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Qatar to reduce Sanchez hails Qatar’s over 5MTPA planning, wants team of CO2 by to be in ‘right shape’ 2025 for World Cup

Wednesday 9 October 2019 | 10 Safar 1441 www.thepeninsula.qa Volume 24 | Number 8039 | 2 Riyals

Sheikha Jawaher honours QU female graduates

H H Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani with distinguished female students of Qatar University during the graduation ceremony yesterday. BELOW: H H Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani honouring one of the outstanding students.`P2

H H Sheikha Jawaher a different colleges have presents certificates received accreditation for their to 411 distinguished programs from the most pres- tigious international bodies, female students. which is further evidence of Qatar University’s academic FAZEENA SALEEM advancement,” he added. THE PENINSULA This year saw the estab- lishment of the College of Dental H H Sheikha Jawaher bint Medicine, which will join the Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani, wife health cluster in the university of H H the Amir, patronised named ‘QU Health.’ Dr. Al yesterday morning the 2019 Derham expressed hope that ‘QU graduation ceremony of Qatar Health’ will be a great support to University’s 42nd batch of female the health care services that Qatar students, which was held at the offers its citizens and residents. QU Sports and Events Complex. Noor Al Mashhadany, one of H H Sheikha Jawaher pre- the distinguished female stu- sented certificates to 411 distin- dents of Class of 2019, was the guished female students in dif- master of ceremony and Aisha ferent disciplines of QU recog- Khalid Al Mulla delivered the nising their exceptional graduation speech on behalf of academic performances. the Class 2019 female The ceremony held was graduates. attended by several distin- QU will also host individual guished guests and dignitaries. graduation ceremonies starting A short documentary film was today to honour female students screened about the various graduating from eight colleges. achievements of QU, global It will recognise 2,468 female rankings achieved by the uni- students who have successfully versity and QU’s role in sup- completed their bachelor and the porting the country achieve master’s degrees in various dis- Qatar National Vision 2030. ciplines including business, eco- The President of QU, Dr. society is determined to invest and the Qatari government. For advance and develop our nation guidance from our Board of nomics, education, engineering, Hassan bin Rashid Al Derham, in the human before currency, this, distinguished guests, allow Qatar,” he added. Regents, we continuously place health sciences, law, Shariah and emphasised the achievements of and in substance before pre- me to say, we are proud of what He also highlighted that QU ourselves among the top univer- Islamic Studies. the university and the impor- tence. The women is, just the this university has offered, and has garnered a great number of sities worldwide. The university This year more than 3,000 tance of women play in the same as a man, completely,” said what it continues to offer. Since achievements and found itself placed 276 in QS Quacquarelli male and female students grad- development of the nation. Dr. Al Derham. the university’s founding over among the world’s most elite Symonds Global Rankings and uated from the 42nd batch of “Our celebration today, is in “Women are the nation’s four decades ago, and till today, universities. 408 in the Times Higher Edu- Qatar University and will join the recognition that women have a capital, the beating heart, and it has been a leading force in the “In recent years, by the grace cation Rankings World University university’s growing alumni stake in our beloved country. cherished by us and by our model contribution of knowledge and of Allah, with the continued Rankings,” said Dr. Al Derham. network which is over 50,000 This is a declaration that our leadership, H H the Amir of Qatar expertise and in the push to support of our government, and “In the context of excellence, members.

QA wins 4 awards at 2019 Business Traveller Awards Qatar Airways set the benchmark with world-class travel experience THE PENINSULA a huge honour for Qatar Airways by the 2019 World Airline award, confirming its position DOHA and an appreciation of our Awards, managed by interna- as the world’s premier global promise to consistently deliver tional air transport rating organ- airline alliance. Qatar Airways has been named a truly world-class service.” isation Skytrax. Qatar Airways currently ‘Best Airline’ at the prestigious Business Traveller readers It also collected ‘Best Airline operates a modern fleet of more 2019 Business Traveller Awards, are invited to vote for the in the Middle East’, ‘World’s Best than 250 aircraft via its hub, held on Monday at London’s awards, which are then further Business Class’ and ‘Best Hamad International Airport, to Royal Garden Hotel in front of authenticated by an independent Business Class Seat’, in recog- more than 160 destinations 250 industry leaders. In addition auditing company. The awards nition of its ground-breaking worldwide. The airline has recently Business Traveller has to being voted ‘Best Airline’ by were collected from the host, Business Class experience, launched an array of exciting new honoured Qatar Airways readers of Business Traveller, the BBC News journalist John Qsuite. Qatar Airways is the only destinations, including Rabat, with four awards: airline was also awarded ‘Best Pienaar, on behalf of Qatar airline to have been awarded the Morocco; Izmir, Turkey; Malta; Long-Haul Airline’, ‘Best Airways by the airline’s coveted “Skytrax Airline of the Davao, Philippines; Lisbon, Por- Best Airline Business Class’ and ‘Best Middle European Senior Vice-President Year” title, which is recognised tugal; and Mogadishu, Somalia. The Eastern Airline’. Sylvain Bosc and UK and Ireland as the pinnacle of excellence in airline will add Langkawi, Malaysia Best Long-Haul Airline Qatar Airways Group Chief Country Manager Gary Kershaw. the airline industry, five times. to its extensive route network later Executive, Akbar Al Baker, said: The haul is the latest in a Airline alliance 'oneworld', this month; with Gaborone, Bot- Best Business Class “To be recognised once again by string of awards successes for of which Qatar Airways has been swana; Luanda, Angola and Osaka, Best Middle Eastern Airline the readers of Business Traveller Qatar Airways, as the airline was a member since 2013, once again Japan set to follow over the next with these prestigious awards is also named ‘World’s Best Airline’ won the ‘Best Airline Alliance’ few months. 02 HOME WEDNESDAY 9 OCTOBER 2019 Sheikha Jawaher honours QU female graduates

H H Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani, wife of H H the Amir, at the 2019 graduation ceremony of Qatar University’s (QU) 42nd batch of female students at the QU Sports and Events Complex.

Aisha Khalid Al Mulla from the College of Business and Economics, representing the Class of 2019, delivered a speech on behalf of the graduating female students, saying that education was and is still the basis on which communities and countries are built, and is the best way to build a distinct society with distinct thought, and effective tool to address all kinds of corruption, pointing to the wise leadership’s attention and focus on education, as it is a cornerstone of the Qatar National Vision 2030.

H H Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani honouring outstanding graduates at the event. QU President lauds progress achieved by Qatar’s higher education sector

QNA The President of QU said: “We are proud of Nevertheless, education alone DOHA what this university has offered, and what does not make a renaissance, it continues to offer. Since the university’s currency does not make a ren- The President of Qatar aissance, rather what makes a University, Dr. Hassan bin Rashid founding over four decades ago, and till today, renaissance is the mind that Al Derham, has praised the it has been a leading force in the contribution believes and has faith in its progress achieved by the higher of knowledge and expertise and in the push to ability. All the elements of education sector in Qatar in progress can be present, as recent years, pointing out that advance and develop our nation Qatar.” varied and abundant as they may QU has achieved a great number be, and not create a renaissance of achievements and found itself unless the mind invests in his among the world’s most elite same as a man, completely.” Rankings World University nation.” universities. “What warms our hearts, and Rankings.” “In the context of He adds, “Qatar University is In his speech on the occasion brings us optimism, is what we excellence, a great number of not merely a passing stage in of the graduation ceremony of are witnessing today, the pio- University colleges have received your respective journeys, but its 42nd batch of distinguished neering intellectual Qatari accreditation for their programs rather, it is a starting point and female students at the QU Sports women as she emerges from the from the most prestigious inter- a reference for knowledge. The and Events Complex, the Pres- university steps, armed with national bodies, which is further university’s professors and ident of QU said: “We are proud knowledge, generosity, right- evidence of Qatar University’s researchers in all subjects are of what this university has eousness and loyalty to her academic advancement.” here to serve you, whenever you offered, and what it continues to country. You allow this nation to This year saw the estab- seek to learn and educate offer. Since the university’s stand tall and give it hope.” lishment of the College of Dental yourselves.” founding over four decades ago, Dr Al Derham continued, Medicine, which will join the On behalf of the Class of and till today, it has been a “Qatar University has achieved health cluster in QU called QU 2019, female distinguished grad- leading force in the contribution a great number of achievements Health. Dr Al Derham expressed uates, graduate Aisha Khalid Al The President of Qatar University, Dr. Hassan bin Rashid Al Derham, of knowledge and expertise and and found itself among the his hope that this sector will be Mulla delivered a speech in speaking on the occasion of the graduation ceremony of its 42nd in the push to advance and world’s most elite universities. a great support to the health care which she said, “Education is, develop our nation Qatar.” batch of distinguished female students at the QU Sports and In recent years, by the grace of services that Qatar offers its cit- and will continue to be, the foun- “It is our right -as we cele- Events Complex. Allah (SWT), then by the con- izens and residents. dation on which societies and brate the 42nd batch of grad- tinued support of our gov- Dr Al Derham then addressed nations are built. Education is the uates of female Qatar University and faithful Qatari society. Our recognition that women have a ernment, and guidance from our the graduating students, Class of vessel in which to build a distinct students - to say, we are not only Qatari society has not forgotten stake, any stake, in our beloved Board of Regents, we continu- 2019, by advising them, “Edu- society with a distinct mind and celebrating our daughters the the mother that raises, the sister country. This is a declaration that ously place in the top universities cation is a path we walk on, not it is a weapon against corruption. graduates. Rather, we celebrate that struggles and labors, the our society is determined to worldwide. The university placed a goal we reach. Every stage of This is what led our leadership and take pride in the recognition, daughter that aspires to see a invest in the human before cur- 276 in QS Quacquarelli Symonds learning that we face is in fact a to focus on education and honor and pride extended to half prosperous future.” He added, rency, and in substance before Global Rankings and 408 in the station, from a number of sta- position it as a central pillar in of society by our blessed nation “Our celebration today, is in pretense. The women is, just the Times Higher Education tions in life that do not end. the Qatar National Vision 2030.” WEDNESDAY 9 OCTOBER 2019 HOME 03

PM meets Minister of Justice of Cote d’Ivoire PM meets General Prosecutor of Tajikistan

The Prime Minister and Interior Minister, H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, met The Prime Minister and Interior Minister, H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, met yesterday with the Minister of Justice and Human Rights, and Keeper of the Seals of the Republic yesterday with the General Prosecutor of the Republic of Tajikistan, Rahmon Yusuf Ahmadzod, and of Cote d’Ivoire, Sansan Kambile, and the accompanying delegation, on the occasion of their visit to the accompanying delegation, on the occasion of their visit to the country. During the meeting, the country. During the meeting, they reviewed cooperation relations between the two countries bilateral relations between the two countries and aspects of enhancing and developing them were and ways of developing them, especially in the legal judicial fields. Additionally, they discussed a discussed, especially in the legal and judicial field. number of topics of common interest. FM message to Dominican Minister QFFD partners with QRC to support primary SANTO DOMINGO: The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic, Miguel Vargas, has received a written message from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, H E Sheikh healthcare for Syrian refugees in Jordan Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, pertaining to the bilateral relations and ways of enhancing them. The written message was THE PENINSULA services (counselling and clinic are in good condition and comes in various forms, handed over by Acting Charge d’Affaires of the Qatari Embassy to DOHA treatment) for all ages. It has meeting the standards of QRC including direct support the Dominican Republic, Yasser Awad Al Abdullah, during his been providing dental services and QFFD. through the provision of meeting with the Minister of Foreign Relations of the Dominican The Qatar Fund for Devel- for the last 3 years, as well as The third phase where equipment and supplies, Republic yesterday. opment (QFFD), has signed an providing prenatal care. QFFD and QRC will coordinate capacity-building and the agreement with Qatar Red The implementation of this with UNHCR and Health strengthening of health system. Afghan official meets Qatari envoy Crescent (QRC) to support the project is following three Working Group in the camp, Strengthening surveillance, provision of lifesaving primary phases, phase 1 will include they will revise the services detection, response and pre- KABUL: The Chairman of the Afghanistan, Saeed bin Mubarak healthcare for Syrian refugees renewing and reviewing Min- packages provided in the clinic. vention of infectious diseases Afghan Senate House, Meshrano Al Khayarin. They reviewed rela- in Al Za’tari camp in Jordan. istry of Health (MoH) and Min- The main objective is to ensure is a priority, as well as Jirga Fazal Hadi Muslimayar, met tions and ways of boosting them As this agreement is a con- istry of Planning and Interna- that all basic health needs are increasing access to chronic with the Ambassador of Qatar to and matters of common concern. tinuation of an already estab- tional Cooperation (MoPIC), adequately met. disease treatment services. By lished clinics. The Qatari clinics licensing and registering of the As the health systems in the promoting health care systems, Workshop on combating human trafficking under the supervision of the Qatari clinics in Zaatari camps, Zaatari camp is facing a major QFFD aims to facilitate the Qatar Red Crescent Society and obtaining necessary per- pressure on due to large inflow inclusion of Syrian refugees QNA/DOHA Human Trafficking and the have been providing primary missions for the new. of refugee populations, priority and reduce pressure on British Embassy in Doha. The health care services for over 4 The second phase includes becomes to support the services to host communities The Public Prosecution, repre- workshop, which began years and are a major con- assessing the status of the capacity of health care services and increase flexibility. sented by the Institute of yesterday, aims to equip the tributor to the health care infrastructure and equipment in the host countries one of A high-level delegation Criminal Studies, is organising participants with the necessary system within the camp. Qatari of the Qatari clinics. In order to which is Jordan to help ensure from QFFD visited Zaatari a training workshop on information and skills. The clinics are located in Area 8, ensure quality delivery of primary health care services to camp in the beginning of this combating human trafficking, three-day workshop will be which has the largest popu- services and efficient use of both Syrian refugees and host year and to observe the situ- in cooperation with the National attended by representatives lation in the camp. The clinics resources ensuring all instru- communities are effectively ation in the camp and QFFD Committee for Combating from several official bodies. provide life-saving health ments and equipment in the provided. Also this support funded health programmes. 04 HOME WEDNESDAY 9 OCTOBER 2019

Shura Council Speaker meets Serbian envoy Qatar Airways unites with HIA, QAS and QDF for Breast Cancer Awareness Month THE PENINSULA The multiple award- Vice-President of Marketing and DOHA winning airline will be Corporate Communications, relaunching a refreshed Abdulaziz Al Mass, said: “As Qatar Airways has joined forces version of its much-loved Qatar’s gateway to the world, part with Hamad International Airport of our mission is to support and (HIA), Qatar Aviation Services pink BRICs amenity kits, inspire the community we serve. (QAS) and Qatar Duty Free (QDF) containing exclusive Our bespoke breast cancer edu- to show their united support for products from Italy’s cational booth will engage pas- Breast Cancer Awareness Month Castello Monte Vibiano sengers travelling through HIA to with a series of ‘Think Pink’ Vecchio eco-range, for raise awareness and encourage themed events and giveaways passengers travelling on people to get screened and throughout the month of October. support the cause.” Activities for staff will include ultra-long-haul or long- HIA has been dedicated to pink giveaways and a series of lec- haul flights in First Class social and health initiatives and tures from the Qatar Cancer and Business Class. has previously entered partner- Society (QCS) at HIA, along with ships to provide additional awareness workshops, free mam- the tremendous efforts being services to passengers with special mogram screening by qualified made across the globe to eradicate needs, with a focus on passengers medical staff for all eligible this devastating disease. Together with autism. HIA has also part- employees, and the return of we hope to reach as many people nered with an eye health charity annual Charity Bazaar fundraising as possible, whether employees to inspire the airport’s passengers The Speaker of the Shura Council, H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud, met yesterday with Ambassador events at a variety of Qatar or passengers, and help save lives to learn more about preventable of Serbia to Qatar, Jasminko Pozderac. They reviewed bilateral relations and ways of enhancing them, Airways locations. with vital information about the eye conditions. especially in the parliamentary field. The meeting was attended by a number of officials at the Shura Council. The multiple award-winning tell-tale signs to look out for and Qatar Duty Free Senior Vice- airline will also be relaunching a where to go for help.” President, Bruce Bowman, said: refreshed version of its much- As part of HIA’s month-long “QDF is thrilled to be able to loved pink BRICs amenity kits, ‘Think Pink’ campaign, airport promote this campaign in part- containing exclusive products staff will be inviting breast cancer nership with the Qatar Airways Qatar participates in GCC Education from Italy’s Castello Monte survivors to talk about their expe- family. We will be displaying a Vibiano Vecchio eco-range, for rience, and will be setting up an ‘call to action’ in all our outlets, Ministers meeting in Muscat passengers travelling on ultra- educational booth offering key both at HIA and in Doha, to help long-haul or long-haul flights in messages around the importance underline the importance of QNA of the GCC Ministers of Education and scientific research under- First Class and Business Class. of early screening and detection regular breast screening and DOHA Committee in Muscat yesterday. secretaries in the GCC was held Qatar Airways Senior Vice to passengers passing through encourage donations to the Qatar The delegation was headed on Sunday and Monday, during -President and Executive Adviser Qatar Airways home and hub. Cancer Society.” The State of Qatar participated by Minister of Education and which the Qatari delegation was to the Group Chief Executive, Hamad International Airport Qatar Aviation Services Senior in the 19th meeting of the Higher Education H E Dr headed by Undersecretary of the Nabeela Fakhri, said: Vice-President, Mehmet Committee of Ministers of Higher Mohammed Abdul Wahed Al Ministry of Education and Higher “We are proud to unite Murat Nursel, said: “The Education and Scientific Hammadi. A preparatory Education Dr Ibrahim bin Saleh with our partners HIA, alarming rise in the Research, and the third meeting meeting for the higher education Al Nuaimi. QAS and QDF to, once number of cancer again, show our com- patients is very dis- mitment to raising tressing and we awareness of breast encourage everyone, cancer, as well as our women and men, to take support for those all the necessary pre- affected by it. Edu- cautions in order to cation and awareness ensure their are key to continuing wellbeing.” Over 800 entries from 29 countries to compete for Doha Prize for Drama Writing DOHA participating in this year’s prize, the award comes as an endeavor QNA which is an annual prize created to promote public taste by creating by the Ministry of Culture and texts that are technically and qual- The organizing committee of Sports for dramatic writing, in itatively consistent. Doha Prize for Drama Writing accordance with the decision of Drama writing is an important announced yesterday that the the Minister of Culture and Sports source in providing communities number of texts participating in No. 58 of 2019. with their goals and aspirations, the first edition of the prize The creation of this award improving their positive attitude reached 819 entries competing in came as a culmination of the Doha towards their members, and the fields of (theater script, tele- drama, With a set of recommen- increasing community solidarity, vision script, cinema scenario). dations aimed at developing the emphasizing dialogue among cul- A statement issued by the dramatic industry in the Arab tures and civilizations, and Minister of Education and Higher Education, H E Dr Mohammed Abdul Wahed Al Hammadi, during Ministry of Culture and Sports said world. As writing is the starting building bridges of understanding the GCC Ministers of Education Committee meeting in Muscat, yesterday. today that 29 countries are point of any artistic drama project, between all. Fifth edition of Katara Prize for Arabic Novel to be held from October 13

Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti (centre), General Manager of Katara Cultural Village, Hassan bin Ramadan (left), Chargé d’Affaires at the Tunisian Embassy in Doha, and Khalid Abdul Rahim Al Sayed, Manager of the Katara Prize for Arabic Novel, during the press conference.

