BUSINESS | 01 SPORT | 09 QP and partners IAAF clears 11 celebrate Adriatic LNG Russians to compete terminal’s 10th at Doha Worlds as anniversary in Italy neutral athletes

Wednesday 11 September 2019 | 12 Muharram 1441 www.thepeninsula.qa Volume 24 | Number 8011 | 2 Riyals Upgrade your home internet to 150 Mbps and watch the best football leagues with Ooredoo ONE! Amir chairs ‘Siege without second meeting of SC Board accountability of Directors QNA to foster culture DOHA Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin of impunity’ Hamad Al Thani chaired the second meeting of the Board of Directors of the Supreme The Permanent Representative of Qatar to Committee for Delivery and the UN said more than two years after the Legacy of 2019 at the Amiri blockade, its repercussions of human rights Diwan yesterday. The meeting was attended by abuses persist and continue to hope that the Deputy Amir H H Sheikh Abdullah Office of the High Commissioner will act to bin Hamad AlThani, H H Sheikh stop these abuses reported by its technical Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, Per- team that visited Doha in November 2017. sonal Representative of H H the Amir and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors. QNA He thanked the High Com- H E Sheikh Abdullah bin GENEVA missioner for the oral update Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, presented to the Council at this Prime Minister and Interior The State of Qatar said the session, stressing the cooper- Minister and Board member, continuation of the imposed ation of the State of Qatar with and the other Board members blockade and the discriminatory the commissioner and the also attended the meeting. unilateral coercive measures, members of the office. President of The Gambia arrives The latest developments of without accountability, will Al Mansouri said Qatar the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar The President of The Gambia, Adama Barrow, arrived in Doha yesterday for a three-day official visit. foster a culture of impunity for shares the commissioner’s views projects and the security oper- The President was received on arrival at Hamad International Airport by Minister of Municipality the violators and will have far- on the importance of addressing ational plan of FIFA Club World reaching implications for the the human rights risks as a result and Environment H E Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie, the Ambassador of Qatar to the Cup which will kick off in future human rights situation in of the climate change and the Republic of The Gambia, Faisal bin Fahad Abdullah Al Mana, and the Ambassador of The Gambia to December, were reviewed the region. human activities that cause Qatar, Foday Mulang. during the meeting. This came in a speech by them. Permanent Representative of He stressed the interest of Qatar to the UN and other inter- the State of Qatar in this regard, national organisations Ambas- recalling in this regard the prin- Qatar concerned about rights violations in Yemen sador H E Ali Khalfan Al Man- ciple of common but differen- souri during general debate tiated responsibility and the QNA This came in a speech by Per- and restrictions of access to parties to stop these futile wars under item 2 on the agenda of importance of international GENEVA manent Representative of Qatar to Yemen to enable them to best as the price is being paid by the Human Rights Council about cooperation in technology the UN and other international fulfil their mandate. Yemeni victims and they con- the High Commissioner’s oral transfer and capacity building The State of Qatar expressed deep organisations H E Ambassador Ali He said the situation in Yemen tribute to the dismantling of its update. to address these risks. concern about the serious human Khalfan Al Mansouri during an has become aimless, and all mil- social fabric, the destruction of H E Al Mansouri said more Al Mansouri stressed that rights violations and crimes interactive dialogue on the report itary operations taking place in the its institutions and the deterio- than two years after the the introduction of a human committed against the Yemeni of the High Commissioner on the country have deteriorated dra- ration of economic and human- blockade, its repercussions of rights perspective in the imple- people by all parties involved in situation of human rights in Yemen matically and increased instability itarian conditions. He also called human rights abuses persist and mentation of the Sustainable the conflict, as well as the failure in the 42nd session of the Human in the country and the region. He on all Yemeni parties to continue to hope that the Office Development Goals, in par- of the warring parties to abide by Rights Council in its second item. added that the report said about implement the political solution of the High Commissioner will ticular Goal 7, and other rel- international humanitarian law, Al Mansouri welcomed the 80 percent of the Yemeni people, and the outcome of the compre- act to stop these abuses evant goals, would reduce the causing tens of thousands of report done by Group of Eminent more than 24 million people, need hensive national dialogue which reported by its technical team negative impacts of climate deaths and injuries, including International and Regional humanitarian assistance to was agreed by political forces that visited Doha in November change and optimise the use of thousands of children and Experts on Yemen, calling for survive. and all spectra of the Yemeni 2017. resources. `P4 women. lifting of all imposed difficulties Al Mansouri called on all people. `P4 Mandatory SC-contracted workers benefit from electronic medical records bulletin brings THE PENINSULA provided by leading UK electronic now been registered under the screening carried out by Qatar look to embrace new technol- DOHA health records supplier, The system, launched in February 2018. Red Crescent (QRC) and funded ogies and innovations to enhance fish prices Phoenix Partnership (TPP) and It enables faster detection of health by the SC. The results form part the welfare of our workers, and The Supreme Committee for delivers a ‘one patient, one risks, identification of health trends of the centralised medical believe that the SC’s successful down by 15% Delivery & Legacy (SC), the organ- record’ approach. and provides data for targeted records, which can be accessed implementation of this tech- SANAULLAH ATAULLAH isation responsible for delivering This enables medical profes- health campaigns. Patients also by clinics at the stadiums and nology will provide a legacy of THE PENINSULA tournament infrastructure for the sionals in different locations to have access to their records, in accommodation sites, as well as best practice in this field.” 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, has view workers’ records so that Qatar and abroad via TPP’s patient QRC-operated health centres. Ashley Brook, TPP Middle East The price list of the Ministry of announced that all of its their health can be monitored and application which provides conti- Commenting on the impact Director, said: “TPP is proud to be Commerce and Industry has contracted workers are now managed more efficiently. The nuity of healthcare while enabling of the initiative, Hassan Al working with the SC to ‘deliver brought prices of local fish registered with an integrated software is also used to support workers to better understand and Thawadi, the SC’s Secretary amazing healthcare services’ for down by around 15 percent, electronic medical records system the UK’s National Health Service manage their health status. General, said: “This is an excellent workers through being the first according to market players. – a first-of-its-kind healthcare (NHS), the SC said on its website. All SC workers registered on initiative which further demon- integrated health record system The Ministry started issuing initiative in Qatar. A total of 29,648 workers – the system are undergoing a strates our commitment to for the construction sector in Qatar mandatory bulletin from Monday The SystmOne software is across five stadium sites – have comprehensive medical workers’ welfare. We continually and the region." `P3 to set maximum prices of fish to regulate their sale on daily basis for safeguarding customers’ rights. “The price of the fish in the Qatar Airways wins three global mandatory bulletin issued during the past two days is about 10 to 15 percent less compared to the pre- Passenger Choice Awards bulletin prices,” an official of a major retailer told The Peninsula. THE PENINSULA ‘Best Cabin Service’ and ‘Best in the Middle East’; ‘Best Cabin He said that the profit of DOHA Food & Beverage’, as well as Service in the Middle East’; ‘Best retailers was reduced signifi- being named a ‘2020 Five Star Food & Beverage in the Middle cantly. “Consumers are the main Qatar Airways has won three out Global Airline’ in the APEX East’; and ‘Best Seat Comfort in beneficiaries of the bulletin of five global accolades in the Official Airline Ratings as voted the Middle East’. which is being issued to control 2020 Airline Passenger Expe- by passengers using the world’s Akbar Al Baker, Group Chief the prices of local fish,” he added. Qatar Airways sweeps the board with three rience Association’s (APEX) highest-rated travel app, TripIt. Executive, Qatar Airways, said: The official said that some Passenger Choice Awards, In June, the national carrier “To follow our success in the shopkeepers had started charging global APEX Passenger Choice Awards for announced at the APEX/IFSA for the State of Qatar also set a regional Passenger Choice Awards exorbitantly on the pretext of ‘Best Seat Comfort’, ‘Best Cabin Service’ Awards Ceremony held in Los new record for a single airline in with a further three global APEX shortage of supplies caused by and ‘Best Food & Beverage’ at the APEX/ Angeles on Monday. a region after winning four out accolades is a huge achievement unfavourable weather and a The multi award-winning of six regional Passenger Choice for our airline, and a tribute to the partial ban on king fish catch due IFSA Awards Ceremony in Los Angeles. airline scooped the top global Awards in the Middle East, loyalty of our passengers from to breeding season. `P2 titles for ‘Best Seat Comfort’, including ‘Best Overall Carrier across the world. `P4 02 HOME WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2019

Qatar, The Gambia enjoy growing relations OFFICIAL NEWS Amir sends cable QNA Amir H H Sheikh the two countries in all educa- justice and the rule of law and discipline and support from the of condolences DOHA Tamim bin Hamad Al tional and scientific fields and establish a comprehensive international community, while to King of Morocco in the fields of higher education, democracy in the Gambia. total imports and total exports As part of strengthening Thani is scheduled to scientific research and tech- The Gambia is the smallest have increased, with strong DOHA: Amir H H Sheikh bilateral relations and strategic meet with President nology through universities and country in West Africa, with an growth in the transport and Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani partnerships between the State Adama Barrow at the institutions in both countries, area of just over 11,000 square construction sectors and tele- and Deputy Amir H H Sheikh of Qatar and the African an agreement for economic, kilometres. The River Gambia communications projects. Abdullah bin Hamad Al continent, the President of the Amiri Diwan today cultural, commercial and tech- flows through the centre of the The Gambia is seeking to Thani sent yesterday cables Republic of The Gambia, Adama morning, to discuss nical cooperation, an country and empties into the open its doors to global tourism, of condolences to H M King Barrow, began a three-day ways of enhancing agreement on the promotion Atlantic Ocean, which forms the as it is described as a very large Mohammed VI of Morocco on official visit to the State of bilateral relations and mutual protection of country’s west border. The nature reserve, where the the victims of the overturned Qatar. investments, and a twinning Gambia has a population of diversity of climate increases bus in Errachidia Province in Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin in various fields, in arrangement between Doha more than 1.5 million, of whom the beauty of nature and the Eastern Morocco. Prime Min- Hamad Al Thani is scheduled addition to a number Municipality and Banjul City 90% are Muslims, and English proliferation of tropical forests ister and Interior Minister H E to meet with President Adama of issues of common Municipality and an MoU is its official language. and savannah forests which are Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Barrow at the Amiri Diwan concern. between the foreign ministries A proportion of the popu- home to lions and antelopes. bin Khalifa Al Thani also sent today morning, to discuss ways of the two countries. lation works in light industries The capital Banjul is the a cable of condolences to the of enhancing bilateral relations In support of the economic such as shoe and vegetable oil largest tourist centre there, Prime Minister of Morocco, in various fields, in addition to two countries have been further field, Qatar participated in the industries, trade and fishing where tourist facilities are Saad Eddine El Othmani, on a number of issues of common developed, especially at the International Conference to from the Atlantic and the River available at affordable prices the victims of the overturned concern. This visit reflects the level of mutual visits that aimed Support The Gambia hosted by Gambia as a source of natural and it is a source of attraction bus in Errachidia Province in desire and keenness of both at holding consultation and the European Commission in wealth. A large proportion of and concentration of tourists, Eastern Morocco. QNA countries to cement and expand promoting these relations and Brussels last May. The con- them work in agriculture, especially in the dry seasons, their bilateral relations in pushing them to broader ference was devoted to sup- which accounts for about 33 as tourism is a major source of Qatar condemns various fields to serve the goals horizons, exchanging views, porting national development percent of domestic production. the country’s economy and Netanyahu’s plan and interests of the two friendly coordination and consultation in The Gambia after the Gambia is a major producer of constitutes 71 percent of its to annex Jordan countries and peoples, which on issues of common concern. national democratic election peanuts, which is almost one of income. have been witnessing out- Qatar and The Gambia have which was won by President the most important sources of The Gambia is keen to Valley, Dead Sea standing development and signed many agreements and Adama Barrow; and its inter- its economy, and represents provide an appropriate envi- promising growth for years. MoUs, including agreements in national donations amounted about 80 percent of the coun- ronment attractive to foreign DOHA: Qatar condemned The diplomatic relations the field of labour force, mar- to ¤1.45bn. try’s foreign exports. There are investment and has many facil- in the strongest terms the between Qatar and The Gambia itime navigation, the avoidance To fulfil its commitments to other crops such as cotton, oil ities to attract investment, espe- announcement of the Prime began in 1978 through non-res- of double taxation and the pre- the Brussels Conference, Qatar palm and rice. Fish, titanium cially since there are many Minister of the Israeli occupa- ident representation, which was vention of financial evasion and The Gambia signed a $3m and tin are the most important sectors that offer promising tion government, Benjamin developed later with the related to income taxes, and air grant agreement at the Embassy sources of natural wealth. investment opportunities, Netanyahu, about his plan opening of embassies in each services, and an MoU con- of the State of Qatar in Banjul The Gambia’s economy has including services, tourism, to impose Israeli sovereignty country. cerning the development of last October. The agreement improved significantly in recent agriculture, real estate and land over the Jordan Valley and Such relations between the cooperation relations between seeks to promote transitional years thanks to increased fiscal development. the northern Dead Sea in the West Bank if he is re-elected on September 17. Mandatory bulletin brings In a statement yesterday, the Al Muraikhi meets UNRWA official Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that this declara- fish prices down by 15% tion is an extension of the occupation’s policy of violat- FROM PAGE 1 take place under the supervision ing international laws and of the Ministry. The initiative is exercising of all despicable “This is the main reason aimed at preventing unjustified methods of displacement behind issuing the daily bul- price increases, cracking down of the brotherly Palestinian letin,” he added. on monopoly practices and people and depriving their The prices were issued by ensuring consumers’ right to rights without morality or the Quantitative Licenses and purchase goods at reasonable conscience. Market Control Department in prices. Through the initiative, the The statement reiterated the Arabic and English. A total of 30 Ministry aims to maintain a State of Qatar’s firm rejection local fish were mentioned in the balance in the relationship of infringement on the rights price list which was issued yes- between consumers and sup- of the brotherly Palestinian terday. The bulletin also spec- pliers or merchants, in order to people to achieve electoral ifies the charges of cleaning fish protect the commercial and eco- gains, stressing that the occu- as QR1 for fish and QR2 for nomic environment. Traders pation’s continued contempt shrimps. shall also refrain from taking of international laws and the According to price list issued any measures or actions aimed imposition of the logic of yesterday, a popular fish for cit- at raising the prices of fish under force and de facto, will com- izens and expatriates, king fish any pretext while committing to pletely eliminate the chances (locally known as ‘kanad’) costs providing any additional service of peace. QR53 per kg. The maximum in line with the prices outlined The statement reiterated prices of Hamour was set QR88 in the mandatory bulletin. The the State of Qatar’s firm and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, H E Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi, met yesterday with the per kg, Shari fish QR27 per kg MCI stressed that it will intensify permanent stance in sup- Commissioner General for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the for big and QR14 per kg for its inspection campaigns to port of the Palestinian cause small. According to the Ministry, ensure the suppliers’ compliance Near East (UNRWA), Pierre Krahenbuhl, on the sidelines of the 152nd Session of the Arab League and the steadfastness of the the prices will be published daily with their obligations and the Council at the Ministerial Level. During the meeting, they reviewed cooperation relations between brotherly Palestinian people, following an auction that will daily price bulletin. the State of Qatar and UNRWA and issues of common concern. based on the resolutions of international legitimacy and a two-state solution to ensure the establishment of an inde- Qatar: Challenges facing region require collective action pendent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East QNA and Abyan. The war on Yemen allocate $ 70m for Yemen as well Jerusalem as its capital. QNA CAIRO H E the Minister said that the State of Qatar will has prolonged, and the human- as the announcement in Feb- continue to provide humanitarian assistance to itarian tragedy has deepened in ruary 2019 of the support of the The Minister of State for Foreign the Palestinian people, as well as its support to a way that cannot be overlooked United Nations humanitarian Qatar attends Affairs H E Sultan bin Saad Al the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for and the recent developments response plan in Yemen Muraikhi has underlined that our were a clear indication of the amounting to $27m in addition GCC meeting Arab nation stands at this critical Palestine Refugees in the Near East, to perform futility of this war, and the con- to the total assistance that the juncture, which is rife with many its tasks and meet the needs of Palestine tinuation of tampering with the State of Qatar has been providing QNA/MUSCAT political, economic and security refugees in light of the challenges they face capabilities of the Yemeni in recent years, which amounted challenges that threaten its as long as the plight of Palestine refugees people. He called on all parties to more than $ 600m.’’ Qatar participated in the 21st present and future that requires concerned to stop the war and In light of the tense and esca- meeting of the undersecretaries collective action, not individual persists. spare the Yemeni people further lating situation in Libya, H E the of ministries of justice of the action, solidarity, not division, human suffering. Minister reiterated Qatar’s Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), determination and will, not frus- H E the Minister stressed support for the UN mission’s being held in Muscat, Oman. tration and regression. Palestinian people are not a bar- villages in the region as a result Qatar’s firm stance on the need efforts to find a solution to Qatar was represented by Addressing the Arab League’s gaining chip, and no party has of the continuous shelling there, to find a peaceful political restore legitimacy, and called on the Under-Secretary of the Min- 152nd ordinary session at the the right to waive them under which was a clear violation of solution to this crisis to maintain all parties to stop any military istry of Justice, Sultan bin ministerial level yesterday, H E any pretext. the Astana ceasefire agreement Yemen’s unity, independence actions that might hinder the Abdullah Al Suwaidi. the Minister said that in the midst On the humanitarian field, in the de-escalation zones in and territorial integrity, in political process, urging the of these challenges and dangers, H E the Minister said that the Idlib. accordance with the Gulf Initi- regional powers and the inter- Awqaf Ministry our central issue, the Palestinian State of Qatar will continue to H E The Minister stressed the ative and the outcomes of the national community to work to issue, is facing attempts meant provide humanitarian assistance firm commitment to maintain National Dialogue in Yemen stop the bloodshed and the releases new to liquidate it by circumventing to the Palestinian people, as well Syria’s sovereignty, stability and January 2014, May 2015 Decla- search for a peaceful solution, its foundations and references, as its support to the United territorial integrity, noting that ration and the Security Council while warning that interference Hijri calendar its constants, which have been Nations Relief and Works Agency Qatar believes that the only pos- resolution 2216. in Libyan affairs further compli- the subject of international con- for Palestine Refugees in the sible solution to the Syrian crisis H E the Minister said that cates the crisis, preventing the QNA/DOHA sensus over the past decades, Near East (UNRWA) to perform is a political solution based on Qatar, out of its keenness to alle- national consensus sought by the under the pretext of mysterious its tasks and meet the needs of the participation of all Syrian viate the unprecedented human Libyan brothers and contrary to The Minister of Awqaf and deals and initiatives contrary to Palestine refugees in light of the parties, to meet the aspirations suffering of the brotherly Security Council resolutions. Islamic Affairs has issued the international legitimacy. challenges they face as long as of the Syrian people, according Yemeni people, continues to He congratulated Sudan on Qatari calendar for 1441 Hijri H E the Minister reiterated the plight of Palestine refugees to the Geneva Communique of abide by its humanitarian and signing the constitutional doc- (2019-20) Doha time. The Qatar’s firm position on the his- persists. 30 June 2012, and on the basis moral duty to provide various ument and the formation of the calendar, prepared by the toric rights of the Palestinian On the situation in Syria, of the resolutions and statements types of support and humani- new government. Islamic research and studies people, in an independent State H E the Minister stressed that issued in this regard, in particular tarian assistance. On Somalia, the Minister said department at the Ministry, will with Jerusalem as its capital and Qatar strongly condemns the Security Council resolution 2254 H E the Minister, said, “I that Qatar reaffirms respect for be distributed to the public at the right of refugees to return to recent massacres committed by of 2015. would like to refer to the the sovereignty, unity, political Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Al their areas and considers any the Syrian regime forces in the On the Yemeni issue, H E the announcement by Amir H H independence and territorial Thani library at Umm departure from these constants countryside of Idlib, which have Minister said that Qatar follows Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al integrity of Somalia, and its con- Ghuwailina, from 9am to 11pm. is a violation of international law, claimed the lives of children and with great sorrow and sadness Thani, during the 73rd session of tinued support for the Gov- The calendar includes climatic reminding that the historical, women, and the destruction the military developments and the United Nations General ernment of Somalia and the conditions for every month in legal and human rights of the caused to many cities and bloody confrontations in Aden Assembly in September 2018, to brotherly Somali people. addition to prayer timings. WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2019 HOME 03 MOTC invites applications Malaysian PM meets Attorney-General for ‘Make the Deal’ initiative

THE PENINSULA Driven by MOTC’s Entrepreneurship Zone will lead DOHA Digital Incubation the charge and promote learning and innovation among startups The Ministry of Transport and Center, the third and innovators, while connecting Communications (MOTC) has edition of ‘Make them to potential investors to invited entrepreneurs and the Deal’ forms an create a stronger knowledge- startups to submit applications integral part of the based economy. Make the Deal for the ‘Make the Deal’ initiative, is an excellent opportunity for where they can compete to pitch Entrepreneurship entrepreneurs to network and their business ideas to investors Zone of QITCOM 2019, find financial support for their at this year’s Qatar IT Conference scheduled to take smart solutions”. and Exhibition (QITCOM 2019). place between October “We are delighted to While the last day for regis- announce the commencement tration is October 15, the appli- 29 and November 1 of the application process for cation screenings and pre-event at the Qatar National Make the Deal this year. Our mentoring will continue until Convention Center. ‘Make the Deal’ initiative will October 20. contribute towards Qatar’s vision Driven by MOTC’s Digital of building a diversified Incubation Center (DIC), the third deals and incubation offers. knowledge-based economy. This edition of ‘Make the Deal’ forms Held under the theme ‘Safe is an amazing chance to meet an integral part of the Entrepre- Smart Cities’, QITCOM 2019 has with investors, build a global neurship Zone of QITCOM 2019, dedicated an Entrepreneurship network and grow your business. scheduled to take place between Zone to boost investor-startup Make the Deal connects startups The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad (right), met yesterday with the October 29 and November 1 at relationships, inviting innovators and investors prior to the actual Qatar’s Attorney-General, H E Dr. Ali bin Fetais Al Marri, in Kuala Lumpur. During the meeting, the the Qatar National Convention and professionals learn about pitch event in order to make an Center (QNCC). digital entrepreneurship. Around initial go/no-go decision at Qatar two sides discussed a number of issues related to the rule of law, combating corruption and judicial ‘Make the Deal’ (startup- 300 entrepreneurs are expected IT Conference & Exhibition”, cooperation between the two countries in a number of criminal cases and joint work in this field. The Investor Matchmaking) aims to to participate in the Entrepre- added Reem Al Mansoori. meeting was attended by Qatar’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Fahad bin Mohammed Kafood. promote a climate of entrepre- neurship Zone activities this year, Since its inception, QITCOM neurship and investment and is with 100 local, regional and has been responsible for bringing an opportunity to connect high- international startups show- together investors, global digital impact technology startups with casing their products and experts and end-users to under- SC-contracted workers benefit local, regional and international services across five key plat- stand, envision and build Qatar’s investors. Before the event, all forms: Make the Deal, Idea digital future. QITCOM 2019 aims shortlisted participants will be Camp, Code Camp, Startup Hub to attract 30,000 visitors, sign from electronic medical records individually mentored by global and the Innovation Theatre. MoUs, enter strategic sponsor- FROM PAGE 1 experts on pitch presentations Reem Al Mansoori, Assistant ships and showcase many smart Mahmoud Qutub, Executive healthcare standards. We are and will be invited to participate Under-Secretary of Digital solutions to power Qatar’s digital Director for the SC’s Workers’ delighted that our entire work- in pre-event matchmaking. The Society Development Sector, at transformation. This year’s event Our partnership is aimed at Welfare Department, said: “The force now have electronic final business pitch will be made the Ministry, said: “In its 5th will further contribute towards delivering all the benefits of lack of an automated system was medical records, ensuring health to investors at the Innovation edition, QITCOM 2019 will creating connections across the better care, better information identified as a challenge a few issues are detected as early as Theatre during the course of provide opportunities for busi- Smart Cities ecosystem at a and better access to improve the years ago and an integrated elec- possible, and that the right health QITCOM 2019, and the winners nesses to bring real citizen- national, regional and global health and well-being of the tronic medical records system care plan is put in place for our will be awarded with investment centric solutions to life. The level. workforce.” was key to enhancing our workers.”

