BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Al Duhail, Al Sadd take rivalry to continental Qatari investments in level Russia hit around $13bn published in QATAR since 1978

TUESDAY Vol. XXXX No. 11267 August 6, 2019 Dhul-Hijja 5, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

In brief Amir meets ambassador of the Netherlands QATAR | Offi cial Amir condoles with UK joins US-led Philippine president His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani and HE the Prime Minister and Minister of maritime security Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani sent yesterday cables of condolences to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on the victims of ferries which capsized in the strait between Iloilo City and mission in Gulf Guimaras Island. Reuters given the increased threat,” said Brit- ferences between the EU’s big pow- QATAR | Reaction London ish Defence Secretary Ben Wallace. ers - which want to preserve the Iran “The deployment of Royal Navy nuclear deal - and the United States Qatar condemns assets is a sign of our commitment to which has pushed for a tougher policy explosion in Cairo ritain yesterday joined the Unit- our UK fl agged vessels and we look on Iran. Qatar has strongly condemned the ed States in a maritime security forward to working alongside the US “Our approach to Iran hasn’t explosion that took place in front of the Bmission in the Gulf to protect and others to fi nd an international so- changed,” British Foreign Secretary Do- National Cancer Institute in El Manial merchant vessels travelling through lution to the problems in the Strait of minic Raab said. “We remain committed area of Cairo, killing scores of people the Strait of Hormuz after Iran seized Hormuz.” to working with Iran and our interna- and injuring others. The Ministry a British-fl agged vessel. Tanker traffi c through the Strait - tional partners to de-escalate the situa- of Foreign Aff airs reiterated Qatar’s British offi cials stressed that there through which a fi fth of the world’s tion and maintain the nuclear deal.” firm position on rejecting violence, was no change to London’s policy on oil passes - has become the focus for a A British source said the focus of the terrorism and criminal acts. Page 6 Iran but joining the United States is the standoff between Iran and the United new mission would be protecting the most signifi cant non-Brexit foreign States, which has beefed up its military security of shipping and Britain would AMERICA | Shootings policy move to date of Prime Minister presence in the Gulf since May. not be joining US sanctions against Boris Johnson’s 12-day-old govern- Last month, Iran’s Revolutionary Iran. Trump slams racism, ment. Guards seized a British tanker, Stena Another British source said Lon- white supremacy Just two weeks ago, Britain was call- Impero, near the Strait of Hormuz for don hoped the US-led mission would US President Donald Trump ing for a European-led naval mission. alleged marine violations. That came transition towards a European-led His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met at the Amiri Diwan yesterday told a nation mourning the Now, it has joined what it said was a two weeks after Britain seized an Ira- mission. The United Kingdom has also off ice yesterday with the ambassador of the Netherlands to Qatar Dr Bahia Tahzib- death of 31 people in two weekend US-led “international maritime secu- nian oil tanker near Gibraltar, accusing off ered to lead one of the US-led mis- Lie, who called upon the Amir to greet him on the occasion of ending her tenure in mass shootings that he rejected rity mission”. No other nations are yet it of violating sanctions on Syria. sion’s maritime task groups. the country. The Amir wished the ambassador success in her future tasks and for racism and white supremacist involved. Britain has repeatedly ruled out any Britain has deployed a destroyer HMS relations between the two countries further progress and prosperity. For her part, ideology, moving to blunt criticism “It is vital to secure the freedom for exchange. Duncan and a frigate HMS Montrose to the ambassador expressed thanks and appreciation to the Amir and to the state that his anti-immigrant rhetoric fuels all international shipping to navigate The tanker dispute has tangled the the Gulf to accompany UK-fl agged ves- off icials for the co-operation she received that contributed to the success of her violence. Page 8 the Strait of Hormuz without delay, United Kingdom in the diplomatic dif- sels through the strait. work in the country. Page 2

Defence minister meets Qatar condemns Turkish counterpart bombing of Libya Ooredoo Internet among world’s fastest residential area

oredoo has announced that it lessly to provide the best coverage and Qatar has condemned in the strongest climbed 20 places in the recent highest speeds to all homes across Qatar, terms the bombardment that targeted Ohome Internet Speed Test Glo- and we’re extremely pleased to see this a residential area in the southern bal Index 2019 rankings, putting it ahead international recognition of our eff orts Libyan city of Murzuq, which resulted of many other countries in the region, and achievements. in dozens of deaths and injuries. The as well as international IT powerhouses, and a maximum speed of 10Gbps, “We’re also pleased to share this Ministry of Foreign Aff airs said in a such as Australia and the UK. bringing the fastest Internet to every good news with our customers, as it statement yesterday that the bombing The impressive average speed pro- home in Qatar and setting standards makes our Ooredoo ONE complete of residential areas represents a vided to Qatar households moved up for the future. home connectivity and entertain- violation of the international law, to 70Mbps, an improvement under- ment package an even more attractive and may amount to a war crime and pinned by Ooredoo’s implementation “We’re rightfully proud of proposition: everything they need for crimes against humanity. It called of a new strategy increasing home In- our fi bre network and home the whole family to stay connected and on the international community to ternet speeds to up to fi ve times faster Internet provision, and proud be entertained at home, as well as offi - take an immediate action to protect than before - at no extra charge - from our commitment and hard cially one of the fastest home internet the civilians, and to launch an urgent February this year. work is paying off ” speeds in the world.” investigation into the incident that Ooredoo’s continued commitment Ooredoo ONE offers custom- would pave the way for bringing the to and investment in the country’s Ooredoo Qatar CEO Waleed al-Sayed ers our internationally recognised aggressors to international justice. HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid only nationwide fi bre infrastructure said: “We’re rightfully proud of our fi bre super-fast home Internet, reliable The ministry expressed Qatar’s bin Mohamed al-Attiyah met with Turkish Minister of Defence Hulusi Akar in has ensured the delivery of outstand- network and home Internet provision, Wi-Fi, great coverage, and awesome condolences to the families of the Ankara yesterday. The meeting discussed a number of issues of joint concern, as ing world-class unlimited home Inter- and proud our commitment and hard entertainment for the whole family, victims and the government and well as the bilateral military relations and ways to enhancing them. Page 5 net at average speeds of up to 70Mbps work is paying off . We’re working tire- all in one package. people of Libya. Page 6 US, Russia up the ante in nuclear missile row

Reuters nuclear strike at short notice. ing a meeting with Russia’s Secu- Moscow Putin yesterday ordered the de- rity Council to discuss the US move, fence and foreign ministries and Rus- which Moscow had argued against for sia’s SVR foreign intelligence service to months, warning it would undermine a ussian President Vladimir Putin closely monitor any steps the US takes key pillar of international arms control. warned yesterday that Moscow to develop, produce or deploy missiles Putin said Russia’s arsenal of air and Rwould start developing short and banned under the defunct treaty. sea-launched missiles combined with intermediate-range land-based nucle- “If Russia obtains reliable informa- its work on developing hypersonic mis- ar missiles if the United States started tion that the United States has fi nished siles meant it was well placed to off set doing the same after the demise of a developing these systems and started to any threat emanating from the United landmark arms control treaty. produce them, Russia will have no op- States for now. The US formally left the Intermedi- tion other than to engage in a full-scale But he said it was essential for Mos- ate Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty with eff ort to develop similar missiles,” Pu- cow and Washington, the world’s largest Russia on Friday after determining that tin said in a statement. nuclear powers, to resume arms control Moscow was violating the treaty and US offi cials have said the United talks to prevent what he described as an had already deployed one banned type States is months away from the fi rst “unfettered” arms race breaking out. of missile, an accusation the Kremlin fl ight tests of an American intermedi- “In order to avoid chaos with no denies. ate-range missile that would serve as rules, restrictions or laws, we need to The pact banned land-based mis- a counter to the Russians. Any deploy- once more weigh up all the dangerous siles with a range of between 310 and ment would be years away, they have consequences and launch a serious and 3,400 miles (500-5,500km), reducing said. meaningful dialogue free from any am- the ability of both countries to launch a Putin issued his warning after hold- The Russian Novator 9M729, known as the SSC-8 by the Nato Western military alliance. biguity,” Putin said. Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, August 6, 2019 QATAR

PM meets ambassador of Netherlands Farewell ceremony for envoys of Sudan, Netherlands

HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani met HE the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs Dr Ahmed bin Hassan al-Hammadi held yesterday a farewell ceremony in the outgoing ambassador of the Netherlands to Qatar, Dr Bahia Tahzib-Lie. The Prime Minister and honour of the outgoing ambassadors of Sudan and the Netherlands to Qatar, Fatah al-Rahman Ali Mohamed, and Bahia Tahzib-Lie, Minister of Interior wished the ambassador success in her future assignments, and the relations respectively. Heads of diplomatic missions and bureaus accredited to Qatar attended the ceremony, which was held at the Diplomatic between the two countries continued prosperity. Club, along with a number of the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs departments directors. Residents urged to make healthy Al-Hammadi launches ‘Tawasul’ project food choices during Eid al-Adha

amad Medical Corpora- those with existing health con- celebrating to make healthier tion’s (HMC) Reem al- ditions,” said al-Saadi. choices when preparing meals, HSaadi, director of dietet- Individuals with diabetes and for example by using a smaller ics and nutrition, has reminded heart problems are urged to be portion of fat when preparing the residents about the impor- especially cautious and to avoid traditional foods or even replac- tance of making healthy choices overconsumption of refi ned ing animal fat, like butter, with during Eid al-Adha. carbohydrates and fatty foods, olive oil. She also recommends Al-Saadi is also urging resi- as well as foods that are high in removing the skin and fat from dents to avoid overconsumption salt and caff eine. Those with meat and chicken before cooking of sweets and other traditional nutrition-related health condi- and limiting the consumption of foods, which she says should tions are advised to eat smaller salt, fried foods, and sauces. be viewed as a special treat and portions throughout the day and “Try using honey or date syrup eaten in moderation. to opt for healthier food choices instead of sugar or sugar syrup, “Many people overeat during during meals and snack times. and opt for whole wheat fl our Eid celebrations, particularly Al-Saadi recommends includ- Reem al-Saadi instead of white fl our. Select HE the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs Dr Ahmed bin Hassan al-Hammadi unhealthy food and drinks. This ing whole fruits, vegetables, and low-fat milk instead of full-fat inaugurated yesterday a project to develop the ‘Tawasul’ service, which included the can lead to a spike in the number legumes in their daily meal plan. traditional dishes eaten during milk and experiment with baking implementation of an advanced electronic system to follow up the phone calls received by the of patients seeking emergency According to al-Saadi while Eid al-Adha are rich in red meat dishes like sambousek, which is ministry’s Duty Off ice, and requests for assistance to citizens while travelling abroad. The project treatment for gastric issues Eid is an occasion to celebrate and stressed the importance of traditionally fried. Small changes aims to speed up the provision of services to citizens, follow up their requests to ensure their such as nausea, vomiting, upset and enjoy a variety of foods, it is avoiding overconsumption of can go a long way in helping you, speedy completion, and establish a central database of all requests received by Qatari diplomatic stomach, and indigestion. It is important to be mindful of food these food as they are high in and your family, stay healthy, and missions abroad, the Duty Off ice and the Department of Consular Aff airs. The inauguration important to make healthy food choices and particularly of por- cholesterol and saturated fat. often without scarifying fl avour,” ceremony was attended by directors of departments and off icials at the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs. choices this Eid, particularly for tion size. She said many of the Al-Saadi encourages those added al- Saadi.

Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, August 6, 2019 QATAR QRCS prepares for fl ood Ministry of Justice, RACA response in Bangladesh sign MoU atar Red Crescent So- more 280 under construction. ciety (QRCS) has sent a In addition, 54 nonfood kits he Ministry of Justice secretary at the Ministry of Qfi eld team to assess the were distributed, contain- and the Regulatory Justice Sultan bin Abdullah damage caused by the recent ing cooking fuel, vegetable TAuthority for Chari- al-Suwaidi explained that the fl ash fl oods across Bangladesh. seeds, household containers, table Activities (RACA) have provisions of this memoran- Together with the Turkish umbrellas, and solar lamps. signed a memorandum of dum are only a translation and Red Crescent, the relief person- An annexed mosque will be understanding (MoU), under confi rmation of Qatar’s fi rm nel visited the aff ected areas built, while the shelter sur- which the two parties shall approach to combating mon- in Cox’s Bazar, home of many roundings were upgraded with act in accordance with the ey laundering and terrorism refugee camps. corridors, walls, sandbags to provisions of Law No 4 of funding in accordance with Based on the initial needs prevent fl oodwater damage, and 2010 on combating money the provisions of Law No 4 assessment, a joint plan was six solar lampposts. laundering and the terrorism of 2010. developed by QRCS and its At the same time, 15 local vol- fi nancing, and other relevant For his part, RACA Direc- Turkish counterpart to dis- unteers were trained to under- laws in the competence of tor General Ibrahim Abdul- tribute 2,000 food parcels take shelter construction and each party with the powers lah al-Duhaimi said that the in two worst-hit districts maintenance. and functions specifi ed in joint working mechanism northwestern Dhaka. According to an IFRC humani- the law. will contribute to the con- A delegation from QRCS vis- tarian appeal, issued early this These competences and solidation of eff orts to com- ited the aid distribution centre A QRCS delegation visited an aid distribution centre of Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) at Camp 11. month, the heavy rain and fl ash tasks constitute the ba- bat money laundering and of Bangladesh Red Crescent fl oods killed 114 persons, displaced sis of the joint mechanism terrorism funding. Society (BDRCS) at Camp 11. delegation was the Friendship with funding from Qatar Fund healthy, and clean environment more than 280,000 persons, af- of action between the two This mechanism will con- Headed by Dr Mohamed Village, a shelter camp co-es- for Development (QFFD), KRCS, for serving both Myanmar refu- fected 28 provinces with 7mn pop- parties in the fi eld of co- tribute to enhancing co- Salah Ibrahim, executive direc- tablished by QRCS and Kuwait and the International Federa- gees and the local communities. ulation, destroyed 400,000 hous- ordination and exchange operation between the two tor, QRCS Relief and Interna- Red Crescent Society (KRCS). tion of the Red Cross and Red Established inside Camp 14 es, and damaged 163,000 hectares of information related to parties through understand- tional Division, the delegation Then, Dr Ibrahim visited Camp Crescent Societies (IFRC). Block 18, the Friendship Village of agricultural land. combating money launder- ing, analysing and evaluat- took part in the distribution of 19, where QRCS operates a The fi eld hospital’s seven is planned to host up to 6,100 The broken down water sup- ing and terrorism funding ing risks, and exchanging shelter repair kits to 322 families health post. tents, which constitute its main refugees. ply and sewage systems pose between the Ministry of experiences related to mon- aff ected by floods. He also visited BDRCS’s fi eld clinics, were replaced with pre- So far, 96 shelters have been the risk of endemic water-borne Justice and RACA. ey laundering and terrorism Another site visited by the hospital, developed by QRCS fab metal buildings to be a safe, completed and delivered, with diseases. (QNA) On this occasion, Under- funding. (QNA)

Nearly 6,000 students Postal ties with Japan to be strengthened Katara to host events Qatar Post’s acting general manager apply for Qur’an tests Hamad Mohamed al- during Eid holidays Fahida yesterday met the he Department of Da’wa including 12 in the morning and Japanese ambassador and Religious Guid- 127 in the evening. Seiichi Otsuka, to discuss he Cultural Village – and Katara will off er gifts to Tance at the Ministry of The department pointed out ways to strengthen the Katara is hosting events children. Endowments and Islamic Af- that these tests, which began relationships between the Tfor visitors during Eid Visitors will also have the fairs (Awqaf) has organised the yesterday, will continue for three Japanese embassy and al-Adha which will last for opportunity to enjoy the musi- second quarterly tests for stu- weeks, before 466 test commit- Qatar Post, and expressed four days starting from the cal show off ered by the Police dents of the Qur’anic centres tees including 17 morning com- interest in developing fi rst day of Eid al-Adha. Training Institute. for 2019. mittees, and 449 evening com- investment opportunities Activities will be staged The celebrations will con- The Advocacy Department mittees, and these tests will be with Japan Post. along the waterfront of Ka- tinue throughout four days of revealed that 5,969 students under the technical supervisors tara from 5pm-10pm. A Eid al-Adha and will provide applied for the tests, from 139 in the Department of the Holy children’s play area will be a fun atmosphere for children Qur’anic centres nationwide, Qur’an and its sciences. (QNA) available for the occasion and families. (QNA) Gulf Times Tuesday, August 6, 2019 5 QATAR

Jupiter and Defence minister in Turkish meeting Saturn can be Al Meera to seen together this month open store Qatar residents will have a chance to observe planets Jupiter and Saturn during the nights of August, Qatar Calendar House (QCH) announced at The Mall yesterday. Astronomer expert at QCH Dr Beshir Marzouk said the giant n its latest move under its company’s 54th store in Qatar. planet Jupiter will be at 2.5 ambitious expansion plans Al Meera expansion across degrees south to Moon’s centre Iacross Qatar, Al Meera Con- the Qatari territory has been fo- over Qatar and Arab region sky sumer Goods Company has an- cused on both vital and unders- on August 9. nounced the signing of its new erved areas. The company aims Jupiter and Moon can be seen store at The Mall. to off er a world-class customer together with naked eyes or Al Meera’s upcoming branch service, high-quality, locally astronomical telescopes over at The Mall is the latest addi- sourced and imported fresh pro- southern horizon on Friday tion to a number of store open- duce, and unmatched value to from the Sunset time (6.16pm ings under its network. Since every neighbourhood and desti- local time) until 12.33am on Al Meera set in motion its ex- nation in Qatar. Saturday. pansion plans in the market, Once it is launched, the On August 12, Saturn, the planet the company has launched four branch at The Mall, which with beautiful rings, will be at the additional branches: Al Khor, spreads across more than nearest point of Moon. Aba Al Heran, Leabaib 1, and 1,800sq m, will continue to Qatar residents will be able to Azwagha, as well as two new deliver on Al Meera’s rigorous see Saturn and Moon together convenient stores, MAAR at the quality assurance standards and with naked eyes over south east Doha Exhibition and Conven- our seamlessly integrated shop- horizon on Monday from Sunset tion Centre and Msheireb Met- ping experience, both of which HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah along with Qatari delegation time (6.14pm local time) until ro stations in 2019. Al Meera’s have raised the bar for our mar- during a meeting with Turkish Minister of Defence Hulusi Akar in Ankara yesterday. 2.33am on Tuesday, the statement The Mall branch will mark the ket in Qatar. added. New colour of Huawei P30 Ooredoo opens new express Pro in stores on August 8 shop at Hyatt Plaza Mall oredoo confi rmed yes- terday that it has ex- uawei’s fl agship P30 se- be available at a special price 980 chipset for powerful and ef- Otended its retail net- ries has announced the of QR2,499. fi cient performance and a mas- work with the opening of a new Hlaunch of its limited edi- Customers will be able to sive 4200mAh battery with the Ooredoo Express Shop at Hyatt tion new colour, Huawei P30 Pro enjoy those off ers when they 40W Huawei Supercharge that Plaza Mall next to Al Meera Opening hours for the new most convenient for them, and Pearl White, pictured, which purchase their device between charges back up to 70% in just Hypermarket. Express Shop will be from 9am we pride ourselves on our ex- will be available in Huawei August 8 and 17, from Huawei 30 minutes. Customers will now have yet until 10pm, Saturday through tensive retail network. stores in Qatar by August 8. showroom in AlNasr Street or Additional perks include GPU another way of getting in touch Thursday, and 2pm until 10pm “We’re delighted to have The latest device comes in Huawei kiosks at Mall of Qatar Turbo 3.0 for gaming enthusi- with Ooredoo to have their serv- on Friday. yet another shop where cus- a Special Edition Gift Box; and Doha Festival City. asts, Wireless Reverse Charging ice requirements met. The new Manar Khalifa al-Muraikhi, tomers can come to have their a Swarovski case embel- The limited edition Huawei and a 6.47 inch display with In- Express Shop will off er all the director, PR and Corporate service requirements met by lished with crystals, exude P30 Pro Pearl White boasts a screen fi ngerprint and Huawei services customers can expect, Communications at Ooredoo, our friendly, knowledgeable high-class luxury. As the solid 128GB storage space and Acoustic Display Technology, including signing up for new said: “We know it’s vitally im- staff and we look forward to Eid exclusive, this limited off ers the world’s fi rst Leica which help in creating a better plans, recharging, subscribing to portant for our customers to meeting them at the new edition gift box and the free Quad Camera setup for stun- viewing experience by minimis- home services, accessing Oore- be able to get in touch with us Hyatt Plaza shop as soon as Swarovski crystal case will ning photos and videos, Kirin ing the bezels. doo tv, and much more. whenever and wherever it is possible.” Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, August 6, 2019 REGION/ARAB WORLD

