BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 QICDRC Ton-up signs deal Sharma stars to become as beat hub for Pakistan in dispute World Cup resolution published in QATAR since 1978

MONDAY Vol. XXXX No. 11217 June 17, 2019 Shawwal 14, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

In brief PM meets Chinese ambassador HGH to open ARAB WORLD | Unrest Sudan’s Bashir appears before prosecutor Fallen Sudanese leader Omar expanded al-Bashir was yesterday seen in public for the first time since being ousted, as he was driven in an armed convoy to the prosecutor’s off ice. Bashir was toppled on April 11 after weeks of protests against surgical ICU his reign. Dressed in a white traditional robe and turban, Bashir he third and fi nal phase of the Lab and Artis Zeego imaging technol- rode in a heavily-armed convoy new Surgical Intensive Care Unit ogy. from the notorious Kober prison in T(SICU) of Hamad General Hos- Dr al-Ansari said earlier this year the Sudanese capital Khartoum to pital (HGH) has been completed, a top HMC further expanded its surgical prosecutors’ off ice to face charges offi cial has said. capacity by opening the fi rst phase of alleged corruption. Page 7 The completion of the SICU ex- of a new specialised surgery centre at pansion marks the fi nal phase of the the former Women’s Hospital build- ARAB WORLD | Confl ict HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani met yesterday with the outgoing Hamad General Hospital Operating ing. He said the new Surgical Specialty Chinese ambassador to Qatar Li Chen. During the meeting, the Prime Minister wished the ambassador success in his future Theatre Expansion project that began Center will be completed in the coming GNA head promises mission and the relations between the two countries further progress. For his part, the ambassador extended thanks and in 2013. months and is also part of HMC’s long- elections in Libya appreciation to the prime minister and to the state’s off icials for the co-operation he received during his tenure in the country. “The SICU features a direct link term plan to reduce wait times and The head of Libya’s to both the Hamad General Hospi- increase access to specialised surgical internationally recognised tal Operating Theatre Suites and the services. Government of National Accord new Surgical Specialty Center. It has “The expansion of our surgical serv- announced yesterday a new 27 beds, four isolation rooms, includ- ices facilities, which includes com- political initiative and elections ing three negative pressure rooms, and pletion of the fi nal phase of the SICU, in a bid to move the conflict- family waiting rooms. The completion is part of our long-term strategy to wracked country beyond eight FIFA ‘explores legal options’ of the fi nal phase of the SICU expan- accommodate the growth of Qatar’s years of chaos. “I present today a sion project saw the unit’s capacity to population and in turn, our surgical, political initiative for a way out of care for patients almost doubled, mov- trauma, emergency care, and organ do- crisis...(involving) simultaneous ing from 15 to 27 beds,” said Dr Abdulla nation programmes. presidential and legislative over pirate beoutQ channel al-Ansari, acting chief medical offi cer, “We are working hard to improve ac- elections before the end of 2019,” HMC. cess to specialised services and to pro- GNA head Fayez al-Sarraj said “In addition to supporting HMC’s vide our patients with the most advanced in a short speech broadcast by orld soccer governing body Arabsat was stolen from its propri- across the Middle East, and broadcast general surgical services programme, medical facilities built to cater to the spe- Libya al-Wataniya TV, without FIFA yesterday said it is ex- etary content. it to Europe. the SICU will play a vital role in ensur- cialised healthcare needs of our popula- specifying a date for polls. Page 7 Wploring each of its legal op- This is not the fi rst time that FIFA Doha-based beIN Sports has said ing Trauma Center patients receive the tion and on a par with the world’s best tions as a means to address beoutQ’s has pointed the fi nger at beoutQ, a it may re-evaluate how much it pays best possible care and will complement hospitals,” said Dr al-Ansari. ASIA | Politics unauthorised broadcasts. channel which has been regularly air- organisations like the Premier League the 19-bed Trauma Intensive Care Unit Dr Yousuf al-Maslamani, medi- “FIFA is aware that unauthorised ing copyright content in fl agrant vio- for exclusive rights to its programme if (TICU),” he said. cal director of Hamad General Hospi- HK leader apologises transmissions of the FIFA Women’s lation of international laws. games can be seen widely for free. In addition to the 27-bed SICU, the tal said last month’s start of a limited as rally chokes city World Cup 2019 are being made avail- Last week, the Premier League re- Yousef al-Obaidly, CEO of beIN 10,000sq m Operating Theatre Expan- number of services at the new Trauma Some 2mn protesters choked able across the Mena region, prima- ceived a boost after a French court Media Group, said: “The latest legal sion project saw the commission of 20 and Emergency Center is also part of ’s streets in a powerful rily Saudi Arabia, via the pirate broad- ruled that the Saudi Arabian satellite ruling in shows that even if we state-of-the-art surgical theatres, a the expansion work being undertaken rebuke of a reviled extradition law, caster known as beoutQ,” a statement provider has pirate-broadcast every are illegally denied access to justice in 19-bed TICU, the addition of a da Vinci to increase HMC’s capacity to care for organisers said yesterday, piling issued by the organisation said. game so far of the Women’s World Saudi Arabia, we will use every means Xi surgical robot, and real-time imag- the county’s most critically ill patients. pressure on the city’s embattled “beoutQ’s unauthorised transmis- Cup to Europe. possible to hold beoutQ and Arab- ing capabilities through CT, MRI, Brain To Page 6 pro- leader who apologised sions of the FIFA Women’s World A hearing in France found that sat to account for their daily theft of for causing “conflict” but refused to Cup 2019 are made available by way Riyadh-based Arabsat was illegally rights holders’ intellectual property. step down. Page 10 of Arabsat satellite frequencies. FIFA transmitting the tournament on the “But we are not fi ghting this battle is therefore seeking the co-operation rogue channel, beoutQ. alone – the weight of the internation- AMERICA | Politics of Arabsat in addressing the misuse of The Premier League, the Bundes- al community is now coming to bear FIFA’s intellectual property. liga, LaLiga and FIFA have all begun fi rmly on Saudi Arabia to end its safe New poll: Biden with “In addition, FIFA continues to joint legal proceedings against beoutQ haven for piracy, which is destroy- big lead over Trump explore each of its legal options as a in Saudi Arabia over piracy, which ing not only the economic model of A nationwide Fox News poll means to address beoutQ’s unauthor- could damage how much rights-hold- the global sports and entertainment released yesterday shows ised broadcasts. In this regard, FIFA is ers pay them in future. industry, but also the livelihoods of President Donald Trump trailing working with a number of other rights The court actions have so far got no- content creators all around the world.” former vice president Joe Biden holders whose rights have also been where, but it’s hoped the ruling by the Tri- Besides the Women’s World Cup and no fewer than four other infringed by beoutQ.” bunal de Grande Instance in Paris will pile in France, beoutQ has also pirated Democratic contenders as The statement from FIFA comes pressure on the Saudis to stop the theft. the men’s tournament in last early campaigning for the 2020 after beIN Media Group announced beoutQ is able to steal content year, the UEFA Champions League, election begins to gain steam. that all the FIFA Women’s World Cup from a Qatari channel, which owns two seasons of the Premier League, La A section of the new Surgical Intensive Page 8 France 2019 broadcast by beoutQ and the rights to the Women’s World Cup Liga and Formula One. Dr Abdulla al-Ansari Care Unit of HGH. Qatar shake up Copa with thrilling draw Qatar to host MSC Qatar fought their way back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with in their first ever Copa America game yesterday at the Core Group Meeting Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, . The 2022 World Cup hosts are one of two guest teams at the South nder the patronage of His High- will also present creative ideas and American championship along with ness the Amir Sheikh Tamim strategies on universal cybersecurity. . Paraguay’s Oscar Cardozo Ubin Hamad al-Thani, Doha will Under the theme “Safe, Smart Cities”, smashed in from the penalty spot host the Munich Security Conference the event is now in its fi fth edition and in the fourth minute to score the (MSC) Core Group Meeting, which will has emerged as one of the top tech events first goal of the match. Qatar caused accompany the Qatar IT Conference regionally. It will host more than 90 in- their opponents plenty of problems and Exhibition (QITCOM) organised ternational, regional and local speakers to but after Cardozo had another strike by the Ministry of Transport and Com- discuss several key topics and trends in the ruled out after a VAR-review, the munications (MoTC) from October 29 ICT industry such as creativity, entrepre- Asian Cup champions conceded to November 1 at the Qatar National neurship and the deployment of tech solu- again when Derlis Gonzalez scored Convention Center (QNCC). tions in building smart cities with cutting- early in the second half with a long- The MSC Core Group Meeting will edge cybersecurity technologies. range rocket. Qatar striker Almoez bring together high-profi le represent- The event is also a key platform for Ali pulled his side back into the game atives of governments, international interaction and dialogue between sen- with a distance strike, which looped organisations, business, militaries and ior government offi cials, business lead- into the net in the 68th minute. Nine academia to discuss regional and global ers, academics, innovators and inves- minutes later, Boualem Khoukhi security issues. tors from around the world to exchange scored to make it 2-2. Pictured is The four-day Qatar IT Conference views and knowledge on sustainable Qatar’s Boualem celebrating with and Exhibition is a unique platform economic development through tech- teammate Hassan al-Haydos after for policymakers, technology provid- nological innovation. scoring against Paraguay yesterday. ers and major companies specialised This year’s edition is especially Earlier, defeated Lionel in smart city solutions to discuss smart unique, featuring wide international Messi’s 2-0 in the same city security challenges and related participation, creative and informative group. regional initiatives. Some global fi rms presentations. Gulf Times 2 Monday, June 17, 2019 QATAR