THE PENINSULA as the Person of the Year for the fifth Katara for choosing the late Tunisian DOHA edition. Dr. Mohammed Abdul Rahim writer Mahmoud Al Masadi as the Kafoud will be awarded the Aldad Shield Person of the Year in the fifth edition. The fifth edition of Katara Prize for for 2019 in recognition of his significant He said that the works of Mahmoud Al Arabic Novel will be held from October contributions to the advancement of Massadi made him one of the most influ- 13 to 15 at Katara Cultural Village, offi- Arabic language. ential writers of Tunisia in the modern cials announced at a press conference “The Katara Prize for Arabic Novel era, because of the intellectual depths yesterday. has achieved all its objectives in pro- of his writings. The press conference was addressed moting and supporting Arabic fiction. It Khalid Al Sayed, Manager of the by Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, is serving as a platform for writers to Katara Prize for Arabic Novel, said: “The General Manager of Katara Cultural enrich their creativity and for Arab nov- number of participants for the prize Village, Hassan bin Ramadan, Chargé elists and critics to highlight their role. reached 1,850 this year from various d’Affaires at the Tunisian Embassy in The Prize is also promoting dialogue countries of the Arab world. This is an Doha, and Khalid Abdul Rahim Al Sayed, between civilizations and building a increase of 30 percent over the fourth Manager of the Katara Prize for Arabic spirit of camaraderie among nations edition, which received 1,283 Novel. through the translation of the novels into participation.” A special feature of the fifth edition multiple languages,” said Dr. Khalid bin Seminars will be held on Tunisian will be the launch of Arabic Fiction lab Ibrahim Al Sulaiti. He said that the prizes novelist Mahmoud Massadi and and a journal specialised in fiction, as will be given in five categories, including renowned Kuwaiti writer Ismail Fahad well as other activities which will be the published Qatari novel category and Ismail and the third seminar is about announced at the function. the winners of the prizes will be cultural engineering and fiction, in Tunisian writer and intellectual announced at the ceremony. addition to a fiction play by the novelist Mahmoud Al Massadi has been chosen Sayed Hassan bin Ramadan thanked Sameh El Jabass. WEDNESDAY 9 OCTOBER 2019 HOME 05 Attorney-General, Tajik counterpart sign MoU Qatar attends GCC Cultural Committee meeting in Oman

QNA The Cultural Committee cooperation and partnership MUSCAT discussed many topics with different countries and related to the common international institutions such The 49th meeting of the Cultural Gulf cultural affairs, as Jordan, Morocco, and the Committee of the Gulf Cooper- Arab World Institute in Paris, ation Council (GCC) was held in including the new in a way that promotes coop- Muscat yesterday. cultural strategy of the eration between the GCC coun- The State of Qatar was rep- GCC countries which tries and these countries and resented in the meeting by will be put in place cultural centres. Director of Culture and Arts The meetings of the GCC Department at the Ministry of next year and will last Culture Ministers will also be Culture and Sports, Hamad until 2030. accompanied by a ceremony to Mohammed Al Zakiba. honour the Gulf creative The Director of Culture and individuals. Arts Department at the Ministry The Committee also dis- The ceremony is held in of Culture and Sports said that cussed cooperation with inter- conjunction with the annual the Cultural Committee dis- national organisations with ministerial meetings and during Attorney-General, H E Dr Ali bin Fetais Al Marri, signed yesterday a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) cussed many topics related to which it has agreements related which two individuals from in the field of public prosecution with H E General Prosecutor of the Republic of Tajikistan, Rahmon the common Gulf cultural affairs to the cultural, heritage and each country will be honoured Yusuf Ahmadzod. The MoU aims to enhance cooperation between the two sides in the field of public the most important of which is artistic fields, and reviewed the in various cultural fields. Qatari prosecution and to exchange expertise and laws related to the work of prosecutors in both countries. H the new cultural strategy of the schedule of the cultural writer Dr Mariam Al Naimi and E Attorney-General met with his Tajik counterpart, where they exchanged views on a number of issues GCC countries, which will be put projects that the ministries of artist Ghazi Hussein from the of common interest and on ways of closer cooperation in the field of exchange of expertise and training. in place next year and lasts until culture in the GCC countries State of Qatar will be honoured 2030. will seek to implement in during the ceremony. Woqod opens Al Wajba-2 Petrol Station Shura Council officials receive US Congress team THE PENINSULA/DOHA expand its petrol station network concerned governmental and in the country to meet the rising private entities that contributed As part of Woqod’s ongoing demand for petroleum products to the completion of this project.” expansion plans aimed at serving and achieve the goal of providing Al Wajba -2 Petrol Station is every area in Qatar, Qatar Fuel customers with access to best- spread over an area of 11300 Woqod opened Al Wajba -2 Petrol in-class products and services square meters and has four lanes Station yesterday, which raised at their convenience and with 12 dispensers. its network of various petrol comfort. Woqod has recently The new Petrol Stations offer stations to 90. accelerated the process for the round-the-clock services to res- Saad Rashid Al Muhannadi, construction of new petrol idents, in addition to sale of Managing Director & CEO, stations to meet the fuel and gasoline and diesel products for Woqod, said: “We are pleased to energy needs of the country. light vehicles. open new fixed petrol station in Woqod team would like to Further, Al Muhannadi Al Wajba. Woqod aspires to extend their gratitude to all added that Woqod is currently overseeing the implementation of 21 new petrol stations, which most of them will be operational in the current year 2019. Al Muhannadi concluded his announcement by saying that Qatar Parliamentary Friendship Group with the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand in “As part of its strategic expansion the Shura Council, chaired by H E Nasser bin Khalil Al-Jaida, met yesterday with a delegation of senior plan, Woqod is targeting the members of the US Congress, who are currently visiting the country. During the meeting, they discussed achievement of a total of 114 fuel parliamentary relations between the Shura Council and the US Congress and ways to support them. The The newly-opened Al Wajba-2 Petrol Station. stations by the end of 2020”. meeting was attended by members of the Group. Ministry of Public Health launches mental health awareness campaign

THE PENINSULA Taskforce for Mental Health and most of the time these feelings They are often directly linked; with healthcare partners and DOHA Wellbeing and Chief of the Con- pass quickly, but for some people, physical illness can increase a per- other organizations across Qatar tinuing Care Group at HMC, these feelings persist and nega- son’s risk of developing mental to raise the profile of mental The Ministry of Public Health explained that raising awareness tively impact their quality of life,” illness and, similarly, mental health and wellbeing and to (MoPH), along with Qatar’s of mental health and wellbeing is said Dr Al Abdulla. illness can negatively impact on promote an environment where leading healthcare providers, has of enormous importance and is The symptoms of mental physical health,” stated Dr. Majid mental health is talked about as launched a public awareness one of the seven priority areas illness are often less obvious than Al Abdulla, Chair of the Mental openly as physical health,” said campaign to educate the public outlined in Qatar’s National those of physical illness, yet their Health Service at HMC. Tulley. about mental health and to Health Strategy. impact on the sufferer can be Iain Tulley, Qatar National The campaign will run remove the stigma associated with “Across the world, increas- equally debilitating. Health Strategy 2018-2022 Lead throughout October and mental health conditions. ingly, more is being done to raise “It is important that people for Mental Health and Wellbeing November and include messaging The MoPH is collaborating awareness of mental health issues. understand the potential severity and CEO of HMC’s Mental Health via newspapers, TV, radio, and with Hamad Medical Corporation In Qatar we want to go further as of mental illness. Just because the Service, underlined the impor- social media, as well as several (HMC), Primary Health Care Cor- recent research suggests that one Executive Director of Operations, outward symptoms of conditions tance of focusing on mental health events for both the community poration (PHCC), Sidra Medicine, in five people in Qatar will be PHCC, explained that mental such as depression and anxiety for Qatar. and healthcare workers. and Naufar for the campaign, affected by a mental illness at any health is about the way we think, can go unseen, we must not “The launch of this campaign The campaign’s first com- which begins tomorrow (October given point in time,” said Al Raisi. feel, and behave and our ability underestimate the impact they emphasizes the priority that is munity event takes place inside 10), World Mental Health Day. Dr Samya Ahmad Al Abdulla, to manage everyday situations. can have on the individual. Mental being given to mental health the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) Mahmoud Saleh Al Raisi Deputy National Lead for Mental “We all experience feelings of health and physical health should across the health system and the this weekend, Friday, (October 11) (pictured), Chair of the National Health and Wellbeing and stress, anxiety, and sadness, and not be thought of as separate. country. We will continue to work and Saturday, (October 12). CRA secures access to additional spectrum demand during Doha Worlds THE PENINSULA role in this Championship. That DOHA comes in line with CRA’s keenness to enable people around the world The IAAF World Athletics Cham- to watch the championships pionship Doha 2019 — hosted in through use of the latest technol- Qatar from September 27 to ogies in the field of information October 6, 2019 — has shaped a and communications technology guidance to the strategy approach and broadcasting field. The CRA of the Communications Regulatory seeks to contribute within its Authority (CRA) in dealing with mandate to the success of the spectrum management and moni- world-class events hosted in Qatar toring during the major events to and will continue to support all be hosted in Qatar in the coming future events, like FIFA World Cup years. Federations (IAAF) and represent- 2022.” Hosting of Doha 2019 in Qatar atives of the IAAF Productions. The CRA assigned more than has contributed to the devel- The CRA drew their attention 740 frequencies to be used during opment of the key features that to the followed regulations and the championships by different CRA will follow in developing its procedures with respect to the use parties concerned that included high-level spectrum plan for the of spectrum, variety of radio more than 40 broadcasting World Cup, which is expected to applications and a substantial agencies and more than 60 media be initiated early next year 2020 number of radio equipment that and press agencies. in coordination with the con- expected to be aggregated within The CRA has also facilitated cerned entities and stakeholders a limited area as well as the fol- the issuance of customs clearance in Qatar. lowed procedures for spectrum approvals of 130 shipments that Earlier this year, the CRA monitoring in Qatar. contained a large number of radio started coordination with the Commenting on the hosting applications, radio equipment, Organizing Committee of the of Doha Worlds 2019, Noof broadcasting equipment, micro- World Athletics Championship, Ahmed Al Naama (pictured), phones, wireless tracking and Qatar Olympic Committee, rep- Public Relations and Communi- controlling systems, wireless resentatives of the International cations Specialist, CRA, said: “The cameras and radio local area Association of Athletics CRA has played a key supporting networks. 06 HOME WEDNESDAY 9 OCTOBER 2019 INS Mysore to arrive at Hamad Port today THE PENINSULA Equipped with an transit of Indian flagged mer- DOHA impressive array of chant ships through the Gulf region. The ship’s deployment Indian Naval Ship (INS) Mysore, weapon and sensors, in the region is in pursuance of a guided missile destroyer of the the ship is capable the Indian Navy’s commitment Indian Navy, will arrive at of addressing and towards ensuring the safety of Hamad Port today. In the neutralising threats Indian Flag Merchant vessels. framework of the deep-rooted Mysore has a crew of 40 friendly ties, multi-faceted and from the air, sea and officers and 300 sailors who growing cooperation between undersea. The ship’s abide by the ship’s motto ‘Always India and the State of Qatar, combat power is Fearless’. The ship is presently Indian Naval Ships have been supplemented by two being commanded by Capt frequently visiting Qatar. Prakash Gopalan. INS Mysore (D60) is the helicopters. While the ship’s visit to Qatar second ship of the Delhi class is a testimony to the friendly ties guided missile destroyers, and remaining at the forefront of every between India and Qatar, it also was commissioned into the major campaign that the Navy highlights the Indian Navy’s Indian Navy on June 2, 1999. One undertook during this period. commitment to build cooper- of the largest warships designed The ship is currently ative partnerships with friendly and built in India, she displaces deployed in the Arabian Gulf and nations of the Indian Ocean H E Dr. Ahmed bin Hassan Al Hammadi (centre) during the conference on ‘the Opportunities and Challenges 6,700 tonnes and is capable of the Gulf of Oman for Operation region to develop solutions to in the Governance of the Planet Ocean’ at the International Hydrographic Organization in Monaco. speeds in excess of 30 knots ‘Sankalp’ to support the safe meet maritime challenges. (about 55 kmph), the Embassy of India said in a release. Qatar participates in conference on Equipped with an impressive array of weapon and sensors, the ‘Governance of Planet Ocean’ in Moncao ship is capable of addressing and neutralising threats from the air, QNA of Qatar was led by H E Dr. maritime boundary dispute, the sea and undersea. The ship’s MONACO Ahmed bin Hassan Al Hammadi, effects of new technologies on combat power is supplemented Secretary-General of the Min- the United Nations Convention by two helicopters. The State of Qatar participated istry of Foreign Affairs and the on the Law of the Sea, the emer- Named after the historical city in a conference on ‘the Oppor- Chairman of the Standing Com- gence of independent maritime of Mysuru in southern India, tunities and Challenges in the mittee of the Convention on the vehicles and electronic maritime Mysore is the second ship in the Governance of the Planet Ocean’ Law of the Sea. security, and negotiations for a Indian Navy to bear the same held at the International Hydro- The conference will discuss legally binding instrument for name. Her illustrious predecessor graphic Organization in Monaco. a number of themes, including the management of outer areas served the Indian Navy with dis- The delegation of the State progress in the resolution of the of national jurisdiction. tinction from 1957 till 1985, Senate President of the Philippines QNRF launches program to build Qatar’s research profile meets Qatari Ambassador THE PENINSULA profile of Qatar by focusing on but around the world. To that research culture in Qatar, the DOHA the four pillars of the Qatar end, research institutions glo- program will also help cement National Research Strategy bally are advancing innovative relations of local researchers and Qatar National Research Fund (QNRS): Energy and Envi- technologies and building institutions with the interna- (QNRF), a member of Qatar ronment; Computer Science knowledge to address these tional research and development Foundation, has announced the and ICT; Health; and Social challenges, and through the network. launch of a new program — the Sciences, Arts and REMP, we want our local talent Moreover, it will also Researchers Exchange and Humanities. to be at the center of these produce tangible research out- Mobility Program (REMP). Dr. Abdul Sattar Al Taie, efforts. comes to help bridge the gap The REMP is designed to Executive Director of QNRF, “I am certain that this new between academia and help students and employees said: “As a part of our com- program will be received with a industry. build their employability skills mitment to develop local lot of enthusiasm by Qatar’s aca- The call for applications and strengthen their research human capital, we strive to demic and research community opened on October 8 and will capabilities through interna- encourage our researchers to as well as our students who will conclude on November 18. Inter- tional research collaborations. tackle and overcome the major make the most out of this novel ested Qatari nationals and eli- The program aims to raise the research challenges that are opportunity.” gible residents are encouraged interdisciplinary research present not only in the region, Along with building the to apply. Customs officials foil smuggling of hashish hidden inside shoes THE PENINSULA hashish was seized hidden marijuana at Hamad Interna- DOHA inside the shoes of a passenger tional Airport in the luggage of from an Asian country, tweeted passengers. The General Authority of the General Authority of Customs officials in the The President of the Senate of the Philippines, Vicente Sotto III (right), Customs at Hamad International Customs. country are provided all means met with the Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Philippines, Airport recently foiled an Prior to this, on September of support including developed Ali bin Ibrahim Al Malki. During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral attempt to smuggle hashish into 23, 2019, the authorities had means of systems and con- relations and ways of supporting and developing them, as well as the country. managed to thwart smuggling tinuous training to read body be aware of the latest methods matters of common concern. A total of 785 grams of of 9.45kg hashish and 7gms language of passengers and to followed by smugglers. Regency Travel & Tours opens new branch at Al Asmakh Tower THE PENINSULA Equipped with latest travel DOHA and tour technologies, Regency Travel & Tours yesterday inau- advanced technical gurated a new branch at Al Asmakh solutions and skilled and Tower in West Bay — Doha’s most experienced manpower, modern and most vibrant areas and the new branch is poised Qatar’s main financial and business district where government offices and to provide high-quality private businesses are located, in services such as air tickets, addition to several magnificent business hotel reservations, car and residential towers and hotels. rentals, train tickets, cruises It is also a lively area with a col- lection of luxurious restaurants and and ship trips, tourist visa markets such the City Center Shopping assistance and therapeutic Mall and DECC. Additionally, the prox- trips. imity to the Corniche Road and Diplo- matic Area gives it a very special geos- trategic location. tourism map,” he added. Equipped with latest travel and tour The new branch, he said, keeps technologies, advanced technical solu- pace with the massive urbanization, tions and skilled and experienced man- business and population growth in The Chief Executive Officer of Regency Travel and Tours, Tareq Abdullatif Taha, with the Chief Commercial Officer of Qatar power, the new branch is poised to Qatar. Airways, Ehab Amin, inaugurating the new branch of Regency at Al Asmakh Tower, West Bay, on Monday. PIC: SALIM provide high-quality services such as Regency Travel & Tours cooperates MATRAMKOT / THE PENINSULA air tickets, hotel reservations, car constantly with the National Tourism rentals, train tickets, cruises and ship Council on all its missions and programs trips, tourist visa assistance and thera- company’s local agents and a number services and advantages as easy and Tours CEO, Tareq Abdullatif Taha. to scale up Qatari tourist products. It peutic trips. The branch opens Saturday of company managers and staffers. smooth as it used to be at all other “The new branch adds significantly plays a key role in developing the travel through Thursday from 08:00 to 17:00. “Inaugurating this new branch is branches countrywide, which now to Regency Travel & Tours’ efforts on and tourism industry through adopting The event was attended by repre- part of Regency Travel & Tours’ exceed 40 branches. People who fre- local market with its high-quality highest customer service standards, in sentatives from Qatar Airways and endeavours to meet all guest needs quent West Bay area will be able to services, something that helps addition to its contribution to enriching global airliners, in addition to a host of regardless of where they are in Qatar enjoy the various services the new maintain the company’s global ranking travel and tourism sector with its 24/7 guests interested in the travel industry, and make their access to all our branch offers,” said Regency Travel & on local, regional and global travel and services. WEDNESDAY 9 OCTOBER 2019 HOME 07 Qatar wins bid to host World Symposium of Choral Music in 2023 THE PENINSULA Giovanni Pasini, member of DOHA Qatar 2023 WSCM Organising Committee, said, “I would like Following a successful bid by to thank Qatar National Qatar National Choral Associ- Held once every Tourism Council, Qatar Foun- ation, supported by Qatar three years, the dation, the Qatar Philharmonic National Tourism Council event is considered Orchestra, Qatar Music (QNTC), Qatar has won the rights the most prestigious Academy and Qatar Airways for to host the World Symposium of supporting us. Choral Music in 2023. non-competitive “Through the IFCM’s Held once every three years, choral event and decision, Qatar will shine a the event is considered the most will attract 2,000 to spotlight on a geographic and prestigious non-competitive 4,000 international cultural region that has thus far choral event and will attract been hidden on the global 2,000 to 4,000 international del- delegates to the choral map, offering a unique egates to the country, reinforcing country, reinforcing opportunity to introduce the Qatar’s position as a hub for cul- Qatar’s position as diverse musical treasures of the tural events. Middle East to a huge interna- The bidding process has a hub for cultural tional audience.” spanned the past 12 months, with events. Every three years since 1987 extensive examination by the Inter- the World Symposium on Choral national Federation for Choral next few years. Attracting large Music has brought the finest Music (IFCM) of all details of the scale events in the Meetings, choirs, conductors, presenters, FROM LEFT: Gábor Móczár, International Federation of Choral Music’s Vice-President; Emily Kuo city, the venues, levels of support Incentives, Conferences, and composers, and choristers from and the commitment of the local Exhibitions (MICE) space is a pri- Vong, International Federation of Choral Music’s President; Jennifer Taynen, Qatar National Choral around the globe together to choral, musical and cultural life to ority area for us as we continue Association’s Director and Giovanni Pasini, member of Qatar 2023 WSCM Organizing Committee. share in a celebration of fine hosting the Symposium. to drive the tourism industry’s choral singing. The WSCM has Akbar Al Baker, Secretary- growth. It was a pleasure to sectors to attract more events congratulates Qatar on their of the Middle East and Central been hosted in cities around the General of QNTC and Qatar support the talented Qatar across a broad range of sectors, winning bid and wishes them Asia. The Symposium in Qatar globe including Barcelona, Airways Group Chief Executive, National Choir Association and including culture, sports, edu- every success and support in provides IFCM and the hosts with Puerto Madryn, Seoul, Copen- commented “We are delighted their passionate leadership cation, health, and science.” their preparations for this unique the opportunity to create a new hagen, Kyoto, Minneapolis, Rot- to have the World Choral Sym- throughout this bid, and we look In a statement the IFCM said: event in 2023. We are looking network and enhance exchange terdam, Sydney, Vancouver, posium join the growing list of forward to working with repre- “The international choral com- forward to an exciting explo- and cooperation within and Stockholm, Helsinki, Tallinn, events coming to Qatar in the sentatives of Qatar’s various munity through the IFCM ration of the musical treasures beyond this area.” Vienna and Auckland. WISH convenes meeting of policy steering committee ahead of 2020 global summit

THE PENINSULA convene the global community sector in Qatar. Through this new DOHA of healthcare leaders in Doha for committee, we have created a the fifth time. forum to partner with regulators, The World Innovation Summit Chaired by Sultana Afdhal, healthcare providers, and stake- for Health (WISH), an initiative CEO, WISH, members of the holders in the private and public of Qatar Foundation, recently Policy Steering Committee are sectors as well as academia in convened the first meeting of the drawn from key stakeholders in Qatar, to bring to the fore the WISH 2020 Policy Steering Qatar’s healthcare sector with prevalent issues impacting the Committee, bringing together significant ongoing interest and health and wellbeing of commu- senior officials from key stake- relevance to the work of WISH. nities that demand our urgent holders in the local healthcare The new Policy Steering attention. We hope to produce sector. Committee will provide a innovative solutions that will The Policy Steering Com- Qatar-specific perspective and inform the discussions at WISH mittee will act as a local advisory provide recommendations 2020, and lead to healthcare board for WISH 2020, proac- within the framework of Qatar’s innovations that will result in a tively promoting issues that are National Health Strategy better quality of life for the Key stakeholders in Qatar’s healthcare sector convene to advise on community health needs. identified as important by the 2018-2022. people of Qatar and also on a healthcare community in Qatar Afdhal said, “Ahead of our global scale.” and ensuring that they are 2020 summit, the leadership of Once the committee has expert working group, which in also expected to explore oppor- collaboration between health included in reports prepared for WISH identified a need to agreed on relevant topics, turn will be tasked with pro- tunities for alignment with the and sports organizations and the discussion at WISH 2020, which broaden our outreach and member organisations will nom- ducing reports for presentation 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar need to tackle non-communi- will take place next fall and will engage the wider healthcare inate individuals to constitute an at WISH 2020. The committee is given the potential for cable diseases. Unicef, QC implement water project in Pakistan HBKU delegates attend