42 people killed in 20 dead as car explodes Libya air strikes

AFP Tripoli

t least 42 people were killed and dozens wounded in outside Cairo hospital an air strike targeting a town hall meeting in south- Aern Libya, a local offi cial and the UN-recognised Reuters/AFP He said they suff ered from burns “The initial technical examina- government said yesterday, accusing forces of military Cairo of varying degrees. tion also showed that the car con- strongman Khalifa Haftar. Body parts were also retrieved tained explosives, and the collision The Government of National Accord (GNA) said Sun- from the scene, he added. led to their detonation,” a ministry day’s raid struck the residential district of Qalaa in the huge blast which killed 20 President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi satatement said. town of Murzuq. people in central Cairo was described the blast as a “terrorist “It is estimated that the car was The air raid left “42 dead and more than 60 injured, 30 Acaused by a speeding car incident”. In a social media post, being transported to a location for of them critically,” municipal council offi cial Ibrahim Omar packed with explosives, Egyptian he off ered his condolences to the use in the execution of a terrorist told AFP. offi cials said yesterday as the presi- victims’ families and the Egyptian operation,” the ministry added. He said a government building at which more than 200 dent decried a “terrorist incident”. people. It said the Hasm militant group was local dignitaries were gathered “to settle social diff erenc- The car was driving against the The interior ministry said a responsible for rigging up the car. es” was targeted three times. traffi c when it smashed into three technical inspection indicated “an The explosion caused a blaze “No armed or wanted people were among them...Haftar other vehicles just before mid- amount of explosives was inside that forced the partial evacuation bombed unarmed civilians,” he said, calling for humanitar- night on Sunday evening, setting the car, which caused it to explode of the National Cancer Institute, ian aid since the local hospital could not cope with the high off a massive explosion just out- when it collided.” the health ministry said. number of casualties. side the country’s National Cancer Both the ministry and police One resident, who gave her The GNA condemned the attack on its Facebook page, Institute. said they suspected the Hasm name as Salwa, said bodies had also blaming it on Haftar’s forces. Four of the 20 people killed re- group, an armed affi liate of the been fused together by the explo- Haftar, who seized swathes of southern Libya earlier in main unidentifi ed, the health min- Muslim Brotherhood, of being be- People extinguish a fire from a blast outside the National Cancer sion. the year, has been battling since April to oust pro-GNA istry said, while 47 others were hind the attack. Institute, Cairo. “There was a sound of an ex- forces from the capital Tripoli. wounded. Social media users posted foot- tremely loud blast. It was no way The GNA urged the UN’s Libya mission and interna- Between “three and four (of the age of cars ablaze at the scene and from the institute were moved to strewn over the pavement. two cars crashing. The car must tional community “to carry out an investigation into the injured) are in critical condition of patients being evacuated from other hospitals to continue their Victims’ belongings were scat- have been rigged with explosives,” crimes committed by Haftar’s militias in Murzuq”. in the intensive care unit,” Kha- the Cancer Institute, which was treatment. tered among the debris. she told Reuters Television. There was no immediate comment on the raid from led Megahed, a spokesman for the severely damaged and charred in The front of the hospital suf- The interior ministry said the Another witness, who declined Haftar’s self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA). health ministry, told a press con- the explosion. fered extensive damaged, with car involved in the incident had to give his name, said the car’s With its 50,000 inhabitants, mostly from the Toubou ference. Megahed said 78 cancer patients an entrance wrecked and rubble been stolen a few months ago. driver ran away before it exploded. ethnic group, and its ancient fortress, the oasis town is lo- cated almost 900km by road south of Tripoli. The Toubou have remained at odds with rival Arab tribes which have rallied with Haftar’s forces who took control of the region in January in an operation to “purge it of terror- ists and criminals”. Idlib ceasefi re scrapped, The European Union, which has previously called for those breaching international law in Libya to be brought to justice, condemned the strike. regime resumes air strikes “Indiscriminate attacks on densely populated residen- tial areas may amount to war crimes and must cease im- mediately,” said EU spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic. AFP The Russian defence ministry said there With fi ghting for Tripoli stalled on the ground after Khan Sheikhun, Syria had been no casualties on the base itself, initial advances by Haftar’s forces, the two sides have in- but that, according to the Syrian security creasingly taken their fi ght to the skies with warplanes and services, rockets fell on a nearby district, drones. amascus and Russia yesterday re- “wounding four residents”. Aviation offi cials said yesterday that a Libyan passenger sumed air strikes on Idlib in north- Syria’s military said it was scrapping the plane had narrowly escaped being hit by incoming fi re as it Dwest Syria, a monitor said, scrap- truce as “armed terrorist groups refused to landed at Tripoli’s sole functioning airport. ping a ceasefi re for the extremist-run abide by the ceasefi re and launched many “The crew on the fl ight from Benghazi, which was carry- bastion and accusing the regime’s oppo- attacks on civilians in surrounding areas”, ing 124 passengers, avoided being hit by bombing on Mitiga nents of targeting a Russian air base. according to a statement carried by state International Airport” on Sunday, the airport’s manage- The northwestern region, which hosts news agency SANA. ment wrote on Facebook. some 3mn people, is one of the last major Experts and residents had been scepti- The incident forced the airport to close to air traffi c and centres of resistance to President Bashar cal that the truce would hold, citing several re-route fl ights to Misrata, some 200km further east, until al-Assad’s regime after eight years of war. previous failed ceasefi res. late on Sunday. Damascus had said on Thursday it had Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an extremist The origin of the bombs was not clear, and no side has agreed to a truce from Friday to halt three group led by Syria’s former Al Qaeda af- yet claimed responsibility. months of regime and Russian bombard- fi liate, has since January controlled most UN envoy Ghassan Salame last week warned the Secu- ment on the area, which has killed more of Idlib province as well as adjacent parts rity Council of “the increasing frequency of attacks” on than 790 civilians and pushed 400,000 of the Hama, Aleppo and Latakia gover- Mitiga airport, controlled by pro-GNA forces. people from their homes. norates. Other rebels and militants are also “Several of these attacks have come perilously close to But extremists running the region on present. hitting civilian aircraft with passengers on board,” he said. Saturday refused to comply with a key con- Idlib is supposed to be protected from a On Sunday, his offi ce condemned the “repeated indis- dition to that truce, declaring they would massive government off ensive by a Turk- criminate shelling” of Mitiga, “the only indispensable never withdraw from a planned buff er zone ish-Russian deal struck in September last functioning airport available for use by millions of civil- around the area. year. Over the weekend, several civilians ians” and aid deliveries. The Syrian Observatory for Human displaced by the bombardment had taken Mitiga has closed several times since the start of the as- Rights said regime air strikes resumed on advantage of the ceasefi re to return to their sault by Haftar, who has accused pro-GNA forces of using the region minutes after the truce was can- homes and inspect the damage. it for military purposes including as a launch site for Turk- celled, before Russian planes joined in too. In Khan Sheikhun, Abu Abdullah dug ish attack drones. Russian planes pounded the western through the rubble of his bombed-out Located east of Tripoli, Mitiga is a former military air- edge of the enclave, while aircraft from house, scavenging for the scant belongings base that has been used by civilian traffi c since Tripoli’s in- both sides resumed bombardment of its he could salvage from the ruins. ternational airport suff ered severe damage during fighting southern fl ank, the Britain-based war “I’m trying to collect some of the be- in 2014. monitor said. longings we had, some of the memories we The World Health Organization says the battle for In the south, an AFP correspondent have left behind in this place” after leaving Tripoli has left nearly 1,100 people dead and wounded saw the wind blow plumes of white smoke fi ve months ago, he said. more than 5,750, while forcing more than 100,000 civilians across the fi elds after planes and helicop- By yesterday, bombardment on his to fl ee their homes. ters pounded the town of Khan Sheikhun. hometown — nearly deserted in recent Libya has been wracked by chaos since the 2011 uprising A few families fl ed the town in cars or months — had resumed. that killed president Moamer Kadhafi . trucks piled high with their belongings, While the ceasefi re had halted air strikes Rival administrations and militias are vying for power, women and children perched on top, the on the region from Friday, both sides had with the Tripoli-based GNA at odds with a parallel admin- correspondent said. continued to trade artillery and rocket fi re. istration based in the east and backed by Haftar. Iran urges Europeans to act

Reuters maining parties to do more to save it. Geneva All Iran’s steps, he said, were re- versible if Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China eventually brought ran yesterday told European it protection from Washington’s powers it would further reduce sanctions squeeze. Icompliance with its 2015 nuclear Fears of a Middle East war with deal in about a month’s time if they global repercussions have risen were still failing to protect it from since Trump withdrew in May 2018 crippling US sanctions, reimposed from the nuclear deal embraced by after Washington exited the deal. predecessor Barack Obama and re- European signatories to the deal vived a panoply of sanctions meant have so far been helpless to prevent to force Tehran into wider security US President Donald Trump trying concessions. to force Iran to accept stricter limits Oil tanker traffi c through the to its nuclear activity and regional Strait of Hormuz has become the behaviour by strangling its vital oil focus for the increasingly tense US- trade. Iranian standoff and the Trump ad- Iran has threatened to block all ministration has beefed up its mili- energy exports out of the Strait of tary presence in the Gulf since May. Hormuz, through which a fi fth of Yesterday, Iran declared that it ran global oil traffi c passes, if it is unable security in the strait and would no to sell oil as promised by the 2015 longer tolerate “maritime off ences” deal in exchange for curbing its ura- Iranian Minister Mohamed Javad Zarif speaks during a press conference in there. nium enrichment programme. Tehran yesterday. “Iran used to forgo some maritime “With the continuation of the off ences in...(the) Gulf but will nev- inaction of the Europeans in carry- order — permitted a maximum re- vate centrifuge machines and ramp er close (its) eyes anymore,” Foreign ing out their commitments (to the serve of 300kg of low-enriched ura- up enrichment of uranium to 20% Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif nuclear deal)...Iran will take a third nium. fi ssile purity. told a televised news conference in step (in reducing commitments) in It also set a cap of 130 tonnes of The deal set an enrichment ceiling Tehran. approximately one month,” said Be- heavy water, which in large quanti- of 3.67%, the level deemed as ap- “Iran is responsible for the securi- hrouz Kamalvandi, spokesman for the ties can yield plutonium, an alterna- propriate for electricity generation ty and safety of the Strait of Hormuz Atomic Energy Organization of Iran. tive atom bomb fuel. and far below the 90% of weapons and the region.” Iran had increased its stockpile of “What is certain is that by putting grade, though 20% would mark a big Zarif also criticised US sanctions heavy water above 130 tonnes and its re- aside or suspending our commitments advance signifi cantly reducing the imposed on him on Wednesday, say- serve of enriched uranium above 300kg, we will increase the speed of our nu- time needed to yield bomb material. ing Washington had slammed the Kamalvandi told IRIB news agency. clear activities,” said Kamalvandi. It has long denied seeking a nu- door to any diplomacy to salvage the The deal — designed to forestall He did not specify what Iran’s clear bomb but appears to be crank- 2015 nuclear deal. “Iran will leave its Iran making high-enriched uranium next step would be, but Tehran ing up enrichment levels gradually as nuclear deal with the powers if nec- suitable for nuclear bombs in short warned last month it could reacti- leverage to push the nuclear deal’s re- essary,” Zarif said. Gulf Times Tuesday, August 6, 2019 7 AFRICA

Zimbabwe secures electricity imports Uganda starts trials to ease outages

Reuters Harare of new Ebola vaccine imbabwe will ramp up its electricity imports over the next few weeks, potentially easing rolling power AFP Zcuts, after it agreed to make payments to clear its Kampala debt to a regional power utility, a treasury offi cial said yesterday. The southern African nation has endured 18-hour daily ganda said yesterday it had power cuts since May as a result of a prolonged drought started a trial of an ex- that has reduced output at its largest hydro plant and age- Uperimental Ebola vaccine ing coal-fi red generators that keep breaking down. that may be used in neighbouring Foreign power companies also stopped supplying Zim- Democratic Republic of Congo, babwe with electricity in 2017 after the country failed to where an outbreak has killed more pay its bills, although Zimbabwe resumed limited imports than 1,800 people. of 300MW a month last week. The trial of the MVA-BN vaccine George Guvamatanga, secretary for the ministry of fi - developed by Johnson&Johnson is nance, told business leaders in Harare that Zimbabwe had expected to last two years, Ugan- agreed to make weekly payments to clear its debt to a re- da’s Medical Research Council gional power utility, which would start providing at least (MRC) said. 400MW of electricity a month, starting from this week. The vaccine will be adminis- That would take total imports to 700MW a month. tered to up to 800 health profes- Guvamatanga did not name the supplier. sionals and frontline workers such Zimbabwe typically buys electricity from South Afri- as cleaners, ambulance personnel ca’s Eskom and Hydro Cahora Bassa of Mozambique. and mortuary and burial teams, in Zimbabwe owes more than $70mn to Eskom and Hydro the western district of Mbarara, Cahora Bassa of Mozambique for past power supplies. the MRC said in a statement. “I think the arrangement that we have put in place now MRC spokeswoman Pamela on electricity should hopefully guarantee us increased Nabukenya Wairagala said vacci- supply from tomorrow or Wednesday,” Guvamatanga nations had already begun. said. The MRC said the trial would “Working with the mining sector we have been able be led by Ugandan researchers and to ring-fence adequate resources to pay for at least 400 supported by the London School of megawatts of electricity a month.” Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Power shortages, along with drought and a severe dol- At present there is no licenced lar crunch, will result in the economy shrinking this year, drug to prevent or treat Ebola al- the fi nance minister said last week. though a range of experimental Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Cha- drugs are in development. si was in South Africa at the end of July to try negotiate for The Congo outbreak is the fi rst A young woman reacts as a health worker injects her with the Ebola vaccine, in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. a power deal with Eskom. time that a vaccine has been used He did not immediately respond to calls and messages as a full-scale weapon against the However, the latter move has been However, its effi cacy is unclear It will also look at safety and the breaks in the past but nothing on on his mobile phone on Monday. virus. resisted. because it has never been assessed attitudes of participants towards the scale of the Congo epidemic, Eskom, which is itself struggling to meet South Africa’s Health authorities have been is- Critics have cautioned against in an outbreak scenario. the vaccine, the MRC said. which began in August 2018. electricity needs, had no immediate comment. suing the rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine, introducing a new product in com- By comparison, rVSV-ZEBOV Professor Pontiano Kaleebu, It is the second-worst outbreak The government said last week that power utility ZESA developed by US pharma group munities where mistrust of Ebola was introduced in Guinea towards the lead Ugandan researcher in on record, eclipsed only by 2013- Holdings was accessing 300 MW during off -peak hours Merck — a product that has yet to responders is already high. the end of a 2013-16 epidemic in the trial, said developing a reliable 2016 epidemic in West Africa, from the Southern African Power Pool, a regional indus- be licenced but has been shown to Congo’s former health minister, West Africa, enabling scientists to vaccine was a key component to which killed more than 11,300 out try collaboration linking up national grids. be safe and eff ective. Oly Ilunga, who stepped down in conclude it was eff ective. controlling Ebola epidemics. of 29,000 documented cases. Guvamatanga said for now Zimbabwe would have to The World Health Organisa- July, was among the detractors. The trial taking place in Uganda, “In this trial we hope to avail more Uganda has been declared rely on electricity imports, which required foreign cur- tion (WHO) has called for its de- The MRC said the vaccine “is safe” where there is no Ebola, will look information that will help us work Ebola-free though in June three rency that is in short supply. ployment to be expanded and has and had been tested on more than at the response of the immune sys- towards having a licenced Ebola vac- people from one family died there Last week fi nance minister Mthuli Ncube announced recommended the vaccine also be 6,000 people in Europe, the US and tem to the vaccine — a key pointer cine,” Kaleebu said in a statement. from the haemorrhagic fever after a three-fold increase in electricity tariff s, as the govern- rolled out in order to meet needs. African nations including Uganda. of eff ectiveness. Uganda has suff ered Ebola out- crossing back from Congo. ment seeks to raise more funds for power generation.

Regional forum

Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara speaks at the opening session of the 18th Africa Growth Opportunity Act Forum in Abidjan yesterday.

Investigative journalist charged in Tanzania

Reuters a charge sheet seen by Reuters. ahead of presidential polls in 2020. Dar es Salaam In the charge sheet, the State Pros- Muthoki Mumo, the Sub-Saharan ecutor alleged that between January Africa representative for New York- 2015 and July 2019 Kabendera “know- based Committee to Protect Journal- n investigative journalist in ingly furnished assistance in the con- ists, said the charges were retaliation Tanzania has been charged with duct of aff airs of a criminal racket, with for Kabendera’s work as a journalist. Amoney laundering, tax evasion intent either to reap profi t or other “The continued detention of this and assisting a criminal racket, ac- benefi t.” freelance journalist is an attempt to cording to a court document seen by During a similar period, he failed to muzzle a critical voice and his case also Reuters, charges his lawyer and rights pay taxes to an income of 173mn shil- has the potential to intimidate others groups said were politically motivated. lings ($75,000), the charge sheet said. in Tanzania’s media community into Rights groups say press freedom in The case has been adjourned un- silence,” she said. Tanzania has drastically deteriorated til August 19 when it will come up for Kabendera’s lawyer said that money since the election in 2015 of President mention. laundering was not a bailable off ence, John Magufuli, whose administration “Based on the nature of questions meaning the journalist would have has shut down newspapers, arrested he has been asked since being put un- to remain in prison until his case was opposition leaders and activists and der police custody, we believe that his concluded, warning this could be for restricted political rallies. arrest and subsequent prosecution are up to three years. The government has rejected the linked to his work as a journalist,” Ka- Murithi Mutiga at the Brussels- criticism. bendera’s lawyer, Jebra Kambole, told based International Crisis Group also Erick Kabendera, who has written Reuters. said the government was “abusing the for national and international publica- Government spokesman Hassan charges of economic crimes to target tions, including The Guardian and The Abbasi declined to respond directly to critics, secure in the knowledge that Times of London, was arrested at his the lawyer’s accusations, saying: “If he the off ence is not bailable.” home in Dar es Salaam last week, over is charged in court then let’s leave the “The fact the authorities have of- what police said at the time were issues matter before the court of law.” fered wildly contrasting justifi cations concerning his citizenship. Last month Kabendera published for holding Erick leaves no room for Yesterday, a court charged Kaben- a story in the regional publication doubt that this is a politically motivat- dera with three counts of leading The East African about purported ed attempt to silence one of Tanzania’s organised crime, failure to pay taxes internal divisions within the ruling most courageous and talented journal- and money laundering, according to Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party ists.” Gulf Times 8 Tuesday, August 6, 2019 AMERICAS Trump condemns white supremacy, but faces pressure on gun control

Reuters Walmart says its training helped save lives in prior incident Washington By Hilary Russ, Reuters ing completed by all Walmart once per year but became quar- New York employees helped save lives in terly in 2017, the same year sepa- resident Donald Trump El Paso. rate shooters killed 58 people at a yesterday proposed tighter Days before Saturday’s mass With its doors open to shoppers music festival in Las Vegas and 26 Pmonitoring of the Internet, shooting that killed 20 people often late into the night in towns people at a church in Sutherland mental health reform and wider at a Walmart Inc store in El Paso, across the country, Walmart Springs, Texas. use of the death penalty in re- Texas, another shooting erupted stores have seen their fair share of “We have evolved how we are sponse to mass slayings over the at a Walmart in Southaven, Mis- confrontation. dealing with diff erent crisis situa- weekend that killed 30 people in sissippi. “You can never predict tions through the years,” he said. Texas and Ohio. In that case, Walmart’s manda- violence, which is why we focus In 2014, Walmart announced The man arrested for killing 21 tory “active shooter” programme on training and preparation so its partnership with Texas State people at a Walmart in El Paso, may have helped save lives. seriously,” Hargrove said. “No University to implement its “Avoid, Texas, reportedly had racist mo- Employees there acted quickly business or retailer is immune.” Deny, Defend” training for civil- tives and Trump said Americans when a disgruntled colleague al- Walmart employees com- ians to respond to active public must “condemn racism, bigotry legedly killed two co-workers and plete an active shooter training threats, rolling out that program in and white supremacy.” injured a police off icer. program during orientation and 2015 to employees. Trump did not directly address “I feel confident in saying that it afterwards on computers four “We know our program works,” accusations that his own anti- did (help) in Southaven,” said Wal- times per year. he said. immigrant and racially charged mart spokesman Randy Hargrove That level of training is believed “Naturally, any time there is comments have contributed to a in a phone interview, adding that to be unique in the retail industry, a situation, you’re going to look rise in race tensions. employees guided other associ- Hargrove said. at what you’re doing from every “These sinister ideologies ates and customers to the right Walmart is the world’s biggest diff erent angle.” must be defeated,” he said in re- exits and out of danger. retailer and the largest US private Other major US retailers did not marks at the White House. It is not yet clear whether the sector employer. return calls seeking information “Hate has no place in America. mandatory active-shooter train- The training had been required about their security programmes. Hatred warps the mind, ravages People hold up their phones during a prayer and candle vigil in El Paso, Texas. the heart and devours the soul.” Democrats quickly accused “We must make sure those known as a bump stock that gives with some drawing connections Crusius was in custody yester- the House of Representatives universal background checks bill Trump of hiding behind talk of judged to pose a grave risk to a semi-automatic weapon the between his rhetoric to a resur- day, charged with capital murder. Judiciary Committee, said in up for a vote,” Schumer said in a mental health reform and the role public safety do not have ac- capacity of a machine gun. gence in nationalism and xeno- The suspect in Dayton, Connor an interview on MSNBC that tweet yesterday. of social media instead of commit- cess to fi rearms and that if they The ban went into eff ect in phobic sentiment. Betts, was killed by police after Trump’s suggestion was “dis- Trump also could invoke his ting to tighter gun laws to address do those fi rearms can be taken March. Trump began his presidential opening fi re in an entertainment gusting.” power under the Constitution to gun violence in the United States. through rapid due process,” he But after a February 2018 campaign in 2015 by characteris- district. It was not immediately clear call back Congress. On Saturday, several Mexi- said. shooting at a high school in Park- ing Mexican immigrants as rap- A motive in the that case not what specifi c steps Trump wants Representatives for McCon- can citizens were among the 22 Trump had earlier yesterday land, Florida, left 17 dead, Trump ists and drug smugglers and he immediately evident. or what other action he plans to nell, who broke his shoulder in a people killed at the Walmart by called for “strong background stepped back from a series of has likened immigrants coming Trump earlier called on Re- take with Congress on summer fall over the weekend, did not re- a man who drove from his home checks” on gun buyers but in his sweeping fi xes to gun laws that across the southern US border to publicans and Democrats to work recess and US lawmakers not spond for a request for comment. in Allen, Texas, 1,062km away, to comments at the White House he he had considered amid a White an “invasion.” together on strong background scheduled to return to Washing- Representatives for the NRA El Paso on the US-Mexico border. gave no details on what he would House meeting he had gathered He also has called them “very checks and possibly combine ton until September. also did not immediately respond Just 13 hours later, another push for, and it was not the cen- over the tragedy. bad thugs and gang members.” that legislation with “desperately The US House of Representa- to a request for comment. gunman in downtown Dayton, tral part of his message. Instead he supported a more At a rally in May in Panama needed immigration reform.” tives already has passed a bill Mass shootings by lone-wolf Ohio, killed nine people. “Mental illness and hatred modest set of steps after a private City Beach in Florida’s Pan- But Democratic lawmakers, calling for universal background attackers have increased con- Dozens also were wounded in pulls the trigger, not the gun,” he meeting with the NRA. handle region, he had asked the who have fought Trump’s moves checks for gun buyers, but it has cerns in recent years about the the attacks. said. Trump also said yesterday that crowd how to stop immigrants, to toughen immigration laws and not been taken up by the Repub- level of gun violence and the Trump, who has been accused That comment drew immedi- it was time to stop glorifying prompting someone to shout build a wall along the US-Mexico lican-led Senate. threat posed by racist and white of not doing enough to tackle ate criticism with Democratic violence in society, and pointed “Shoot them.” border, rejected any eff ort to tie Chuck Schumer, the Demo- supremacist ideologies. extremist groups, said he was di- presidential candidate Amy to “gruesome and grisly” video Trump smiled as the audience gun control to immigration re- cratic leader in the Senate, called While Democrats have pointed recting the Department of Justice Klobuchar accusing the Repub- games. applauded and said: “That’s only form. on Senate Majority Leader Mitch to Trump’s comments as infl am- to investigate domestic terror- lican president of trying to dodge “It is too easy today for trou- in the Panhandle you can get “Only a racist, driven by fear, McConnell to reconvene the ing racial tensions in the country, ism, and propose legislation to the issue of gun control. bled youth to surround them- away with that statement.” could witness what took place chamber in an emergency session he tried to turn part of the blame ensure that those who commit “There’s mental illness&hate selves with a culture that cel- Police in El Paso cited a racist, this weekend — and instead of to pass the legislation. on news organisations. hate crimes and mass murders throughout world, but US stands ebrates violence. We must stop anti-immigrant manifesto posted standing up to hatred, side with a “Instead of fl ailing around “The Media has a big respon- face the death penalty. alone w/high rate of gun vio- or substantially reduce this and it online shortly before the shoot- mass murderer’s call to make our blaming everything under the sibility to life and safety in our He also said the country needs lence,” she said on Twitter. has to begin immediately.” ing, which they attributed to the country more white. We are so sun, if the president is seri- Country. Fake News has con- to reform mental health laws to After a gunman killed 58 peo- Democrats, who have long suspect, Patrick Crusius, who much better than this president,” ous about ‘strong background tributed greatly to the anger and identify disturbed people as well as ple at a country music festi- pushed for greater gun control, drove to the city from his home Democratic presidential candi- checks’ there’s one thing he can rage that has built up over many work with social media companies val in Las Vegas in 2017, Trump said Trump was indirectly to near Dallas, as evidence that the date Beto O’Rourke said. do: Demand Sen McConnell put years,” Trump wrote in a tweet to detect possible mass shooters. proposed a ban an attachment blame for the attack in Texas, bloodshed was racially motivated. Jerrold Nadler, who chairs the bipartisan, House-passed yesterday morning.