QMC chairman PM meets Iraqi ambassador SJC chief meets secretary-general of ICSID meets Chinese ambassador

Qatar Media Corporation (QMC) Chairman, HE Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer al-Thani met the outgoing Chinese ambassador to Qatar, Li Chen, yesterday in Doha. They discussed the media relations between the two countries and ways of enhancing them. Qatar condemns bombings on Somalia border

Qatar expressed its strong condemnation and denunciation of the bombings that targeted two security checkpoints in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, and a Kenyan police vehicle near the border between the HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani met HE the Chairman of the Supreme Judiciary Council and President of the Court of Cassation, Dr two countries, resulting in a the ambassador of Iraq to Qatar, Omar Ahmed al-Barazanchi, in Doha yesterday. During the meeting, Hassan Lahdan Saqr al-Mohannadi met the Secretary-General of International Centre for Settlement number of deaths and injuries. they discussed the bilateral relations and ways of developing and strengthening them in various of Investment Disputes (ICSID), a member of the World Bank Group, Meg Kenner, in Doha, yesterday. The Ministry of Foreign Aff airs fields. They discussed issues of mutual concern and ways to enhance co-operation. reiterated Qatar’s rejection of violence and terrorism. – QNA WISH takes lead role Al-Hammadi meets Ugandan official in empowering nurses

QNA tries participated in fi ve days of World Health Assembly ses- healthcare calendar, but it is im- Geneva meetings, talks, workshops, and sions, the fi rst time young nurse portant that after each summit networking opportunities. representatives have been part of we identify key issues highlight- Twenty-four individuals were such an offi cial delegation. ed by our community of experts, he World Innova- selected from more than 750 ap- Partnerships Manager at WISH and then collaborate with local tion Summit for Health plicants and came from Qatar Nick Bradshaw added: “It’s easy and international partners, such T(WISH), an initiative and other countries from around to underestimate the contribution as Nursing Now, to fi nd innova- of Qatar Foundation (QF), has the world. that nurses make to global health, tive ways to fi nd lasting solu- partnered with the global Nurs- During their time in Ge- and for too long that is exactly what tions to those issues,” he added. ing Now Campaign and the In- neva, the nurses visited the has been happening. The Nursing Director of Nursing at Hamad ternational Council of Nurses to WHO headquarters, where they Now campaign is working tirelessly General Hospital Asmaa al-Atey train young nursing leaders from learned about the work of WISH to promote the profession of nurs- and one of two Qatari nurses to around the world to amplify and other international organi- ing and we are delighted to have participate in the Geneva ses- their voices and positively in- sations who are collaborating to partnered with them to give young sions, said: “I was very honoured fl uence healthcare policy, ahead build a healthier world. nurses a voice at the World Health to represent the nursing com- of attending the annual World The nurses were also made Assembly meeting. munity of Qatar alongside the HE the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs, Dr Ahmed bin Hassan al-Hammadi, Health Assembly. part of the International Council “Our Doha summit is now an other young nursing representa- yesterday met the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs of , Patrick Young nurses from 18 coun- of Nurses delegation to the main essential fi xture of the global tives from around the world. Mugoya, who is currently visiting Qatar. During the meeting, they reviewed the bilateral relations “I am grateful for the opportu- and ways of developing them, in addition to matters of common concern. nity to engage in a meaningful con- versation with the WHO director- general, to meet the WHO chief nursing offi cer and other global healthcare leaders, and to have the chance to share knowledge with nurses from so many countries.” The WISH report was used by Ministry holds workshop the participants as the basis of discussions on how to identify is- sues facing nurses and how best to overcome them. It is estimated on marketing for farms that there will be a shortfall of 9mn nurses globally by 2030. Nurses represent 50% of the QNA tural production in the country as greenhouses and irrigation global healthcare workforce, and Doha should be accompanied by keen systems, as well as product mar- the WISH report identifi ed a lack attention to the marketing proc- keting. of opportunity for nurses to lead ess and new innovation in its In a similar press statement, and shape policy as a serious ob- three-day training work- methods, including the market- the expert in the Arab Organi- stacle in vital eff orts to attracting shop on strategies and ing programmes implemented by sation for Agricultural Develop- and retaining high-quality, quali- Amarketing channels for the ministry and other relevant ment (AOAD) Engineer Moham- Participants in the five-day events. fi ed nurses. small and medium farms organ- bodies in terms of food security ed Abdelkarim al-Awamla said ised by the Ministry of Munici- and self-suffi ciency in agricul- that Qatar has become a pioneer pality and Environment (MME) tural production, including the in agricultural production in the in co-operation with the Arab recent launch of the Agricultural Arab region, especially in the Organisation for Agricultural Marketing Centre. Gulf region. Development (AOAD) kicked off He explained that this agricul- Al-Awamla attributed this ag- Qatar takes part in here yesterday. tural marketing process is based ricultural development in Qatar The Director of Agricultural on small and medium-sized to the use of modern technolo- Aff airs Department at the Minis- farms to increase their capac- gies to increase production to ESCWA executive try of Municipality and Environ- ity and alleviate any burdens and raise the value of products in the ment Youssef al-Khulaifi , said in problems in this area by creat- market, and the protection of remarks that it is the fi rst work- ing new marketing channels. He available natural resources, es- committee meeting shop organised by the ministry in also stressed that during the next pecially water. the fi eld of marketing of agricul- marketing season, two platforms This workshop comes within tural crops in co-operation with will be launched to support and the framework of the Ministry of QNA the AOAD, pointing out that market Qatari agricultural prod- Municipality and Environment’s Marrakesh participants in this programme ucts in both Al Mazrouaa and Al interest in the marketing process represent several stakeholders in Wakrah. for the products of local farms the country and have a great in- Al-Khulaifi stressed that the as part of its eff orts to support atar participated in the 6th meeting of terest in the issue of agricultural Ministry of Municipality and and encourage farm owners to the United Nations Economic and Social marketing. Environment plays a major role increase agricultural production QCommission for Western Asia (ESCWA) Al-Khulaifi stressed that the in assisting local farmers by sup- and contribute to self-suffi cien- Executive Committee, at the level of senior of- remarkable increase in agricul- porting farm infrastructure such cy. fi cials, which was held in the Moroccan city of Marrakesh with the participation of the UN member-states, representatives of the Arab League and several international and regional experts. Director of International Co-operation De- QSTP launches registration partment at the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs, am- bassador Tariq Ali Faraj al-Ansari, headed Qa- tar’s delegation to the meeting. The delegation comprises diplomats and directors from both for Accelerate programme the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Aff airs and the Planning and Statistics Authority. QNA needed to design technological Saleh stressed that program Participants during the meeting discussed Doha prototypes and transform them supports the young generation aspects related to the achievement of sustain- from ideas into reality. of entrepreneurs and innovators able development and the progress in achieving The programme also attracted who contribute to QSTP’s ulti- the international development goals in the Arab atar Science and Tech- investors interested in these new mate goal of marketing technol- region, in accordance with ministerial decisions nology Park (QSTP), a startups and generated 20 start- ogy products and services and issued by the relevant ESCWA ministerial meet- Qmember of Qatar Foun- ups, and many of these compa- supporting marketing of com- ings. dation Research, Development, nies have expanded their busi- mercial products. The meeting also reviewed Qatar’s successful and Innovation, has announced ness outside Qatar. He expressed great pride strategies and experiences in the role of political the opening of the 8th edition of Each session of the pro- in the results achieved by the decision-making in achieving comprehensive (Accelerate) programme, which gramme will feature 15 teams, programme so far, especially development in Qatar through, social spend- aims to guide promising entre- who will receive training and as a number of graduates of ing, economic diversifi cation, and the adoption preneurs and support commer- guidance from experts. the program have been able to of an ambitious development plan - Qatar Na- cialisation of their innovations At the end of the programme, expand their business beyond tional Vision 2030- , which is supported by the and technology projects. all teams will present their ideas the borders of Qatar, noting active international co-operation of the state Since its launch, the 10-week and products to an audience of the aspiration of QSTP to help led by the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs. programme has attracted over professionals, investors and in- and support a new genera- The delegation of Qatar was also elected as 100 teams and has provided over dustry experts. tion of innovators and lighting one of the vice-chairmen of the ESCWA Execu- 300 aspiring entrepreneurs with The Executive Director of their path toward excellence tive Committee Meeting. the skills, tools and guidance (QSTP) Yousuf Abdulrahman and success. Gulf Times Monday, June 17, 2019 3 QATAR Qatar-France bilateral ties discussed Envoy: Italian trade with Qatar up 21%