THE PENINSULA Because of Qatar Charity’s DOHA awareness campaign within the Moscow graduate fair, framework of the project, 59,360 Qatar Charity continues to people have access to primary and visit Russian varsities implement the Water, Sanitation basic hygiene and hand-washing and Hygiene (WASH) project in facilities in their homes, while THE PENINSULA Delegates have also Shorkot located in the Pakistani 261,000 became able to change DOHA province of Punjab. The WASH their behaviour and increase their traveled to leading project comes as part of Qatar knowledge of hygiene. Delegates from Hamad Bin universities across Charity’s partnership with Unicef As part of its work in schools, Khalifa University’s (HBKU) six Russia to raise and is expected to benefit over Qatar Charity has established 340 colleges are currently in Russia awareness of HBKU 44,000 households in 98 villages, school clubs and 1,117 teachers meeting students and fellow including people with special have been trained to improve academics. and highlight what needs. At a joint meeting of Qatar school health and hygiene con- Their objective is simple: to makes studying in Charity and Unicef, the latter Children taking water from a water plant established under WASH dition. More than 650 people from heighten awareness of the Qatar such a unique expressed satisfaction with the project in Pakistan. the local community were trained University’s dynamic programs proposition. progress of the project. Local to help target communities change and encourage high-caliber representatives also expressed Out of about 14,258 house- contributed to the clean drinking their behaviour regarding hygiene. candidates to continue their their confidence in the quality of holds, who did not have toilets in water supply for 200 houses, ben- Unicef held a workshop to studies with one of the Gulf global impact. We can only the project. their homes at the launching of the efiting 1,400 people in Jhang, in review the progress made on the region’s leading research- achieve the latter by being a The project, in general, aims project, 8,564 households have so addition to building seven toilets WASH project, and discuss its focused universities. truly global university. To this to contribute to improving the far managed to build lavatories in for people with special needs, and challenges. A team from Qatar The visit began in Moscow, end, we’re encouraged by the health and well-being of the rural their homes, taking the completion installing basins in 18 public Charity’s offices in Islamabad and where HBKU had a booth at the potential that Russian students population by changing their rate of the project to 60 percent. schools to promote the culture of Shorkot and the government and latest QS World Grad School and graduates could bring to culture regarding sanitation, Qatar Charity also installed a washing hands with water and society representatives attended Tour educational fair. Held Sep- our programs. Our delegates hygiene and safe drinking water. 50,000-gallon water plant that soap among students. the workshop. tember 30, the event provided have been consistently prospective students and grad- impressed with their natural uates with opportunities to meet enthusiasm for academic Malabar Gold & Diamonds offers ‘A Gift of Gold’ faculty members and consider studies as well as their interest study options based on the Uni- in studying overseas. We’re THE PENINSULA precious gem jewellery featuring great opportunity to get pro- versity’s multidisciplinary confident that HBKU can make DOHA the most eye-catching and unique tected from the increasing gold programs. a telling contribution to their trends bound to captivate the rate by just paying 10 percent of Delegates have also trav- academic and professional Malabar Gold & Diamonds, one customers. the entire amount on your elled to leading universities journeys.” among the largest jewellery ‘A Gift of Gold’ by Malabar favorite gold jewellery. This offer across Russia to raise awareness As part of HBKU’s ongoing retailers globally with a strong Gold & Diamonds gives is valid until October 25 only. of HBKU and highlight what student outreach initiative, rep- retail network of 250 outlets unmatched chances for the cus- Furthermore, customers can makes studying in Qatar such a resentatives from student spread across the globe, has tomers to win gold coins with avail the zero deduction offer on unique proposition. The Moscow affairs, enrollment and faculty revealed its much awaited festive their gold & diamond jewellery 22K (GCC) gold jewellery State Institute of International showcased the university’s season offer, ‘A Gift of Gold’, giving purchases. Customers can win a exchange as well. Above offers Relations and the European Uni- multidisciplinary programs at a golden chance for the customers guaranteed gold coin or up to 50 are valid at their outlets in Qatar versity at St. Petersburg are the annual International Edu- to win assured gold coins with gold coins instantly on purchase until October 27 only. Malabar Gold & Diamonds among the academic institutions cation Fair in Turkey held in Gold & Diamond Jewellery of gold jewellery worth QR3,000 The latest jewellery col- has incorporated these designs visited. March. purchases. via ‘Scratch & Win’ coupons. lection launched in celebration as a part of various brands pre- Speaking after the most HBKU Student Affairs is In Qatar, the offer is starting Adding to the above, cus- of the festive season includes sented at Malabar Gold & Dia- recent university visit, tasked with ensuring an from October 10 (tomorrow) and tomers also get two gram gold both traditional and contem- monds’ namely Mine - Diamonds Maryam Hamad Al Mannai, inclusive and strengthened envi- will be spanning till October 27, coin on diamond jewellery pur- porary designs in 18 & 22K gold, Unlimited, Era - Uncut Diamond vice president of student ronment that is conducive to 2019. Also, the company has chase of QR5,000 and a one gram diamond and precious gem jew- Jewellery, Precia - Gem Jew- affairs, HBKU, said: “One of student needs. It regularly hosts unveiled the latest Festive Jew- gold coin on purchase of diamond ellery and are guaranteed to suit ellery, Divine- Indian Heritage HBKU’s core missions is to dis- events and engages the wider ellery collection at special offer jewellery worth QR3000. the tastes of their multicultural Jewellery and Ethnix - Hand- cover innovative solutions that public in community-driven prices in gold, diamond and Also, customers will have a and multinational customers. crafted Designer Jewellery. are locally relevant but with outreach. 08 VIEWS WEDNESDAY 9 OCTOBER 2019

Qatar committed to principle of cooperation to

ESTABLISHED IN 1996 address challenges facing international community QNA NEW YORK CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI he State of Qatar has reit- erated its commitment to action based on the principle EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Tof cooperation and part- DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI nership, pointing out that the efforts of [email protected] the international community will have a positive effect in overcoming the challenges facing the international ACTING MANAGING EDITOR community and moving forward in the MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED implementation of the 2030 Agenda [email protected] for Sustainable Development. This came in a statement delivered by the Second Secretary at the Per- DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR manent Delegation of Qatar to the MOHAMMED OSMAN ALI United Nations, Ahmed bin Saif Al [email protected] Kuwari in front of the general dis- cussion of the UN Economic and Financial Committee of the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Al Kuwari said that a number of Ahmed bin Saif Al Kuwari, the Second Secretary at the Permanent Delegation of reports under the work of the Com- Qatar to the United Nations. EDITORIAL mission have shown that climate change remains a critical threat of our time, which calls for concerted multi- stimulate economic growth, create an commitments to implement the 2030 lateral action to address risks asso- enabling economic environment and Agenda for Sustainable Development, Bon voyage, Qatar Airways ciated with climate change. establish an open, non-discriminatory Qatar presented at the sessions of the He noted that the global nature of and equitable multilateral trading High-level Political Forum on Sus- his year, Qatar Airways, the flag carrier of Qatar, climate change and the need of system to be an integral part of this tainable Development voluntary has been on an award winning streak, winning effective international cooperation environment, stressing the importance national reviews that gave a clear idea Talmost all the recognition and honours in the global and response. Emanating from the of the conclusions mentioned in the of the progress made by the State in airline industry. The latest is the 2019 Business Traveller State’s belief that there is a role for all report of the Secretary-General on implementing the Sustainable Devel- Awards held in London, where the airline won four awards. parties to address this phenomenon, international trade and development, opment Goals discussed, Al Kuwari Business Traveller readers voted Qatar’s national carrier which constitutes an obstacle to the which highlighted the importance of noted. Best Airline, Best Long-haul Airline, Best Business Class advancement of social and economic strategies to promote trade take into The State of Qatar is among the and Best Middle Eastern Airline. The prestigious honours, development and the achievement of account social, economic and devel- first countries that provided devel- the latest addition to the accolades gallery of the airline, the goals of sustainable development, opment concerns such as poverty opment and relief assistance, for are decided by the Business Traveller readers’ voting, Qatar has played a leading role in the reduction, job creation and environ- example, in 2018 Qatar Fund for which is audited by an independent auditing company, UN Secretary-General’s Climate mental sustainability. Development (QFFD) financed adding to the credibility of the awards. Action Summit last month, as the Amir Successful implementation of the projects in the sectors of education, In June this year, Qatar Airways was named Airline of H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al- 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Devel- health, economic empowerment and the Year for the fifth time by the 2019 World Airline Thani along with France and Jamaica, opment requires special attention to job creation in more than 70 countries Awards, managed by international air transport rating led the Carbon Pricing Leadership least developed and conflict-affected around the world, at a cost of US $ 585 organisation Skytrax. It Was also named World’s Best Coalition, he said. countries, and to ensuring equal million, he added. Business Class, Best Business Class Seat and the Best Airline He added opportunities for all segments of As part of the strategic partnership in the Middle East. that H H the society, especially women, children, between the State of Qatar and the The multi-award-winning carrier scooped three out Amir youth and persons with special needs United Nations, Al Kuwari pointed out of five global accolades in the 2020 Airline Passenger announced along providing them with the nec- that during the Doha Forum 2018, the Experience Association’s (APEX) Passenger Choice Awards during the essary knowledge and skills in close State of Qatar announced a a multi- at the APEX/IFSA Awards Cer- Al Kuwari pointed Summit that alignment within Vision 2030 plan, he year support for UN’s core resources emony in Los Angeles. The out that international Qatar’s con- stated. amounting to US $ 500 million, that airline won the top titles for trade plays an tribution of Al Kuwari also stressed the impor- will benefit the enhanced implemen- Best Seat Comfort, Best Cabin important role US$ 100 tance of inclusive and equitable tation of the 2030 Agenda for Sus- Service, Best Food & Beverage and constitutes an million to quality education, which is one of the tainable Development. Qatar Airways beat and was named 2020 Five Star enabling tool to support to important and enabling tools for As part of this support, a multi- all the odds to Global Airline in the APEX stimulate economic support small achieving progress in all SDGs. year contribution of US $ 20 million spread its wings Official Airline Ratings as growth, create an developing He said that comprehensive and has been allocated to support the higher and wider voted by passengers using the enabling economic island states sustainable development is an Qatari labs network to accelerate the world’s highest-rated travel and the least important focus to which the State of UNDP Sustainable Development by continuously environment and app TripIt. establish an open, developed Qatar attaches high priority, The Qatar Goals. adding destinations The officials at Qatar non-discriminatory countries to National Vision 2030 sets an objective Al Kuwari stressed that Qatar across the world Airways, especially its Group and equitable deal with framework for achieving sustainable ranked first in the Arab world and 11th climate development and focuses on major globally, as one of the largest contrib- and inducting Chief Executive Akbar Al multilateral trading Baker, under the visionary change, espe- issues including the paramount utors to the UN inter-agency pooled the most modern leadership of the country, is system. cially as these importance of sustainable devel- funds in 2017, stressing continued aircraft available taking the carrier to an ever- countries opment and its mainstreaming so that support and financing of development in the industry. increasing high realm of fame. bear the regularity is achieved between eco- activities. Qatar Airways beat all the brunt of the impact of climate change. nomic growth, social and human The Second Secretary at the Per- The state carrier odds to spread its wings higher He pointed out that this contribution development and environmental manent Delegation of Qatar to the UN is proving again and wider by continuously reflects the importance and seri- protection. concluded by saying that the State of and again that it is adding destinations across the ousness attached by the Government He stated that as part of Qatar’s Qatar will host the fifth UN Least the best airline in world and inducting the most of the State of Qatar to take the nec- efforts to build an efficient and Developed Countries Conference in modern aircraft available in essary measures to activate what has effective system to monitor and follow Doha in 2021, stressing that this the world as it is the industry. been agreed internationally in the field up the implementation of the goals of hosting comes out of Qatar’s keenness the first choice of The state carrier is proving of climate change, and that Qatar will the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable to work with partners in the interna- most international again and again that it is the continue to work with the interna- Development, the State has aligned tional community to achieve common passengers, best airline in the world as it tional community to translate the obli- the goals and objectives of this agenda goals, and its belief in the need to pay is the first choice of most inter- gation of its ratification of the Paris with the objectives of the Second greater attention to respond to the whether they are national passengers, whether Agreement. National Development Strategy 2018- needs and priorities of the least on a business trip they are on a business trip or Al Kuwari pointed out that inter- 2022 and has developed a monitoring developed countries, and achieve or on a holiday. on a holiday. Right from the national trade plays an important role and follow-up system. comprehensive and sustainable entrance gate at the airport, and constitutes an enabling tool to As part of its efforts to fulfill its development. the airline literally pampers its passengers, providing them with all the comfort and support to make every journey a memorable one. The excellent and award-winning entertainment provided on EU court just gave countries free pass for censorship on Facebook board every aircraft of Qatar Airways keeps passengers engaged throughout their travel duration, which makes THE WASHINGTON POST First, the filtering. EU state courts are tool to mask his location and access it as them yearn for more. The overwhelming response from allowed to tell companies to monitor for if he were in, say, Luxembourg. passengers reflects in surveys where they vote for their ousy traitor.” “Corrupt oaf.” “identical” or “equivalent” uploads and But the remarkable reach of plat- favourite airline time and again for the most prestigious Member of a “fascist party.” then prevent them from appearing at all. forms such as Facebook also means that awards every year. These characterizations But how do you program an algorithm to billions of people may now be stopped “Lmay not be very nice, but stamp out the phrase “corrupt oaf” when from speaking with a bang of a faraway they’re certainly not illegal in the United it applies to an individual politician and judge’s gavel - even when what they are States, or in most other countries. A not when it appears in countless saying is lawful where they live. Other recent ruling from the top European acceptable other contexts? The court also countries will gleefully get the message: QUOTE OF THE DAY Union court could stop the whole world wants companies to act against posts Russia, Turkey and those similarly fond from seeing them anyway. with the same “message” as an offending of pushing the legal envelope on The global economy is The decision concerns an Austrian one. But that invites inevitable overreach shutting down online expression may politician who sued Facebook for once again - especially given how dif- use the EU ruling as an excuse to impose now in a synchronized allegedly defamatory comments accom- ficult it has proved for machine learning their own prohibitions on the global slowdown. This panying a news story on its platform. The to navigate the nuances of human population. means that growth country’s courts eventually decided she communication. EU legislators plan to reconsider laws was right, and not only did they order Now take that overreach and apply it relevant to both parts of the court’s this year will fall to Facebook to proactively block similar around the world. We have long argued decision, and though they are unlikely to its lowest rate since posts in the future but they also asked the against the export of censorship in other rule out blocking technologies altogether, the beginning of the EU Court of Justice to consider whether countries to this one, or any other. they could at least limit them to cases in decade. Facebook should have to do so globally. Admittedly, the Internet changes things: which they are proved necessary, Last Thursday, the judges answered yes: A British citizen in search of a banned accurate and not an undue impediment A country can tell a company to use book once would have had to travel on privacy or speech. They should also Kristalina Georgieva filters, and it can tell a company to use thousands of miles to the United States to recognize that the whole world should IMF Managing Director them everywhere. These two declara- pluck it off a shelf. Now, an Austrian who not be forced to play by their rules, just tions are dangerous on their own. wants to read angry commentary about a as they would likely prefer not to play by Together, they are near-disastrous. representative can easily download a those of some opportunistic despot. WEDNESDAY 9 OCTOBER 2019 OPINION 09 Why democracy is crumbling in the West

trange as it may seem, there of the electorate. “The first and last constitution, many people openly speaking” populist politicians, like was once a time not too long aim of the politician,” he wrote, “is to admitted that they did not bother Trump or Johnson, who disregard ago when the United Kingdom get votes, and the safest of all ways to reading the document. “Baba complexity. After all, if the world is and the United States were held get votes is to appear to the plain man amesoma” (father has read it), a ref- so simple, then fixing it requires no S erence to Raila Odinga, perhaps the up to the developing world as exem- to be a plain man like himself … filled specialised knowledge. plars of the benefits of democracy. to the brim with the flabby, banal, best-known politician in the country, Populism is thus less a cause of PATRICK GATHARA Today, as the former hurtles seemingly childish notions that challenge no was a common refrain. democratic demise than it is a con- AL JAZEERA inexorably towards a dreaded “no- prejudice and lay no burden of exami- With little knowledge of constitu- sequence of it. Western democracy deal Brexit” and the latter is in the nation upon the mind.” tionalism and little time to get clued has been crumbling from within for throes of an impeachment inquiry, one This rather pessimistic view of the in, voters were opting to take their cue a long time as a result of the “tacit question springs to mind: is the slide nature of the average voter, however, from him. Similarly, Brits were not compact” between electorates and into populist idiocy the inevitable fate does not necessarily capture the com- necessarily fully informed before they elites, where the former defer to of democracy? plexity of the democratic process and headed to the polling booths to cast the latter as long as they deliver The current state of the Anglo- the day-to-day reality we live in. their vote in the 2016 Brexit economic growth and prosperity. Saxon world would certainly appear to Kenyan academic and author, referendum. This has transformed suggest so. Steeped in an ever-deep- Nanjala Nyabola, offers a different Whether they take their cues from democracy into a reality show, ening constitutional crisis, courtesy of explanation: “Democracy is hard,” she politicians, journalists or other self- where elites compete over who its 2016 referendum on leaving the writes when discussing the Schaden- appointed “experts”, one risk is the gets a turn at the trough, while the European Union, the UK has installed a freude many in the third world feel at electorate may not know when they media provides a running com- populist, Boris Johnson, as leader. On the chaos of Brexit. “It requires con- are being misled, as many say was the mentary and the public is reduced If voters do not care the other side of the Atlantic, the US is stant vigilance - something that we case with Brexit. But then again, to watching on TV and casting about politics, why do governed by a similarly incompetent now see is difficult to achieve even voters may not care. votes for the winner. Is it any populist, Donald Trump. under the most ideal circumstances.” Seeking the truth (shock, horror!) is wonder that this model has pro- they even bother to A famous quote from a 1920 For many, life is already a soul- not always the reason one follows pol- duced a real-life reality show host vote? Much like going article by US journalist Henry sapping constant struggle to put food itics and politicians. Ilya Somin, a pro- as the leader of the free world? to a football game Mencken seems to adequately capture on the table and keep a roof over fessor of law at George Mason Uni- Democracy is hard. That is not and cheering for your the situation: “As democracy is per- one’s head. In such circumstances, versity, notes that political supporters news to the societies struggling for fected, the office of president repre- constant popular engagement with tend to behave very much like sports democracy against tyrannical favourite team, voting sents, more and more closely, the the issues of the day as well as fans, less interested in the merits of regimes which time and again have allows people the inner soul of the people. On some keeping an eye on what the state and arguments or how well the game is been ridiculed by the West as vicarious satisfaction great and glorious day, the plain folks political elite get up to, as is necessary played than in whether their side wins. “banana republics” and “shithole of participation of the land will reach their heart’s for any democracy to thrive, seem If voters do not care about politics, countries” for their trouble. What is desire at last and the White House will onerous. So voters take short-cuts why do they even bother to vote? news, though, is the cost of trying to without the hard work be adorned by a downright moron.” which include relying on someone Much like going to a football game fake it as the West has been trying of getting onto the Mencken believed that democratic else to tell them what is going on in and cheering for your favourite team, to do. field and wrestling competition would inevitably result in the democratic kitchen. voting allows people the vicarious Plato warned that “one of the with the issues. a race to the bottom and laid the For example, in Kenya, during the satisfaction of participation without penalties for refusing to participate blame on the ignorance and stupidity 2010 referendum on adopting a new the hard work of getting onto the field in politics is that you end up being and wrestling with the issues. And like governed by your inferiors”. To that their sports teams, many voters rarely we can now add the lesson from pick political teams based on their the ongoing political debacles in ideas rather than on arbitrary consid- the US and the UK: the penalty for erations such as ethnicity or place of reducing democratic participation birth. If your family and neighbours to mere voting is that you will be vote for a particular side, the like- governed by “morons”. lihood is so will you. The media exacerbates this trend both in the content of their reporting and in which manner they do so. They report the news, rather than analyse and explain it. To attract larger audi- ences, the sensational is prioritised D-RING ROAD over the important, and anything that POST BOX: 3488 cannot be easily reduced to a DOHA - QATAR soundbite or squeezed into a two- [email protected] minute news segment is abandoned. Brought up on this fast news diet, voters believe that, in Somin’s words, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE “the world is a very simple place TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 [requiring] very little knowledge to FAX: +974 4455 7758 make an informed decision about pol- itics”. This leads to the embrace of MANAGING EDITOR TEL: 4462 7505 A file picture of US President Trump and British Prime Minister Johnson meeting on the sidelines of the annual United simplistic panaceas for complex problems, and a preference for “plain Nations General Assembly in New York City. DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR TEL: 4455 7769 t might have been better if the Supreme Court doctrine on affirm- consideration. Marshall and three Supreme Court had allowed ative action, beginning with the other justices accepted Powell’s com- LOCAL NEWS SECTION TEL: 4455 7743 minority admissions “quotas” for pivotal 1978 Bakke case. promise rather than see affirmative colleges and professional schools In the mid-1970s, the University of action banned altogether. I The rest is history - history which BUSINESS NEWS SECTION when it had the chance 40 years ago. California at Davis medical school set TEL: 4462 7535 That’s one way to read Judge aside 16 of 100 places in each class for has, on balance, vindicated Marshall. CHARLES LANE Allison Burroughs’ September 30 African Americans, Asian Americans, He and others on the court saw little SPORT NEWS SECTION THE WASHINGTON POST opinion upholding Harvard’s race- Latinos and Native Americans, partly practical difference between Davis’s TEL: 4455 7745 conscious undergraduate admissions to compensate for historical discrimi- “quota” and Powell’s racial “plus nation against these groups. factor,” except that the former was ONLINE SECTION A white man, Allan Bakke, argued more transparent and straight- TEL: 4462 7501 this “quota” denied him admission, in forward. One hundred and thirty [email protected] violation of the equal protection pages of elaborate exegesis of the clause of the 14th Amendment and Bakke doctrine by Burroughs does Why it might have been PUBLIC RELATIONS Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, very little to contradict this. To the TEL: 4455 7613 which bans racial discrimination in contrary. [email protected] better if the Supreme Court federally funded programs such as Davis was also more forthright higher education. about the justification for affirmative ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT action: as a remedy, not for an insuffi- had let colleges have ‘quotas’ (Students of color could bypass TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 ciently diverse educational climate, the 16 set-aside positions and FAX: 4455 7870 but for the lingering effects of a cen- compete for one of the 84 spots [email protected] awarded based on test scores and turies-old caste system. process against a lawsuit from Asian grades. In 1973, 15 of the 84 went to It was arguably truer to the intent CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT American plaintiffs. They asserted Asian Americans. That was 17.8 of anti-discrimination laws, from the TEL: 4455 7857 that Harvard puts a de facto floor percent, or nearly six times the Asian 14th Amendment to the Voting Rights [email protected] under African American and Latino American share of California’s popu- Act, which were adopted not so much admittances - at the cost of creating lation at the time.) to enforce a pristine colorblindness as SUBSCRIPTION & an unlawful ceiling on Asian Justice Thurgood Marshall saw to eradicate caste. Such arguments DISTRIBUTION Americans. Davis’s program as a legitimate cor- might not persuade the conservative TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 The only rationale Asian Americans got in to Har- rective to systemic discrimination that critics of affirmative action, who, in FAX: 44557819 “compelling” enough vard’s classes of 2009 through 2018 at still continued “within our lifetimes.” the name of colorblindness, support [email protected] a suspiciously consistent rate of 18 To him, it mattered greatly that indi- the lawsuit against Harvard. to justify race- percent to 21 percent of each class, vidual whites who might lose out Yet, from a conservative point of conscious admissions even as more and more of them were still not “treated as second-class view, both quotas and the compen- satory rationale have certain advan- would be academic applied annually. Burroughs citizens because of their color,” as All thoughts and views “diversity,” Powell acknowledged that admissions black Americans were. tages. The main one is that they are officers consistently awarded these Davis’s quota troubled Justice finite, as former Yale Law School dean expressed in these columns wrote, and then only students lower ratings for “personal Lewis Powell Jr. immensely, however. Anthony Kronman argues in a new are those of the writers, if every applicant qualities,” somewhat offsetting their It targeted “ ‘societal discrimination,’” higher-ed critique, “The Assault on not of the newspaper. got individual usually high test scores and grades. he wrote, “an amorphous concept of American Excellence.” consideration. But, she ruled, lower subjective injury that may be ageless in its reach Under a Davis-like system, assessments reflect insufficiently into the past.” And it was unfair to Kronman writes, measurements of All correspondence Marshall and three glowing high school recommenda- people like Bakke, who “bear[s] no progress for black Americans and regarding Views and other justices tions or some other unknown factor, responsibility” for the harms to other minorities would loom larger in Opinion pages should be accepted Powell’s not bad faith by Harvard, whose minorities that Davis sought to affirmative action debates, because sent to editor-in-chief compromise rather admissions officers swore they used remediate. they would bear on the continued race only as a “plus factor,” and gave The only rationale “compelling” validity of a compensatory rationale. office or mailed to the than see affirmative each applicant “individualized,” enough to justify race-conscious “But they all become moot once the [email protected] action banned “holistic” review. admissions would be academic rationale for affirmative action is put altogether. In fairness, Burroughs and “diversity,” Powell wrote, and then on the ground of diversity,” Kronman Harvard were following convoluted only if every applicant got individual notes. 10 GULF / MIDDLE EAST WEDNESDAY 9 OCTOBER 2019 Turkey says won’t bow to US threat over Syria plans

