybody want- dia’s move dropping Article 370, “I saw around 100 boys, in small more, eff ectively keeping restive added the offi cial, who asked not “Only if someone contacts us di’s move, rapid resettlement ing to buy land or be eligible for a constitutional provision that groups, pelting stones.” people in their homes. to be identifi ed. can we do something.” does not look likely. jobs in Kashmir should have lived had allowed the country’s only He added, “The police fi red South Kashmir, the epicentre “Police stations have been giv- A radio communications net- Ashok Hak, a Kashmiri Hindu there for a certain period of time. Muslim-majority state to make tear gas to beat them back.” of the insurgency in recent years, en satellite phones but not him. work links the city’s 21 fi re sta- and retired brigadier general in Such a requirement exists in its own laws. Prime Minister Narendra Mo- was completely locked down, That shows their (government’s) tions, but with telephone lines the army, said any return would Himachal Pradesh and some Streets in the main city of Sri- di’s government detained state said a state government offi cial priority.” down and no satellite phones, depend on how Kashmiris react. other states, said Singh. nagar were deserted for a third leaders and heads of separatist who visited the area. About 200 police and local fi remen can only be alerted by a Hours before Monday’s deci- Asked about the government’s day, with almost all shops shut, groups before Monday’s an- “The highway was deserted, administration offi cials have call from police or an individual sion, authorities arrested local response to the suggestion, he barring some chemists. nouncement, which also split the except for some trucks and buses received satellite phones, with who visits a fi restation. leaders and cut off mobile, Inter- said it is being “considered”. Armed federal police manned state into two federal territories – carrying labourers out of the val- several hundred more using a re- One such individual told au- net and cable television networks He said such a provision is mobile checkpoints across the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh ley,” added the offi cial, who asked stricted military network, a po- thorities of a three-storey blaze to prevent protests. likely to be made in the details to city, limiting people’s movement. – to ensure greater control. not to be named. lice offi cial said. late on Monday, but by the time “For some time there will be be outlined in the aftermath of Knots of young protesters All telephone, television, and Offi cials of emergency serv- One hospital that is part of fi re trucks got to the site, the fi re trouble there, but in the past In- scrapping of applicability of Ar- threw stones at soldiers, police Internet connections stayed sev- ices, such as hospitals and the the medical college asked pa- had destroyed the fi rst fl oor, an- dia has controlled such unrest,” ticle 370. and a witness said, amid anger ered. fi re department, said their staff tients to leave as doctors and other fi re offi cial said. J&K will see a new dawn of Doval interacts with Kashmiris over lunch development: Ram Madhav IANS South Kashmir’s Shopian. IANS Madhav criticised opposition a decision about Article 370; that Shopian, Jammu and Kashmir Between bites of wazwan, Jaipur parties for terming it a bad deci- is an internal matter. No other a traditional Kashmiri meal, sion and added, “This is right for nation has locus standi to react Doval was seen explaining to Kashmir”. on this.” ays after the govern- the people how the new set- eople of Jammu and Kash- Meanwhile, Madhav, former The opposition Congress ment revoked Article up would ease people’s lives by mir would see a new era external aff airs minister Yashwant which was split over the move D 370 of the constitution improving health facilities and Pof development with the Sinha and BJP ally Janata Dal- presented a united front at its that gave a special status to education. scrapping of Article 370, Bharati- United criticised Pakistan for Working Committee (CWC) Jammu and Kashmir, National “The government will make ya Janata Party (BJP) vice presi- downgrading diplomatic ties with meeting, party sources said. Security Adviser Ajit Doval every eff ort to improve the edu- dent Ram Madhav said yesterday. India over the decision, saying it A senior Congress leader who was spotted yesterday hav- cation of the children in the val- “The people of J&K will join was India’s internal matter. participated in the meeting on ing lunch with local residents ley. It might not be as good as the development league with the “Well I am not surprised,” Sin- Tuesday said that leaders like here, in a bid to show that nor- the private institutes, but you’ll scrapping of Article 370. They ha told IANS. Jyotiraditya Scindia, Deepender malcy was slowly returning to defi nitely see an improvement,” would get the benefi ts of devel- “I agree with the central gov- Singh Hooda and others, who the Kashmir Valley. he told the people. opment in the form of health and ernment’s stand that Jammu and have spoken against the party Doval was in Kashmir to as- Earlier, the NSA met Gover- education facilities, which will Kahmir is an internal matter of line, were on the back foot during sess the security situation in nor Satya Pal Malik at the Raj now reach the interiors of the India and they have no right to the meeting. the state, which was put under Bhavan in Srinagar. He also state,” he said. interfere in India’s internal mat- However, he said even Con- curfew hours ahead of the gov- addressed groups of Jammu Madhav said the BJP govern- ters.” gress Parliamentary Party chair- ernment’s announcement. All and Kashmir police, Central ment had made amendments to His remarks came soon after person Sonia Gandhi, outgoing communication, including the Reserve Police Force and army Article 370 respecting all con- Pakistan downgraded diplomatic party chief Rahul Gandhi and Internet, mobile and landlines personnel to boost their morale stitutional grounds, and added ties with India, expelled the In- general secretary Priyanka Gan- were also snapped. in the state’s altered scenario. “the strong willpower of leaders dian High Commissioner and dhi Vadra avoided speaking di- Yesterday, however, the NSA He said he was aware of the helped us accomplish it. We re- suspended bilateral trade. rectly against the government’s was spotted sitting and inter- dangers the security forces are spected and abided by all consti- Madhav too said that Paki- move but criticised for the way acting with a handful of local facing as he himself had been a tutional procedures to take a step stan’s decision was unfortunate. in which it was done without fol- National Security Adviser Ajit Doval shares lunch with local residents in people outside shuttered shops part of the security set-up for forward towards.” “Indian parliament had taken lowing procedures. Shopian yesterday. in an empty market place in the past 52 years. Gulf Times 18 Thursday, August 8, 2019 LATIN AMERICA