By Peter Alagos architects, designers and con- Business Reporter tractors, the ambassador said The French Ministry of Foreign Aff airs secretary-general, Maurice Gourdault-Montagne, met Qatar’s professionals also have an im- ambassador to France, Sheikh Ali bin Jassim al-Thani, in Paris yesterday. They discussed bilateral relations portant ethical responsibility. and means of enhancing them, in addition to topics of mutual interest. The launch of the Qatari-French he extraordinary infra- “You are called to contribute Steering Committee for the Cultural Year (France-Qatar 2020), which will oversee the organisation of the structure changes that to fi nd new solutions in order to cultural year events (France-Qatar) next year, has also been announced. The meeting was attended by a TQatar is undergoing for ensure the best possible stand- number of senior off icials of the French ministries of foreign aff airs, and culture. the 2022 FIFA World Cup show ards of quality life for our and that decision makers and clients next generations. Design and are paying more attention to well-being can and must go smart and sustainable solutions hand-in-hand in residential, in line with Qatar National Vi- as well as in urban projects,” sion 2030, Italian ambassador Salzano said. Customs chief meets Azerbaijan envoy Pasquale Salzano has said. According to Salzano, trade The envoy made the state- volume fi gures between his ment during a recent workshop country and Qatar refl ect how titled ‘Broken Nature - Colours and Italian brands are in- Will Regenerate the World’, novative and reliable partners. which was organised by No- He said total trade between vacolor Italy and Qatari fi rm both countries stood at €2.6bn Global One Project in Doha. in 2018, with an overall increase “Today, being a green re- of 21%. Italian exports to Qatar sponsible business is no longer in the fi eld of design and build- an option but a necessity as ing industry is registering a Pasquale Salzano, ambassador of Italy. the attention to environmental dynamic and positive trend, he impact is increasingly shaping added. working here in Qatar, in all paints have been chosen to re- consumer’s choices and conse- “In addition to sustainability, sectors – are putting great ef- produce the true Italian charm- quently market competition. In I am pleased to highlight anoth- forts in training, and Novacolor ing atmosphere of Venice in design and architecture, we fi rst er key asset of the partnership makes no exception. the beautiful Qanat Quartier of look for beauty, and Italy is cer- between Novacolor and Global “As part of its business and Doha. These achievements are The General Authority of Customs chairman, Ahmed bin Abdullah al-Jamal, met the ambassador tainly a leader and well-known One Project: their joint eff orts partnership vision it regularly not certainly by chance but are of Azerbaijan to Qatar Rashad Ismayilov in Doha yesterday. During the meeting, they discussed benchmark for that,” Salzano for premium customer care. organises training and work- the result of the great passion means of developing trade co-operation mechanisms between Qatar and Azerbaijan, in addition to said in his opening speech. “Top-quality products re- shops for client and distributors and creativity of the company’s discussing procedures for importing foodstuff s in Qatar, and ways to facilitate customs procedures More than aesthetics, Sal- quire top-level customer care and place itself as a trendsetter team and, above all, of continu- for agricultural products imported from Azerbaijan. They also discussed other issues such as the zano explained that Italian de- and attention to the client. I am in the market,” Salzano said. ous investments in research role of customs in activating the trade movement between the two countries. sign embodies values of well- proud to say that Italian busi- He added, “In Qatar, among to improve the production being and functionality. Citing nesses – and especially those many projects, Novacolor process.” Qatar wins CIHT award for road safety management

QNA Sustainable Transport Man- modern societies. agement in Qatar.” Commenting on the occa- NCTS Secretary Brigadier sion, Brigadier al-Maliki said Mohamed Abdullah al-Maliki that this victory confi rms that atar, represented by the received the award which was Qatar has become a global lead- National Committee for handed over by CIHT president er in the fi eld of traffi c safety QTraffi c Safety (NCTS), Matthew Lugg. management and sustainable has made a major international Qatar’s eligibility of this transport, pointing to the great achievement in the fi eld of traf- award comes in the light of support enjoyed by the eff orts fi c safety by winning the best its success in applying global to enhance road safety in the international project award standards and a scientifi c un- country. “Traffi c safety enjoys Qatari and Turkish off icials pose for a photo. given by the London-based derstanding of the requirements great support from the politi- Chartered Institute of Highway for reducing the traffi c problems cal leadership, through the es- and Transportation (CIHT), for identifi ed by the United Na- tablishment of the National DJRCC, Turkish Search and its project: “Road Safety and tions as a disaster that threatens Committee for Road Safety.” Rescue Center sign MoU

oha Joint Rescue Co-or- mentation of Article III of the dination Center (DJRCC) Amiri Decision No 147 of 2013, Dand Turkish Search and which provides for carrying Rescue Center have signed a out all the necessary measures, memorandum of understand- communications and regional ing (MoU) at the ongoing 33rd and international partnerships meeting of the Satellite-Aided necessary to activate and sustain Search and Rescue Initiative Qatar’s use of the satellite com- (Cospas-Sarsat Programme) in munication system for search Doha. ’s ambassador to and rescue services. Qatar Fikret Ozer was present at “The MoU also aims to ex- the event. change experiences, training, Brigadier-General Moham- and procedures in search and med Hamad al-Shahwani, com- rescue centres between Qatar mander, Doha Joint Rescue Co- and Turkey and keep abreast ordination Center, said that the of developments in the fi eld of Off icials signing the memorandum of understanding (MoU). MoU is in line with the imple- satellites,” he said. Brigadier Mohamed Abdullah al-Maliki receiving the award. Qatar reiterates support for people with disabilities at UN forum

QNA On the sidelines of the ses- organisations participating in al-Mannai called for improv- tions to help develop the skills their participation in cultural tion for the Disabled has been New York sion, the permanent repre- the discussion. ing national policies and laws to of people with autism. “Serv- life, entertainment, leisure and established and plays a major sentative of Qatar to UN, health Qatar permanent representa- support technology for people ices and consultations aimed at sports activities. role in the rehabilitation and so- and human-based technology tive to the UN ambassador HE with autism, stressing the im- developing skills and achieving On the cultural level, al-Nuai- cial integration of persons with atar participated in the section at Hamad Bin Khalifa Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif al- portance of providing assistive equality in education and em- mi said that many government disabilities. 12th session of the Con- University (HBKU) and Qatar Thani reiterated Qatar’s belief to technology products and ensur- ployment opportunities are not and non-governmental institu- He said the Supreme Com- Qference of States Parties Foundation for Social Work, support people with autism to ing the creation of barrier-free limited to Qatar but include the tions have organised with the mittee for Delivery and Legacy to the Convention on the Rights organised a panel discussion enjoy a happy, healthy and inde- environments. Arab world.” support of the state many con- took into account the special of Persons with Disabilities entitled “How technology can pendent life within their com- Al-Mannai also called for en- Dr Khaled Ali al-Nuaimi re- ferences dealing with many is- needs of persons with disabili- held at the United Nations in help people with autism”. It munities. couraging scientifi c research viewed Qatar’s experience in sues of people with disabilities, ties in terms of access to facili- New York. highlighted technologies that “Qatar is the only country in and development of assistive promoting the rights of per- such as the Doha International ties to enjoy the events of the Qatar was represented by head would help support autistic the region that has a national technology, stressing the impor- sons with disabilities, not- Conference in its diff erent edi- World Cup, which will be host- of family aff airs at the Ministry people in education and work- plan for people with autism, and tance of developing the skills and ing that since Qatar ratifi ed tions, and other conferences that ed by Qatar in 2022. of Administrative Development, places to ensure non-discrim- that it is one of the few countries abilities of people with autism the Convention on the Rights play a role in spreading culture He added that Qatar has al- Labour and Social Aff air Najat ination and facilitate the full that have a work day for persons and raising awareness of their of Persons with Disabilities in and awareness. located recreational spaces in al-Abdulla, adviser on disability and eff ective participation of with disabilities,” she said. families about the importance of 2008, it has taken many meas- He pointed out that Qatar has public parks for persons with aff airs at the ministry and presi- people with autism. In December, Qatar will assistive technology. ures and procedures in this re- established specialised cultural disabilities, provided some dent of the Arab Union for the It also highlighted Qatar’s pio- host the International Confer- ‘Mada’ Centre for Assistive gard to protect and promote the centres, such as the Qatar Social games that children can use Blind Dr Khaled Ali al-Nuaimi, neering role in support technol- ence on the Comprehensive Technology executive director rights of this group and its full and Cultural Centre for Blind without risk, and has provided and specialist in care and reha- ogy facilitation to help people Development of Persons with Maha al-Mansouri reviewed the integration in society to ensure and the Qatari Centre of Social mandatory training courses bilitation programmes for people with autism and people with Disabilities. centre’s services in the devel- their participation in decision- Cultural for the Deaf. for staff at the Qatar National with special needs at the minis- disabilities through research and For her part, Qatar Founda- opment of assistive technology making, access to jobs that suit He added that on the sports Tourism Council and airport on try Dr Nora al-Hassan. the support provided from the tion for Social Work CEO Amal and off ered a number of solu- their situation and promote level, the Qatar Sports Federa- accessibility. Gulf Times 4 Monday, June 17, 2019 QATAR

Minister of Culture meets ambassador School built by of HE the Minister of Culture and Sports Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali met Poland’s ambassador to Qatar Janusz Janke yesterday. During the meeting, they discussed aspects of co-operation between the two countries in the cultural and sports fields, and ways to Qatar Charity in enhance them.