Joint Rainfall Emergency Committee begins early preparations to deal with rainy season

QNA equipment and work teams participant, a plan for cooper- DOHA needed to deal with rainwater ation, coordination and speedy The Joint Rainfall Emergency pools and requests and com- response to requests from the Committee started prepara- munications of the public, in public and communications tions to deal with the rainy addition to the locations of the received by the operating season by holding several hot spots of these waters room. preparatory meetings under during the last season com- The committee will set up the Chairmanship of Safar pared with previous years, and a mechanism for rain emer- Mubarak Al Shafi, Assistant the importance of redoubling gencies, prepare strategic plans Under-Secretary for General efforts during this year to to cope with it, coordinate and Services Affairs at the Ministry provide all the necessary cooperate with the relevant of Municipality and Envi- means to ensure the with- authorities in this regard, and ronment, and members of the drawal of water pools as fast ensure the readiness of munic- concerned authorities. as possible. ipalities and competent depart- Safar Mubarak Al Shafi, Assistant Under-Secretary for General Services Affairs at the Ministry of The meetings discussed all The committee also dis- ments and their readiness to Municipality and Environment, chairing the meeting of the Joint Rainfall Emergency Committee to the equipment, mechanisms, cussed the possibilities of each deal with rain emergencies. discuss preparations to deal with the rainy season.

‘Qatar plays important role in addressing global challenges’ QNA and the many important projects various ministries, institutions, international cohesion and to support these commitments, law, providing opportunities for DOHA implemented by Qatar in this different sectors, UN organiza- addresses global challenges. and enacted many laws and leg- changing jobs, and calling on context for the benefit of millions tions and offices in Qatar and He noted Qatar’s interest in islation in line with international companies and employers not The UN Independent Expert on of children, youth and commu- representatives of expatriate climate issues and where it human rights standards. to require workers to pay fees, International Solidarity Obiora nities around the world. labor. During those meetings he hosted in 2012 the UN Climate In this context, Okafor as well as increasing the Okafor has praised the distin- He also touched on the discussed with them all these Change Conference and its referred to the sponsorship minimum wage for workers to guished role played by the State efforts of Education Above All, issues and said that all of them keenness to participate in these system, organizing the entry and a better level with more litigation of Qatar on United Nations unity, Teach a Child, Silatech and welcomed his visit to Doha, to conferences. exit of expatriates and elections, facilities, thanking Qatar for cohesion and global solidarity others, which contribute greatly learn about Qatar’s contributions In 2016, it signed the Paris increasing the minimum wage, setting up programs to protect and addressing the challenges of to facilitating the work of the to international solidarity and to Agreement on Climate Change establishing an expatriate labor workers’ rights. climate change, asylum and United Nations in the areas of understand the issues of human and adopted several environ- fund, providing access to courts The independent expert, on migration. their competence. In addition to rights practices on the ground in mentally friendly projects, for abused workers, and estab- the other hand, stressed that the During a press conference, the role of the Supreme Com- Qatar as well as abroad. He said including greenhouse projects, lishing a committee to settle Gulf crisis has affected human Okafor expressed thanks and mittee for Delivery and Legacy he was interested in learning desalination, clean gas and recy- labor disputes and the significant rights in Qatar and in the gratitude to the State of Qatar, in the preparation and organi- how Qatar is addressing global cling projects and participated improvement in these areas, blockade countries themselves, which gave him the opportunity zation of 2022 World Cup in challenges, such as migration in the green house international saying that all of those were steps pointing in this regard to cases to visit as an official UN envoy Qatar, which brings the world and asylum, integrating human initiative. He stressed that Qatar and initiatives that we appre- of separation between families and an independent expert in the together. rights issues into its thinking and through more research and the ciated and should be encouraged. and the violation of the rights to field of human rights and inter- He also highlighted Qatar’s practices and contributing to the use of modern technology can He also praised Qatar’s role education, health, mobility, own- national solidarity. He added that constructive cooperation with UN human rights methodology. increase its efficiency in these in achieving world peace and its ership, reunification and the the State of Qatar gave the international humanitarian He spoke about the limita- areas, adding that all had impli- role as a successful mediator for exercise of freedom of worship, chance to a number of interna- organizations such as the Red tions of the 2030 Sustainable cations for human rights, not peace and conflict resolution in religion and safe family life, tional experts and specialists and Cross and the International Red Development Goals, noting in only in Qatar but also around the many countries and regions such adding that nevertheless, Qatar other international bodies to visit Crescent and UN agencies and this regard that Qatar launched world. as Africa and the Middle East, has maintained its cohesion the country and has hosted many organizations such as the United last year the second phase of its Addressing the migration considering this as Qatar’s soli- during the crisis and we thank conferences in various fields, Nations Children’s Fund national development strategy challenge, Obiora C Okafor darity with the world, encour- Qatar for that. which confirms its prominent (UNICEF). in line with its National Vision appreciated Qatar’s positive role aging and thanking Qatar for this He described his ten-day role in international solidarity He also referred to Qatar’s 2030. in financing migration processes role, because peace is very visit to Qatar and its results as and its significant contributions achievements in the health, edu- He said that Qatar has great through the United Nations, or important for the fulfillment of fruitful, adding that he found in this field. cation and curriculum sectors resources and capabilities and directly supporting and assisting human rights, he added. great cooperation from all of the He also highlighted Qatar’s and its contributions to human supports and develop its human countries in conflict in Africa or During the press conference, people he met in the govern- positive global contribution to rights. He also thanked the State resources, infrastructure and Asia, as well as enacting Political Okafor made some remarks mental and non-governmental development and humanitarian of Qatar for its achievements in areas of the UN work in health asylum law. about some of what had been sectors, and he was allowed to aid and its support to the United human rights, which includes and education and the devel- Okafor stressed that Qatar, achieved saying that they would meet those who wanted to meet Nations Relief and Works Agency economic, cultural and social opment of the international which receives large numbers of like to see additional improve- him, including expatriate (UNRWA). rights. agenda in this regard. It has also migrant and migrant workers, ments, with regard to domestic workers, noting that he would He appreciated the initiatives He said that during his signed several international con- has committed to develop con- labor in terms of reducing submit a detailed report on this of the State of Qatar in the fields current visit to the country, he ventions related to this, which tracts and agreements with the working hours and granting visit to the United Nations in June of education around the world met with senior officials in supports solidarity and International Labor Organization them weekly leave provided by 2020. 04 HOME WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2019 UNRWA official lauds Qatar and Amiri Guard Commander visits Rome other nations’ generous donations

QNA Krahenbul said that solution and the Arab Peace Ini- CAIRO tiative. He added that the UN standing by UNRWA agency operations in Jerusalem The Commissioner General for in Jerusalem is of the are under constant pressure and the United Nations Relief and utmost importance face ongoing interventions from Works Agency for Palestine and is a key measure the Israeli municipality, and the Refugees (UNRWA), Pierre Israeli entity’s challenge to the Krahenbuhl, said Qatar and to protect human activities of a UN-mandated Kuwait among others, made dignity and maintain agency is an attempt to annex generous donations to Unrwa stability. East Jerusalem and is illegal in 2018, enabling the agency to under international law. keep its 58 camps open to Krahenbuhl said that Palestinian refugees, and called US funding cuts. He added that standing by Unrwa in Jerusalem for continued generosity. some are trying to dismantle the is of the utmost importance and This came during the refugee issue, although the is a key measure to protect opening of the 152nd Session of international community has human dignity and maintain the Arab League Council at the preserved its recognition of ref- stability. Ministerial Level, which ugees in numerous international He added that despite the The Commander of the Amiri Guard, Major General Hazza bin Khalil Al Shahwani, met yesterday yesterday. resolutions. challenges, thanks to the par- with the Commander-General of the National Gendarmerie of Italy (Carabinieri), Giovanni Nistri, Krahenbuhl said that there He added that the biggest ticipation of our host country was an unprecedented cam- misrepresentation is to repeat partners, in particular with the during the visit of the Amiri Guard Commander to Rome. During the meeting they discussed topics paign against the agency to del- that Palestinian refugees are the contribution of Jordan and the of common interest. egitimise the Palestinian only refugees in the world support of Palestine and refugee issue, calling for an easy whose descendants are ref- Lebanon, the agency has been renewal of UNRWA’s mandate ugees. He said that under inter- able to make progress. Qatar concerned about rights violations in Yemen by the UN General Assembly. national law and the principle Pierre Krahenbuhl called for FROM PAGE 1 He added that he has never of family unity, children and ensuring the same support for urged continued efforts to alle- Council to provide the nec- seen this fierce targeting children of any refugee, the agency in 2019, and that the viate the human suffering of the essary support to the experts towards any humanitarian whether Afghan, Somali or Con- Agency’s course in the coming Al Mansouri also valued the Yemeni people. Al Mansouri team, requesting them to submit organisation nor the denial of golese, are considered refugees years should be adequately pro- efforts of the Special Envoy of stressed the importance of periodic reports to the council the rights of an entire refugee provided by the UN, which is not tected, noting that Unrwa’s the UN Secretary General to achieving accountability and and strengthen their mandate community. limited to the Palestinians. budget was $1.2bn for all its Yemen. He also called for an ending impunity for those to combat impunity by con- Krahenbuhl said Unrwa He said that the attacks on activities and had reduced the end to the embargoes that responsible for violations and tinuing to gather evidence of crisis is not over yet, despite the agency were aimed at funding shortfall from $211m to prevent humanitarian aid, med- crimes committed in Yemen. He alleged violations and pro- international efforts to counter erasing the idea of a two-state $120m. icines, water and food, and called on the Human Rights tecting them

‘Siege without Ooredoo Virtual Store a hit with online customers accountability THE PENINSULA been a roaring success so far, is 360° and completely inter- online from any mobile device; strategy, as is remaining at the DOHA with in excess of 10,000 cus- active, allowing customers to a smartphone, a tablet or a forefront of technology and to foster culture tomers using it in the first few learn about the products and laptop, as well as a regular development, and we are proud of impunity’ Ooredoo said yesterday its weeks. services in which they are inter- desktop computer. to be a pioneer in virtual retail. FROM PAGE 1 recently launched Virtual Store Created by Plug & Play and ested. It is also fully integrated Waleed Al Sayed, CEO of We’re delighted so many of our was the first-of-its-kind to be Ooredoo, the Virtual Store offers with online e-commerce, so pur- Ooredoo Qatar, said: “We are customers have embraced the launched by any telecommuni- customers the opportunity to chases can be made as and when immensely proud that our new new service, and we look The Ambassador Ali cations operator in the world, browse and buy products and customers have selected their Virtual Store is a first for any tel- forward to serving many more Khalfan Al Mansouri expressed and the first-of-its-kind in Qatar. smart watches, and Ooredoo chosen products, accessories and ecommunications company, not from our Virtual Store in the near concern over the military esca- The Virtual Store — a revo- services as if they were actually services. just in Qatar and the MENA, but future.” lation of Syrian and pro-Syrian lutionary 3D retail experience in one of the many Ooredoo In line with Ooredoo’s goal in the world. Achieving complete Customers can access the forces in Idlib province, which available online to customers retail shops around town. of complete digitalisation, the digitalisation is a huge priority exciting new Ooredoo Virtual caused the death of thousands from wherever they are — has The online retail experience new Virtual Store is accessible for us as part of our corporate Store by visiting Ooredoo.qa. of civilians and the dis- placement of hundreds of thou- sands, indicating that it is clear that Syrian and pro-Syrian Qatar Airways wins three global Passenger Choice Awards forces are continuing their mil- itary strategy that begins with FROM PAGE 1 continue to set the highest of Airways hit the global APEX Pas- passengers across nearly 600 15 seconds. The Passenger Choice targeting civilian facilities such benchmarks to distinguish us senger Choice Award trifecta for airlines from around the world Awards are independently cer- as hospitals, schools and resi- It is also a testament to the from our competitors,” he added. 2020 Best Cabin Service, 2020 from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019. tified by a professional external dential areas, and then it imple- standard of Qatar Airways APEX Chief Executive Officer, Best Food & Beverage, and 2020 Passengers rate their overall auditing company hired by APEX. ments its military option which service that we have been Joe Leader, said: “For the 2020 Best Seat Comfort.” flight experience from one to five Qatar Airways was recently disregard the amount of human awarded the distinction of being APEX Official Airline Ratings The APEX Passenger Choice stars. On the same screen, pas- named ‘Airline of the Year’ for the losses and the human tragedy named a ‘2020 Five Star Global Qatar Airways continues to reach Awards and APEX Official Airline sengers are also given the oppor- fifth time by the 2019 World it causes. He called on the inter- Airline’ in the APEX Official new heights by strongly main- Ratings are based on passenger tunity to provide anonymous Airline Awards, managed by national community to act Airline Ratings”. taining its unbroken record as an feedback gathered through ratings in five subcategories: seat international air transport rating swiftly to prevent this situation “As we focus on going from APEX Five Star Global Airline, as APEX’s partnership with TripIt comfort, cabin service, food and organisation Skytrax. It was also from worsening, and to put strength-to-strength over the rated by the best source of from Concur, the world’s highest- beverage, entertainment, and named ‘World’s Best Business pressure to stop this criminal coming year, we look forward to absolute truth across all cabins: rated travel-organising app. Wi-Fi. The single screen rating Class’, ‘Best Business Class Seat’, campaign that targets civilians building upon this incredible its independently verified pas- Using a five-star scale, more than allows airline passengers to and ‘Best Airline in the Middle in the first place. foundation of success and will sengers. “In addition, Qatar one million flights are rated by easily rate their flight in less than East’. On Afghanistan, the Per- manent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations Office and QU researcher receives other international organisa- tions stressed that Qatar recognition for publishing believes that there is no military solution to the conflict in research on chilli consumption Afghanistan, adding that Qatar will continue its efforts and good offices to bring the views THE PENINSULA of the Afghan parties closer, as DOHA well as support rounds of talks between the United States and Dr. Zumin Shi (pictured), from the Taliban, while expressing Qatar University’s (QU) Human hope that these efforts will cul- Nutrition Department of the minate in achieving lasting College of Health Sciences, peace and ending decades of recently published his research war and suffering. on the effects of excessive chilli The Teachers’ Day celebrations at DPS-MIS. On the Palestinian issue, Al consumption on cognitive ability Mansouri expressed Qatar’s and was cited by several prom- strong condemnation for the inent scientific journals, as well DPS-MIS celebrates Teachers’ Day continued construction of as many newspapers, audio and illegal Israeli settlements and TV media channels. THE PENINSULA shared their memorable expe- perseverance, patience and its violation of Palestinian In a recent publication led this population. DOHA riences about their school and passion and acknowledged their rights, along the violence per- by Dr. Shi, results of widespread As such, chili consumption teachers in the presence of the extensive efforts in infusing the petrated by the Israeli entity interest were reported based on that has been considered bene- The students of DPS-MIS cele- Principal, Asna Nafees, headmis- young minds with stronger (the occupying Power) and the a study that spanned 15 years, ficial thus far especially for body brated Teachers’ Day with great tresses, coordinators and class values. The Principal shared her Israeli settlers on a daily basis from 1991 to 2006. The study weight and blood pressure man- enthusiasm and gaiety. representatives. thoughts on the occasion and against the Palestinian people, concluded that consuming more agement; has been shown to Soon after morning prayer, The DPS-MIS Management lauded the teachers for their and the policies of robbery and than 50 grams of chilli per day have serious adverse effects on the Head Girl of the Senior Wing, members also visited the school devoted efforts. She also urged confiscation of land, the policies is strongly correlated with faster cognitive abilities over long Advaita Nair, wished all the in order to appreciate and rec- them to rededicate themselves of intimidation, demolition and cognitive decline. This popu- periods of time. Excess chili con- teachers on behalf of all the stu- ognise the magnanimous efforts continuously for the cause of displacement, and the unfair lation based longitudinal study sumption almost doubles the dents, and thanked them for put in by the teachers in making education. blockade of the Gaza Strip that is significant as it managed to risk of memory decline and their immense contribution in a positive difference in the stu- The students of senior are in serious violation of rel- include a large focus group of leads to poor cognition. moulding their lives. dents’ life. school presented handmade evant international resolutions 4582 Chinese adults aged over The study was published in It was followed by a poem Addressing the gathering, cards to the teachers. It was and treaties. 55 for a period of 15 years. More the Nutrients Journal in May recitation by Siddique Abdulla DPS-MIS Council Member, M I indeed a proud day for the Concluding, the Ambas- interestingly, the study pin- 2019, and cited by various news- Zubair of Grade VI, which was a Farid, emphasised on the car- teachers to bask in this gesture sador stressed the importance pointed that memory decline papers and scientific platforms tribute to all the teachers for dinal role played by the teachers of love and respect from their of ending the policy of impunity was more significant if chilli such as the New York News, BBC their commitment and dedi- in building a strong society. students. The annual award cer- and holding all Israeli officials lovers were slim, indicating that News, Australian, Malaysian, cation in imparting holistic edu- The President of DPS-MIS, emony to felicitate the sincere accountable for human rights excess chili consumption might Chinese and several other cation. During the recess, the Hassan Chougule, appreciated efforts of the teachers will be violations in the occupied Pal- eventually lead to dementia in countries. members of the Student Council the teachers for their held soon. estinian territories. WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2019 HOME 05 QU’s Al Bairaq Program starts 17th cycle of ‘I am a Researcher’ track

THE PENINSULA The track, which started on September DOHA 5 and is now on its 9th consecutive Qatar University’s (QU) Al year, is designed for Qatari high school Bairaq Program, which is seniors and aims to engage and stimulate under the university’s Center for Advanced Materials (CAM), student curiosity about science. announced the launch of the 17th cycle of its “I am a Researcher” track, coinciding opportunity to experience and public schools: Al-Arqam with the start of the new qualify through the under- Academy for Girls, Qatar Banking academic year. graduate experience. Studies and Business Adminis- Students and officials pose for a group photo during the launch day of the program. The track, which started on The track familiarises stu- tration Independent Secondary September 5 and is now on its dents to the broad fields of School for Boys, Al Maha to transform theories into prac- Dr. Noora expressed grat- program, which won the 9th consecutive year, is science and improves their Academy for Boys and Doha tical applications. itude and praised Al Bairaq’s “Reimagine Education” award designed for Qatari high school knowledge in various scientific Independent Secondary School Nations are fully aware that sponsors, Ras Laffan Industrial for last three consecutive seniors and aims to engage and disciplines. Consequently, stu- for Boys. they are great only by the con- City Community Outreach Pro- years. stimulate student curiosity dents are aided in choosing President of Al Bairaq tributions of intellectuals, gramme (RLIC-COP) and Al-Bairaq is proud to be the about science. appropriate university Program and Head of Commu- researchers and manufacturers. UNESCO Office in Doha and first and only educational A large number of senior stu- specialisations. nication and Outreach at QU, Dr. This is achieved solely with the Qatar National Commission for program in Qatar that won the dents in various Qatari sec- Through diligent work and a Noora Jabor Al-Thani spoke at desire for learning, increase of Education, Culture and Science. WISE Innovation Award for ondary schools participated in series of theoretical workshops, the event saying, “Research is of knowledge, and the ability to She said, “I appreciate the Education in 2015, which this year’s symposium. It helps applied scientifically and prac- great importance in solving think creatively and uniquely ongoing support to the project proves the excellence of the transform high school students tically, in a scientific envi- problems through the combi- and therefore proving the impor- from the supporting companies, program and its recognition by to researchers by working within ronment, students are instilled nation of knowledge, observa- tance of scientific research, not who encourage us to continu- international educational insti- a university environment, with the fundamentals to tions and data, leading to cre- only serving the researcher, but ously develop, confiding to us tutions as a successful effective alongside experienced professors perform scientific research. ative solutions and innovative also the entire country and that we are on the right track”. program of impressive out- in the field of research. Young This cycle accommodated products, which can help indi- leading to better economy in the QU’s Al-Bairaq program is comes in the field of education researchers also benefit from the students from four private and viduals, industries and countries world.” the only Qatari educational and human development. Qatar Foundation for Social Work launches training program ‘Bassmati’

THE PENINSULA Foundation for Social Work said: Al Mannai stressed that the problem solving, critical thinking DOHA “As part of the efforts to overall objective of launching and capacity building will be strengthen the capacity of the these training courses is to enhanced.” Qatar Foundation for Social Foundation’s employees and the develop the advanced skills of He further said: “We are wit- Work (QFSW) has announced the centres working under its the employees of the Foundation nessing a new era of self-suffi- launch of the first 9-month umbrella, the training courses of and the centres under its ciency in Qatar and our part- training program ‘Bassmati’ in ‘Bassmati’ training program have umbrella. nership with the Qatar Foun- order to enhance management been launched.” For his part, Dr. Ali Jassim Al dation for Social Work is in line skills so that the staff of QFSW These courses reflect the Kubaisi, Acting Executive with Qatar National Vision can perform their tasks effec- strategic direction of the Foun- Director, Qatar Leadership 2030.” tively. dation in enhancing the ongoing Center, said: “The program was The participants in the The training program is practical capabilities of the Foun- designed to suit the Foundation’s program will be trained by organised in collaboration with dation’s staff and developing needs and in line with interna- experts and consultants with suf- Qatar Leadership Centre, and their leadership skills in order to tional best practices to develop ficient academic and managerial provided in English and Arabic. achieve the goals for which the leadership skills. Based on the experience and the ability to Amal bint Abdullatif Al Foundation and the centers were results of the study, management effectively manage the training, The training program ‘Bassmati’ in progress. Mannai, CEO of Qatar established, she added. skills, leadership, teamwork, he added.