Court orders Lula’s transfer to Sao Paulo prison Backlash feared A judge in Brazil yesterday ordered the Lula is living in a room, not a cell. Lebbos the convicting judge in 2017, had been transfer of jailed leftist icon Luiz Inacio said Lula would be transferred to Sao biased, which could lead to a review of Lula da Silva to a prison in Sao Paulo, Paulo where he would be closer to Lula’s case. citing the inadequacy of the current family and have better conditions for Moro, the powerful judge behind the Car over crackdown facility. “resocialisation”. Wash probe before he was appointed The ex-president is serving eight years The court order did not say when Lula to President Jair Bolsonaro’s Cabinet, and 10 months for accepting a bribe would be transferred. has been accused of conspiring with as part of a massive kickback scheme A Sao Paulo court said Lula would be prosecutors to keep Lula out of the 2018 on wildcatting involving state oil giant Petrobras. held in the Doctor Jose Augusto Cesar election race that he was favoured to Since April 2018, Lula has been Salgado Penitentiary II in Tremembe, win. incarcerated at the federal police some 150kms from the state capital. Scores of high profile politicians and headquarters in the southern city of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Lula’s lawyers have demanded the business leaders have been caught up in Ecuador miners Curitiba, where a group of supporters former president be kept in conditions the years-long investigation. has been camped out to demand his stretched security resources, Federal “compatible” with his current Lula was sentenced to almost 13 years in release. Judge Carolina Lebbos said. accommodation. jail in February in a separate corruption Reuters $742mn in foreign direct invest- Police have requested Lula’s transfer, Another issue was the design of the They also pushed for the supreme case and still faces another half dozen Buenos Aires, Ecuador ment in the mining sector, more claiming the presence of “antagonistic federal police headquarters, which was court to decide quickly on whether corruption trials. than double 2017 levels. groups” outside the facility had not suitable for long-term prisoners. Justice Minister Sergio Moro, who was He has denied all the charges. Moreno cheered the recent cuador’s market-friendly opening of the Chinese-owned President Lenin Moreno is Mirador copper mine in south- Ecracking down on illegal ern Ecuador, as well as progress gold miners, who are increas- at SolGold PLC’s Cascabel ingly encroaching on formal project in mountainous Imbabu- mines, but keeping them away ra province. from an Australian billionaire’s That is where the concessions concession for good may prove a of Hancock’s local subsidiary, tall order. Hanrine, are also located. Moreno last month sent 4,000 But obstacles have emerged. troops and police to clear thou- Communities near the Cas- sands of miners from a gold and cabel mine challenged the copper mining concession be- project, seeking a popular ref- longing to Hancock Prospect- erendum. That has been turned ing, controlled by Gina Rinehart, back by Ecuador’s Constitution- Australia’s wealthiest person. al Court, but similar challenges Now, with the area under a are pending. 60-day state of emergency and Several companies, including military and police guarding Canadian explorers Core Gold nearby Buenos Aires parish, au- and Luminex Resources have thorities say illegal mining, also alerted investors to risks posed known as wildcatting, at the by illegal miners, ranging from Imba-2 concession has stopped. depletion of reserves to environ- But the move, which followed mental damages for which they a request by Rinehart’s company could be held accountable. that its contract be suspended Hancock declined to com- due to the unrest, now risks ment. Core Gold and Luminex sparking a backlash with locals. did not respond to requests for For dwellers of the hardscrab- comment. ble agricultural community, the Illegal miners fl ocked to Han- “plastic city” of tents and make- rine’s Imba-2 concession soon shift restaurants near the mines after a farmer struck fool’s gold brought a jolt of economic activ- while building a nearby road in ity to the remote, mountainous late 2017. As the ensuing gold area. rush attracted thousands, the Some wildcat miners pledge government grew concerned to return once the emergency about human traffi cking, envi- measures end. ronmental damages and extor- Pro-government protesters rally against US sanctions in Caracas yesterday. “This town was left poorer tion by armed rebel groups. than it had been in a lifetime,” As a result, Hanrine could not said 50-year-old Buenos Aires access the area. In March 2018, resident Alba Martinez, whose authorities issued a resolution husband abandoned his crops ordering the end of illegal min- when he went to work at the ing on the concession. mine two years ago. But the wildcat mining con- After the operation, he and the tinued to grow, and this March couples’ two sons — also miners Hanrine requested that its con- — left town looking for work. tract be suspended so that the China slams US for The standoff underscores a clock on its four-year explora- wider conundrum for govern- tion licence would stop ticking, ments in the developing world, according to Santiago Chamor- including Latin American, Afri- ro, who co-ordinates mining can and Asian countries, as they policy for Ecuador’s northern seek to court big miners and the region. jobs and tax revenues they typi- He said the suspension was cally bring in, while trying to granted on July 19. The state of ‘bullying’ Venezuela avoid a backlash among locals, emergency in Buenos Aires, one many of whom see wildcat pros- of several such crackdowns on AFP curity Adviser John Bolton urged Venezuela has been mired in During the meeting, Bol- which denounced the US move pecting as their birthright. illegal mining by Moreno, ended Beijing China and Russia to avoid doing a political impasse since Janu- ton singled out Maduro allies as “another serious aggression “Of course, illegal mining an economic boom that had tak- business with the Maduro gov- ary when Guaido, speaker of the China and Russia, telling them by the Trump administration generates uncertainty,” Ecuado- en hold in the area. ernment, after President Donald National Assembly, proclaimed their “support to the Maduro through arbitrary economic rean Vice President Otto Son- Buenos Aires resident Mar- hina yesterday hit back Trump ordered a freeze on all himself acting president, government is intolerable”. He terrorism against the Venezue- nenholzner, who chairs a task tinez, for example, had taken out at remarks from a top Venezuelan government assets quickly receiving the support of also urged Russia not to “dou- lan people.” force on combating illegal min- loans to run a catering business, CUS offi cial who warned in the US and barred transac- more than 50 countries. ble down on a bad bet,” and told The Lima meeting came as ing, said on the sidelines of a which disappeared overnight af- Beijing and Moscow against tions with its authorities. Beijing, which has had close China that “the quickest route representatives of Maduro and conference last month. “There’s ter authorities cleared the mine. supporting the government of Bolton’s comments are “a relations with Maduro over the to getting repaid” for its loans to Guaido are involved in “contin- no question of that. But what is On a Friday morning about Venezuelan President Nicolas wanton interference in Ven- years and is one of Caracas’s main Venezuela was by supporting “a uous” negotiations mediated by certain is that the national gov- two weeks ago, the 60 soldiers Maduro, and called on Wash- ezuela’s internal aff airs,” said creditors, has repeatedly warned new legitimate government.” Norway. The fi rst round of talks ernment will not tolerate any il- and police occupying the town ington to stop “bullying” other Chinese foreign ministry against foreign interference in the Earlier Russia’s foreign min- was in Oslo in May, and three legal activity.” vastly outnumbered residents countries. spokeswoman Hua Chunying in South American country. istry said there was “no legal further rounds have taken place Moreno has courted the sector out on the streets, while restau- The US is one of more than 50 an online statement. On Tuesday, delegates from basis” to freeze Venezuelan as- in Barbados. by eliminating a windfall tax on rants, inns and credit unions all countries backing opposition “China urges the US to...let about 60 countries discussed sets and added that “no state Caracas claims the US sanc- miners, lowering a sliding scale had their doors shut. leader Juan Guaido in Venezue- the Venezuelan people decide ways of ending the crisis in has the right to dictate its desire tions show that Washington of royalty payments, and reduc- “The people have left, and la, whereas China and several their own future and immedi- Venezuela in a meeting called by to another through economic and its allies are “committed to ing a capital gains tax on mining now we do not have anything. other countries, including Rus- ately stop the bullying actions the Lima Group, which includes repression.” the failure of the political dia- company transfers. There is not a single source of sia, support Maduro. of suppressing other countries a dozen Latin American coun- The sanctions have drawn an logue” because “they fear the Last year, Ecuador received jobs,” she said. On Tuesday, US National Se- at every turn,” she said. tries and Canada. angry response from Caracas, results and benefi ts.” Brazil president rejects Military parade Mexico robbers steal $2.5mn in gold coins deforestation concerns That makes the total value of Reuters Mexico City the haul at least $2.5mn. Guardian News and Media “imprecise” satellite data show- tion under Bolsonaro. What was The coin was fi rst minted Brasilia ing a jump in deforestation. not yet clear was if the devasta- in 1921 to commemorate the Bolsonaro ridiculed what he tion was “going up, going up a rmed robbers broke into 100th anniversary of Mexico’s called his depiction as “Capitao lot, or skyrocketing”. a Mexican government independence from Spain, ac- eforestation in the Brazil- Motoserra” (‘Captain Chain- Batista blamed Bolsonaro’s Acoin manufacturer and cording to the central bank. ian Amazon “exploded” saw’). “anti-environmental” discourse fi lled a backpack with more Production was suspended Din July it has emerged as But as he spoke, offi cial data and policies – such as slashing the than $2mn worth of gold coins in 1931, but the coin was re- Jair Bolsonaro scoff ed at his por- laid bare the scale of the envi- budget of Brazil’s environmental from a vault that had been left minted beginning in 1943 due trayal as Brazil’s ‘Captain Chain- ronmental crisis currently un- agency, Ibama – for the surge. open, security offi cials said. to demand for gold coins. saw’ and mocked Emmanuel folding in the world’s biggest “It’s almost as if a licence to The daylight robbery was One side bears Mexico’s coat Macron and Angela Merkel for rainforest, of which about 60% deforest illegally and with im- the latest high-profi le crime to of arms, with an eagle perched challenging him over the devas- is in Brazil. punity has been given, now that hit Mexico City, where crime atop a cactus, and the other tation. According to a report in the you have the (environmental) in- has increased during record features the capital’s iconic Speaking in Sao Paulo, Brazil’s Estado de Sao Paulo newspaper, spection and control teams be- lawlessness plaguing the Angel of Independence monu- president attacked the leaders of Amazon destruction “exploded” ing attacked by no less than the country. ment backed by the majestic France and Germany – who have in July with an estimated 2,254 sq president of the republic and the Two people, one wielding a Iztaccihuatl and Popocatepetl both voiced concern about the km of forest cleared, according to environment minister,” Batista fi rearm, broke into a “Casa de volcanoes. surge in destruction since Bol- preliminary data gathered by Bra- added. “This is a very worrying Moneda” branch in the morn- The coins, 37mm (1.46 inch- sonaro took offi ce in January. zil’s National Institute for Space moment.” ing after throwing a security es) in diameter, have a gold “They still haven’t realised Research, the government agency The spike in destruction un- guard to the ground and tak- fi neness of 0.900, or 90% pu- Brazil’s under new manage- that monitors deforestation. der Bolsonaro – who was elected ing his gun, Mexico City police rity. ment,” Bolsonaro declared to That is an area about half the with the support of powerful said. The same Casa de Moneda cheers of approval from his size of Philadelphia and report- mining and agricultural sectors One of the robbers then branch was also broken into audience. “Now we’ve got a edly represents a 278% rise on – has come as a shock to environ- went to the vault, which was last year while the building was blooming president.” the 596.6 sq km destroyed in July mentalists, but not a surprise. open, and fi lled a backpack being renovated, according to The far-right populist repeat- last year. During a visit to the Ama- with 1,567 gold coins, police Mexican media. ed claims that his administration Romulo Batista, a Green- zon last year Bolsonaro told the said. Mexico is suff ering from – which critics accuse of helping peace campaigner based in the Guardian that as president he The coins, known as “cente- record murder levels that have unleash a new wave of environ- Amazon city of Manaus, said the would target “cowardly” en- Soldiers participate in a military parade commemorating the narios,” have a face value of 50 made the capital, long regard- mental destruction – was the numbers – while preliminary vironmental NGOs who were 194th anniversary of the foundation of the Bolivian armed pesos, but trade for 31,500 pe- ed as a relatively safe haven, victim of a mendacious interna- – were troubling and showed a “sticking their noses” into Bra- forces in El Alto, in the outskirts of La Paz, Bolivia. sos ($1,610) apiece, according increasingly prone to violent tional smear campaign based on clear trend of rising deforesta- zil’s domestic aff airs. to Mexican bank Banorte. crime. Gulf Times Thursday, August 8, 2019 19 PAKISTAN

Former finance minister arrested over ‘LNG case’