‘We have a long way to go’: Descendants of RCMP deploys divers first black Americans on race relations Canada urged to in search for fugitive By Angela Moore, Reuters Hampton, Virginia act early on US teen murder suspects Four hundred years after the first AFP ship carrying enslaved Africans Montreal arrived on the coast of Virginia, drug import plan the descendants of one of the first black American families say race anadian police said on Sunday they sent relations in the United States still By Allison Martell, Reuters “Our government’s priority is ensur- a team of divers to a river in Manitoba, to have “a long way to go.” Toronto ing that all Canadians can get and aff ord Cjoin the weeks-long hunt for two teenage The Tucker family, who trace the medications they need,” Alexan- triple-murder suspects. their ancestry to the 1624 census der Cohen, a spokesman for Canada’s Five members of the federal Underwater Re- of the-then England colony of anada’s main pharmaceutical health minister, said in a statement. covery Team were sent to Gillam in northern Virginia, has experienced every lobby group has urged the gov- “All statements and decisions sur- Manitoba to conduct a “thorough underwater chapter of African-American Cernment not to wait for drug rounding Canada’s drug supply are search” in the area, the Royal Canadian Mounted history. shortages before responding to US made based in the best interest of Ca- Police (RCMP) said in a statement. From captivity on ships to plans to import Canadian drugs, ac- nadians, and we are examining all op- They were deployed after RCMP offi cers slavery on plantations, to the cording to documents seen by Reuters. tions to ensure it remains secure.” spotted a damaged aluminium boat by the Nel- 1861-1865 US Civil War waged The talking points were prepared last In the position papers reviewed by son River during a Friday helicopter search, the over legal slavery, 20th century month by Innovative Medicines Cana- Reuters, the IMC warned it may not statement said. discrimination laws and lynchings, da (IMC) for its staff and member com- be possible for drug manufacturers to The discovery of the boat comes days after po- the civil rights struggle and to the panies, before the Trump administra- enforce contract terms with Canadian lice said they were scaling back the search for Kam Black Lives Matter movement, ra- tion announced last Wednesday that it buyers that forbid the re-export of McLeod, 19, and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18, which at cial disparities course through life would allow US states and other groups drugs. its peak involved tracker dogs, a drone and search and politics in the United States. to start pilot programmes importing “Although purchasing agreements planes equipped with infrared cameras. “The race issues have always cheap drugs from Canada in an eff ort to with suppliers may contain clauses that The teens are wanted in connection with the been here,” said Vincent Tucker, lower drug costs. would prevent bulk export to the US, murder of Lucas Fowler, 23, of Australia, and his the president of the William Brenda Tucker, a descendent of one of the first black Americans, In one early version of its talking many Canadian pharmaceutical com- American girlfriend Chynna Deese, 24, who were Tucker 1624 Society who believes William Tucker, whose parents were brought from Angola on the points, the IMC proposed the Cana- panies are subsidiaries of US corpora- found shot dead alongside the Alaska Highway in he is nine or 10 generations re- first ship carrying enslaved Africans to Virginia in 1619, pays her dian government ban all drug exports tions and may become obliged to do northern British Columbia on July 15. moved from William Tucker, born respects at a family member’s grave at the Tucker family cemetery “unless otherwise permitted by regula- so through US legislation,” the group The teens have also been charged with the in Virginia in 1624 after his parents in Hampton, Virginia. tion.” warned in July. murder of Leonard Dyck, 64, a Canadian biology were transported from present- “Wholesalers should not be permit- Even if the US plan proceeds as the professor, whose body police found later also in day Angola in 1619. Some Democratic candidates the extent to which those divi- ted to export drugs in bulk from Cana- administration has promised, ship- northern British Columbia. “We have a long way to go,” seeking the party’s nomina- sions have persisted through the da, and there should be strict and sig- ments could be a year or more away, be- The RCMP did not specify which part of the Tucker, 57, said. tion to run against Republican centuries. nifi cant penalties for exporting drugs cause of consultations required to pass 600km long river they were searching, nor did Brenda Tucker, 77, another President Donald Trump in the Brenda Tucker said she where their export is prohibited by law,” new regulations. they allow media access to the search area or to descendant of William who serves 2020 election support reparations believed Trump fanned racial divi- a document prepared in May said. The IMC documents suggest that a the divers. on the family society’s board, said for African Americans who for sions through his rhetoric. It warned that “reliance on reactive “fi rst step” for the Canadian govern- The divers arrived on Saturday in Gillam, the she supported eff orts by some generations were held back by “As far as whether or not he’s measures after shortages occur may ment would be to state publicly that it suspects’ last-known location. Democratic lawmakers to have the legal discrimination and general fueling racism, he’s fueling it,” she pose a risk to Canadian patients.” will act to protect drugs intended for The fugitives wound up in the Gillam region, federal government issue repara- prejudice. told Reuters. Asked about the possibility of an Canadian patients in the event of any located more than 1000km north of Winnipeg, tions to black Americans who were Trump, from his days as a Trump has repeatedly denied export ban, IMC said in a statement: shortages. the capital of Manitoba, after driving more than economically aff ected by slavery. New York businessman, in his that racial animus drove his com- “This is not part of our current posi- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau deliv- 2,500km from British Columbia. “Reparations, I think, would be 2016 election campaign and as ments, telling reporters last week, tioning shared with our members. ered something like that message per- The area is a vast and impenetrable landscape very appropriate because we, as president, has been criticized for “I am the least racist person there That said, we believe the government sonally last Thursday, at an event in the of thick forest, brush and swamps, swarming hard as we worked and continue making inflammatory statements is anywhere in the world.” has tools that could be used to prevent Arctic city of Iqaluit. with biting insects and inhabited by bears. to work, we were not able to es- that stoke racial tensions. Tucker spoke in front of her shortages.” “We recognize the new situation Police had searched the region with a fi ne- tablish businesses to grow other In July, Trump lashed out in ancestors’ graves in a cemetery in The lobby group’s eff orts so far sug- brought on by American announce- toothed comb since July 25, before announcing businesses in mass, and that’s Twitter posts against four minority Hampton, Virginia, less than a mile gest industry is eager to derail the ments, and Health Canada will contin- this past week they were scaling back the search what it’s going to take to grow our Democratic first-term congress- from the plantation where her Trump administration’s plan. ue to ensure that our priority is always eff ort. economic state,” she said. women and US Representative ancestors were enslaved. IMC’s members include major drug ensuring that Canadians have access to “Even with this extraordinary eff ort, we have Issuing reparations to all living Elijah Cummings, a black longtime Some Tuckers have left Hamp- companies based in the United States the medication they need at aff ordable not had any confi rmed sightings of the suspects” people who are descendents of civil rights activist. ton over the years, but many have and abroad, and large-scale shipments prices,” he said. since their torched vehicle was found outside slaves or who have suff ered racial The statements, including say- stayed, intent on preserving the of cheap drugs from Canada could low- Reuters reported last month that Ca- Gillam on July 23, said RCMP spokeswoman Jane discrimination has been estimated ing the congresswomen should family’s oral history. er their profi ts. nadian offi cials had privately warned MacLatchy during a press conference last week. to cost trillions of dollars. “go back” to the countries they “People can look at us and say, The group works closely with PhR- the United States they oppose any MacLatchy added the RCMP had not ruled out The US government has never came from, were widely viewed ‘Hey, they made it,” said Vincent MA, the Pharmaceutical Research and import programs that might threaten the possibility that the two suspects were already approved reparations. as racially divisive, underlining Tucker. ‘They’re still making it.’” Manufacturers of America, the indus- Canada’s supply or raise costs for Ca- dead, or that they had altered their appearances try’s US lobbying group. nadians. and managed to slip out of the region. Gulf Times Tuesday, August 6, 2019 9 ASIA UN panel urges sanctions on Myanmar army businesses

Reuters ties with all army-linked com- the State Department in July. into 45 companies that made Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Jakarta panies. The UN has said top gener- donations to Myanmar’s mili- “For the fi rst time, this re- als should be prosecuted for tary at three funding ceremo- port comes out with a clear genocide and the International nies held by Commander-in- nited Nations investiga- picture of the involvement of Criminal Court has begun a Chief Min Aung Hlaing at the tors urged world lead- specifi c European and Asian preliminary probe. height of the violence in Ra- Bangladesh Uers yesterday to impose companies, and makes a point The EU has also been consid- khine in 2017. targeted fi nancial sanctions on that in fact there is this rela- ering stripping the country of During these ceremonies he companies linked to the military tionship and it’s a violation of tariff -free access to the world’s called for funds to support the PM to visit in Myanmar, and said foreign UN treaties and UN norms,” largest trading bloc. military in Rakhine and to build fi rms doing business with them panel chairman Marzuki Da- The military’s two major con- a barrier fence on the border could be complicit in interna- rusman said in an interview glomerates, Myanmar Econom- with Bangladesh, the UN said, India in Oct tional crimes. in the Indonesian capital of ic Holdings Limited (MEHL) adding that more than $10mn A panel of human rights ex- Jakarta said. and Myanmar Economic Corp was donated. perts identifi ed scores of com- A military spokesman did (MEC) are sprawling holding Two local companies, KBZ IANS panies tied to the army, which not answer phone calls seeking companies with investments Group and Max Myanmar, do- Dhaka controls vast swathes of Myan- comment. Zaw Htay, a spokes- spanning various sectors in- nated $2.5mn and more than mar’s economy through holding man for civilian leader Aung San Marzuki Darusman gestures during a news conference at the UN cluding gems, copper, telecoms $900,000 to Min Aung Hlaing fi rms and their subsidiaries, and Suu Kyi’s government, could off ice in Jakarta yesterday. and clothing. They own two respectively, the report said, in angladesh Prime Minister is accused by the UN of execut- not immediately be reached for of the country’s largest banks, part to fund the border fence Sheikh Hasina will visit ing a campaign with “genocidal comment. The Myanmar gov- weapons and related equipment military to “continue their op- Myawaddy and Innwa. “knowing that it would contrib- BIndia in October in her fi rst intent” against the Rohingya ernment was sent an advance to security forces in the coun- pression to the Myanmar peo- The two conglomerates have ute to the suff ering and anguish visit to the neighbouring country minority. copy of the UN report. try since 2016, including state- ple”. numerous subsidiaries - the re- associated with preventing the after coming to power for a third More than 730,000 Rohingya The investigators identifi ed owned entities in Israel, India, Myanmar has previously re- port identifi ed 120 businesses displaced Rohingya population consecutive term, the foreign of- fl ed Myanmar’s Rakhine state at least 59 foreign companies North Korea, and China. jected the UN’s categorisation in various sectors, from tour- from returning to their homes fi ce has announced. into neighbouring Bangladesh with some form of commercial Any foreign business activity of the violence in Rakhine as ism and banking to construc- and land”. Foreign Minister A K Abdul amid a military-led crackdown ties to the Myanmar military, involving the army and its con- “one-sided”. It says that mili- tion and gem mining, as owned A spokesman for KBZ Group Momen, who announced the in August 2017 that the UN and including fi rms from France, glomerates “posts a high risk of tary action that followed mili- by MEHL and MEC, as well as said the company had not been planned trip while talking to Western countries have said in- Belgium, Switzerland, Hong contributing to, or being linked tant attacks on security forces another 27 linked to the two contacted by the UN during its reporters on Sunday, said the cluded mass killings and gang- Kong and China. Of those, 15 to, violations of international in August 2017 was a legitimate companies through corporate investigation and was “not yet agenda of her visit will be dis- rapes. operate joint ventures with the human rights law and interna- counter-insurgency operation. structures. in a position to comment fur- cussed when Indian Foreign The UN investigatory panel two military conglomerates or tional humanitarian law”, the The United States, the Eu- The revenue generated by ther”. Max Myanmar Group said Minister S Jaishankar comes to condemned the violence in a their subsidiaries, the report report said. ropean Union, Australia, and such businesses strengthens the in a statement it “categorically Bangladesh on August 20-21, re- report last year that called for said. “Corporations and individu- Canada have imposed sanc- army’s autonomy from civilian denies” the allegations, say- ports bdnews24. the economic isolation of the Calling for the imposition of als responsible within that cor- tions on senior military offi cers oversight and provides fi nancial ing the funds were “solely and Bangladesh and India current- military. Investigators said the an arms embargo on the coun- poration can be prosecuted,” including most recently Com- support for their operations, in- particularly intended for recon- ly enjoy the best of their rela- purpose of the new report was try, the investigators also named Darusman said, adding that the mander-in-Chief Min Aung vestigators said. struction and rehabilitation of tions. More than 100 agreements to help countries cut fi nancial 14 companies that have sold arms they provide allow the Hlaing, hit with a travel ban by They urged investigations the society”. have been signed in the last 10 years, 68 of them in the last three years alone. The decades-old land boundary as well as mari- time issues has been solved. But Spraying insecticide the equitable share of the Teesta 47 dead, over river water still remains unre- solved, the minister said. During his last meeting with Jaishankar, Momen said they 200,000 infected discussed the Teesta issue but did not provide any other detail. “He (Jaishankar) told me it’s out of the Central government’s with dengue control.” Asked whether it is possible to complete the deal during the vis- it, the foreign minister replied: “I in Sri Lanka can’t say,” the website reported. He, however, said, “We have IANS people to seek immediate warm relations and both govern- Colombo medical attention if they suf- ments are committed to resolv- fered from high fever, uncon- ing the issues.” trolled vomiting, abdominal Momen also said that they orty-seven people have pain and dizziness. are discussing the sharing of all died and more than “All fever patients need rest common 54 rivers between the F200,000 have been in- and should refrain from at- countries. fected by the dengue virus tending work or school,” said across Sri Lanka in the fi rst epidemiologists. “Dengue He- seven months this year, gov- morrhagic Fever (DHF) can be ernment fi gures revealed yes- fatal.” terday. Medical experts have fur- Till the end of July, a total ther urged pregnant women Maldives of 234,078 dengue cases were to seek hospital admission im- reported, with the highest mediately on the fi rst day of number of cases reported from fever. former VP the Colombo district followed Last year, over 50 people by Gampaha and Kalutara, re- died and over 48,000 were af- ports Xinhua news agency. fected by the mosquito-borne remanded The government’s epide- virus in Sri Lanka, with the miology unit said it had iden- National Dengue Control Unit A municipal worker sprays insecticide to kill mosquitoes in Dhaka yesterday, as Bangladeshi authorities attempted to contain a tifi ed fi ve high-risk districts launching several programmes in police dengue fever outbreak. Bangladesh is in the grip of the country’s worst-ever dengue fever outbreak, with hospitals overflowing and - Colombo, Gampaha, Galle, to eradicate mosquito breed- social media flooded with pleas for blood donors. Kalutara and Ratnapura. ing grounds in several districts Medical experts have urged of the island country. custody

AFP Thailand seeks more Colombo EU slams ‘militarisation’ ormer Maldives vice pres- ident Ahmed Adeeb, who than 10 suspects for Ffaces attempted murder and corruption allegations, was remanded in custody yesterday links to bomb attacks of South China Sea over a failed attempt to illegally enter neighbouring India. Reuters for the cause (of the attack),” Adeeb was detained by Indian Bangkok Prayut said. AFP authorities on Thursday at the “We could not say at the mo- Hanoi country’s southern port of Tu- ment who is behind the attack ticorin and handed to Maldivian hai security forces are but they are heartless and mean police. hunting more than 10 with the aim to create chaos for he “militarisation” of the South Adeeb is understood to have Tsuspects in connection the country at a time when things China Sea is threatening peace in travelled clandestinely to India with a series of bomb attacks in are proceeding under a demo- Tthe contested waterway, the EU’s aboard a foreign tugboat, with Bangkok last week, Prime Min- cratic government,” he said. top diplomat said yesterday in Hanoi, its Indonesian and Indian crew ister Prayut Chan-o-cha said Two men have been detained echoing warnings from the US as pressure reportedly alerting Tuticorin yesterday. since Friday, accused of plant- mounts against Beijing’s ambitions in the authorities of his presence. Six bombs exploded in the ing two bombs, which authori- region. After being returned to the Thai capital on Friday as the ties earlier had said were fake, in China has been accused of deploying capital Male, he was arrested city’s hosted a meeting of front of the police headquarters warships, arming outposts and ramming yesterday on a charge of illegally Southeast Asian foreign minis- in central Bangkok a day earlier. fi shing vessels in the resource-rich sea, leaving the country and held in ters, that was also attended by The two suspects are from sparking ire from other claimants. jail. top diplomats from the United Narathiwat, one of the largely Yesterday, the European Union’s foreign The former deputy leader will States, China, and other world Malay-Muslim provinces in policy chief Federica Mogherini said the remain in custody until a court powers. Thailand’s deep south where bloc was concerned over “increasing ten- hearing over the incident, police Authorities now say that six more than a decade long in- sion” in the area. said. other fi re-bombs also went off surgency has left nearly 7,000 “We believe that this tension, this mili- Adeeb was released from a on Friday in central Bangkok, people dead since 2004. They tarisation, is defi nitely not conducive to a Maldives jail in May after a court including two that caused fi res are being held in Yala, another peaceful environment,” she added. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, left, poses for a photo with Vietnam’s Dy PM quashed a conviction for at- a in shopping malls in a central southern province. Beijing says it has sovereignty over the and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh in Hanoi yesterday. tempting to kill then-president shopping district popular with The violence has largely been majority of the sea based on the so-called Abdulla Yameen in 2015. tourists. confi ned to that region, although nine-dash line it uses to back its claims. global shipping route believed to hold vast confi rm the vessel’s presence. But he is due to face a new On Saturday, three more bombs militants have been blamed for The long-running spat was centre stage oil and gas reserves. It is not clear if the ship remains in Vi- trial over the case and is also also went off at three ATM ma- bomb attacks in the capital in at a meeting of Southeast Asian foreign Tensions between the communist etnam-claimed waters, and the foreign under investigation for corrup- chines in southern Pattani prov- the past. ministers last week, where US Secretary neighbours have soared after a Chinese ministry did not respond to AFP’s request tion dating back to when he was ince. No one was hurt or claimed Reuters could not immedi- of State Mike Pompeo urged countries to geological survey vessel entered waters for comment. deputy to Yameen, who was de- responsibility for the attack. ately reach the two suspects or push back against Chinese “coercion” in around the Spratly Islands claimed by Ha- The US, EU and Australia have all called feated in an election last year. “There are more than 10 peo- their lawyers for comment. No the sea. noi in early July. for freedom of navigation in the South The Maldives government ple involved that need to be ar- group has claimed responsibility Hanoi has emerged as one of Beijing’s Vietnam has repeatedly called for the China Sea, which is also contested by Tai- had seized his passport during rested, charged, and investigated for the attacks. most vocal critics in the waterway, a key ship to leave, while Beijing has refused to wan, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei. the probes. Gulf Times 10 Tuesday, August 6, 2019 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Indonesia president lambasts state power company over blackouts

Reuters have a back-up plan given its his- ing voltage” that disconnected Rida Mulyana, director general of been restarted and 23 substations not have enough “spinning re- ambitious programme to add 35 Jakarta tory of blackouts. power plants supplying electric- electricity at the energy ministry, were operating. It did not say serves”, referring to a plant run- gigawatts of power capacity. Ac- “Things that can cause this big ity to the west part of Java island, said 21mn customers were af- how many households and busi- ning on standby so it can connect cording to the energy ministry, event should not happen again in which includes the capital, PLN fected by the outage. Sripeni Int- nesses were still without power. to the grid at anytime, in west only about 10% of this goal had ndonesia’s state power com- the future,” Widodo told senior said. The outage, the biggest en Cahyani, PLN’s acting CEO, PLN spokesman I Made Suprate- Java. Mulyana said the plants been met by mid June this year. pany PLN should have had managers during a visit to PLN since a transmission failure cut warned of further disruptions, ka told Metro TV on Monday that were not in “spinning reserve” Arief Poyuono, the chairman Iplans in place to prevent a headquarters, calling for repairs power in Java and Bali in 2005, including rolling blackouts, as overgrown trees had made con- mode on Sunday in order to keep of the state enterprises workers major electricity blackout that to be made quickly. halted Jakarta’s subway sys- the company worked to restore tact with a high-voltage power down costs. union, said Sunday’s outage was aff ected 21mn customers in Ja- Jakarta, the centre of govern- tem and commuter train lines, power. Coal-fi red power plants, line and started a fi re that trig- “We need to review this close- embarrassing as Widodo cam- karta and neighbouring prov- ment and business in Indonesia, stranding passengers. which supply most of the power gered the transmission failure. ly,” he told a news conference in paigns to attract more invest- inces, President Joko Widodo suff ers periodic blackouts that Many parts of the city were on the heavily populated island The energy ministry’s Mulyana at Jakarta. New power plants would ment to Southeast Asia’s biggest said yesterday. In the wake of the are usually short-lived and con- without power for at least for of Java, required a “cold start” a news conference in Jakarta said come online in west Java that economy. biggest power outage in 14 years fi ned to certain areas. nine hours, and yesterday there after the lengthy outage, Cahyani the claim should be investigated. should reduce the reliance on “All the PLN board of direc- on Sunday, Widodo demanded to Power failed around noon on were still complaints on Twitter said. Fabby Tumiwa of the Institute electricity from the east, he said. tors should be responsible for the know why the utility PT Perusa- Sunday after faulty transmis- that power was yet to be restored By midday yesterday, PLN said for Essential Services Reform, an When Widodo came to offi ce in losses caused by this outage,” he haan Listrik Negara (PLN) did not sion circuits triggered “cascad- in some areas after 30 hours. a number of power plants had energy think tank, said PLN did 2014, he backed his predecessor’s said. Strike cripples Hong Kong, Lam defi ant

Reuters Hong Kong

olice fi red tear gas at pro- testers in multiple parts of PHong Kong yesterday af- ter a general strike hit transport and the city’s Beijing-backed leader warned its prosperity was at risk. The protests surpassed earlier shows of dissent in scale Riot police off icers fire tear gas canisters as they try to disperse a demonstration in Hong Kong. and intensity, seemingly stoked by Hong Kong chief executive 1997, when it was handed back to Hong Kong island and the Kow- Monday. In an upmarket shop- have fi red 1,000 rounds of tear Carrie Lam’s refusal once again China. Demonstrators fear China loon Peninsula. In Yuen Long ping mall in Sha Tin, scores of gas and about 160 rubber bullets. to meet any of the protesters’ de- is gradually encroaching on the district, a car rammed through a shops were shuttered, including The protesters’ demands in- mands, while warning of an “ex- island’s cherished autonomy. barricade, knocking down pro- clothing retailer H&M as well as clude a complete withdrawal of tremely dangerous situation”. A doll left by the protesters lies on the ground as riot police off icers China’s Hong Kong and Ma- testers. Commuters struggled to luxury brands Chanel and Dior. the extradition bill and an inde- What started several months block the street in Hong Kong. cao Aff airs Offi ce of the State get to work, with many rail and Protesters in the shopping centre pendent inquiry into government ago as demonstrations over an Council said it would hold an- bus services suspended by ac- chanted: “Strike! Support to the handling of the crisis. extradition bill that would have main three regions: Hong Kong She warned that the protests other news conference today at tivists who blocked trains from end.” With tourist numbers fall- let people be sent to mainland island, Kowloon and the New were putting Hong Kong on a 2.30pm, after one last Monday leaving stations, some by sitting Many stores in the bustling ing and hotel occupancy rates China for trial have grown into a Territories. Police stations were path of no return and had hurt that announced no new major in doorways. shopping district of Causeway slumping, the protests are piling much broader backlash against besieged and roads occupied. its economy. “They claim they policy shifts by Beijing despite Long lines of traffi c snaked Bay were closed for part of the pressure on a struggling econo- the city government and its po- In the evening, a group of men want a revolution and to restore the upheavals. “I don’t think the across Hong Kong island into the day as well as businesses close to my. IHS Markit’s July Purchasing litical masters in Beijing. armed with sticks tried to attack Hong Kong. These actions have government is doing anything to heart of the business centre and the protests. Managers’ Index for Hong Kong The protests are the great- the black-clad protesters in the far exceeded their original politi- heal society... They provide no hundreds of people were strand- Members of the Hong Kong showed private sector business est political threat to the former North Point district. Riot police cal demands,” said a stern-faced solution,” said Jay Leung, 20, a ed at the airport, where more Disneyland Cast Members Un- activity dropped to its lowest British colony’s government used tear gas in districts includ- Lam, fl anked by some, but not all university student who joined a than 200 fl ights were cancelled ion went on strike, as did many level in a decade, also weighed since it returned to Chinese rule ing Wong Tai Sin, Tin Shui Wai, senior members of her adminis- protest, dismissing Lam’s words at one point. lifeguards, forcing authorities to down by the Sino-US trade war. and one of the biggest popular Tai Po, and Admiralty close to the tration. as a waste of time. Many businesses shut, and close some beaches and swim- “I would not be surprised if we challenges to Chinese leader Xi city’s government headquarters. “These illegal acts that chal- “I didn’t hear anything posi- workers stayed home. “Losing ming pools. Police, who some see a technical recession – two Jinping since he came to power in Speaking to the media for the lenge our country’s sovereignty, tive, she just made it worse,” a bit of money now is not such a have accused of using excessive consecutive quarters of con- 2012. Amid extensive disruptions fi rst time in two weeks, Lam re- and jeopardise ‘one country two added tourism worker Russell, problem, (compared) with los- force, said the situation was spi- traction,” said Raymond Yeung, to trains and traffi c, tens of thou- mained defi ant, rejecting calls to systems’, will destroy the stabil- 38. ing everything that the freedom ralling out of control. chief China economist at ANZ. sands of demonstrators fanned resign, condemning violence and ity and prosperity of Hong Kong,” Demonstrators blocked key of Hong Kong used to stand for,” Authorities said 420 people The benchmark Hang Seng Index out across Hong Kong, spreading saying the government would be Lam said, referring to the territo- roads, including three tunnels, said Mark Schmidt, 49, a res- have been arrested over the pro- closed down 2.9%, falling to its pockets of activism to most of its resolute. ry’s administrative system since cutting major arteries linking taurant manager who closed on tests since June 9, while police lowest level since January.