Somalia opens Bollywood treat for Qatar residents he minister of education and visitors on World Music Day and higher education in Tthe Somali state of Punt- land Abdullah Mohamed Has- By Joey Aguilar winning Rhythm Arrangers and ternational Movie Awards will san has opened the Dar es Sa- Staff Reporter Masters of Percussion, and Hanif also take place in Qatar for the laam Primary School, built by & Aslam of Coke Studio fame. fi rst time, scheduled from Au- Qatar Charity (QC) in the city of “Qatar is ready for it. Our ob- gust 15 to 16. Garowe and funded by benefac- he Bollywood Music Festi- jective as a radio station is that This event, he noted, will tors in Qatar. val 2019 will feature six big we want to show the world that bring together more than 450 The 400sq m school has Tacts, including a surprise Qatar is one of the most popu- musicians, actors and directors, many classrooms and rooms guest, and an array of perform- lar international event destina- among others, from India under for the principal and teachers, ances by 50 musicians from In- tions,” Mohamed said. one roof. and is expected to benefi t 400 dia, to mark World Music Day in “That is one of the reasons He lauded the eff orts of the students, QC has said in a state- Qatar on June 21. why we are bringing in interna- QNTC in organising numerous ment. “It will be the fi rst time this tional standard events like music international events aimed at at- The project aims to support mega event is taking place in festivals,” he noted. “We are very tracting more tourists to visit the education in Somalia, contrib- the country,” said One FM Qatar excited to be part of it.” country. uting to increasing the literacy chief operating offi cer and festi- Mohamed said the music fes- “If not for the support from rate, improving education facil- val director Jassim Mohamed. tival would become an annual the QNTC, these projects will ities, and creating generations The festival is being organised aff air. be very diffi cult to handle alone capable of participating in the by the Qatar National Tourism “Next year, the festival is go- as an entity. These kinds of ac- development of the country. Children at the school during Council (QNTC) in partnership ing to last for two to three days. tivities bring in positive tourism, At the inauguration ceremo- the inaugural ceremony. with One FM and Ayna Tickets These events used to take place there is more reason for people to ny, Minister Hassan expressed as part of the “Summer in Qatar” in other countries in the Middle come to Qatar,” Mohamed said, great pleasure at opening his For his part, Abdel Taher (SiQ) programme and Qatar-In- East. citing Qatar’s stopover packages fi rst school since assuming of- Abshar, the director of the Dar dia 2019 Year of Culture. “This is the fi rst time that this and a wide range of tourism of- fi ce a month ago. es Salaam Primary School, Mohamed said that residents is going to happen in Qatar and ferings. He also pointed out that his thanked QC for its continuous and visitors will have the oppor- we are very excited about this.” The Ministry of Interior also ministry would move forward to eff orts to contribute to provid- tunity to watch six top musicians With Indians able to get visas launched the new electronic strengthen its partnership and ing an appropriate educational – from diff erent genres – per- on arrival in Qatar, he noted that visitor authorisation system re- co-operation with charitable environment and improving the Minister Hassan with dignitaries and guests at the school. form live in Lusail from 3pm until visiting Doha has become easier cently. organisations, including Qatar level academic performance of midnight. and cheaper than travelling be- It allows residents of Qa- Charity, for the improvement of students. soring orphans, students and In the same year, a specialised The performers include Guru tween states in India. tar to invite families and rela- education. He also noted the humani- teachers. agricultural school was opened Randhawa – considered the As such, Mohamed said many tives from around the world to Hassan thanked donors in tarian role of Qatar Charity in QC has completed several in Afgooye, a town in the south- “Badshah of Bhangra”, Bombay Indians prefer to visit and ex- visit the country during the SiQ Qatar for their generous support Somalia through its offi ce in multi-service projects in Soma- western Lower Shebelle region Vikings, Ragini Tandan, and In- perience some of the festivals in programme and obtain a free to build the school, hoping that Mogadishu in the areas of relief lia, including a centre opened in of Somalia, which is the “fi rst of dian Idol fi nalist-turned-Bolly- Qatar, which hosts many of the visa upon arrival after applying it would contribute to building and development, especially 2017, which has a school con- its kind in the region”, the state- wood songstress Bhoomi Trivedi, best hotels in the world. through the online portal: http:// an educated generation. education, in addition to spon- sisting of several classrooms. ment adds. as well as Bollywood’s award- He said the South Indian In- www.qatarvisaservices.com ONE DAY WONDERS ONLY TODAY !!! 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Lenovo Ideapad Samsung Smartphone Loreal Elvive Shampoo Tide Washing Powder QAR QAR 1,139 130-81H7003AAX 1,949 Galaxy S9 Plus QAR 9.00 Asstd 400ml X 1pc QAR 8.50 Scent 1.5kg Gulf Times Monday, June 17, 2019 5 QATAR Abandoned vehicles removed Fewer building permits were issued during May

By Santhosh V Perumal 22%, Al Daayen 13%, Al Rayyan 11% tal buildings 18% (nine permits). Qatar Business Reporter and Doha 6%; whereas those in Al Khor witnessed a total of 374 building com- and Al Sheehaniya saw 23% and 22% pletion certifi cates issued in April, of growth, respectively. which 229 was for residential buildings, atar witnessed a sharp 11% The building permits data is of par- 27 for non-residential and 118 for addi- year-on-year decline in the ticular importance as it is considered tions. Qnumber of building permits is- an indicator for the performance of the Of the 229 residential buildings com- sued during May, according to offi cial construction sector which in turn oc- pletion certifi cates issued, as many as statistics. cupies a signifi cant position in the na- 141 were for villas, 67 for dwellings of Al Rayyan and Doha together con- tional economy. housing loans, 16 for apartments and stituted 50% of the total 659 building In terms of type of permits issued, fi ve for others. permits issued in Qatar in May this data indicates that the new building During May, Al Rayyan issued as year, said the statistics revealed by permits (residential and non-residen- many as 126 building completion cer- the Planning and Statistics Authority tial) constituted 51% (337 permits) of tifi cates or 34% of the total, Doha 88 (PSA). the total building permits issued in May (24%), Al Daayen 55 (15%), Al Wakrah On geographical basis, the PSA this year, while additions constituted 47 (13%), Umm Slal 23 (6%), Al Shee- found that Al Rayyan remained atop 46% (300 permits), and fencing 3% (22 haniya 16 (4%), Al Khor 11 (3%) and the municipalities where the number permits). Al Shamal eight (2%). Of the 141 vil- of building permits issued were 184 Of the new residential buildings las completion certifi cates issued, as permits or 28% of the total issued permits, PSA found that villas’ topped many as 48 were in Al Rayyan, 30 each permits, Doha 142 (22%), Al Wakrah the list, accounting for 71% (203 per- in Doha and Al Daayen, 17 in Al Wakrah, A number of abandoned vehicles were spotted, and 35 reports were issued for various violations, during a joint 109 (17%), Al Daayen 97 (15%), Umm mits) of all new residential buildings seven in Umm Slal, four in Al Shamal, inspection campaign conducted by Doha Municipality’s General Control Department in co-operation with the Slal 48 (7%), Al Sheehaniya 39 (6%), permits, dwellings of housing loans three in Al Sheehaniya and two in Al Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME)’s Mechanical Equipment and Public Cleanliness departments and Al Khor 32 (5%) and Al Shamal eight 23% (65 permits) and apartments 5% Khor. the Ministry of Commerce and Industry last weekend. The violations pertained to regulations for public hygiene and (1%). (15 permits). Of the 67 dwellings of housing loans advertisements as well as encroachment of public pavements, the MME said in a statement. On a month-on-month basis, to- Commercial buildings were found to completion certifi cates issued, Al tal number of permits issued in the be in the forefront of non-residential Rayyan received as many as 25 certifi - country witnessed a 11% fall in May buildings permits with 42% (21 per- cates; Al Wakrah (18); Al Daayen (10); 2019 with Al Shamal registering a 43% mits), followed by government build- Doha, Al Khor and Umm Slal (four plunge, Umm Slal 24%, Al Wakrah ings 30% (15 permits) and governmen- each) and Al Sheehaniya (two).

VCUarts Qatar to start summer art and design programme on June 29

irginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) in Education City has Vlaunched the 2019 edition of its summer art and de- sign programme for children and high school students. The classes will start on June 29 and run until early August. The classes are open to children from age four to 16 and above, and will range from fashion design, interior design, app design, video game design and T-shirt design, to paint- ing, printmaking, collage making, fashion illustration, robots and more, VCUarts Qatar has said in a statement. For example, in the ‘Design and Print your own T-shirt’ course, students aged eight to 12 years will design and print their own t-shirt. The classes will range from fashion design, interior design, In the ‘Introduction to Pottery’ class for students aged 15 app design, video game design and T-shirt design, to years and above, participants will explore basic pottery proc- painting, printmaking, collage making, fashion illustration, esses and techniques: preparing clay, wheel throwing, trim- robots and more. ming and surface manipulation, glazing, fi ring and recycling used clay, giving them fundamental knowledge of pottery music to create a fi nal short stop motion animation video us- making. ing props made from paper, play-doh and diff erent 3D objects. In the ‘Animation and Music Making’, for those aged 10 to 13 More information can be obtained by e-mailing VCUQ- years, students will make their own short story and work with [email protected] or via WhatsApp at 30133448. QU students showcase their capstone projects

he Department of Chemistry developed potential cathode materi- pated in the ACS annual conference and Earth Sciences at Qatar als for lithium ion batteries, which was this year and three of the papers by QU TUniversity’s (QU) College of also presented previously in the 257th were selected as part of the best re- Arts and Science organised two cap- American Chemical Society (ACS) na- searches. stone project presentation events for tional meeting in Florida, US. “These research works are the out- female and male students, as well as a “The Department of Chemistry and come of years of eff orts, perseverance ceremony to award students who par- Earth Sciences is keen to provide an and hard work, during which the stu- ticipated in community services and integrated and high-quality project. dents acquired scientifi c and practical social activities. Through these projects, the skills of skills that resulted in the outcome of The students showcased their self-achievement, literature survey, concepts and is refl ected in the results projects in front of project supervisors, practical experience, critical think- of these outstanding works. The su- members of the evaluation committees ing, analysis of results, thesis writing, pervisors are keen to select applied re- and department head Dr Khalid al- presentation skills and delivering of searches that are relevant to the society Saad al-Kuwari. the research project to the public are including economics, health and na- The 20 students conducted projects developed,” Dr al-Kuwari said. tional security. These applied research- on a diverse range of topics such as Dr al-Saad added that the depart- es include the development of chemical synthesis and characterisation of po- ment had succeeded in maintaining analysis tools, forensic evidence, study tential platinum complexes bearing the quality of these projects to meet of compounds involved in medical pyridine and hydrazine units. internationally competitive standards drugs, advanced analytical methods Another student group worked on and to participate in international con- for the estimation of these drugs, espe- synthesised metal oxides for catalytic ferences. cially those that may be misused, such oxidation of carbon monoxide and For example, nine students partici- as doping,” Dr al-Saad added.