AP Vice-President Fuat for the US-backed predomi- BEIRUT Oktay said Turkey nantly Kurdish force that fought IS invited Trump to come see the Turkey will not bow to threats was intent on progress the force and the US over its Syria plans, the Turkish combatting Syrian made in northeastern Syria. vice-president said yesterday in Kurdish fighters “We have more work to do an apparent response to Pres- across its border to keep ISIS from coming back ident Donald Trump’s warning & make our accomplishments to Ankara the previous day about in Syria and on permanent. If America leaves, all the scope of its planned military creating a zone that will be erased,” he tweeted, incursion into northeastern would allow Turkey referring to the Islamic State Syria. to resettle Syrian group by an alternative acronym. Trump said earlier this week Turkey, which considers the United States would step refugees there. Kurdish fighters in Syria ter- aside for an expected Turkish rorists and links them to a attack on Syrian Kurdish fighters, decades-old insurgency in who have fought alongside Turkey, has already launched Americans for years, but he then concerned, we determine our two major incursions into threatened to destroy the Turks’ own path but we set our own northern Syria over the past economy if they went too far. limits,” Oktay said. years. The first was in 2016, The US president later cast Meanwhile, in the Syrian when Turkey and Syrian oppo- his decision to abandon the capital of Damascus, Deputy sition fighters it backs attacked Kurdish fighters in Syria as ful- Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad areas held by the Islamic State filling a campaign promise to called on the country’s Kurds to group west of the Euphrates withdraw from “endless war” in rejoin the government side after River. Last year Turkey launched the Middle East, even as Repub- apparently being abandoned by an attack on the Syrian Kurdish lican critics and others said he their US allies. enclave of Afrin, leading to the Syrian National Army forces are dispatched to Manbij front line ahead of Turkey’s planned operation was sacrificing a U.S. ally and Mekdad’s comments were displacement of some 300,000 in the east of the Euphrates River in northern Syria’s Aleppo, yesterday. undermining American the first Syrian reaction since people. credibility. Trump’s announcement on Also yesterday, Iran urged Trump’s statements have Sunday and as northeastern way, away from violence,” The US began working with the pledged to fight back, raising the Turkey not to go ahead with its reverberated on all sides of the Syria braces for an imminent Mekdad claimed in an interview Syrian Kurdish fighters after the potential for an eruption of new planned attack on Syrian Kurds, divide in Syria and the Mideast. Turkish attack on Syrian Kurdish with the pro-government daily emergence of the Islamic State warfare in Syria. “We will not the Iranian state TV reported. In Ankara, Turkish Vice- militias. Trump’s statement has Al Watan. group. hesitate for a moment in Foreign Minister Mohammad President Fuat Oktay said Turkey infuriated the Kurds, who stand President Bashar Assad’s The Syrian government “will defending our people” against Javad Zarif called his Turkish was intent on combatting Syrian to lose the autonomy they gained government abandoned the pre- defend all Syrian territory and Turkish troops, the Kurdish-led counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, Kurdish fighters across its border from Damascus during Syria’s dominantly Kurdish area in will not accept any occupation Syrian Democratic Forces said to express Tehran’s opposition in Syria and on creating a zone civil war, now in its ninth year. northern Syria at the height of of any land or iota of the Syrian in a statement, adding that it has to the anticipated Turkish oper- that would allow Turkey to “The homeland welcomes all Syria’s civil war to focus on more soil,” Mekdad said about the lost 11,000 fighters in the war ation. Zarif urged Turkey to resettle Syrian refugees there. its sons and Damascus will solve key areas where the military was expected Turkish incursion. against the Islamic State group respect Syria’s integrity and sov- “Where Turkey’s security is all Syrian problems in a positive being challenged by the rebels. The Syrian Kurdish force has in Syria. Yesterday, a spokesman ereignty, the report said.

Kuwait Deputy PM Iraq parliament meets after protests spark crisis meets US Deputy AFP Mohammed al-Halbusi, defying Defence Secretary BAGHDAD expectations that they would not meet quorum. QNA Iraq’s parliament held its first MPs hosted several ministers KUWAIT CITY session yesterday after a week to discuss the demonstrations, of anti-government protests that which erupted one week ago in Kuwait Deputy Prime Minister left dozens dead and sparked a Baghdad before spreading to the and Minister of Interior, Sheikh political crisis the country’s pres- country’s Shia-dominated south. Khaled Al Jarrah Al Sabah, met ident said required a “national The session followed a failed here yesterday with Deputy dialogue”. attempt on Saturday, when par- Defence Secretary of the United Security restrictions were liament’s largest bloc, including States, David Norquist. lifted around Baghdad’s Green the 54 MPs led by populist cleric During the meeting, Zone, where government offices Moqtada al-Sadr, boycotted the bilateral relations and cooper- and embassies are based. session. ation between the two coun- Morning traffic was at Sadr threw his weight behind tries were discussed in various normal levels and an internet the protests last week and called fields, in addition to the most blackout in place for most of the on Prime Minister Adel Abdel important topics of mutual past week appeared to ease. Mahdi to resign, but the interest between Kuwait and More than 200 parliamen- embattled premier has held on the United States of America, tarians arrived for an extraor- and suggested his own string of Kuwait News Agency reported. dinary session called by speaker reforms. Yesterday, Abdel Israeli minister Death toll hits 165: Official A member of the Iraqi security forces mans a checkpoint in Baghdad’s Sadr City, yesterday. storms Al Aqsa

ANATOLIA/BAGHDAD Mahdi held marathon meetings scoffed at overtures by political people killed and 6,000 with Halbusi, the cabinet, tribal and religious figures. wounded in one week. ANATOLIA The death toll of the anti-government protests in Iraq reached chiefs, and the country’s top The demonstrations began On Monday night, President JERUSALEM 165, a source in the country’s Health Ministry said yesterday. “The justice over the demonstra- with demands for an end to Barham Saleh made a televised death toll of the anti-government protests is between 165 and 180 tions, with his office’s state- rampant corruption and appeal for “sons of the same Israeli minister and former while the number of the injured hit 5,000 including many in critical ments insisting life had chronic unemployment but country” to put an end to the member of Knesset condition,” the medical source told Anadolu Agency. “returned to normal” after a then escalated with calls for a “discord”. (Parliament) along with Most of the shots were in the heads and chests, the source week of bloody complete overhaul of the Saleh said those responsible dozens of Jewish settlers added. The mass protests in Iraq broke out across several Iraqi demonstrations. political system. for the violence were “enemies yesterday forced their way cities on October 1 with demands of improving living conditions But it remains to be seen They were unprecedented of the people” and proposed a into East Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa and end to government corruption, but as the security forces used whether Halbusi and Abdel because of their apparent spon- cabinet reshuffle, more oversight Mosque complex accompanied live ammunition against peaceful protesters which had claimed Mahdi’s suggestions would be taneity and independence in a to stamp out corruption, and a by Israeli police, read a hundreds of lives, protesters raised their demands and called for enough to appease protesters, deeply politicised society, but “national, all-encompassing and statement. the departure of government. who have repeatedly said they have also been exceptionally frank dialogue... without foreign “More than 230 extremist had “nothing left to lose” and deadly -- with more than 100 interference.” Jews stormed Al Aqsa today accompanied by Israeli police,” said the statement by the Muslim Waqf (Endowment) Arab League affirms support Council in Jerusalem. Israeli Minister of Agri- for Palestine legislative polls culture and Rural Development Uri Ariel and former member QNA & ANATOLIA/CAIRO League for the elections because of Knesset for Likud party they represent a great importance Yehuda Glick were among the The Secretary-General of Arab for intra-Palestinian reconcili- settlers, according to the League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit met ation. The meeting also dealt with witnesses. yesterday with Palestinian the latest developments in the Many Jewish extremist Foreign Minister Riyad Al Maliki, Palestinian situation at the diplo- groups called on to storm Al who handed him a complete file matic level in light of the discus- Aqsa Mosque to mark the prepared by the Palestinian sions and consultations on the Pal- Jewish Yom Kippur which Authority on the demarcation estinian cause in the 74th session begins Tuesday night, and lasts of the maritime borders of the of the UN General Assembly. until Wednesday. State of Palestine. Palestinian president on The police are backing all During the meeting, Al Monday asked head of the the settlers every day except for Maliki explained the steps the election body to resume talks Friday and Saturday. Palestinian Authority intends to with Palestinian groups for The Islamic Endowments take to hold legislative elections preparation of the parlia- Council in Jerusalem calls on throughout Palestine, including mentary elections that could be exerting pressure against the the Gaza Strip and occupied followed by presidential elec- Israeli government to halt these Jerusalem, followed by the pres- tions after few months. According incursions. idential election, a statement to Palestinian official news agency Israel occupied East Jeru- from the Arab League’s General (WAFA), Mahmoud Abbas met salem — in which the Al Aqsa Secretariat said. Hanna Nassir in the presence of is located—during the 1967 Feeding time The statement pointed out top Palestinian officials, and Middle East War. In 1980, Israel Flamingos are pictured feeding off a beach north of Kuwait City, yesterday. that Aboul Gheit expressed great directed the government officials unilaterally annexed the entire satisfaction over the move, to provide all needed support for city, claiming it as its “eternal affirming the support of the conducting the elections. and undivided” capital. WEDNESDAY 9 OCTOBER 2019 AFRICA 11 Ennahda struggles to form coalition government BLOOMBERG/TUNIS Observers regret ‘silent campaign’ Tunisia’s moderate Islamist party is getting a taste of the ahead of presidential vote difficulties of putting together a governing coalition as the polit- AFP/TUNIS ically polarized country awaits the results of parliamentary An EU observer mission yesterday regretted the lack of campaigning elections. for Tunisia’s presidential run-off between a candidate detained in Ennahda, which an exit poll prison and a rival who has called off his own canvassing for votes. suggested narrowly won the Business tycoon Nabil Karoui has been behind bars since late August most seats in Sunday’s vote, has — just before campaigning began for the first round -- in a money pledged a “policy of partnership” as laundering probe, but won through to the run-off on Sunday. He it tries to assemble a majority in the will run against conservative law professor Kais Saied, who 217-member parliament. But with announced last Saturday that he would stop his campaign to keep its main rival, Heart of Tunisia, a level playing field with his adversary. unwilling to collaborate, the once- “What we are seeing is an unprecedented situation —a cam- outlawed party would have to build paign of silence instead of debate — because one cannot cam- a fragile patchwork with lower- paign and the other does not want to,” said Fabio Massimo Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari presenting the 2020 budget proposal to lawmakers in Abuja, profile candidates that will struggle Castaldo, head of the EU observer mission. The mission, as well Nigeria, yesterday. to govern effectively. as many Tunisian political bodies and officials, has called for “It will be a fractured coa- Karoui to be able to campaign freely, but courts have rejected lition without a clear mandate several appeals for his release. Nazih Souei, a lawyer for Karoui, for Ennahda or anyone else,” said that his client has lodged a suit to postpone the second round Nigerian President offers record said Sarah Yerkes, a fellow at the until he is free and able to campaign. Carnegie Endowment for Inter- national Peace in Washington. $33.8bn budget for 2020 Official results are due today. Tunisia, the populist party of saying yesterday. “The winning Further political deadlock controversial TV mogul Nabil parties must assume their REUTERS first recession in 25 years in increase from 5% to 7.5%, is up would be a blow for the North Karoui, is predicted to secure 33, responsibilities, form a gov- ABUJA 2017. Growth remains sluggish, from the 8.83 trillion-naira African country that’s already while Tahya Tounes, which split ernment and hurry up in finding although higher oil prices and budget for 2019 and tops the endured years of infighting after from Nidaa, could win 16. solutions,” he said. Nigerian President recent debt sales have helped the previous record budget spending its 2011 Arab Spring uprising. About 41.7% of Tunisia’s Other political groups in Muhammadu Buhari presented country to accrue billions of plan set by the 9.12 trillion-naira Frustration with the situation more than 7 million registered Tunisia are giving mixed signals. a record 10.33 trillion-naira dollars in foreign reserves. budget for 2018. helped fuel last month’s shock voters cast a ballot. After the The Dignity Coalition, which ($33.8bn) budget for 2020 to Buhari told lawmakers at Buhari’s government has presidential election result, in results are finalised, the largest the poll showed could win 18 lawmakers on Tuesday, the a joint session of the upper and repeatedly rolled out record which voters spurned the party will have two months to seats, has said it could make a first spending plan since his lower chambers of parliament spending plans but struggled to political establishment. form a government. deal. But in a sign of the bar- re-election in February. that the “economic envi- fund them because of lower oil It showed Nidaa Tounes, for- Tahya Tounes, led by current gaining Ennahda can expect, the The plan for Africa’s top oil ronment remains challenging” production and an inability to merly the main centrist party, Prime Minister Youssef Chahed, Democratic Current, another exporter assumes crude pro- but he said the budget was boost non-oil exports. winning a single seat, down from isn’t interested in joining a coa- party, made its collaboration duction of 2.18 million barrels a expected to increase the pace of The budget must still be 86 in 2014. Ennahda, which lition, Secretary-General Slim conditional on getting control of day and an oil price of $57 per growth. approved by parliament before Sigma said may take 40 seats, Azzabi was quoted by local the interior, justice and admin- barrel. The spending plan, which being signed into law by Buhari, previously had 69. Heart of broadcast Mosaique FM as istration-reform ministries. Nigeria emerged from its includes a value-added tax a process that can take months.

Ethiopian Airlines UNSC for full implementation of South Sudan peace deal flight makes AP political violence and the return But the council expressed political boundaries. “substantial progress” on these emergency UNITED NATIONS of some opposition representa- concern at “the dire humani- They also called on parties and other issues during its visit tives to the capital Juba. tarian, human rights and eco- that have not signed the peace to South Sudan in late October. landing in Dakar The UN Security Council said It welcomed recent meetings nomic situation in South Sudan,” agreement “to renounce vio- It underscored “the pressing yesterday that a peace deal in between President Salva Kiir and and condemned all violations of lence, adhere to cessation of hos- need to ensure accountability REUTERS/DAKAR South Sudan signed a year ago is opposition leader Riek Machar, the peace deal and a December tilities agreements, and seek a and end impunity for any viola- “a window of opportunity” to end who returned to Juba in early 2017 cease-fire. political resolution to their con- tions of international humani- An Ethiopian Airlines plane was the civil war in the world’s newest September for the first time in It singled out “the ongoing cerns” about the peace deal. tarian law in South Sudan.” forced to make an emergency nation and achieve “sustainable nearly a year for talks in prepa- conflict in the Equatorias region, South Sudan is slowly The council warned that landing minutes after taking off peace and stability” — but it must ration for the formation of a coa- and continued use of sexual vio- emerging from five years of civil “actions which threaten the peace, in Senegal on Tuesday because be fully implemented. lition government in November. lence as a tactic by the parties to war that killed almost 400,000 security or stability of South Sudan an engine had caught fire, an The UN’s most powerful The talks focused on the conflict against the civilian people and displaced millions. may be subject to sanctions.” But airport spokesman said. body said in a statement speeding up the screening and population.” The fragile peace deal signed last it also affirmed that it is prepared No one was injured in the approved by all 15 members and reunification of forces in order Council members called on September so far has been “to adjust measures contained in incident, he said. read at an open meeting that it to create a united national army parties to the peace deal to marked by delays and continued these resolutions in light of the The airline confirmed on welcomes “initial progress” in before Machar’s expected return quickly implement transitional fighting in parts of the country. implementation of the parties’ Twitter that its plane had to implementing the agreement. again next month, where he’ll security arrangements and work The Security Council said it commitments, including the land unexpectedly at Senegal’s That includes a reduction of once again serve as Kiir’s deputy. toward agreement on internal looks forward to seeing cease-fire.” Blaise Diagne International Airport near the capital Dakar because of “a technical problem” without providing more detail on Mozambique police unit linked the cause. It said that all pas- sengers were being rebooked on to poll observer’s murder other flights. Seven months ago, Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 AFP/MAPUTO two were seriously injured, nose-dived into farmland outside while a fifth managed to escape. the capital Addis Ababa, killing Mozambican police said He added that two senior 157 people. members of one of its elite units provincial police officers had were involved in the murder of also been suspended and that a Al Qaeda affiliate a poll observer in a ruling party commission of inquiry had “15 stronghold just ahead of next days to present a detailed claims attacks on week’s election. report”. Malian army bases Anastacio Matavele, 58, the Gaza is a stronghold of head of a local election obser- Mozambique’s ruling Frelimo REUTERS/BAMAKO vation mission, was shot dead party, which has dominated Monday while driving away power since the southern Al Qaeda’s West Africa affiliate from a workshop in Xai-Xai, the African country gained inde- yesterday claimed responsi- capital of the southeastern Gaza pendence from Portugal in 1975. bility for coordinated, deadly province. National police com- President Filipe Nyusi is attacks last week on two army mander Bernardino Rafael said widely expected to win re- bases in central Mali. Thirty- there were five perpetrators election in next Tuesday’s eight soldiers were killed and involved in the “homicide”, of election. The opposition alleges dozens others went missing whom “four (were) police officers that the government has already during attacks on bases in Boul- of the Republic of Mozambique started tampering with the elec- kessi and Mondoro, in some of assigned to the Gaza rapid inter- toral process. the worst violence seen against vention sub-unit”. Mozambique’s poll obser- the army this year. The attack He said the attackers suf- vation mission has accused underscored the reach and Algerian protests continue fered a fatal car accident as they Frelimo supporters of attacking sophistication of militant fled the scene, colliding into opposition members, blocking groups operating in central Police officers surround a demonstrator during a protest opposing the election that Algeria’s veteran another vehicle at full speed. campaigns and burning their Mali, which has slipped from ruling cadre has set for December and demanding the freeing of opposition leaders in Algiers, yesterday. Two died on the spot and homes. government control despite the presence of the French army and other international forces. From their stronghold in Germany announces additional $73m in aid to Somalia Mali, groups with Al Qaeda and Islamic State links have been ANATOLIA/MOGADISHU mark German Unity Day agreed, will foster inclusive Also present at the event was people. “It aims to support main- able to fan out across the Sahel, attended by Somali Prime growth, skills development the Speaker of the Upper House, taining the positive trajectory destabilising parts of Niger and Germany said it will provide an Minister Hassan Ali Khaire. (through technical and voca- Abdi Hashi Abdullahi, Minister of Somalia has taken in recent years,” Burkina Faso. Jama’a Nusrat ul- additional $73m in financial aid “To support Somalia on its tional education and training) Foreign Affairs Ahmed Isse Awad she added. The event, which took Islam wal Muslimin said that it to Somalia as it vowed to boost path, Germany is increasing its and urban infrastructure. Fur- and other members of the Somali place at the European Union had kidnapped two soldiers, bilateral ties. Ambassador Annett support in its development coop- thermore, Germany is engaging government. Gunther noted that Diplomatic Compound, com- including a colonel in charge of Gunther made the eration by $73m over the next with a higher priority in rural the substantial support by the memorated the 29th anniversary the Boulkessi base, and seized announcement while hosting a two years,” said Gunther. development, agriculture and German government honors the of the reunification of Germany five vehicles, 76 machine guns, celebration in Mogadishu to “This increase, as was jointly water management.” progress made by the Somali on October 3, 1990. and two mortar shells. 12 ASIA WEDNESDAY 9 OCTOBER 2019 Tourists to be allowed in Jammu & Kashmir from tomorrow IANS Governor Satya Pal Malik held a situation-cum- SRINAGAR Security Review Meeting with the advisers In another major step towards and the chief secretary and also took stock return of normalcy to Jammu of preparations for the upcoming block and Kashmir, Governor Satya Pal development council elections. Malik directed that the two- month old advisory asking tourists to leave the valley be opening 25 Internet kiosks in of BDCs would be filled. All lifted from tomorrow, and also each district to facilitate the assistant returning officers and took stock of preparations for public and Government depart- assistant electoral registration the upcoming block devel- ments; monitoring attendance officers have been provided opment council elections. in Government offices, etc, a mobile phone facility to ensure India’s Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, with the first Rafale fighter to the Indian Air Force after a Malik held a situation cum statement from the Governor’s smooth conduct of elections. delivery ceremony at the factory of French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation at Merignac, near Security Review Meeting with office said. Nomination papers were the advisers and the chief sec- In yesterday’s meeting the accepted even on Monday. Bordeaux, in France, yesterday. retary. The meeting was also Governor was briefed about the The Governor was also attended by the Principal Secre- October 24 BDC elections. He briefed about the progress in taries of Planning and Housing was informed that there is active apple procurement which has India receives first Rafale fighter & Urban Development Interest in the BDC elections and crossed 850 tonnes and worth Department. most of the seats of Chairpersons Rs3.25 crores. IANS counterpart Florence Parly was celebrated as Air Force Day The Governor has been NEW DELHI also present during the handover every year. holding situation-cum-security ceremony. The first jet bears the tail review meetings on a daily basis Another Pakistani drone spotted Defence Minister Rajnath Singh “Former (French) President number RB 001 which are the for two hours generally from 6 CHANDIGARH: Security forces have spotted another Pakistani formally received the first of the Jacques Chirac had laid the basic initials of Indian Air Force (IAF) to 8pm each day since August 5. drone flying over Indian territory close to the Hussainiwala border 36 Rafale fighter jets in France groundwork for strategic part- chief, Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Initially, the meetings in Punjab’s Ferozepur district. yesterday. nership between India and Bhadauria, who played a key focussed on reviewing the The police have intensified their search operation after the The fighter jet was handed France along with Prime Min- role on behalf of India in the security scenario following the Border Security Force informed about the drone’s sighting. over at Merignac at a facility of ister (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee. We Rafale negotiations with France. imposition of restrictions after The drone was seen flying on the Pakistan side from 10pm to Dassault Aviation, the manufac- are thankful to them. Today is a Before proceeding to Das- constitutional changes that were 10.40pm and again at 12.25am when it entered the Indian side, turer of Rafale jets. milestone day for Indio-France sault’s Bordeaux facility, Rajnath made. For the past six weeks, all officials said. Punjab Police has already launched elaborate inves- Dassault Aviation CEO Eric strategic partnership and a new Singh called on French President the security restrictions were tigations to account for the weapons consignments apparently Trappier welcomed Rajnath high in bilateral defence co- Emmanuel Macron at his official removed in most parts of J&K, smuggled into India from across the border by the two drones Singh after he landed at the Bor- operation,” he said. residence Elysee Palace in Paris the Governor has been focussing recovered near the Indo-Pakistan border over the last around one deaux-Merignac Air Base from A traditional Shastra Puja yesterday. He also met the Parly on bringing life back to normal. month. Police teams are also on the job to ascertain the links of the Paris on a French military air- (worship of weapons) ceremony and Defence Adviser to the Pres- Some of the major decisions terror groups involved in sending these drones from Pakistan, said craft. He visited the production will take place, following which ident of France, Admiral Bernard taken in the past in the Situation a police spokesperson said on September 27, clarifying that so far unit of Dassault Aviation led by Rajnath Singh will undertake a Rogel. Rajnath Singh is on a cum Security Review Meetings only two such drones had been recovered — one last month and Trappier and other French offi- sortie in a twin-seater trainer three-day visit to France accom- include reopening of Higher Sec- the second in a burnt condition three days ago in Jhabal town in cials. Rajnath Singh was shown version of the fighter aircraft. panied by senior defence min- ondary Schools; Colleges and Tarn Taran district. Investigations so far suggest that several a short audio-visual clip on the India chose October 8 for istry officials, including Defence Universities; restarting public Pakistan-based terrorist groups were engaged in smuggling history of aircraft manufacturing receiving the first Rafale jet not Secretary Dr, Ajay Kumar and transport; opening additional weapons into India since August. by Dassault before the handing only because it is the occasion IAF Vice-Chief, Air Marshal H S travel counters at TRC Srinagar; over ceremony. His French of Dussehra, but the day is also Arora, from.