Philippines sends Big fish ex-rebels on trip in surrender push S Korea, US defy The Philippines has sent scores of former communist rebels on an all-expenses paid foreign shopping trip, in an attempt to end one of Asia’s longest-running North’s warnings, insurgencies, the military said yesterday. President Rodrigo Duterte flew 88 mostly female ex-rebels from the New People’s Army (NPA) on a four-day visit to start joint drills Hong Kong last week, delivering on a pledge he made to former AFP the military activities by both wheeling press conference. War guerrillas in 2018. Duterte has Seoul sides could delay talks on the games known as Ulchi Freedom urged the communists to lay North’s weapons programmes Guardian (UFG) and scheduled down their arms with promises – which have seen it subjected for August last year were sub- of housing, financial and eoul and Washington be- to multiple sets of UN Security sequently suspended. employment assistance, as well gan annual joint military Council sanctions – until later And the allies’ biggest an- as, in this case, trips abroad. Sexercises yesterday, defy- this year. nual drills, Foal Eagle and Key The novel tactic came almost ing warnings from Pyongyang After a year of mutual threats Resolve, which took place two years after Manila shelved that the war games will jeop- and mounting tensions, US every spring and involved tens formal talks with NPA gunmen, ardise nuclear negotiations President Donald Trump and of thousands of troops, were saying the Maoists had no between the United States and the North’s leader Kim Jong- replaced with a shorter “Dong interest in making peace. Photos North Korea. un held a historic meeting in Maeng” or “Alliance” exercise Tropical fish swim in an aquarium during an event in Tokyo’s shopping district of Ginza yesterday. shared by the military showed The drills come after Singapore last year, when Kim in March. the former rebels, all but four Pyongyang tested a series of signed a vague pledge to work The August drills were of them women, smiling and short-range projectiles in re- towards “denuclearisation of scaled down earlier this year, posing in front of the wealthy cent days, calling one of them the Korean peninsula”. A sec- Yonhap news agency reported, Chinese city’s skyscrapers and a “solemn warning” to Seoul ond summit in Hanoi in Feb- and have not been named, with holding plastic bags of souvenirs. against pursuing the mainly ruary broke up amid disagree- an offi cial from Seoul’s Joint They also visited Hong Kong’s computer-simulated drills with ment on sanctions relief and Chiefs of Staff (JCS) telling AFP ‘Australia won’t host US missiles’ historical sites and shopping Washington. what the North might be will- that they “cannot comment centres, using their “substantial South Korean defence minis- ing to give up in return. any further” on their designa- amount of allowance” for their ter Jeong Kyeong-doo told par- Trump and Kim agreed to tion. South Korean media have Reuters about China’s spreading infl u- in Brisbane, the state capital of purchases, regional military liament that the joint exercise resume nuclear talks during dubbed the command post ex- Sydney ence. Queensland. A recent increase in spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel began yesterday, adding that their impromptu June meeting ercise ‘19-2 Dong Maeng’, indi- During the talks, US Defense tensions between Washington and Ezra Balagtey told AFP. “It’s Seoul was “clearly maintaining in the Demilitarized Zone that cating the second Dong Maeng Secretary Mark Esper spoke of Beijing, both over trade and rights part of the therapy for them its readiness posture against divides the peninsula, but that exercise of 2019. S intermediate-range hopes to deploy missiles in the of navigation in both the South to have a diff erent perspective any military action by North working-level dialogue has yet Pyongyang warned last week missiles will not be de- Asia-Pacifi c region in coming China Sea and Taiwan Strait, has in life,” Balagtey added. At the Korea”. Details about the train- to begin. The nuclear-armed that further nuclear talks could Uployed in Australia, months following Washington’s put Australia in an awkward spot, same time as off ering shopping ing have not been disclosed, but North – which attacked its be derailed if Seoul and Wash- Prime Minister Scott Morrison withdrawal from a landmark as the United States is its biggest trips to ex-rebels, Duterte has a ministry offi cial in Seoul said neighbour in 1950, triggering ington push ahead with the ma- said yesterday, after the United arms control treaty last week. ally, while China is its biggest ex- ordered the military to “destroy” this year’s exercise will include the Korean War – has always noeuvres. States revealed ambitions to site Esper’s comments prompted port market. the Maoist rebellion that has verifying South Korea’s abili- been infuriated by military ex- And on Friday, North Ko- missiles in the Asia-Pacifi c re- speculation that Australia had Beijing last week described killed up to 40,000 people, ties to take operational control ercises between the US and the rea carried out its third weap- gion. been asked to host the missiles, Australian eff orts to improve according to off icial figures. in wartime. South, decrying them as re- ons test in the space of eight Offi cials from both govern- but Morrison denied that any the bilateral relationship as “un- The 4,000-member NPA is one Under the US-South Korea hearsals for invasion. days, fi ring what it called a new ments held talks in Sydney over request had been made and said satisfactory”. Australia worries of the deadliest armed groups. security treaty, an American After the Singapore sum- “large calibre multiple launch the weekend that ended with a Australia would decline if it was China is using foreign aid to se- Balagtey said the former rebels general will take command of mit, Trump made a shock an- guided rocket system”. Seoul’s joint statement in which the two asked in the future. cure greater infl uence over small had mostly been recruited from their combined forces in the nouncement halting joint drills, presidential offi ce said it was allies pledged to strengthen op- “It’s not been asked to us, not Pacifi c countries which control impoverished villages around event of armed confl ict, but adopting Pyongyang’s own de- highly likely to be “a new type position to Chinese activities in being considered, not been put vast swathes of resource-rich Duterte’s southern home city of Seoul has long sought to re- scription of them as “provoca- of short-range ballistic mis- Asia-Pacifi c, as both sides have to us. I think I the rule a line un- ocean. China’s “payday loan di- Davao to help wage the now 50- verse the position. Analysts say tive” at an extraordinary, free- sile”. become increasingly concerned der that,” Morrison told reporters plomacy”. year old communist insurgency. Gulf Times Tuesday, August 6, 2019 11

BRITAIN £1.8bn pledged for NHS hospitals is new money: Johnson

Guardian News and Media Johnson told reporters the entire areas, including three at hospi- membership organisation for gitimately be described as money vest now,” Johnson said. NHS. There is a number of hos- London pledge was additional funding. tals in Norfolk, the Pilgrim hos- NHS trusts, said health think- that trusts already had, but were “I said, I think 10 days ago, on pitals that have been selected for “Don’t forget that this is £1.8bn pital in Lincolnshire, and others tanks that argued the money was told they couldn’t spend and are the steps of Downing Street, that some improvement, many other of new money. It wasn’t there 10 in Cornwall and Stoke-on-Trent. not new were partly right. Some now able to spend.” we would be upgrading 20 hospi- hospitals have been left out of it.” oris Johnson has insisted days ago,” he said. But Labour claimed some of of the funding would come from After visiting the hospital tals – 20 new hospital upgrades Speaking earlier yesterday, that the promised £1.8bn Apart from the £850mn, the the remaining £1bn was money increased capital spending lim- with the Health Secretary, Matt around the country – and this is it.” Hancock insisted the extra mon- Bof extra funding for NHS rest of the money will be spent which already existed and had its and was “genuine, new, extra, Hancock, Johnson promoted his Labour has also argued that ey would be spent even in the hospitals is new money despite on other NHS capital projects simply not been spent. money”, he said. plans to improve NHS services, the funding, new or not, is insuf- event of a no-deal Brexit in Oc- suggestions that most of it is al- in England, while Scotland will Jonathan Ashworth, the shad- “At the same time, the health seen as a key battleground in an fi cient to make up for earlier cuts. tober. ready held in reserve by health receive £180mn, Wales £110mn ow health secretary, said: “Boris thinktanks are correct that some autumn election many observers Asked about the £1.8bn during “Our proposals for Brexit are trusts. and Northern Ireland £60mn, in Johnson has misled the public of the extra 2019-20 capital ex- believe seems likely. a visit to the fl ood-threatened that we should get a deal, that On a visit to Pilgrim hospital in line with the standard formula and our NHS staff . You can- penditure enabled by this an- “I’ve made it my mission to en- town of Whaley Bridge in Der- is the prime objective,” he told Boston, Lincolnshire, one of 20 for giving equivalent funding to not trust a word he says and his nouncement will be funded sure that people across the coun- byshire, Jeremy Corbyn said: “It ITV’s Good Morning Britain. “Of English hospitals earmarked to the devolved administrations. claims are unravelling.” through cash surpluses cur- try do get to see their GP in time, goes nowhere near paying for course, we’ve got to prepare for receive £850mn for infrastruc- A number of the 20 projects Chris Hopson, the chief ex- rently sitting on provider balance do get through A&E in a reasonable all the cuts that have been made leaving without a deal if the EU ture upgrades and new facilities, are in predominantly pro-Leave ecutive of NHS Providers, the sheets. That spending can le- time, and that’s why it’s vital to in- over the past nine years in our doesn’t make any movement.” Sturgeon warns PM says Brexit premier not to block vote on October 31

Guardian News and Media London ‘whatever the icola Sturgeon has warned Boris Johnson Nagainst blocking a fresh referendum on Scottish inde- pendence after a poll found a majority would now vote yes. The fi rst minister said it would circumstances’ be “undemocratic and unsus- tainable” for the Conservatives Guardian News and Media insurance clause for the Irish ernment does not take any major to oppose one after the poll by London border, something Brussels has decisions. Lord Ashcroft put the yes vote at long insisted is impossible. The spokesman similarly de- 52%, once don’t knows and non- The spokesman said: “It is clined to say whether a Johnson voters were excluded. rexit will take place on my job to set out the PM’s posi- government had a general policy The poll, the fi rst since John- October 31 “whatever the tion, and that is that the UK will of abiding by votes of parliament, son’s visit to Scotland last week, Bcircumstances”, Downing be leaving the EU on October saying: “What I’m doing is not en- also found that most Scots want Street has said, refusing to say 31 whatever the circumstances. gaging in some hypothetical game a fresh independence referen- whether Boris Johnson would re- There are no ifs or buts. We must you’re trying to pull me into.” dum by 2021, once undecideds gard a vote in parliament against restore trust in our democracy Having repeatedly declined to were excluded. Previous polls a no-deal departure as suffi cient and fulfi l the repeated promises comment, the spokesman then had shown only a minority of reason to change course. of parliament to the people by rejected the idea it was fair to say Scots wanted a second referen- Quizzed repeatedly at a media coming out of the EU on Octo- the government was not ruling dum that soon. briefi ng, the prime minister’s ber 31. Politicians cannot choose out ignoring the will of parlia- In a further blow to pro-UK spokesman also declined to say which votes to respect. They ment, saying: “No, it wouldn’t be parties, it also found that a ma- whether the government would promised to respect the referen- a fair characterisation. This con- jority (52%) believed the yes consider allowing no-deal to dum result. We must do so.” versation began with you putting campaign was likely to win, happen if it were amid an elec- In a sometimes confusing se- forward hypothetical proposi- including a third of voters who tion campaign, or if Johnson ries of exchanges with the media, tions, and I have said, ask me the rejected independence in the lost a no-confi dence vote in the Johnson’s spokesman refused at questions about those specifi c first referendum in 2014. Only Commons. least 10 times to outline whether votes at the time.” 30% believed Scotland would The spokesman said he could this deadline could be changed The comments will nonethe- now vote to remain within the not comment on hypothetical by the actions of MPs, saying he less alarm opponents of a no-deal UK after Brexit, and 18% did situations. But asked whether, could not comment on theoreti- Brexit who fear Johnson might try not know. as a matter of broader principle, cal situations. to force through such an outcome In a tweet, Sturgeon said the Johnson could commit to re- Asked if Johnson would re- against the wishes of MPs, for ex- Tories should abandon their specting votes in parliament, he spect a no-confi dence vote ample by proroguing parliament, hardline stance against agreeing also declined to answer. against his government were one or by delaying a general election to a fresh referendum. He pointed out that a no-deal passed, he said: “One hasn’t been until after the Brexit date. Legally, the Scottish govern- departure was simply the conse- called, and one hasn’t been held, Speaking on a visit to the ment can only stage an offi cial quence of legislation as it stood: and I have never discussed hypo- fl ood-threatened town of Wha- referendum if the UK govern- “The legal default, as put in place theticals. The key point is we are ley Bridge in Derbyshire, Jeremy ment gives it the powers under by parliament, is that the UK leaving on October 31 whatever Corbyn said Johnson “seems to Section 30 of the Scotland Act. will leave on October 31, with or the circumstances.” be trying to slip no-deal through, Johnson has said he would refuse without a deal.” The comments, On the subject of whether slip past parliament and slip past to do so. which indicate a further ratchet- Johnson would abide by a vote the British people”. She said: “Majority of people ing up of the new government’s in parliament to, for example, The Labour leader said no- in Scotland now want .Indyref2 rhetoric on no-deal, began stop or delay Brexit, the spokes- deal “will be really serious – se- and would vote for independ- when the spokesman was asked man said: “My answer on this is rious for food prices, for medical ence, according to new poll in @ whether it now appeared to be not going to change, and none of supplies, for trade, for invest- HolyroodDaily – attempts by the too late for the UK to depart with those things have happened.” ment and drive us straight into Tories to block Scotland’s right a new agreement. There was a similar response the hands of the sort of trade deal to choose our own future are un- Johnson currently has no on the notion of no-deal hap- that Donald Trump wants to do democratic and unsustainable.” Brexit talks scheduled with Eu- pening on October 31 even if with Boris Johnson. I’m sorry, This is the fi rst poll since ropean leaders, having set down this fell during a general elec- it’s not on, it’s not acceptable. March 2017 to show a narrow Prime Minister Boris Johnson inspects an ambulance during a visit to Pilgrim Hospital in Boston, eastern the unilateral condition that the tion campaign, a period when, by We will do everything we can to majority for independence. England, yesterday. EU must fi rst ditch the backstop convention, the incumbent gov- block it.”

Stop rip-off pension fund Corbyn ‘not fi t to tie charges, MPs tell ministers his own shoelaces’ Daily Mail Semitism scandal in his party. Daily Mail to misinforming, mischarging, Asset managers, who invest London Last week Alastair Campbell, London overcharging and making a fat the money for pension schemes, Tony Blair’s former spin doctor, living off the hard-earned sav- are often unwilling to disclose all said he did not want to return to ings of pensioners. the costs charged. abour is heading for “dis- Labour because it was in danger inisters are doing too “Government and regulators In an earlier report on the Brit- aster” under Jeremy Cor- of being destroyed as a ‘serious little to stop the pen- should not wait for the industry ish Steel pension scheme, the Lbyn because he is unfi t to political force’. Asked whether Msions industry ripping to fail to act voluntarily as they committee found that scheme even tie up his own shoelaces, he agreed with this assessment, off savers, MPs have warned. have so many times in the past. It members were being “shame- party grandee Alan Johnson said. Johnson told The Observer: “Yeah, Some fi rms are making a ‘fat must put the full force of the law lessly bamboozled” by advisers The former home secretary we’re heading for disaster and eve- living’ because they are not being behind such changes.” and unregulated introducers. said Corbyn was “never going to rybody knows that.” And when he forced to reveal all their charges MPs also criticised City watch- In some cases they were being be a leader” and that “practically was asked who would do a better in a simple way, members of the dog the Financial Conduct Au- talked into buying unsuitable, anyone” could do his job better. job than Corbyn, Johnson said: Commons work and pensions thority (FCA), which has only high-risk products with large He said: “The simple problem “Practically anyone, actually. committee said. 10 of its 3,700 staff working on a management charges and puni- we’ve got is that Jeremy Corbyn “Because Jeremy is not just They called on the government dedicated fraud team, after reports tive exit fees. is not a leader. He’s never going pious and sanctimonious, he’s to increase scrutiny by forcing showed around £2bn was lifted In 2015, the government to be a leader, never wanted to be useless at leading, which is why pension funds to make informa- from pension schemes by unscru- capped charges at 0.75% for sav- a leader, is totally uncomfortable he has people around him to do tion clearly available to “bam- pulous advisers in one year. They ers automatically enrolled in in the role as leader.” his shoelaces up, pull his strings. boozled” customers. said the FCA register of fi rms that defi ned contribution schemes. Johnson’s brutal attack comes And we’ve got such good women And they accused Pensions have been banned from giving ad- But the committee said this does after a string of election disap- in particular on our benches... Minister Guy Opperman and vice is impossible to understand not cover all charges – and urged pointments for Labour, includ- There’s a whole list of them that Treasury economic secretary John and should be made clearer. The ministers to review its scope. ing coming fourth in last week’s would do a much better job”. Glen of being complacent, say- committee wants to make it easier “Currently, fi rms can decide Brecon and Radnorshire by- The former home secretary, ing no part of the industry scored for savers to see whether they are how to display and structure election. who served in Gordon Brown’s above half marks on transparency. getting value for money in their their charges. This is like shop- Corbyn’s many critics have administration, added that he Independent MP Frank Field, pension, by forcing all schemes to pers going into a supermarket blamed the poor showing on the was glad to be out of politics now, who chairs the committee, said: issue a document stating the costs and seeing similar-looking prod- party’s ambiguous position on because of the way supporters of “Ripping off pension savers and charges. ucts on the shelves, but the pric- Brexit, which has allowed the Blair, like him, were being treated. could be eliminated. The select It found that some pension es are hidden.” Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn (centre) arrives to talk with Liberal Democrats to hoover up ‘In today’s Labour Party committee is calling on the gov- trustees were making investment The FCA said more than 100 of members of the emergency services in the town of Whaley Bridge the Remain vote. there’s no one that attracts more ernment to shine the searchlights decisions when they did not its staff work on pensions issues, in northern England yesterday during a visit to see the emergency The Labour leader also faces visceral hatred than ministers into that part of the fi nancial in- know the scale of the costs they although they are not part of the operation to secure the damaged Toddbrook Reservoir dam and continuing dissatisfaction with his who served under Tony Blair and dustry that has settled down were incurring. dedicated fraud team. the town. failure to get to grips with the anti- Gordon Brown,” he said. Gulf Times 12 Tuesday, August 6, 2019 BRITAIN/IRELAND Low-income Britons ‘more vulnerable to recession than in 2008’

Guardian News and Media left the poorest UK households that are expected to show the highest level since the 1990s. economy come after the Bank of a handbrake on the economy. Should Britain sink into an- London and middle-income families less economy stalled or slid into con- City economists polled by England said last week that Brit- Even if Boris Johnson man- other downturn, the Resolu- prepared for another downturn. traction for the fi rst time since Reuters expect Friday’s data to ain has a one-in-three chance ages to agree a new Brexit deal tion Foundation warned that It also warned the gradual dis- 2012 during the three months to reveal zero growth in the second of plunging into recession at the with Brussels, it said there was a poor households would struggle ow-income households in mantling of the benefi ts system June. quarter. However, many econo- start of 2020, even if a no-deal 33% chance of a recession at the most. Britain are more vulner- under the policy of austerity Two consecutive quarters mists believe GDP will have con- Brexit can be avoided. start of 2020. Mark Carney, the James Smith, research direc- Lable to recession than they imposed over the past decade by of contraction are regarded as tracted, including the National Threadneedle Street said bank’s governor, has said there tor at the Resolution Founda- were before the fi nancial cri- Conservative-led governments a recession. The last time the Institute of Economic and Social chronic uncertainty facing would be an even worse “instan- tion, said: “We know from pre- sis, the Resolution Foundation has left people without the same UK suffered a period of fall- Research. Considered among British businesses over the fu- taneous shock” to growth. He vious downturns that it is lower has warned, amid the mounting degree of support. ing GDP was during the 2008 Britain’s leading think-tanks, ture EU trading relationship, as warned that the pound would income households that bear the risks of a Brexit downturn. The warning comes ahead of financial crisis, which caused NIESR warned that GDP may well as slowing international fall sharply, driving up infl ation brunt of economic downturns According to the think-tank, a offi cial growth fi gures for the the loss of more than 1mn jobs have fallen by 0.2%. trade volumes due to the US- to further squeeze household when it comes to their living decade of weak wage growth has second quarter, due this Friday, as unemployment rose to its The warning signals for the China trade war, was serving as spending power. standards.