Vodafone carrier billing now available for Apple range of services odafone Qatar has announced ment method from their account set- ately allow for easy, one-tap purchas- that its customers can now pay tings on App Store, Apple Music, and ing from all Apple devices, including Vfor App Store, Apple Music and iTunes from their iPhone, iPad, iPod Apple TV and Apple Watch. iTunes purchases across Apple devices touch and Mac, or on iTunes from their This includes purchases of apps, via carrier billing, providing “a safe, PC. music, movies, TV shows as well as secure and versatile payment method Once ‘Carrier Billing’ has been se- Apple Music subscriptions and iCloud to meet Qatar’s growing demand for lected, all future purchases with the storage. digital entertainment”. customer’s Apple ID will be automati- No personal information will be Signing up for carrier billing takes a cally charged as part of the monthly shared with any third parties, making few simple steps, the telecommunica- carrier bill or directly deducted from carrier billing both simple and safe to tions provider said in a statement. the customer’s prepaid account, elimi- set up and use, the statement notes. Vodafone Qatar customers need to nating the need to use a credit card. For more information on how to set have a new or existing Apple ID, and The new payment option will be up carrier billing, one can visit www. can select ‘Carrier Billing’ as their pay- confi gured automatically and immedi- vodafone.qa Gulf Times 6 Monday, June 17, 2019 QATAR

Recall of Mercedes-Benz S-Class models

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), in co-operation with Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles, dealer of Mercedes-Benz in Qatar, has announced a recall of Mercedes-Benz S-Class Maybach models of 2017-2018 as the towing eye of the vehicle is possibly missing. In a statement yesterday, the ministry said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its continuous eff orts Doha International Book to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs. The ministry has urged all customers to report violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti- Commercial Fraud Department, which processes complaints, inquiries and suggestions through the call centre: 16001; e-mail: [email protected]; Twitter: @MOCIQATAR; Instagram: MOCIQATAR; and the ministry’s mobile app for Android and iOS: Fair set for January 2020 MOCIQATAR he Ministry of Culture The Doha platforms of direct communica- and Sports has announced tion between authors, publish- Tthat the 30th edition of International Book ers and intellectuals for learning Doha International Book Fair Fair is one of the about what is new in the knowl- (DIBF) will be held from January edge industry, as well as reflect- 9-18, 2020. most important ing the state of the country’s The event will take place un- cultural landscape, the state- der the supervision and organi- platforms of direct ment points out. sation of the Qatar Centre for communication The DIBF is one of the largest Cultural and Heritage Events, international book fairs in the which “is keen to utilise all its between authors, region and enjoys great prestige, potentials to ensure the success 30 publishers and witnessing a large public turn- and excellence of the upcoming out from Arab and foreign coun- edition of the exhibition”, the intellectuals tries. The number of visitors has ministry has said in a statement. increase since the launch of the The 2020 DIBF will coincide Cup in November and December first edition in 1972. According with the launch of the Qatar- 2022. The 29th DIBF was held to the ministry, the 2020 fair is France 2020 Year of Culture, of- from November 29 to December expected to see the wide partici- fering an opportunity for French 8, 2018. The exhibition will last pation of Arab and foreign pub- participants to have a significant for 10 days, giving exhibitors an lishing houses. presence at the event, according the country around that time of examinations in public and opportunity to experience a dis- In addition to a diverse range to the ministry. The DIBF is usu- and their schedules, the state- private schools,” it explained. tinctive cultural experience and of books, cognitive media and ally held towards November-end ment noted. “This is to avoid Keeping future editions of the allow publishers to showcase e-books, the event will host and early-December, and the clashes between these events, in DIBF in mind, the authorities their diverse publications, espe- various workshops and semi- decision to change the dates has particular with the celebrations concerned also took into con- cially new ones. nars that will enrich the cultural come following a comprehensive of Qatar National Day on De- sideration the fact that Qatar The Doha International Book movement accompanying the review of events taking place in cember 18 as well as the timing will host the 2022 FIFA World Fair is one of the most important exhibition.

Chinese pupils at Qatar’s pavilion

Qatar’s pavilion at the 2019 Beijing International Horticultural Exhibition continues to receive a large number of Chinese school students who are keen to take a look at its various sections, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment has tweeted.

HMC specialists contribute to new international anaesthesia textbook

our anaesthesia specialists at ologists in their initial experiences Hamad Medical Corporation’s of obstetrics and exam preparation, F(HMC) Women’s Wellness and and experienced clinicians in need Research Center (WWRC) have con- of a reliable, quick-reference text,” tributed to a new international text- explained Dr Fernando. book containing case-based discus- Prof Marco Marcus, HMC’s chair- sion on clinical issues in obstetric man of anaesthesiology, Intensive anaesthesia. Care Unit, and Perioperative Medi- Titled ‘Obstetric Anaesthesiol- cine said the textbook will be useful ogy’, the textbook will be used by for practising obstetric anaesthesi- both medical students and prac- ologists working on delivery wards tising obstetric anaesthesiologists and in operating theatres around the to increase their knowledge about world. “As one of the leading public routine and high-risk management healthcare providers in the region, of cases involving pregnant women The WWRC anaesthesiologists who have contributed to the textbook. we are proud of the achievements with heart disease and other medical of our anaesthesiologists for their conditions such as pre-eclampsia. with the complex healthcare needs short scenario, followed by a discus- successful contribution to this text- WWRC Anaesthesiology Depart- of pregnant patients, where care is sion of the causes, risk factors, and book. ment staff who contributed to the tailored to the needs of two patients management,” said Dr Fernando. This highlights our position as textbook include Dr Roshan Fern- (mother and child). “Obstetric anaesthesia or obstetric an academic medical centre and ando, senior consultant; Dr Mitko “This textbook provides concise, anaesthesiology is a sub-speciality shines a light on our ability to work Kocarev, consultant; Dr Fatima case-based discussions on the clini- of anaesthesiology that provides in partnerships that integrate edu- Khatoon, consultant; and Dr Sikha cal scenarios and challenges faced in pain relief in the time before, during, cation, research, and clinical prac- Shastham Valappil, clinical fellow. the provision of anaesthesia and pain and following childbirth, including tice towards further improving our Dr Fernando, who was the primary relief for expectant mothers. Writ- anaesthesia for caesarean deliver- high-quality services for each and editor of the textbook said it will be ten in the style of problem-based ies. This textbook’s concise format every one of our patients,” said Prof a vital resource for clinicians dealing learning, each case is presented as a supports both trainee anaesthesi- Marcus.

HGH set to open expanded surgical ICU

From Page 1 new Trauma and Emergency dedicated emergency care with access to state-of-the- Center represent a sub- facility and last month’s art technology, including “Qatar’s population has stantial investment in our start of some services from three CT scans, MRI, X-ray, grown signifi cantly in recent commitment to providing the ground fl oor of this fa- and ultrasound machines years, resulting in increasing high-quality, world-class cility marked an important as well as an ultra-modern numbers of patients relying facilities and healthcare to milestone on our journey to decompression chamber on our trauma, emergency, the people of Qatar,” said Dr transforming trauma and which will provide oxygen and surgical services. The al-Maslamani. “Our new emergency care in Qatar. therapy for a range of medi- expansion of our operat- Trauma and Emergency Once fully open, this new cal conditions,” added Dr al- ing theatre facilities and the Center is the region’s largest facility will provide patients Maslamani. Dr Yousuf al-Maslamani Gulf Times Monday, June 17, 2019 7 -- REGION/ARAB WORLD/AFRICA

UNREST STRIFE POLITICS TENSION RIGHTS Gunmen on motorcycles 20 militants die after joint Two AFP journalists beaten, Four cops killed Somali journalists’ group kill 34 villagers in French-Malian operation detained in Central Africa by separatist bomb: govt slams police ‘threats’