Kerala serial Senior leader of Congress sounds alarm on party’s fate killer showing AP of 542 parliamentary seats in the choice of candidates. Ashok Priyanka Gandhi, a party general is chosen by the party, possibly NEW DELHI polls, compared to 303 won by Tanwar was among the party’s secretary and daughter of Sonia after the October state elections. ‘suicidal Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s main campaigners in the party’s Gandhi, in the family’s “We haven’t really got together A senior leader of India’s main Bharatiya Janata Party. bid to wrest power from the stronghold of Rae Bareli in Uttar to analyse why we got defeated. tendencies’ opposition Congress party says The party faces crucial tests Bharatiya Janata Party in the Pradesh. A top party leader and Our biggest problem is our IANS its struggles are at the point that in October 21 state elections in state. A revolt also is brewing in former finance minister, P. leader has walked away,” KOZHIKODE it may not be able to win key Haryana in the north and Maharashtra. Chidambaram, has been Khurshid said, adding that Rahul upcoming state elections or Maharashtra in the west. Sanjay Nirupam, a key state arrested by federal investigators Gandhi still retains the alle- Jolly, the prime suspect in six ensure its own future. Party president Rahul leader there, threatened to quit for alleged economic offenses, giance of the party. mysterious deaths in a family The party is facing attrition Gandhi resigned after the May the party after his recommen- adding to the party’s woes. “It’s kind of left a vacuum,” and who is currently in judicial because it is taking too long to defeat. His mother, Sonia dations for its nominees were On Monday, Khurshid said Khurshid said. “Sonia Gandhi custody at a jail near here, was come to terms with its defeat in Gandhi, stepped in on an interim rejected by the party leadership. Rahul Gandhi left in a huff after stepped in, but there is more taken to a hospital yesterday May national elections, former basis. An Uttar Pradesh state law- the party’s defeat in national than an indication that she is after she complained of uneas- External Affairs Minister Salman The party’s chief in Haryana maker, Aditi Singh, also seemed elections, and that his mother treating herself as a stop-gap iness, even as jail officials Khurshid told reporters late on quit following a difference with to join the revolt by staying away was appointed interim president arrangement. I wish it wasn’t suspect that she has begun to Monday. Congress won only 52 the party’s leadership over a from a street march held by in August until a new president so.” display suicidal tendencies. After the medical exami- nation and tests conducted at a state-run hospital here, Jolly Anaemia a health problem was taken back to jail where the authorities have posted more in all states except Kerala officers to keep an eye on her. According to jail officials, IANS and 1 percent had severe anaemia. Jolly, who has been in judicial NEW DELHI Among adolescents, 17 percent custody for the past three days had mild anaemia, 10 percent had and has appeared to be calm, Anaemia is at least a mild public moderate anaemia and 1 percent suddenly felt uneasy on health problem for school-age had severe anaemia. Monday. children between the age group An increased prevalence was She and her two accom- of 5-9 years in all states except for observed among older adoles- plices, who helped her by sup- Kerala, according to the findings cents. Anaemia was more prev- plying cyanide, have been of the Comprehensive National alent among female adolescents arrested for plotting the murder Nutrition Survey (CNNS), 2016-18. 12 years of age and older at 40 per of Jolly’s husband Roy Thomas. Anaemia was a moderate or cent compared to their male The police are yet undecided severe public health problem counterparts at 18 per cent. on registering cases in the among pre-school children in 27 In all three age groups, remaining five deaths that took states, school-age children in 15 anaemia was most prevalent place between 2002-16. The Indian Air Force (IAF) Surya Kiran aerobatic team flies past in formation during the Air Force Day states and adolescents in 20 among scheduled tribes, followed Jolly’s second husband parade at an IAF station in Ghaziabad, on the outskirts of New Delhi, yesterday. states, the report said. by scheduled castes. More than Shaju, who has been let off after Anaemia was most prevalent half (53 percent) of pre-schoolers questioning, said that he is at more than 50 percent among and more than one-third of Abhinandan flies MiG-21 in Hindon on Air Force Day passing through difficult times both boys and girls under two school-age children and adoles- as Jolly is trying to implicate years of age and thereafter, cents (38 percent each) belonging IANS celebrations yesterday. The air Captains Saumitra Tamaskar him too in the crimes that she decreased steadily to 11 years of to scheduled tribes were anaemic. NEW DELHI show was also marked by aerial and Hemant Kumar flew a has allegedly committed. “At age to about 15 percent. Among pre-schoolers, the displays of fighter aircraft by Jaguar and a Mirage 2000, the moment, she is alone and Overall, 41 percent of pre- prevalence of anaemia was Wing Commander Abhinandan other Balakot heroes. While respectively. Abhinandan’s aerial wants to trap me also, when I schoolers aged 1-4 years, 24 highest in Madhya Pradesh (54 flew a MiG-21 at an air show held Abhinandan led a group of three manoeuvre on the MiG-21 was have no role in this.” By now, percent of school-age children percent), followed by Haryana (48 at the Hindon Air Base in Ghaz- MiG-21s flying in avenger greeted by huge cheers from the Shaju has been questioned five aged 5-9 years and 28 percent of percent) and Delhi (47 percent) iabad during the Air Force Day formation, Balakot heroes Group crowds. times by the police. adolescents aged 10-19 years had and was lowest in Nagaland (8 some degree of anaemia. percent) and Manipur (10 The survey noted that the percent). severity of anaemia varied across Among school-age children, BJP leader shot dead in UP’s Deoband, tension in area age groups. Tripura (41 percent), Assam (35 Among pre-schoolers, 22 percent) and Jharkhand (34 IANS in Deoband area of Uttar of Miragpur. As soon as the news assailants at the earliest. “We percent had mild anaemia, 18 percent) and West Bengal (34 SAHARANPUR, UTTAR PRADESH Pradesh’s Saharanpur district. of the murder, which took place have sought the help of Muzaf- percent had moderate anaemia percent) had the highest preva- Singh was the former district at Talhedi Khurd near the village, farnagar and Uttarakhand Police and 1 percent had severe anaemia. lence of anaemia and Kerala (3 BJP leader Chaudhary Yashpal Vice-President of BJP Kisan spread, huge crowds gathered to nab the accused. Several Among school-age children, 10 percent), Jammu & Kashmir (7 Singh was shot dead yesterday Morcha and his elder brother in the village and tension was teams have been formed and the percent had mild anaemia, 13 percent) and Manipur (7 percent) by bike-borne unidentified Chaudhary Shiv Kumar is the palpable. SSP Dinesh Kumar said forest areas are also being percent had moderate anaemia, had the lowest prevalence. assailants near his home village headman of their home village that efforts were on to arrest the combed,” he said. WEDNESDAY 9 OCTOBER 2019 ASIA 13 Chinese military leadership backs Pakistan on Kashmir

INTERNEWS “The Chinese military leadership supported ISLAMABAD Pakistan’s principled stance on Kashmir issue, and appreciated sane Pakistani The Chinese military leadership yesterday supported the stance approach in the interest of peace,” according of Pakistan on the lingering to a press release issued by the Inter- Kashmir dispute with India, according to a press release Services Public Relations (ISPR). issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). would have serious implications Meanwhile, Pakistan Pres- The affirmation was made for peace and stability in the ident Dr Arif Alvi has promul- when Chief of Army Staff region. gated two ordinances to set up General Qamar Javed Bajwa met The media wing of the mil- the China-Pakistan Economic Cor- General Han Weiguo and itary also said that Bajwa ridor Authority and grant tax con- General Xu Qiliang of the Peo- apprised the Chinese military cessions to the Gwadar port and its ple’s Liberation Army in Beijing. leadership about the peace free zone, sending a strong signal Issues of regional security and efforts made by Pakistan and to Beijing that Islamabad is serious defence cooperation were dis- said that the efforts would not in implementing the multibillion cussed in the meeting. be at the cost of any com- dollar strategic initiative. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan (right) reviewing a guard of honour with Chinese Premier Li According to the statement, promise on principles or honour The ordinances were prom- Keqiang during a welcoming ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing yesterday. Bajwa apprised the Chinese mil- and dignity of the nation. ulgated late night on Monday on itary leadership about conse- Both sides also discussed the the same day Prime Minister quences of the ongoing situation developing situation in the Gulf Imran Khan flew to China where in Indian-administered Kashmir region and efforts for peace in he is scheduled to discuss eco- Imran begins 2-day China visit, and said that India needed to Afghanistan, the press release nomic and political matters of respect United Nations resolution said. They also agreed to enhance mutual interests with the friendly in this regard and ensure provision existing defence cooperation in country’s leadership, official said rallies support for investment of human rights to Kashmiris. line with history of mutual time- on Tuesday. “The Chinese military lead- tested relationship. “The CPEC Authority Ordi- BLOOMBERG/BEIJING China Gezhouba Group Lyu Foreign Minister Mahmood ership supported Pakistan’s prin- Earlier upon arrival at the nance 2019” and “The Tax Laws Zexiang called on Prime Minister Qureshi, Minister for Planning cipled stance on Kashmir issue, PLA headquarters, General Bajwa (Amendment) Ordinance 2019” Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Imran Khan in Beijing yesterday Khusro Bakhtiar, Minister for and appreciated sane Pakistani was presented with a guard of are aimed to set up a new body Khan began a two-day visit to and discussed cooperation in the Railways Sheikh Rashid, Adviser approach in the interest of peace,” honour. The Pakistani army chief to oversee and implement CPEC China yesterday to help rally energy sector. The Chinese on Commerce Razak Dawood, the ISPR stated. is also scheduled to meet high- and give income tax, sales tax and support for more investment magnate showed keen interest Special Assistant on Petroleum The ISPR also said that in the ranking Chinese officials along custom duties exemptions to after project spending declined in exploring new business Nadeem Babar and Chairman meeting, the two sides agreed that with Prime Minister Imran Khan Gwadar port and Gwadar Free sharply. avenues in Pakistan especially Board of Investment Zubair continued Pak-India tension on his trip. Zone. Chairman of business giant in the energy sector. Gilani also attended.

Bomb goes off inside Imran is sixth most popular world leader on Twitter classroom in Ghazni,

INTERNEWS/ISLAMABAD speech at the United Nations itician was on the ninth most most followed world leader on president of Pakistan’s ally 19 injured General Assembly (UNGA) last followed world leader on the Twitter in 2018. nation, Turkey, comes fourth Pakistan Prime Minister Imran month where he raised the social media platform with 9.4 As of right now, US President with 14.1 million followers, AP/KABUL Khan has become the sixth Kashmir issue, garnering praise million followers. According to Donald Trump stands on the first Indonesia president Joko most popular world leader on not only from his supporters but data compiled in 2018, Imran position with 65.3 million fol- Widodo fifth at 12.2 million, and An Afghan official says a bomb Twitter, boasting yesterday 10.5 his critics as well. Khan’s ranked fifth among the 50 most lowers, India’s Narendra Modi on Prime Minister Imran Khan at has gone off inside a classroom million (10,471,650) followers Twitter following has grown at influential leaders of the world second with 50.6 million, and 10.5 million. in eastern Ghazni province, on the micro-blogging platform. a rapid pace in the past few and ninth among 50 world Pope Francis, a little later, at 18.1 Then comes the queen of wounding at least 19 university The development comes months. In April this year, the leaders with most interactions million followers. Jordan, Rania Al Abdullah with students. following his fiery, successful former-cricketer-turned-pol- on Twitter. He was also the tenth Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the 10.46 million followers. Arif Noori, spokesman for the provincial governor, says 12 of the wounded are female students of the Ghazni University, located Sharif challenges on the outskirts of the provincial Al Qaeda regional chief killed during raid capital, the city of Ghazni. Noori controversial added that two of the wounded are AFP/KABUL on September 23 on a Taliban The raid was part of a man identified as “Raihan”, a in critical condition. video case verdict compound in the Musa Qala dis- lengthy and confusing overnight courier for Al Qaeda leader Ayman Last month a magnetic The leader of Al Qaeda’s South trict of Helmand province. operation from September 22-23 Al Zawahiri. US Forces-Afghan- explosive device attached to a INTERNEWS/ISLAMABAD Asian branch was killed in a Afghanistan’s National for which the US provided air istan declined to comment. mini bus belonging to the same US-Afghan joint raid in southern Directorate of Security said support. Authorities said they Under a stalled withdrawal university detonated, killing the Jailed former prime minister Afghanistan last month, Afghan Umar was a Pakistani citizen, would investigate reports that 40 plan negotiated between the US driver. Noori says five students Nawaz Sharif has filed a review officials confirmed yesterday. though some reports claim he civilians, including children, were and the Taliban, Washington were also wounded in that petition against the Supreme Asim Umar, who led Al was born in India. He “was killed in an airstrike during the agreed to pull troops from blast. The Taliban are active in Court of Pakistan verdict in the Qaeda in the Indian Subcon- #killed along with six other AQIS operation. The NDS said that Afghanistan if the insurgents the province and regularly controversial ‘judge’s video tinent (AQIS) from its inception members, most of them Paki- among the six other AQIS abide by security guarantees and launch attacks against security scandal’ case, pleading that it in 2014, was killed during a raid stani”, the NDS said on Twitter. members killed in the raid was a cut all ties with Al Qaeda. forces there. was per incuriam as it was passed without jurisdiction. In the review petition, moved through his counsel Afghanistan braces for Khawaja Haris Ahmed, Sharif asked the court to recall its August 23 order in which it held political uncertainty that the video clip concerning accountability court judge REUTERS/KABUL have refused to accept the legitimacy Arshad Malik could benefit the of what they call a puppet US-backed petitioner if its genuineness was Despite pulling off a safer presidential government. The unity government established and was properly election than expected, Afghanistan between the two candidates holds produced before the Islamabad looks headed for a prolonged period power until the winner is selected and High Court (IHC) in a pending of political uncertainty, with the two takes office. appeal against his conviction. front-runners claiming victory before Results are expected on October ballots are tallied and signalling they 19. If neither man wins over half the Court orders would not accept defeat. votes, a runoff would take place. The situation echoes 2014, when “There is serious risk of an daily treason trial candidates Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah extended political crisis and divisive against Musharraf Abdullah alleged massive fraud by battle over the outcome, while the each other, forcing the United States Taliban remain effectively unified,” INTERNEWS/ISLAMABAD to broker an awkward power-sharing said Colin Cookman, a program arrangement that made Ghani pres- officer with the US Institute of Peace, A special court in Islamabad has ident. Both men, front-runners again, who has analysed Afghan politics decided to hear a high treason say they would not accept a similar since 2008. case against former military arrangement this time. Petr Stepanek, ambassador of the dictator retired general Pervez At the same time, Taliban insur- Czech Republic to Afghanistan, said a Musharraf on a daily basis gents rule more of the country than at second round of voting possibly would effective October 24. Afghan election commission workers transfering data from biometric devices to the main any time since they were ousted from not be held until spring, prolonging A three-member bench, led server at a warehouse in Kabul, yesterday. power nearly two decades ago, and the uncertainty. by Justice Waqar Seth, while hearing the case yesterday directed all parties to submit their written arguments before Sri Lanka faces costliest election, longest ballot paper next hearing of the case. At the start of the hearing, an application was submitted AFP/COLOMBO running in the November 16 poll, paper, we will have to import ballots are counted manually, Buddhist monks and just one on behalf of Musharraf’s the highest number in any single plastic ballot boxes because the with the results expected the day woman among the 35 people counsel Raza Bashir for A record number of candidates ballot, Elections Commission wooden boxes we have with us after the polls. running for president of the deferment of the hearing due for Sri Lanka’s presidential poll chief Mahinda Deshapriya told will not be big enough.” The authorities allow each nation of 21 million people. to his health. next month has led to the reporters in Colombo. The cost of the election was candidate to have two polling Former president Mahinda According to the plea, longest-ever ballot paper and the “The ballot paper will be the originally estimated at some agents at each of the 11,000 Rajapakse’s younger brother Bashir is suffering from dengue most expensive vote in the coun- longest-ever we have had,” he $22m, but it is now thought that voting booths across the nation. Gotabhaya, 70, is the frontrunner and is under treatment at Mayo try’s history, the Election said. “It will be 26 inches (65 cen- will rise to $28m, officials said. The minimum voting age is while his main challenger is Hospital in Lahore. The plea Commission said yesterday. timetres) long. “With the Sri Lanka does not have 18 and 16 million people are eli- 52-year-old Housing Minister was granted. Thirty-five candidates are increase in the size of the ballot electronic voting machines and gible to vote. There are two Sajith Premadasa. 14 ASIA WEDNESDAY 9 OCTOBER 2019