Round-the-world flight Child ‘thrown’ from Tate Modern a French national: police

Guardian News and Media to the investigation team.” London A Tate Modern spokeswoman said the gallery opened yester- day as usual but the viewing he six-year old boy alleg- platform was closed. A photocall edly thrown from a 10th- for a new exhibition, scheduled Tfl oor viewing platform at for yesterday morning, had been Tate Modern was a French na- postponed, she said. tional visiting London with his Visitors were prevented from family, the Metropolitan police entering or leaving the gallery have said. while emergency services dealt Police are appealing to wit- with the incident. nesses who saw a male whose The Met said members of the “behaviour seemed out of place, public were providing witness suspicious or worrying” to come statements. forward. A journalist, Olga Malchevs- The young boy was found on a ka, was on the viewing platform fi fth-fl oor roof and treated at the when the boy fell and described scene before being taken to hos- what happened as “absolutely British aviator Matt Jones (left) flies over the airfield, escorted by three other Spitfires based at Goodwood, after taking off in the restored World War II Silver Spitfire pital. He remains in a stable but terrifying”. She told BBC Break- plane for a round-the-world flight attempt at Goodwood Aerodrome in Chichester, southeast England, yesterday. critical condition. fast: “I saw that woman who A 17-year-old boy who had was running and shouting ‘My initially been detained by mem- son, oh my son’ and she was bers of the public in the imme- crying desperately.” Speaking diate aftermath of the incident later, she said she was on the was arrested on suspicion of at- platform with her four-year- tempted murder. He remains in old son when the incident took police custody. place. “I just felt like something is The young boy was found going on, I should take my child on a fi ft h-fl oor roof and out of there immediately and we Legal aid for bomber’s treated at the scene before tried to go towards the exit,” she being taken to hospital. said. She could hear people say He remains in a stable but “Oh my God, the boy dropped.” critical condition Nancy Barnfi eld, an adminis- tration worker from Rochdale, Police were called at around was on the viewing gallery with 2.40pm on August 4 to reports a friend and their children when brother sparks fury of a boy thrown from the 10th- her friend heard a “loud bang”. fl oor viewing platform of Tate Barnfi eld said she turned Daily Mail at an Ariana Grande concert on Brendan Cox – the husband As part of a 17-page ques- Michael Adebolajo and Modern in London. around and saw a woman London May 22, 2017, will be represent- of murdered Labour MP Jo – tionnaire issued by the Legal Michael Adebowale, who The family are being support- screaming, “Where’s my son, ed by taxpayer-funded lawyers. has been helping the families Aid Agency, applicants must murdered soldier Lee Rigby ed by police, the Met said. where’s my son?” Members He was extradited to the UK through his campaign group declare any ‘valuable posses- in 2013, received a total of The incident is being treated of the public quickly gathered ictims of the Manchester from Libya last month and faces Survivors Against Terror. He sions’ worth more than £500 £212,613.32. But the families as an isolated event with no dis- around a man who was nearby, Arena terror attack have charges of murder, attempted told The Sun: “To deny sur- that could be sold to help cover of the victims of the London tinct or apparent motive, the po- she said. “We did not notice the Vcondemned the decision murder and conspiracy to cause vivors legal aid while you costs. Bridge terror attack, which lice said, adding there was noth- mum before, we noticed her af- to grant the bomber’s brother an explosion. provide it for terror suspects They are also being asked claimed eight lives in 2017, ing to suggest the suspect was ter because she was hysterical by legal aid as “an insult”. Robby Potter, who survived is as unfair and twisted as it whether they own a car or a were denied legal aid at the in- known to the victim. then.” It comes as survivors and being blasted through the heart sounds.” timeshare, if they have children quest earlier this year. Detective chief inspector The Labour MP Neil Coyle, relatives of the 22 people killed with shrapnel, said: “It’s yet an- The problems faced by the or a partner in employment. Abedi, who is due to go on John Massey said: “My team whose Bermondsey and Old struggle for help with legal rep- other kick to the victims when families in obtaining legal aid The questions have been de- trial at the Old Bailey in No- is also very keen to talk to you Southwark constituency covers resentation at an inquest next they’re down. Why should he were revealed by barrister Paul scribed as ‘cruel and intrusive’ vember, is expected to run up if you witnessed a male whose Tate Modern, said the thoughts year. get legal aid?” Greaney QC at a pre-inquest by the charity Inquest, which a bill of hundreds of thousands behaviour seemed out of place, and prayers of the community They are being made to com- Potter, of Prenton, Wirral, review last Monday. supports bereaved families. of pounds. He has already been suspicious or worrying in the were with the boy and his fam- plete intrusive questionnaires added: “For the victims and He said unfunded legal work The Legal Aid Agency has represented by QCs Zafar Ali hour or two before the incident ily. asking for details of all their as- their families, it should not had been going on ‘for some come under fi re for granting le- and Richard Wright. in or near the gallery. It may be The Tate spokeswoman said: sets worth over £500. matter how much is in their time’ and added: “Bereaved gal aid to militant bride Shami- The ministry of justice, which that this is something which “Tate is working closely with the But it has now emerged that bank account. The country families are experiencing dif- ma Begum, 19, who hopes to oversees legal aid, says it has to has only just come back to you. police to help with their investi- Hashem Abedi, 22, whose should be looking after the vic- fi culties in obtaining funding fi ght the decision to revoke her fund representation for defend- If so, please still make that call gations.” brother Salman blew himself up tims.” from the Legal Aid Agency.” British citizenship. ants to ensure trials are fair. Cuadrilla seeks extension Titanic shipyard to drill for shale gas fi les for insolvency Reuters It has been in decline for over Belfast half a century, however, and Guardian News and Media The company has made slow “ridiculous” regulations for now employs just 130 full-time London progress because existing rules hobbling the industry. workers, specialising in energy mean frackers must halt all Cuadrilla hopes the results of arland and Wolff , the and marine engineering projects work if their activities cause an its work could make a case for Belfast shipyard that — though it hires in large num- K shale gas company earth tremor which registers a the UK’s controversial shale gas Hbuilt the Titanic, was put bers of contractors when it se- Cuadrilla will ask for magnitude of 0.5 or higher. ambitions and convince regu- into administration yesterday cures work. Uextra time to drill for Cuadrilla is the only shale gas lators to ease the earth tremor after its bankrupt Norwegian “It’s a sad day. I don’t know shale gas at its Lancashire company to undertake fracking limits. owner failed to fi nd a buyer and what I’m going to do,” said a fracking site after its November in the UK, but has been able to Frackers also face an uphill calls for its nationalisation were 54-year-old worker with 38 deadline. frack only one of the four wells battle in the UK due to strong rebuff ed. years of service at the plant, who Within the next month the it had hoped to drill. public opposition to shale gas The shipyard, whose tower- declined to give his name. fracking pioneer will ask Lan- Egan said that by the end of and fi erce protest from envi- ing yellow cranes dominate the He said he understood all cashire county council for per- its 30-month licence Cuadrilla ronmental groups. Northern Irish city’s skyline, has workers had been given notice of mission to continue its drill- will have undertaken only 21 Last week the Labour leader, been occupied by workers fear- redundancy. ing campaign until at least the months worth of work after be- Jeremy Corbyn, called on the ful for their jobs since last week. The workers locked them- spring of 2021. ing forced to stop work on mul- Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, They said yesterday they would selves into the yard last week and The company restarted work tiple occasions. to ban fracking over fears it may block administrators from en- are taking turns occupying key at the Preston New Road site The rules have been heav- stop the UK meeting its climate tering the site. buildings in a bid to take control only last month in an 11th-hour ily criticised by Egan and oth- targets. “BDO have been appointed as of a process they fear will deprive bid before its licence expires in er shale companies because Research commissioned by administrators and the company them of their jobs. November. seismic activity at this level is the opposition party found that will fi le for insolvency today,” a John McDonnell, finance Francis Egan, the chief ex- common when fracturing the exploiting the UK’s shale gas Harland and Wolff spokesman spokesman for the opposition ecutive of Cuadrilla, said the Earth’s shale layers to release reserves would release enough said. The business was put up for Labour Party, visited the yard company will ask to tweak the gas. greenhouse gas emissions to sale last year by Norwegian par- yesterday and called for the licence terms to allow for more Egan has said that a com- eliminate any hope of the gov- ent Dolphin Drilling, which fi led state to step in and renational- time following months of de- mercial shale gas industry will ernment meeting its 2050 net for bankruptcy in June. ise it. lays to its drilling campaign. be impossible in the UK with- zero target. Opened in 1861, Harland and “It would not be diffi cult to- He said the application would out a change to the rules. Cuadrilla said in a statement Wolff employed more than 30,000 day for (Prime Minister) Boris not seek to change the scope of Natascha Engel stepped that shale gas could replace people in its World War II heyday Johnson to say he will give this its work or the requirement for down as the UK’s fi rst shale gas the UK’s existing gas imports Labour Party shadow chancellor John McDonnell (centre) speaks to and remains a potent symbol of yard a future,” McDonnell said. the site to be shut down and re- commissioner after only six meaning it would not lead to Harland and Wolff shipyard workers protesting for the shipyard to be Belfast’s past as an industrial en- “If you close now you lose the stored by April 2023. months in April, blaming the extra emissions. saved in Belfast yesterday. gine of the British Empire. skills, you lose the future”. Gulf Times Tuesday, August 6, 2019 13 EUROPE

Rival Bosnia leaders EU border force ‘allowed’ agree to form govt abuse of migrants: report

Reuters AFP/DPA tion of international regulations. refugees is unacceptable,” she Sarajevo Berlin/Warsaw/Brussels According to the investiga- added. tion, some internal Frontex re- After the 2015 refugee crisis ports describe “excessive use saw hundreds of thousands of osnia’s rival Serb, Croat he European Union bor- of force” or “mistreatment of migrants arrive in Europe, Fron- and Bosniak leaders der force Frontex has al- refugees”, but often end with the tex had its mission enlarged and Bagreed yesterday to form Tlegedly been turning a statement “case closed”. its funding increased as the Eu- a central government 10 months blind eye to ill treatment of refu- Frontex can remove its staff ropean Border and Coast Guard after a general election, reaching gees by guards at EU external from countries along the EU Agency. a compromise about Bosnia’s in- borders, according to media re- borders and by not doing so is According to its website, tegration into the North Atlan- ports yesterday. complicit in any wrongdoing, Frontex has around 700 employ- tic Treaty Organisation (Nato), A joint investigation by Ger- the head of the agency’s Advi- ees from 29 countries with plans which had been a key stumbling man public broadcaster ARD, sory Forum, Stephan Kessler, to have 1,000 staff working at its block. non-profi t investigative jour- told ARD. headquarters by 2021. The heads of the country’s nalism website Correctiv, and When contacted by AFP, The three countries named in three largest ethnic parties British newspaper the Guard- Frontex said “so far, no com- documents – Hungary, Bulgaria signed an agreement on the ian, also accused Warsaw-based plaint has been fi led against any and Greece – have long been main principles for the govern- Frontex of violating the human Frontex offi cer”. criticised for their treatment of ment formation at a meeting fa- rights of refugees during depor- The agency added it would migrants. cilitated by the European Union tations. “take action as soon as we have Hungarian border police has mission in Bosnia. Citing internal documents, been informed” of any incident. been repeatedly accused of mis- “This agreement provides the the report said that Frontex had “All offi cers deployed by treating migrants on the Serbian conditions for the formation of allowed guards to use dogs to Frontex are bound by the code border. the central cabinet ... within the hunt down migrants, as well as of conduct which Frontex devel- Humanitarian organisations next 30 days,” Milorad Dodik, to deploy pepper spray and ba- oped after consultation with a complained about violent rejec- the Serb member of Bosnia’s tons, particularly along EU bor- number of partners,” it said. tions on the Greek and Bulgarian three-man inter-ethnic presi- ders in Bulgaria, Hungary and Frontex pointed out that while borders with Turkey as well as dency who heads the Bosnian Greece. it can suspend offi cers on its conditions in overcrowded mi- Serb ruling SNSD party, told a The investigation accused operations, it has neither “the grant camps in Greece. news conference. local guards of using force or authority over national border This file picture shows employees working in the situation room at the Frontex headquarters in Warsaw. Bulgaria’s Interior Minister “I think this is an important threats to return migrants back police forces” nor “the power to Frontex has allegedly been turning a blind eye to ill treatment of refugees by guards at EU external Mladen Marinov denied the al- moment which allows us to across the EU’s external borders, conduct investigations” on the borders, according to media reports. legations yesterday. move forward,” said Dodik. thus obstructing the basic right territory of EU member states. “I can declare categorically However, he also warned that to seek asylum. The agency later issued a “We condemn any form of in- In Brussels, the European said they will “follow up” the that Bulgaria complies with all unless the agreement has been It also cited cases of minors stronger statement on Twitter: humane treatment, unprocessed Commission said that it is “al- allegations with Frontex “to de- agreements on human rights,” implemented within agreed being deported on planes unac- “Frontex categorically denies returns and any other form of ways concerned about the re- termine” if they are true and act Marinov said on a visit to Mu- deadline, “that will mean that companied and of refugees se- any involvement of its offi cers violence which are illegal under ports of the mistreatment of accordingly. nich. “Bulgarian border offi cials Bosnia is in a deep constitutional dated with medication during in violations of fundamental the European Charter for Fun- migrants”. “Any form of violence and ill- use physical force only when the and political crisis and that its their expulsion fl ights, in viola- rights. damental Rights.” Spokeswoman Mina Andreeva treatment against migrants and situation demands it.” sovereignty will come into ques- tion”. Bosnia’s complex government structure, based on ethnic quo- tas, allows each group to block key decisions. World leaders ‘must prove they The formation of the central cabinet has been blocked by the Bosniak and Croat members of have listened to climate activists’ the presidency who had insisted that a Serb prime minister-des- ignate, who will come from the Reuters SNSD, should plead to continue Lausanne Bosnia’s path towards Nato inte- gration. The SNSD has, in turn, orld leaders must blocked the work of the national prove that they have parliament. Wlistened to young The Bosnian Serbs do not sup- climate activists after a year port Bosnia’s membership in the of protests has not led to any Nato, which bombed their posi- progress in the reduction of tions, as well as their ally Serbia, greenhouse emissions, leading during the Balkan wars of the activist Greta Thunberg said 1990s. yesterday. But under the agreement, World leaders have an oppor- the leaders confi rmed they will tunity at the climate summit in “promote relations with the September in New York to ad- Nato without prejudicing a fu- dress the “ecological emergen- ture decision about the member- cy”, said the Swedish teenager, ship of Bosnia and Herzegovina”. who will attend the UN talks, “Unless this document as crossing the Atlantic by boat. agreed and signed has been im- Some 450 activists from 38 plemented in the next 30 days, European countries brought the SNSD will block the work of their #FridaysforFuture move- all institutions and nobody will ment to the Swiss city of be able to stop that, neither Eu- People watch flame and smoke rising from the site of blasts at an ammunition depot near the town of Lausanne, calling for swift ac- ropean or any other internation- Achinsk, in the Krasnoyarsk region. tion to reduce emissions in- al institutions,” Dodik said. cluding carbon dioxide linked Dodik, who has preferred ties to global warming, especially in with Russia to those with the Europe. EU and the Nato, has repeatedly “During this last year, lots threatened with the secession of Blasts rock Russian arms depot, of things have happened. Then the Orthodox Serb-dominated of course the global emissions autonomous Serb Republic from haven’t gone down. So we’re Bosnia. leaving one dead and eight hurt still back on square one,” Thun- Bosnia also comprises the berg told a news conference. Federation dominated by Mus- “So of course we will need to Thunberg is seen at the opening press conference of the ‘Smile for lim Bosniaks and Catholic Guardian/Reuters Siberian railroad, 2,000 miles its Achinsk alumina plant and do so much more, we are still Future Summit for Climate’ event in Lausanne. Croats. Moscow east of Moscow. evacuated all but essential staff only scratching the surface,” the The Russian defence minis- to ensure their safety, it said. 16-year-old said. slashed over the next 12 years to Jacques Dubochet, a Swiss try said the storage site that ex- The plant is Russia’s larg- Global warming caused by stabilise the climate. who won the 2017 Nobel prize AfD ahead in east housands have been ploded held gunpowder charges est producer of alumina, a raw heat-trapping greenhouse The movement must con- in chemistry, said that “funda- Germany before evacuated from a Sibe- for artillery shells. material which is smelted into gases from burning fossil fuels tinue to raise the alarm, includ- mental change” is needed, add- Trian town after an am- Russian state media estimat- aluminium. has already led to droughts and ing in Asia where students have ing: “We know exactly where regional votes munition depot on a military ed that 11,000 people have been Loading activities are oper- heatwaves, melting glaciers, held fewer strikes, Thunberg we have to go – out of carbon as base caught fi re, triggering evacuated to a distance of 12.5 ating on schedule at Russian oil rising sea levels and fl oods, sci- said. soon as possible.” The far-right Alternative for huge explosions that have sent miles from the base. giant Rosneft’s Achinsk oil re- entists say. Referring to the summit, she Ernst von Weizsacker, a sci- Germany (AfD) party has taken deadly shrapnel fl ying for miles The mayor of Achinsk, Ilay fi nery, Tass news agency quoted Carbon emissions hit a record said: “I think this is a great op- entist and former German poli- the lead in the east of the country around. Akhmetov, has told the 100,000 a refi nery spokesperson as say- high last year, despite a warning portunity for world leaders to tician, told reporters: “If we ahead of Chancellor Angela One soldier was killed and at residents of the city to prepare ing. from the UN-backed Intergov- show that they have actually only concentrate our action on Merkel’s Christian Democrats least seven other people have for evacuation. The refi nery is located 30km ernmental Panel on Climate listened to us and to the science Europe we are losing the war.” (CDU), just a month before been injured, including several Video from the town showed from the military base. Change in October that out- ... now they will have to prove This was because more regional elections there, an with shrapnel wounds, accord- local residents scrambling as It is not clear what caused put of the gases will have to be that.” than 90% of newly-built and opinion poll showed on Sunday. ing to Russian state media re- explosions and an air siren the blasts, although lax safety planned coal-powered plants The AfD is favoured by 23% ports. could be heard. precautions have caused similar More Europeans see migration, rather than are in developing countries, he of voters in the former east, Video posted to social me- “Explosion after explosion,” accidents in the past. climate change, as EU’s main issue: survey said. “And unless we persuade ahead of the CDU on 22%, the dia showed thick smoke rising one woman fi lming the blasts Siberia has also been hit by them that it could be lucra- far-left Linke on 14%, the Greens over the military base and vis- said. “One is happening every wildfi res this summer, made Migration remains the top problem facing the European Union, accord- tive and good for them to stop on 13% and the centre-left ible shockwaves rising from the 10 seconds.” worse by warming tempera- ing to EU citizen responses in a survey published yesterday, though building coal power plants and Social Democrats (SPD) on 11%, thunderous blasts. The blasts also prompted tures and a lack of rainfall. climate change assumed greater importance in public opinion than make money out of renewable according to a poll in the Bild am Some of the explosions sent aluminium producer Rusal Explosions at ammunition ever before. energies and energy effi ciency, Sonntag newspaper. fl ames and white sparks fl ying to suspend operations at the dumps can send unexploded More than one-third of respondents view the flow of people between which is a great potential, we The eastern states of high into the air. country’s biggest alumina pro- shells fl ying for miles around, countries as the top issue (34%, down by six percentage points from are losing.” Brandenburg and Saxony hold An estimated 40,000 tank ducing plant. requiring a signifi cant clean- late 2018), the early 2019 Eurobarometer survey found. Activists urged the European regional elections on September and artillery shells are kept on Rusal, the world’s largest up eff ort to de-mine residential In second place for the first time was climate change, cited as the Union to adopt more ambitious 1, followed by Thuringia a month the base in Achinsk, a Siberian aluminium producer outside areas before locals can return to bloc’s greatest challenge by 22%, up five points from late 2018 in the climate goals, in line with the later. city that lies near the Trans- China, suspended operations at their homes. survey of approximately 1,000 people. Paris agreement, by reducing The state of the economy, member states’ public finances and terror- its greenhouse gas emissions ism ranked joint-third at 18% in the survey, which is conducted twice a by 80% by 2030 compared to German rail takes steps on security after boy is pushed to death from platform year for the European Commission. 1990, and aiming to reach net- The nation most preoccupied by climate change was Denmark, fol- zero by 2035. Steps will be taken to improve station security is overhasty reaction,” a spokesman for An eight-year-old died last week after being lowed by Sweden, Finland and Ireland. The bloc should not sign following the death last week of a boy who Deutsche Bahn (DB) said in Berlin. pushed in front of an oncoming high-speed In these countries, it was the most frequently cited main concern. any free trade agreement with was pushed off a platform in Frankfurt, DB has established a project group to look train. In 21 member states, the largest share of respondents ranked migra- countries that do not uphold Germany’s state-owned rail company said into improving security which met with police His mother, who was also pushed off the tion as the most important issue facing the EU, with the highest the objective of limiting global yesterday. experts yesterday. platform, managed to move out of the way. proportions being in Malta, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Slovenia and warming to 1.5° Celsius, the “The aim is to find durable solutions for Meetings with rail and security off icials will The new group is to investigate the viability the Netherlands. European Citizens’ Initiative greater security. But what we don’t need follow. and costs of improving security. stated. Gulf Times 14 Tuesday, August 6, 2019 INDIA

INITIATIVE BONANZA LEGISLATION WILDLIFE PARLIAMENT Delhi Archives to record Rajasthan CM, ministers, Rajasthan second state to SC not against relocation Bill banning commercial oral history of city in 2 years legislators get salary hike pass anti-mob lynching bill of African cheetah to India surrogacy gets LS nod

The Delhi Archives, in collaboration with Ambedkar The Rajasthan Ministers’ Salaries (Second Rajasthan yesterday became the second state The Supreme Court yesterday said it was not A bill which seeks to ban commercial surrogacy and University, yesterday launched the Delhi govern- Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed in the Rajas- after Madhya Pradesh to pass the anti-mob lynch- against the policy on relocating African cheetahs allows “ethical and altruistic” surrogacy in the coun- ment’s ‘Oral History Programme’ and plans to than assembly yesterday, increasing the salaries ing bill in the assembly prescribing life-term and a from Namibia to Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary try was passed by the Lok Sabha with a voice vote interview 100 local residents in the next two years. and allowances of the chief minister, cabinet fine up to Rs5 lakh to convicts in cases involv- in Madhya Pradesh. The court said this while yesterday. Health and Family Welfare Minister Harsh Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who also ministers, leader of opposition and pensions ing killing. The bill also provides for punishment supporting the National Tiger Conservation Vardhan said only Indian couples married for at holds the Art and Culture portfolio, said history is of former legislators. Now the chief minister’s for dissemination of off ensive material. Anyone Authority’s (NTCA) move. But the court posted the least five years will be allowed to opt for surrogacy dominated by voice of the ruling classes and “the salary has been increased from Rs55,000 to publishing, communicating or disseminating by matter for further hearing after two weeks, and and the intending couple should have a “certificate Delhi government wants to record the voices of Rs75,000 while a cabinet minister’s salary has any method, physical or electronic, any off ensive asked whether the cheetahs would survive. The of essentiality” and a “certificate of eligibility” issued Delhi’s aam insaans (common man)”. The project gone up from Rs45,000 to Rs65,000, the as- material, shall be punished with imprisonment of NTCA said the sanctuary had various animals, like by the appropriate authority. The couple should be is an extension of the Delhi government’s agenda sembly speaker’s from Rs50,000 to Rs70,000, one to three years and with fine up to Rs50,000. tiger and leopard. The NTCA said that all potential between 23 to 50 years old (wife) and 26 to 55 years to democratise knowledge. “By recording the and state ministers’ from Rs42,000 to 62,000. The bill defines ‘lynching’ as any act or a series of sites for reintroducing cheetah will be reassessed old (husband). They must not have any surviving memories of 100 of Delhi’s ordinary residents from “Looking to the present level of price, the acts of violence or aiding, abetting or attempt- and an action plan developed. On February 22, child (biological, adopted or surrogate). This would diff erent strata of society over the next two years, existing salary and other allowances appeared ing an act of violence, whether spontaneous or the NTCA had informed the court about its plan not include a child who is mentally or physically the project aims to document the history of the city to be inadequate,” the government said in a planned, by a mob on the grounds of religion, on African cheetahs citing International Union for challenged or suff ers from a life threatening disorder from the perspective of its inhabitants,” Sisodia said. statement. race, caste, sex, place of birth or language. Conservation of Nature (IUCN) report. or fatal illness.