Gunmen have killed 34 people in Nigeria’s Allied French and Malian forces killed 20 militants Security forces in Central African Republic beat and Cameroon’s government said yesterday that A Somali journalists’ association yesterday slammed northern Zamfara state where criminal gangs in an operation in a part of northern Mali where detained two journalists working for French news wire separatists in its restive English-speaking region had the actions of police who it said threatened to have been terrorising remote villages, police Islamic State operates, a spokesman for the Agence France-Presse (AFP) covering a banned op- detonated an improvised explosive device that killed shoot reporters trying to access the scene of a said yesterday. Armed bandits on motorcycles West African nation’s military said yesterday. The position protest in the capital Bangui, the reporters said four police and wounded six. “The government car bombing near parliament, and warned of a stormed into neighbouring Tungar Kafau and operation in the district of Akabar, a remote part yesterday. Charles Bouessel, 28, and Florent Vergnes, condemns in the strongest terms this criminal act, “worsening situation” for the country’s press. Police Gidan Wawa villages in Shinkafi district late Friday of a game reserve near the border with Niger 30, said they were held for more than six hours and perpetrated by armed bandits and terrorists with at a checkpoint near the site of Saturday’s bombing and shot dead 34 people, state police spokesman and not far from the Malian city of Menaka, was questioned three times on Saturday after being man- no faith or law,” the statement said. It also said the in Mogadishu, which killed eight people and was Mohamed Shehu said in a statement. “Normalcy continuing, army spokesman Colonel Diarran handled by members of the Central Off ice for the Sup- attack occurred along a road near the district of claimed by the Al Shebaab group, stopped a group has been restored in Tungar Kafau and Gidan Kone said by telephone. “But I can tell you that 20 pression of Banditry (OCRB). The pair also had their Eyumojock in the south west of the country late on of reporters from international news groups. “When Wawa... following attack by armed bandits...where terrorists have been neutralised,” he said. Mali has equipment confiscated and a camera smashed up. Saturday. There was no immediate reaction or claim the journalists tried to explain to the police about 34 people were killed,” Shehu said. He said the become increasingly engulfed in violence since a AFP condemned the incident as “unjustifiable police of responsibility from any separatist group. What be- their reporting mission, a police off icer fired two victims of the attacks were buried on Saturday, Tuareg uprising in 2012 was hijacked by militants, violence”. The reporters said they were prevented from gan as peaceful protests in Cameroon’s southwest- bullets (in the) air and then pointed his rifle on a adding police were on the trail of the killers. Local prompting France to intervene to push them back leaving the area despite telling the security forces that ern Anglophone region in 2017 have degenerated journalist’s head,” the Somali Journalists Syndicate residents put the death toll higher, at 35. the following year. they were accredited journalists. into near daily violence. (SJS) said in a statement.

Education amid conflict Field fi res Pompeo says in Syria’s Hasakeh US does not kill 10 AFP Qamishli

ires engulfi ng vital wheat fi elds across Syria’s north- want war Feast have killed at least 10 people, a war monitor said yes- terday, as Kurdish authorities claim the blazes were set delib- erately. Kurdish authorities and the Damascus regime are compet- with Iran ing to buy up this year’s harvest as fi res — some claimed by the Reuters Islamic State group — continue Washington Tehran to scale back N-deal commitments to scorch crops in the country’s Yemeni students sit for their final exams at a secondary school in the capital Sanaa, yesterday. breadbasket. Iran will announce further introduced sanctions on Tehran. The victims included civilians he does not moves today to scale back Iran said in May it would start and members of the Kurdish-led want to go to war with compliance with an international enriching uranium at a higher Syrian Democratic Forces who TIran but will take every nuclear pact that the United level, unless world powers died while trying to extinguish action necessary, including di- States abandoned last year, protected its economy from US the blazes since Saturday, the plomacy, to guarantee safe navi- the semi-off icial Tasnim news sanctions within 60 days. Britain-based Syrian Observa- gation through vital shipping agency reported yesterday. Meanwhile, Iran’s parliament Bashir appears before prosecutor tory for Human Rights said. lanes in the Middle East, Secre- “Iran’s Atomic Energy Organi- speaker hinted Sunday that The fi res in the Kurdish-ma- tary of State Mike Pompeo said sation tomorrow at the Arak Washington could be behind the jority province of Hasakeh also yesterday. heavy water site will announce “suspicious” tanker attacks in the AFP president had been informed according to witnesses. wounded another fi ve people, US-Iran tensions are high preparatory steps that have Gulf of Oman to pile pressure Khartoum that he was facing charges of At least 128 people have according to a spokesman for the following accusations by the been taken to further decrease on Tehran, off icial news agency “possessing foreign currency, been killed in the crackdown Kurdish Red Crescent. administration of US President Tehran’s commitments under IRNA reported. “The suspicious corruption and receiving gifts on demonstrators, the ma- “The victims were trying to Donald Trump that Tehran car- the deal,” Tasnim said, without actions against the tankers... allen Sudanese leader illegally.” Meanwhile, a top jority the day the sit-in was douse the blaze but they were ried out attacks last Thursday citing sources. The organisation seem to complement the Omar al-Bashir was general from the country’s cleared, according to doctors trapped by the fi re,” Kamal Der- on two oil tankers in the Gulf of will announce moves to increase economic sanctions against Iran Fyesterday seen in public new ruling military council linked to the protest move- bas said. Oman, a vital oil shipping route. stocks of enriched uranium and considering that (the US) has for the fi rst time since being vowed that those who car- ment. The health ministry Kurdish offi cials have called Iran has denied having any production of heavy water at not achieved any results from ousted, as he was driven in an ried out a deadly crackdown put the June 3 death toll na- on the US-led coalition to help role. Arak, Tasnim reported. them,” Ali Larijani told MPs. armed convoy to the prosecu- on an iconic protest site that tionwide at 61. Protesters and extinguish blazes in the cereal “We don’t want war. We’ve The United States and the Inter- He backed his claim by saying tor’s offi ce. left dozens dead earlier this witnesses accuse the feared and oil-rich region under their done what we can to deter this,” national Atomic Energy Agency there had been a precedent The former strongman, month would face the death paramilitary group led by Da- control. Pompeo said in an interview believe Iran had a nuclear “during World War II, when who ruled his northeast Afri- penalty. galo, the Rapid Support Forc- with ‘Fox News Sunday’, add- weapons programme that it Americans targeted their own can nation for three decades, “We are working hard to take es, of carrying out the assault ing: “The Iranians should un- abandoned. Tehran denies ever ships near Japan to create an was toppled on April 11 after those who did this to the gal- on demonstrators. CONFLICT derstand very clearly that we having had one. Iran stopped excuse for hostility”. A non-bel- weeks of protests against his lows,” Mohamed Hamdan Da- US offi cials and protesters Golan settlement will continue to take actions that complying in May with some ligerent state at the beginning reign. galo, deputy chief of the ruling have called for an independ- deter Iran from engaging in this commitments in the 2015 nu- of World War II, the US went to Dressed in a white tradi- military council said in a speech ent probe into the crackdown. honouring Trump kind of behaviour.” clear deal that was agreed with war after Japan’s surprise attack tional robe and turban, Bashir broadcast live on state televi- On Thursday, military inaugurated Pompeo, a former director of global powers, after the United on the American Pearl Harbor rode in a heavily-armed con- sion. “Whoever committed any council spokesman General the Central Intelligence Agency, States unilaterally withdrew base in Hawaii on the morning voy from the notorious Kober fault” will be held accountable, Shamseddine Kabbashi ex- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin also defended the administra- from the accord in 2018 and re- of December 7, 1941. prison in the Sudanese capital Dagalo added. pressed “regret” over the Netanyahu yesterday inaugurated tion’s conclusion that Iran was Khartoum to prosecutors’ of- Thousands of protest- crackdown. But the council a new settlement in the Golan behind the attack, saying there fi ce to face charges of alleged ers who had camped outside insists it did not order the dis- Heights, named after the country’s was other evidence beyond video foreign offi cials on Saturday re- called on the Trump administra- corruption. Khartoum’s military head- persal, saying it had actually “great friend” US President Donald footage released last week. “The garding the attacks. tion to take a tough stance. Prosecutor Alaeddin Dafal- quarters for weeks were vio- planned to purge an area near Trump. Netanyahu unveiled a intelligence community has lots He cited , Japan, South Senator Tom Cotton, a mem- lah told reporters after Bashir lently dispersed by armed men the protest camp where peo- “Trump Heights” sign, featuring of data, lots of evidence. The Korea and as coun- ber of the Senate Armed Services left the offi ce that the ousted in military fatigues on June 3, ple are said to sell drugs. an Israeli and a US flag, to mark world will come to see much of tries that rely heavily on free- and Intelligence committees, the site of the new settlement. it.” dom of navigation through the told CBS: “Unprovoked attacks “Thank you PM @netanyahu and Saudi Arabia on Saturday straits.”I’m confi dent that when on commercial shipping warrant the State of Israel for this great joined the United States in blam- they see the risk, the risk of their a retaliatory military strike” that honor!” Trump tweeted. The ing Iran for the attacks and called own economies and their own he said Trump already is author- ceremony comes after the US for the international commu- people and outrageous behaviour ised to launch under US law. Libya’s PM promises polls president in late March recognised nity to take swift action to secure of Iran, they will join us in this.” Steve Scalise, the No 2 House Israeli sovereignty over the part Gulf energy supplies. The United States is already of Representatives Republican, of the strategic plateau it seized The Strait of Hormuz is a embroiled in a standoff with Iran said the White House had been AFP by “infl uential national forces on the political from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War. major transit route for oil from over its nuclear programme, and briefi ng Congress on Iran. “We Tripoli and social scene, and supporters of a peaceful Israel annexed the area in a move Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest has blamed the Middle Eastern don’t want to see it escalate to and democratic solution” to Libya’s crisis. never recognised by the interna- crude exporter, and other Gulf country and its surrogates for where it is a military operation,” Sarraj’s GNA holds Tripoli, but strongman tional community. producers. other acts of aggression in recent he told NBC’s Meet the Press, he head of Libya’s internationally recog- Khalifa Haftar’s self-styled Libyan National “The Golan is Israeli and will Pompeo said the United States months including previous at- adding: “But we have to stand up nised Government of National Accord Army holds the east and much of the south of remain so always”, Netanyahu would take “all actions neces- tacks on oil tankers in May and the to Iran.” Tannounced yesterday a new political ini- the country. The LNA launched an off ensive to declared. Trump is “a very great sary, diplomatic and other- targeting of US drones in Yemen. However, Democratic Rep- tiative and elections in a bid to move the confl ict- take the capital in early April, but counter-at- friend of Israel who has taken a wise” to guarantee safe passage In a separate television in- resentative Adam Schiff , who wracked country beyond eight years of chaos. tacks by forces loyal to the GNA have resulted in decision that has never before through vital shipping lanes, terview with CBS’ “Face the chairs the House Intelligence “I present today a political initiative for a a stalemate on the southern outskirts. been taken”, he added. without providing further de- Nation,” Pompeo left open the Committee, cast doubt on way out of crisis...(involving) simultaneous Sarraj said his proposed initiative would take Surrounding a large table, Israel’s tails. possibility of US military action America’s ability to rally the in- presidential and legislative elections before the place with support from the UN mission in cabinet met under a tent in the The secretary of state said the in the region but declined to dis- ternational community to pro- end of 2019,” GNA head Fayez al-Sarraj said in Libya. north of the Golan to name the US was discussing a possible in- cuss what form that might take. tect shipping lanes and impose a short speech broadcast by Libya al-Wataniya “Our army and the forces which support it planned settlement, in the pres- ternational response, saying he Some conservative congres- sanctions, saying it had alien- TV, without specifying a date for polls. have given a lesson in bravery to (Haftar) and to ence of US ambassador to Israel had made a number of calls to sional Republicans yesterday ated its allies. He proposed a forum that would be attended his militias,” Sarraj said. David Friedman.