Japan protests HK not ruling out Chinese help over protests: Lam to N Korea over AFP A total of 77 people HONG KONG have been arrested sea collision Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam for defying the ban on AP yesterday said China intervening putting on face masks. TOKYO to end months of pro-democracy protests is an option following a Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo particularly violent week of can cope with the unprecedented Abe said yesterday that Tokyo unrest that paralysed the city. troubles, China could be called has lodged a protest with The financial hub has been upon if the situation becomes “so Pyongyang over a collision gripped by four months of rallies, bad”. between a North Korean fishing and last weekend saw much of “At this point in time, I still boat that illegally entered Carrie Lam, Hong Kong Chief the city grind to a halt as masked strongly feel that we should find Japan’s exclusive economic Executive demonstrators took to the streets the solutions ourselves. It is also zone and a Japanese patrol in defiance of a controversial ban the position of the central gov- boat, pledging to step up on face coverings. ernment (in Beijing) that Hong arrested on Sunday in Wan Chai measures against foreign Lam’s decision last Friday to Kong should tackle the problem district have been charged with poachers. invoke colonial-era emergency on her own. rioting and 14 of them addi- Japanese authorities on powers — not used for half a “But if the situation becomes tionally in violation of the mask Monday rescued about 60 century — to impose the ban so bad, then no options can be ban. North Korean fishermen who sparked some of the most violent ruled out if we want Hong Kong A total of 77 people have were thrown to the sea after scenes since the crisis began, as to at least have another chance.” been arrested for defying the ban their ship collided with a Jap- hardcore protesters trashed Lam has faced widespread since it came into place over the anese Fisheries Agency dozens of subway stations, van- criticism over her decision to ban weekend, police said, adding that inspection vessel and sank in dalised shops with mainland face masks — ubiquitous in Hong 2,363 people had been arrested Japan’s exclusive economic China ties, built fires and blocked Kong since a deadly SARS out- overall since June. Students throw eggs into a school as they protest against the zone off the country’s northern roads. break in 2003 — and thousands Lam told journalists it was punishment of those students who fought to protect the Lennon coast. Hong Kong was virtually of Hong Kongers flouted the pro- “too early” to say whether the walls, one of the symbols of anti-government protest, outside Po Abe told parliament yes- locked down over the three-day hibition during an unsanctioned anti-mask law was effective or Leung Kuk Yao Ling Sun College, in Hong Kong, yesterday. terday that the authorities holiday weekend, with the mass march on Sunday. not. helped the fishermen onto majority of subway stops closed. Two people — a male uni- “I’m sure you’ll agree that for another North Korean ship and Thirteen damaged stations versity student and a 38-year- any new policy or new legis- condition yesterday while three questioned whether they were let them go rather than arrest remained shut yesterday old woman — appeared in court lation, it will take time to be had been discharged. losing steam. them for criminal investigation morning as rush-hour com- on Monday charged with illegally effectively implemented,” she US President Donald Trump At the start, “I saw two due to lack of evidence showing muters returned to work after wearing masks, and supporters said. earlier urged a “humane million people. I’ve never seen illegal fishing. the long break, although two wore their own face coverings The leader insisted she was solution” to the crisis, telling anything like it,” Trump said. But Abe said that doesn’t reopened later. in the courtroom. “very committed” to using reporters: “I think they have to “The crowd size is much smaller mean Japan is looking the other The Mass Transit Railway They were both charged with political, legal and policy instru- do that in a peaceful manner.” now, so maybe that’s saying way. (MTR) operator said the entire unlawful assembly, which carries ments, including dialogue, to He remarked on the “great something.” While not refer- “The government of Japan network — which carries four up to three years’ jail time, and address some of the “deep- people over there” and said pro- encing Trump, Lam said: “I hope will continue to respond reso- million people daily — would with defying the mask ban, seated problems” in the city. testers had been “flying the anyone, especially foreign lutely to prevent illegal opera- close at 8:00pm (1200 GMT), five which has a maximum one-year According to Hospital American flag”. members, whenever they have tions by foreign fishing boats hours earlier than usual. sentence. Both were released on Authority figures, 10 of the 13 However, Trump avoided to comment on Hong Kong’s inside of our exclusive eco- Lam told reporters that while bail. people admitted to hospital over expressing support for the dem- current situation, they have to nomic zone,” he said, adding she believes the city’s authorities Another 26 people who were the weekend were in a stable onstrators’ defiance and look at the fact objectively.” that Tokyo protested to Pyongyang via a diplomatic channel in Beijing. Singapore offers UN rights chief urges Australia Japan and North Korea have no diplomatic ties. Indonesia help to overhaul detention policies to combat haze AFP includes turning away refugees Azerbaijan’s SYDNEY arriving by boat and offshore BLOOMBERG detention. Both measures have parliament SINGAPORE The UN’s top rights official urged been condemned by the UN Australia to reform its criminal previously. elects new PM Singapore has reached out to and refugee detention systems “I encourage Australia to Indonesian authorities to offer yesterday, just days after the make greater use of human ANATOLIA assistance and urge action in country’s prime minister took a rights-compliant alternatives to BAKU combating the “perennial veiled swipe at the international detention, which are non-cus- scourge” of haze on the region, body. todial and community-based,” Azerbaijan’s parliament with no response from Indonesia Speaking in Sydney, United Bachelet said. yesterday agreed to approve Ali thus far, the Ministry for the Nations Human Rights Commis- Her comments came after Asadov, assistant to the pres- Environment and Water sioner Michelle Bachelet said she conservative Prime Minister ident for economic issues, as Resources said in written had been “shocked” to learn that Scott Morrison last week used a new prime minister of the Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo (left) shakes hands with responses to Parliament queries the country’s age of criminal major foreign policy speech in country. Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, in Singapore, yesterday. on Monday. responsibility was just 10 years Sydney to decry international The parliament convened The ministry said fires in old, calling on Australia to raise institutions that he said “demand to designate the country’s new Indonesia have released 360 recognise President Joko irresponsible actions of errant the age to the “internationally conformity rather than inde- prime minister. million tons of carbon dioxide Widodo’s personal attention companies, whether Singapore- accepted level” of 14 years. pendent cooperation on global Parliamentary Speaker since August, equivalent to more and efforts in tackling this based or otherwise, that harm The policy disproportion- issues”. “We should avoid any Ogtay Asadov announced that than Spain’s emissions for the problem. The key is to prevent our environment,” the ministry ately affects indigenous children, reflex towards a negative glo- Novruz Memmedov submitted whole of 2018. the fires from starting in the first said. who make up 70 percent of balism that coercively seeks to his resignation from the prime It said the two-month haze place.” Noting that consumer those aged under 14 held in Aus- impose a mandate from an often ministry to President Ilham episode of 2015 cost Singapore Singapore has contributed choices and demand can help tralian jails. ill-defined borderless global Aliyev. S$1.83bn ($1.33bn) in health S$5m to the ASEAN Specialised shape forestry and palm oil She also said it was “time to community,” he said. Asadov then told the par- costs, lost productivity, and Meteorological Centre for a industries’ actions, MEWR said, roll back” the mandatory “And worse still, an unac- liament that Memmedov’s res- diminished tourism and regional capability building pro- “as more consumers opt for sus- detention of asylum seekers, a countable internationalist ignation was accepted and the business. gramme to monitor haze, tainable products, this will policy she described as bureaucracy.” Morrison went on president appointed Asadov as “Singapore is supportive of including hotspot activities, and incentivise companies to adopt becoming “entrenched” under to declare that the government prime minister. the Indonesian government’s build predictability around more sustainable practices successive governments. “can never answer to a higher He was elected the new continuing efforts to suppress weather and climate. which in turn contributes to Australia’s hardline authority than the people of prime minister of Azarbaijan, the forest and land fires. We “We will not tolerate the reducing haze. approach to asylum seekers Australia”. taking 105 votes. Probe: Doomed Philippine graft court hands family Thai man charged over Kiribati ferry crew was drunk of former dictator another win alleged royal criticism AFP AFP self-censor when discussing the AFP MANILA BANGKOK unassailable institution. WELLINGTON “He (Kan) was arrested at his A Philippine court said yesterday A Thai pro-democracy activist home on Monday night,” Thai- Crew members of an over- that it has thrown out a decades- has been charged over an “inap- land’s cybercrime police said in loaded Kiribati ferry which old civil case against the widow propriate” social media post, a statement, adding that the sank in the Pacific claiming 95 of late dictator Ferdinand police said yesterday, as author- message “spurred hatred”. lives were drunk, leaving Marcos, dealing a fresh blow to ities use a tough cyber law It warned others could also passengers to die slow deaths a protracted effort to recover against perceived critics of the be prosecuted for sharing similar from starvation and hypo- alleged ill-gotten wealth. powerful monarchy. content. thermia, a damning report has In ruling for Imelda Marcos, Police arrested 25-year-old The statement also men- found. the special anti-graft court chas- Kan Pongprapapan late Monday tioned an “inappropriate The report gives the first tised government lawyers for and charged him with violating hashtag”. official account of the loss of the their “unjustified” absence at the Computer Crimes Act after It was not clear if it was ferry MV Butiraoi, which sank court hearings and for sub- a Facebook post touching on the referring to a controversial in January last year after setting mitting “mere photocopies” of turbulent lives of world-famous hashtag about royal motorcades off from Nonouti island bound documentary evidence that the royal families. on Bangkok’s traffic-clogged for the capital Tarawa. judge rejected. The charge carries up to five streets that pinballed around Supporters of Philippine Vice-President, Leni Robredo, hold a rally It details a string of failures Filed shortly after Marcos years in jail. Twitter in recent days. in front of the Supreme Court in Manila, yesterday. that led to the sinking and also fled to the US in exile following Kan, who was later released Kan’s lawyer Winyat Chat- gives a glimpse of the horrors a bloodless 1986 “people power” on bail, did not mention Thai- montri said his client had “no endured by victims, who were revolt, the case sought to seize with the defendants the Mar- former first lady Imelda Marcos, land’s ultra-wealthy monarchy, intention of talking about the missing in the vast ocean for shares of stocks and real estate coses, obtained ill-gotten one of the seven defendants. which is shielded from criticism Thai monarchy” in his Facebook eight days before the alarm was which it said were already worth wealth,” said the September 25 Sison said he expects the by one of the harshest royal def- post. A cabinet minister covering raised. The deaths of 84 pas- millions of dollars at the time. court ruling made public only government to appeal the court amation laws in the world. technology over the weekend sengers and 11 crew was the “The plaintiff... failed to yesterday. verdict, adding his client is still The law heavily restricts warned that the government worst maritime disaster ever in prove by preponderance of evi- “Of course Madam Imelda is facing more than a dozen similar reporting on cases involving the would pursue an anti-monarchy Kiribati, a collection of 33 atolls dence that the defendants by elated,” said Robert Sison, cases. Marcos’s family is acused monarchy inside a country “network” using computer and reefs. themselves, or in conspiracy lawyer for the now 90-year-old of embezzling at least $10bn. where all media must crimes legislation. WEDNESDAY 9 OCTOBER 2019 EUROPE 15

F-16 jet crashes Britain’s Brexit in Germany, talks with EU on pilot survives AFP verge of collapse FRANKFURT An American F-16 fighter jet AFP German Chancellor crashed yesterday near the city LONDON Angela Merkel spoke of Trier in western Germany, the German air force said, with Brexit talks between Britain and to the British Prime the pilot surviving after using the European Union teetered on Minister yesterday, the ejector seat. the verge of collapse yesterday, reportedly demanding After multiple emergency with tit-for-tat claims of intran- a rewrite of Britain’s calls around 3:15pm local time sigence and sabotage before an (1315 GMT), emergency services end-of-the-month deadline. approach to the long- reached the scene near the Prime Minister Boris Johnson vexing Irish border village of Zemmer, police said spoke to German Chancellor problem. in a statement. Angela Merkel as he tried to The airman was taken to salvage new divorce terms he hospital. Police said it was not had proposed ahead of next way to deliver on UK voters’ immediately clear how seri- Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson (right) shakes hands with European Parliament President David week’s pivotal EU leaders’ wishes and end its almost five- ously he was injured in the Sassoli, at Downing Street, in London yesterday. summit in Brussels. decade involvement in the crash. Breaking with convention, European project. Authorities blocked off a Downing Street then provided a Riding a wave of British frus- his office leak out the detail of Irish government published a the euro in about a month. large zone around the crash site readout of what Merkel allegedly trations with the saga, Johnson private talks. 2020 spending plan with a Johnson, who took over from including several roads, the said, provoking an incendiary is threatening to leave at any cost A frustrated Tusk had ¤1.2bn ($1.3bn) relief fund based Theresa May in July, has been police statement added, urging tweet from EU Council President — with or without a withdrawal accused Britain of playing with on the assumption that there will accused of political manoeuvring drivers to avoid the area. Donald Tusk. deal — on October 31. “the future of Europe and the be no agreement. before calling a snap general A spokesman for the According to the London In Berlin, Merkel’s office said UK” with no clear plan of what The UK government also election to strengthen his nearby US military air base at source, Merkel demanded a it would not comment “on such the country wanted. released updated preparations position in parliament. Spangdahlem said he had no rewrite of Britain’s approach to confidential discussions”. John- Irish Deputy Prime Minister for a “no deal” exit at the end of The government yesterday further information about the the long-vexing Irish border son’s official spokesman also Simon Coveney said he found it the month, indicating it was suspended the legislature from crash, its causes or the health problem that made a com- declined to comment on the sub- “hard to disagree” with Tusk, increasingly expecting the Wednesday until October 14, of the pilot. promise “essentially stance of the call. stressing that Dublin would “not outcome. when Queen Elizabeth II will set impossible”. But he told reporters the pair strike a deal at any cost”. The Institute for Fiscal Studies out the government’s legislative A deal now looked “over- had a “frank exchange” — dip- Although Johnson’s Brexit think-tank, however, warned that domestic agenda. Swedish hospital whelming unlikely” and talks lomatic speak for a disa- negotiators were still meeting “even a relatively benign no-deal Johnson’s proposals outline were “close to breaking down”, greement. The spokesman various European officials, much Brexit” would see Britain’s debt a new way to avoid a hard border tests patient the source added. rejected Tusk’s accusation that of the focus is shifting to what burden surge to 50-year highs. between EU member the for Ebola Britain has been trying for Johnson was playing “some happens after the talks are for- On the markets, the pound Republic of Ireland and Northern more than three years to find a stupid blame game” by having mally pronounced dead. The slipped to its lowest value against Ireland after Brexit. REUTERS STOCKHOLM Police swoop A hospital in southern Sweden Italy’s parliament votes to slash MP numbers said yesterday it was testing a on Britain’s patient for Ebola who had come AFP abstentions. “It’s done!” the M5S candidates,” he said. Critics have the polls and keep far-right leader in with a fever after travelling biggest drugs ROME said on its blog. “Promise kept.” warned such a cut could affect Matteo Salvini out of power. in an infected area. Italy currently has the popular representation, and The party has insisted the cut It was unlikely that the racket, 13 held Italy’s parliament yesterday second highest number of law- increase the influence of lobbyists be followed by a new electoral patient had caught the deadly overwhelmingly approved makers in the EU after Britain — over governing institutions — all law, and is pushing for the disease, “but we can’t rule it out AFP slashing the number of some 630 elected representa- for a minimal saving that will reintroduction of a proportional before we have the test results,” LONDON lawmakers, a move the left- tives in the lower house and 315 have little effect on debt-laden representation system. a spokesman at the Skane Uni- leaning government hopes will in the Senate. Italy’s budget balance. Under the current mix of pro- versity Hospital said. Thirteen men were arrested help keep the far-right from The constitutional reform, This is the country’s eighth portional representation and Authorities in east and yesterday on suspicion of power. which could be subjected to a attempt to cut its number of law- first-past-the-post systems, a central Africa have been on involvement in the biggest Reducing the number of MPs popular referendum in the makers since 1983, according to winning coalition needs more high alert for possible spillovers drugs racket ever uncovered in and senators in Italy by 345 was coming months, cuts the number the Open news website. than 40 percent of the vote to of Ebola from the Democratic Britain, police said. a flagship manifesto promise of of MPs to 400 and senators to Five Star (M5S) made the cut have the necessary parliamentary Republic of Congo, where a The suspects were allegedly the anti-establishment Five Star 200 from the next legislature, a condition of its alliance with the majority. year-long outbreak has killed part of an international Movement, which rules in coa- with an expected saving of some centre-left Democratic Party With full proportional repre- more than 2,100 people. organised crime group respon- lition with the country’s centre- ¤100m ($110m) a year. (PD), following the collapse of the sentation, parties or coalitions “The reason the suspicion sible for importing more than left, and promised voters it “It’s a well-balanced reform previous, far-right coalition in would need a much bigger arose is symptom in the form 50 tonnes of drugs, worth bil- would tackle political elitism and with an excellent profile,” legal August. majority to form a government. of fever, combined with where lions of pounds, into Britain wasteful spending. expert Guido Neppi Modona told The PD had previously voted That would force League the patient has been,” the head from the Netherlands. The move, linked to broader Il Fatto Quotidiano on Monday. against the reductions, but agreed leader Salvini to ditch any plans of the hospital’s infectious The men, aged between 24 electoral law reforms, was A reduced number of law- to support them if it meant to run alone or with a small fellow disease department, Maria and 59, were arrested in dawn passed by 553 MPs, with just 14 makers will “lead parties to take clinching a deal with the M5S far-right party at the next Josephsson, said in an emailed raids in London, Manchester, voting against and two particular care in choosing which would prevent a return to election. statement. Leeds and five towns in northern England, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said. They are suspected of being Russia extends house arrest part of the British arm of a group that used front com- of US investor Calvey panies to import heroin, cocaine and cannabis, con- AFP other suspects are alleged to cealed within truckloads of MOSCOW have defrauded Vostochny Bank vegetables and juice. of 2.5 billion rubles ($38.7m) — Four men and two women A Moscow court yesterday charges they say were fabricated were arrested in the Nether- extended the house arrest of by a competitor and relate to a lands in April and are awaiting prominent US investor Michael shareholder dispute. extradition to Britain as part of Calvey and a French senior After they were detained in the same investigation. executive at his fund who are February, both were held behind “We believe we have dis- accused of defrauding a Russian bars for several months. mantled a well-established bank. Calvey transferred to house drug supply route,” said Jayne The arrests of Calvey, the arrest in April and Depal in Lloyd, the NCA’s regional head founder of multi-billion-dollar August. Three of their Russian of investigations. investment fund Baring Vostok, colleagues are still behind bars. “We suspect these men and French banker Philippe Last week Russian author- were involved in an industrial- Delpal have raised serious con- ities froze assets belonging to all scale operation — the biggest cerns among foreign investors five men. ever uncovered in the UK — in Russia. The court yesterday refused bringing in tonnes of deadly Climate protest Moscow’s Basmanny district defence petitions to pay bail of drugs that were distributed to court extended their house five million rubles ($77,000) Climate activists from the Extinction Rebellion action group block the ABN Amro Private Banking crime groups throughout the arrest to January 13, 2020, when each for Calvey and Delpal or to building in the business district of Zuidas, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, yesterday. Mayor Halsema country.” The men arrested their next hearing is due. soften the terms of their house yesterday were held in con- called on climate activists to leave. Those who did not leave were arrested. Calvey, Delpal and three arrest. nection with three consign- ments that were intercepted in September 2018, the NCA said. That shipment contained Several EU countries refuse to back migrant boat plan 351 kg of cocaine, 92 kg of heroin, 250 kg of cannabis and AP screen migrants, relocate picked up migrants from Libya The meeting in Luxembourg accept asylum-seekers. 1,850 kg of hemp/hashish, with BRUSSELS asylum-seekers and return in unseaworthy boats were yesterday had been meant to “I think there are around 10 a total street value of more than people who do not apply or blocked from docking or disem- gauge enthusiasm for the tem- countries that are ready to play £38m. Enquiries led officers to A large majority of European qualify for asylum, all within four barking passengers in Italy or porary plan, in which countries the game. Perhaps others,” she believe the men have imported Union member countries have weeks. Malta. Italy’s former anti- would make “pre-declared told reporters. “We are going to drugs through British ports on refused to back a plan to quickly “We were seven yesterday, migrant interior minister even pledges” on how many asylum- be able to say that when a boat several occasions between Feb- get migrants off boats in the seven this morning and seven threatened to jail the crews of seekers they would accept. arrives, we know who to call and ruary 2017 and October 2018. Mediterranean Sea and distribute this evening. So things haven’t charity-run rescue ships. Details of the scheme are sketchy, that there are countries ready to The NCA said the investi- them among willing EU partners. changed much,” said a downbeat The stance taken by the two but it would operate for at least send teams in.” But Italian gation was linked to an oper- At a meeting of EU interior Jean Asselborn, Luxembourg’s countries resulted in standoffs six months, unless migrant Interior Minister Luciana ation in which 13 individuals ministers, only Ireland, Luxem- minister responsible for that kept rescued migrants at sea arrivals increase dramatically. Lamorgese said that those who were sentenced to a total of 176 bourg and Portugal offered to migration. “Why us, and why no for weeks until other EU nations Earlier, France’s European agreed to take part “are those years in jail following the take part in the “fast-track” plan one else?” pledged to take at least some of affairs minister, Amelie de three or four states that had seizure of more than 100 kg of drawn up by Germany, France, For more than a year, the people seeking safety or Montchalin, had claimed that already said they were available, heroin in 2015. Italy and Malta, which would humanitarian ships that have better lives in Europe. several countries were willing to like Luxembourg and Ireland.” 16 EUROPE WEDNESDAY 9 OCTOBER 2019 Dark matter, exoplanet discoveries win Nobel Physics Prize AFP Swiss scientists Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz STOCKHOLM won the Nobel Physics Prize “for the discovery of an exoplanet orbiting a solar-type star,” while Canadian-American cosmol- Canadian-American James Peebles won for the ogist James Peebles and Swiss astronomers Michel Mayor and “theoretical discoveries in physical cosmology”. Didier Queloz yesterday won the Nobel Physics Prize for started to shoot outwards into around 50 light years from our research that increases the space. own Sun. understanding of our place in Using theoretical tools and Harnessing a phenomenon the universe. calculations, he drew a link known as the Doppler effect, Peebles won one-half of the between the temperature of the which changes the colour of light prize “for theoretical discoveries radiation emitted after the Big depending on whether an object that have contributed to our Bang and the amount of matter is approaching or retreating from understanding of how the uni- it created. Earth, the pair proved the planet, verse evolved after the Big Bang,” His work showed that the known as 51 Pegasus b, was professor Goran Hansson, sec- matter known to us — such as orbiting its star. retary-general of the Royal stars, planets, and ourselves — The Nobel jury noted that the Swedish Academy of Sciences, only make up five percent, while discovery “started a revolution told a press conference. the other 95 are made up of in astronomy” and since then Mayor and Queloz shared the “unknown dark matter and dark over 4,000 exoplanets have been other half for the first discovery, energy.” found in our home galaxy. in October 1995, of a planet “This is a mystery and a “Strange new worlds are outside our solar system — an challenge to modern physics,” still being discovered,” chal- exoplanet — orbiting a solar-type the academy said. lenging our preconceived ideas star in the Milky Way. Peebles is Albert Einstein about planetary systems and “Their discoveries have Professor of Science at Princeton “forcing scientists to revise A computer screen displays the portraits of the laureates of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics, FROM forever changed our conceptions University in the United States, their theories of the physical LEFT: Canadian-American James Peebles, Swiss scientists Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz, at the of the world,” the jury said. while Mayor and Queloz are both processes behind the origins of Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, in Stockholm, yesterday. Developed over two decades professors at the University of planets.” since the mid-1960s, Peebles’ Geneva. Queloz also works at the In a statement, the two from King Carl XVI Gustaf at a Mourou of France and Donna to Americans William Kaelin and theoretical framework is “the University of Cambridge in astronomers hailed their win as formal ceremony in Stockholm Strickland of the US for laser Gregg Semenza, and Britain’s basis of our contemporary ideas Britain. “simply extraordinary”, saying on December 10, the anniversary inventions used for advanced Peter Ratcliffe. about the Universe.” Using custom-made instru- the discovery was “the most of the 1896 death of scientist precision instruments in cor- They were honoured for Peebles built upon Albert ments at their observatory in exciting of our careers”. Alfred Nobel who created the rective eye surgery and in research into how human cells Einstein’s work on the origins of southern France in October 1995, The prize consists of a gold prizes in his last will and industry. sense and adapt to changing the Universe by looking back to Mayor and Queloz were able to medal, a diploma and the sum of testament. This year’s Nobel prize oxygen levels, which opens up the millenia immediately after detect a gaseous ball similar in $914,000. In 2018, the honour went to season kicked off on Monday new strategies to fight such dis- the Big Bang, when light rays size to Jupiter, orbiting a star The trio will receive the prize Arthur Ashkin of the US, Gerard with the Medicine Prize awarded eases as cancer and anaemia.