Indian Volleyball team players, coaches and officials with Ambassador of India, P Kumaran (centre), President of Indian Sports Centre, Nilangshu Dey (third right), and other officials. ISC felicitates Indian volleyball team THE PENINSULA Nilangshu Dey, Championship. DOHA President of ISC Ambassador P Kumaran welcomed the Indian expressed about the great oppor- Indian Sports Centre (ISC), an National Volleyball tunity for the Indian community apex body of Indian Embassy, of Qatar to meet with the Indian has organised a felicitation team and highlighted volleyball team as done in past function in the honour of Indian about the role of the in felicitating Indian national National Volleyball team that Indian Sports Centre in team in athletics, football, visited Doha to play preparatory promoting sports and billiard. matches for 20th Senior Men The Felicitation plaque was Asian Volleyball Championship. games among the Indian given by Indian Ambassador to Those matches were played community in Qatar Secretary General of Volleyball with Qatar, China and Australia as well as associating federation of India . from 2 to 7 September at Qatar The mementoes were given Volleyball Association Stadium, with Games Federations by Indian Ambassador to the Doha. of Qatar in organising team players as Ukkrapandian , Nilangshu Dey, President of various international Ranjit Singh , Ajithlal. Naveen Indian Sports Centre welcomed sports events. Raja . Jacob. Prabagaran , Amit , the Indian national Volleyball Ashwal Rai , Manoj , Akhin , team and highlighted about the Jerome Vinith , Pankaj ,Kamlesh role of the Indian Sports Centre P Kumaran for his support in And Vinit Kumar and officials as in promoting sports and games forming the Indian Sports Centre Dragan - Head coach , Naresh among the Indian community in which is the need of the day in Kumar - Asstt Coach , Sridhar - Qatar as well as associating with view of Qatar being an Interna- Asstt coach , Digvijay Singh - Games Federations of Qatar in tional hub in sports and games. Physiotherapist and Ognjen organising various international Head coach Dragan empha- Markocic, - Analyzer . sports events in Qatar. sized the progress of Indian The Program was compered Ramavatar Singh Jhakar, National team during last three by Habib un Nabi , General Sec- Secretary General of Volleyball months which should definitely retary and Vote of thanks by Federation of India applauded reflect in their world ranking in Ashik Mohammed , Secretary the Ambassador of India to Qatar the forthcoming Asian Volleyball & Basketball . 06 HOME WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2019 QNL marks International Literacy Day THE PENINSULA The lecture focused relationship with books to give Future Prospects,” Dr. Hassan Ali DOHA on early childhood children a head start on the path Diba addressed Qatar’s efforts to of lifelong learning. combat illiteracy while high- The Qatar National Library (QNL) development and The lecture focused on early lighting the importance of marked International Literacy highlighted how childhood development and learning languages throughout Day with a series of public children are naturally highlighted how children are history. He also discussed the lectures highlighting the impor- drawn towards naturally drawn towards printed impact of technological progress tance of a literate world. material. Senior librarians pre- on the literacy of future The theme of the Interna- printed material. sented simple but effective ideas generations. tional Literacy Day 2019 was Senior librarians on how to build a home library The lecture was followed by “Literacy and Multilingualism,” presented simple but and tips to encourage reading an introduction to the Mango recognising that embracing lin- effective ideas on how throughout everyday family life. Languages interactive database, guistic diversity in education and Participants learned how to which provides step-by-step literacy development is central to build a home library evaluate and understand dif- lessons in more than 70 lan- and tips to encourage to addressing literacy challenges ferent books and to appropri- guages, including Arabic, A lecture is being delivered to mark the International Literacy Day and to achieving the UN Sus- ately support their children in Spanish, French and Russian. reading throughout at Qatar National Library. tainable Development Goals. everyday family life. selecting reading material. Saleh Hamad Al Nabet, a high In keeping with the theme, On September eight, the school student who attended the the Library hosted “International Library presented a lecture in lecture, said, “The lecture was online resources provided by the I learned about the Library’s val- Literacy Day: Our Children and collaboration with the Qatar very helpful and gave me insights Library for free to members.” uable electronic resources, Books” on September seven, child development. The event National Commission for Edu- on how to improve my English Mohammed Ali Al Buridi, which I will use to expand my attended by parents, educators sought to emphasise the impor- cation, Culture and Science. In skills by using the Mango Lan- another participant at the event, knowledge and improve my lan- and professionals in the area of tance of establishing an early “Literacy and Multilingualism: guages application and other said: “The event was very useful. guage abilities.” Kahramaa to More HMC hospitals to have Qatar Post’s mark Engineers medical report premium delivery service Day next Tuesday THE PENINSULA to visit one of our hospitals on DOHA QNA/DOHA multiple occasions. The collab- oration with Qatar Post removes For the third consecutive year, Patients requesting copies of this extra step,” said Al Naimi. Qatar General Electricity and their medical report from Al Under the new system, Water Corporation (Kahramaa) Wakrah Hospital, The Cuban patients requesting to have their will mark Engineers Day next Hospital, and Hazm Mebaireek medical report delivered by Tuesday. General Hospital will now be Qatar Post will be asked to A distinguished guest of able to have them delivered by provide their Qatar ID number, honour will participate in the Qatar Post to their home as part a mobile phone number, and a event, which is a professional of premium services offered to delivery address. They will also Badr Al Shatti, Ambassador of QD Center in Kuwait. platform that brings together patients by Hamad Medical be asked to choose a delivery Qatari engineers annually. The Corporation (HMC). time. Delivery times will vary QatarDebate’s Adjudicators event will also be attended by a This service is already depending on the complexity of number of experts, in addition to available at Hamad General the report requested. those interested and specialized Hospital, Rumailah Hospital, Al Naimi said that the day Academy event concludes in the engineering sector, engi- Heart Hospital, and the National Nasser Al Naimi, HMC’s Deputy before the agreed delivery date, neering affairs managers and Center for Cancer Care and Chief of Quality at the Center a Qatar Post customer service THE PENINSULA developments of adjudication departments, heads of depart- Research (NCCCR) and provides for Patient Experience and Staff representative will call the DOHA mechanisms. It emphasised the ments and Kahramaa’s engi- patients with the option to Engagement, and Director of patient to confirm the delivery importance of the role played neers, and engineering students request Qatar Post to deliver the Hamad Healthcare Quality time and location. Adjudicators Academy by the academy in developing from Qatar University and Texas their medical reports to their Institute. Then on the agreed date and organised by QatarDebate the participants capability, A&M University. The Engineers doorstep, for a small fee. In 2018, HMC’s Nesma’ak time, a Qatar Post representative Center (QD), a member of Qatar debate skills, and adjudicating Day aims to showcase the capa- “We received very positive (customer service) teams will deliver the report and collect Foundation (QF), in collabo- debate, in addition, to contribute bilities and creativity of Qatari feedback from patients about the responded to more than 46,000 a delivery fee of QR 50 in cash. ration with Kuwait National in adjudication sessions and engineers, share experiences convenience and reliability of inquiries about patient medical Al Naimi said the new delivery Debate Team and sponsored by judge in the open tournaments among engineers and encourage the new service. Under the new reports. system will be rolled out to other Youth News Network in Kuwait, which organised by the national innovation among young talent service, patients only have to Al Naimi said the new HMC hospitals in the coming took place recently. debate team in Kuwait.” engineers and students. visit the hospital once — to premium service simplifies the months, benefitting even more The four-day event featured “Some of the adjudicators The Engineers Day will request their report and then process of obtaining medical patients. 54 participants from various are qualified to be accredited include presentations of distin- HMC and Qatar Post take care records, making it more con- “HMC is continually working educational institutions in judges locally and interna- guished engineering projects and of the rest,” said Nasser Al Naimi, venient for patients and helping on improvements and innova- Kuwait. tionally and they could be chair- a seminar for engineers. An exhi- HMC’s Deputy Chief of Quality, to reduce unnecessary patient tions that positively impact the Badr Al Shatti, Ambassador persons in the international bition will be held on the sidelines Center for Patient Experience visits to hospitals. lives of our patients. This service of QD Center in Kuwait, said, debate tournaments that of the event to showcase future and Staff Engagement and “Currently, obtaining is the first in a set of premium “The Adjudicators Academy organised by the QatarDebate projects, inventions and initiatives Director of the Hamad medical reports requires a services that we plan to offer to generally serves the Center,” said Shatti. in various engineering fields. Healthcare Quality Institute. patient, or their representative, our patients,” said Al Naimi. Olive International School organises ocean carnival Workshop raises awareness

THE PENINSULA value of water, nature and on food safety and consumer DOHA the season. The day was full of enthusiasm and laughter protection in Al Wakrah The Olive International all around,” said a statement School (OIS) in Abu Hamour issued by the school. THE PENINSULA/DOHA Department. The event was organised an ocean carnival The Splash pool party attended by Hamad Ibrahim Al theme splash pool party was enjoyed by all of every Al Wakrah Municipality Sheikh, Head of Health Control accompanied by sprinklers age. organised a workshop on food Department, and a number of recently. “There’s nothing more safety and consumer protection inspectors in the Department of “Kids were thrilled to see fun than spending time in to create awareness about Health Control. the banners, slides, pools, water. No matter if it is in the health rules. Engineer Khalid Hamad Al balloons and beach balls. It ocean, lake or tub in the The event was part of the Saleh gave a presentation in was one-of-the-best mem- backyard, playing in water activities to raise awareness Arabic which was translated ories that the kids will may help children grow and among employees and operators into English by veterinarian, Abu cherish for the rest of their develop in balance, strength, of restaurants and food estab- Aqleh Al Samani. The attendees lives. They had fun and coordination, communi- lishments in Al Wakrah city. found the workshop very useful. shared wonderful times with cation, social skills, explo- The workshop was opened It dealt with the five keys to The students of Olive International School in Abu Hamour having fun during their classmates and friends. ration and learning,” the by Nasser Saeed Al Marri, ensure food safety, as well as the ocean carnival theme splash pool party. Above all, the learned the statement added. Director of Municipal Control WHO recommendations. ICC’s grand classical dance feast delights audience

THE PENINSULA Keralanadanam, Kalari and Contem- DOHA porary and finally presented a rich tra- dition of North India – Kathak, which The Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) along is the Hindustani name for one of the with DPS Modern Indian School and eight major forms of Indian classical Team Noopura conducted a cultural and dance. classical dance programme recently in The President of ICC, Manikantan Ashoka Hall at the ICC premises. A P, welcomed the gathering and felic- Team Noopura presented classical itated the artists with the appreciation dance form — Bho Shambho, Varnam plaques. He said that the programme and Thillana. The students of DPS was a continuation of the initiative by Modern Indian School performed a Indian Cultural Centre along with all ICC group song, a classical and a semi Clas- associate organisations, Indian schools sical dance sequence. and Indian cultural institutions in Qatar, The group presented a pair of moti- to have cultural shows on every week vational songs that instil in all the feeling in Ashoka Hall at the ICC premises. of hope and the courage to fight against Such programmes provide a suitable all obstacles. platform and opportunities for associate Students then presented a semi- organisations of different states of India classical fusion of popular Indian clas- to showcase their culture. Admission to The artistes, who staged various dazzling performances, with the members of Indian Cultural Centre during the event. sical dances, namely, Bharatanatyam, these programme will be free for all. WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2019 HOME 07 Qatari, Indian artists present diverse insights at Katara

THE PENINSULA The fine art exhibit DOHA presented experiences of Mohamed Junaid, As part of the activities of the Aisha Al Muhannadi Qatar-India Cultural Year, Katara Cultural Village opened and Mahesh Kumar, two exhibitions on Monday that brought a variety evening at building 18; the first of images from India, is a fine art display of the artists rich in cultures and Mohammed Junaid, Aisha Al Muhannadi and Mahesh Kumar, human heritage. and the second is a photography exhibition for a group of Qatari and Indian photographers in Kumar, that brought a variety of cooperation with the Youth images from India, rich in cul- Hobbies Center. tures and human heritage. The opening ceremony was In this context, Mohammed attended by Saif Saeed Al Dosari, Junaid was creative in drawing Human Resources Manager, on the faces of India with features behalf of Katara General that are closely related to the Manager, ambassadors and earth and tell different stories. artists. He said: Faces always tell The fine art exhibit presented stories even if they do not speak. experiences of Mohamed Junaid, Some of them tell struggling Saif Saeed Al Dosari (third left), Human Resources Manager at Katara, with ambassadors and officials during the opening ceremony of Aisha Al Muhannadi and Mahesh stories, and some of them the exhibition at Katara building 18.

complain the cruelty of life. substances has become essential creates History,” said Mahesh focused their lenses on many Including faces overflowing with for the Qatari people: It influ- Kumar. pictures inspired by customs, tra- sadness and pain. ences the temperament of the Such dilapidated buildings ditions and landscapes of India The artist Aisha Al individual. For his part, Indian and places help to create a and Qatar. Mohannadi, through her artist Mahesh Kumar presented mirror image of that time. “Each The two exhibitions will run paintings, illuminated the his- paintings that fall within a real- ruin has a story behind it. These until September 28. They are torical depth of the economic istic feature, his brush added stories inspire me to visit such among the various Indian exhi- and trade relationship between beauty to the buildings and abandoned buildings and places bitions and events hosted by the Qatar and India, stressing that ancient places reflecting the in India and I try to depict the Cultural Village Katara during her artworks are inspired by the magnificence charm and hidden beauty on canvas, he the Qatar-India Cultural Year. ancient economic relations richness of India. added. It aims to strengthen the between Qatar and India and “People are always attracted The photographs exhibition, relations between the two the most important types of towards nature full of greenery organised by Katara in collabo- countries by inviting the public trade between them is the but I find beauty in ruined and ration with the Youth hobbies to discover the two cultures, exchange of Tea, Spices, Oud old places or buildings which are Center, includes about 50 photos since culture is one of the and Oud Oil. always been neglected. I call it “ presented by several Qatari and strong bridges to connect A view of the exhibition. The daily use of these The masterpiece of nature that Indian photographers, as they peoples. WISH to co-host medical and Childhood cancer awareness campaign religion ethics symposium in Rome highlights risk factors and prevention THE PENINSULA active or passive smoking during “Parents should be sure that THE PENINSULA DOHA pregnancy, or during the period their children have regular DOHA prior to conception and Inherited medical check-ups and watch Qatar Cancer Society( QCS ) has genetic abnormalities. for any unusual signs or The World Innovation Summit launched campaign to raise Early signs and symptoms symptoms that do not go away,” for Health (WISH), an initiative awareness about childhood include unexplained weight said Nassar. of Qatar Foundation (QF), and cancers which falls in September loss, headaches, often with early She added that developing the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy each year to emphasise the morning vomiting, increased the risk of cancer in a child may for Life have announced a joint importance of early detection. swelling or persistent pain in reduce by minimising radiation symposium titled ‘Religion and Dr Hadi Mohamad Abu bones, joints, back, or legs, lump exposure during pregnancy, Medical Ethics: Palliative Care Rasheed, Head of Professional or mass, especially in the breast feeding for six months or and the Mental Health of the Development and Scientific abdomen, neck, chest, pelvis, or longer, follow the vaccination Elderly’, to be held in Rome on Research Department said, “In armpits, development of schedule and follow a healthy December 11 & 12. Sultana Afdhal (left), CEO of World Innovation Summit for Health; 2016, according to Qatar excessive bruising, bleeding, or lifestyle. The first day of the sym- and Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, President of Pontifical Academy National Cancer Registry rash, constant infections, a “Some children have a posium will focus on palliative for Life. (QNCR), there were 42 children whitish color behind the pupil, higher chance of developing a care and provide an overview of under 15 years old diagnosed nausea which persists or vom- specific type of cancer because current practices in Qatar and significant potential benefits of Sultana Afdhal, CEO of with cancer in Qatar and 62% iting without nausea, constant of certain gene changes they the Arabian Gulf region in com- religion and spirituality in WISH, said, “WISH was founded of the cases were males, and tiredness or noticeable paleness, inherit from a parent. These parison to Western practices. improving elderly patients’ well- to help build a healthier world 38% were females. Fur- ere or vision changes which children may need careful, The sessions aim to highlight being and quality of life, and through global collaboration. We thermore, 38.1% of the cases occur suddenly and persist, regular medical check-ups that the existing gaps in modern explore, from an interfaith per- greatly appreciate this oppor- were Qataris, while 61.9% were recurrent or persistent fevers of include special tests to look for scholarship on this topic, and spective, the opportunities and tunity to work closely with the non-Qataris. unknown origin. early signs of cancer,” investigate ways to tackle the challenges related to improving Pontifical Academy for Life to “Most common cancers ethical challenges found at the quality of life through religiously- bring experts together in Rome among children in Qatar are intersection of palliative care informed mental health service who can help shine a spotlight leukaemia which represents and religious bioethics. provision. on important issues at the inter- 42.86% of all childhood cancer Among the sessions will be Further topics being dis- section of religious and medical cases in the country and brain a discussion on Muslim and cussed across the two days ethics and that deeply affect and central nervous system Christian commonalities in include the palliative care of people of faith at critical times which represents 11.9%. Leu- approaches to palliative care children, and suicide among the in their lives.” kaemia is also the highest cause that will highlight differences, elderly. Representatives of QF Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, of death among all childhood with the aim of better informing partner university Georgetown President of the Pontifical cancers,” he added. interfaith approaches to medical University in Qatar and QF Academy for Life, said, “This Heba Nassar, Head of Health care. These sessions will member Hamad Bin Khalifa Uni- meeting is very important for us. Education Department at QCS emphasize the important role of versity’s Research Center for Palliative care and the health of said that risk factors including interfaith chaplaincy in hospice Islamic Legislation and Ethics the elderly are two specific environmental radiation, radi- palliative care. will be among those speaking at themes of great interest to our ation during pregnancy, Discussions and presentations the event. The academic partners Academy; engaging in a dialogue excessive exposure to the ultra- on the second day of the sym- for the symposium will be the with the Islamic world responds violet radiation are risk factors posium will focus on the mental BMJ, which will be represented to the specific mandate entrusted and some of childhood cancers health of the elderly. Speakers and at the event by editors of its by Pope Francis to the Pontifical are caused by some viral infec- delegates will examine the Journal of Medical Ethics. Academy. tions, in addition to this mother September is marked as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month each year. Elan Urban inks memorandum of understanding with Bottega 7 THE PENINSULA Romagna; Italy. This region is This MoU builds on the suc- beautification solutions, through Amedeo Massocco and Laura company that aims to enhance DOHA known for its handcrafted cessful delivery of the Green Line international partnerships. We Bertuccioli, Bottega7 com- the urban experience by pro- knowledge, a place where Rail project, where Elan Urban believe that our collaboration mented: “We chose to work with viding innovative city beautifi- Elan Urban has recently signed passion and creativity come and Bottega7 provided the fab- with Bottega7 will positively con- Elan Urban for it’s well-struc- cation solutions, having a partnership with Bottega 7, an together to bring the ultimate rication, supply and installation tribute towards enriching the tured organization and its local delivered several large-scale innovative lighting and urban combination of cultural and con- of light poles, bike racks, and urban experience for the wider presence. Being a part of the Elan projects in Qatar including Lusail furniture company based in Italy. temporary solutions in urban removable and fixed bollards for community in Qatar.” Urban mission of city beautifi- City Street Furniture, Education Under the MoU, Elan Urban is the design. Bottega7 proudly repre- Qatar Rail’s 11 Green Line sta- Daniel Campos, General cation and enhancement is an City bike sharing system for exclusive representative of sents this heritage through its tions through the project’s main Manager of Elan Urban, said: “We exciting concept that Bottega7 is Qatar Foundation, and Al Matar Bottega 7 in Qatar for urban exceptional quality of creativity contractor, SPH-JV. are pleased to announce our part- extremely proud to be a part of. Street pedestrian bridge among furniture products and will and technical skills. Khalid Al Muraikhi, Chief nership with Bottega7 particularly We can offer first class Italian other projects. provide local infrastructure Bottega7 develops custom Support Officer of Elan Group, at a time when Qatar’s infra- design and engineering, while Elan Urban partners with projects with bespoke and products starting from designer’s commented: “Elan Urban’s part- structure is developing at a rapid at having the benefit of local large international designers and standard street furniture concept or client’s special nership with Bottega7 is perfectly pace. Working alongside Bottega7 knowledge. We look forward to manufacturers to offer clients a products. request, thus tailoring the most aligned with Elan Group’s will enable us to offer the local this exclusive partnership with wide selection of catalogue Bottega 7 is an Italian lighting appropriate solution according mission and vision of enriching market with high-quality products Elan Urban for our urban fur- products and bespoke designs to and urban furniture company, to their functional actual needs city life. By bringing the local as we continue to realize our niture range.” give a unique personality to their based in the heart of Emilia and specific requirements. market the latest city mission of city beautification.” Elan Urban is a pioneering projects. 08 VIEWS WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2019 There’s still a path ESTABLISHED IN 1996 forward with the Taliban CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI [email protected] JAMES STAVRIDIS ACTING MANAGING EDITOR BLOOMBERG MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED [email protected] resident Donald Trump is taking a lot of criticism for abruptly cancelling talks he DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR Phad hoped to sponsor between MOHAMMED OSMAN ALI the Taliban and the government of [email protected] Afghanistan at Camp David. But he was right to do so - his announcement sent a signal that the Taliban must demon- strate in far more concrete ways a com- mitment to a peaceful negotiation to end nearly two decades of war. Marine General Kenneth McKenzie, head of US Central Command, speaking with US I say this from experience. When I troops while visiting Forward Operating Base Fenty in Jalalabad, recently. EDITORIAL headed the Nato mission in Afghanistan as supreme allied commander for all and the Taliban only. The Camp David Taliban for what it is: A deeply global operations from 2009-2013, I meeting was supposed to be a turning unpopular theocracy with brutal norms studied the Taliban closely. The move- point, wherein the Afghan government of behaviour that aren’t going to change Hamad Port’s splendid growth ment’s name of President Ashraf Ghani and the anytime soon. Instead of using the itself simply Taliban could come together, echoing Ronald Reagan line about the Soviet amad Port continues to make Qatar proud by means “stu- former President Bill Clinton’s bringing Union, “trust, but verify,” with the creating new records. It has set a new Guinness dents” in together of the Palestinian Liberation Taliban Washington must “verify, then HWorld Record of being port with the deepest Pashtun, and Organization and the government of trust.” That means demanding a full artificial basin ever made on Earth. it is a Israel in 2000, also at Camp David. cease-fire for at least a six month Hamad Port’s basin is 4 kilometers long, 700 meters The Afghan movement The deal on the table reportedly cooling-off period before beginning any wide and 17 meters deep. Basin construction took about security forces are that learned included a US withdrawal of its 14,000 US troop withdrawal. It also means the two-and-a-half years of excavation, during which over taking 95% of all about taking troops, including a down-payment of Taliban must be willing to sit with the 6,900 tonnes of explosives were used to challenge the and using around 5,000 leaving within a few Afghan government to at least initiate a drafts - with full commitment to preserving wildlife casualties, and the power - months after the accord was com- conversation about a peaceful end to and marine life - to extract more than 44.5 million cubic Nato mission is in enough to pleted. The Taliban were to provide the conflict. meters of dredged material, which was later used in support, not in the dominate guarantees that there would be no The US should also be willing to other construction works at the project, resulting in lead - providing Afghanistan return to creating “safe havens” for keep a minimum level of troops in the huge savings. after the over- groups like Al Qaeda and the Islamic country for a significant period of time, This achievement by Hamad Port follows its splendid training, logistics, throw of the State. There was also a provision to free and to finance the Afghan security performance in the past. Hamad Port was ranked at intelligence and Russian- thousands of Taliban prisoners being forces. When I commanded the Nato 114 in top 120 container ports ranking of 2018. some limited backed held by the Afghan government. All of mission, we had 150,000 troops in In November 2018, the Ministry of Transport and special-forces and central gov- this was to be cemented with a pro- country, a number now reduced by 85% Communications had celebrated the handling of over ernment longed cease-fire - and it was that to about 14,000 US and 5,000 allied two million TEU (containers) and five million tonnes air operations. before 9/11. portion of the agreement that the forces. Casualties to US and allied of cargo at Hamad Port. This remarkable feat was Taliban Taliban failed to honor, continuing their troops are likewise far below what we achieved in record time with operations at Hamad Port leaders facili- attacks and killing another US service experienced a decade ago. since its launch in less than tated and protected Al Qaeda, and pro- member last week. The Afghan security forces are two years. vided support in the attacks against the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo taking 95% of all casualties, and the Since commencing oper- US I found them to be tenacious, deter- evidently continues to believe that Nato mission is in support, not in the ations in December 2016, mined, resilient and utterly implacable there is a path forward for the talks. But lead - providing training, logistics, Hamad Port has modernised foes who took the long view. “The the Taliban have been consistent in intelligence and some limited special- Since commencing the way Qatar handles Americans have all the watches, but we their loathing of the US-backed gov- forces and air operations. Washington operations in imports and exports and has have all the time,” was a favorite saying. ernment in Kabul, calling its leaders also needs to recognize the role December 2016, helped in facilitating the The new peace agreement thus far, “stooges” and at times refusing to even Pakistan has played in supporting the Hamad Port growth and diversification painstakingly negotiated by US envoy begin a conversation with hit until all Taliban for decades, and continue to of the country’s economy. It Zalmay Khalilzad - a skilled former US troops have left. How can this go pressure the Pakistanis to encourage has modernised has acquired 28 percent ambassador to Afghanistan, Iraq and the forward? the insurgents to come to the bar- the way Qatar share in the volume of trade United Nations - was between the US First, the US needs to recognize the gaining table. handles imports in the Middle East. Within a short period of and exports time, the port has reached and has helped global port connectivity cov- Dictators and the Internet: A love story in facilitating erage with 40 ports spanning the growth and over three continents. most censored countries are - Internet access, and that rely cyberwarfare unit run by the It is also playing a major highly wired, with active on their global trade ties to military contributes to an diversification role in securing the needs of online communities,” said Joel keep their economies afloat. atmosphere of fear and of the country’s local markets and projects Simon, executive director of In normal times the growing self-censorship by economy. implemented by Qatar, CPJ. “These governments United States could exert eco- critics of the state. ensuring access of Qatari combine old-style brutality nomic leverage over its allies Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia - with new technology, often to compel better adherence to whose leaders claim it is products to the global JASON REZAIAN freedom of expression, one of undergoing a period of markets. Hamad port regis- THE WASHINGTON POST purchased from Western tered an overall container growth of 71 percent in 2018 companies, to stifle dissent the key metrics of basic sweeping social reforms - over 2017. The ports received around 661,331 containers new report by the and control the media.” human rights. Instead, the continues to be one of the in the first half of 2019, which is around 2.5 percent Committee to Protect Few countries appear Donald Trump era appears to most dangerous countries in more than the same period in the same period of last Journalists (CPJ), a immune from the creeping have encouraged state cen- the world to practice year, according to Mwani Qatar. press-freedom urge to infringe on privacy sorship by governments with journalism. A which the United States In 2018, Saudi operatives The port is fast becoming a hub of maritime trade watchdog, illustrates a dis- and impede free expression. in the Middle East but also an environmentally-friendly turbing trend: Governments As democracies increasingly enjoys good relations. brazenly murdered Jamal facility. around the world are become more comfortable Take Vietnam. It’s a Khashoggi in Istanbul. One of Hamad Port’s strong capabilities, modern facilities, becoming more sophisticated using these tools and tactics to country that the United States his home country’s most and advanced systems will position Qatar as a re-export in their efforts to censor exert greater control over has worked with for decades prominent journalists, he was hub in the region, increasing the volume of trade expression. political debates within their to mend wounds and undo also a contributing columnist between Qatar and the rest of the world. The port has One of the oldest forms of borders, repressive regimes deep mutual mistrusts after a for The Washington Post. seen tremendous growth in a short duration and is authoritarian repression - have fewer reasons to respect long and costly war. The As the first anniversary of further cementing Qatar’s position as a regional mar- silencing dissent - is being Article 19 of the Universal United States was Vietnam’s the assassination approaches, itime hub. aided by state-of-the-art Declaration of Human Rights, top export destination in Saudi authorities - including communications technology. which states that all people 2018, supplying nearly $50 Crown Prince Mohammed bin So while it’s never been easier have the right to seek and billion worth of goods. Salman, who is believed to for ordinary citizens to pub- receive news and express Yet that massive trade have ordered the killing - licly express their political opinions. relationship has not resulted have paid no meaningful views, tools to surveil the Predictably, Eritrea, North in any meaningful com- price. Instead they have been masses are more precise than Korea and Turkmenistan - mitment to human rights allowed to continue pur- QUOTE OF THE DAY ever and available to any state three of the world’s most from authorities in Hanoi. In chasing large quantities of that wants to track its closed societies, which have fact, the situation appears to US-made weaponry needed With the solid financial detractors (or anyone else never enjoyed basic be getting worse. for their war in Yemen and foundations we have perceived to be a threat). freedoms, top the list of most CPJ’s report cites a new have been given cover by today, we are in a CPJ’s list of the 10 most- censored nations. Vietnamese law implemented statements from Trump and censored countries is filled But countries in the at the beginning of 2019 that his top advisers that for all position to counter an with the usual suspects. But middle of the list are more requires “technology com- intents and purposes exon- economic crisis with the most alarming aspect of worrisome for other reasons. panies to disclose user data erate Saudi rulers of any many, many billions of the report is how govern- Their stories show what is and take down content wrongdoing. euros, if one actually ments are using internet increasingly becoming the viewed as objectionable” by If two such supposedly resources - originally ominous norm in media land- the state. good friends of the United breaks out in Germany intended to make expression scapes around the world. Restrictions on expression States feel no need to adhere and Europe. easier - to impose censorship Saudi Arabia, China, were already tight, after a to international norms around on views they don’t like. Vietnam and Iran hold places 2013 law gave the gov- free expression, is it any Olaf Scholz “The internet was sup- four through seven on the list. ernment sweeping authority wonder than our staunchest German Finance Minister posed to make censorship All are large and influential to censor blogs and social ideological rivals disregard obsolete, but that hasn’t hap- nations with populations that media. Now, however, a calls to allow their popula- pened. Many of the world’s enjoy wide - but incomplete 10,000-member tions to air their views? WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2019 OPINION 09 Ukraine and Russia are finally ready to talk ussia and Ukraine finally abducted from a separatist-held area the eastern Ukraine talks - President Minsk agreements - the only reso- made a major exchange of by the Ukrainian security services Emmanuel Macron of France and lution road map to which Russia and prisoners on Saturday, and earlier this year, headed the anti-air- Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany Ukraine have ever signed on - the two names on the list make it craft defenses of the self-proclaimed - that re-establishing peace is his pri- Poroshenko administration didn’t R ority. Elected on a promise to end the clear that the trade sets up substantive Donetsk People’s Republic in 2014. He want to accept it. Former Foreign negotiations on the future of eastern may possess valuable information war, Zelenskiy has enough popular Minister Pavlo Klimkin explained Ukraine. about the downing of Malaysia Air- support to take steps Poroshenko that position last week, saying LEONID BERSHIDSKY · Pro-Russian separatists, who hold lines Flight 17 over separatist territory supporters see as downright trea- Russia wants to hold an election BLOOMBERG a substantial part of eastern Ukraine that July, in which 298 people were sonous, and that creates conditions “that doesn’t have to be free or fair, (also known as the Donbas), have killed, most of them Dutch. The Dutch for a compromise with Moscow. but it must be an election in which been battling the Kyiv government for government, which leads the interna- But Zelenskiy isn’t the only one Russia will appoint winners or more than five years. The two sides tional investigation of the crash, compromising. Putin gave up Oleg somehow trap us into doing it traded 35 prisoners each; their strongly opposed Tsemakh’s Sentsov, a filmmaker who had been together.” Then, Klimkin told the reception in the two countries on Sat- handover to Russia. On Saturday, sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment Segodnya.ua website, “special con- urday couldn’t have been more dif- Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok sent in 2015 for allegedly plotting terror ditions will kick in for the Donbas ferent. The Ukrainians were met at a letter to his parliament regretting attacks in Crimea (which was annexed which Russia will determine and try the Kyiv airport by an emotional that he had been exchanged. But by Russia in 2014). His five-month to force on us.” crowd of relatives and journalists - Russia, which denies any culpability hunger strike in prison last year That’s not quite how Steinmeier and by President Volodymyr Zel- in the MH-17 case, insisted on making attracted major international saw things; it was one of the condi- The Ukrainians were enskiy, whose bodyguards were Tsemakh part of the deal; this put it attention, making him the best- tions of his formula that if the met at the Kyiv airport pushed aside during the chaotic off by a week, while Zelenskiy known Ukrainian prisoner in Russia. eastern Ukraine election isn’t certi- by an emotional scene. In Moscow, Ukraine’s former allowed Dutch investigators to Putin was clearly saving Sentsov for fiably free and fair, Ukraine prisoners, of whom 13 were Ukrainian question him. The Russians will cer- an exchange that would actually wouldn’t be required to give the crowd of relatives and citizens and the rest Russians, were tainly now hide Tsemakh, a Ukrainian mean something. Donbas the autonomous status on journalists - and by bused away without ceremony; some citizen, from the Dutch. The reason Putin appears to which Russia has been insisting President Volodymyr of them face months of intelligence That’s a twofold signal from Zel- believe the time had come for such a with a view to retaining a measure debriefings. enskiy, who took office in May: First, it trade is that Macron is unusually of influence on Ukraine though the Zelenskiy, whose But both Zelenskiy and Russian means that unlike his predecessor, active in trying to bring the parties Russian-speaking territories. bodyguards were President Vladimir Putin gave up Petro Poroshenko, he is willing to together. In recent months, the French Zelenskiy isn’t bound by the pushed aside during something, or someone, important in make political sacrifices to see indi- president has been making a play for previous administration’s stubborn the chaotic scene. the exchange. vidual Ukrainians freed. Second, it an outsized global role: taking the lead stance, and he has a mandate to Volodymyr Tsemakh, who was tells both Putin and the mediators in in European Union affairs, hosting the negotiate a deal. That puts the G-7 summit in an unusually Steinmeier formula into play again aggressive style, trying to sort out the - but the parties will have a tough crisis in Iran’s relations with the West, time negotiating how the elections and telling Putin he was willing to are to be held and what status the work on a European security system Donbas would have after them. For that would include Russia. Macron Putin, the demand for the region’s needs a win, and that’s a situation the autonomy is a red line. It’s politi- Russian strongman wants to exploit. cally untenable for him to let On Sunday, Putin and Macron Ukraine - a unitary state, not a fed- spoke on the phone. According to the eration - take full control. His Kremlin readout of the conversation, stated motivation in backing the Ukraine was the main subject. The separatists was to defend the transcript makes clear the terms Putin region’s Russian speakers from is proposing in doing a Ukraine deal: Kyiv’s nationalist project. He wants “written confirmation” of the so-called Steinmeier formula. Named after Frank-Walter Stein- meier, who was Germany’s foreign minister when he proposed it in 2016 and is now the country’s president, this resolution calls for a cease-fire, a D-RING ROAD withdrawal of all Russian troops from POST BOX: 3488 the separatist-held territories, then DOHA - QATAR elections to set up legitimate local [email protected] administrations under the Kyiv gov- ernment but with significant autonomy. After the election, Ukraine EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE would take control of its eastern TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 border with Russia. FAX: +974 4455 7758 Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky (right) welcoming recently exchanged Ukrainian prisoners upon arrival at Even though the Steinmeier Boryspil International Airport in Kiev. formula follows the letter of the 2015 MANAGING EDITOR TEL: 4462 7505