Tanzania ‘in danger’ following Ebola cases in neighbour Uganda

AFP teractions between Tanzanian kidney and liver function, and cern”, meaning it would require Nairobi and Ugandan people “via the of- sometimes internal and external a “co-ordinated international fi cial borders or by other, unoffi - bleeding. response”. The UN body de- cial channels.” Ebola spreads among hu- clares public health emergen- anzania’s health min- ’s northwestern mans through close contact cies when a disease outbreak in ister issued an Ebola Kagera, Mwanza and Kigoma with the blood, body fluids, a country risks spreading be- T‘alert’ yesterday after the regions were most at risk, said secretions or organs of an in- yond its borders. disease, which has killed over Mwalimu. But “given that this fected person, or objects con- Two members of a Ugandan 1,400 people in the Democratic disease transmits very easily and taminated by such fluids. family, a woman and her five- Republic of Congo, appeared in very quickly from one person to The current outbreak in the year-old grandson died of Eb- their shared neighbour, Uganda. another, nearly the entire coun- DRC is the worst on record af- ola this week after travelling to “I want to alert the public that try is in danger.” ter an epidemic that struck the DRC to take care of a dying there is the threat of an Ebola The minister began a tour of mainly in Liberia, and family member and attend the epidemic in our country,” Ummy the frontier regions on Saturday between 2014- funeral. Mwalimu tweeted days after of- to assess the measures in place 2016, killing more than 11,300 The boy’s brother, aged fi cials confi rmed that members at ports and border posts to deal people. three, is also infected, and sev- of a family who had travelled with potential incoming Ebola On Friday, the World Health eral family members are in iso- to the DRC had died in western cases. The country has not yet Organisation said the outbreak lation. Uganda. been touched by the often fatal does not yet warrant being de- To date, no locally-acquired The minister said the alert was viral disease that causes violent clared a “public health emer- Ebola cases have been reported A Ugandan health worker administers Ebola vaccine to a man in Kirembo village, near the border with the necessary given the frequent in- vomiting and diarrhoea, impairs gency of international con- in Uganda. Democratic Republic of Congo in Kasese district, yesterday. Gulf Times 8 Monday, June 17, 2019 AMERICAS Trump trails Biden in Fox poll

By Brian Knowlton, AFP trailed at this point in their cam- Democrats as a decisive factor in tleground states,” the self-styled Washington paigns — including Trump — but their support. democratic socialist said on Fox who went on to win. The CBS News/YouGov Bat- News Sunday. The president does not of- tleground Tracker survey, con- Democrats begin more ear- nationwide Fox News poll fi cially launch his re-election ducted May 31 to June 12, said nestly winnowing down their released yesterday showed campaign until tomorrow, at a Biden had the backing of 31% of fi eld of nearly two dozen candi- APresident Donald Trump rally-style event in a huge arena Democratic primary voters in 18 dates when they hold successive trailing former vice president in Orlando, Florida. key early-voting states. nights of televised debates on Joe Biden and no fewer than four Still, the Fox poll, conducted Biden was trailed by senators June 26 and 27. other Democratic contenders as June 9 to June 12, is seen as heart- Elizabeth Warren (17%), Sanders Representative Alexandria Oca- early campaigning for the 2020 ening by Democrats eager to chip (16%) and Kamala Harris (10%). sio-Cortez, the 29-year-old New election begins to gain steam. away at Trump’s popularity, The poll, with a 1.5% margin of Yorker who has emerged as a hero- A separate survey of battle- particularly in key battleground error, looked at states including ine to young progressives, suggest- ground states, by CBS, shows states like Pennsylvania and Wis- Iowa, New Hampshire and South ed yesterday that Democrats could Democrats strongly favour Biden consin. Carolina — which hold primary be in trouble in 2020 if they fail to as the candidate most likely to Trump’s campaign recently elections in February, at the top nominate an energising candidate beat Trump in next year’s elec- dismissed leaked data from its of the electoral calendar — as well with working-class appeal. tions. own pollsters showing Biden as states in the upper Midwest, She said she would support the The Fox poll showed Biden with double-digit leads in bat- where Trump eked out narrow 76-year-old Biden if he wins the leading Trump by 49% to 39% tleground states. but decisive victories in 2016. nomination but added on ABC among all registered voters na- The campaign at fi rst denied Elizabeth Warren has been that “we have to really factor in tionwide, while Senator Bernie the data, but then acknowledged steadily rising in the polls, only the enthusiasm of voters...an is- Sanders held nearly the same it, branding it as “ancient” be- recently reaching statistical sue that we had in 2016.” advantage over the president, at cause it dated from March. equivalency with Sanders, whose “We need to pick a candidate 49% to 40%. But the new CBS poll confi rms support has been slipping. that’s going to be exciting to vote Holding edges of one or two a clear Biden lead in battleground Sanders acknowledged yester- for — all people, women, people of points over Trump — albeit states among Democratic voters, day that “polls go up and polls go all genders, races, income levels.” within the poll’s 3-point margin Protestors attend a demonstration calling for the impeachment of President Donald Trump in New as the crowded race for that party’s down” but insisted that the sur- But the Fox poll found that of error — were Senators Eliza- York City on Saturday. Major cities across the country held “#ImpeachTrump Day of Action” protests on nomination begins to take shape. vey showed he was the strongest Democratic voters, by roughly beth Warren and Kamala Harris, Saturday to demand that Congress begin impeachment proceedings against the president. A belief among Democratic candidate to defeat Trump. three-to-one, wanted a nomi- as well as Mayor Pete Buttigieg of voters that Biden is best posi- “I think we can win in Penn- nee who would provide “steady, South Bend, Indiana. 500 days before the November 3, political world. week shows fi ve presidential tioned to defeat Trump in 2020 sylvania, Wisconsin and Michi- reliable leadership” rather than a The polling comes more than 2020 election, an eternity in the One widely-viewed tweet this candidates in recent decades who was cited by three-quarters of gan and some of the other bat- “bold new agenda.”