Opposition Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) leader Pakistan downgrades ties and former finance minister Miftah Ismail was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) yesterday after the Islamabad High Court rejected his bail plea. Ismail had approached the IHC with India, to expel envoy for pre-arrest bail in what is called the ‘LNG case’. His plea was heard AFP The statement, released by a division bench comprising Islamabad after Prime Minister Imran Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Khan chaired a fresh meeting Mohsin Kayani. of the National Security Com- The PML-N leader was taken akistan downgraded its mittee, branded Modi’s decree into custody from outside the diplomatic ties with In- “unilateral and illegal” and Islamabad High Court. Pdia yesterday, announc- said there will be a “review of Last month the IHC had granted ing that it will expel the Indian bilateral arrangements”. interim bail to the former finance envoy and suspend trade in a Khan “directed that all dip- minister in the LNG case against deepening row over New Delhi’s lomatic channels be activated bonds worth Rs500,000. clampdown on Kashmir. to expose the brutal Indian On July 18 the accountability India stripped the Himalayan racist regime”, the statement watchdog had carried out a raid region of its seven-decade-long added. at the residence of Ismail, but he semi-autonomous status on He also called on the was not at his residence. The NAB Monday through a presiden- military to continue its chairperson had signed the arrest tial decree, just hours after it “vigilance”. warrant of Ismail. imposed a curfew on the valley. The Pakistani statements On the same day, former prime Delhi has insisted that the came as Washington refuted minister and PML-N leader Shahid ending of semi-autonomy reports that it had been con- Khaqan Abbasi had been arrested for the region is an internal sulted by New Delhi over the in Islamabad in relation to the matter. move in Kashmir. same LNG case. But Islamabad has called “Contrary to press report- for the international commu- ing, the Indian government did Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, left, chairs a National Security Committee meeting along with armed forces chiefs and other government nity to intervene and vowed to not consult or inform the US off icials in Islamabad yesterday. Ban on high-rises take the matter to the United Government before moving to Nations Security Council. revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s New Delhi strenuously denied. stan, prompting tit-for-tat air tion, where only local resi- peared a ghost town yesterday near airports to be “We will call back our am- special constitutional status,” India has always insisted strikes over the mountainous dents could buy land or take as a security lockdown took removed bassador from Delhi and US acting assistant secretary of the Kashmir issue can only region and igniting brief fears government jobs. hold under tens of thousands send back their” envoy, For- state for South Asia Alice Wells be resolved bilaterally with of a nuclear clash. Its new status is as a territo- of additional troops. The federal government has eign Minister Shah Mehmood tweeted. Pakistan. The Pakistani military said ry directly ruled by New Delhi. Armed soldiers on corners decided to remove a ban on Qureshi announced in televised Earlier this week the US The region has been divided on Tuesday that it “fi rmly Modi’s government insists and in front of barbed wire the construction of high-rise comments yesterday. called for peace and urged between the two countries stands” with Kashmiris. Chi- this will bring peace and pros- barricades were among the few buildings in the vicinity of airports He spoke as the government respect for rights in Kashmir. since their independence from na, which also claims part of perity, but experts warned the people to be seen in the streets. in Karachi, Lahore, Multan and released a statement declar- US President Donald Britain in 1947. Kashmir, has objected to New move is a gamble that could “We know Kashmir is Peshawar. ing that Pakistan will suspend Trump last month claimed, Earlier this year they came Delhi’s “unacceptable” moves trigger confl ict with Pakistan seething, it will explode A source said that the decision trade with India, though the during a meeting with Paki- to the brink of war once more, on Kashmir. and reignite the insurgency. into violence but we don’t in the matter has been made bitter rivalry between the two stan’s Khan, that Modi had after a deadly attack in Indian- Kashmir was previously a The summer capital Srina- know when,” a security offi - in principle and it was to be means that such trade remains asked Trump to help mediate held Kashmir was claimed by a semi-autonomous state with gar, the main city in Indian- cial told AFP on condition of approved in the federal cabinet negligible. the Kashmir dispute, a claim militant group based in Paki- its own fl ag and constitu- administered Kashmir, ap- anonymity. meeting scheduled but it was postponed due to a joint session of the parliament on the Kashmir issue. No new date of the meeting has been announced so far. The agenda of the meeting contains 12 points of which point Court to indict SC issues notice to Sindh three relates to the aviation ministry regarding high-rise constructions at Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Multan airports. Gilani in govt ads It was also learnt that the CM over dual nationality government has allowed the construction of multi-storey Internews irio, a political rival of the chief a certifi cate from the Cana- petition, had then dissented buildings in the federal capital. case on Aug 27 Islamabad minister. dian authorities about can- from the majority judgement Prime Minister Imran Khan has On January 23, an SC bench cellation of his citizenship on by posing a number of consti- often mentioned “sky is the Internews pany secretary, USF; and Mu- headed by Justice Bandial July 18, 2013. tutional questions needed to be limit” in his several speeches Islamabad hamed Hanif, former PA to he Supreme Court of had rejected the petition on The judgement observed that addressed. in connection with high-rise PRO of IT, over misuse of au- Pakistan has issued a the grounds that political ri- since the RO had in his order Justice Afridi had asked buildings in Islamabad. thority in the illegal publicity Tnotice to Sindh Chief vals should seek remedy from not mentioned any wrong- whether the disqualifi ca- The Capital Development n accountability court in campaign through Midas and Minister Murad Ali Shah on appropriate forums. doing, his order was ineff ec- tion of a private respondent Authority (CDA) has been tasked Pakistan has set August attempt to cause loss to the na- a review petition seeking his The bench had also ques- tive vis-à-vis disqualifi cation [ Shah] under Article 62(1)(f) to revise the master plan of A27 as the date to indict tional exchequer. disqualifi cation for possess- tioned the April 6, 2013 order under Article 62(1)(f). Justice was passed by a court of law or Islamabad and incorporate former prime minister Yousuf According to NAB, Gilani ing dual nationality as well as of a returning offi cer (RO) dis- Bandial had observed that the otherwise. governmental decision of high- Raza Gilani and others in a case (the then prime minister), an Iqama. qualifying Shah under Article chief minister did not suff er Baririo in his review petition, rise building constructions. about illegal issuance of tenders being the minister for infor- The notice was issued to the 62(1)(f) and observed that the from a lifetime bar under Ar- requested the apex court to set However, development of government advertisements, mation technology (IT) and chief minister by Justice Sheikh RO was not a court of law. ticle 62(1)(f) and, therefore, he aside the January 23 order since authorities of Karachi, Lahore, it emerged recently. as the chairman of the Uni- Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijaz- Justice Bandial, who had au- was eligible to contest the 2018 it contained errors of law and Peshawar and Multan will have Duty judge Tahir Mehmood versal Services Fund (USF), ul-Ahsan while Justice Umar thored the verdict, had noted general elections. facts apparent on the face of to amend their building by-laws heard the case as Judge Mu- had directed for running a Ata Bandial disagreed with it. that Shah had applied for re- However, Justice Yahya Af- the record which had crept into to allow multi-storey buildings in hamed Basheer was on leave. media campaign to highlight The review petition was in- nouncing his citizenship on ridi, a member of the three- the impugned order resulting in the vicinity of airports and other Gilani, however, did not turn achievements of the Universal stituted by Roshan Ali Bar- September 29, 2012 and got judge bench which rejected the serious miscarriage of justice. areas. up. His counsel informed the Services Fund (USF). court that his client had been Farooq Awan, the former granted permanent exemption secretary of the ministry of from appearing in the court. information technology, mis- NAB prosecutor informed the used his authority in award I-Day fervour court that one of the accused, of illegal publicity campaign Police chiefs agree to Inam Akbar, was also facing through Midas against rules cases in Karachi and, therefore, and attempted to cause a loss he could not appear in the court. to the national exchequer. secure provincial borders The court adjourned the Inam Akbar, the chief ex- hearing, setting August 27 as ecutive offi cer (CEO) of Midas, he provincial inspector During the meeting, it was also the date to charge-sheet Gi- allegedly violated the Press In- generals of three prov- agreed to purge the areas of border lani, Inam Akbar and other ac- formation Department (PID) Tinces - Punjab, Sindh and districts along the Indus River. cused in the case. instructions and prescribed Balochistan - all of which share For this purpose, the police Gilani, a senior member of the procedures regarding media borders have agreed to develop chiefs of the three provinces PPP, was elected prime minister campaigns and undertook the a joint action plan to eliminate agreed that the police force on March 25, 2008. He was de- entire electronic media cam- criminal/militant hideouts in needs more weapons and equip- clared ineligible by the Supreme paign without getting any writ- these areas. ment. It was decided that the Court on April 12, 2012, leading ten orders (release order) either The Expert Group for Tri Bor- government would be requested to his ouster from the offi ce. from the ministry of informa- der-Security held a meeting at for the same so that police force The PPP leader was accused tion technology or from the the Central Police Offi ce (CPO). could continue its operation of involvement in an illegal pub- Universal Services Fund (USF) The moot was chaired by Pun- without facing any shortages. licity campaign that allegedly and served bills for payment. jab Inspector General Police Arif The meeting established that caused a loss of Rs128mn to the The media campaign was Nawaz Khan, while Sindh IG timely information sharing and national exchequer in 2011. launched by Midas which was Syed Kaleem Imam and his coun- intelligence-based operations NAB Rawalpindi had fi led not on the panel of the Uni- terpart in Balochistan, Muhsan were required to stop the move- the reference in the Account- versal Services Fund, neither Hassan Butt, participated via ment of criminal elements in ability Court of Islamabad before nor afterward. video link. Additional IG Balo- the area and to speed up opera- against Gilani, Muhamed Sal- The NAB investigation chistan Naeem Akram Bharoka tions. The participants said it eem, former principal infor- said that it had been manipu- was also part of the discussion. was also necessary to keep close mation offi cer (PIO), PID; Fa- lated by accused Riaz Asher The three police chiefs re- coordination with other law rooq Awan, former secretary of Siddique, CEO of the USF, viewed, in detail, matters related enforcement agencies. ministry of information tech- to place Midas on the panel to tri-border security. The objec- The senior offi cials said nology; Riaz Asher Siddiqui, in connivance with accused tive was to develop a consensus riverine posts in border dis- former chief executive offi cer, Muhamed Saleem, PIO, and on a joint action plan that would tricts will be further strength- Universal Services Fund (USF); the PID, to legitimise the me- later be submitted to Prime Min- ened, while Railways police A family rides past a Pakistan national flag stall set for the upcoming Independence Day celebration Inam Akbar, CEO, Midas; Syed dia campaign and to facilitate ister Imran Khan through the would be enlisted for the joint in Islamabad yesterday. Pakistan celebrates Independence Day on August 14. Hasan Shikoh, former com- payment of Rs128mn. Federal Interior Ministry. operations. (Internews) Plastic bag sellers and users in Islamabad face fi ne after August 14