Politician rescues child, father from Macron vows ‘unrelenting fight’ against terrorism AFP that ended when an officer shot “inconceivable and unacceptable” Thursday’s attack brought to inquiry, said it was not clear if burning car PARIS him in the head. that Harpon, who had worked for 255 the number of people killed Harpon had gathered the data as The attack in the police’s the police since 2003, had in attacks blamed on, or claimed part of his job or had surrepti- AP/WARSAW French President Emmanuel inner sanctum caused shock in managed to carry out an attack “in by Islamist radicals since 2015. tiously extracted it, as well as Macron vowed an “unrelenting France, where the government the very place where we pursue Harpon, a father of two, had whether he had shared it with A left-wing party leader in fight” against extremists is being pressed to answer how terrorists and criminals”. been in close contact with a others. Poland has rescued a 2-year-old yesterday as he paid tribute to Harpon’s radicalisation went He blamed the attack on “a hardline Salafist imam in the The key also contained boy and his father from a burning the four Paris police staff stabbed unnoticed, despite him having distorted, deadly extremism” months before his rampage last several propaganda videos from car, winning praise across the to death last week by a radi- high-level security clearance. which he vowed to eradicate and week, according to the IS militant group, it added. political spectrum days before a calised colleague. “We will wage an unre- vowed to build in France a investigators. The four victims of the attack national election. Mickael Harpon, a 45-year- lenting fight in the face of “society in a state of vigilance”. Le Parisien newspaper — Damien Ernest, Anthony The car collided with a old computer expert in the police Islamist terrorism,” Macron At the same time he warned reported yesterday that a USB Lancelot, Aurelia Trifiro and truck and began to burn on intelligence-gathering vowed at a ceremony at the against lapsing into a climate of key containing details on dozens Brice Le Mescam — were post- Monday evening in Tabor, south department, used a kitchen knife police headquarters near Notre- permanent suspicion, assuring: of his police colleagues had been humously awarded the Legion of Warsaw. Robert Biedron wit- and an oyster shucker to kill Dame cathedral where the attack “This is not a fight against a found among his possessions. of Honour, France’s highest nessed the crash and helped the three male and one female col- took place. religion but against the distortion The paper, which citing civilian award, at yesterday’s father and child until rescue league in a 30-minute rampage Macron said it was of it which leads to terrorism.” unnamed sources close to the remembrance ceremony. officials arrived, fire officials reported. Local firefighters posted a photo on Facebook of them- Austria’s Kurz starts talks selves with Biedron, praising him and saying that “like a real to form new coalition govt fireman he went to the burning car with a fire extinguisher.” REUTERS government,” Kurz said. It’s not clear whether Bie- VIENNA The publication in May of a dron’s heroics will help lift the sting video showing FPO leader fortunes of a left-wing alliance Austrian conservative leader and then-Vice Chancellor that his Spring party belongs to Sebastian Kurz opened talks Heinz-Christian Strache offering in election on Sunday. with potential coalition partners to fix state contracts forced him yesterday after his People’s to resign and blew up the gov- Party (OVP) fell short of the erning coalition of the far-right Police units probe majority needed to form a party and the OVP. government in last month’s snap The FPO repeatedly called huge chemical parliamentary election. for another coalition with Kurz plant fire in France Kurz, 33, has not ruled out during the election campaign governing with any of the four but it has backed away from the AP/PARIS other parties and kicked off idea as the scale of its defeat at what could be a protracted the ballot box became clear - Paris prosecutors said police process by sounding out the even though its 31 seats would units specialised in environ- second-placed Social Democrats be enough for Kurz. mental risks are leading inves- (SPO) and the far-right Freedom The FPO’s new leader A truck stands beside damaged cars, in Limburg, Germany, yesterday. tigations into a huge fire at a Party (FPO), which came in Norbert Hofer said forming chemical plant last month in the third. another OVP-FPO coalition is French city of Rouen. Today, Kurz will meet the now “at least very unlikely”, The Paris prosecutor’s office, Suspect detained after hijacked truck other two parties, the environ- without ruling it out altogether. which is in charge of the probe, mentalist Greens and the liberal He and others in the FPO worry said in a statement that about 130 rams into traffic in western Germany Neos, as he tries to find a deal they would be negotiating from complaints have been filed that would give him the extra 21 a position of weakness. mostly over potential health risks REUTERS Prosecutor Ralf Badle Police searched two seats he needs for a majority in Some commentators think following the September 26 fire. BERLIN declined to comment on the addresses linked to the suspect parliament. it would make sense for Kurz to Environmentalists and motive yesterday. He said it was where they seized mobile Before meeting SPO leader join forces with the resurgent some Rouen inhabitants claim A Syrian man has been arrested being treated as an attempted phones and USB sticks, Badle Pamela Rendi-Wagner for an Green party, which has 26 seats, authorities didn’t do enough to on suspicion of hijacking a truck murder. said. “We can’t give specific hour yesterday, Kurz told and the Neos with 15 seats, but protect the population and and ramming it into traffic in The truck rammed into eight details about the motive,” he reporters his aim was to improve it will not be easy to bridge didn’t release health and safety western Germany yesterday other vehicles in the city north added. “All possibilities are being Austria’s political culture after policy differences with the information quickly enough. night, injuring eight people, of the financial hub of Frankfurt, investigated.” a campaign full of mud-slinging Greens, led by Werner Kogler. Authorities ordered a freeze prosecutors said. Badle said. The incident occurred and to explore ways for parties Austrian President and on local agricultural production German media cited security The 32-year-old suspect was almost three years after a failed to cooperate in parliament. former Greens leader Alexander and sales after the blaze as a officials as saying the incident in due to appear before a judge Tunisian asylum seeker killed 12 “The most important goal van der Bellen has encouraged precaution while awaiting test the city of Limburg was being who will decided whether to people by ramming a truck into of course is in the medium term Kurz to put climate change atop results. treated as an act of terrorism. issue a formal arrest warrant. a Berlin Christmas market. to form a stable and durable the political agenda. Kremlin rejects idea of US role in Ukraine conflict talks REUTERS/MOSCOW separatists in Ukraine’s east. Germany and France. that the US could use its influence “The viewpoint that the US in order to ensure that Ukraine Kremlin spokesman Dmitry A diplomatic breakthrough in Ukraine, reacting to comments must eventually join this (Nor- meets its obligations under the Russia yesterday rejected the Peskov said there was no support last week potentially opened the by Belarusian President Alex- mandy) format has found no Minsk accord as soon as pos- idea of involving the United for the idea of Washington way for an international summit ander Lukashenko who said it support,” Peskov told reporters sible,” he added, referring to a States in talks to help resolve the joining the Normandy Format between the countries aimed at would not be possible to resolve yesterday. 2015 peace agreement which conflict between the Kiev talks to settle the conflict, which finding a way to end the fighting. the Ukrainian conflict without “Nevertheless, the US can remains to be fully government and pro-Russian involves Russia, Ukraine, Peskov did say, however, US participation. certainly use its influence in Kiev implemented. WEDNESDAY 9 OCTOBER 2019 AMERICAS 17 White House blocks envoy’s impeachment testimony

REUTERS Representative Adam Republican-led congressional WASHINGTON Schiff told reporters intelligence committees as early that the move to as this week, congressional offi- The Trump administration block Sondland from cials said. yesterday blocked an ambas- Representative Adam Schiff, sador from testifying to the US testifying or turning the Democratic chairman of the House of Representatives’ over his text messages House intelligence committee impeachment investigation of or e-mails was spearheading the impeachment President Donald Trump’s obstruction. probe, told reporters the move dealings with Ukraine, a move to block Sondland from testifying top House Democrats vowed to or turning over his text messages counter with a subpoena. “He stands ready to testify on or e-mails was obstruction. The chairmen of three House short notice, whenever he is per- “We will consider this act committees leading the mitted to appear,” Sondland’s today ... to be further acts of impeachment investigation said lawyer, Robert Luskin, said in a obstruction of a coequal branch they would compel testimony statement. of government,” Schiff told from US Ambassador to the State Department officials reporters. European Union Gordon could not be immediately Sondland was a key witness Sondland, a Trump donor who reached to comment on what for the House Foreign Affairs, US Representative Mark Meadows and fellow Republicans watch House Intelligence Committee started his diplomatic job in July. issues had blocked his Intelligence and Oversight Com- Chairman Adam Schiff leaves after speaking to reporters outside the committee offices on Capitol The investigators are interested testimony. mittees, whose staff had been Hill, in Washington, DC, yesterday. in what the ambassador knew The impeachment probe is expected to ask him why he and what his role was in Trump’s focusing on a whistleblower’s became involved in dealings with Ambassador Sondland, a really leaders last week, Sondland was Following the allegations efforts to get Ukraine to probe allegations that Trump used Ukraine, which is not a member good man and great American, heavily involved in contacts with that Trump pressured Zelenskiy former vice-president Joe Biden, nearly $400m in US military aid of the EU. to testify, but unfortunately he Zelenskiy as he sought a meeting to investigate Biden while with- who leads the field of potential to secure a promise from Trump has derided the would be testifying before a with Trump, and Ukrainian offi- holding the military aid, House challengers to the Republican Ukraine’s president to investigate impeachment inquiry and has totally compromised kangaroo cials expressed concern at the Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced president. Biden, a leading candidate for the denied he did anything wrong in court, where Republicans’ rights administration’s decision to a formal impeachment investi- Through his lawyer yes- 2020 Democratic presidential a July 25 phone call with have been taken away, and true block US military assistance for gation last month. terday, Sondland said he hoped nomination. Ukrainian President Volodymyr facts are not allowed out for the Kiev. Concerns about the July 25 “the issues raised by the State The whistleblower’s legal Zelenskiy in which Trump public. ... to see,” Trump wrote In one of the texts, for call, and possible Trump threats Department that preclude his team was in the final stages of pushed for an investigation of on Twitter. example, Sondland emphasised to Ukraine, came to the attention testimony will be resolved talks for the intelligence officer Biden and his son. According to text messages that Trump “really wants the of Congress in a report by a promptly.” to speak to both Democratic and “I would love to send released by House committee deliverable.” whistleblower. ‘El Chapo’ gave $1m to Honduran President’s brother: Witness Three suspected of slaying witness AP “El Chapo” and alleged helped the start of the trial that jurors He also alleged that Guzmán asked for $2m for his presi- NEW YORK him move shipments thanks to would hear testimony about the used six trucks from the broad- dential campaign and for Juan at former Dallas information he obtained from purported bribe from Guzmán. caster Televisa to transport Orlando Hernández, who at the cop’s trial: Police A Honduran former mayor and top Honduran officials, Ardón In hours of testimony, Ardón drugs, and each vehicle had a time was running for president drug trafficker testified that said. gave details of dozens of capacity to carry 6,000 kilo- of Honduras’ congress. AP Mexican kingpin Joaquín “El Juan Orlando Hernández has meetings with traffickers grams of cocaine. Lobo has previously denied DALLAS Chapo” Guzmán personally gave vehemently denied any wrong- including with Guzmán, whom Televisa said in a brief allegations against him, calling $1m to the brother of Honduras’ doing and has not been charged. he said he first met in 2007 and statement that the company was them “falsehoods from criminals Three Louisiana men are President in 2013 for the politi- Tony Hernández’s defense had seen six times through year not aware of the specific nature who are trying to reduce their wanted in the killing of a cian’s presidential campaign. argues there is no evidence 2013. of the testimony, “but it would sentences.” witness who testified at the The longtime Sinaloa cartel proving the charges. Ardón testified that in 2013, not be the first time they try to “I have not received money, murder trial of a former Dallas boss made the payment to be “Any accusation that @ $1m in bundles of $50,000 and pass vehicles off as those of I have not been, nor am I, nor police officer, authorities said able to smuggle cocaine through JuanOrlandoH as a candidate for $100,000 was put on the table Mexican businesses. When we will I be a friend, partner or yesterday, cautioning that the Honduras to Guatemala, Amílcar president may have received or during a meeting in the munic- have been aware, the respective much less a collaborator with killing had nothing at all to do Alexander Ardón alleged in tes- accepted money from El Chapo ipality of El Paraiso, where he complaints have been any criminal,” the ex-president with that trial and case. timony on the fourth day of the directly or indirectly is 100% was mayor, and delivered there presented.” said on Friday on Twitter. Assistant Chief Avery Moore Manhattan drug trial of Tony false, absurd and ridiculous,” the to Tony Hernández. The witness also said he met Ardón, dressed in his prison said at a news conference that Hernández, brother of President Honduran presidency tweeted “We counted it,” he said. “It with the president and ex-Pres- uniform, acknowledged being the three suspects — Jacque- Juan Orlando Hernández. yesterday. “It is craziness like was in plastic bags.” ident Porfirio Lobo to discuss responsible for 56 murders. rious Mitchell, 20; Michael Between 2007 and 2013 Alice in Wonderland.” Ardón said several others payments. The trial is expected to last Mitchell, 32; and Thaddeous Tony Hernández sold drugs to Prosecutors said last week at were present at the meeting. He alleged that in 2008 Lobo two weeks. Green, 22 —are from Alex- andria, Louisiana, and that investigators believe they were in Dallas to buy drugs from Border apprehensions drop as Joshua Brown. Police said Michael Mitchell is the uncle of Jacquerious immigration crackdown continues Mitchell and that Jacquerious is in a Dallas hospital in “critical AP Trump’s signature issue, but the decline cannot be explained condition.” Neither Michael WASHINGTON overall numbers rose dramati- simply by seasonal factors. Mitchell nor Thaddeous Green cally under his watch. Morgan said the administration’s are in custody. The number of migrants appre- The number of people strategies brought about results. Brown’s death on Friday hended at the southern S border encountered at the border Those policies have included came two days after a jury sen- declined in September for the during the 2019 budget year is denying asylum to most migrants tenced former police Officer fourth straight month, Trump likely to be nearly 1 million, one who crossed through another Amber Guyger to 10 years in administration officials said. of the highest figures on record. country to arrive at the US- prison for killing her upstairs Acting Customs and Border The volume of border Mexico border and sending more neighbor, Botham Jean. Guyger Protection Commissioner Mark crossers vastly strained than 45,000 migrants back to killed Jean in September 2018 Morgan said border officials resources and prompted an Mexico to wait out their asylum in his fourth-floor apartment, encountered about 52,000 outcry over fetid conditions at claims. which she said she mistook for A worker removing oil on a beach in Aracaju, Sergipe state, in Brazil. migrants at the border last border stations where families “This administration’s strat- her own unit one floor below. month — down about 65% from and children were held for days egies have brought about results, Brown lived on the same floor the peak in May of about and weeks at a time in facilities dramatic results,” Morgan said as Jean and he testified that on Bolsonaro says oil spills 144,000. meant to hold them at maximum from the White House press the night Jean was killed, he The news will likely be for 72 hours. briefing room. Fewer people are heard what sounded like “two appear to be criminal greeted with glee by President The number of migrants being held in custody at border people meeting by surprise” Donald Trump, who has used the crossing the border traditionally facilities. Four months ago, it and then two gunshots. AP contaminating more than 130 monthly tally as a benchmark declines in hot summer months. was about 19,000, a massive At times during his tes- RIO DE JANEIRO beaches, the Environment Min- for whether his hardline immi- Numbers tend to rebound when number when 4,000 was con- timony, Brown became emo- istry said in a statement. gration policies are working. the weather gets cooler, though sidered a crisis. Now it’s just tional and used his T-shirt and Brazilian President Jair Roberto Castello Branco, Curbing immigration has been officials have insisted that the under 4,000, he added. tissue to wipe away tears. Bolsonaro said yesterday that president of state oil company the oil spills that have been Petrobras, called the spills a contaminating the northeastern “very worrying disaster” Crackdown announced after Alec Baldwin falls for tour ‘scam’ coast since the beginning of yesterday. September appeared to involve “It is a very strange phe- AP of Transportation spokesman tickets to the Staten Island Ferry, crimes. nomenon, there are no signs that NEW YORK Scott Gastel said the shuttle bus which is free. “It seems that something it is receding,” Castello Branco the Baldwins were directed to Mayor Bill de Blasio saidy was dumped criminally,” Bol- told members of the lower house New York City officials vowed transports passengers from that city agencies including the sonaro said in Brasilia after of Congress’ mining and energy to crack down on vendors selling lower Manhattan to New Jersey, police, the Department of Trans- meeting with Environment Min- commission. boat rides around the Statue of where they get on a boat that portation and the Economic ister Ricardo Salles. The company had helped Liberty after actor Alec Baldwin offers views of the Statue of Development Corporation are But Bolsonaro declined to retrieve over 130 tonnes of oil (pictured) complained that he Liberty. joining forces to crack down on say who authorities suspect to as of Monday night. Petrobras was among the many people A message was left with the unlicenced and misleading be behind the leak. On Monday, analysed several samples of scammed into thinking he was tour operator that apparently Statue of Liberty tour the president said one country spilled oil and determined it was buying tickets to the statue itself. sold Baldwin the tickets. operators. was on their radar. not produced or commercialised Baldwin posted on Instagram Only one tour company, “The Statue of Liberty is an Local authorities began by the company but said it came on Sunday that he and his wife, Statue Cruises, is licenced to take enduring symbol of the promise investigating the oil spills on from a single source. Hilaria, “Two sharp, savvy visitors to Liberty Island, but of the America,” said de Blasio, September 2, when the oil In the state of Sergipe, NYers,” bought $40 tickets for ticket sellers from other com- a Democrat. “Tourists and vis- sludge started to land on Bra- authorities declared a state of themselves and their children for “I kid you not,” Baldwin said panies often mislead tourists into itors have been taken for a ride, zilian shores. emergency and recommend a boat tour of the Statue of in his social media post. “We believing they are booking a ride and it’s unacceptable. We won’t The spills have now reached people not use beaches that Liberty and were escorted to a paid. Then we read the tickets.” to the statue. There have also let up until illegal and deceitful 61 municipalities in nine states, were contaminated. shuttle bus to New Jersey. New York City Department been reports of scammers selling practices are a thing of the past.” 18 AMERICAS WEDNESDAY 9 OCTOBER 2019

Rafael Correa Ecuador moves denies planning coup attempt government from exile

REUTERS out of capital BRUSSELS Ecuador’s former president BLOOMBERG President Moreno Rafael Correa denied yesterday QUITO said that allies of his he was orchestrating a coup predecessor Rafael against the government from his As Ecuadorian protesters infu- Correa had infiltrated self-imposed exile in Belgium, riated by rising fuel prices after being accused of stoking the invaded government offices and protests against worst unrest there in years. in the oil fields, the president and his increases in fuel prices Andean oil producer. administration fled the capital, in a bid to topple his Protests over an end to fuel warning of a coup. government. subsidies have erupted across the In a national address late country, prompting President Monday, President Lenin Moreno Lenin Moreno to accuse Correa, said he had moved the executive general’s office across the street. his predecessor and one-time branch from Quito to the port On Monday, rioters also mentor, of trying to overthrow city of Guayaquil due to security attacked an oil production him with help from Venezuela’s threats. The President said that facility, a major dairy and dozens President Nicolas Maduro. allies of his predecessor Rafael of rose plantations. They burned People walk past a damaged government building after a protest in Quito, yesterday. “They are such liars ... They say Correa had infiltrated protests police and military vehicles as I am so powerful that with an against increases in fuel prices security forces struggled to in place since the 1970s and January 2018, sending yields up city, is receiving supplies by air. iPhone from Brussels I could lead in a bid to topple his contain the violence. which were costing the gov- 0.65 percentage point. As president, Moreno has the protests,” he said. “People government. “When I read that Moreno ernment close to $1.4bn a year. The nation has been engulfed been a maverick. When he took couldn’t take it anymore, that’s the “They are the ones behind had left, I felt that we’ve been left Observers didn’t take that as the by the protests. In the Amazon office in 2017, many assumed reality,” he said, referring to aus- this coup attempt,” Moreno said, alone, who is going to defend final word. region, demonstrators entered he’d continue to lead the country terity measures brought in by without providing evidence. us?” said Susana Vega, a Spanish “There is a non-zero risk that facilities of the Sacha oilfield, along the repressive and spend- Moreno with support from the IMF. “The looting, vandalism and the teacher in Quito. “This isn’t a Moreno knuckles under pressure prompting authorities to shut thrift path forged by Correa, his Correa, who lives in Belgium, violence show that here there is strike, this is something much and rolls back the subsidy cuts,” down production and causing former mentor. has fiercely criticised Moreno, an organized political intention more sinister.” Edwin Gutierrez, London-based the loss of 70,000 barrels of Correa is responsible for a including with a video circulating to destabilise the government The tumult began when the head of emerging-market sov- Ecuador’s 550,000 barrel-a-day string of ill-considered public on social media where he sings and break the democratic government eliminated subsidies ereign debt at Aberdeen Asset output. works projects, including power “Ecuadoreans, to the streets ... order.” on gasoline and diesel, a move Management, wrote in a written Central regions were cut off plants, refineries, pipelines, Goodbye, Lenin!” The government of the South welcomed by the International reply to questions. “Given the from television and radio service airport terminals and a railway. Sitting in an office with an American nation of about 16.5 Monetary Fund and rating com- violence and protests, that risk as demonstrators seized repeater They have been dogged by cost Ecuadorean flag and his official million decamped after another panies including Moody’s has clearly risen.” antennas. Indigenous commu- overruns, construction and photograph as president, Correa night in a week of unrest. Pro- Investors Service. The nation’s dollar bonds nities blocked numerous main design flaws and accusations of said he would be ready to return, testers in Quito damaged Ecua- Moreno reiterated yesterday due in 2028 fell 3.6 cents to 93 roads in the Andean region, corruption. Correa defaulted on possibly as a candidate for vice dor’s congressional building and that he wouldn’t reinstate the cents on the dollar, the biggest home to half the nation’s resi- $3.2bn in bonds for political president, if new elections were violently entered the comptroller fuel subsidies, which had been drop since they were sold in dents. Cuenca, the third-largest reasons. called. 9-year-old faces Couple faces judgement for rigging daughter’s entrance exams 5 murder charges in Illinois fire AP/BOSTON paid $50,000 to have a test sensibilities as most people and, to recommend longer prison than that,” Lelling said. proctor correct their daughter’s strange as it may sound, identify sentences for “Full House” star Loughlin and her fashion AP The founder of a food and ACT exam answers in 2018, along with the public outrage over my Lori Loughlin and other parents designer husband, Mossimo EUREKA beverage packaging company with $75,000 to rig her SAT own actions,” he wrote. contesting the charges against Giannulli, are accused of paying and his wife, a former journalist, subject tests. They kept the Gregory Abbott, who lives in them. $500,000 to get their two A prosecutor said a central are returning to court to be scheme hidden from their New York City, was chairman Massachusetts US Attorney daughters into the University of Illinois 9-year-old will be sentenced in a scandal involving daughter. and CEO of International Dis- Andrew Lelling said in a Sunday Southern California as fake ath- charged with five counts of dozens of wealthy and some- Prosecutors are recom- pensing Corp in New York until interview with Boston’s letes. They have pleaded not first-degree murder in times famous parents paying mending sentences of eight he took a leave of absence in WCVB-TV that the longer guilty. connection with a mobile home bribes to get their children into months in prison and a $40,000 March. Loughlin fights the charges, the Lelling added that actress fire that killed five people. top colleges. fine for each parent. Lawyers for Marcia Abbott, who lives in longer her recommended sen- Felicity Huffman’s sentence of Woodford County State’s Gregory and Marcia Abbott, the couple suggested probation the couple’s home in Aspen, is a tence will be. 14 days in prison was Attorney Greg Minger tells the of New York and Colorado, are and community service. former magazine editor and “Let’s say she goes through “reasonable.” (Peoria) Journal Star the scheduled to appear in Boston’s In a September 27 letter to writer. A wedding announcement to trial: If it’s after trial, I think The “Desperate Housewives” juvenile also will be charged federal court Tuesday. They the court, Gregory Abbott said in 1987 said she was a former certainly we’d be asking for star was sentenced on Sep- with two counts of arson and pleaded guilty in May to a single that his actions were “wrong and fashion editor for Family Circle. something substantially higher. tember 13 after she admitted to one count of aggravated arson. count of fraud and conspiracy. that he feels “genuine remorse.” Meanwhile, the case’s lead If she resolved her case short of paying $15,000 to rig her daugh- The April 6 fire near the Authorities say the couple “I share the same prosecutor said he plans trial, something a little lower ter’s SAT score. village of Goodfield killed a 1-year-old, two 2-year-olds, a 34-year-old man and a 69-year-old woman. Judge clears record of man Minger would not reveal other details about the suspect, jailed for missing jury duty including a possible rela- tionship to the victims, but he AP Somerville served his 10-day confirmed charges were WEST PALM BEACH jail sentence last month . Kast- expected to be filed today. renakes had initially also sen- He said the child, if con- A Florida man who spent 10 days tenced him to 12 months of pro- victed, could be placed on pro- in jail after he overslept and bation and ordered him to bation for at least five years but missed jury duty had his record perform 150 hours of com- not beyond the age of 21. Therapy cleared by a judge. munity service. On Friday, the and counseling would be likely. Palm Beach County Circuit judge reduced those terms to After an investigation by the Judge John Kastrenakes three months of probation and Woodford County Sheriff’s rescinded his contempt finding 30 hours of community service. Office, Woodford County against 21-year-old Deandre Three days later, Kastre- Coroner, Eureka Goodfield Fire Somerville, writing that Somer- nakes vacated the probation Department, Illinois State ville has been apologetic, “totally sentence entirely, although he Police and the Office of the Fire rehabilitated” and no longer maintained that Somerville had Marshall and Woodford County needs to be on probation, news been careless to not show up for States Attorney, officials said outlets reported. jury duty on August 21. they believe the fire was inten- “I know he now understands Somerville said he overslept tionally started. The incident and respects our system of justice and didn’t call the bailiff before was ruled as a homicide nearly and the critical role jurors play heading straight to his afternoon Canada’s Conservatives leader, Andrew Scheer campaigns for the upcoming election in Markham, two weeks into investigating. in that system,” Kastrenakes job in an afterschool program at Ontario, yesterday. It was also previously wrote. “In conclusion, I do not the West Palm Beach city parks reported at that time that an want even a finding of contempt department. His absence unidentified juvenile was being to be gleaned from a perusal of delayed the court by 45 minutes, questioned. his background or record.” according to court records. Conservative leader calls Trudeau a ‘fraud’ AP and you’re a fraud and you do many times he wore blackface TORONTO not deserve to govern this because he didn’t remember the Hospital seeks source of bacteria after 3 babies die country,” Scheer said. third incident. The leading candidate to replace The blackface controversy “He can’t even remember AP Four babies have recovered of the infection complicating an Justin Trudeau as Canada’s surfaced last month when Time how many times he put DANVILLE from an infection caused by the already vulnerable state.” prime minister attacked him magazine published a photo blackface on, because the fact of Pseudomonas bacterium, and As a precaution, the hospital yesterday during the second showing the then-29-year-old the matter is he’s always wearing A Pennsylvania hospital is racing one is still being treated with is transferring babies born at less debate of the campaign, calling Trudeau at an “Arabian Nights” a mask,” Scheer said. to determine the source of a antibiotics, the hospital said. than 32 weeks’ gestation and him a phony and fraud who can’t party in 2001 wearing a turban Trudeau accused Scheer of waterborne germ that appears Officials said they are diverting expected premature even recall how often he’s worn and robe with dark makeup on hiding his campaign platform, to have infected at least eight working with state and federal deliveries to other hospitals. blackface. his hands, face and neck. which he hasn’t released yet. infants in the neonatal intensive health authorities to ensure the “It’s important to remember Conservative party leader Trudeau was dressed as a char- And he accused the Conservative care unit, three of whom have bacteria have been eradicated. that we are only talking about Andrew Scheer immediately acter from “Aladdin.” leader of wanting to impose cuts died, officials said. The bacteria are common diverting these very premature brought up Trudeau’s blackface Trudeau said he also once like unpopular Ontario Conserv- Geisinger Medical Center in and often harmless but can cause infants, less than 32 weeks, both scandal after it was not men- darkened his face for a per- ative Premier Doug Ford. Danville has begun sending very disease in “very fragile patients,” the moms who would be deliv- tioned in the first debate. formance in high school. A brief “You’re choosing, just like premature newborns and some Dr. Frank Maffei, the hospital’s ering at that age or the babies Trudeau is seeking a second video surfaced of Trudeau in Doug Ford did, to hide your expectant mothers to other facil- chair of pediatrics, said at a news already born,” said Dr. Rosemary term in the October 21 blackface as well when he was platform from Canadians and ities while officials investigate, conference. The deaths, he Leeming, the hospital’s chief elections. in his early 20s. Trudeau has said deliver cuts to services and cut the hospital said. added, “may have been a result medical officer. “Mr Trudeau, you’re a phony he can’t give a number for how taxes for the wealthiest,” he said. WEDNESDAY 9 OCTOBER 2019 HOME 19 NU-Q and GU-Q offer joint course on ‘Qatar in the contemporary Muslim world’