ast week, as Europe com- Hitler’s Nazis never won more than a There are limits to the trend. Even DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR TEL: memorated the eightieth third of the votes in a democratic amongst young men, far right parties 4455 7769 anniversary of the outbreak of election, but that was enough to give still often struggle to get much more World War Two, the far-right them a stranglehold on power, given than a third of the vote. Geographical LOCAL NEWS SECTION TEL: L support remains patchy. As they 4455 7743 Alternative for Germany became the the proportional representation- most popular choice for young voters based German constitution. become more radical, parties can BUSINESS NEWS SECTION in the east German state of Saxony. Some far-right leaders continue to shed moderate followers even as they TEL: 4462 7535 PETER APPS Along with a strong performance be plagued by scandal and ineptitude. gain new ones - Alternative for REUTERS Austria’s Freedom Party was forced Germany may be rising in the coun- SPORT NEWS SECTION from government in May after its try’s more economically marginalized TEL: 4455 7745 leader, Heinz-Christian Strache, was east, but it appears losing support in filmed in a video sting known as the richer western areas. Female voters ONLINE SECTION Ibiza tapes, promising government remain particularly sceptical - TEL: 4462 7501 80 years after 1939, contracts to a woman he believed to prompting growing discussion in [email protected] be a Russian oligarch’s niece. Never- right-wing circles over how to win theless, the party looks set for a strong them over. PUBLIC RELATIONS Europe’s far-right showing in the resulting September Van Langenhove, Bardella and TEL: 4455 7613 29 election. others are part of an increasingly [email protected] France’s far right appears simi- sophisticated continent-wide scents power again larly resilient. Having lost to President movement, tying together social ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT media, real-world demonstrations Emmanuel Macron in 2017 presi- TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 and rallies and a single-minded deter- dential elections, Marine Le Pen’s FAX: 4455 7870 mination to seize political office. National Front rebranded itself last [email protected] in local elections the same day in summer as the National Rally - and Well- resourced campaigns include Brandenburg, the results were a won European parliamentary elec- “Generation Identity”, a largely youth- CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT reminder of just how dramatically far tions this May with a ticket fronted by facing movement that began in TEL: 4455 7857 right political parties have resurrected 23-year-old Jordan Bardella. France but has also seen its popularity [email protected] themselves in modern Europe. Le Pen - whose father founded the grow in Austria, Germany, Italy and Trading off economic frustration and party in 1972 and lost a presidential elsewhere. SUBSCRIPTION & disquiet over migration, they are runoff against Jacques Chirac 30 years It’s a sign of how increasingly DISTRIBUTION Some far-right weaponising technology and social later - remains firmly in control, with coordinated such movements are - TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 leaders continue to be media, international networks and another chance of seizing the Elysée perhaps ironic, given their often FAX: 44557819 widespread frustration with the Palace at the next opportunity in 2022. nationalist agendas. [email protected] plagued by scandal political status quo. “The point is that they are going Many take explicit encouragement and ineptitude. Such parties do not necessarily mainstream,” says Julia Ebner, a from both U.S. right-wingers and Austria’s Freedom need outright power to achieve their research fellow specialising in the far white supremacists as well as Russian Party was forced goals - as shown by Italian right- right at the Institute for Strategic Dia- President Vladimir Putin, seen by winger Matteo Salvini when he logue think-tank in London. “They are many on the right as what a national All thoughts and views from government in became interior minister, turning playing a very long game, and tar- leader should be - ruthless, macho expressed in these columns May after its leader, away migrant rescue ships and geting the next generation.” As in and untroubled by principles such as are those of the writers, Heinz-Christian arresting one of the captains. France, it’s a strategy that has seen human rights or political correctness. not of the newspaper. Strache, was filmed in Italy’s example, however, also right-wing political parties in Spain, Such groups and their leaders are also points to the challenges faced by such Denmark and elsewhere field candi- often the main beneficiaries of sus- a video sting known groups. After bringing down the gov- dates in their late twenties high on the pected Russian hacking, trolling and All correspondence as the Ibiza tapes, ernment earlier this year, Salvini was slate, seeing young white male voters other online activity, supporting the regarding Views and promising government widely expected to become prime in particular as their path to greater suggestion that the Kremlin would Opinion pages should be power. Figures such as 26-year-old like to see a more fragmented, right- contracts to a woman minister. Instead, he has found sent to editor-in-chief himself kept out by an alliance of Belgian Dries Van Langenhove helped wing dominated West. he believed to be a more moderate parties. Belgium’s right-wing Vlaams Belang Far-right messaging - which office or mailed to the Russian oligarch’s The lesson of the thirties, however to its best-ever showing in simulta- includes online videos - is widespread [email protected] niece. - another era of dislocation, change neous May regional, national and and varied, not all of it branded to and paranoia - remains stark. Adolf European elections. associate with the far right. 10 GULF / MIDDLE EAST WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2019 At least 31 dead in stampede at Karbala AP It was the deadliest of thousands of black-clad pil- BAGHDAD grims held Ashura processions stampede in amid beefed-up security in A walkway collapsed and set off recent history Karbala and in the capital, a stampede in the Shia city of during Ashura Baghdad, marching through the Karbala yesterday as thousands streets. of Shias marked one of the most commemorations, On Sunday night, thousands solemn holy days of the year. At when hundreds marched towards the shrine of least 31 people were killed and of thousands of Imam Hussein in Karbala, which about 100 were injured, officials people converge on had been lit up on the eve of the said. celebration. It was the deadliest stampede the city, some 80km This year’s commemoration in recent history during Ashura south of Baghdad, comes amid rising tensions in commemorations, when hun- for the occasion the Middle East and the crisis dreds of thousands of people con- every year. between Iran and the US and its verge on the city, some 80km ally Israel in the wake of the col- south of Baghdad, for the occasion lapsing nuclear deal between every year. killing more than 950 people, Tehran and world powers. Supporters of Yemen’s Houthi rebels raise portraits of the group’s leader Abdulmalik Al Houthi and its The stampede happened many of whom jumped, in their Israel has recently expanded flag, during a rally commemorating the Shia religious holiday of Ashura in the capital Sana’a, yesterday. towards the end of the Ashura panic, into the Tigris River. its war on Iran and its allies in procession, causing a panicked Yesterday’s commemora- the region, and is believed to rush among worshippers near tions were peaceful until the have struck targets as far out as the gold-domed Imam Hussein walkway collapsed, triggering Iraq in recent weeks, drawing Yemen going through terrible shrine, according to two officials the chaos. outrage and pledges of from Karbala. The officials said the retaliation. The somber day of Ashura stampede took place during the Turkey yesterday conveyed humanitarian crisis: UN commemorates the death of so-called “Tweireej” run, when condolences to the Iraqi people Imam Hussein, the grandson of tens of thousands of people run over the loss of lives in a ANATOLIA regular session of the Council in country, including the capital Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be towards the shrine of Imam stampede during a religious ANKARA Geneva. Bachelet said its impacts Sana’a. The conflict escalated the Upon Him), in Karbala in what Hussein in Karbala around ceremony. on civilians has been “truly following year when Saudi is now Iraq, in 680 A D. noon. “We learned with great The people in Yemen are going devastating”. Arabia and its Arab allies In recent years, Ashura pro- The 2-3 kilometer run sym- sorrow that dozens of people lost through a “terrible humanitarian Over 24 million people, or launched a massive air campaign cessions have been attacked by bolises when the maternal their lives and over 100 people crisis”, the UN Human Rights nearly 80% of the population, aimed at rolling back Houthi extremist militants. In 2004, at cousins of Imam Hussein’s half- were injured according to ini- Council said yesterday. requires humanitarian assistance gains in Yemen and supported the height of Iraq’s sectarian vio- brother Al Abbas ran from the tials reports in a stampede “The people of Yemen are and protection, she said. the country’s pro-Saudi lence, 143 people were killed in nearby village of Tweireej to during Ashura Day events in the living through a terrible human- The civilian death toll also government. near simultaneous suicide and rescue him, only to find out that Iraqi city of Karbala,” Turkey’s itarian crisis. Every imaginable continues to rise, she said, “The terrible impact of this other bombings at shrines in he had been killed. Foreign Ministry said in a source of human misery and suf- adding: “As of 5 September 2019, conflict on the people of Yemen Baghdad and Karbala during the At least 10 among the injured statement. fering is tied up in this single our staff in Yemen verified 7,508 is the responsibility of all parties Ashura procession. were in critical condition, It wished a speedy recovery conflict: war, disease, famine, civilian deaths, including 1,997 to the conflict,” the high com- In 2005, rumours of a according to the officials. to the injured and asked for economic collapse, international children, since 26 March 2015.” missioner said. Kamel Jendoubi, suicide bomber among wor- No Iraqi media released Allah’s mercy for those who lost terrorism, widespread human Yemen has remained chairperson of the Group of shippers crossing a bridge during images of the walkway collapse their lives. The ministry added rights violations and probable wracked by violence since 2014, Eminent Experts on Yemen, said the a different religious holiday or ensuing stampede. that 10 of the injured are in war crimes,” High Commissioner when the Iran-aligned Houthi situation in Yemen continues to caused a massive stampede Earlier in the day, hundreds critical condition. Michelle Bachelet told the 42nd group overran much of the worsen five years into the conflict.

UK: Iran broke Netanyahu vows to annex Jordan Valley if re-elected word with oil

AFP long-awaited peace plan is transfer to Syria JERUSALEM expected to be unveiled Netanyahu’s rivals lead in opinion polls AFP/LONDON sometime after the vote. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Those moves could effec- ANATOLIA/JERUSALEM Arab-dominated political parties, came in the Britain accused Iran yesterday Netanyahu issued a deeply tively kill any remaining hopes third place with ten seats. of breaching its assurances that controversial pledge yesterday for a two-state solution to the Israel’s Blue and White coalition — the main rival The poll predicted that both right-wing a tanker held off Gibraltar to annex the Jordan Valley in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, long of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu- Yamina and Beiteinu Yisrael parties would win earlier this year would not occupied West Bank if re-elected the focus of international led Likud party — is leading ahead of the coun- nine seats each, while the ultra-Orthodox Shas transport oil to Syria and in September 17 polls. diplomacy. “There is one place try’s parliamentary elections slated for Sept. 17, Party and the right-wing United Torah Judaism summoned the Iranian ambas- Palestinians immediately where we can apply Israeli sov- a new opinion poll showed yesterday. party would get seven seats each. sador to protest. reacted by saying Netanyahu was ereignty immediately after the The survey conducted by the Israeli Broad- The poll showed that the right-wing parties “It is now clear that Iran has destroying any hopes for peace, elections,” Netanyahu said casting Authority showed that the Blue and White could grab 58 seats without the support of the breached these assurances and while his electoral opponents during the address that included coalition would win 32 seats in Knesset (Israel’s Yisrael Beiteinu party, led by former Defense Min- that the oil has been transferred accused him of a cynical play for a map of the Jordan Valley on an parliament), while right-wing Likud party would ister Avigdor Lieberman. A total of at least 61 to Syria and (President Bashar right-wing nationalist votes with easel next to him. secure 31 seats. Knesset members out of total 120 are required to Al Assad’s) murderous regime,” polls only a week away. “If I receive from you, cit- The Joint List, a political alliance of main form the government. the Foreign Office said. It said In his televised speech, the izens of Israel, a clear mandate Britain would raise the issue at prime minister also reiterated his to do so... today I announce my the United Nations, with Foreign intention to annex Israeli settle- intention to apply with the for- was “not only destroying the the annexation would be “man- towards violence”. Safadi said Secretary Dominic Raab warning ments in the wider West Bank if mation of the next government two-state solution, he is ifestly illegal” and called on the the “unilateral measures he that it was part of a “pattern of re-elected. Israeli sovereignty over the Jordan destroying all chances of peace”. international community to act. (Netanyahu) proposes risk killing behaviour... designed to disrupt But he said he would do that Valley and northern Dead Sea.” She called it “worse than Jordan’s Foreign Minister off the entire peace process and regional security”. in coordination with US Pres- Senior Palestinian official apartheid”. Saeb Erekat, the Ayman Safadi warned the move pose a threat to peace and “We want Iran to come in ident Donald Trump, whose Hanan Ashrawi said Netanyahu chief Palestinian negotiator, said would “push the whole region security in the region”. from the cold but the only way to do that is to keep its word and comply with the rules-based Lebanon urges US mediation international system,” he said. Iran to probe on Israel border dispute death of ‘blue AFP & AP on the Lebanese to negotiate from a position girl’ football fan BEIRUT of strength. Lebanon and Israel are still tech- nically at war. AFP/TEHRAN Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun yesterday The issue of the shared maritime border urged Washington to help mediate a solution is sensitive, mainly because of a dispute Iran’s judiciary has been asked to a maritime border dispute with Israel, as over coastal drilling rights. In February to investigate the death of a Beirut looks to start offshore oil and gas explo- 2018, Lebanon signed its first contract for woman football fan, state ration. offshore drilling for oil and gas with a con- media said, after she reportedly Aoun made the request during talks with sortium comprising energy giants Total, ENI self-immolated because she US Assistant Secretary of Near Eastern Affairs, and Novatek. feared imprisonment for trying David Schenker, who is on a two-day visit to Two blocks in the eastern Mediterranean to enter a stadium. The coun- Lebanon as part of a regional tour. are part of the deal, but Israel claims that part try’s vice-president for women Schenker recently replaced David Satter- of Block 9 belongs to the Jewish state. Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun (right) during his meeting with US Assistant and family affairs, Masoumeh field, who had shuffled between Lebanon and In recent months, Washington Secretary of Near Eastern Affairs, David Schenker, at the Baabda Presidential Ebtekar, asked the judiciary Israel in recent months, in an effort to reach approached both sides to propose that it act Palace, east of the capital Beirut, yesterday. chief to look into the case in a a settlement on land and maritime border as a mediator. letter, the state-run Iran news- disputes. In late May, the Israeli government said countries. Schenker met with Prime adding that “the Lebanese economy paper reported. “Lebanon hopes that the United States it had agreed to enter US-mediated talks with Minister Saad Hariri after arrival on and banking sector cannot take this Sahar Khodayari, 30, was will continue its mediation efforts... (picking Lebanon to resolve the maritime border Monday. Yesterday, he met with Pres- amount of pressure.” The US considers arrested last year when she up) where things stopped with envoy David dispute. ident Michel Aoun and Parliament Hezbollah a terrorist organization and tried to go into a stadium Satterfield,” Aoun said. A US official visiting Beirut to mediate Speaker Nabih Berri who complained has been imposing sanctions on the dressed as a man to watch her “We have agreed on many points, only a between Lebanon and Israel over a maritime about new American sanctions that group for years. In July, the Treasury favourite team, Esteghlal FC, few sticking points remain,” he added. border dispute is a “friend of Israel,” keen to targeted Jammal Trust Bank for, as the for the first time imposed sanctions the Varzesh 3 sports news outlet Schenker said Washington was ready to defend its interests, the leader of Lebanon’s US Treasury Department said, “know- on two Hezbollah legislators. said, citing her sister. Dubbed “renew its efforts”, according to a statement militant Hezbollah group warned yesterday. ingly facilitating banking activities for Lebanon hopes to unleash offshore “blue girl” because of Estegh- released by Aoun’s office. Hassan Nasrallah urged Lebanese offi- Hezbollah.” oil and gas production as it grapples lal’s colours, she set herself on Earlier the head of Lebanon’s Iran- cials to negotiate from a point of strength with In comments released by Berri’s with an economic crisis. Washington fire outside the court last week backed Hezbollah movement Hassan Nas- US Assistant Secretary of State David office and circulated on local media, is mediating between Israel and upon hearing from someone rallah warned against negotiating with “an Schenker over the nearly 860 sq km of the he said Beirut has drafted laws in the Lebanon, which have been officially there that she would be going American envoy allied with Israel”, calling Mediterranean Sea claimed by both past years to fight money laundering, at war since Israel’s creation in 1948. to prison for six months, it said. WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2019 AFRICA 11 Algerian PM to resign, paving way for polls