Telangana set to map cotton supply chain to stamp out child labour

Reuters both cottonseed production as Hyderabad well as cotton growing. “It is not a hidden problem,” said Davuluri Venkateswarlu, he top cotton producing director of Glocal Research, state of Telangana is to whose 2014 study found that Tstart mapping its entire 200,000 children under 14 were supply chain as part of a unique working on cottonseed farms, collaboration with the Inter- double the number since 2010. national Labour Organisation “There was a brief decline in (ILO) to weed out child labour the numbers later but the prob- and slavery from its fields and lem is emerging again, particu- factories. larly in the seed production The southern state will this sector, which sees children per- month begin a three-year manently drop out of school.” project with the UN labour Children are hired for seed agency to map its cotton grow- production as their small hands ing farms and spinning mills to are useful in cross pollina- ensure its main industry is eth- tion to produce hybrid seeds, ical, senior labour officials said Venkateswarlu said, adding yesterday. that farmers calculated that “This is for the first time in two children could do the work India that an integrated ap- of three adults but be paid less. proach to identify both child Six of the 10 cotton growing and bonded labour is being un- districts of Telangana will ini- dertaken,” said Eslavath Gan- tially be mapped for labour vio- gadhar, director of Telangana’s lations under the project. agency that tackles child and It will also look at gender dis- bonded labour. crimination in salaries for agri- “This issue is very relevant culture workers and whether for us because recent surveys they have collective bargain- have shown that more than ing rights, Gangadhar told the People throng an NRC off ice during an appeal hearing against the non-inclusion of their names in the National Register of Citizens, in Assam’s Jorhat district yesterday. 80% of child labour cases are Thomson Reuters Foundation. being reported in agriculture. The state will also train offi- And even globally, the focus is cials from various government on sustainable cotton.” departments, including labour Industry experts say the cot- and education, to identify and ton supply chain is the hardest stop any form of forced labour to track as the journey from in cotton fields. field to retailers involves many The first focus will be to stages – such as seed produc- gather evidence and map the NRC re-verifi cation fear tion, cotton growing, gins to status of child labour, forced separate seeds and fibre, spin- labour and gender discrimina- ning mills and garment facto- tion, said Ranjit Prakash, ILO’s ries. project co-ordinator for India. India, the world’s second “In the long run, the aim is largest cotton producer af- to promote social dialogue and ter China, is the only country empower workers in keeping grips people in Assam named by the US Department of with the fundamental princi- Labour report in 2016 for hav- ples and rights of the work- IANS authorities to far off places like However, somehow they man- for re-verifi cation of the NRC Several social organisations ing child and forced labour in place,” he said. Guwahati Golaghat, Jorhat, Sivsagar and aged to get ready but this acci- draft list in Assam. have also condemned the sud- Dhemaji to prove their citizen- dent happened,” said Barpeta- “The Supreme Court has re- den move of the NRC authori- ship claim. The people were based activist Ashraful Hussain. cently rejected the petition of ties and said innocent poor Jaishankar to visit Beijing head of the much-hyped served the notices on August 3 He said a woman aged 68 died the Assam government and the people have been subjected to August 31 publication of and 4 and asked to appear before due to heat stroke in one of the central government for 20% suffering in the name of re- ahead of Modi-Xi informal summit Athe National Register of the NRC centres yesterday, giv- NRC centres at Kaliabar subdi- re-verifi cation of the names of verification. Citizens (NRC), a fear of being ing them very little time to travel vision in Nagaon district. people in draft NRC list. But “How can the issue of re- External Aff airs Minister S Jaishankar will pay a three-day visit to China rendered stateless has gripped to places over 500km away. “She was a resident of Joakat- surprisingly the NRC author- verifi cation even occur when the from August 11, as both sides prepare for the second informal summit thousands of people in some “One bus carrying over 50 dia village in Kamrup district ity hurriedly issued thousands Supreme Court has rejected the between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping districts of Assam after they re- such people from Sontoli village and was summoned to NRC of notices to diff erent persons petitions of the state and central in India in October. During his visit, Jaishankar who was the Indian envoy ceived 24-hour notices from the in Kamrup to Golaghat met with centre at Naltoli in Kaliabar for across the state fi xing August 5 government is seeking re-veri- to Beijing from 2009 to 2013, will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart authorities for re-verifi cation of an accident at Khanapara area of re-verifi cation,” Hussain said. as date for re-verifi cation. This fi cation? We demand an expla- Wang Yi on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest. The their citizenship claim. the city on Sunday night injur- Assam Congress president has created panic as the people nation from the NRC authori- meeting between the two comes days after they held a bilateral meeting Thousands of people particu- ing over 30 of them. These were Ripun Bora yesterday sent a let- have noticed just one or two ties in this regard,” said Hiren in Bangkok last week on the sidelines of the Asean-related multilater- larly from Goalpara, Barpeta, all poor people and for them it is ter to federal Home Minister days ahead of the date,” Bora Gohain, a scholar and chairman als. This will be Jaishankar’s first visit to China after he took over as the Chenga, Boko and Chaygaon not possible to travel such a long Amit Shah urging him to stop said in his letter to Shah, and of Forum against Citizenship external aff airs minister. were summoned by the NRC distance at such a short notice. immediately the “illegal” order sought his intervention. (Amendment) Bill 2016.

Unnao rape victim admitted IAS offi cer suspended, to AIIMS hospital in Delhi bail plea hearing today IANS for today. Venkitaraman had Thiruvananthapuram re-joined the service and was IANS The woman was earlier under- survivor and her lawyer. appointed director of Surveys New Delhi going treatment at the trauma Talking to reporters outside the only last week after a year’s centre of the King George Medical Sitapur jail from where he was tak- AS offi cer Sreeram Venki- study leave. University in Lucknow after the en to Delhi by the Central Bureau taraman, charged with Venkataraman is accused of he Unnao rape survivor was accident. of Investigation on Sunday, Sengar Ikilling a journalist in a road drunk driving that led to the admitted to the All India In- Uttar Pradesh police had also said he was being framed as part of accident and admitted to the death of 35-year-old journal- Tstitute of Medical Sciences ensured a 15km-long ‘green cor- a “political conspiracy”. intensive care unit of a state- ist K M Basheer, a journalist (AIIMS) hospital in New Delhi yes- ridor’ to transport her from the “There should be a thorough run medical college hospital with a Malayalam daily. Venk- terday after she was brought from Lucknow hospital to the airport probe to ascertain whether the ac- was yesterday suspended from itaraman was accompanied by Lucknow. where the air ambulance was cident on July 28 was just an acci- service. a woman friend to whom the The woman, who was critically ready to take her to the national dent or a conspiracy. All the angles The suspension order was car belonged. injured in a road accident on July capital. must be probed. All this is a politi- issued by Kerala Chief Secre- As the police came to know 28 in which two of her aunts were The woman has accused ex- cal conspiracy aimed against me. tary Tom Jose. According to that he was an IAS offi cer, they killed and her lawyer injured, was pelled Bharatiya Janata Party law- “All the allegations, which the All India Service rules, if delayed even the mandatory fl own here by an air ambulance, maker Kuldeep Singh Sengar of have been levelled against me, an offi cer is arrested he or she medical tests which led to an following a Supreme Court order. raping her at his residence in 2017. are political in nature. If help- should be suspended from the outrage. “The injured patient was fl own A medical bulletin issued by the ing someone is a crime, then service within 48 hours. Industries Minister E P from Lucknow to be admitted in hospital earlier yesterday reported what will we people in politics On Sunday night, the Indi- Jayrajan, a close aide of Chief AIIMS trauma care. On the advice a slight improvement in her condi- do? Some people have become an Administrative Service of- Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, said of the doctors of AIIMS, the jour- tion though she is still on ventila- weak and have resorted to po- fi cer was shifted from a luxury during a condolence meeting ney of the ambulance carrying the tor. litical conspiracy against me,” he private hospital to the district at the Press Club here the IAS injured person was facilitated by However, there is no improve- said and demanded an impartial jail. But after two hours, he offi cer should have submitted providing free passage. The am- ment in the condition of her law- probe into the rape as well as the was sent to the medical college his resignation. bulance left T-1 airport at 9pm yer Mahendra Singh, who is still in accident charges. hospital’s ‘prison cell’. “All those who had a role in and reached AIIMS trauma care deep coma. The rape survivor and the advo- Meanwhile, a local court allowing the accused to escape at 9.18pm,” a Delhi police offi cial Meanwhile Sengar said that he cate were injured on July 28 when a Kuldeep Singh Sengar (centre), who has been accused of rape, comes yesterday posted the hearing will be brought before law,” said. has prayed for the recovery of the truck hit their car in Rae Bareli. out of a court to be moved to Tihar Jail in New Delhi yesterday. on Venkitaraman’s bail plea said Jayarajan. Gulf Times Tuesday, August 6, 2019 15 INDIA Govt scraps Article 370, Kashmir to be split into 2 union territories

Agencies Regional leaders have previ- kistan after a militant group New Delhi/ Srinagar ously said stripping Kashmir’s based there claimed responsi- special status amounts to ag- bility for a deadly attack on a gression against its people. military convoy in Kashmir. ndia yesterday revoked the The streets in Srinagar were That step, in turn, prompted special status of Jammu and largely deserted as travel curbs a retaliatory raid by Pakistan. IKashmir, moving to grasp kept people indoors. Introduced decades ago, the its only Muslim-majority re- There was heavy deployment constitutional provisions re- gion more tightly. of security forces across Srina- served government jobs and The government also decided gar, but no signs of protest. college places for Kashmir’s to split the state into two Un- A top government source residents, among other lim- ion Territories, one formed by in New Delhi told reporters its aiming to keep people from Jammu and Kashmir, and the the restrictions were precau- other parts of the country from other consisting of the enclave tionary, adding that life was overrunning the state. of Ladakh, citing internal secu- expected to return to normal Turning the state into a fed- rity considerations. fairly soon. eral territory allows Delhi to Jammu and Kashmir will Prime Minister Narendra exert greater control. have an assembly, like Delhi, Modi and his Bharatiya Janata There were already growing but Ladakh won’t, similar to Party (BJP) had pushed for rad- fears among Kashmiris that the Chandigarh. ical political change in Kashmir special status would be ditched In the most far-reaching even before he won re-election after the BJP obtained a large political move in one of the in May, saying its laws hindered parliamentary majority in re- world’s most militarised re- integration with the rest of In- cent elections. gions in nearly seven decades, dia. The party had vowed to ful- India said it would scrap a con- “Politically, it’s advantage fil a long-held promise to scrap stitutional provision that al- BJP,” said Happymon Jacob, a the laws, and many fear New lows Jammu and Kashmir to professor at Jawaharlal Nehru Delhi wants to change the re- make its own laws. University in New Delhi. gion’s demographics by al- “The entire constitution will “The scrapping of Article lowing non-Kashmiris, mostly be applicable to Jammu and 370 of the constitution is likely Hindus, to buy land locally. Kashmir,” Home Minister Amit to set off a slew of political, The move is set to exacerbate Shah told parliament, as oppo- constitutional and legal bat- the already bloody rebellion in sition lawmakers voiced loud tles, not to speak of the battles Kashmir and deepen the long- protests against the repeal. on the streets of Kashmir.” running animosity with Paki- Shah told parliament the Yesterday’s move reflects stan. Women share sweets during celebrations for the move to remove Article 370, near the Wagah Border about 35km from Amritsar yesterday. president had issued a decree Modi’s muscular approach to “There will a very strong re- abolishing Article 370. n a - tional security. action in Kashmir. It’s already The decree said the measure In Feb- in a state of unrest and this will came into force “at once”. ruary, he only make it worse,” Wajahat The government also lifted ordered Habibullah, a former senior a ban on property purchases war bureaucrat in Kashmir, said. by non-residents, opening the planes “Today marks the darkest way for Indians to invest and into day in Indian democracy,” said settle there, just as they can Pa- one of the leaders placed under elsewhere in India, although house arrest, Mehbooba Mufti, the measure is l i k e l y a former chief minister of Jam- to provoke a mu and Kashmir. backlash in “It will have catastrophic the region. consequences for the sub- Pa- continent,” she said in a kistan post on Twitter. said it The federal home min- strongly istry ordered all states con- to put security forces demned on “maximum alert” the de- to maintain public cision, order and quash the which is spread of any ru- bound to fur- mours. ther strain ties BJP general sec- between the nuclear-armed retary Ram Madhav rivals. hailed the govern- Hours earlier the Indian gov- ment’s actions as ush- ernment launched a security ering in a “glorious crackdown in the region, ar- day”. resting local leaders, suspend- In Modi’s home ing telephone and Internet state of Gujarat, peo- services and restricting public ple shouted slogans movement in the main city of of support on the Srinagar. streets. Activists and supporters of left-wing parties shout slogans during a demonstration to protest against the abolition of Article 370, in New Delhi. How Shah & Co carried out the ‘top secret’ task

IANS minister’s suggestion Shah then ed Rajya Sabha members like Anil New Delhi had meetings with National Se- Baluni and Bhupendra Yadav. The curity Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval. team was tasked to muster the Sources said that once Shah support of fellow members of the rime Minister Narendra had reviewed the situation in upper house, where BJP fell short Modi’s actual countdown Kashmir himself, Doval was sent of a majority. Pfor revoking Article 370 to Srinagar to assess the situation The team which had engi- and bifurcation of the state of from a security point of view. neered a major defection in Tel- Jammu and Kashmir began dur- The NSA stayed there for ugu Desam Party’s Rajya Sabha ing the third week of June, when three days. Then on July 26, the members managed to get Sama- he chose IAS offi cer B V R Subra- decision to curtail the Amar- jwadi Party MPs Neeraj Shekhar, manyam as new chief secretary nath Yatra was taken. Later re- Surendra Nagar and Sanjay Seth, of the state. call of all tourists from the valley and Congress MP Sanjay Sinh Subrahmanyam, who had was also suggested by the NSA. to quit the Rajya Sabha, giving a worked as joint secretary with Apart from this, an additional big boost to the BJP in the upper the prime minister earlier, was 100 companies of the central house. Security personnel stand guard along a deserted street during restrictions in Jammu yesterday. one of the key offi cials in Modi’s paramilitary were also rushed as At the eleventh hour, the team Mission Kashmir. The entire task back-up to the prevailing secu- also managed Bahujabn Samaj of Mission Kashmir was handed rity apparatus. Party leader Satish Mishra to over to Home Minister Amit Subramanyam was given the support the move related to Ar- Shah, who along with Law Min- blueprint of several security ticle 370 and the bifurcation of ister Ravi Shankar Prasad was measures to be taken on ground the state. ‘Security depends on locals’ reaction’ reviewing the legal implications zero - use of satellite phones by In the meantime, Shah had with a core team, which included key police, paramilitary and ad- closed door meetings with key Law & Justice Secretary Alok ministration offi cials; deploy- journalists urging them to be bal- IANS rest of the country at present Deependra Singh Hooda, former central government to control Srivastav, Additional Secretary ment of QRTs in sensitive urban anced in reporting while touch- New Delhi with all communication lines GoC-in-C of the Northern the valley. Law (Home) R S Verma, Attor- and rural pockets across South ing highly sensitive issues, which snapped. Top Kashmir political Command, told IANS India was Describing how union terri- ney-General K K Venugopal, Kasmir; and a high vigil at the have international implications. leaders are placed under house well prepared to deal with any tories with an assembly func- Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba and Line of Control by army. The sources said that by Au- ecurity implications fol- arrest. kind of breakdown in law and tion, the experts said two un- his select team of Kashmir Divi- The army chief, heads of intel- gust 2, Shah was confi dent that lowing the government’s “Right now the security ar- order. ion territories of Jammu and sion. ligence agencies and the central his party had enough support in Sdecision yesterday to scrap rangement in the valley is huge The government had deployed Kashmir will get the benefit Before the beginning of the paramilitary forces were also co- the Rajya Sabha and would in- special status to Jammu and and it depends on how the locals a huge contingent of central of a partial state such as Delhi budget session, Shah had briefed ordinating with the federal home troduce the historical bill. Kashmir would depend on the react to it in the long term. At forces in the valley anticipating and operate somewhat differ- Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh secretary and chief secretary. Highly placed sources re- reaction of locals, military ex- present, Pakistan is too involved violence, ahead of its decision to ently from Ladakh, a proposed (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat and On the crucial night of August vealed that on the weekend, it perts said. in its problems with Afghanistan announce the presidential order union territory without a leg- his aide and general secretary 4, the chief secretary instructed was decided by Modi and Shah to The government also moved a and the Taliban. Once it’s able to on withdrawing special status to islature. Bhaiyaji Joshi about the govern- Jammu and Kashmir Director convene a meeting of the cabinet bill to bifurcate the state into two settle them, it could turn atten- the state, he said. Union territories are federal ment’s determination to revoke General of Police Dilbagh Singh at the prime minister’s residence union territories – Jammu and tion towards India,” former navy “There is a feeling that the law territories governed directly by Article 370 and the bifurcation to take several preventive meas- yesterday to disclose Mission Kashmir with an assembly and chief Admiral Arun Prakash told and order problem could inten- the central government through of Jammu and Kashmir into two ures which included house arrest Kashmir’s objective to the min- Ladakh without one. IANS. sify in the valley. But with the its representatives. separate Union Territories. of key political leaders, snapping isters and pass a resolution. According to the experts, the “China won’t involve itself di- induction of additional police Welcoming the decision, sen- After legal consultations, mobile and landline services, After Shah introduced the bill external security in the region rectly in the Kashmir issue. But forces, we are better prepared to ior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi said Shah focused on the implica- declaring Section 144 and pre- amid chaos in the Rajya Sabha will depend on the way Paki- overall security in the area also deal with contingencies,” Hooda now the government can govern tions of the revocation of Article paring drill for clamping curfew yesterday, a BJP MP reacted: stan and China react to the de- depends on what kind of support said. the Valley directly through Lieu- 370 on Kashmir Valley’s law and in the valley. “Shah’s mission has never been cision. it extends to Pakistan.” Some legal experts said the tenant Governor as the adminis- order situation. Sources close to In Delhi, Shah had another key defeated. He is the new Sardar Kashmir is cut off from the Lieutenant General (retd) move will give more room to the trator. Shah revealed that on the prime team set on the job, which includ- (Vallabhbhai Patel).” Gulf Times 16 Tuesday, August 6, 2019 LATIN AMERICA Guatemala villagers recognise photo of woman at US border

Reuters showed her crouched metres away last week by Reuters as they Mayan ruins and drug cartel vio- she had been staying with her Jose Luis Gonzalez. gal cases are processed. La Libertad, Guatemala from Mexico’s border with the US, spread across the Internet. lence. family before she took off with There, the two were taken into Under the policy known as clinging to her young son Anthony Amaya shed tears every time Some residents work in the her son one night. offi cial custody in the US. the “Migrant Protection Proto- Diaz as she looked up at an armed she replayed the video of the bor- cornfi elds or cattle farms, but The departure was so sudden Amaya said she once attempt- cols”, many people are returned olinda Amaya cried last member of the newly formed Mex- der encounter. jobs are scarce. the older woman did not have time ed a similar trip, as had her sister. to northern Mexican cities while week when she saw a viral ican military police force. Seeing Perez’s standoff with Amaya said that running a to “even say goodbye,” she said. Amaya never made it to the US, their claims are processed. Lphotograph of a Guatema- “We were all crying because we the National Guard on social small shop or selling food like As Perez pleaded with the Na- but Perez’s mother did. And Guatemala last week signed lan mother imploring Mexico’s hadn’t heard anything about her, media had reassured her that her tamales and empanadas are the tional Guardsman, she told him On Monday, Perez was re- a deal with the US to make it a National Guard to let her enter nor about the boy,” Amaya said, niece was alright. only options for locals like her she had struggled to raise her son leased by US authorities, and buff er zone to absorb asylum seek- the US. perched in front of the modest The small wooden house niece who had received little for- in Guatemala after the father had her mother picked her up from a ers from countries further south, It was her niece, Ledy Perez, family home in Guatemala’s El Amaya shares with her mother mal schooling. abandoned them when the boy North Carolina airport. such as Honduras and El Salvador. who had borrowed money weeks Peten district. and other family members nes- Perez had dreamed of saving was nine months old. Perez may have the option of Dolores Morales, Amaya’s earlier and fl ed her village under At an interview in their home, tles among dense jungle-like for a home in the US, but had When the offi cer glanced seeking asylum in the US. mother and Perez’s grandmother, cover of night, seeking a better Amaya said she and Perez’s vegetation in the northernmost to borrow money for her trip, away, the mother and son dashed But the process no longer explained that living conditions life for her only child. grandmother had seen images district of Guatemala, a sparsely Amaya said. across the US border, caught on guarantees migrants the right to in their municipality, La Liber- The widely shared photo and video of the pair published populated area known for its Unable to fi nd regular work, camera by Reuters photographer stay in the country while their le- tad, were tough. Mexican media Poll campaign calls for more protection after spate of killings