Internews ry order, Rs100,000-Rs500,000 ior offi cials from the Ministry of interest litigation and it would recyclable and hazardous to the packaging, municipal waste, recycled content,” he said. Islamabad fi ne will be imposed on plastic Climate Change, EPA and ICT only be eff ective with public co- environment. hospital waste, and hazardous The secretary said a media bag manufacturers and whole- participated. operation. The climate change secretary waste. campaign would last until Au- salers each, Rs10,000-Rs50,000 Adviser to PM and Federal The adviser directed the ICT said each importer or distribu- “Exception criteria are very gust 24 while 110,000 alternative s the sale and use of poly- on shopkeepers each and Minister for Climate Change and PAK-EPA offi cials to chalk tor of such plastic bags had been strict and based on the prin- material bags would be distrib- thene bags will be banned Rs5000 on those carrying such Malik Amin Aslam said Paki- out a plan regarding the distri- directed to devise a plant or unit ciple of product integrity and uted in various ministries and at Ain Islamabad from August bags each. stan’s toxic love aff air with the bution of alternative bags and for collection and recycling of unavailability of alternative general public bazaars. 14, the district administration This was disclosed during plastic bag has to end and after dissemination of information plastic bags. packaging material. Moreover, The meeting was attended by and Pakistan-Environmental a meeting held regarding the August 14 no plastic bags would regarding their availability. “This would be the pro- there is a system of labelling and Joint Secretary Ministry of Cli- Protection Agency will fi ne the ban of polythene shopping bag be tolerated. The offi cials said out of all ducer’s responsibility to handle record-keeping in place in order mate Change Hammad Shamimi ban violators. (plastic bags) at the Ministry of He said banning of plastic bag the plastic materials, polythene the post-consumer stage. Only to record importer or manufac- and Deputy Commissioner of Under the statutory regulato- Climate Change in which sen- in the federal capital was public had been targeted being non- exceptions include industrial tures identify and percentage of Islamabad Hamza Shafqat. Gulf Times 20 Thursday, August 8, 2019 PHILIPPINES

Goodwill visit

F/A 18 hornet fighter jets and a E-2D Hawkeye parked on the flight deck of US aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan The USS Ronald Reagan anchored off Manila Bay. USS Ronald Reagan arrived in Manila Bay yesterday for a goodwill visit. anchored off Manila Bay.

Philippine military warns on Chinese investment in islands 8chan forum owner lambasts The Philippine military warned plans by President Rodrigo Duterte’s government to allow Chinese investors to develop three tiny but strategic islands could “compromise” Manila’s security. Presidential spokesman ‘sinister’ shutdown attempts Salvador Panelo said Duterte was aware of proposals for Grande AFP yesterday tweeted a message by and Chiquita islands at the mouth Manila Watkins assuring the US Con- of the former US naval base at gress he was “on his way back to Subic Bay as well as the isolated America as we speak,” adding: northern island of Fuga, but oves to shut down the “Rest assured I am not an ex- would not elaborate. chat forum 8chan are tremist.” The forum was forced US forces vacated Subic and M“sinister” and “cow- offl ine shortly after the El Paso other Philippine bases in 1992 ardly”, its owner said yesterday attack when digital infrastruc- and it is now a home port for after he was called to appear be- ture fi rm Cloudfl are terminated the Philippine Navy. Military fore US Congress to explain the its services with the site. spokesman Brigadier-General hate content linked to deadly US In a blog post announcing the Edgard Arevalo said Tuesday the shootings. move, Cloudfl are CEO Matthew government should study the In a video uploaded to YouTube Prince described 8chan as “a security implications of handing on Tuesday, Philippine-based cesspool of hate”. Watkins said over the islands to foreign Jim Watkins said the deadly the accusations had caused him entities. “There’s no doubt that weekend attacks in the American “immense damage” and hit back these island features has or have cities of El Paso and Dayton were at Prince. “I wish his company strategic security impacts on a tragedy. the best and hold no animos- us if these were to fall into the But he insisted 8chan had not ity towards him or his cowardly hands of other people. They have broken any laws, and devoted and not-thought-out-actions a strategic importance for our most of his seven-and-a-half- against 8chan,” Watkins said. defence,” Arevalo told reporters. minute video to criticising the He said 8chan remained of- “While we approve of our subsequent moves to shut down fl ine while he struggled to fi nd economy getting a boost ... we his forum. “It is actually sinister another provider but hoped to get should also consider the security behaviour. Ours is one of the last the community of 1mn users up aspect that may be compromised independent companies that of- and running again soon. Set up by if we fail to adequately study fer a place you may write down then US teen Fredrick Brennan in the implications of leasing these your thoughts free from having to 2013, 8chan was rejected by dif- to foreigners,” Arevalo added. worry about whether they are of- ferent hosts and hounded by viral Duterte has overseen improved fensive to one group or another,” attacks until Watkins off ered it a economic ties with China since the American said. home in 2015. being elected president in Watkins portrayed eff orts But speaking to AFP in the mid-2016, when he set aside a against 8chan as part of the Philippines on Tuesday, Brennan sovereignty dispute over islands “power consolidation” of the Online message board 8chan creator Fredrick Brennan listens to questions during an interview in Manila, Philippines. said he wished he had shut down and waters in the South China Internet by a few strong and rich the site when he had the chance Sea that Beijing claims almost in companies. “It will eff ectively posts from right-wing extrem- 8chan shortly before he gunned extremist content, including letter to Watkins. Thompson and regretted handing over the its entirety. silence the masses, and leave ists, misogynists and conspiracy down 22 people and wounded white supremacist content, on also cited screeds by suspects in forum to his ex-partner. This has led to a robust influx them with no place to voice their theorists. A manifesto denounc- more than 20 others. On Tues- your website”. El Paso was the the California synagogue attack “I think this will be the fi nal of Chinese investment in the messages,” Watkins said. 8chan, ing a “Hispanic invasion”, said to day the House homeland secu- “third act of white suprema- that killed a worshipper in April nail in the coffi n for 8chan,” he Philippines, particularly in which promotes itself as a site have been written by the young rity committee invited Watkins cist extremist violence” linked and the murder of 51 Muslims at said of the El Paso shooting, ac- off shore gaming firms catering devoted to the “darkest reaches white male American suspect in to testify on what he is doing to 8chan, committee chairman New Zealand mosques in March. cusing the forum of harbouring to China that have drawn several of the Internet”, has been home to the El Paso attack, was posted on to address the “proliferation of Bennie Thompson said in his 8chan’s offi cial Twitter account “domestic terrorists”. thousand Chinese workers to Manila. Apart from the islands, Arevalo said the military was “definitely alarmed” at the rise in the number of Chinese workers in the country, including “reports that tourists are taking pictures Filipinos prefer automated elections: survey of our naval installations”. “We need to determine what is the real purpose of their presence By William Depasupil 2016 presidential elections. Pulse Asia credible and sound.” The Comelec had record-high “excellent” +73 rating in dent Rodrigo Duterte has initiated for here,” the military off icial The Manila Times said 94% of those surveyed described said the election was a success despite June 2016. our country three years ago,” Panelo added. Panelo, the president’s the elections held in May this year as some problems encountered in several Net satisfaction on the conduct of the said. spokesman, stressed on Tuesday orderly, while 83 and 82% noted the precincts, such as defective VCMs. A May 13, 2019 elections was highest in “The survey results should put to rest the island investments were great majority of Filipino voters speed and credibility of the results. separate survey conducted by the Social Mindanao at excellent +77, followed by the doubt cast by the vociferous and “mere plans” at this time, adding want the Commission on Elec- “This is surprising as 94% found the Weather Stations (SWS) also showed the Visayas at excellent +71, rest of Lu- partisan minority upon the integrity of it was the job of the military and Ations (Comelec) to continue us- vote counting machines easy to use,” that majority of Filipinos were satisfi ed zon at very good +66, and Metro Manila the midterm elections, as well as put a defence establishments “to see if ing its automated voting system in fu- the agency said. with the conduct and the results of the at very good +54. halt to their condescending and elitist there is any security concern on ture elections, according to Pulse Asia. The survey, according to Pulse Asia, May 2019 elections. SWS said 79% of the respondents remarks on the preference of the Fili- any issue”. In an election survey presentation yes- showed that people were generally sat- The nationwide survey, conducted agreed “the Commission on Elections pino majority,” he added. terday, the pollster said 9 in 10 Filipinos isfi ed with the conduct and outcome from June 22-26 among 1,200 re- performed independently without fa- Panelo said the President “remains or 91% said they would like to see au- of the May 13, 2019 national and local spondents, showed that 80% of those vouring any candidate or group.” committed in asking the Commission Meralco cuts rates tomated voting in future elections. The polls. polled were satisfi ed, consisting of 38% The survey also showed that 86% of on Elections to have a fraud-free tech- same survey showed that 87% of those “The satisfaction with automation is strongly satisfi ed and 43% somewhat those polled said the result of the sena- nology provider in 2022 as part of his The Manila Electric Co polled were satisfi ed with the auto- high despite doubts cast upon it. While satisfi ed. torial election was “believable.” lasting electoral reform legacy to the (Meralco) has cut its rates mated polling system or the use of vote errors occurred in May, these are op- Meanwhile, 12% were dissatisfi ed Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo nation.” The June 2019 survey, con- this month by P0.4176 per counting machines (VCMs), while 84% portunities to learn and grow from,” and 7% were undecided, for a net sat- said Malacanang was “pleased” with ducted using face-to-face interviews, kilowatt hour (kWh). The rate trusted the results. it said. It pointed out that the integ- isfaction score (percent satisfi ed minus the survey results. “The results of the had sampling error margins of ±3% for adjustment means that a typical The satisfaction rating on the use of rity of elections is key to a legitimate percent dissatisfi ed) of plus +68, classi- latest survey confi rm the desire of the national percentages, and ±6 percent household that consumes the automated polling system was 4% government, stressing that as far as fi ed by SWS as “very good.” populace for the continuance of the each for Metro Manila, Balance of Lu- 200kWh will see a decrease higher than the rating culled after the the last election is concerned, “it was But this was 5 points lower than the genuine and meaningful change Presi- zon, the Visayas and Mindanao. of P84 in their monthly bill; a P125.28 reduction for those consuming 300kWh; P176.04 for those who consume 400kWh; and P208.8 for those with a 500-kWh consumption. Armed Forces back lifting of martial law in Davao City Meralco said the cost of electricity in August was down to P9.5674 per kWh from last By Dempsey Reyes (EastMinCom) have recom- lift the military rule in the city. “improvement” of the security had fi rsthand knowledge on the are still seeing that terror threat month’s P9.9850 per kWh. The Manila Times mended the lifting of martial Martial law in Mindanao was situation in the area that led to security landscape. may still spill over in some plac- “The fourth consecutive month law in Davao City, citing the im- declared in 2017, but it was ex- the creation of the resolution. Santos, however, said that es which is what we have been of electricity rate decrease proved security situation in the tended until December 2019. Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte- “everything should be weighed” preventing. But we are assured represents a total downward he Armed Forces of the area. The Davao City Council EastMinCom chief Lt Gen Fe- Carpio earlier this year planned if the President will decide to lift that the security in Davao City adjustment of almost P1.00 per Philippines’ (AFP) East- earlier drafted a resolution urg- limon Santos said his command to ask the president to lift mar- martial law. “But it’s up to the is well-established as of now,” kWh since May 2019,” it said in a Tern Mindanao Command ing President Rodrigo Duterte to reported before the council the tial law in Mindanao, saying she higher level because maybe they Santos said. statement. Gulf Times Thursday, August 8, 2019 21 COMMENT Killing a silent killer of women