REUTERS The Prime Minister ALGIERS Noureddine Bedoui’s departure is a major Algerian Prime Minister demand of protesters, Noureddine Bedoui (pictured), will resign soon to pave the way who in April forced for elections this year that the president Abdelaziz army sees as the only way to end Bouteflika to quit a standoff over months of protests, two senior sources said. after 20 years in Bedoui’s departure is a major office, and who have demand of protesters, who in rejected fresh elections April forced president Abdelaziz until there is a more Bouteflika to quit after 20 years in office, and who have rejected thorough change of the fresh elections until there is a power structure. more thorough change of the Tunisia’s former PM in election campaign power structure. Tunisian presidential candidate and former prime minister Mehdi Jomaa accepting a flower from a Bedoui’s departure is him also leave and that the army Islamist party was poised to win, supporter during his electoral campaign in the coastal governorate of Nabeul, yesterday. Twenty-six intended to “facilitate” the play a smaller role in state plunging Algeria into a civil war holding of elections said the two affairs. that claimed 200,000 lives. candidates, including two women, are vying for Sunday’s presidential polls. senior officials, speaking on con- The election had been A candidate in the 1999 pres- dition they were not further scheduled for July, but was post- idential election, he withdrew at identified. poned as a result of the crisis, the last minute after senior Powerful army chief Lieu- leaving major oil- and gas- figures endorsed Bouteflika. S Africa to clamp down on hiring of tenant General Ahmed Gaed exporter Algeria in a constitu- Hamrouche presents himself Saleh said last week that the tional deadlock. as a reformer, seeking better electoral commission should by Over the summer the governance and economic diver- undocumented migrant workers September 15 call an election, a authorities have made conces- sification, and as a consensus move that would trigger a sions by arresting more prom- choice, and would seek the AFP Johannesburg were plunged into Africa illegally, but various 90-day countdown to the vote. inent figures linked to Bouteflika support of the army, the formal JOHANNESBURG violence and dozens of shops reports claim the figure is in the Students holding a weekly on corruption charges, while opposition and protesters. destroyed in attacks on foreign- millions. protest on Tuesday chanted that increasing the pressure on pro- Two sources from inside South Africa’s security ministers owned businesses and homes. South Africa on Tuesday they would accept no elections testers with a bigger police Bouchachi’s circle said he would yesterday vowed to put an end Violence against foreigners also confirmed that its embassy “until the gang is removed”, a presence at demonstrations. run if Bouteflika’s close allies to the hiring of undocumented has a long history in South in the capital Abuja and con- reference to Bouteflika’s power However, Herak has no were removed from power and foreign workers as the country Africa, where many scapegoat sulate in the economic hub of circle, an elite entrenched largely formal leaders, making it hard an independent body set up to tackles a wave of xenophobic immigrants for the lack of job Lagos had been reopened after since independence from to negotiate with. “We will not oversee the vote. attacks that claimed 12 lives. opportunities, particularly in closing when the tensions first France in 1962. Sources close stop protests, this is our chance Bouchachi, a 65-year-old Defence Minister Nosiviwe manual labour. began simmering last week. to prominent figures including to uproot the corrupt system,” former member of parliament, Mapisa-Nqakula told journalists The continent’s most indus- At least 12 people — 10 South former prime minister Mouloud Khelifa Saad, 20, said at a protest human rights activist and that security forces would trialised economy is a major des- Africans and two foreign Hamrouche and human rights on Tuesday in Algiers. lawyer, has been prominent on “clamp down on private business tination for workers from neigh- nationals — have been killed lawyer Mustapha Bouchachi Two sources familiar with social media after strongly owners who do not abide by the bouring Lesotho, Mozambique since the start of the month in have said they are considering former PM Hamrouche said he backing protesters since labour and immigration laws”. and Zimbabwe, as well as from the surge of anti-foreigner running for president if the was expected to run for pres- February. She was flanked by the min- further afield, including South attacks. Nigeria has said it is election is called. ident, though he has made no He was elected to parliament isters of police, internal affairs Asia and Nigeria — the most flying hundreds of its citizens The mass demonstrations formal announcement yet. in 2012 as a member of Algeria’s and justice in South Africa’s so- populous country in Africa. home. Mapisa-Nqakula said began in February and have con- Hamrouche, 76, headed the oldest opposition party Front des called “security cluster” which South Africa has been bat- police and other ministries in the tinued since Bouteflika’s government from 1989-91, Forces Socialistes (FFS), but convenes for urgent issues. tling with a stubbornly high security cluster would intensify departure, with the loose-knit departing months before the resigned within two years saying The announcement was unemployment rate of 29 inspections on those employing “Herak” movement demanding military cancelled a 1992 parlia- the government was not serious made as part of plans to restore percent. It is unknown how undocumented foreign that all figures associated with mentary election that a radical about reform. order after areas of many foreigners are in South nationals.

Over 250,000 Sudan’s PM to join peace talks in Juba with rebels people displaced REUTERS/KHARTOUM tomorrow. Sudan’s transitional Darfur’s war pits local rebel well as the SLA faction headed when South Sudan seceded in government has made peace- groups drawn largely from by Minni Minawi are present at 2011. Both factions, headed by in Somalia: UN New Sudan prime minister making with rebels fighting African farming tribes com- the Juba talks while Abdel Wahid Malik Agar and Abdelaziz Abdalla Hamdok will head to Khartoum one of its main prior- plaining about neglect against el-Nur’s faction is absent, offi- al-Hilu, are present at the talks. ANATOLIA/MOGADISHU South Sudan for peace talks ities as it is a key condition for the government forces in a conflict cials and rebel sources said. South Kordofan and Blue between the ruling sovereign country’s removal from the United that has displaced about 2.5 Rebels of the Sudan People’s Nile are home to large commu- Over a quarter million Somalis council and rebel leaders, the States’s sponsors of terrorism list. million people. The fighting in Liberation Army-North (SPLA-N) nities who sided with the south have been displaced largely due information minister said. Thousands of people have Darfur has subsided over the past in South Kordofan and Blue Nile, during decades of civil war with to drought and conflict in Faisal Saleh told reporters been killed in Sudan’s civil wars, four years where the Justice and two southern regions in Sudan, Khartoum. Many say they have Somalia in January-July period after the cabinet’s first meeting including the conflict in the Equality Movement (JEM) and have largely committed to a been marginalised by the of this year, the UN humanitarian that Hamdok, in his first foreign western Darfur region, where two factions of the Sudanese Lib- ceasefire over the past two years. Khartoum government since agencies said. Most of the conflict- visit, would join five members of rebels have been fighting against eration Army (SLA) are active, They have been fighting Khar- South Sudan declared inde- related displacement occurred in the ruling sovereign council in then-President Omar Hassan Al but skirmishes persist. toum’s rule since ending up on pendence in July under a 2005 Lower Shabelle region where the South Sudanese capital Juba Bashir’s government since 2003. JEM leader Jibril Ibrahim as the Sudanese side of the border peace deal. armed operations by Somali security forces backed by interna- tional partners against the Al Shabaab group resumed in April Rwanda to take in African 2019, according to Protection Return and Monitoring Network, a project implemented led by the refugees stuck in Libya UN Refuges Agency in partnership with the Norwegian Refugee AFP countries, if it is safe to do of 500 to prevent the Council. “More than a quarter of a ADDIS ABABA so. Germaine Kamayirese, country from becoming million Somalis have been the Rwandan minister for overwhelmed. displaced between January and Rwanda agreed yesterday emergency management, “Fewer countries July this year largely due to drought to take in hundreds and told journalists in Kigali around the world are more and conflict,” said the UN Office potentially thousands of that “some may be given than prepared to admit ref- for the Coordination of Humani- African refugees and permission to remain in ugees,” Chanda said. tarian Affairs in Somalia. asylum-seekers stranded Rwanda”. In the chaos that Rwandan President in Libya, a deal the followed the fall and killing Paul Kagame first offered Sudan reports African Union hopes to of former dictator Moamer to take in Africans stuck in cholera in war-torn replicate with other Kadhafi in a 2011 uprising, Libya back in November member states. Libya became a key transit 2017, the same month a Blue Nile state “We will be receiving point for sub-Saharan CNN report showed what the initial number of 500 African migrants seeking to appeared to be a slave AFP/KHARTOUM in a few weeks,” Hope embark on dangerous market there. Tumukunde Gasatura, journeys to Europe. The issue took on new Sudan reported four confirmed Rwanda’s ambassador to The UN says some urgency in July when more cases of cholera in Blue Nile and the AU, told a news con- 42,000 refugees are cur- than 40 people were killed said three people had also died ference after signing a rently in Libya. “We have in an air strike on a migrant Mabrouka Al Twati, 80, a Libyan displaced woman, sits with her daughter Tabra Al of acute diarrhoea in the memorandum of under- been desperately searching detention centre in the Hamali in a school used as a shelter, at Abu Slim district in Tripoli, Libya. war-torn state. Health Minister standing alongside repre- for solutions for those Libyan town of Tajoura. Akram al-Toum has asked the sentatives of the AU and the people,” said Cosmas The UN has been criti- the Niger experience and fleeing that country’s social affairs commis- World Health Organization to UN refugee agency UNHCR. Chanda, UNHCR’s repre- cised for its handling of a we have fine-tuned the political crisis in 2015. The sioner. “We kept on send supplies of cholera vaccine The first group “is princi- sentative to the AU at the transit mechanism for procedure,” Chanda said. AU hailed the deal with talking about finding immediately. The Ministry and pally made up of people news conference in Addis evacuees from Libya estab- But he said the process Rwanda as an example of durable solutions. My WHO officials have been sent to originating from the Horn Ababa, the seat of the pan- lished in 2017 on the other would still be “very African governments belief is this is part of the the affected area. “There are 37 of Africa,” the AU and the African body. side of the continent, in lengthy”. Tumukunde stepping up to solve the durable solutions.” cases of acute diarrhoea in Blue UN said in a statement. The Rwandan gov- Niger. The facilities there Gasatura, the Rwandan continent’s problems. Officials hope that Nile... There have been three They will be housed in ernment is prepared to take have struggled with over- ambassador, said refugees “It is a historical other African countries deaths,” the ministry said in a a transit centre in Rwanda in as many as 30,000 crowding and the slow and asylum-seekers would moment because Africans will offer similar statement. Dozens of people died before being resettled else- Africans from Libya, pace of resettlement. be housed in facilities that are extending their hands assistance, though Elfadil from acute diarrhoea in Sudan where unless they agree to though the plan is for the Rwandan and UN offi- have previously been used to other Africans,” said said so far none have been in 2016 after thousands of cases return to their home process to unfold in batches cials “have learned from for Burundian refugees Amira Elfadil, the AU’s forthcoming. were reported nationwide. 12 ASIA WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2019 Panel formed to check assets, liabilities of new Union Territories

IANS A notification issued the serving officers belonging to SRINAGAR/NEW DELHI state and central services in the by the Ministry of Valley and the Jammu region The Central government Home Affairs said that would voluntarily opt to be part yesterday announced the the three-member of the Ladakh UT service. formation of a three-member advisory committee “To address this problem, advisory committee to supervise officers of the state would be sent the division of assets between the will include former on a three-year deputation to the two newly-formed Union Terri- Defence Secretary Ladakh UT. They would be drawn tories (UTs) of Ladakh and Sanjay Mitra, former from among the presently serving Jammu and Kashmir, which will IAS officer Arun Goyal central and state government formally come into existence on officers in the state. As the Ladakh October 31, 2019. and Giriraj Prasad, a UT cadre will start developing A notification issued by the former Indian Civil gradually, the practice of depu- Security forces stop Kashmiri civilians at a checkpoint during restrictions on movements, in Srinagar Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) tation can be called off at a later Accounts Service yesterday. said that the three-member officer. stage.” The official said that advisory committee will include division of assets will involve pro- former Defence Secretary Sanjay portionate division of arms and in place before the UTs come into External Affairs (MEA) yesterday Pakistan after the recent visit of Mitra, former IAS officer Arun ammunition for the police force, existence. The exercise has already rejected the reference to Jammu the Chinese Foreign Minister. Goyal and Giriraj Prasad, a decision will involve the division of vehicles, infrastructure started and once the advisory and Kashmir in the joint statement Jammu and Kashmir is an integral former Indian Civil Accounts allotment of civil servants drawn and other resources. committee sits to take the final call, issued by China and Pakistan in part of India.” India, on the other Service (ICAS) officer. out of the various existing “Similarly, division of assets the division of assets will become which China has reaffirmed its hand, expressed concern about The division of assets services of the state for the of all the other state departments formal,” the bureaucrat said. support to Pakistan on the issue. the China Pakistan Economic between the two UTs coming into Ladakh UT. Every department of such as revenue, finance, power Interestingly, even before the Responding to a query on the Corridor, project, which runs ille- existence on October 31, coin- the state government will have development, healthcare, edu- announcement to make Ladakh a reference to Jammu and Kashmir gally through Indian territory ciding with the birth anniversary to be considered while allotting cation, social welfare, rural UT, the state administration headed in the joint statement issued after occupied by Pakistan since 1947. of the country’s first Home Min- officers to the UT of Ladakh. development, public works and by Governor Satya Pal Malik had the Chinese Foreign Minister’s “India is resolutely opposed ister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, There are lesser number of tourism will take place propor- announced the creation of a sep- recent visit to Pakistan, the MEA to any actions by other countries involves an elaborate financial officers belonging to that region tionate to the population and arate division for the Ladakh region spokesperson Raveesh Kumar to change the status quo in and administrative exercise. who are presently serving the other determining parameters on the pattern of the Valley and the said: “We reject the reference to Pakistan occupied Kashmir. We A top bureaucrat here said: state government. of the newly carved out UTs. Jammu divisions. Jammu and Kashmir in the joint call on the parties concerned to “The major administrative “It is, therefore, unlikely that “Legally, the exercise has to be Meanwhile, the Ministry of statement issued by China and cease such actions,” Kumar said.

Former Hindu lawmaker from Feeling ‘betrayed’, Urmila Matondkar quits Congress IANS efforts — no action was taken in named certain key persons in the organisation for the betterment contested the Lok Sabha elec- Pakistan seeks MUMBAI pursuance of her explosive letter party’s local units at the block and of the party,” a peeved tions from Mumbai North against dated May 16 to the former ward levels and other infighting Matondkar pointed out. sitting Bharatiya Janata Party MP asylum in India Caught in a web of intra-party Mumbai Congress President which reportedly resulted in her She said her “political and Gopal Shetty, who won by a stag- politicking, Bollywood actress Milind Deora, which was ‘leaked’ maiden electoral loss in the Lok social sensibilities” refused to gering 4,65,000. IANS Urmila Matondkar abruptly quit in early July. Sabha polls earlier this year. allow vested interests in the Nevertheless, she led a high- CHANDIGARH the Congress yesterday, alleging “Thereafter, to my utter On the contrary, she pointed party to use her as a means “to profile election campaign ‘betrayal’ by the party. dismay, the said letter containing out that the persons she had spe- fight petty in-house politics”, attracting huge crowds in all her Former Hindu lawmaker from “I hereby resign from the privileged and confidential com- cifically mentioned in the letter instead of working on a bigger public meetings, rallies and Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Indian National Congress (INC) munication was conveniently to Deora for their “shoddy per- goal for the Mumbai Congress. door-to-door canvassing with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, as a member and from any post leaked to the media, which formance” in Mumbai Congress “I stand by all my thoughts different sections of people in Baldev Kumar, yesterday sought held in the INC. I thank you for according to me was an act of were rewarded with newer posi- and ideologies and will continue her constituency. political asylum from New Delhi. giving me the opportunity to blatant betrayal,” Matondkar said. tions, instead of being held to work for the people to the best Despite her resounding elec- He is staying with his wife work for INC,” said Matondkar She claimed that nobody accountable for their acts and of my capacity with honesty and toral debacle, she remained in Bhavana and two children in in a terse letter to interim Con- from the party was apologetic omissions. dignity. I thank all the people who the limelight and weathered his in-laws house in Punjab’s gress President Sonia Gandhi for the leak of the nine-page “It is obvious that the key helped and supported me through many a storm, including the res- Khanna town for over a month. dated September 7. letter, nor was anybody con- functionaries of Mumbai Con- my journey,” she signed off. ignation of Rahul Gandhi as Con- “Minorities in Pakistan are She said the first thoughts of cerned for her despite her gress are either unable or not The popular actress had gress President, followed by a not feeling secure and they have resigning from the party came repeated protests over the issue. committed to bring about a joined the Congress on March 27 string of changes in the Mumbai been denied rights. There is an when — despite her repeated In the letter, Matondkar had change and transformation in the this year and later unsuccessfully Congress. increase in atrocities and target killings. I was put behind bars for two years,” the former MLA from Barikot (reserved) seat in Madras HC lawyers Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly told reporters in Khanna, some 100km from the state capital. urge CJI to reconsider He said he won’t go back to Pakistan. “I came here with my full conscious mind. I am requesting Tahilramani transfer (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi saab to grant me asylum and IANS of the high court and erodes the provide me security,” he said. NEW DELHI primacy of position given to high Kumar, 43-year-old tur- courts in the constitutional baned man, said minorities Madras High Court lawyers have scheme of things,” the lawyers were being prosecuted in written a letter to Chief Justice said. Pakistan. He said killings of of the Supreme Court Ranjan In the letter, the lawyers Hindu and Sikh leaders were Gogoi urging him to reconsider have mentioned observation of being carried out. transfer of Justice Vijaya a constitution bench of the “My brothers are there (in Tahilramani to Meghalaya High Supreme Court of India in SP Pakistan). Many Sikh and Hindu Court and said that transfers Gupta Vs Union of India, which families want to immigrate to have become a weapon in the has observed: “The power of India. Gurdwaras are in bad hands of the powerful collegium. transfer is a highly dangerous shape. There is no respect for Madras High Court lawyers power involving great hardship the minorities. There are cases have also sent a representation to and, injury to the Judge trans- of forcible conversion and such the Chief Justice of India and the ferred including a stigma on his acts should not happen. A case members of Supreme Court Col- reputation in cases where the of forcible conversion of a Sikh legium saying that such kind of transfer is not effected pursuant girl to Islam came to light arbitrary transfer whittles away to any policy but the Judge is recently,” he said. the independence of the judiciary picked out for transfer on a He said he had expectations Procession in Allahabad and confidence of the judges. selective basis and to my mind, from Imran Khan but he too The letter said that transfers it makes no difference whether changed after winning the Muslim devotees catch free food items during a religious procession on the tenth day of Muharram, have become a weapon in the the transfer is made by the Gov- elections. (Ashura) in Allahabad, yesterday. hands of the all powerful col- ernment on its own initiative or legium, which is not a creation it is made at the instance of the of legislation but that of the judi- Chief Justice of India.” ciary itself and there are no “These words ring true in the ‘Illegal infiltrators will be dealt with as per law’ checks and balances in matters transfer of Chief Justice Vijaya of administration of the Tahilramani of the Madras High IANS While infiltrators would face be dealt with as per law,” she said. August 2005, she had thrown judiciary. Court who has unceremoniously KOLKATA the law, no genuine Indian The minister said Banerjee’s papers in the Lok Sabha after she The lawyers also mentioned been transferred from a char- citizen would suffer following stand on the NRC betrays her was not allowed to speak against a line of Justice Khalid, a former tered high court to the high court Attacking West Bengal Chief the NRC in Assam, Irani said. dichotomy on the issue of inclusion of illegal immigrants in judge of the Supreme Court, who of Meghalaya which has only Minister Mamata Banerjee for “No Indian will be left out, it infiltrators. the Bengal voter list,” Irani said. once recalled as to how transfer three judges in the all India sen- opposing National Register of is our commitment, and we are “The Trinamool’s stand About Banerjee’s Trinamool can be a more dangerous weapon iority,” the letter read. Citizens (NRC) and denying people dedicated towards protecting the betrays its dichotomy as during Congress organising street pro- than dismissal, reminding one of Justice Vijaya Tahilramani the fruits of central government rights of all citizens of the her days in the Congress, Ban- tests on the issue of NRC, Irani the dark days of Emergency. was the acting Chief Justice of schemes, Union Minister Smriti country,” Irani told a media meet erjee had organised a rally with pointed out that Union Home min- “The style of functioning of the Bombay High Court on two Irani yesterday asserted the here on the occasion of the Modi the slogan ‘no identity card no ister Amit Shah has already the collegium leaves one with occasions before she was ele- Narendra Modi regime was government completing 100 days vote’ in 1993 that led to the death declared on the floor of Par- the impression that the high vated as the Chief Justice of the committed to safeguarding the in its second term. “At the same of 13 Congress activists.” “While liament and all public fora that no court is subordinate to the col- Madras High Court on August 4 rights of every genuine citizen. time, the illegal infiltrators will she is opposing the NRC now, in genuine citizen would be left out. legium. This affects the majesty 2018. WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2019 ASIA 13 Pakistan urges UN probe of India’s actions in Kashmir

AFP “The forlorn, of communications restrictions GENEVA would depend on Pakistan traumatised towns, stopping deploying “terrorists” Pakistan’s foreign minister mountains, plains and fomenting unrest. demanded yesterday that the UN and valleys of Indian Indian-administered launch an international investi- Occupied Jammu and Kashmir has seen a decades-old gation into the situation in Indian armed rebellion — backed by Kashmir, warning of the risk of Kashmir reverberate Pakistan, New Delhi says — “genocide” in the Muslim- today, with the grim against Indian rule with tens of majority region. reminders of Rwanda, thousands, mostly civilians, “The people of Indian Srebrenica, the killed. Occupied Jammu and Kashmir Qureshi yesterday slammed are apprehending the worst,” Rohingya, and the India’s references to “cross- Shah Mehmood Qureshi told the pogrom of Gujarat,” border terrorism” to justify its UN Human Rights Council in Shah Mehmood crackdown as a “red herring to Geneva, adding “I shudder to Qureshi told the UN divert international opinion”, mention the word genocide here, and said he feared India might but I must.” Human Rights Council “even attack Pakistan”. India imposed a military in Geneva. He also insisted that India’s clampdown on Kashmir from labelling of the Kashmir situation August 5 to prevent unrest as as an “internal affair” was “pat- New Delhi revoked the disputed Jammu and Kashmir reverberate ently false”, pointing out that the region’s autonomy. Mobile phone today, with the grim reminders matter had been on the UN networks and the Internet are of Rwanda, Srebrenica, the agenda for seven decades. still cut off in all but a few Rohingya, and the pogrom of The minister urged the pockets. Gujarat,” he said. council to heed recommenda- Kashmir, split between India The minister accused India tions by UN rights chief Michelle Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi arrives to address the United Nations Human and Pakistan since 1947, has of having arrested more than Bachelet and her predecessor Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, yesterday. been the spark for two major 6,000 people without due Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein to launch wars and countless clashes process. Many had been “shipped a so-called international Com- between the two nuclear-armed to jails all over India”, he said. mission of Inquiry (COI) into the this context, constitute a Com- present a resolution to the lockdowns or curfews, to ensure arch-rivals. His comments came after Kashmir situation. mission of Inquiry,” Qureshi said. council for consideration by the people’s access to basic services, “For the last six weeks, India Indian authorities tightened the A COI is one of the UN’s “If India has nothing to hide, end of the 42nd session on Sep- and that all due process rights has transformed Occupied security lockdown in Kashmir on highest-level probes, generally it should allow unhindered tember 27. are respected for those who have Jammu and Kashmir into the Sunday after breaking up reli- reserved for major crises like the access to the Commission of At the opening of the council been detained”, she said. largest prison on this planet,” gious processions by Shiite Syrian conflict. Inquiry,” he insisted. Pakistan session on Monday, Bachelet also “It is important that the people Qureshi insisted. Muslims who defied a ban. The council must “take steps was willing to provide access to voiced alarm at the situation in of Kashmir are consulted and “The forlorn, traumatised Also over the weekend, to bring to justice the perpetrators its side of the so-called Line of Kashmir. engaged in any decision-making towns, mountains, plains and India’s national security advisor of human rights violations of the Control, he added. She had “appealed particu- processes that have an impact on valleys of Indian Occupied Ajit Doval insisted that the lifting innocent Kashmiri people, and in Pakistan is expected to larly to India to ease the current their future,” she added.