THE PENINSULA DOHA

Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) has joined with Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q) to collaboratively offer the Doha Seminar, a signature course that NU-Q has been offered since 2013. This is the first time that the two universities will teach the course jointly and thus serves as a model for future collaboration by the partner universities at Education City and contributes to the fulfilment of Qatar Founda- tion’s multiversity vision. This year’s Doha Seminar, ‘Behind the Head- lines: Context and Meaning of Qatar on the World NU-Q Professor Wright and GU-Q Professor Siddiqui jointly teaching the Doha Seminar course. Stage, Qatar in the Contemporary Muslim World,’ examines the process of nation-building and identity-making within Qatar and the country’s Education City and we look forward to future and leveraging the tremendous expertise that is reception on the world stage. collaborations for this and other courses with available in Education City, our students benefit This is the first time that a GU-Q faculty our partner universities.” from multidisciplinary perspectives on the devel- member has co-organised and co-taught the Dean of GU-Q, Dr. Ahmad Dallal, who also opment and history of Qatar. The focus on course which has been taught for the past several served as a guest lecturer in the seminar, com- various methodologies allows us to deal with years by NU-Q Associate Professor Zachary mented: “We strongly encourage our students specific issues around education, religion, and Wright. As in past years, special guests from uni- to take advantage of the unique possibilities that gender, in a way that really challenges our stu- versities and leading institutions in Doha will Education City has to offer, and this collaboration dents, and pushes them to question assumptions serve as guest lecturers. is another way of concretely demonstrating to and develop strong critical thinking skills.” “NU-Q is delighted that GU-Q is joining us everyone that we are a joint community of Previous guest lecturers at the Doha Seminar in offering this course to students in Education scholars and researchers working together for at NU-Q have included experts from GU-Q, and City. Our hope is that we will expand this seminar the benefit of the wider community.” NU-Q including the deans HBKU’s College of to include additional partner universities,” said Associate Professor of Theology, Dr. Sohaira Islamic Studies, UCL Qatar, and others. Twenty- Everette E. Dennis, dean and CEO of NU-Q. “The Siddiqui, who is spearheading the initiative at two students from NU-Q and cross-registered Doha Seminar is fast becoming an institution in GU-Q said, “By working together institutionally students from GU-Q are enrolled this semester. HBKU to examine Islamic Ethics of gene editing THE PENINSULA/DOHA Samer Rashwani, visiting professor children’s biological development? contribute to, and similarly benefit from the Center for Islamic Theology If and to what extent is modern from, global moral discourse.” As part of its mission to deliver stim- in Tübingen University, Germany. technology permitted in its appli- Such topics of debate and the ulating and thought-provoking The event will highlight recent cation towards taghyir? discussion of many more critical debates on Islam, the College of case studies that have sparked con- Speaking about the upcoming issues comprise the crux of the new Islamic Studies (CIS) at Hamad Bin troversies worldwide and raised event, Dr Ghaly, Program Coordi- program. The aim of the program is Khalifa University (HBKU) will hold ethical questions in terms of nator for the Master’s program in to develop in students critical skills a panel discussion entitled Moral research and clinical applications Applied Islamic Ethics, said:,“The to be able to investigate and establish Discussions on the Concept of in the field of genetics and genomics. topic of this lecture shows what we ethical positions to complex ethical ‘Altering God’s Creation’ (taghyir). It will look into the various try do in our new MA program, and issues by drawing on both scientific The panel will comprise approaches towards trying to how concepts like taghyir – which research and religious traditions. members of faculty delivering CIS’ understand and respond to complex is deeply rooted in the Islamic tra- The public event, Moral Discus- newest Master’s program in Applied moral issues, and the Islamic the- dition – can engage with moral sions on the Concept of ‘Altering Islamic Ethics: Dr Mohammed Ghaly ology and guidance in developing deliberations on cutting-edge issues God’s Creation’ (taghyir) will take and Dr Mutaz Al Khatib from the these approaches. such as gene editing. We simply place from 7pm to 9pm today at the Research Center of Islamic Legis- Can parents be given sole want to argue that the scholarly dis- Auditorium, Minaretein (College of lation and Ethics (CILE); and Dr authority to make decisions on their cipline of Islamic Ethics can Islamic Studies Building).

CROSSWORD MALL ROYAL PLAZA

Asuran (2D/Tamil) 2:00pm Gemini Man (2D/Action) 7:15, 9:30 & 11:30pm War (2D/Hindi) 2:00, 6:00, 8:45 & 11:30pm War (2D/Hindi) 2:00, 5:30, 8:30 & 11:15pm A Shaun The Sheep Movie: Faramageddon A Shaun The Sheep Movie: Faramageddon (2D/Animation) 4:30pm (2D/Animation) 2:30pm Joker (2D/Crime) 4:45, 7:00, 9:15 & 11:30pm Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy (2D/Telugu) 2:15pm Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy (2D/Tamil) 2:15pm Ganagandharvan (2D/Malayalam) 6:00pm The Big Trip (2D/Animation) 5:15pm Joker (2D/Crime) 4:30, 7:00 & 9:15pm Gemini Man (2D/Action) 7:00, 9:15 & 11:30pm Asuran (2D/Tamil) 4:45 & 11:30pm LANDMARK

War (2D/Hindi) 2:15, 8:30, 11:15 ROXY Asuran (2D/Tamil) 4:30pm Abominable (2D/Animation) 5:00pm A Shaun The Sheep Movie: Faramageddon (2D/Animation) 12:30 & Ganagandharvan (2D/Malayalam) 2:30pm 4:30pm A Shaun The Sheep Movie: Faramageddon Abominable (2D/Animation) 10:30am, 2:20, 6:30 & 8:40pm (2D/Animation) 2:30 & 6:45pm Joker (2D/Crime) 5:00, 7:00 & 11:00pm Asuran (2D/Tamil) 12:30, 3:20, 6:50, 7:30pm & 0:30am Gemini Man (2D/Action) 7:15, 9:30 & 11:30pm The Informer (2D/Crime) 11:30am & 12:30pm Rambo: Last Blood (2D/Action) 9:15pm Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy (2D/Telugu) 10:30am, 12:30, 2:00, 5:30, 9:00pm & 0:30am AL KHOR Joker (2D/Crime) 10:30am, 12:30, 1:15, 2:10, 3:15, 3:30, 6:20,7:30, 8:00, Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy (2D/Telugu) 12:00, 3:00 & 9:00, 9:20, 10:15, 11:00pm & 0:10am 9:00pm War (2D/Hindi) 10:30, 1:30, 4:00, 4:30-, 5:00, 6:00,7:30, 8:40, 9:40, War (2D/Hindi) 11:30am, 2:30, 5:30, 8:30 & 11:30pm Joker (2D/Crime) 11:00am, 1:30, 4:00, 6:30, 9:00 & 10:30 & 11:45pm 11:30pm Asuaran (2D/Tamil) 6:00 & 12:00pm ASIAN TOWN FLIK Mirqab Mall War (2D/Hindi) 6:00, 6:30, 9:00 & 9:15pm A Shaun The Sheep Movie: Faramageddon (2D/Ani- Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy (2D/Telugu) 10:15pm mation) 10:15am, 12:00 & 1:45pm Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy (2D/Hindi) 7:00pm Abominable (2D/Animation) 10:30am, 1:35am, 12:30, Asuaran (2D/Tamil) 6:00, 8:45 & 11:30pm 2:30, 3:35 4:30, 6:30 & 8:00pm; Ad Astra (2D/ Adventure) 11:25, 1:50, 3:30, 4:15, 9:55pm & 0:20am; Avengement (2D/Action) 11:55pm Note: Programme is subject to change without prior notice. Joker (2D/Crime) 10:45am, 11:45am, 1:15, 2:10, 3:45, 4:35, 5:35, 6:10, 7:00, 9:25, 10:00, 11:50pm & 0:25am. Rambo: Last Blood (2D/Action) 10:15, 12:20, 1:35, 2:20, 4:20, 6:20 & 8:20pm; Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy (2D/ Hindi) 8:10pm; (2D/Tamil) 6:40, 8:35 & 11:05 The Informer (2D/Crime) 11:10am, 1:25, 3:40, 5:55 & 11:25pm War (2D/Hindi) 6:00, 9:00, 10:20pm & 0:00 midnight.

WAR An Indian soldier is assigned a mission to eliminate his former mentor, who has gone rogue. 20 MORNING BREAK WEDNESDAY 9 OCTOBER 2019

PRAYER TIMINGS FAJR 04. 13 AM Ooredoo honours Qatari athletes SHOROOK 05. 29 AM THE PENINSULA DOHA Ooredoo Chairman ZUHR 11. 21 AM MAGHRIB 05. 15 PM Sheikh Abdulla bin ASR 02.42 PM ISHA 06. 45 PM Ooredoo’s Chairman, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Thani and

WEATHER TODAY Saud Al Thani, welcomed Dr. other top Ooredoo Thani bin Abdulrahman management officials Al-Kuwari, the Second Vice- President of the Qatar Olympic hosted and honoured Committee and President of the Qatari athletes. Qatar Athletics Federation (QAF), along with Qatari athletes Mutaz Essa Barshim many followers and sports and Abderrahman Samba — fans in Qatar and the wider who competed in the IAAF Gulf region. His enthusiasm World Athletics Champion- motivated many other social ships 2019 held last week in media influencers to cover the Doha — and retired athletics event, Sheikh Abdulla said. hero, Talal Mansour, to honour Sheikh Abdulla bin and thank them all for their Mohammed bin Saud Al Thani, amazing contribution. said: “It gives us great pleasure Qatar’s leading telecom- to be able to recognise the munications operator, which efforts and achievements of acted as National Partner of our national sports stars who Officials of Ooredoo with Qatari athletes Mutaz Essa Barshim and Abderrahman Samba. the Championships, invited the made world records and rep- athletes to Ooredoo’s head- resented our country in the quarters in West Bay in the Mutaz Barshim — winner of despite carrying injuries, and Asian indoor record for the best possible image. We thank aftermath of the event, which gold in Men’s High Jump and congratulated Barshim on his Men’s sprint, for his contri- them all for proudly flying the concluded on October 6. current world record holder repeated success at Doha 2019 bution to the fan experience at flag for Qatar and look forward In the presence of Sheikh — and Abderrahman Samba, following his gold medal win Doha 2019. Mansour received to more sporting achievements Saud bin Nasser Al Thani, CEO, who won bronze in Men’s in London 2017. the Chairman’s recognition for in the near future. We’re proud o o Ooredoo Group, and Waleed 400m hurdles. Sheikh Abdulla presented his efforts behind the scenes to have been National Partner 31 C 35 C Al Sayed, CEO, Ooredoo Qatar, He commended both ath- both athletes with a token of to report on all the action, with for the IAAF World Athletics Minimum Maximum and a host of senior executives letes for their outstanding appreciation on behalf of Sheikh Abdulla noting his ded- Championships, and delighted from Ooredoo, Sheikh Abdulla commitment and dedication, Ooredoo. Sheikh Abdulla also ication to ensuring he provided to have contributed to the Slight dust to blowing dust at times and bin Mohammed bin Saud Al noting their continued partic- thanked Talal Mansour, the exclusive and breaking news success of this prestigious local clouds formation with chance of scattered rain maybe thundery at south- Thani met with Qatari athletes ipation in the Championships Qatari sprinter who holds an from behind the scenes to his event.” ern areas at times. HIGH TIDE 03:43 – 14:10 LOW TIDE 07:09 – 22:12

Courtesy: Qatar Meteorology Department Photography exhibition on Tanzania at Education City SIDI MOHAMED THE PENINSULA

Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar (WCM-Q) and Qatar Foun- dation (QF) yesterday opened a photography exhibition titled ‘Experience Tanzania’. The exhibition, which is being held at Multaqa (Edu- cation City Student Center) and runs until December 8, gives visitors an opportunity to know more about the lifestyle, traditions, socioeconomic A photo on display during ‘Experience Tanzania’ photography exhibition which opened at Education City Student Center, hierarchies and health systems yesterday. RIGHT: Tanzanian Ambassador to Qatar, Fatma Mohammed Rajab (left), and Professor of Weill Cornell Medicine- of the local Tanzanian communities. Qatar, Dr. Dietrich Busselberg, at the opening of the exhibition. PIC: ABDUL BASIT/THE PENINSULA ‘Experience Tanzania’ is a yearly project supported by world. Commenting on the (WCM-Q) together with Qatar to organise such an exhibition visit Tanzania. Students Affairs Division of exhibition’s opening, Fatma Foundation and it is curated to share their experience with Rajab also pointed out Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar Mohammed Rajab, Ambas- by Dr. Dietrich Büsselberg. people in Qatar,” she said. The that this exhibition is very that allows students and sador of Tanzania to Qatar, “They frequently visit Ambassador said this was the important and will definitely faculty to explore and immerse said that the exhibition shows Tanzania to offer health first time a photography exhi- attract more people to visit themselves in Tanzanian the beauty, the nature of Tan- checks and basic healthcare bition on Tanzania was being Tanzania and know more urban rural cultures. zania, its people, its animals services to the local com- organised in Qatar. Speaking about its culture and lifestyle. A number of people visited and how its people welcome munity. During their trip they to The Peninsula on the The exhibition represents not the exhibition to learn more guests. also experienced beauty sideline of the exhibition, she only Tanzania but also African about the lifestyle in Tanzania, She said that the exhibition charm of Tanzania, its nature, said that the Embassy pro- continent, because there exist its culture and what sets it is being organised by Weill its people, fauna and flora and vided all the support to the a lot of similarities in African apart from the rest of the Cornell Medicine – Qatar then they come with this idea organisers like the visa to countries. UN may run out of money by end of the Qatar Pavilion wins two awards at Expo Beijing 2019 month: Guterres QNA Visits to the Qatar Pavilion BEIJING at the Expo Beijing exceeded AFP two million from various UNITED NATIONS Qatar Pavilion participating in nationalities and ages who the International Horticultural were impressed by this mas- The United Nations is running a deficit of Exhibition (Expo Beijing 2019) terpiece of urban and diverse $230m, Secretary-General Antonio won the grand award from the activities, which were Guterres said on Monday, and may run Expo’s organising committee designed specifically to suit all out of money by the end of October. for the best foreign pavilion visitors. The organising com- In a letter intended for the 37,000 and also won the grand award mittee of Expo Beijing has set employees at the UN secretariat, Guterres of the International Associ- many conditions and criteria said unspecified “additional stop-gap ation of Horticultural for the evaluation of entries, measures” would have to be taken to Producers (AIPH), the most and the Qatar Pavilion has met ensure salaries and entitlements are paid. prestigious awards for foreign all the required criteria and “Member States have paid only 70 per pavilions participating in the deserved the grand prize. cent of the total amount needed for our exhibition. The pavilion also won the regular budget operations in 2019. This The award was received grand prize of the Interna- translates into a cash shortage of $230 by Deputy Commissioner- tional Association of Horticul- million at the end of September. We run General of the Qatar Pavilion tural Producers (AIPH), which the risk of depleting our backup liquidity at Expo Beijing, Dr Fikra is an organizer and licensor of The award was received by Deputy Commissioner-General of the Qatar Pavilion at Expo Beijing, reserves by the end of the month,” he Ashkanani at a ceremony held the Expo Beijing. Dr Fikra Ashkanani. The Qatar Pavilion received more than two million visitors at the expo. wrote. To cut costs, Guterres mentioned on the occasion. The International Associ- postponing conferences and meetings and Dr Ashkanani expressed ation of Horticultural Pro- reducing services, while also restricting her happiness for winning the Qatar Pavilion won two distinguished participation of inspired by the Sidra tree, ducers promotes and supports official travel to only essential activities two awards, pointing out that awards instead of one, the two the State of Qatar in this event, which enjoys the love and horticultural producers, and taking measures to save energy. the honour was the result of highest awards given to par- a participation praised by all. appreciation of the Qatari organizes and supervises fes- Guterres had asked member states the collective efforts by the ticipating wings. The win is an affirmation community for its qualities of tivals and exhibitions related earlier this year to up contributions to the members of the Committee for Member of the Qatar of the efforts exerted by the strength and rigidity and to horticulture. The association world body to head off cash flow problems, the preparation of the Qatar Pavilion at the Expo Beijing, State of Qatar represented by ability to withstand all the dif- also works to stimulate the but they refused, a UN official said on con- Pavilion, as well as the great Faisal Abdullah Al Dosari said the Ministry of Municipality ficult circumstances. The Sidra increasing demand for orna- dition of anonymity. support from the Ministry of that the efforts exerted by the and Environment in preparing tree remains strong and green mental trees, plants and “The ultimate responsibility for our Municipality and Committee and the unlimited for this participation to be dis- despite drought and lack of flowers worldwide, as well as financial health lies with Member States,” Environment. support of the Ministry of tinctive and not just water, which symbolizes the to protect and promote the Guterres said. Excluding peacekeeping Dr Ashanani added that Municipality and Environment attendance. rigidity and perseverance of interests of the industry and operations, the UN’s operating budget for despite their confidence in the resulted in this win, which was The pavilion used eco- the State of Qatar to overcome strive to secure best practices 2018-2019 is close to $5.4bn, with the US wins, they were overwhelmed the fruit of all the efforts and friendly materials, designed by all difficulties and in the production of orna- contributing 22 percent. with the announcement that an affirmation of the Qatari engineer Fatima Fawzi, tribulations. mental plants.