Guardian News and Media said: “Most of this aggression, Mexico City most of these murders come from a murky grey zone where it’s not clear where organised ournalists in Mexico have crime ends and public authority said the new government is begins. It’s the everyday reality in Jfailing to protect them after many parts of Mexico. three reporters were murdered in The National Human Rights less than a week. Commission has reported 152 Jorge Ruiz Vazquez, a reporter journalists’ death since 2000, with the Grafi co de Xalapa news- and the misery has deepened in paper, was the latest victim, shot 2019 despite the change of gov- dead late on Friday night in Ac- ernment. The President, Andres topan, in Veracruz state. He was Manuel Lopez Obrador, prom- supposed to have received pro- ised to calm the county and stop tection from state security forces the killings of journalists but his but this was missing on the night relationship with the media has of the killing. turned testy since he took offi ce. Last year he had accused the He has called publications mayor of corruption and his critical of his administration Presidential candidate Alejandro Giammattei of “Vamos” political party holds his closing campaign rally ahead of the second round run-off vote in Guatemala City, Guatemala. home was attacked. He was “conservatives” and “fi fís” scheduled to testify before state (toff s), language now copied authorities this month on threats by politicians in the provinces the mayor had allegedly made where local journalists usu- against him. ally earn miserable wages, work Mexico has been a deadly place without benefi ts and moonlight for journalists over the past 13 to make ends meet. years as a crackdown on drug car- Lopez Obrador’s supporters tels and organised crime has worn often use social media to besiege on. Measures taken to try to pro- any reporters asking tough ques- tect the press have included ap- tions at his daily morning press Mexico eyes legal action as pointing a special prosecutor to conferences, and the president pursue crimes against journalists. recently berated the newsweekly But the political will to protect Proceso for not taking his side. journalists appears stubbornly Javier Garza, a former direc- absent, especially in states such tor of the newspaper El Siglo de as Veracruz, a long and sweaty Torreon, said: “This government citizens slain in US shooting sliver along the Gulf coast where hasn’t put much attention on this politicians often act in cahoots problem so it continues growing. Guardian News and Media to Mexico, Ebrard said. “This attack is a response to the were also wounded, but are re- grants trying to transit the country with narcotics traffi ckers. They’re giving a bigger budget Mexico City “We consider this an act of Hispanic invasion of Texas.” El covering, according to relatives. on the way to the US border – even “There’s an impunity rate of to baseball than the mechanism terrorism against the Mexican- Paso is located on the US-Mex- The shooting has caused in- as it doggedly defends the rights of 99% and no political will to clear for protecting journalists, if you American community and Mex- ico border, opposite the Mexican dignation in Mexico – parts of its own citizens living in the US. up these crimes. There’s only rhet- want an indication of the inter- exico has promised to ican nationals in the US,” Ebrard city of Ciudad Juarez. Six of the which the US government warns “With this new policy toward oric on (the issue) from the state est.” Mexico’s murder rate hit a explore pursuing terror- told reporters. “Mexico is out- victims in El Paso were Mexicans citizens to avoid due to drug car- (migrating) Central Americans, government,” said Miguel Angel record high in the fi rst six months Mism charges in the US raged. But we aren’t proposing to and another seven Mexicans tel violence. the tables have turned and now Diaz, the publisher of Plumas Li- of 2019. Nine journalists have been legal system over the shooting in meet hate with hate. We will act were injured, including, Gloria But the shootout also triggered Mexicans are the Americans to bres, a Veracruz news outlet. killed for carrying out journalistic El Paso, Texas, which claimed the with reason and according to the Irma Marquez, a school teacher some uncomfortable self-refl ec- Central Americans.” The El Paso Press freedom organisa- duties this year, according to press lives of seven Mexican citizens law and with fi rmness.” from Ciudad Juarez who crossed tion. It comes as Mexico endures shootout prompted rare terse tions caution against pinning freedom organisations. and left seven more injured. A 21-year-old man is sus- the border to shop Saturday and waves of violence, including its words on the US situation from the blame on organised crime as A reporter in Guerrero state The Mexican Foreign Minis- pected of opening fi re in a Wal- was killed in the gunfi re, accord- own murder rate reaching record Mexico’s foreign policy offi cials. many of the threats made against who also served as a municipal of- ter, Marcelo Ebrard, said Mexico mart store in the US border city ing to the newspaper Reforma. highs and frequent shootouts “The intentionality of the at- journalists come from public of- fi cial was shot and killed on Friday. would try to take legal action on Saturday, killing at least 20 Mario de Alba, 45, travelled which claim multiple victims, tack against the Mexicans and the fi cials uncomfortable with scru- Earlier last week a reporter who against the person or fi rm who people. Police in El Paso are ex- from Chihuahua state to shop in but which generate little outrage Latino community in El Paso is tiny and used to operating with- covered the police in the same sold the assault weapon used amining a hate-riddled message El Paso. He was shot in the back, outside the aff ected areas or get frightening. NO to hate speech. out oversight. state was found dead in the boot of in the Saturday slayings. The on the website 8chan, posted according to the Associated lost in a crowded news cycle. NO to xenophobic discourse,” Carlos Bravo Regidor, a jour- a vehicle. There were signs he had country will also pursue the pos- around 20 minutes before Sat- Press. His wife, Olivia Mariscal, It also comes as Mexico cracks tweeted Martha Barcena, Mexi- nalism professor in Mexico City, been shot and tortured. sibility of extraditing the suspect urday’s attack, that stated: and 10-year-old daughter Erika down on Central American mi- co’s ambassador in Washington. Bogota creates ‘elite unit’ Disguised inmate to fi ght human traffi cking busted in jailbreak Reuters ple were arrested on suspicion of Thomson Reuters Foundation About a third of all human They will look for signs that Rio de Janeiro having tried to help him escape. Bogota traffi cking cases in Colombia workers are forced to live where Silva, meanwhile, was moved involve victims of forced labour they work, such as mattresses, to the Laercio da Costa Pelegrino and exploitation. soap and towels, and signs of masked Rio de Janeiro in- jail unit, and will face punish- olombia is training doz- Few cases of labour traffi cking forced labour such as padlocked mate dressed as a woman ment, it added. ens of inspectors to hunt in Colombia are chased down, windows and doors and posters Atried to break out of a Brazil’s prisons have become Cdown cases of labour traf- with only 21 cases of suspected showing times when workers are Brazilian jail, in a surreal act of a major headache for new Presi- fi cking and exploitation, a re- forced labour and begging re- allowed to eat, sleep and wash, it derring-do, only to be thwarted dent Jair Bolsonaro, who has sponse to the needs of migrants ported by Colombian authori- said. on the cusp of freedom by state vowed to crack down on years of from Venezuela who are at high ties last year, according to the “We have to get prepared so prison authorities. growing crime and violence. risk of being victimised, offi cials US state department’s 2019 Traf- that these reports of cases are Clauvino da Silva, a drug Last week, at least 57 people said. fi cking in Persons report. received properly,” said Mario dealer from the city of Angra died after a prison riot broke out About 1.3mn Venezuelans Colombia convicted just 19 Gomez, a top state prosecutor. dos Reis, was caught by prison in the northern state of Para. have crossed into neighbouring people for human traffi cking, Victims of forced labour, in- guards at the Bangu jail complex More than a dozen were de- Colombia, fl eeing political and down from 21 in 2017, according cluding children, are found in in Rio state, as he tried to exit capitated. economic turmoil, and their dire to the report. mining, agriculture and as crop via the front door after visiting Brazil’s incarcerated popu- straits make them vulnerable to Its labour ministry has “made pickers in fi elds of coca, the raw hours. lation has surged eight-fold in forced labour and exploitation, insuffi cient eff orts to identify ingredient of cocaine, Gomez The Rio state prison author- three decades to around 750,000 they said. or investigate cases of forced said. ity said his plan was to leave his inmates, the world’s third-high- Addressing the designated labour,” the report said, recom- Child labour is driven by pov- daughter inside the prison in his est tally. labour inspectors on their fi rst mending labour inspectors get erty and local cultural attitudes place. Prison gangs originally training day, the country’s depu- training on traffi cking. that consider it “normal,” said In a video released by prison formed to protect inmates and ty labour minister, Andres Felipe The training is aimed to teach labour inspector Juan Carlos Bal- authorities, he is seen wear- advocate for better conditions, Uribe, said the team was on the them to fi nd concrete evidence lesteros at the training session. ing an eerie plastic mask, a long but have come to wield vast frontline of eff orts to eradicate that can be used to prosecute In Colombia’s northern desert black wig, glasses and women’s power that reaches far beyond “the scourge” of human traffi ck- cases successfully. region of La Guajira, which bor- clothes, including a bra. prison walls. ing. They will learn how to ques- ders Venezuela, young children As prison offi cials make him The gangs have been linked “This is an elite unit,” Uribe tion employers and workers ef- from both countries pick through take off his elaborate disguise, he to bank heists, drug trafficking said. “We’re fi ghting a crime, fectively and to detect signs of rubbish dumps, work as street eventually appears in the fl esh, and gun-running, with jailed fi ghting against a social drama in coercion in their behaviour, ac- vendors and in salt mines, sell wearing a sullen expression. kingpins presiding over crimi- the context of...a migration fl ow cording to a handbook they will contraband petrol and beg on the Clauvino da Silva dressed as a woman, is seen at the Bangu jail Rio’s prison authority said his nal empires via smuggled cell- that we’re receiving.” use. streets. complex, Gericino, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. daughter and seven other peo- phones. Gulf Times Tuesday, August 6, 2019 17 PAKISTAN JUI-F chief scrambles to hold opposition together

Internews separate meetings with the two the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e- day when senior PML-N leader resignations to the party chair- asked PML-N vice-president Islamabad leaders next week. Insaf (PTI) government’s “un- Khawaja Asif, during an inter- man as a “political gimmick”. Maryam Nawaz to take notice of The three opposition leaders democratic approach”. view on the Express News show “To be honest, this is nothing. Asif’s statement. agreed to continue their anti- Speaking with Sharif, the JUI- To The Point With Mansoor Ali I will believe it when they actu- “The PPP entered into an al- he leader of the Jamiat government movement. F chief said that it is necessary to Khan, doubted the possibility of ally step down as senators,” he liance with the PML-N for the Ulema-e-Islam – Fazlur In his conversation with Bi- take action against opposition his party’s alliance with the PPP added. sake of democracy, even though T(JUI-F) Maulana Fazlur lawal, Rehman stressed the senators who had betrayed their lasting for very long. In response, the PPP’s Sena- its activists were unhappy about Rehman has sprung into ac- importance of the opposition parties by voting against the no- “You will soon see fi ssures in tor Sherry Rehman expressed it,” she said. “The PML-N itself tion to hold the crumbling op- parties remaining united after trust motion. the alliance. Mistrust between her disappointment, and said has been unable to keep its sena- position alliance together, in the “worst horse-trading” wit- He also suggested convening a the two parties [PML-N and that Asif’s comments were tan- tors in check.” the wake of what appears to be nessed in their failed no-con- meeting of the joint opposition’s PPP] is growing, and I think it tamount to “smashing the op- Meanwhile, PML-N vice- the beginning of a falling-out fi dence motion against Senate Rahbar Committee to remove will further increase in the com- position alliance into pieces”. president Maryam Nawaz has between the two major compo- Chairman Sadeq Sanjrani. misunderstandings. ing days,” he maintained. She sought an explanation said that turncoats should not nent parties, the Pakistan Mus- The JUI-F chief also stressed The PML-N and PPP are in- The PML-N leader also hinted from the PML-N over its senior be “let go”, and that their houses lim League – Nawaz (PML-N) the need for members of the op- creasingly growing suspicious that the PPP had betrayed the leader’s remarks. should be besieged. and the Pakistan Peoples Party position parties to refrain from of each other following the joint other opposition parties in the “The PPP too has its reserva- While addressing a big rally (PPP). giving statements against each opposition’s failure to unseat the no-trust motion. tions [over the policies of other in Lillah, Pind Dadan Khan, she Rehman spoke with PML-N other. Senate chairman through its no- “They [PPP] don’t want to opposition parties], but never said that a politician who has Rehman: spoke with PML-N president president Shehbaz Sharif and Bilawal told Rehman that the confi dence motion, despite hav- lose the Sindh government. We expressed them openly, to keep betrayed his leader, his party Shehbaz Sharif and PPP chairman PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto opposition parties’ defeat in the ing a majority in the upper house have nothing to lose.” the alliance intact,” she said. and his people at a diffi cult time Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on the phone, Zardari on the phone. Senate was actually a moral vic- of parliament. Asif also described the PPP In a statement, PPP infor- should not have the right to re- and would hold separate meetings The JUI-F chief will also hold tory for them, as it had exposed The cracks laid bare on Satur- senators’ move to submit their mation secretary Nafeesa Shah main in politics. with them next week.

Woman among new faces Rallies across nation over likely to join KP India’s move on Kashmir cabinet Reuters/AFP/Internews rachi, as well as in Lahore. Islamabad/Muzaff arabad In a statement, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said it would Internews “exercise all possible options to Peshawar rotests were held across counter the illegal steps” taken Pakistan yesterday as the by India. Pgovernment said it strong- Foreign Offi ce spokesperson early a fortnight after the ly condemned India’s constitu- Dr Mohamed Faisal said the In- July 20 elections in the tional changes in the disputed dian-administered Jammu and Nnewly-merged tribal ar- Himalayan region of Kashmir Kashmir is an internationally- eas, the government is looking to claimed by both countries. recognised disputed territory. get some of these lawmakers into India revoked the special sta- “No unilateral step by the In- the provincial legislature, and to tus of Jammu and Kashmir in dian government can change this then include them in the provin- a bid to fully integrate its only disputed status, as enshrined cial cabinet. Muslim-majority state with the in the United Nations Security The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa rest of the country, its most far- Council resolutions. Nor will (KP) government is now looking reaching political move on the this ever be acceptable to the to reward some of the success- territory in nearly seven dec- people of Jammu and Kashmir ful candidates, including the ades. and Pakistan,” he said. provincial cabinet’s fi rst female In Muzaff arabad, the capital The spokesperson said as the member. of Pakistan-administered Kash- party to this international dis- Following the July 20 polls in mir, around 45km (28 miles) pute, Pakistan will exercise all the erstwhile-Federally Admin- from the contested border be- possible options “to counter the Police off icers stand guard during a protest at the diplomatic en- istered Tribal Areas (Fata), as tween the neighbours, dozens of illegal steps.” clave in Islamabad. many as fi ve candidates backed protesters held black fl ags and He said Pakistan reaffi rms Right: People hold up Kashmiri by the ruling Pakistan Tehreek- burnt car tyres, chanting “Down its abiding commitment to the our stance in our meetings with and Pakistani flags during a rally e-Insaf (PTI) won, while three with India”. Kashmir cause and its politi- the US delegation visiting Paki- in Karachi. successful independents decid- “The abolition of the special cal, diplomatic and moral sup- stan and with the international ed to join the treasury benches. status of Kashmir will not serve port to the people of Jammu and community at large,” Qureshi Below: Students chant slogans Having already announced its purpose,” said Zahid Iqbal, 35, Kashmir for realisation of their said on Twitter. during a protest rally in Lahore. that the provincial government a migrant from Indian-admin- inalienable right to self-deter- Prime Minister Imran Khan will induct newly-elected law- istered Kashmir. “We will fi ght, mination. said the move “was in clear vio- makers from the tribal districts, and we will fi ght with more vig- Foreign Minister Shah Mah- lation of the United Nations Se- the provincial government, in- our.” mood Qureshi said Pakistan curity Council (UNSC) resolu- cluding Chief Minister Mah- There were also protests in would raise the issue with allies, tions” in the region, according mood Khan and the central lead- Islamabad, the capital, and Pa- including the United States. to a statement released after a ership of the party, has started kistan’s commercial hub of Ka- “We intend to fi rmly highlight telephone call with Malaysian consultations over whom to in- Prime Minister Mahathir Mo- duct, whether it would be a party India’s decision to scrap Article 370 ‘treason’ and hamed yesterday evening. member elected from the tribal ‘aggression’, say opposition leaders The prime minister’s offi ce areas or it would be one of the said Khan also called Turkish independents who had decided Opposition leaders in Pakistan have condemned the scrapping of Article President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to side with the party. 370 in Kashmir by the Indian government as “treason against the UN” to warn that the decision could Confi rming that deliberations and “aggression”. have “serious implications” for have been held, KP Information Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif regional security. Minister Shaukat Yousafzai stat- condemned India’s decision to revoke Article 370 in the strongest words, Erdogan “shared the con- ed that the fi nal decision will be declaring it “unacceptable” and an “act of treason” against the UN. cerns” and assured Khan of made by the chief minister. Sharif, the president of the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N), Turkey’s support, the statement Meanwhile, a source within called on the Pakistani leadership to immediately demand an emergency said, while Mohamed, one of the the cabinet has said that on the session of the UN Security Council and to consult with China, Russia, world’s Muslim elder statesmen, directions of Prime Minister and Turkey, Saudi Arabia and other friendly countries over the latest develop- said that Malaysia is “closely PTI chairman Imran Khan, Chief ment. monitoring” the situation. Minister Mahmood has started Sharif said the move by the Indian government to abolish the article was A spokesman for India’s for- consulting the central and pro- also in violation of the orders of the Supreme Court of India. eign ministry declined to com- vincial leadership of the party The opposition leader called for an emergency meeting of the parliamen- ment on Pakistan’s statement long armed insurrection against not be deterred from its just gressor in the dispute, analysts over the names which are to be tary leaders so that a collective plan of action could be readied to deal that the steps were illegal. its rule in the portion of Kashmir stance based on the UN Security said. included in the cabinet. with the situation. However, there was no state- it controls. Council resolutions and aspira- “Pakistan had lost the moral The high-level source added Condemning the decision, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal ment by Pakistan’s powerful Islamabad denies this, saying tions of the Kashmiri people. high ground on Kashmir due to that the provincial government Bhutto Zardari lamented that “the atrocities by Indian forces in Kashmir military, with analysts saying that it provides only diplomatic The prime minister invited at- allegations of (funding the in- – which failed to induct any are continuing” unabated. it was likely to avoid escalating and moral support to Kashmiri tention of the world leaders and surgency) in the 1990s,” said woman into the provincial cabi- “Atrocities in IOK [Indian-occupied Kashmir] unabated. Extremist Indian tension with India for the time separatists. international bodies towards the Anam Zakaria, an analyst and net after being elected into pow- govt’s intentions clear. President must immediately summon Joint ses- being. On Sunday, the National Se- “irresponsible, unilateral and ir- author of a book on the dispute. er with a two-thirds majority in sion of Parliament in wake of Indian aggression in IOK,” he tweeted. Pakistan’s Foreign Offi ce curity Committee (NSC) of rational behaviour of the Indian “(But) in the post 9/11 years, it the province after July 25, 2018 has summoned the Indian high the Pakistan government con- leadership”. has actively tried to project a general elections – is keen on in- Pakistan to continue diplomatic, political support commissioner to protest the demned what it termed were Pakistan is playing a key role softer image, and with respect cluding women from the merged move, the Pakistani high com- Indian atrocities in Jammu and in negotiations between the US to Kashmir raise awareness of tribal districts in the provincial Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr mission to New Delhi said late Kashmir, reiterating that Paki- and the Taliban in Afghanistan, human rights violations. This cabinet. Firdous Ashiq Awan says Pakistan will continue extending moral, diplo- yesterday. stan is “ready to defend itself and Khan recently returned unilateral act in (Kashmir) will matic and political support to the Kashmiris until they achieve their right Tension between the nucle- against any misadventure or ag- from a state visit to Washington, bolster its stance.” to self-determination under the UN Security Council resolutions. ar-armed neighbours has been gression by India”. where President Donald Trump But there was also anger at Children’s In a series of tweets yesterday, she said that India “must not forget that elevated since February, when a Prime Minister Khan, who off ered to mediate in the Kash- Pakistan for its inability to pre- the (nation’s belief in the struggle) for its just cause cannot be defeated militant group based in Pakistan chaired the NSC meeting in Is- mir dispute. vent the move. Literature Festival by any gun, tyranny or conspiracy”. attacked an Indian paramili- lamabad, reaffi rmed Pakistan’s India has consistently op- “This refl ects the weakness of opens tomorrow Awan said the international community will have to prove its respect for tary convoy in Kashmir, killing resolve that “any Indian mis- posed third-party mediation on Pakistan’s government and apa- democracy by supporting Kashmiris. at least 40 people and bringing adventure or aggression will be Kashmir, considering the issue thy of the so-called brotherly The two-day 60th Children’s She said the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC)’s support to the them to the brink of a third war responded with full support of one between the two countries. Muslim nations that have en- Literature Festival (CLF) is to be people of Indian-administered Kashmir for their right to self-determina- over the territory. the nation”. Fresh from the state visit, couraged India to take this step,” held tomorrow (August 7 and tion “is another defeat of tyrant and law violator India”. India has long accused Paki- He said Pakistan would always Khan and the military were un- 51-year-old Kashmiri Iqbal 8), and it will be open to all from stan of fomenting a decades- stand by Kashmiris and would likely to want to look like an ag- Awan said in Muzaff arabad. 9am-5pm on both days at the Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi. “The CLF this year has several learning strands, including science, mathematics, music, theatre and theatre workshops, Aga Khan University among top 100 schools in clinical medicine puppetry, arts and craft,” said CLF founder and chief executive of Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi Internews 200 for public health in the lat- teaching clinical medicine and recognition of the AKU as a role The ranking draws from Web tation indices has improved the (ITA) Baela Raza Jamil at a press Karachi est ShanghaiRanking’s Global public health that is ranked model for health and education of Science bibliometric data, In- AKU’s ranking over the last three conference, which served as a Ranking of Academic Subjects, among the top 500 universities. in the developing world,” said Cites, and reviews performance years, a spokesperson said. detailed curtain-raiser to the released by the Academic Rank- In clinical medicine, it jumped AKU president Firoz Rasul. in fi ve categories – publications, “Our clinical investigations event at the Arts Council of he Aga Khan University ing of World Universities, ac- from the 151-200 group to the ShanghaiRanking Consul- citations, top journal presence, are closely linked to teaching to Pakistan. (AKU) has been ranked cording to a statement released 76-100 group in 2018. tancy is an independent organi- international collaboration in innovate for better healthcare She also added that the festival Tamong the world’s top by the AKU. The university is ranked in the sation dedicated to research in publications, and awards. and research for knowledge,” on each day would close with a 100 universities for clinical It stated that the AKU is the 151-200 group in public health. higher education intelligence An increase in papers pub- said Dr Adil Haider, the dean of concert. medicine and among the top only university in Pakistan “This international ranking is and consultancy. lished and indexed in major ci- the AKU’s medical college. Gulf Times 18 Tuesday, August 6, 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 Hours of madness in America, from Texas to Ohio to Chicago A murderous madness broke out in America the weekend of August 3, extending from El Paso, Texas, to Dayton, Ohio, 13 hours later. Two shootings, two inexplicable events. Many dead. This is a shock for the country, but one that’s too familiar: A gunman chooses to commit violence against innocent people, against anyone in range. The gunman selects the time and place and then seeks to kill and injure as many as possible in moments. It happened in Texas and Ohio, and a version of events happened in Chicago too. Soon after the Dayton shooting, someone on the West Side started fi ring at a group of people at Who won the Democratic Douglas Park. Chicago police said seven people were sent to the hospital with bullet wounds. In El Paso, a 21-year-old man armed with a rifl e went on a rampage in a Walmart store after 10am local time, slaughtering at least 20 people, injuring 26 more, police said. The shooting went on for minutes. The store was crowded, the shopping area debates? Donald Trump fi lled with as many as 3,000 people. The suspect is in custody. Americans went to bed on Saturday night troubled by the carnage in El Paso and awoke on Sunday to news of more By Scott Jennings On the fi rst night, Warren and Los Angeles Times Sanders satisfi ed their supporters. bloodshed attached to another city’s name: Dayton. Around Although Montana Governor Steve 1am local time on Sunday, an armed man began shooting Bullock and Marianne Williamson outside a bar in a popular entertainment area. Police said the fter watching two nights of had good moments, too, their time is 24-year-old shooter, wearing body armour, killed nine people Democratic debates, all I can probably limited. This thing has boiled and injured dozens. The shooter is dead. say is this: Man, it’s a tough down to Biden, Warren and Sanders in What kind of evil compels a Atime to be Barack Obama. the top tier, and Harris, Booker and Pete America needs perpetrator to harm and kill many Democratic presidential candidates Buttigieg in a second tier. Biden will lined up to savage his record with more continue to lead as long as Warren and to deal with its strangers? Heinous acts of gun ferocity than former prosecutor Kamala Sanders fragment the progressive left. violence are neither rational nor Harris used to muster for a morning Everyone else is at best white noise. propensity for predictable. Authorities in El Paso drug arrest docket. At worst, the rest of the fi eld could said they identifi ed a rant-fi lled These are Democrats, people! And destructively drag Democrats left on gun violence online “manifesto” they suspect they can’t hammer Obama enough on immigration and abortion. Castro has healthcare, trade and immigration. continued his crusade to decriminalise was written by the alleged shooter Donald Trump is more likely than not to be re-elected. and the and posted minutes before the Dude probably has an approval rating illegal border crossings and off er free of 95% to 98% among the Democrats healthcare for illegal immigrants availability of gunfi re started. The language they’re trying to woo, and yet the presidents, is more likely than not to 2mn for George W Bush and less than louder than anyone. While Biden suggested the shooting was a hate candidates are taking batting practice be re-elected. He has all the tools and 1mn for Bill Clinton. Even the Trump countered him on the former, Biden weaponry crime, El Paso police Chief Greg on him. power of incumbency going for him, Administration isn’t deporting people never addressed the latter after raising Allen said. Healthcare is the most glaring divide and opponents who are more beholden as fast as Obama did! his hand in support of this politically In Dayton on Sunday, investigators searched for leads that among the Democrats – and a primary to woke Twitter activists than to average Biden tossed Obama under the disastrous idea in the fi rst debate. might explain the shooter’s decision to massacre partiers. The source of the attacks on Obama. folks in the Midwestern countryside. bus again on trade and the Trans- Harris is now particularly vulnerable, gunman’s use of body armour suggests a planned attack, a “Nobody can defend the There’s a lot of runway between now Pacifi c Partnership, saying he would as she was rattled by Biden on dysfunctionality of the current system!” and next November, of course. But not reenter the agreement without healthcare and fl at out waylaid by decision to do violence. Police took him down within moments. Bernie Sanders thundered on Night 1. Trump is the favourite, and the debates renegotiating it _ sounding a bit like Republican Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii for Among the dead was the suspect’s sister. That system, if you are keeping score haven’t changed that. Trump, who withdrew from the TPP jailing so many Californians. Booker There will be many more discussions about El Paso and at home, is Obamacare! The socialist Joe Biden eff ectively defended days after taking offi ce. Biden had been may advance if Harris falls out of favour Dayton. About the availability of fi rearms of all types, and the senator from Vermont has moved most Obamacare in his exchanges with Harris a top surrogate for passing the TPP of the national political media, although willingness of some people to use them. of the fi eld his way, which means, in and Bill de Blasio on Night 2, rattling his in Obama’s second term, calling it “a his incessant whining about Democrats America needs to deal with its propensity for gun violence essence, they are advocating repeal- young tormentor from the fi rst debate. game changer ... comprehensive, high- debating each other at a debate was and the availability of weaponry. There are steps Congress and-replace of Obama’s signature law. But Biden has yet to face the real dragon: standard trade agreement.” weird. Sound familiar? Warren, a far better advocate for But that was then. A fi nal word about a swing state – can take to reduce the opportunities for armed villains to President Trump’s primary argument socialist medicine than the fl ip-fl opping Just a few weeks ago, Biden’s message Pennsylvania. The attack on coal by kill. They include universal background checks and limits for re-election is that he is presiding Harris. On immigration, Biden came was essentially that if we just reset several Democrats, including Joe Biden, on magazine capacity. The Second Amendment guarantee over an era of peace and prosperity, and under withering fi re for the Obama everything to where it was during could have a signifi cant impact on his that individuals have the right to own guns complicates no Democrat on either night punctured administration’s record on deporting the Obama years, America would be party’s ability to win back the Keystone restriction efforts. that argument. While debating skills illegal immigrants from De Blasio, who back on track. But even Biden now State. For people who live in coal- But there is something else in play in America that needs to won’t determine if a Democrat can has garnered bipartisan consensus as seems to think the last Democratic producing areas, this is more than a be confronted beyond the availability of guns. It is the rage that beat Trump (Hillary bested him, the most annoying candidate in the administration made tremendous climate issue. It is a cultural touchstone according to polling), I’ve yet to see race. Biden sidestepped the attack mistakes. I can’t help but wonder when that badly hurt Hillary Clinton in 2016 compels some people to cause mass, indiscriminate harm. anyone who worries me more than the for the most part but did tell CNN Democrats will learn to treat Obama the and will haunt Democrats again in 2020. The madness of gun violence is something the people lament others. The best debater they have is moderator Don Lemon that Obama’s way Republicans treat Ronald Reagan. and seek answers to in Chicago. In Chicago, gang and drug clearly Elizabeth Warren, but her dark deportation rates would “absolutely Tactically, the debates clarifi ed z Scott Jennings is a Republican trade-related shootings too frequently mean gun barrages that vision of America will seem foreign not” be replicated by his administration that there was one serious group of adviser, former special assistant to kill and wound multiple people. A little more than a week ago, to voters living in a country with low if he won in 2020. candidates and that everyone else was president George W Bush and a CNN two mothers were cut down by bullets on the South Side. They unemployment and rising wages. Fun fact: Obama deported more than pretty well done. Biden rebounded. political commentator. — Tribune News were standing at an intersection regularly occupied by a group Trump, like most incumbent 3mn illegal immigrants, versus about Cory Booker had a decent night, too. Srvice called Mothers Against Senseless Killings. And then in Chicago early Sunday morning – yes, within an hour of the Dayton shooting – someone in a passing vehicle opened fi re on people in Douglas Park, sending seven people to the hospital with gunshot wounds. There will always be guns in America, legal and otherwise. It is part of the culture of this country. But what, if anything, can be done to deal with the anger? It’s a troubling question in part because it’s so immense. Yet it’s undeniable. There is a streak of madness of America causing the country great harm. In El Paso, in Dayton, and in Chicago. — Tribune News Service