Over 41,500 cases pending Taliban vow to fight on as Trump says talks are ‘dead’ AFP Taliban spokesman Zabihullah outside Washington. expectations of a deal that would that the Taliban had been about in Pakistan’s KABUL Mujahid said. Driving another nail into the see the US draw down troop to visit the presidential retreat on “If Trump wants to stop talks, coffin of what had appeared to levels in Afghanistan. the eve of the anniversary of the Supreme Court, The Taliban yesterday vowed to we will take the first way and be nearly finalised negotiations, In return, the Taliban would September 11 terrorist attacks. continue fighting against US they will soon regret it.” The Tal- Trump said a US military offer security guarantees to keep There was also widespread says report forces in Afghanistan after Pres- iban’s statement came hours onslaught on the guerrillas was extremist groups out. consternation at the character- ident Donald Trump said talks after Trump told reporters that at its fiercest level in a decade. But then on Saturday, Trump istically unpredictable manner INTERNEWS with the insurgents were “dead”, the US was walking away from “Over the last four days, we revealed that he had cancelled of Trump’s negotiating style. KARACHI saying Washington would regret negotiations after nearly a year have been hitting our Enemy an unprecedented meeting But Trump denied any abandoning negotiations. of talks that aimed to pave the harder than at any time in the last between the Taliban and himself discord among government More than 41,500 cases are The renewed war of words way for an American withdrawal ten years!” he wrote in a tweet. at storied Camp David. members including Vice-Pres- pending before the Supreme between the two sides raised the from Afghanistan following 18 On Sunday, Secretary of He said this was in retaliation ident Mike Pence. Court of Pakistan, according to spectre of violence in Afghan- years of war. State Mike Pompeo said that for the killing of a US soldier by In a tweet, he accused jour- the fortnightly report of the istan as Trump and the Taliban “They are dead. As far as I am “we’ve killed over a thousand the Taliban in a huge Kabul nalists of trying “to create the apex court. The report said 592 pledged to take the fight to each concerned, they are dead,” Taliban in just the last 10 days.” bomb blast last week. The can- look of turmoil in the White cases were decided from other following the precipitous Trump said at the White House. Trump angrily denied that the cellation, announced on Twitter, House, of which there is none”. August 16 to 31 whereas 721 collapse in talks. The announcement followed whiplash effect of his sudden was the first time most Amer- Trump added that he had no new cases were instituted “We had two ways to end Trump’s dramatic cancellation shifts on Afghanistan was icans learned that such a dra- second thoughts about his during this period and the total occupation in Afghanistan, one of a top-secret plan to fly Taliban causing turmoil. matic meeting was even planned. actions. “In terms of advisers, I pending cases stood at 41,545 was jihad and fighting, the other leaders in for direct talks at the Until this weekend, there had Many in Washington were took my own advice,” he later at the end of August. was talks and negotiations,” Camp David presidential facility been steadily mounting shocked and some were angry told reporters. On August 15, the pendency was at 41,416 and the principal seat of the apex court in IS remains resilient in Islamabad had decided 311 cases in two weeks, the Lahore registry disposed of 193 cases and 88 cases Afghanistan: UN chief met the ends of justice at the Supreme Court Karachi registry AP settlement with the Taliban on while no case was decided at the UNITED NATIONS Saturday. Peshawar and Quetta registries Guterres cautioned, however, during this period, the report said. UN Secretary-General Antonio that a peace process could only Similarly, the principal seat Guterres said the Islamic State be sustained if it is inclusive, pro- had received the highest numbers (IS) extremist group remains tects the rights of all Afghans, and of cases 292, a total of 250 cases resilient in Afghanistan despite “a is “grounded in a broad con- were filed at the Lahore registry, high pace” of operations against sensus.” He reiterated his call for 116 at the Karachi registry, 45 it by government and interna- direct talks between the Taliban cases at the Peshawar registry and tional forces — and is urging all and the government, which the 18 cases were instituted at the armed groups not to interfere in Taliban has rejected. apex court Quetta registry during the upcoming presidential The secretary-general said the same period, it added. election. Afghanistan’s “volatile security sit- The Sindh High Court asked The UN chief said in a report uation is highly concerning,” citing the Sindh Health Care Com- to the Security Council circulated direct threats to the presidential mission (SHCC) to furnish a list Monday that between mid-June election scheduled for September of registered healthcare facil- and early September 183 incidents 28 “by anti-government elements ities in the province. were attributed to IS fighters, that may discourage many The two-judge bench nearly double the 93 incidents Afghans from voting.” headed by Justice Mohammad during the same period in 2018. Guterres called on the Taliban Ali Mazhar also directed the Guterres’ report was written and other armed groups, including lawyer for the SHCC to come before US President Donald Islamic State, “to desist from up with facts and figures about Trump abruptly ended a nearly threatening or targeting electoral the clinical audit of hospitals as Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers stand guard at a checkpoint in Kabul, Afghanistan, yesterday. yearlong effort to reach a political staff, candidates or voters.” well as ensure the attendance of officials concerned to assist the court on October 1. The bench was hearing a Nasa pioneers malaria-predicting tech in Myanmar petition about the death of several patients, including nine-month- AFP week in The Lancet argued. migrate to Africa where more than “A lot of people use a little teams of researchers carrying out old Nashwa, due to alleged YANGON Malaria cases and deaths 90 percent of cases globally occur. spatial modelling... but not to the in-depth surveys with sample medical negligence on the part of plummeted by more than 90 To counter this threat, Nasa same depth and capabilities as populations in the field. private healthcare institutions. Nasa is developing a new tech- percent in Myanmar between is deploying “cutting edge” spatial we’re doing here,” said Loboda, The project is only in its third The petitioners contended nique to forecast malaria 2010 and 2017, World Health technology to tackle malaria out- a professor at Maryland year but Loboda’s team has that there was a provision outbreaks in Myanmar from Organisation (WHO) figures breaks before they happen, sci- University. already seen a high correlation under Section 4(5) of Sindh space, as the emergence of new show, a success largely credited entist Tatiana Loboda said. The satellites provide mete- between the rate of deforestation Health Care Act, 2013 to drug-resistant strains in to better rural health services and She is applying her expertise orological data, including land and the disease. conduct a third party evaluation Southeast Asia threatens efforts wider use of treated bed nets. in geo-spatial and risk modelling surface temperatures, atmos- One unproven theory is that through independent per- to wipe out the deadly disease But the country still has a — coupled with a background in pheric water content and infor- these areas — often dotted with formance/clinical audit of hos- globally. higher prevalence than its neigh- predicting wildfire outbreaks in mation about land cover, logging sites, mines and planta- pitals in both public and private The goal of worldwide bours in the Mekong region. the US — to identify potential including forest, shrubland, set- tions — are host to a dispropor- sectors, adding that the SHCC malaria eradication within a Several drug-resistant strains hotspots so medicines and health tlements or water. tionate number of migrant or sea- also has more wide ranging generation, by 2050, is “bold but are taking hold across Southeast workers can be mobilised in These are then combined with sonal workers, bringing with them powers. attainable”, a report released this Asia and it is feared these could advance. socio-economic data gathered by new strains of the parasite. 14 ASIA WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2019 Malaysia shuts over 400 schools as haze from Indonesian fires spreads

BLOOMBERG KUALA LUMPUR Half a million face masks Malaysia closed more than 400 sent to haze-hit state schools, citing unhealthy air quality as smoke and ash from raging forest fires in Indonesia REUTERS/KUALA LUMPUR spread to more areas in coun- tries from Thailand to the Phil- Malaysia sent half a million face masks to the eastern state of ippines. Sarawak as a haze spread from forest fires, officials said. Malaysian authorities Smoke was drifting over from blazes in neighbouring Indo- ordered the closing of schools in nesia, Malaysian authorities said — though Indonesia dismissed Sarawak state after the air quality that accusation and said forest fires had also started in other coun- reached “very unhealthy” levels tries across the region. —a reading of between 201-300 Singapore said its air conditions could reach unhealthy levels on the air quality index, the edu- over the next 24 hours if the wind kept bringing in pollution, and Malaysia’s skyline with landmark Petronas Twin Towers (background left) and Kuala Lumpur Tower cation ministry said in a advised anyone feeling unwell to seek medical attention. (right) are seen shrouded in haze, in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. statement. The haze also engulfed Forest fires have raged through parts of the Indonesian island the southern provinces of the of Sumatra and the province of Kalimantan on Borneo in recent Philippines and Songkhla in weeks, forcing the government to send in thousands of military suggest that the haze in Malaysia Singapore has been experi- workers to extinguish forest Thailand. and police to douse the flames. was caused by the fires in Indo- encing slightly hazy conditions and land fires in more than Indonesia has warned of an Indonesia’s neighbours have regularly complained about smog nesia, she said. since last morning due to smoke 1,600 spots. The disaster miti- increase in the number of caused by its forest blazes—often started by farmers trying to clear With a total of 328,724 hec- blown in by persistent hotspots gation agency is using 37 air- hotspots this year, reviving fears land for palm oil and pulp plantations. tares consisting of 89,563 hec- in Sumatra, the National Envi- craft for water bombing, of a repeat of the deadly haze Malaysia’s national disaster management agency (NADMA) tares of peat-land being affected ronment Agency said, adding the weather modification and arti- which engulfed Singapore, parts said it had sent 500,000 face masks to the state, after the air pol- by the forest fires, authorities pollutant index was trending ficial rain operations, it said in of Indonesia, Malaysia and lution index reached unhealthy levels yesterday. have stepped efforts to contain toward an unhealthy range. The a statement. Thailand for over a month in One Sarawak district saw a “very unhealthy” pollution level the damage. gauge stood at 85-97 last The blazes are often started 2015. More than 2,500 hotspots of 201, while unhealthy readings were seen in five other Malaysian The disaster mitigation afternoon, deteriorating from to clear land for plantations in scattered throughout Southeast states on the country’s peninsular, the agency said. agency is using 46 helicopters for 72-80 a day earlier, agency data the world’s largest producer of Asia were detected in the past water bombing, weather modifi- show. A gauge above 100 is the edible oil from palm trees. week, Indonesia’s weather cation and artificial rain opera- “unhealthy”, according to a The recurrence of fires prompted agency said on Sunday, citing sat- equator in Indonesia until next Karnawati, head of the nation’s tions, Raffles Brotestes Panjaitan, health advisory by the agency. Indonesian President Joko ellite data. month as the start of the rainy the Meteorology, Climatology director for forest fire control at Indonesia has deployed Widodo to make permanent a Hotspots may continue to season is seen delayed to and Geophysics Agency. the environment and forestry thousands of military, police and ban on clearing new forest land emerge in southern parts of the November, said Dwikorita There was no evidence to ministry, told reporters in Jakarta. disaster mitigation agency for farming. Indonesian police arrest 85 over Papua riots Abe set to bring telegenic son AFP/JAKARTA of former premier into cabinet

Indonesian authorities have to support Abe’s policy of pro- arrested 85 people linked to moting nuclear power. Junichiro weeks of deadly unrest in Papua, Koizumi, now retired from par- police said, as Jakarta accused liament, emerged as a harsh an exiled separatist leader of critic of atomic energy after the stoking riots in its easternmost 2011 nuclear disaster at the tsu- territory. nami-wrecked Fukushima Tens of thousands protested nuclear plant. across Papua — on the western Shinjiro grabbed headlines half of New Guinea island — as last month with news that he anger over racism and fresh calls would marry Christel Takigawa, for self-rule fuelled mass dem- a French-Japanese television onstrations and violent clashes presenter, and they will soon with security forces. have a baby. Abe is set to retain Officially, five demonstrators REUTERS/TOKYO Finance Minister Taro Aso, 78, and a soldier were killed, but and Chief Cabinet Secretary activists say the civilian death Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Yoshihide Suga, 70, both of toll is higher. Abe will draft the son of former whom have served in their posi- Jakarta blocked internet premier Junichiro Koizumi into tions since the conservative services in Papua, making it dif- his cabinet and keep allies in key leader returned to office in 2012, ficult to independently verify Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo (centre) meeting some 61 Papuan and West Papuan religious posts in a reshuffle today, media promising to reboot the information. The ban has been and student leaders, customary and communities chiefs at the state palace in Jakarta, yesterday. reported, as Abe readies a tax economy and bolster the mil- gradually lifted though remains rise and aims to revise the itary, political sources and in effect in some cities. pacifist constitution. media said. Foreigners have also been suspects in other parts of the spread fake news about the chairman of the United Liber- Abe, poised to become Aso must help ensure the restricted from entering the country and issued an arrest unrest on her social media ation Movement for West Papua, Japan’s longest-serving premier economy weathers an increase region over what the gov- warrant for a prominent Indo- account. saying he stoked riots to draw in November, will appoint tele- in the sales tax to 10% from 8% ernment said were security con- nesian lawyer and Papuan rights Authorities also pointed a global attention to renewed calls genic Shinjiro Koizumi, 38 (pic- in October, which could dampen cerns. Authorities have arrested defender over allegations she finger at Benny Wenda, for an independence vote. tured), whom surveys show consumption when a U.S.-China voters favour as their next trade war is clouding growth. leader, to the environment min- Abe is also poised to keep Thailand first in ister post, NHK public television veteran lawmaker Toshihiro China slams Germany over HK activist visit reported. The appointment, Nikai, 80, as Liberal Democratic Asia to roll out although to one of the less pow- Party (LDP) secretary general, plain cigarette AFP/BERLIN Beijing reacted angrily to to intervene,” Hua said, adding erful cabinet posts, could give a the party’s number two post, their meeting during an event that Beijing “strongly disap- popularity boost to the new political sources and media said. packaging Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong organised by Bild daily, saying proves” of the meeting. But line-up. Cabinet posts will be Several likely ministers are has met Germany’s foreign “it is extremely wrong for Wong shrugged off Beijing’s announced on Wednesday after seen as possible contenders to AFP/BANGKOK minister as he carries abroad his German media and politicians remarks, calling them “baffling”. the current cabinet resigns and succeed Abe, including his right- call to support the growing pro- to attempt to tap into the anti- “This tactic won’t make China officials have not commented on hand aide Suga. Another would- Thailand rolled out plain ciga- democracy movement in the China separatist wave”. look powerful,” he wrote on media reports about possible be premier is Economy Minister rette packaging yesterday, the former British colony, a meeting “It is disrespectful of China’s Twitter. Wong, a prominent face appointments. The cabinet debut Toshimitsu Motegi, 63, a first country in Asia to introduce slammed yesterday by China as sovereignty and an interference in Hong Kong’s growing pro- of the younger Koizumi, known Harvard-educated lawmaker what activists say is an effective “disrespectful”. in China’s internal affairs,” said democracy protests, planned to as Shinjiro to distinguish him from with a reputation as a tough way to reduce the appeal of Posting a photo of himself Chinese foreign ministry spokes- hold talks with other German his father, could bolster his chance negotiator likely to take over at smoking. and Foreign Minister Heiko Maas woman Hua Chunying. politicians during his visit to of competing to succeed Abe the foreign ministry from Taro In 2012 Australia became on his Twitter account, the “I want to stress once again Berlin. when the prime minister’s term Kono. Motegi will probably stay the first country to require 22-year-old said they spoke on that Hong Kong affairs are But there are no plans for as ruling Liberal Democratic Party in charge of trade talks with the tobacco products to be sold the “protest situation and our purely China’s internal affairs. Chancellor Angela Merkel to chief ends in September 2021. United States ahead of a without colourful brand logos. cause to free election and No foreign government, organ- meet him, her spokesman But it could also put him in deadline for a deal later this Since then a host of mostly democracy in HK”. isation or individual has the right Steffen Seibert said on Monday. an awkward position of having month, media reported. European countries have fol- lowed suit, including France, Hungary and the UK. Thailand agreed last year to Thai opposition calls on cabinet member to clear his name comply with the World Health Organisation guidelines, and REUTERS Deputy agriculture minister Chan-ocha’s government and his name then he should resign accused his political opponents packs officially showed up in BANGKOK Thammanat Prompao dismissed was a key player in forging the from the cabinet and par- of planting the story in the Aus- stores Tuesday. Businesses have the report by two Australian former junta leader’s 17-party liament,” Adisorn Piengkes, tralian media to discredit him. until December 8 to phase out Thailand’s opposition called on newspapers, the Sydney Morning coalition after elections in March. spokesman for a seven-party “I did not commit the wrong- stocks before facing fines of up yesterday for a cabinet member Herald and The Age. Thammanat The Australian papers said opposition alliance called the doings as written,” Thammanat to 40,000 baht ($1,300). and prominent ruling party has previously said that he that Thammanat had been jailed Democratic Front said. told reporters. The standardised packaging figure to clear his name after received a minor conviction in for four years for drug traf- “The prime minister should Prayuth defended the includes a graphic picture of Australian media reported that Australia in the 1990s. ficking, citing court documents also take responsibility for decision to appoint Thammanat tobacco’s effects on the body he had been jailed for four years Thammanat has described and old newspaper reports. appointing him to the cabinet,” to the cabinet, saying: “He is here and the logo-free brand name on a drugs charge in Australia in himself as “the main artery” in “This is a major allegation he said. Thammanat rejected today after his qualifications written in plain font. the 1990s. Prime Minister Prayuth and if Thammanat cannot clear calls for his resignation and were verified.” WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2019 EUROPE 15 New EU chief names team for climate, global challenges

REUTERS Ursula von der Leyen Her “college” of commis- BRUSSELS said her team would sioners will take office on November 1, assuming they The European Union must lead the be “geopolitical”, secure approval from the fight against climate change, build implying that the EU European Parliament — not a ties with the United States and should play a greater given after it only narrowly Africa and face up to a more role in world affairs. backed the German in July. assertive China, the incoming chief Greens lawmakers have of the EU executive said yesterday. already expressed concern that Ursula von der Leyen gave opportunities and a need to her commissioners include Hun- jobs to her 27-strong team, laying respond to unease among many gary’s ex-justice minister, who heavy stress on a “Green Deal”, Europeans about changes ahead they say has undermined the rule technological threats and to their way of life. of law there. Von der Leyen’s team will succeed that of Jean-Claude New defence and space Juncker, who faced the aftermath of the sovereign debt crisis, a arm ‘to complement Nato’ migration crisis, Britain’s vote to leave the bloc and a more pro- REUTERS importance,” she told a news tectionist United States under BRUSSELS conference. President Donald Trump. Von der Leyen, a former Juncker dubbed his team the The European Union will create German defence minister, said “political” commission. Von der a new defence and space arm the plans would benefit the Leyen said hers would be “geo- to help fund, develop and US-led Nato alliance to which political”, implying that the EU deploy armed forces, the bloc’s many EU states belong, adding: should play a greater role in European Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen unveils the new College of Commissioners, incoming chief executive said “Nato will always be (our) col- world affairs. during her press conference, in Brussels, yesterday. on Tuesday, naming an ally of lective defence.” Announcing the key roles in French President Emmanuel Sylvie Goulard, a former her line-up, she said Denmark’s partnership with the United monopolies and imposed hefty after Brexit. Macron for the role. long-time EU lawmaker cur- Margrethe Vestager would States, define our relations with fines on tech giants Apple and The economic portfolio goes The creation of a defence rently at France’s central bank, remain in charge of competition a more self-assertive China and Alphabet unit Google . to former Italian Prime Minister branch in the European Com- will be responsible for the new policy and Irishman Phil Hogan be a reliable neighbour, for Competition is seen as a top Paolo Gentiloni at a time when mission, long resisted by Britain, directorate general, as commis- would take on trade. example to Africa,” she said. job, with Germany and France the continent is struggling with is an attempt by President-elect sioner for industrial policy. Von der Leyen will become The EU would be the pressing for the bloc to soften its weak growth, a possible Ursula von der Leyen to stem a Although von der Leyen the first woman to head the “guardian of multilateralism”, anti-monopoly rules to help recession in Germany, and decline in EU influence, as it gave few details, the defence European Commission after she said, recognising that some European industrial champions battles with Italy over budgetary faces heavy US pressure to do arm will build on an EU military promising a platform of a tasks could not be achieved by compete with rivals from China restraint. more for its own security. pact signed in late 2017 to inte- greener, fairer and rule-based Europe alone. and the United States. Gentiloni will have to agree “The European Union will grate defence forces by working Europe. The bloc should be a bigger Hogan, currently in charge budget decisions with former never be a military alliance,” on new weapons and contrib- Her proposed team offers player in artificial intelligence of agriculture, will face a battle Latvian Prime Minister Valdis von der Leyen said. “But the uting to rapid deployments. rough gender balance, a plus and big data and improve its to resolve trade tensions with US Dombrovskis, who has a repu- European Union member states Washington supports the point for EU lawmakers, with 13 defence against cyber attacks. President Donald Trump’s tation as a tough enforcer of have been told many times ... initiative, but has also warned women and 14 men. Holding the influential com- administration and will be in fiscal discipline and will be in that common procurement for against shutting US companies “We will take bold action petition portfolio for the past five charge of establishing future charge overall of the Commis- their armed forces is of utmost out of defence contracts. against climate change, build our years, Vestager has fought economic relations with Britain sion’s economic affairs.