By Muttaquina Hossain To spur progress in addressing this workers in Bangladesh suffer from depending on the information Dhaka pervasive and deadly disorder, in 2012 anemia.) relayed. Among the second set the World Health Assembly endorsed The first set of women received of women, who received the a comprehensive implementation a nutritionally enhanced lunch regular BCC module and no other n public health, discussions plan on maternal, infant, and early- (with fortified rice) every day, one interventions, anemia actually relating to women typically childhood nutrition, which included IFA supplement each week, and an increased by 6%. This indicates that focus on maternal mortality, the target of reducing anemia by “enhanced” BCC module (including dietary and nutritional adjustments Imalnutrition, and more recently, 50% in reproductive-age women by information on anemia and dietary – not social or demographic factors – sexual and reproductive health. But 2025. To that end, the World Health diversity) each month. The second make all the difference. one facet of malnutrition – and a Organization recommends strategies set received their usual lunch, no If the clinical evidence is not major killer of women – is often such as improving dietary diversity; supplements, and a “regular” BCC enough to convince companies ignored: anemia. fortifying foods with iron, folic module (including information to invest in combating anemia Anemia is the world’s most acid, and other micronutrients; and about nutrition, but not specifically among their workers, perhaps common nutritional disorder, distributing iron supplements. about anemia or dietary diversity). the productivity benefits will affecting more than 1.6bn people. That is a good start. The The third set of women – working be. In our study, provision of a Broadly defined as an excessively low question is how to implement these at a factory with no lunch program nutritionally enhanced lunch concentration of haemoglobin (an recommendations, particularly in – received twice-weekly IFA was associated with an increase iron-rich protein that carries oxygen developing countries. supplements (daily for pregnant in productivity: participants to tissues throughout the body) in In a country like Bangladesh, women) and the enhanced BCC in the first factory were able the blood, anemia occurs either when daily consumption of module, whereas the fourth received to work more hours, and there there are too few red blood cells or micronutrient-rich foods – such no lunch or supplements, and the were significantly fewer reports when their oxygen-carrying capacity as red meat, green leafy vegetables, regular BCC module. of common colds, urinary tract is compromised. It is caused by a and some nuts or seeds – is often The results were promising, to infections, and joint pain. deficiency in essential nutrients, not an option, owing to household say the least. The implementation Nonetheless, we cannot count most often iron, but also folic acid, financial constraints. Even if it of a full nutrition package in the on companies to make the needed vitamin B12, or vitamin A. were, lack of education about first factory reduced the prevalence changes themselves. That is why Although anemia can affect nutrition would hamper the of anemia by 32%. Even just the icddr,b plans to engage Bangladeshi anyone, the majority of those necessary behavioural change. inclusion of IFA supplements and policymakers and other stakeholders affected are women of child-bearing But employers – especially those enhanced BCC sessions (in the third who can effectively advocate for a age: in 2011, 29% of non-pregnant that provide lunch to workers – have factory) brought a 12% decline. comprehensive nutritional program women worldwide (496mn people) the power to boost micronutrient Haemoglobin concentrations to be introduced at all garment and 38% of pregnant women (32.4mn consumption significantly among increased in both of these groups. factories in Bangladesh. people) aged 15-49 were anemic. The their labour forces, thereby reducing This reinforces the findings of We also plan to test the same disorder was most prevalent in South the incidence of anemia. That is separate studies, in which fortified packages in different settings Asia and Central and West Africa. the conclusion of a recent study foods caused the anemia rate among – such as in schools or among Anemia often goes undiagnosed, conducted by my colleagues and I participants to drop by 46% over 6-11 domestic workers – in the hope particularly in its earlier stages, at icddr,b, an international public- months. Intermittent doses of IFA that successful strategies can be but its consequences are serious. health research institute based in supplements reduced the prevalence rolled out more widely, especially in Iron-deficiency anemia alone – Dhaka, Bangladesh. of anemia in menstruating women women-dominated workplaces. Such representing about half of all cases We began by developing several by 27%. initiatives can serve as a model for – causes about a million deaths intervention packages, each involving In the icddr,b study, women from other developing countries, where per year, some three-quarters of some combination of nutritionally all four factories also reported a anemia continues to damage – and which occur in Africa and Southeast sufficient lunch meals, iron- significant increase in knowledge even end – women’s lives. - Project Asia. Moreover, anemia contributes folic acid (IFA) supplements, and of the main food groups, iron- Syndicate significantly to maternal and nutrition-based behaviour-change containing foods, and the benefits perinatal mortality: in Asia, it is the counseling (BCC). We then tested of different vitamins and minerals z Muttaquina Hossain is Assistant second leading cause of maternal these solutions over a ten-month as a result of the BCC sessions. Scientist in the Nutrition and Clinical death. About one-third of all period on 1,310 women aged 18-42 But the actual results – including Services Division at the International anemia-related maternal deaths working in four ready-made garment the regularity with which IFA Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease occur in South Asian countries. factories (eight in ten female garment supplements were taken – varied Research, Bangladesh.

Earth’s toughest creatures may now be living on Moon Three-day forecast

TODAY AFP Maximum Temperature : 450c Washington Minimum Temperature : 350c

FRIDAY here might be life on the Maximum Temperature : 410c Moon after all: thousands Minimum Temperature : 330c of virtually indestructible SATURDAY creatures that can withstand Maximum Temperature : 410c T Minimum Temperature : 330c extreme radiation, sizzling heat, the coldest temperatures of the universe, Fisherman's forecast and decades without food. These terrifying-sounding beings WARNING aren’t aliens but instead microscopic Inshore : Strong wind expected Earthlings known as tardigrades, who at most places with likely made it out alive following a poor visibility during crash landing on the lunar surface by daytime Offshore : Expected strong wind Israel’s Beresheet probe in April, the with high sea US-based organization responsible for WEATHER their trip said on Tuesday. Inshore : Hot daytime with blowing dust to dusty Based on an analysis of the at some places at times spacecraft’s trajectory and the and some clouds composition of the device the micro- Courtesy: Video screenshot by Bonnie Burton/CNET Offshore : Sctd clouds with slight dust at times animals were stored in, “we believe the WIND chances of survival for the tardigrades The tardigrades were stored inside The grub-like, eight-legged animals “If they don’t get too hot, it’s Inshore : Northwesterly 15-25/35 are extremely high,” Nova Spivack, a “Lunar Library,” a nanotechnology can come back from being dried out to possible they could survive for quite a KT Offshrore : Northwesterly 15-25/30 co-founder and chairman of the Arch device that resembles a DVD and a lifeless husk for decades, withstand long time (many years),” she said. KT Mission Foundation, said. contains a 30-mn-page archive near-zero pressure in outer space and “I’d be more concerned that the Visibility : 4-8/2 KM The non-profi t is dedicated of human history viewable under the crushing depths of the Mariana animals would be aff ected by toxic Offshore : 6-8/10 FT to spreading backups of human microscopes, as well as human DNA. Trench. chemicals from the epoxy or glue” knowledge and Earth’s biology Spivack is confi dent this too If they did not burn up in an used to store them, as opposed to Around the region throughout the Solar System, a survived impact — but it doesn’t explosion, they could in theory survive conditions in space, she added. Weather quest it likens to the creation of an represent the fi rst genetic code or life the tiny pressure on the lunar surface, Even if the creatures lived on for Weather tomorrow Max/min “Encyclopedia Galactica” fi rst evoked forms to be deposited on the barren and the extremes of temperature, several years, there is no crewed today Max/min Sunny 43/28 by sci-fi writer Isaac Asimov. celestial body. William Miller, a tardigrades expert at mission to the Moon planned until Baghdad Sunny 44/28 Cloudy 46/33 “Tardigrades are ideal to include That distinction belongs to the DNA Baker University, said. Nasa’s Artemis programme in 2024 at Kuwait City Cloudy 47/34 Cloudy 39/33 because they are microscopic, and microbes contained in the almost “But to become active, to grow, the south pole — far from Beresheet’s Manama Cloudy 39/35 M Sunny 33/28 multicellular, and one of the most 100 bags of feces and urine left behind eat, and reproduce they would need crash site on the Sea of Serenity, so Muscat Sunny 36/30 P Cloudy 34/25 durable forms of life on planet Earth,” by American astronauts during the water, air and food,” so it would not be they probably won’t make it home. Tehran M Sunny 37/25 said Spivack. Apollo lunar landings from 1969-1972. possible for them to multiply and form “It is unlikely that they will be He added that the diminutive Also known as water bears or moss a colony, he added. rescued in time, so my guess is creatures, which are under a mm in size, piglets, tardigrades can live in water or Nasa astrobiologist Cassie Conley that, even if they survived, they had been dehydrated to place them in on land, and are capable of surviving said that their exact survival time are doomed,” Rafael Alves Batista, suspended animation, then “encased in temperatures as high as 150 degrees would depend on the condition of the a physicist at Sao Paulo university an epoxy of Artifi cial Amber, and should Celsius and as low as minus 272 degrees impact site and the temperatures to who co-authored a 2017 paper on be revivable in the future.” Celsius, albeit for a few minutes. which they are exposed. tardigrades’ extreme resilience, said.