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© 2019 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Former vice-president Joe Biden and Senator Kamala Harris debate racial issues as Senator Bernie Sanders looks on. Gulf Times Tuesday, August 6, 2019 19 COMMENT In parched central India, no water means no wife

By Annie Banerji dangerous,” said Sanjay Singh, secre- Instead, parents send them to fetch Jhansi tary of Parmarth Samaj Sevi Sansthan, water. a group working to empower rural Viewed as a fi nancial burden, they communities. are married off as young as 12. am Hetu was sure his 16th “If eff orts aren’t made while we Seema Aherwal, a bride at 18, said proposal would fi nally secure still have time, then existing problems men failed to understand how unat- him a wife, but it didn’t — just of unemployment, starvation (and) tractive Bundelkhand villages could be Rlike all his other attempts malnutrition will only become more for women. to fi nd a partner in central India’s severe,” he added. “You can’t blame women. It’s ter- Bundelkhand region, where years of India’s northern areas were lashed rible here. Water dictates life — when drought and water scarcity are keeping by monsoon rains and fatal fl oods to eat, sleep, bathe — everything,” possible brides at bay. in recent weeks but dry spells have said Aherwal, now 28 and planning to Wells have run dry across the semi- gripped other parts, including the city move her family to Delhi after living in arid region, with scant rains forcing of Chennai which was plunged into Bangaon for a decade. some villagers to walk miles for water crisis in June when its four main water Rocks are one major problem, and pushing others to migrate to cities reservoirs ran dry. according to Saurav Kumar Suman, in search of work, as harvests fall. Normally Bundelkhand, blighted by administrative head of Tikamgarh But the drought also has more perni- 13 episodes of drought in the last two district, who said Bundelkhand’s rocky cious consequences. decades, receives 52 days of rainfall a terrain stops rain water from perco- In towns and villages across sparsely year. lating into aquifers and recharging populated Bundelkhand, home to But the number of days has more groundwater supplies. 20mn people, parents of would-be than halved since 2014, according to Others say humans are at fault. brides are dismissing the overtures Skymet Weather, a private weather With increasing demand for water, of hopeful suitors, fearing a betrothal forecasting agency. unregulated exploitation has emptied could land them in fi nancial ruin. “Water is everything. It is a cur- natural reservoirs. “The parents usually tell me ‘no rency. If you have it, you have every- Determined to stem the exodus and water, no daughter’,” said Hetu, 42, a thing, including a wife. If not, you have repair confi dence in the region, civil farm labourer who earns Rs4,000 ($58) nothing,” said Dhaniram Aherwal, head society groups and government agen- a month. of Bangaon village’s water council. cies are trying to revive water bodies, “In January, one father said ‘maybe’ Small, rain-dependent farms grow- de-silt ponds and build dams for ir- and immediately I started daydreaming ing wheat, millet and pulses are the rigation and rainwater harvesting. about my wedding.” mainstay of Bundelkhand’s cash-based “Locals now claim that some of the But calls to his would-be father-in- economy. men who had migrated (for work) have law went unanswered. When rains fail and crops perish, Wells have run dry across the semi-arid region, with scant rains forcing some villagers to walk miles for water. started to return because of the avail- “Parents fear their girls will spend incomes and marriage prospects suf- ability of water,” said Farrukh Rahman the rest of their days fetching water,” fer, prompting waves of migration to Empty homes with metal locks on and crippling debt have left “drought match — a man with land and a con- Khan, WaterAid India’s manager for Hetu said in his village of Baragaon, nearby cities. front doors are a common sight. orphans” and widows, who often fall crete house with an adequate water the northern region. known for growing wheat, barley and Two in fi ve people in rural Bun- At least 100 people have left Baragaon prey to traffi ckers looking to push them supply. But for Rajendra Litoria, 48, who chickpea. delkhand have become urban migrants — Hetu’s village of about 8,000 people — into prostitution, said Singh. “But that wasn’t the case. Back cares for his elderly parents, moving His story is echoed by other men over the last decade, according to so far this year, said Ramadhar Nishad, a And with so many men desperately home, water came from taps. Here it away was never an option. from Bundelkhand who told the Keshav Singh, an environmentalist at local administrative chief. seeking wives, traffi ckers fi nd oppor- is all hand pumps. Water tankers don’t Instead he has shelled out hundreds Thomson Reuters Foundation that the India Water Portal website. Villagers said nearly 200 pack up and tunities to lure prospective brides into come... of dollars’ worth of fees to marriage years of drought had ruined their crops Bad water management and poor leave each year, either temporarily or the region from other states, he and No one had told me that things were brokers over the past decade to scout and trapped them in bachelorhood. policies are to blame, said Singh, who permanently. other activists said. so bad,” said Rina Pal, 30, who came to for a bride. It is just one of many social impacts is also part of the Bundelkhand Water “There have been no weddings here In water-scarce Chhatarpur district, Chaukheda village 12 years ago. “Who will take care of me when I’m linked to climate change in a country Forum, a coalition of local organisa- for at least two years,” said Nishad, scores of men have married women Child marriage is also rife, according old?... Who will I leave my land to?...Who increasingly hit by extreme heat, rising tions. standing outside a derelict wedding from nearby Odisha state. to locals. will perform my last rites?” he asked. sea levels, frequent fl oods and power- “If things continue this way, Bun- hall strewn with cow dung. Three women told the Thomson Many young girls never go to school “I worry all the time but I haven’t ful cyclones. delkhand will be known as a land of Not everyone heads to the city. Reuters Foundation that a “tout” because of costly tuition fees, they lost hope. I still believe I will get mar- “The eff ects of climate change are bachelors,” he said. Farmer suicides over failed crops found them and promised a perfect said. ried.” — Thomson Reuters Foundation

US seniors fi ght depression with virtual reality Three-day forecast

TODAY According to Chan, VR hits the Maximum Temperature : 460c AFP Minimum Temperature : 360c Miami sweet spot between the two courses of action, making its use for elder care WEDNESDAY “really interesting research.” Maximum Temperature : 430c idia Silva had never realised Chan, who also consults for Equality Minimum Temperature : 350c her dream of swimming Lab, is responsible for quantifying the THURSDAY with dolphins until a Miami potential eff ects of VR use in caring Maximum Temperature : 430c NNGO gave her a pair of for seniors, particularly the eff ects of Minimum Temperature : 350c virtually granting fi nal wishes. virtual reality glasses as part of an Fisherman's forecast experimental treatment for depression A team from the University of Cali- and isolation in senior citizens. fornia, Los Angeles, studies the use WARNING of VR to treat anhedonia, a symptom Inshore : Strong wind expected “You’re in a world you don’t know, at some places during but it’s very beautiful and very impor- of depression that creates an inability afternoon tant for me to see,” 78-year-old Silva to experience pleasure or interest in a Offshore : Expected strong wind said after taking off the virtual reality range of activities. with high sea to the north east areas (VR) goggles. Psychiatric researcher Michelle She was sitting in Domino Park in Craske and her team are focused WEATHER Miami’s Little Havana neighbourhood. on providing patients with positive Inshore : Very hot daytime with slight dust to blowing It’s a popular spot for Cuban experiences, such as those produced dust at times at some residents — especially older ones — to by VR, and meditation in order to treat places meet daily and play dominoes. anhedonia and increase well-being. Offshore : Fine to some clouds at times “I’m very excited,” said Silva, who “Most treatments, up until now, WIND felt like she had been swimming in the have done an OK job at reducing Inshore : Southwesterly-North- water around Cuba, from which she negative (symptoms of depression), westerly 10-20/23 KT Nidia Silva samples a virtual reality experience in the Little Havana neighbour- Offshrore : Southwesterly-North- emigrated 19 years ago. but a very poor job at helping pa- westerly 08-18/25 KT Around her, the clacking of domi- hood of Miami, Florida, on July 26. tients become more positive,” Craske noes and lively conversations sounded told the scientific journal STAT in Visibility : 4-8 KM loud in Florida’s dense, sticky heat, iors’ wishes,” said Ivanovitch, a digital are no longer physically or fi nancially April. Offshore : 3-5/7 FT According to a study Craske but she paid it no mind. humanities doctor. able to travel on their own. Around the region Less accustomed to the climate was Through VR, seniors can go places “Basically, we bring the world to published earlier this year in the Weather Alexandra Ivanovitch, who off ered they’ve never been and check destina- them,” she said. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Weather tomorrow Max/min Silva the chance to try VR goggles. tions off their bucket lists. Recent studies show that virtual real- Psychology, people who participated today Max/min Sunny 46/29 Ivanovitch, who is French, was VR Genie, which is run by the ity can help people deal with depression, in the positive experience treatment Baghdad Sunny 46/31 Cloudy 47/34 giving a VR demonstration to Cuban nonprofi t organisation Equality Lab, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder reported lower levels of depression, Kuwait City Sunny 46/34 Cloudy 40/35 retirees, transporting them to the Ma- is funded by Miami-Dade County’s and other mental health issues. anxiety and stress than those who Manama Sunny 42/34 M Sunny 36/32 lecon in Havana, to outer space, to the Mayor’s Age Friendly Initiative “We know that things like guided participated in standard treatment, Muscat Sunny 36/32 Sunny 39/27 ocean fl oor or the tops of mountains. through a mini grant. imagery and meditation can be very which focuses on addressing nega- Tehran Sunny 39/25 Her project, called “VR Genie,” is The goal is to provide nursing homes benefi cial for cognition and things of tive symptoms. designed to counteract the “loneliness with VR helmets as soon as Ivanovitch, that nature, and we also know that With her goggles still on, Silva and social isolation” that often aff ects 35, compiles a more extensive “dream direct behavioural interventions can moved her hand gently through the air, the elderly, especially those who live library.” be very helpful for individuals as caressing non-existent dolphins. alone or in nursing homes where there “We are really trying to reconnect well,” said Aldrich Chan, a neuropsy- “It takes you to another world, it re- are few activities. them with the world,” said Ivanovitch. chologist and research associate at the ally calms you down,” she explained. “We use virtual reality to fulfi l sen- Many of the seniors she works with University of Miami. “It’s so wonderful!”

Live issues Around the world Weather Weather today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Athens Sunny 33/23 Sunny 34/23 Beirut M Sunny 30/24 Sunny 30/26 Sniff -Cam to detect disease by analysing bad breath Bangkok T Storms 31/26 T Storms 32/26 Berlin M Cloudy 27/16 M Cloudy 26/16 Cairo Sunny 36/24 Sunny 36/24 QNA nology, ancient medical practition- Previously, Kohji Mitsubayashi and dinucleotide (NAD), producing the Cape Town P Cloudy 16/11 Rain 14/11 Washington ers used breath and body odour to colleagues developed a “bio-sniff er” fluorescent reduced form of NAD, Colombo T Storm 29/26 T Storm 28/26 diagnose disease. that measured VOCs, such as acetone, which the camera records. Dhaka T Storm 34/28 T Storm 32/27 But healthy people also emit a product of lipid metabolism. A new imaging analysis method Hong Kong S T Storms 29/26 S T Storms 29/26 arious scent compounds smelly volatile organic compounds More recently, they reported the improved the sensitivity of the Istanbul Sunny 29/21 Sunny 29/21 have been linked to ill- (VOCs), and the levels of these sub- first-generation sniff-cam, which system so that low amounts of EtOH Jakarta P Cloudy 32/23 P Cloudy 33/23 nesses such as diabetes, stances can vary depending on other could visualise EtOH emissions from could be measured. Karachi P Cloudy 32/28 P Cloudy 32/28 Vlung cancer and Parkin- factors, such as sex and body mass, the skin of someone who had con- The updated sniff-cam was then London S Showers 23/14 P Cloudy 23/13 son’s disease, leading scientists to so analysis can be complicated. sumed alcohol. tested on a group of male sub- Manila T Storm 29/26 T Storm 29/26 develop technology that measures Over the years, researchers have However, the researchers wanted jects who had not consumed food Moscow S Showers 18/11 M Cloudy 21/14 these substances. developed several different types of to refine the device, so it could de- or drink, and the device detected New Delhi T Storm 32/27 T Storm 31/27 However, the challenge is creating instruments to detect VOCs, such as tect diagnostic levels of biomarkers. miniscule levels of EtOH in their New York P Cloudy 30/24 S T Storms 31/23 instrumentation that can detect low, ethanol (EtOH), a metabolite of the The researchers constructed a new breath. Paris Showers 22/17 S Showers 26/15 diagnostic levels of these disease microbiome in humans that can pro- version of the sniff-cam, which now These results show that the sniff- Sao Paulo P Cloudy 24/13 M Sunny 27/15 biomarkers. vide an indication of glucose levels. consists of an ultraviolet ring light, cam can visualise a broader range of Seoul P Cloudy 38/26 T Storm 29/24 Now, scientists report in ACS’ But current systems to detect filters and a camera. VOC levels than previous devices, Singapore I T Storms 31/27 I T Storms 31/27 Analytical Chemistry a highly sensi- VOCs typically require large, expen- An enzyme mesh, already used and its versatility may aid in the Sydney Sunny 18/07 Sunny 21/09 tive “sniff-cam” that fits the bill. sive equipment and trained profes- in the previous device, reacts EtOH further study of the relationship Tokyo Very Hot 35/26 Clear 37/26 Before the advent of modern tech- sionals. with oxidised nicotinamide adenine between scent and disease. Gulf Times 20 Tuesday, August 6, 2019 QATAR Eggs forum calls on poultry farmers for national initiative

he Ministry of Munici- ments, which requires master- all other assets. The farmers will pality and Environment’s ing three main factors: biological be given adequate grace period T(MME) Animal Wealth safety, benefi ting from the avail- before starting the repayment Department in co-operation able resources and use of modern based on the feasibility study with Qatar Development Bank technology in eggs production. submitted by the investor. (QDB) conducted the 2nd forum He said that two Qatari com- The forum introduced the par- on the national initiative to lo- panies compliant with the set ticipating farm owners to all the calise the table eggs projects at standards have been contacted necessary technical and health the Qatari farms. The initiative to provide the necessary techni- conditions and standards to go was jointly announced in March cal supervision work to the par- on with such projects in addition by the MME and QDB. ticipating farms. Financial sup- to the opportunities provided by Ahmed Abdullah al-Mulla, port will be provided by QDB and QDB to get easy loans. To qualify head of the Farms and Complex- guidance and advice on the issue for applying for such projects es Section at the department, will be provided by the MME the applicant should be a Qatari Issa al-Ansari, fi nance director at specialists. The initiative aims at national and own a registered the Services Department at QDB, arriving at 65% self-suffi ciency farm in the country with a clean and a number of farm owners at- in egg production in the country. record free of any violations. Be- tended. Meanwhile, al-Ansari pointed sides, the proposed place for the Al-Mulla stressed that this out that QDB fi nances up to 70% project should be suitable. The forum focuses on the companies of the value of the fi xed assets deadline of application is August that have experience in supervis- of such projects, which include 26 at the headquarters of the An- ing farms and poultry depart- the equipment, machinery and imal Wealth Department. Off icials at the forum.

5,800 students attend summer Traffi c department camps of education ministry he third edition of the summer camp by the TMinistry of Education and Higher Education continues to evoke good response from stu- spreads awareness dents. And a total of 5,800 stu- dents are part of the camp at 14 centres, the offi cial website of the ministry said yesterday. The camp that started on July 14 will come to an end on August 8 and it’s held as part of Qatar’s on rules, violations eff orts to help student com- munity take benefi t from sum- he Ministry of Interior (MoI), repre- mer vacation by becoming part sented by the General Directorate of of useful activities. Besides, the TTraffi c, yesterday continued its eff orts camp is also aimed at ensuring Students attending the camp by the Ministry of Education and to reduce accidents and traffi c rules violations the participation of students in Higher Education. by raising awareness as part of its Accident- helping the country achieve the Free Summer campaign. goals of Qatar National Vision ogy Centre and it marks train- ton and judo. Besides, students According to tweets by General Directorate 2030. ing sessions by trainers and participated in workshops in arts of Traffi c, offi cials of Traffi c Patrol and In- According to Fatima Yousef fi eld experts. And the camp is and design, pottery, decorating vestigation Department yesterday organised al-Obaidli, head of Programmes on at 14 selected summer cen- baskets, making hoops, mak- an awareness drive at Doha Corniche against and Activities at the Ministry of tres across Qatar. The activities ing dolls, fashion designing and various violations including stopping in yel- Education and Higher Educa- mainly focus on fi ve areas: sci- abaya designing. Cooking work- low boxes. tion, said these students ben- ence, technology, engineering, shops taught students to prepare The offi cials, during the drive, distributed efi ted from the activities off ered mathematics, arts and skills. A healthy meals as also food pres- brochures that featured the rights and duties at various summer centres. The number of workshops that help entation. These are in addition to of drivers on roads. latest edition is organised by participants develop skills and workshops in skin care, cinema- Marking the campaign, Traffi c Awareness the ministry in co-operation passion towards research are tography and journalism. Out of Department organised an awareness lecture with the Ministry of Culture held as part of the camp. Sports the total 14 centres, seven are for for trainers at Dalla Driving Academy about and Sports, Ebttikar Technology activities included training in boys while girls are taking part in common violations. and Mada – Assistive Technol- basketball, handball, badmin- the camp in seven centres. The campaign launched on July 1 focuses on direct awareness through the deployment of traffi c patrols while the prime objective is on making the public aware of the rules of traffi c safety and safe driving. ‘Accident Free Dates distributed Summer’ focuses on raising awareness against various violations that include driving with- An off icial of Traff ic Patrol and Investigation Department distributing an awareness booklet out a valid licence, overtaking through the at Doha Corniche yesterday. right side, using mobile phones while driving, parking in the places reserved for people with special needs and obstructing traffi c by stop- ping in the yellow box. The traffi c department has decided to strictly enforce the law in order to curb the violations by pedestrians and ensuring their safety on roads. Walking in the middle of the carriageway, not using available pavements (sidewalk) and not using the far edge of car- riageway opposite to the direction of driving in the absence of pavements will draw fi ne of QR100. Pedestrians will be imposed a fi ne of QR200 if they fail to take required precau- tions or not use designated crossing areas to cross the road. The fi ne will be QR500 in cases where pedestrians don’t follow traffi c signals while crossing the road at the inter- section. The same fi ne will be imposed if pe- On the occasion of the recently concluded 4th Local Dates Festival, organised by the Ministry of destrians cross the roads while traffi c police Municipality and Environment and Souq Waqif, Al Khor Municipality distributed the dates collected allow vehicles to move or cross military pa- from the palms in public parks and streets to various categories of road, industrial and other rades and processions by violating directions Captain Abdul Wahid al-Anzi from the Traff ic Awareness Department with other off icials of the workers. by the traffi c police. General Directorate of Traff ic and trainers of Dalla Driving Academy. beIN to telecast BBC Earth’s natural history series Serengeti

By Joseph Varghese at 9pm Doha time. About the new It’s our world in a microcosm, Staff Reporter series, Boyega noted that in ad- one where all life is connected dition to the thrilling wild life, and everyone depends in every- Doha’s viewers can look forward one else. Through the characters eIN Channel will telecast to enjoying some of the ground- we meet, you see how their in- BBC Earth’s natural history breaking fi lming techniques and dividual needs and care for their bseries Serengeti from August pioneering technology, including families’ survival underpins eve- 10. Award-winning British actor drone technology and the use of rything they do,” he noted. John Boyega who will narrate the multiple stabilised camera sys- Serengeti, meaning ‘endless dramatised natural history series, tems. plains’ ecosystem is a geographi- told Gulf Times that the series fol- “Everything that’s shown is real cal region in Africa. It is located in lows the interconnected stories of footage and real behaviour, but we northern Tanzania and spans ap- a cast of savannah animals over have used the kind of narrative proximately 30,000sq km. one year. techniques and characterisations With unique access to a pris- “I have always explored inno- that you would fi nd in a drama se- tine and unspoilt corner of the vative ways of taking an audience rial to allow us to tell a dramatised Serengeti, the series captures the into the animals’ world but Ser- story, weaving multiple storylines high drama of the daily lives of engeti’ was a chance to push the together to give audiences a new the area’s distinctive wildlife up techniques and visual style even experience,” Boyega said. Best close, joining them in the emo- further and tell a story from the known for his work in the recent tional moments they face at key animal’s perspective in a location Star Wars fi lms, Boyega will nar- points in their lives, in their natu- that I’ve always found very spe- rate the six-part series, bringing ral habitat. cial,” Boyega explained in a state- to life the challenges and expe- “You empathise and care about ment. riences facing some of the Ser- the animals because on so many “The series takes place over a engeti’s most well-known and levels they are just like us. I hope year so we see how the seasons iconic species in intimate detail. that when audiences see the se- impact on our characters and we According to Boyega, Serengeti ries, they will understand we are share in their triumphs and their shows the audience what can all part of the same world, we trials,” he said. happen when a natural ecosystem share a deep connection with The series to be telecast in six is protected. “I don’t think you other life on the planet and that episodes, will be shown on chan- can watch Serengeti without see- will make us treasure it even nel No 308 on the beIN platform ing parallels with our own lives. more,” added Boyega. BBC Earth wildlife series Serengeti will be shown on beIN.