Greece authorities probe missing N Ireland court set to issue ruling on no-deal Brexit case weapons at base REUTERS taking the case, said he was it secures a deal on an orderly across the United Kingdom chal- “We go Thursday with a pos- BELFAST hopeful the judge would refer it exit. lenging Johnson’s plans. The itive attitude,” he told Reuters. “I AFP to the British Supreme Court. A lawyer representing John- Supreme Court is due to hear an believe very strongly that the ATHENS Belfast’s High Court is to rule “I will provide the reserve son’s government on Monday said appeal on September 17 over case needs to be heard in the tomorrow on the legality of a judgement of the court on under Article 50 of the Treaty on legal challenges to his decision Supreme Court in London along Greece’s navy is investigating British exit from the European Thursday morning,” said Judge European Union, the obligation to suspend parliament for five with the two other cases from the loss of weapons at a base Union without a withdrawal Bernard McCloskey, who also to negotiate is on Brussels rather weeks. England and Scotland.” on Leros island, officials said, agreement after an activist heard arguments that a no-deal than the member state. British Rights activist McCord said Lawmakers who are con- amid reports that armour- argued such a move would not Brexit is not provided for in legislation in 2017 and 2018 he was positive about the pros- cerned about the economic piercing rounds and grenades be compatible with Northern existing legislation. “assumes but does not require a pects of the Northern Ireland fallout from a no-deal Brexit had gone missing. Ireland’s 1998 peace accord. Prime Minister Boris Johnson Withdrawal Agreement,” said the challenge and wanted it to be have voted to force Johnson to “A discrepancy has been Rights campaigner Raymond has said Britain must leave the lawyer, Tony McGleenan. joined to the Supreme Court seek a delay to avoid leaving discovered between projected McCord, one of three people EU on October 31 whether or not The case is one of a series appeal. without an agreement. and actual military equipment at the Leros naval technical installation,” navy spokesman Michail Lambiris said in a France moves to lift secrecy statement. “Army and police authorities are investigating.” on deadly 1968 plane crash The discovery was made on Monday during an inventory AFP the theory of an accidential check, Lambiris added. MARSEILLE missile launch needed to be The navy did not give details taken “very seriously”. but reports said the missing French authorities are working In a letter to Mathieu Paoli, weapons included armour- to declassify military files linked president of the victims’ associ- piercing rounds and grenades. to a mysterious crash more than ation, Macron wrote that he 50 years ago of an Air France “understands your search to plane that plunged into the uncover the truth”. Polish ruling party Mediterranean just minutes It added that he had asked before it was due to land, killing Defence Minister Florence Parly chief to undergo all 95 people aboard, families to declassify documents if nec- 2 knee replacements said. essary and that the ministry was French President “pursuing its research to identify REUTERS/WARSAW Emmanuel Macron pledged to documents that might have been open up military records in a overlooked in previous Poland’s ruling party leader, letter to an association of investigations”. Children gather in front of the house where a shooting incident took place, in Dordrecht, yesterday. Jaroslaw Kaczynski, said that victims’ families as they prepare Paoli, whose parents were he would have two knee- to mark the 51st anniversary of aboard the flight, has long replacement operations after the disaster near the southern sought to prove the authorities the October 13 elections, Dutch shooting incident claims fourth life city of Nice. covered up a missile strike, following speculation about his AFP port of Rotterdam. Tjon-A-Sam said. “We are still Many relatives have long citing claims from an ex-military health. THE HAGUE Police said the 35-year-old investigating but we believe that suspected the Caravelle en route officer and others. Kaczynski, the head of the officer, identified only as it had to do with a family drama.” from Ajaccio on the island of Paoli and his brother also conservative Law and Justice A woman has died of her wounds Wendell C in Dutch media, shot A police statement said that Corsica was downed by a missile found the ship’s log for the (PiS) party, canceled a campaign in hospital after her estranged dead his two daughters aged 12 “the dead man is a policeman of on September 11, 1968, during French Navy’s Suffren missile event in January this year due Dutch policeman husband shot and eight, and left his partner the Rotterdam police unit.” French military exercises in the launching ship, which was in the to unspecified health problems. her and his two young daughters seriously wounded before taking The man and his wife were area. waters near Nice at the time, but Last year, party officials before turning the gun on himself, his own life. in the process of separating but The official version blamed discovered that the entry for said he was having trouble with prosecutors said yesterday. The 27-year-old woman were still living together in the a fire on board that prompted September 11, 1968, had been his knees, and investors said The shooting happened on “died of her wounds in hospital same home, the media reported. pilots to lose control. torn out. worries that it might be some- Monday night at a home in the this (Tuesday) morning,” Rot- The incident has shocked the In March 2018, an investi- Ceremonies marking the thing worse weighed on the Dutch city of Dordrecht, a river terdam public prosecution country where firearm-related gating magistrate requested disaster are scheduled in both stock market. city about 25km southwest of the service spokeswoman Rubinia deaths are relatively low. access to the secret files, saying Nice and Ajaccio this week. Malta agrees to let five more migrants stranded on boat disembark REUTERS government said yesterday. Italy, had refused to allow the its search and rescue zone. dropped the judicial protest filed scaled wire walls and unfurled VALLETTA The five were part of a group charity boat to enter its waters. The government has not yet against Malta,” it said in a banners demanding ‘freedom’ of 13 rescued off Tunisia at the The vessel is operated by the replied to the case and it said that statement. and ‘humanity’ at a detention Malta will let five Tunisian end of August. Eight have already German NGO Sea Eye, which it had now been dropped by Sea It did not say which countries centre on Monday. migrants stranded on the been transferred to Malta for filed a protest against the Malta Eye. would take in the migrants. They protested that they had migrant rescue ship Alan Kurdi medical reasons, with some government in a Maltese court “Malta agreed to be part of a A group of migrants recently been held in detention for disembark after two European having attempted suicide, last week. It said Malta had a European solution to solve the rescued by NGO rescue ships and several weeks with no indi- Union countries agreed to take according to the ship’s crew. duty to take in the migrants impasse by offering disembar- brought to Malta pending their cation of when they would be them in, the Maltese Malta, like neighbouring because they were picked up in kation after NGO Sea-Eye... transfer to other countries, released. 16 EUROPE WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2019 Kremlin calls reports of US spy ‘pulp fiction’ REUTERS It is true that investigation into his suspected was Oleg Smolenkov, said. extracted who and saved who Yuri Ushakov who does have MOSCOW Smolenkov worked murder in Montenegro before Asked about the matter, from who and so on - this is more access to the Russian leader. in the presidential concluding he was alive and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry the genre of pulp fiction, crime Russian Foreign Minister The Kremlin played down administration, but he living abroad. Peskov said that Smolenkov had reading, so let’s leave it up to Sergei Lavrov said yesterday that reports of a CIA spy inside Kommersant published a worked in the Russian presi- them,” said Peskov. he had never heard of Smo- Russia’s presidential adminis- was fired several years picture of a house in Virginia dential administration but had Smolenkov at different times lenkov. “I have never seen this tration, but said an official iden- ago. His job was not at which it said had been later been fired in 2016/17. worked at the Russian Embassy man, have never met him, and tified by Russian media as the a senior official level: bought by the Smolenkovs and “It is true that Smolenkov in the US in the Russian gov- have never monitored his career likely US mole had worked there Dmitry Peskov linked to details of the property’s worked in the presidential ernment administration and in or movements.” although he did not have access purchase, including its exact administration, but he was fired the Russian presidential admin- CNN reported on Monday to President Vladimir Putin. address, in a real estate listing several years ago. His job was not istration, open source documents that the US decision to extract its CNN reported on Monday that Kremlin officials had made and a local county tax filing. at a senior official level.” inside Russia show. informant had occurred soon that the United States had suc- public what they claimed was the One US official familiar with Smolenkov did not have His wife worked in another after a May 2017 meeting in the cessfully extracted one of its individual’s name. the background to the story said direct access to Putin, Peskov Kremlin department, Kom- Oval Office in which US Pres- highest-level covert sources Russian daily newspaper it was not necessarily totally added, declining with a laugh to mersant said. ident Donald Trump had dis- inside Russia in 2017. Kommersant said yesterday the stupid or against standard spy confirm whether he had been a It cited some unnamed cussed highly classified intelli- Two sources familiar with US official may have been a man practice for a defector to buy US agent or not. sources as saying they thought gence with Lavrov. monitoring of Russian activities called Oleg Smolenkov, who is property in his own name. He did “I can’t confirm that ... I don’t Smolenkov had only done routine Lavrov said that nobody had confirmed that such CIA reported to have disappeared not say why. know whether he was an agent. work and could not have passed divulged any secrets to him at the informant did exist inside the with his wife, Antonina, and But now that the story had I can only confirm that there was anything more than “two-bit meeting with Trump. Russian government and had three children while on holiday become public it was highly such a person in the presidential rumours” to Americans. A US government source also been extracted and brought to in Montenegro in June 2017. likely the US government would administration, who was later But other sources were cited insisted that Trump did not dis- the United States. It cited unnamed Russian law have to make serious efforts to sacked. as saying that Smolenkov close secrets, such as the inform- The sources indicated that US enforcement officials as saying protect the defector, the source, “All this US media specu- worked with and enjoyed the ant’s existence or identity, at any officials were seriously concerned Moscow had initially opened an who did not dispute the mole lation about who urgently trust of Putin foreign policy aide meeting with Russian officials. Spanish court to Ukraine’s parliament rule on Franco exhumation on passes impeachment bill September 24 REUTERS meaningless. The law was KIEV passed at a first reading and then AFP immediately voted on again a MADRID Ukraine’s ruling party yesterday second time. Typically, legis- passed legislation that allows a lation is sent to a committee for Spain’s Supreme Court said that sitting president to be further scrutiny before being it will announce on September impeached if the leader breaks voted on again. Ruslan Ste- 24 its ruling on the govern- the law, acting on an election fanchuk, Zelenskiy’s represent- ment’s plans to remove the pledge by President Volodymyr ative to parliament, said the vote remains of dictator Francisco Zelensky on the campaign trail showed the president was com- Franco from a state mausoleum, this year. mitted to keeping promises. a move fiercely opposed by his The impeachment legis- Under the new law, par- descendants. lation aims to make the pres- liament must first initiate Prime Minister Pedro ident more accountable by impeachment proceedings, Sanchez’s Socialist government ensuring the post is not above which must then be approved had planned to move his the law. It follows last week’s by both the Constitutional Court remains from the Valley of the ending of lawmakers’ immunity and Supreme Court, and later be Fallen near Madrid to a more from prosecution. sanctioned by three-quarters of discreet family tomb on June Buttressed by an unprece- lawmakers. 10. dented parliamentary majority “Perhaps the president was But six days beforehand, the after a snap July election, Zel- deceived, because this bill on court suspended the exhu- enskiy’s Servant of the People impeachment does not really mation pending the outcome of party has set an ambitious time- change anything. This is a col- an appeal by Franco’s heirs. table for passing such reforms. lection of articles of the consti- The government has made Catherine visits ‘Back to Nature’ festival But opponents of yesterday’s tution,” said Roman Lozinsky of transferring Franco’s remains vote said the legislation was the Voice party. Britain’s Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, interacts with guests as she visits the “Back To Nature” a priority since Sanchez took rushed through without proper “In fact, it is only a facade of festival at RHS Garden Wisley, near Woking, Surrey, in Britain, yesterday. office in June 2018, arguing the consultation and that the law reform that does not change country could not “continue to itself was so convoluted as to be anything.” glorify” the dictator. But the plan has divided opinion in a country still con- flicted over the dictatorship that Dutch govt aims to halt gas extraction by mid-2022 ended with Franco’s death in 1975. AP because it has caused a series of “Phasing out gas extraction metres next year, which will cost lucrative for the companies and The court said it would THE HAGUE earthquakes that have badly is the way to tackle the earth- the government $440m in lost the Dutch government. issue its ruling on the appeal damaged thousands of homes in quake problems at the source,” income. Groninger Gasberaad, an against the exhumation on Sep- The Dutch government the region in recent years. Wiebes said. Energy giants Shell and Esso umbrella group of organisations tember 24 at 10:00 am (0800 announced yesterday that it Last year, the government “Groningen will become — now ExxonMobil — set up a with concerns about gas GMT). expects to stop extracting gas said it planned to fully stop safer because of this accelerated joint venture to explore for gas extraction in the region, wel- Franco, who ruled with an from a vast underground field in drilling by 2030. phasing out.” shortly after World War II. comed the news, but said in a iron fist following the end of the the country’s north by mid-2022, Economic Affairs and He said that if 2022 proves In the year 1959, it dis- tweet: “Will we also get a guar- 1936 to 1939 civil war, is buried ending decades of lucrative Climate Minister Eric Wiebes to be an unusually cold year then covered the Groningen gas field, antee that all people in Gron- in an imposing basilica carved drilling. informed Dutch lawmakers of a small amount of gas may still one of the world’s largest, with ingen will be fully compensated into a mountain in the Valley of The government has been the likely end of drilling in the be extracted. 2,800 billion cubic metres of in 2022 and will be able to live the Fallen, 50km outside under pressure to halt gas Groningen gas field in a letter to Wiebes said that extraction reserves. without damage, safely and with Madrid. extraction in Groningen province parliament. will be cut to 11.8 billion cubic It has been incredibly secure house prices.” EU rules against Norway’s child Italy’s new govt wins second confidence vote welfare agency ‘abduction’ case AP of drafting a budget law, AFP move Lobben unsuccessfully ROME which must be PARIS fought in the courts including at approved by Parliament the European rights court in Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte’s by the end of the year. Europe’s top rights courts ruled Strasbourg, France, in 2017. new pro-Europe government The Italian government against Norway’s child welfare But on appeal in a ruling, the cleared a second key hurdle, must avert a 23 billion agency yesterday in a case that court’s Grand Chamber ruled winning a confidence vote euro sales tax hike that has highlighted practices which that Norway had “unequivocally yesterday in the Senate where would prove very critics see as being responsible for interfered” with her right to his uneasy, left-leaning coalition unpopular with voters state-sanctioned “kidnappings”. respect for her family life. commands a slim majority. and would further hit Known as Barnevernet, the It found that by severely lim- After easily clinching a first Italy’s weak economic agency provides a host of iting family contact sessions confidence vote Monday in the growth. services to parents in need but while in foster care, the author- lower Chamber of Deputies, In the Senate has come under fire in recent ities made it unlikely that Conte successfully sought debate, Salvini blamed years for removing children Lobben would be able to rebuild support in the Senate, drawing Conte for having from their parents and placing a relationship with her son “and 169 votes in favor, 133 against. “betrayed Italians” for them in care. had never seriously contem- Five senators abstained, assembling a new coa- The case at the European plated their being reunited.” including at least one apiece lition that deprived him Court of Human Rights involved The court also said officials from the two parties in the coa- of an early election that Italy’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte (second right) shaking hands with a woman, Trude Strand Lobben, failed to take into account the lition: the populist 5-Star he was hoping would Italy’s Minister for Parliamentary Relations, Federico d’Inca after the results who had sought child welfare fact that Lobben had married Movement and the center-left launched himself into of the new government’s confidence vote at the Senate in Rome, yesterday. assistance shortly before her son and had another child when Democrats. the premiership. was born in September 2008 rejecting her appeal of the The two parties have long Salvini’s League head back to the polls. Whoever Democrats, who have frequently with special care needs. adoption in 2012. been archrivals. But they banded now sits in opposition, after he fears their judgment has a guilty clashed. She was living at a public “Overall, the domestic together, along with a tiny left- pulled the plug on the previous conscience.” In his second mandate as family shelter at the time but authorities had not attempted wing party, to forge a coalition coalition with the 5-Stars, trig- Conte has asked lawmakers premier, Conte also stressed that when she wanted to leave three to carry out a genuine balancing to shut out of power Matteo gering a political crisis in a move to back his plans for radical Italy wants to regain a key role weeks after his birth, authorities exercise between the interests Salvini, the leader of the right- that backfired and led to the cre- reforms aimed at returning Italy in the European Union’s reform placed the baby in foster care of the child and his biological wing League party, which has ation of Conte’s new cabinet. to growth. process. He called for less con- and gave her visiting rights four family,” the court said. been soaring in popularity. “I’m proud of not being part On Monday, he unveiled a frontation with Brussels and times a year. It ordered Norway to pay The next challenge arrives of this government,” Salvini said political platform that tries to pledged he would work with The son was put up for Lobben nearly $38,600 in quickly. The government must in a heated Senate speech. combine flagship measures of Italy’s EU partners to reform the adoption three years later, a damages and expenses. get to work on the painful task “Sooner or later, Italians will both the 5-Stars and the bloc’s stringent budget rules. WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2019 AMERICAS 17 Trump ousts Bolton over policy disagreements

REUTERS decision to ask for Bolton’s res- WASHINGTON ignation. She would not elaborate. US President Donald Trump Trump would sometimes abruptly fired his national chide Bolton about his hawkish security adviser John Bolton ways in meetings, introducing (pictured) amid disagreements him to visiting foreign leaders with his hardline aide over how by saying, “You all know the to handle foreign policy chal- great John Bolton. He’ll bomb lenges such as North Korea, Iran, you. He’ll take out your whole Afghanistan and Russia. country.” “I informed John Bolton last Officials and a source close night that his services are no to Trump said the president had longer needed at the White grown weary of his hawkish ten- House. I disagreed strongly with John Bolton tweeted: dencies and the bureaucratic many of his suggestions, as did “I offered to resign infighting that he got involved others in the Administration,” with. Trump tweeted yesterday, last night and Bolton traveled widely in the adding that he would name a President Trump said, role and on his travels, for replacement next week. example, he warned Russia “Let’s talk about it US President Donald Trump holding a campaign rally in Fayetteville, North Carolina, yesterday. Bolton, a leading foreign tomorrow.” against interfering in US elec- policy hawk and Trump’s third tions and promoting strong ties national security adviser, was with Israel. widely known to have pressed warmonger, reportedly saying Bolton had opposed a State Trump promises report on his finances the president for a harder line in one Oval Office meeting that Department plan to sign an on issues such as North Korea. “John has never seen a war he Afghan peace deal with the AP might differ from financial dis- “I’m going to give out my Bolton, also a chief architect of doesn’t like.” Taliban militia, believing the NEW YORK closures that Trump files with financial condition and you’ll be Trump’s strident stance against Trump’s North Korea envoy, group’s leaders could not be the government ethics office extremely shocked that the Iran, had also advocated a Stephen Biegun, is among the trusted. President Donald Trump early each year. The White numbers are many, many times tougher approach on Russia and names floated as possible US officials have said it was promised to release a detailed House did not immediately what you think,” Trump said. “I Afghanistan. successors. Bolton who was responsible for financial report of his personal respond to a request for details. don’t need to have somebody Bolton, who took up the post “Biegun much more like the collapse of a summit in Feb- holdings to the public before the Trump’s promise of more take a room overnight at a in April 2018, replacing H R Pompeo understands that the ruary between Trump and North presidential election next year, disclosure came amid scrutiny hotel.” McMaster, had sometimes been president is the president, that Korean leader Kim Jong Un in though he was vague on just what of Vice-President Mike Pence’s Trump files a lengthy report at odds with Secretary of State he makes the decisions,” said a Hanoi by recommending the he would disclose that is new. stay last week at a Trump resort detailing his holdings with the Mike Pompeo, one of Trump’s source close to the White House. presentation a list of hardline “At some point prior to the in Doonbeg, Ireland, and ques- Office of Government Ethics main loyalists. Also considered in the demands that Kim rejected. election, I’m going to be giving tions about why an Air Force each year, but figures on the Offering a different version running is Deputy Secretary of Bolton’s departure comes a out a financial report of me, and crew stayed at one of his prop- value of his assets, revenue of events than Trump, Bolton State John Sullivan, who had day after North Korea signaled it’ll be extremely complete,” he erties in Scotland. taken in and how much he has tweeted: “I offered to resign last been expected to be named US a new willingness to resume told reporters at the White Democrats are investigating borrowed are given in broad night and President Trump said, ambassador to Russia. stalled denuclearisation talks House before leaving for a cam- taxpayer-funded government ranges. It’s also not clear from “Let’s talk about it tomorrow.” White House spokeswoman with the United States, but then paign rally in North Carolina. spending at Trump properties as the report who may be investing Trump had sometimes joked Stephanie Grisham said “many, conducted the latest in a recent It wasn’t clear from Trump’s part of its broader probe into his alongside him in his various about Bolton’s image as a many issues” led to Trump’s spate of missile launches. comments how this new report finances. properties.

Judge sets new Democrats press for stricter US gun-sale checks sentencing REUTERS approve a bill clamping down on legislation. Murphy, a leading gun control agree on. I don’t know of any- WASHINGTON unregulated gun sales through In remarks to reporters at the advocate, issued a statement on thing else that nine out of 10 date for former the internet and at gun shows. White House, Trump said he was Monday saying that “time is Americans agree on except HR Democrats in the US Congress “We are not taking no for an “dealing” with Republicans and running short” to strike a deal on 8,” referring to the House’s back- Trump adviser pledged to intensify pressure for answer,” Pelosi told a news con- Democrats on gun control. “At a background check bill that ground check bill. stricter gun-sale background ference in which Schumer said the same time, we have to could pass Congress. He added: A bipartisan group of mayors AP check legislation, citing strong approving the House-passed protect our Second Amendment “It seems more likely that we’re met with high-ranking White WASHINGTON public backing for the measure, background check bill should be very strongly and we will always going to find ourselves back in a House officials earlier on Monday but received no sign of support “our first order of business.” do that,” he added, referring to familiar place where 90 percent to discuss gun legislation but gave A federal judge has set a yet from President Donald The calls for gun legislation the US Constitution provision of the Americans who want more no indication of an agreement December 18 sentencing date Trump. grew last month following mass guaranteeing a right to bear background checks are going to between the two sides. for Michael Flynn as a lawyer With Congress returning shootings in the Texas cities of arms. be disappointed once again.” Trump has said he favored for President Donald Trump’s from a long summer recess, El Paso, Odessa and Midland, and Amid the recent mass Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, action, possibly on tackling former national security adviser Senate Minority Leader Chuck in Dayton, Ohio. shootings, McConnell said he who spoke at the Pelosi- mental health issues related to accused federal prosecutors of Schumer and House of Repre- But Senate Majority Leader would not bring a gun bill to the Schumer news conference, said gun violence or expanded back- “government misconduct.” sentatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi Mitch McConnell opened the floor of the Senate unless it had she was in Washington ground checks. The White House US District Judge Emmet again urged the Republican-con- Senate’s autumn work session Trump’s support. demanding “a simple vote on has yet to outline any specific Sullivan scheduled Flynn’s sen- trolled Senate to promptly without mentioning gun Democratic Senator Chris what nine out of 10 Americans proposals. tencing during a status con- ference yesterday in which Flynn’s legal team escalated its attacks on special counsel El Paso police chief Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation. Flynn’s attorney Sidney skips Trump’s event Powell said prosecutors have BLOOMBERG House had invited its chief, Greg withheld information favourable EL PASO Allen, but that Allen declined to Flynn. Prosecutors deny that. because he didn’t want to be the Flynn was supposed to be The police chief in El Paso, only El Paso officer at the sentenced last December for Texas, declined an invitation to ceremony. lying to the FBI about his a White House ceremony on “No other officers from the December 2016 conversations Monday honouring people El Paso were being honored, so with the Russian ambassador involved in shootings there and he didn’t attend,” Carrillo said. to the United States. in Dayton, Ohio, because rank- The White House did not imme- and-file officers weren’t diately respond to a request for included, a police department comment. Hurricane toll in spokesman said. Also absent was Glendon During the ceremony at the Oakley Jr, an Army soldier Bahamas rises White House, President Donald Trump met last month in El Paso Trump awarded medals of valor and congratulated for helping REUTERS/NASSAU to six Dayton police officers and whisk children to safety at a mall commendations to five El Paso near the scene of the shooting. Hurricane Dorian’s rampage civilians. Oakley said he received an invi- through the Bahamas last week Members of the Congressional Black Caucus during an event at the Emancipation Hall of the US He praised the bravery of the tation to the event but not in killed at least 50 people, largely Capitol in Washington, DC, yesterday. 11 people, which included time to arrange a trip to on the hard-hit Great Abaco officers who helped stop the Washington. Island, an official said yesterday. Dayton shooter, WalMart Inc Trump’s visit to El Paso was US Congress marks 1619 slavery anniversary That is up from the last- and McDonald’s Corp employees fraught. The shooter posted a reported figure of 45, Carl who helped victims flee the El manifesto online before his AP is named for the contributions and culture with a reckoning not Smith, a spokesman for the Paso shooting, and one WalMart attack that echoed the presi- WASHINGTON of enslaved laborers who helped seen since the Civil Rights era. islands’ National Emergency customer who distracted the dent’s anti-immigrant rhetoric. build the Capitol and, as Pelosi The Republican leader of the Management Agency, said. shooter so others could escape. Beto O’Rourke, the former Dem- Members of Congress observed said, “gave the world this beacon House, Rep. Kevin McCarthy of Evacuees, rescue workers and The August 3 El Paso ocratic congressman from El the 400th anniversary yesterday of hope.” California, said slavery in officials widely expect the shooting at a WalMart store Paso now running for president, of the arrival of the first enslaved The observance was America led to “many shameful number to climb higher as more killed 22 people, and an attack said publicly that Trump wasn’t Africans in America at a time of organised by the Congressional moments” in the country, bodies are pulled from the at a Dayton entertainment dis- welcome in the city. renewed interest over the history Black Caucus as part of events this including in Congress. rubble of a demolished neigh- trict a day later killed nine. Trump and El Paso’s mayor, of slavery and its continued year marking the 400 years since “Our nation isn’t perfect and borhood in Marsh Harbour in Trump didn’t present any Dee Margo, had previously impact on contemporary society. the enslaved people were brought there’s more progress to make,” Abaco. awards to emergency workers tangled over the mayor’s oppo- “We must tell the unvar- to America in August 1619. McCarthy said. Dorian pummeled the or law enforcement officers sition to the president’s pro- nished truth,” Speaker Nancy Questions about income ine- Pelosi called for passage of the Bahamas with 320kph winds. from El Paso at the ceremony. posed border wall, and Margo Pelosi said during the ceremony quality, reparations for slavery Voting Rights Act, legislation that It was one of the strongest Car- Enrique Carrillo, a described meeting the president at the Capitol. and other issues from the is part of a package of House ibbean hurricanes on record spokesman for the El Paso Police after the shooting as a “formal The commemoration was nation’s history of enslaving Democratic priorities for Con- and stands as the worst disaster Department, said that the White duty.” held in Emancipation Hall, which people are spilling into politics gress, ahead of the 2020 election. in Bahamian history. 18 AMERICAS WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2019