Live issues Around the world Weather Weather today Max/min tomorrow Max/min All-natural and low-sugar: kombucha takes the US by storm Athens Sunny 36/23 Sunny 37/26 Beirut Sunny 31/26 Sunny 31/26 Bangkok T Storm 32/26 T Storm 33/27 AFP uncommon to fi nd shops off ering up to conscious about sugar intake,” she Four years after founding her Berlin M Sunny 27/14 P Cloudy 28/19 New York 10 diff erent brands. said. company, Ingalls produces about Cairo Sunny 37/25 Sunny 37/24 For Alex Ingalls, who founded Pilot “They’re trying to drink less soda 97,200 gallons of kombucha per Cape Town P Cloudy 13/09 Sunny 15/09 Kombucha in 2015. and even less diet soda,” whose year, which she sells at 400 diff erent Colombo T Storm 29/26 T Storm 29/26 he recent US kombucha craze A “hardcore base” that has drunk ingredients have raised eyebrows over locations throughout the area. Dhaka T Storm 30/27 S T Storms 33/27 has been fermenting for kombucha for years was likely drawn the years. Hers was one of the fi rst New York- Hong Kong M Sunny 31/27 P Cloudy 31/27 decades. to its supposed health benefits, “Since I don’t drink so much soda, area brands, and she will soon open Istanbul Sunny 30/21 Sunny 29/21 T All-natural, low-sugar, particularly for the digestive system, when I settle on something fl avoury. her fi rst offi ce in Red Hook, Brooklyn, Jakarta P Cloudy 32/23 M Cloudy 33/23 and packed with supposed health she said, though there has been no I think kombucha is a pretty good anticipating that her production levels Karachi M Cloudy 32/28 S T Storms 31/28 benefi ts, the once-niche drink has clinical study on the matter. alternative,” said Renata Ontman, after will triple. London P Cloudy 25/19 Showers 23/17 invaded grocery stores, supermarkets The claim is based on the a class on kombucha-making at the Pilot Kombucha not only has Manila T Storm 30/26 T Storm 29/26 and cafes. fermentation process used to Brooklyn Brainery recreation centre. competition from kombucha giants Moscow M Cloudy 25/16 Showers 18/13 US sales of the cloudy, bubbly make kombucha, which contains The course was taught by Cheryl such as GT’S, an established probiotic New Delhi M Cloudy 34/28 P Cloudy 33/27 beverage reached $412mn in 2018 probiotics: live micro-organisms Paswater, founder of the kombucha drink-maker, but also from PepsiCo, New York P Cloudy 31/22 M Sunny 30/19 according to Nielsen data, up 42% that can help the growth of intestinal company Contraband Ferments. which bought kombucha brand Paris P Cloudy 29/21 Rain 29/18 from the year before. bacteria. “I always try to eat as healthy as I KeVita in 2016, and Coca-Cola, which Sao Paulo M Sunny 28/15 M Sunny 28/16 The now-ubiquitous fermented However Ingalls mainly sees the can, and I think (of it) as a sort of snack recently invested in kombucha maker Seoul P Cloudy 33/24 P Cloudy 35/24 drink, whose exact origins are kombucha wave as the result of its in the afternoon,” said Sarah Gilberg, Health-Ade. Singapore I T Storms 31/27 M Cloudy 31/27 unknown, is even stocked by the major advantage over sodas and even who also attended the class, adding “I think there’s enough room for Sydney Cloudy 19/11 Cloudy 16/07 American retail giant Walmart. juice: low sugar levels. that the fi zzy beverage makes her feel everybody” in the market, said Ingalls, Tokyo Clear 35/27 Clear 36/27 Across the United States, it’s not “These days, everyone is very “energised.” a former chef. Gulf Times 22 Thursday, August 8, 2019 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Doping in cricket: Shaw ban raises questions for India

India’s powerful cricket board is under pressure to bring its anti-doping procedures into line with world standards after questions were raised over the ban handed to teenage star Prithvi Shaw. Shaw, the 19-year-old prodigy often compared to Sachin Tendulkar, last week received an eight-month ban after the Board of Control for Cricket in India ruled he “inadvertently ingested a prohibited substance (terbutaline), which can commonly be found in cough syrups”. Shaw’s ban was backdated to March 16, despite Silk Road project: China the fact he was playing for the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League until May 8. He will be available again from November 16, just after the start of India’s international season. The BCCI insists on handling its doping analysis and sanctions in-house, rebuffi ng pressure from India’s woos Myanmar’s NLD government and the World Anti-Doping Agency to come under the ambit of India’s WADA-accredited national By Shoon Naing and Simon Lewis infrastructure, which brooks no Since the Rohingya crisis, Suu Kyi CCCC did not respond to Reuters anti-doping body. Yangon opposition. has visited few countries that joined questions about the visit and the On the trips, several participants told calls for action against Myanmar for the Yangon project. However, concern is growing about the arrangements, Reuters they were also served luxurious alleged abuses against the Rohingya — “This is persuasion in the interest of with many calling for more rigorous testing by an he National League for meals. which Myanmar denies. their project. We understand that,” said independent body. Democracy was forged in an Helen Aye Kyaw visited China for the “She chooses the country to visit Sandar Min, an NLD lawmaker known “The Indian Board does uprising against one-party fi rst time in June as a member of an NLD based on what our nation will get from for being fi ercely outspoken, who joined not have a robust anti- Trule. women’s group at the invitation of the that visit,” said party spokesman Myo the trip. “They put us in good hotels, “The Indian Its activists spent years in jail under All-China Women’s Federation, touring Nyunt, “not that country’s inclination treated us to nice meals.” doping set-up and cricketers Myanmar’s military junta. a school for Communist Party cadre to to dictatorship or democracy, because The visit would not prevent her Board does not are not regularly tested But since taking power three years study Chinese eff orts to eliminate rural our country is in need of close friends.” from voicing her concerns over the during all national and ago, the party led by Nobel laureate poverty. Some analysts and diplomats New Yangon City project, she said, but have a robust age-group competitions,” Aung San Suu Kyi has found an unlikely The group was trailed by Chinese believe China is exploiting the chill in had given her pause for thought about The Hindustan Times said, ally — the Chinese Communist Party. doctors in case anyone got sick, she Myanmar’s relations with the West. China’s development model, drawing anti-doping The friendship has blossomed in said, and during a shopping trip in “China is extracting a high price for a contrast with the protests that often adding that Shaw was high-level exchanges between Suu Beijing the women were given 480 yuan its Security Council umbrella: the Belt greet projects at home. set-up” given the “lightest sentence Kyi and Chinese leaders, but also in (about $70) spending money. and Road,” said a Western diplomat in “Their country developed very fast possible”. interactions between party members “We were treated as VIPs,” said Helen Yangon. within 20 years and even the roads Last year, Indian all-rounder Yusuf Pathan also tested on visits that mix tours of container Aye Kyaw. Beijing’s foreign ministry described became very good. Is that because of positive for terbutaline and received a backdated ban after terminals or education projects with Despite such perks, NLD leaders say that assertion as “purely nonsense”. their one-party political system?” she dinners and shopping trips. the party’s members are not unduly China also rejects broader criticism said. “In their country, if they do a the BCCI accepted he took it “inadvertently”, off ering the The trips are part of a push to make infl uenced by the visits, which they say that its infrastructure drive is saddling project, no one opposes.” same explanation that the drug is often found in cough Myanmar a vital stop on Chinese are useful learning experiences. countries with unsustainable debts, Another controversial Chinese syrups. President Xi Jinping’s fl agship Belt “Myanmar politicians are not stupid. insisting Belt and Road is a “win-win” project in Myanmar is the $3.6bn Terbutaline is a bronchodilator, expanding air passages and Road Initiative, off ering to build We can handle China,” said Myo Yan proposition. Myitsone dam in confl ict-torn northern in the lungs. deep-sea ports, hydropower dams and Naung Thein, a leading NLD researcher. NLD offi cials say Suu Kyi’s state of Kachin, which was suspended economic zones in a country desperate In a written response to Reuters’ government is putting Myanmar’s in 2011 amid concerns it would be Such substances can raise oxygen levels in the blood, for investment. questions about the trips, China’s interests fi rst in negotiations with environmentally damaging and mainly helping stamina, speed and recovery, The Hindustan Reuters interviewed more than 20 foreign ministry said engagement with China. benefi t China. Times said. party members and lawmakers who have Myanmar political parties, including Interviews with NLD fi gures who In October 2018, Aung Shin, the BCCI anti-doping manager Abhijit Salvi said the Indian visited China on expenses-paid trips, the NLD, was conducted on a basis of have taken part in such visits give a party newspaperman, led a nine-strong board doesn’t do its testing through the National Anti- through which Beijing hopes to overcome equality and “non-interference in each fl avour of how China has sought to Myanmar delegation that visited at least historic distrust and fears among many in other’s internal aff airs”. win new friends among Myanmar’s fi ve dams on China’s Yellow River. Doping Agency (NADA) because it is concerned about its Myanmar of becoming indebted to their “China and Myanmar are friendly emerging political class. Three other participants said standards. much larger neighbour. neighbours,” it said, adding that The most recent project to be they were under the impression the “If we would have been happy with NADA’s “In the past it was only a relationship infrastructure initiatives where “in associated with China’s Silk Road plan, trip was paid for by the State Power performance then BCCI would not have had an issue,” between two governments — (China) accordance with the principles of equal an extension of the former colonial International Corporation (SPIC), the Salvi said. did business with the military generals consultation and mutual benefi t”. capital Yangon, met with opposition giant state-owned enterprise behind and Myanmar people didn’t have good “The Communist Party of China from regional lawmakers over how the hydropower project. He also rebuff ed suggestions of a procedural lapse in the feelings towards them,” said Aung Shin, does not ‘import’ foreign models, nor much land Myanmar was giving over Aung Shin said the invitation for the Shaw case, given his ban was backdated to a time when he who edits the party’s newspaper. ‘exports’ Chinese models, and does not to the project and the fairness of trip came from the Chinese Communist was still playing. The invites have fl owed since require other countries to ‘copy’ the revenue-sharing arrangements, after Party, although he said he did not know Salvi said Shaw had probably been too “casual” by Myanmar’s relations with Western Chinese way.” China Communications Construction who paid for the hospitality. taking an over-the-counter medicine, despite attending countries soured following their sharp China was initially suspicious of Suu Company (CCCC) was signed on to SPIC did not respond to Reuters criticism of a 2017 army crackdown in Kyi, who had been lauded for years in submit plans in May last year. questions. “at least three” classes on anti-doping organised by the its northwestern Rakhine state from the West as a champion of democracy. Within months, a junket had been “They explained to us not only about BCCI. which 700,000 Rohingya Muslims fl ed “They wanted to know whether she arranged. dams but also about things that they “He probably had a casual approach to it and that’s why to Bangladesh. is a stooge of the USA or something like Yangon regional lawmakers visited arranged for the local villagers,” said he tested positive,” Salvi said. China lent its neighbour support at that, how much her thoughts and her China in September 2018, where they Tin Aye, a regional NLD lawmaker The BCCI is the world’s richest cricket body and the United Nations Security Council, ideology is Westernised, but they soon met CCCC representatives and visited from Kachin, who joined Aung Shin’s generates about 70% of the sport’s global revenues. when the West was pushing for a found that she’s quite independent,” its Yangshan port near Shanghai, delegation. “I am not the decision stronger international response to said NLD central executive committee according to two participants and maker, but I think it’s better to do the Shaw, meanwhile, is one of Indian cricket’s hottest allegations of killings, mass rape and member Han Tha Myint. Facebook posts from the visit. project.” — Reuters properties after he hit a century on his Test debut last arson by Myanmar forces. year, becoming India’s second-youngest centurion after NLD stalwarts such as Aung Shin, Tendulkar. a former political prisoner, have India’s government has repeatedly attempted to bring welcomed China’s hospitality. “They want to show that they are the BCCI into line with other sports by carrying out its not like before, so they invited us and drug testing through the national agency. showed us,” said Aung Shin, who has NADA chief Navin Agarwal said that bringing Indian been on at least 10 junkets to China cricket on board remained a “work in progress”. since 2013. Some say they have also been impressed with the ability of China’s one-party system to drive through To Advertise development projects. Many countries extend invitations [email protected] to politicians of other nations to Display deepen alliances, but China’s “soft power” eff orts in Myanmar have been 44466621 44418811 comprehensive. The NLD has sent at least 20 Classified delegations to China since 2016, said 44466609 44418811 party spokesman Myo Nyunt. China has also extended invites to the Subscription military-aligned opposition and other parties, as well as civil society and the [email protected] media. In interviews, NLD members said China uses the visits to showcase A book about Chinese President Xi Jinping that was given out by the China embassy is seen at the off ice of D Wave Journal, the © 2019 Gulf Times. All rights reserved its state-led approach to building magazine distributed by the National League for Democracy Party (NLD) in Yangon, Myanmar, on August 1, 2019. During the Qatar Summer Festival 2019 Tawar Mall Announces • Offers include special Prices on selected Eid Celebration Activities Items

awar Mall, one of the largest • Offers will run until August 16th at the Shopping Mall in Qatar, has Tfinalized a schedule of activities Highland, Mall and City Center for the four-day Eid Al Adha festivities in Qatar, including a rich variety of adventures, competitions and games, in Highland offers patrons up to 50% discounts addition to role-playing activities at its establishments. The Eid activities are set at its City Center and The Mall branches. to kick off from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM Among its many features Tawar Mall ighland, renowned luxury retailer that Eid program will present Qatar’s families specializes in international fashion, and kids with several contest that have Hfragrances & cosmetics brands unveiled been designed to install knowledge and its latest seasonal promotions that offer its develop the skills of the children while patrons up to 50% on selected items that are giving them the chance to have fun with displayed at both its City Center, as well as their peers and taking home a variety of its The Mall branches. The promotional offer valuable prizes. takes place from June 06 and comes to an end Tawar Mall occasions like Eid Al Adha on August 16. Highland is the ultimate unique presents our carnival with the unique shopping destination, where fashion and beauty opportunity to enjoy a lot more activities, enthusiasts can come revel in the boutique’s games and purely entertaining shows diverse offerings, and get to enjoy an elevated that further enrich their experience at shopping experience. Highland promises to offer our unique shopping mall. We are truly its patrons unparalleled, world-class shopping confident that visiting our Mall will be experiences, throughout the period of four weeks one of the most rewarding experiences to of non-stop dazzling brilliance. The promotional be a part of this Eid in Qatar. offer will include unique discounts on some Tawar Mall Eid Al Adha celebration is noted, high-end shopping brands, along with held in to realize the Qatar National Vision outstanding shopping rewards that aim to please 2030, which highlights the importance highland’s diverse and eclectic clientele. of human development and contribute Among Highland’s offerings are the latest in to the development of all children’s fashion trends from the world’s most renowned, capacity, on the cognitive, emotional, international brands, that encompasses menswear, psychological and social levels. womenswear and even children’s clothing. Wether you’re looking for that classic piece that never goes out of style, or wether you’re a true fashionista that chases the latest in fashion trends, Highland has truly got you covered. This includes the most exclusive eyewear, footwear, accessories, jewelry, bags & luggage and timepieces as well. Also, Highland offers its patrons a variety of the most sought-after beauty cosmetics that aim to appeal to the beauty and cosmetics enthusiasts, as well as, the world’s most celebrated fragrances for both men, and women. Highland has successfully offered its patrons an elevated experience that goes beyond retail. It has provided a haven for families to come together and to bond over life’s luxuries.

“Go Mosafer” offers an exceptional concept The Torch Hospitality Group celebrates of travel during the Eid al-Adha holidays Eid Al Adha with room packages • The first Qatari tourism company to offer electronic booking with pay later option he hotels under The Torch Hospitality Group, the iconic up with a hearty breakfast buffet and access to Aqua Park for • Tours of European capitals for real competitive prices. THE TORCH DOHA and Al Aziziyah Boutique Hotel 2 persons. • Provide all tourist advice for the best destinations this year. Thave prepared competitive offers and packages for Eid The hotels are also participating in Qatar Summer Festival Al Adha including delicious brunches and exciting packages in cooperation with Qatar National Tourism Council with 25% he first award winning travel agency for the “Best travel professionals, who provides information on tourism designed to suit every guest needs. discount on best available rates. The fourth package called Digital Transformation of the Year 2018”, GoMosafer has destinations upon consultations. A unique culinary journey will take place in both Flying “Stay n’ Save”, an exceptional value-for-stay package, offers Tdeveloped a unique and exceptional concept of tourism, This is in addition to tourist visa facilitations to Carpet restaurant and Flavours, with a rich Brunch for the first a 50% discount on the second night, including daily breakfast combined with luxury, to meet the needs of businessmen/ destinations, including Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Bulgaria, South two days of Eid Al Adha at QR 220 and QR 185 respectively. for two. women, Leisure and Adventure. The concept offers to it’s Korea and even to Iran. The company is able to provide integrated Three Sixty, Doha’s only revolving restaurant will be open The offers become more tempting with 15% discount at clients not only a customized travel experience suiting their tourism services to customers and meet their satisfaction. The for lunch and dinner for the entire week. Blue restaurant at all the hotel’s restaurants and free access to its wet facilities; budget but rather provides a fabulous vacation to their favourite company provides a complete package of tourism and travel Al Aziziyah Boutique Hotel will be offering three amazing swimming pool, sauna and steam room, 30% off Massage destinations, leaving behind a signature design of each traveler services, through agreements and partnerships with the best promotions including “Sushi Mondays”, “Turkish Grills” on Treatments, 20% off laundry services and late check out are with GoMosafer. If you wish to spend a short summer holiday suppliers, that enhance the outstanding performance in terms Wednesday and “Steak & Sushi” every Friday and Saturday. also added to create the ultimate staycation for the entire in Europe, GoMosafer has a unique flexible and customizable of quality and competitiveness. Both THE TORCH DOHA and Al Aziziyah Boutique Hotel family. Moreover, the offers are valid until 31st August, 2019 to package matching your travel habits. The company offers The company also developed the concept of “transit” have designed four room packages in celebration of Eid Al enjoy the entire summer! tailor-made flights at competitive prices, visiting several travel for travelers, by offering options of spending one or Adha. A “Kidzania Fun” where our guests will enjoy their Sherif Sabry, Area General Manager stated, “THE TORCH European capitals such as Paris, Amsterdam, London or Rome, more days in a four-star hotel,while traveling to their home stay, including breakfast and four complimentary Kidzania DOHA and Al Aziziyah Boutique Hotel are unique destinations all in one tour, paying comparatively less and enjoying a great country or the preferred destination, at prices much cheaper Tickets for 2 kids and 2 adults, with a guaranteed upgrade to in Doha and we are delighted to offer such valued offers and European adventure. than direct airfares. For example, if you want to travel to India our spacious Junior Suite if you book today! A partnership packages to celebrate Eid Al Adha. With exclusive culinary GoMosafer has always sought to provide complete or the Philippines, you can spend a night or two in Bangkok or for the third year with Aqua Park, one of Doha’s most fun choices and attractive room offers, we are inviting our guests customer advise and support, to respond to all their enquiries Colombo, making your trip more comfortable and enjoyable. entertainment parks, creates a great value offer for the whole to a uniquely entertaining experience for the entire family. and to offer the best of it’s services, by a set of trained family. The package includes stay in a Deluxe Room, topped Gulf Times 24 Thursday, August 8, 2019 QATAR