Son of former Mexico to seek curb on arms smuggling Brazil official held REUTERS Foreign Minister from the United States into of security forces to its borders are a shared responsibility. in bribery case MEXICO CITY Marcelo Ebrard said on Mexico have fueled turf wars in response to Trump’s tariff Lopez Obrador has been at Twitter that while the between drug gangs and clashes threat, and has taken in more pains to avoid antagonising AP RIO DE JANEIRO Mexico said it would press the Trump administration with security forces, exacer- migrants while their asylum Trump over trade and United States to halt arms smug- bating social problems and claims are processed in US migration, mindful of the fact gling across its border at a pivotal would focus on adding to migratory pressures. courts. that Mexico sends around 80 Brazilian federal police arrested meeting in Washington called to migration in the talks, More than 200,000 people This month, Trump and US percent of its exports to the the son of a former energy review progress in efforts to curb curbing illicit arms have been killed in gang-fueled officials have praised Mexico and United States. minister as part of an investi- a recent surge in Central flows south would be violence, and over 40,000 have Central American countries for Still, his government has gation into corruption and American migrant flows. disappeared since former Pres- helping cut US border arrests by sought to draw some of the focus money laundering involving Following threats by US Mexico’s priority. ident Felipe Calderon sent in the nearly 60 percent from earlier in bilateral relations away from construction of the huge Belo President Donald Trump to armed forces to tackle Mexico’s this year. migration by putting pressure on Monte dam. impose tariffs on all its goods, powerful drug cartels at the end But the issue remains fraught Washington to do more to tackle Prosecutors in the state of Mexico on June 7 pledged to take The minister said on Twitter of 2006. in the run-up to the 2020 US racially-motivated violence like Parana said that they suspect a series of steps to contain that while the Trump adminis- President Andres Manuel presidential election. the mass shooting in El Paso Marcio Lobao and his father migrants, and the two govern- tration would focus on migration Lopez Obrador, a leftist who Trump campaigned for office early in August. received bribes worth about ments agreed to review that in the talks, curbing illicit arms took office in December, has in 2015 to 2016 pledging to halt Eight Mexican citizens were $12m from construction con- effort after 90 days. flows south would be Mexico’s vowed to end the lawlessness, the flow of illegal immigrants killed in the attack in the US glomerate Odebrecht and Foreign Minister Marcelo priority. but 2019 is on track to be the and drugs from Mexico. border city, and Ebrard last another company between Ebrard is leading the delegation Successive Mexican govern- country’s most violent year on The Mexican government has month urged the United States 2008 and 2014. meeting US officials in Wash- ments have argued that illicit record. persistently argued that disputes to declare the attack an act of “Evidence indicates that the ington today. arms sales and gun-running Mexico deployed thousands over US-Mexico border security terrorism against Mexicans. fees were delivered in cash to a law firm linked to the Lobao family, in Rio de Janeiro,” and the money was then laundered Democrats move through art and real estate acquisitions, prosecutors wrote in a statement. Prosecutors said they have to block Trump’s evidence that Lobao was involved in money laundering up until this year. wall manoeuvre His father, Edison Lobao, was energy minister from 2008 AP Appropriations panel, where to 2010 and then again from WASHINGTON several members agree with 2011 to 2015. Democrats that Trump is over- Senate Democrats are moving stepping by reordering spending on two fronts to block President decisions by Congress to fund Alaska swimmer Donald Trump from using wall projects that have otherwise special emergency powers to been rejected. disqualified over transfer money from military A top Appropriations Dem- fit of swimsuit base construction projects like ocrat, Sen Dick Durbin of Illinois, new schools to pay for new said he will move to amend a AP/ANCHORAGE fences along the US-Mexico $694bn Pentagon funding bill to border. block Trump from diverting An Alaska high school swimmer First, Democratic Leader money intended for military was disqualified because a race Chuck Schumer of New York projects to the wall. judge ruled that her school- announced yesterday that he will The Pentagon last week issued swimsuit did not meet force a vote to reject the plan, identified $3.6bn worth of mil- modesty requirements. saying the vote would give law- itary construction projects it’s The Anchorage School Dis- makers a chance to block Trump willing to kill to build 282km of US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer calls on a reporter during a news conference at the US trict is reviewing the decision “from stealing military funding border wall. The projects Capitol in Washington, DC, yesterday. that negated a heat victory by from their states to foot the bill included a $63m middle school a 17-year-old a state-champion for an expensive and ineffective in GOP Majority Leader Mitch Why are we here?” measure Durbin implored Shelby process — which would fill in the swimmer from Dimond High wall he promised Mexico would McConnell’s state of Kentucky Durbin would prevail in the to work with him to stop Trump’s details of this summer’s bipar- School. pay for.” though most of them are located vote if panel Republicans like manoeuvre. Shelby was clearly tisan spending and debt deal Lauren Langford of West A similar measure passed outside the continental US. Roy Blunt of Missouri and Susan sympathetic. — forward. High School, said the girl was this spring with 12 Senate Repub- “The cancellation of these Collins of Maine vote like they “I’m going to do everything Shelby is also pushing ahead, the only swimmer disqualified lican votes but was vetoed by projects is based on a national did in March — a development I can,” Shelby said. “Listen, I’m for now, to deliver Trump’s full even though her teammates Trump. The rules allow Schumer emergency declared by the pres- that would embarrass top going to talk to McConnell, and $5bn request for new wall wore similar suits. to retry every few months and ident that was rejected on its face Republicans like McConnell and you talk to Schumer and let’s see funding in the upcoming round Langford said the champion don’t allow Republicans to block by both house of Congress on Appropriations Committee if we can get together.” of spending bills, though it’s a swimmer is being punished for the vote. bipartisan votes,” Durbin said. Chairman Richard Shelby. A Shelby spokeswoman said non-starter with Senate Demo- her athletic physique and that Perhaps more ominously for “Congress cannot and should not In remarks caught on a live the Alabama Republican was crats and powerful House the cut of most competitive Trump is a potential vote on be silent when the power of the microphone after a panel vote talking more generally about Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. suits isn’t in compliance with Thursday in the powerful purse is undermined in this way. on the whopping defense moving the appropriations the rule. Photography Venezuela military conducts drills along Colombian border titan Robert REUTERS have not threatened to do so. guarantee the defense,” Ceballos Colombia, coordinated by the US Most western nations con- LA FRIA The armed forces’ Strategic said, speaking to reporters at an government, but there is no evi- sider Maduro illegitimate after Frank dead Operational Commander, Remigio airport by the city of La Fria in dence one is forthcoming. he secured a second term last Venezuela’s armed forces carried Ceballos, said 150,000 troops the border state of Tachira. The The US government has said year in a vote widely viewed as AFP out military drills along the were conducting activities “related exercises are expected to con- it wants to resolve Venezuela’s fraudulent. The US instead rec- NEW YORK Colombian border yesterday- to security, exploration and the tinue for several weeks. crisis peacefully, either via nego- ognises as Venezuela’s rightful which it said were to prepare to interception of any invasion of Venezuelan President tiations or by forcing Maduro out head-of-state opposition leader Robert Frank, a pioneering intercept a foreign invasion, Venezuelan territory.” Nicolas Maduro has repeatedly of power through the use of crip- Juan Guaido, who Maduro claims documentary photographer though neighbouring countries “It’s an operation to warned of an invasion from pling sanctions. is fomenting a coup. whose raw style placed him among the 20th century’s greats, has died, according to The New York Times. He was Canada Premier to launch 94 years old. The Swiss-born photog- election campaign today rapher rose to fame with the publication of his landmark REUTERS Liberals are only just ahead of book “The Americans,” an OTTAWA the official opposition Conserv- unflinching look at US society atives and could lose their that proved hugely influential. Canadian Prime Minister Justin majority in the House of Born on November 9, 1924 Trudeau will formally launch the Commons, leaving him in a in Zurich, Switzerland, he grew campaign for an October 21 weakened position. up in a family of German Jewish national election today, sources Trudeau earlier took a industrialists, and became pas- from his Liberal party said, break from election planning sionate about photography at setting up what opinion polls to visit the Atlantic province of the age of 12. He trained as a now indicate will be a tight race. Nova Scotia, where 100,000 photo assistant in Zurich and Trudeau will visit the Ottawa people were still without power Basel from 1940 to 1942. residence of Governor General after Storm Dorian hit on After World War II, Frank Julie Payette, the acting head of Saturday. moved to the United States, state, to formally launch the race “I was obviously following doing fashion and reporting today at 10:00am ET (1400 (this) very closely. ... I am here photography for magazines that GMT), said the sources, who today to thank the first included Fortune, Life, Look requested anonymity because responders and all the people and Harper’s Bazaar. they were not authorised to who have been working very, But he grew “tired of speak to the media. very hard,” Trudeau told romanticism,” and, armed with Under Canada’s fixed-date reporters in televised remarks his gut and a pair of Leicas, election law, federal votes must yesterday. Frank began recording scenes Call for pay increase be held every four years. There The Liberals won all 32 of of daily life. had been speculation that the seats in parliamentary seats Ride-share drivers and supporters with the Independent Drivers Guild protest outside New York His seminal book — pub- Trudeau would call the election in the four Atlantic provinces in City Hall as they rally for wage enforcement and a drivers’ bill of rights, in New York City, yesterday. lished in France in 1958 and as early as this past Sunday or the 2015 federal election that stateside one year later — After winning landmark minimum wage pay rules for app-based drivers in New York City, members as late as Sunday, September 15, brought Trudeau to power, but emerged out of a series of road of the Independent Drivers Guild say pay and enforcement of the new rules is falling short and they the latest day he could have party insiders predict they will trips across the US with his are blaming the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC). made the move. lose between eight and 10 of family in the mid-1950s,. Polls show Trudeau’s these next month. WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2019 HOME 19 Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science observes International Literacy Day

THE PENINSULA DOHA

Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science organised a training workshop on the occasion of the International Literacy Day for 2019, in cooper- ation with Rawza Publishing House at Al Bayan Preparatory School for Girls. The workshop, entitled “Illit- eracy and the Other”, focused on demonstrating the importance of science and culture to learn how to deal and accept the other. The event was attended by Dr. Dhabia Al Sulaiti, Consultant of Evaluation at the National Com- mittee; Al Anoud Al Kuwari, Researcher on Organisations Affairs at the National Committee; Rasha Simbel, Author and Pre- senter of the workshop. The workshop started with a key note speech Nada Behzad on the Inter- national Literacy Day educating the audience about the impor- Participants pose for a group photo during the “Illiteracy and the Other” workshop. tance of the day. Addressing the workshop, Behzad said : “Today we celebrate work on education for fifteen the opportunity to learn for all. the causes of illiteracy, including the International Literacy Day years to come, that is, com- The author then introduced poverty, disease and illiteracy, and around the world, which is marked mitment to education until 2030, the concept of illiteracy to the stu- know the difference between an on September 8, where it was in addition to the commitment of dents, who is now not only illiterate person and an ignorant announced at the fourteenth countries and the international reading and writing, but also the person. session The General Conference community to work towards a just ability to use modern technology This was followed by the of Unesco in 1966 as a World Day, and comprehensive agenda, and and tools. They also learn about writer telling a story to the stu- with the aim of reminding the dents with the aim of introducing international community of the them to the elements of writing importance of literacy at the level the story as well as the compo- of individuals and communities, sition and elements of the basic with the need to intensify efforts; novel. to increase the ability of individuals The workshop, entitled “Illiteracy and the Other”, The students also conducted in societies to read and write.” focused on demonstrating the importance of a training activity, which is the She said that he Unesco science and culture to learn how to deal and writing of sentences in the Institute for Lifelong Learning also accept the other. The students learned about the subject of illiteracy, by launched the first global report on employing the symbolism of adult education and education, causes of illiteracy, including poverty, disease and writing and describe the subject and the Incheon Korea report was illiteracy, and know the difference between an outwardly in form and internally adopted for the World Education illiterate person and an ignorant person. in terms of their feelings towards Forum in 2015, which includes him.

CROSSWORD MALL ROYAL PLAZA

Magamuni (2D/Tamil) 2:00pm; Playmobil The Move (2D/Animation) 2:30pm; Ittymaani (2D/Malayalam) 2:00, 6:30 & 11:30pm; Ittymaani (2D/Malayalam) 2:15 & 4:15 & 8:15pm; Brothers Day (2D/Malayalam) 2:30 &11:30pm; Brothers Day (2D/Malayalam) 5:15 & 11:15pm; Surkhi Bindi (2D/Punjabi) 4:45pm 5:30, 8:30 & 11:00pm; Playmobil The Move (2D/Animation) 4:45pm; IT: Chapter 2 (2D/Horror) Chhichhore (2D/Hindi) 5:30 & 9:00pm; The Lion King (2D/Drama) 5:30pm; The Lion King (2D/Drama) 7:00pm; Chhichhore (2D/Hindi) 3:00 & 9:00pm; IT: Chapter 2 (2D/Horror) 8:15 & 11:15pm; The Lion King (2D/Animation) 4:15pm; Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw (2D/Action) 9:15pm Just A Stranger (2D/Tagalog) 7:00pm; T-34 (2D/Action) 11:30pm LANDMARK

Porinju Mariyam Jose (2D/Malayalam) 2:00 & ROXY 11:30pm; Playmobil The Move (2D/Animation) 2:15pm; Saaho (2D/Tamil) 2:15pm; 47 Meters Down: Uncaged (2D/Adventure) 10:30am, 1:10, 2:50, 4:40, Trouble (2D/Animation) 5:15pm; 6:30, 8:20, 10:10 & 11:50pm Angel Has Fallen (2D/Action) 7:00pm; Dora And The Lost City Of Gold (2D/Adventure) 10:30am, 2:30, Welad Rizk 2 (2D/Arabic) 9;15pm; Mission Mangal (2D/Comedy) 4:00pm; IT: Chapter 2 (2D/Horror) 8:00 4:40, 8:30 & 12:30pm; & 11:00pm; Dora And The Lost City Of Gold (2D/ Angel Has Fallen (2D/Action) 4:40, 8:00, 10:00 & 11:30pm; Adventure) 5:00pm; Just A Stranger (2D/Tagalog) Sesh’s Evaru (2D/Telugu) 10:30am, 1:20, 4:10, 7:00, 9:50, 9:10, 7:00pm; Chhichhore (2D/Hindi) 9:00 & 11:30pm; 3:30, 6:20pm; AL KHOR Knnedy Club (2D/Tamil) 7:15, 9:00 & 10:40pm; Khayal Ma’ata (2D/Arabic) 12;30, 11:10, 11:00, 3:30 & 11:10pm; Chhichhore (2D/Hindi) 11:15am, 5:30 & 11:45pm; Ranarangam (2D/Telugu) 11:00am, 1:40, 4:30, 12:30, 3:20 & 6:10pm; Saaho (2D/Hindi) 10:30am & 5:45pm; Ready Or Not (2D/Horror) 6:00 & 7:10pm Ittymaani (2D/Malayalam) 12:00, 6:00pm & 12:00am; Sheep And Wolves 2 (2D/Animation) 4:40, 6:30 & 6:50pm IT: Chapter 2 (2D/Horror) 2:15 & 8:30pm; 2:30 & 12:30pm Brothers Day (2D/Malayalam) 3:00, 9:00 & 11:30pm; The Angry Birds Movie 2 Playmobil The Move (2D/Animation) 3:30pm; Just A Stranger (2D/Tagalog) 9:00pm

FLIK Mirqab Mall ASIAN TOWN 47 Meters Down: Uncaged (2D/Adventure) 0:30am; Brothers Day (2D/Malayalam) 7:00, 9:00 & 11:15pm ; Angel Has Fallen (2D/Action) 11:20, 12:10,1:40, 2:30, Chhichhore (2D/Hindi) 6:30pm; 4:00, 4:50, 5:40, 7:10, 8:00, 9:30, 10:50 & 11:50pm Magamuni (2D/Tamil) 6:30pm; Dora And The Lost City Of Gold (2D/Adventure) Ittymaani (2D/Malayalam) 8:15, 10:00, 9:30pm & 12:00am; 10;10am, 11:10am & 1:10pm; Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Porinju Mariyam Jose (2D/Malayalam) 10:00pm; Shaw 3:10; IT: Chapter 2 (2D/Horror) 10;40am, 12:40, 1:50, 3:50, 5:00, 6:00, 7:00, 8:10, 9:10, 10:10 & 11:20pm; Note: Programme is subject to change without prior notice. Just A Stranger (2D/Tagalog) 5:30, 7;45, 10;00 & 0:15am; Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (2D/Comedy) 4:20pm, Playmobil The Move (2D/Animation) 10;20am, 11:30, 12:20, 1:30, 2:20 & 3:30pm Ready or Not 10:20pm & 0:20am T-34 (2D/Action) 6:20 & 8:35pm; Welad Rizk 2 (2D/Arabic) 7;20, 9;50pm & 0:25am

T-34

In 1944 a group of Russian soldiers escapes from German captivity in a half-destroyed tank. 20 MORNING BREAK WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2019

PRAYER TIMINGS FAJR 04. 01 AM SHOROOK 05. 18 AM

ZUHR 11. 31 AM MAGHRIB 05. 45 PM ASR 02.59 PM ISHA 07. 15 PM

WEATHER TODAY

Phil Schiller, Senior Vice-President of Worldwide Marketing, presents the new iPhone 11 Pro at an Apple event at their headquarters in Cupertino, California, in the US, yesterday. RIGHT: A woman tries out a new Apple 11 Pro during the launch event. Apple reveals streaming service price, new cameras for iPhones o o 32 C 39 C Apple unveils iPhone 11 the fact that Netflix has yet to come on Minimum Maximum board with the integrated viewing with additional colours system. (Netflix remains available as a Relatively hot daytime with slight dust to standalone app on Apple devices, and blowing dust at places at times and some REUTERS its shows appear in search results in clouds. CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA the Apple TV app.) “Netflix is sort of

gaping void” in the Apple TV app “but

HIGH TIDE 02:41 – 15:33 LOW TIDE 08:57 – 23:53 Apple Inc revealed yesterday that its they’ve got Amazon and all the Courtesy: Qatar Meteorology Department streaming TV service will kick off on channels on board,” Bajarin said. “The November 1 and cost $4.99 a month, vast majority of content providers are as the tech giant reaches a turning point playing nice with Apple TV.” where it focuses as much on services Apple also unveiled updates to the as its hardware and software. Apple Watch and iPad. The Apple Apple TV+ will be available in over Watch Series 5 will have an always-on 100 countries and buyers of an iPhone, display, an 18-hour battery life and iPad or Mac will get a free year of international emergency calling in over streaming television service, the 150 countries. Prices start at $399 or company announced. $499 with cellular service and will be Apple revealed that its new iPhone available to order Tuesday and in stores 11 will come with two back cameras, Apple CEO Tim Cook speaking with people in the demonstration room at their Sept. 20. The Series 3 Apple Watch will including an ultra wide-angle lens and headquarters in Cupertino, California, in the US. start at $199. Apple said the seventh the next generation of microchips, the generation of the iPad will start at $329 A13, but few big apparent changes. controlling both the hardware and “This is the first time we’ll get to and be available to order starting today Prices start at $699. The Apple 11 Pro software, resulting in polished products see Apple’s strategy with all three parts and in stores on September 30. will have three cameras on the back. that commanded premium prices and of the business,” said Ben Bajarin, an “I believe we are in an incremental Apple is in a “holding pattern” until captured most of the smart phone analyst with Creative Strategies. holding pattern until 5G. Customers it rolls out 5G phones with faster mobile industry’s profits. With streaming content, Apple is with iPhone X and beyond likely won’t data speeds next year, analysts said. At the fall event in the Steve Jobs entering a crowded field. Since Apple’s have a reason to upgrade,” said Patrick Instead, services like the television Theater in Cupertino, California - typ- initial television event in March, rivals Moorhead of Moor Insights & Strategy. content featuring the likes of Oprah ically Apple’s splashiest and dedicated like Walt Disney Co have since Apple makes much of its profits on Winfrey that will compete with Netflix to its flagship devices - Apple is announced a $6.99 per month service selling memory upgrades to devices Inc and Walt Disney Co could take cementing a third element to its focus: that will contain that firm’s iconic chil- with larger storage capacity, and center stage. While the iPhone still hardware, software and services. dren’s content. Moorhead said falling memory chip makes up more than half of Apple’s The new strategy comes as iPhone With no historic library of tele- prices could help Apple absorb the cost sales, yesterday’s event may nudge it sales have declined year-over-year for vision content of its own, Apple will sell of tariffs on Chinese-made goods, off center stage after a decade in the the past two fiscal quarters and its own service - Apple TV+ - even as it which are expected to hit mobile limelight. Apple long boasted about its investors are fixed on the growth already serves as a reseller of other phones starting December 15. “Thank- competitive advantage over rivals such potential for services. channels like HBO and, analysts fully, storage and memory prices have as Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, which Apple also announced its video believe, takes a cut of sales. Bajarin said declined so instead of taking more makes handsets, or Alphabet Inc’s game service, Apple Arcade, will be a Apple’s challenge is to persuade con- profit, I see Apple eating the cost and Google, which provides the Android tab in the App Store and available sumers that its family of devices, from not raising prices,” Moorhead said. “I operating system for most of the starting Sept. 19 and cost $4.99 a month, its set-top box to phones, are the best can also see Apple leaning heavily on world’s phones. Apple touted with a one-month free trial. one-stop place to watch shows, despite its supply chain to eat some of the cost.” Atwood unveils sequel to ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ QNB Group unveils AFP Handmaid’s Tale”, the LONDON oppressive theocratic regime new website design maintains its grip on power but Margaret Atwood released the there are signs that it is THE PENINSULA/DOHA much-anticipated sequel to her beginning to rot from within. award-winning 1985 novel “The “There are reasons with these QNB Group, the largest Handmaid’s Tale” yesterday, kind of regimes to be optimistic financial institution in the with “The Testaments” set to because in fact they tend not to Middle East and Africa, has become a similar smash. last,” said Atwood. announced the launch of its A terrifying, misogynistic The lives of three radically new website with interactive design and comprehensive features, dystopia set in the US northeast different women converge in allowing users easy access to the core information of the website while in the near-future, “The Hand- the novel. Two, Agnes and reflecting the Group’s vision and diverse banking services. maid’s Tale” has been turned into Daisy, grew up in the first gen- The website offers the Bank’s Internet Banking services, the most a major television series and eration since the new order comprehensive e-banking services in the region, allowing customers become a feminist rallying point took over, while a third, Aunt to securely manage their accounts and transactions, as well as saving for the #MeToo generation. Lydia, wields power through the time and effort. The web pages of the Group’s international network “It’s a question of things ruthless accumulation and have also been enhanced, making them easy to navigate to learn about escaping from a book to the real deployment of secrets. the latest news and banking services provided globally. world and the author has zero Aunt Lydia was a character The website also offers a variety of information including the Bank’s control,” Canadian author in “The Handmaid’s Tale”, while press releases, financial information, stocks, corporate governance Atwood told a press conference Canadian author Margaret Atwood (centre), during a photocall Agnes and Daisy also cropped reports, and more. The modern design and advanced features of the in London. Fans flocked to following the release of her new book ‘The Testaments’ a sequel up. They are the daughters of new website reflect the Group’s keenness to provide fast and inno- Waterstones’ flagship bookstore to the award-winning 1985 novel “The Handmaid’s Tale” in the first novel’s protagonist and vative banking services to its customers, as the design was developed in Piccadilly, central London, London, yesterday. narrator June, who goes under to make it compatible with all types of electronic devices. where Atwood, 79, read from her the handmaid name Offred. A broad database has been added to the website, allowing users new novel to around 400 avid When the new story begins, to reach the required information more easily, including permanent followers who could get their The sequel has already first aired in 2017. Agnes lives in Gilead, while her updates to new branch and ATM locations. hands on the book at midnight. been nominated for the 2019 The show has boosted sales sister lives in neighbouring QNB’s new website will continuously inform customers about the “It’s very accurate with Booker Prize, one of the of the novel, which has shifted Canada and is appalled by the latest banking products, activities, weekly economic reports, and mul- what’s going (on) at the moment, English-speaking world’s most eight million copies worldwide human rights abuses being per- timedia elements to be more responsive to the needs of various users, where the world is heading and prestigious literary awards. in English alone. In the original petrated across the border. But creating an innovative digital platform based on diversity and excel- that’s kind of scary,” said Its predecessor, which was novel, the United States has the third narrator in particular lence. QNB Group’s presence through its subsidiaries and associate 27-year-old Melisa Kumas, from nominated for the 1986 become the Republic of Gilead, holds the reader in suspense: companies extends to more than 31 countries across three continents the Netherlands but living in Booker Prize, was turned into a totalitarian religious state the Machiavellian leader of the providing a comprehensive range of advanced products and services. London, who wore a red hand- a film in 1990, an opera in where women are sexually sub- Aunts — the group of women The total number of employees is more than 30,000 operating through maid’s outfit. “It may be a bit of 2000, and an award-winning jugated. More than 15 years on responsible for training and 1,100 locations, with an ATM network of more than 4,400 machines. a warning to the people.” television drama series which from the events of “The policing the handmaids.