Safari announces lucky draw winners Tarsheed summer camp ends

wareness lectures and workshops marked the Asummer camp by the National Programme for Con- servation and Energy Effi ciency (Tarsheed) under Qatar General Electricity and Water Corpora- tion (Kahramaa). The Summer with Tarsheed camp was organised in a bid to make the young generation aware of electricity and water conservation. The valedictory function was attended by Falah the Falcon mascot for the Middle East’s fi rst-ever IAAF World Athlet- ics Championship to be held in September in Qatar, according to a statement. The camp featured a number of activities including theatrical performances, aware- ness lectures, tours, storytelling Falah the Falcon mascot interacting with students at the Summer and recycling workshops. with Tarsheed camp. The focus was on making participants aware of regula- including Doha Youth Center is open for public and students. tions and laws regarding water and Al Dana Center for Girls Those interested to visit should and electricity conservation took part in the summer camp. register on kap.qa. Visitors can Safari Hypermarket Group has announced the winners of the second lucky draw of ‘Win 15 Toyota Fortuner 2019 Cars’ promotion. The and energy effi ciency along Other participants included learn about energy and water lucky draw was held at Safari Mall, Abu Hamour, yesterday in the presence of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry off icial and Safari with ways to reduce the rate of Qur’an memorisation centres conservation, and renewable management. The winners are: Abbas Noushad (coupon number 1949348), K K Riyas (2518545) and M Abdullah Aqeel (1803810). electricity and water consump- and sports clubs across Qatar. energy programmes and tech- tion. A number of institutions The Kahramaa Awareness Park nologies.

Design expert Amir Tamuq hosts summer Berbic named dean of VCUarts Qatar

mir Berbic, a professor of design at the Univer- engineering academy Asity of Illinois, Chicago, has been appointed dean of Virginia Commonwealth Uni- versity School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) eff ec- tive from August 1. Berbic suc- ceeds executive dean Donald N for student achievers Baker who will continue in his role through December 31. exas A&M University at Berbic previously served as Qatar (Tamuq) hosted 24 associate dean for faculty af- Thigh school students from fairs of the College of Archi- around Qatar for a three-week tecture, Design, and the Arts; STEM programme encouraging chair of graphic design; and as Amir Berbic them to engineer solutions to the acting director of the School of country’s grand challenges. Design at the University of Il- ognised in numerous publica- The Summer Engineering linois, Chicago. He has worked tions, conferences and exhibi- Academy (SEA) introduces rising in collaboration with cultural tions including Design Issues, seniors — referred to as National organisations, arts institutions Visual Communication, Print, Vision Scholars — to advanced and publishers. His scholarly Graphis, The Society of Typo- topics in engineering and science and creative work examines graphic Arts, the International while teaching important prob- the role design can have in Council of Design, AIGA De- lem-solving skills. shaping identities of places. sign Educators Community, Students worked with faculty “VCUarts Qatar is nimble, TypeCon and Salone del Mo- mentors and STEM experts Ben- Award winners of the academy with Tamuq off icials. dynamic, experimental, and bile in Milan. His work is in- jamin Cieslinski, Dr Mohamed it is a lab for innovative ideas cluded in the permanent col- Gharib and Tala Katbeh to de- as innovation. Texas A&M is de- dents through a focused engi- water bottles; and studying ways the potential to be a future en- that emerge out of research, lection of the Art Institute of velop research projects and com- veloping bright and ambitious neering project in one of Texas to maximise fuel recovery in gineering leader in Qatar. Qatar teaching and student initia- Chicago. municate their results through a students that can transform the A&M at Qatar’s four engineering complex reservoirs. needs scientists and engineers tives within a very unique en- Born in Bosnia and Herze- presentation in front of judges, future,” said Andrew H Kershaw, disciplines. Participants worked The petroleum engineering to continue the tremendous vironment,” Berbic said. “I am govina, Berbic immigrated including research posters and a president and general manager of with Tamuq faculty and staff team of Abdulaziz Alderham, momentum it has built over inspired by the co-operation to the US in the 1990s where video. Oxy Qatar. members on real-life, relevant, Dhruv Anand, Ghalya al-Emadi, the past few years and drive between VCU and Qatar Foun- he completed his studies and Occidental Petroleum of Qatar “It is almost limitless what hands-on research projects re- Haya AlNaimi, Noor al-Banna this country toward meeting dation to establish a world- worked in editorial design and Ltd (Oxy Qatar) sponsored SEA these students can achieve and lated to Qatar’s grand research and Ruba Yousif won the over- the goals of its National Vision class arts institution in the publishing. He holds an MFA and teamed up with Tamuq to with a solid STEM foundation challenges. all competition for their project. 2030. I hope these students Gulf — one that responds to in visual communication from support Qatar’s eff orts to attract they are the future leaders of This year’s projects focused on The team was mentored by Dr choose to continue to expand the local context while having the School of the Art Institute young Qataris into STEM educa- our industries. We strive to be investigating the value-effi cien- Nayef Alyafei and Dr Thomas Se- their knowledge in their chosen global impact. I am especially of Chicago and a BFA in graph- tion and careers. the partner of choice wherever cy of alternative fuel sources; ers, as well as current Tamuq pe- engineering fields and I hope to excited by the possibilities to ic design from the University “Occidental is aligned to the we operate and we are incredibly testing a new design for robust, troleum engineering sophomore see them enrolled at Texas A&M expand on VCU’s relationships of Illinois at Chicago. Qatar National Vision 2030 by excited to be the sponsor of this secure cloud storage; experi- Sara Albanna. at Qatar in Fall 2020,” added Dr with the other esteemed insti- “It’s a pleasure to welcome supporting the next generations programme.” menting with building durable, “Each of these exceptional Cesar Octavio Malave, dean Ta- tutions in the Education City, Amir Berbic to VCUarts Qatar,” with education in STEM as well This year’s academy led stu- robust furniture out of recycled National Vision Scholars has muq. an academic environment said VCU president, Michael with colleges from worldwide Rao. “I am confi dent the uni- universities operating in prox- versity’s legacy of ground- imity, and allowing students breaking innovation and crea- and faculty opportunities for tivity will continue with dean cross-institutional collabora- Berbic as leader. I look forward Qeeri joins international energy research group tion.” to working with him for years Berbic’s work has been rec- to come.”

atar Environment and energy research. The partner- Outdoor Test Facility, said, “Be- ogy and Engineering Solutions Energy Research In- ship positions us among promi- ing part of PVCAMPER helps of Sandia LLC, United States; Qstitute (Qeeri), part of nent institutions around the showcase the data Qeeri gathers Yeungnam University, South Hamad Bin Khalifa University world, and enables us to engage through its Outdoor Test Facili- Korea; Anhalt University of Ap- (HBKU) has signed a memoran- in knowledge exchange while ty, and aff ords us an opportunity plied Sciences, Germany; The dum of understanding (MoU) building capacity in energy re- to compare our results with data Institut de Recherche en En- with the Photovoltaic Collabo- search that will accelerate a glo- gathered from other test sites ergie Solaire et Energies Nou- rative to Advance Multiclimate bal transition towards a solar- around the world. velles, Morocco; Fraunhofer Performance and Energy Re- intensive future.” The participating members Centre for Silicon Photovolta- search (PVCAMPER) interna- The MoU will see members have broad expertise in PV re- ics, Germany; Korea Institute of tional research group. The con- Qeeri Outdoor Test Facility. adopt common research pro- search areas including soiling Energy Research; Korea Testing sortium aims to understand tocols and pool their test data, losses, climate-related PV effi - Laboratory; Solar Energy Re- climate-related impact on solar effi ciency PV technologies and creating what will become one ciency factors, and spectral re- search Institute of Singapore; photovoltaic equipment. studying factors that contribute of the world’s largest and most sponse. The collective data will and Universidade Federal de PVCAMPER is committed to to climate-specifi c effi ciencies. useful databases of comparable support the design and optimi- Santa Catarina, Brazil. sharing high-fi delity meteoro- Dr Marc Vermeersch, execu- PV performance data. Members sation of PV systems for specifi c Qeeri actively pursues part- logical and performance data to tive director, Qeeri, said, “We will also collaborate on research operating environments, help- nerships with top-tier local and advance photovoltaic (PV) re- are honoured to be part of the projects, focusing on topics such ing accelerate the development international partners to build search and expand solar markets. PVCAMPER community, which as PV soiling and irradiation and deployment of solar energy on its expertise and research ca- As a member of the group, Qeeri aligns with Qeeri’s mandate to measurement. in Qatar.” pacity to solve Qatar’s challenges joins an integral global platform support Qatar in its objectives Dr Benjamin Figgis, research Members of the consortium relating to water, energy and en- for evaluating emerging, high- to become a leader in renewable programme manager, Qeeri include: National Technol- vironment. Closure of eastbound lanes at Al Gharrafa Interchange underpass

The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) reach Khalifa Street will be required has announced a temporary closure to exit right, stay at-grade to reach 22 Closure of Al Baaya Street of eastbound lanes of Al Gharrafa February Street, continue straight to Interchange underpass (known make a U-turn at Al Rayyan Interchange The Public Works Authority streets. Motorists can make as Immigration Interchange) from and then turn right at Al Gharrafa (Ashghal) has announced the use of the parallel Al Kharrara tomorrow midnight until day after Interchange to continue eastbound on closure of Al Baaya Street from Street. Ashghal will install road noon. The traffic change, in co- Khalifa Street as shown on the map. today for 45 days. The closure signs to advise motorists of ordination with the General Directorate Ashghal will install road signs advising that will be implemented the diversion. Ashghal has of Traffic, is to facilitate completion of motorists of the closure. Ashghal has in co-ordination with the requested all road users to upgrading works at the interchange. requested all road users to abide by the General Directorate of Traff ic abide by the speed limits and During the closure, traffic coming from speed limit and follow the road signs to is to complete the upgrading follow the road signs to ensure Al Luqta Street and heading towards ensure safety. works of the surrounding safety.