Green groups ramp up legal attacks on federal oil leases backs

By Nichola Groom, Reuters states such as Wyoming and Utah. In 2017 and 2018, the US govern- impacts on wildlife and other environ- Interior’s request, the judge in the a startup to Washington “We’ve already seen a surge in litiga- ment off ered nearly 17mn acres for oil mental concerns. same proceeding sent leases on more tion over oil and gas leasing. There is and gas leasing, compared with a com- They include the Wilderness Soci- than 150,000 acres in Colorado and sure to be more,” said Jeremy Nichols, bined 4.2mn in the last two years of the ety, National Audubon Society, and the Utah back to BLM for further climate boost data on S environmental groups fi ght- an attorney with WildEarth Guardians, Obama Administration. National Wildlife Federation. impact analysis. ing fossil-fuel development among the leading groups fi ling pro- But the number of active leases by The administrative protests rarely Interior made the request in order to Umade headlines years ago with tests. “We are in the process of devel- the end of 2018 was 24,028 — up less stop the government from leasing land head off another legal setback, in light space debris public demonstrations against big oping the next round.” than half a percentage point since for energy development. of the Wyoming decision. pipeline projects including the Dakota The strategy has delayed processing 2016, according to the data. In both 2017 and 2018, more than The green groups are now building Access and the Keystone XL — only to times and costs for public-lands leas- That’s in part because oil drillers 96% of the parcels posted in original a new wave of lawsuits that they hope By Andrea Shalal, Reuters be steamrolled by President Donald ing, according to the Department of have found cheaper, easier places to sale notices were ultimately off ered for will benefi t from the Wyoming court Paris Trump’s executive orders to approve Interior’s US Bureau of Land Manage- drill on private acreage. sale, according to BLM data. decision. them. ment (BLM), because the government The administration hasn’t had much But green groups say the protests “The implications, I think, are broad Now the so-called ‘keep it in the can’t lease acreage before responding luck off shore either. pave the way for legal challenges to in terms of redefi ning the scope of the he Canadian government’s ground’ movement has a new strategy to what are often long-winded argu- In March, a federal judge in Alaska drilling, and they cite some recent government’s analysis for really any contracting arm is backing a to slow Trump’s pro-oil agenda: Bury- ments asserting threats to the climate blocked Trump’s attempt to open vast victories in forcing the government to fossil-fuel-related project on our pub- Tproposed new satellite sys- ing the administration in formal writ- and wildlife. areas of the Arctic and Atlantic oceans consider climate damage in leasing de- lic lands,” said Kyle Tisdel, an attor- tem that will use big data analytics to ten protests and lawsuits challenging BLM spokesman Derrick Henry to drilling after green groups argued cisions. ney with Western Environmental Law provide commercially available data nearly every oil and gas lease it plans on cited one 1,095-page document fi led the move violated environmental pro- A US judge in March blocked oil Center, one of the groups that joined about the Earth and its orbit amid public land. by WildEarth Guardians protesting an tections. drilling planned in Wyoming after WildEarth in the Wyoming suit. growing concerns about the risks Over the past three years, more than upcoming lease sale in New . Public lands drilling is also becom- WildEarth and two other groups suc- Offi cials at the Interior Department posed by space debris. 90% of the nearly 4,000 land parcels “Frivolous protests on anti-fossil ing an issue in the 2020 presidential cessfully argued the government failed and the White House declined to com- Support from the Canadian Com- off ered by the government to drillers fuel sentiments or general opinions,” election, with a handful of Democratic to adequately consider its impact on ment on the signifi cance of the rulings. mercial Corp (CCC) will allow Ca- in the contiguous United States have he said, “are not helpful to the BLM hopefuls, including Senators Elizabeth global warming. WildEarth fi led another lawsuit last nadian startup NorthStar Earth and drawn formal protests, compared to in addressing legitimate protest con- Warren and Bernie Sanders, calling for The ruling blocked drilling on more week seeking to cancel 210 oil and gas Space to negotiate initial service less than half prior to 2015, according cerns.” bans on such activity to accelerate the than 300,000 acres while the BLM leases issued in 2017 and 2018 on more agreements with the United States, to data recently released by the US De- The protests have created uncer- US transition to cleaner forms of en- conducts further analysis. than 68,000 acres in New Mexico’s Britain and other countries, North- partment of Interior. tainty and delays for oil fi rms and ergy. ConocoPhillips, Anadarko, Noble Great Carlsbad region based on their Star CEO Stewart Bain said. There is no avenue to fi le protests sometimes cause them to lose interest Some of the groups regularly fil- Energy and BP were among the compa- impacts to climate, air quality and wa- The deal with CCC will be signed against Alaska leases because they are in bidding on parcels, said Kathleen ing protests, including WildEarth, nies with leases challenged in the suit, ter resources. today at the Paris Airshow. located in a region set aside specifi cally Sgamma, president of the Western En- the Center for Biological Diversity according to court documents fi led by WildEarth had protested all 210 Bain cited strong international for drilling. ergy Alliance drillers association. and Western Watersheds Project, the American Petroleum Institute. leases in the region, which includes interest in the project given in- The protests slow down leasing, That’s bad news for taxpayers, she oppose all new fossil-fuel develop- The trade group had argued that the New Mexico’s portion of the Permian creasing levels of activity in space, but are also a prerequisite for lawsuits said, because it threatens public rev- ment. government cannot impose “a blan- basin, the largest shale-oil region in and mounting concerns about the seeking to force the administration to enues. Others are more conservation-fo- ket ban on development of oil and gas the country. dangers posed to satellites by some consider global warming in its drilling The surge in administrative protests cused groups that may support some leases” and that its authority is limited “We’re not just scribbling down a 600,000 estimated pieces of debris policy. adds to the trouble the Trump admin- level of responsible energy develop- to imposing curbs based on concerns note and sending it off to the BLM,” fl oating in the Earth’s orbit. Some of the resulting suits have istration has had expanding drilling in ment but oppose Trump’s aggressive specifi c to a lease location. said Nichols of WildEarth. “There’s The United States and other gov- yielded judgments to stall drilling in public territories. push to drill on public lands due to Last month, at the Department of very sophisticated opposition.” ernments already collect such data, but demand for near real-time infor- mation that is commercially avail- able is growing rapidly, with experts forecasting a “new space” economy worth over $1tn a year. Dogs get training to off er support to troubled US veterans “This agreement puts us in a strong position to work with the United States, the UK and other By Catherine Triomphe, AFP of that crowd — he will pick up on that. countries to deliver our services,” Nesconset, New York He will walk around me and look at it Bain told Reuters, noting the gov- and if I don’t respond, he will walk ernments of Canada and Quebec away from the crowd with me hooked had each already invested $13mn to ichael Kidd, now 84 years old, up to him,” he says. date. fought in the Korean War. His Paws of War — their acronym is a Private investors in the project in- Myoung German shepherd Mil- play on POW, used to signify prisoners clude Telesystem Space Inc of Mon- lie helps calm him down when things of war — has been active since 2014. treal, the majority shareholder, and start to swirl, usually at night. More than 100 dogs have been the Space Alliance of Europe, which Harry Stolberg — a 42-year-old trained so far, and the therapeutic re- was formed by Telespazio and Thales former Marine who served in Bosnia, sults for their masters have been sig- Alenia Space, a joint partnership Liberia and Nigeria — has a chocolate nifi cant. formed by France’s Thales and Italy’s Labrador named Rocky who wakes him Kidd, who suff ers from severe PTSD, Leonardo. up from his troubled dreams. has been able to reduce his intake of NorthStar’s proposed system calls And 31-year-old Phil Davanzo — medication thanks to Millie. for the 2021 launch of a new constel- who carried the bodies of fallen com- At night when things are tough, “she lation of small satellites that will use rades during a hostage rescue opera- will come over to me, she will put her an array of hyperspectral, infrared tion that went wrong off Somalia in paw on my shoulder, on my chest, and and optical sensors to continuously 2011 — hopes his Rottweiler puppy will just give me a big slobber,” says Kidd, monitor and analyse the Earth’s eco- soon be trained to support him during whose father was in Normandy on D- systems and orbit. his panic attacks. Day. “That’s just saying, ‘I am here for The company said its system The three US veterans, who all live you.’” would use big data analytics and ar- on New York’s Long Island, suff er from Stolberg used to need sleeping pills tifi cial intelligence to make sense of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to get through the night, but not any- the huge amount of information and and have sought solace through pet more, thanks to Rocky. accurately predict potential colli- therapy — namely, a loyal dog to keep “Sleeping was my biggest problem. sions with debris and other objects them company. (...) Now I only have a nightmare once in space, while helping to validate The shelter animals are either or twice a month, instead of every day,” and improve the performance of ex- trained or being trained to help them he explains. “A lot of that is also be- isting surveillance systems. through diffi cult times by Paws of War, cause I know that when I go to sleep, he US Commerce Secretary Wilbur an association funded entirely by pri- is in the room — he is going to wake me Ross, who will attend this week’s vate donations that then provides the up no matter what.” A service dog waits for training at the Paws of War off ice in Nesconset, Long Island, New York. Paris Airshow, said last week he was service dogs free of charge. It takes 18 to 24 months to teach dogs encouraging all space-faring nations The group will also train a veteran’s what to do when a troubled veteran “I can start and cue that behaviour and years, Scofi eld launched Paws of War af- can’t keep up,” Scofi eld says. “I can’t to work together on common issues dog if he or she already has one. sends distress signals, according to use that as an alert.” ter being contacted by veterans returning train enough dogs fast enough.” such as space debris that could stifl e “The biggest thing is he wakes me Rebecca Stromski, a senior trainer for In the face of seemingly intermina- home from Afghanistan and Iraq. She has opened satellite offi ces in the commercialization of space. up from nightmares,” Stolberg says of Paws of War whose husband served in ble wars for US military personnel in Those soldiers had become attached Florida and in northern New York state. “Partnerships are important in three-year-old Rocky. Afghanistan and Kuwait. Afghanistan and Iraq, deployments to dogs they had found in those coun- She has also launched a free mobile a world where there are alternative “He can open the door, come in “It’s quite a process actually, creat- which began in 2001, veterans are ex- tries, but were unable to bring them veterinary clinic where veterans can views about the future of space,” he my room, turn on the lights, take my ing a mutual respect and a connection periencing PTSD symptoms on a regu- back home. bring their companion animals. said. blinders off me...and lick my hands so between the service dude and the serv- lar basis. Through word of mouth recom- Dogs who might have ended up put Anti-satellite tests conducted by I wake up.” ice dog,” she says. Paws of War has more requests for mendations, the association quickly to sleep in shelters now have homes, China in 2007, and most recently, Rocky, whose 18 months of training “Once the foundations are in place service animals than it can fulfi l, with became a top meeting place for the and veterans are rediscovering “a rea- India in March, have raised ques- were completed six months ago, also and the dog starts feeling if things are 50 veterans on the waiting list, ac- 75,000-strong veteran community on son to get up every day, get moving, get tioned about the long-term sustain- helps Stolberg navigate large crowds, going well or not for the veterans, they cording to the group’s co-founder Dori Long Island, one of the biggest in the out,” Scofi eld says. ability of operations in space that are which can be triggering. start to do certain motions when the Scofi eld. United States. “It has been just so awesome, help- essential to a huge range of activities, “If I can’t move, he will get me out guys are fi dgeting,” Stromski explains. After running an animal shelter for 30 “We get applications every day — we ing both ends of the leash.” including banking and GPS services. Gulf Times Monday, June 17, 2019 9 ASIA

Prison cop held for failing menu gets makeover after 200 to probe teenager’s allegations years AFP in connection with the killing had not properly dealt with the hiding after a court issued a cipal is alleged to have ordered allegedly told that one of her Dhaka and could face the death penalty complaint the teenager made. warrant for his arrest. her to be killed if necessary. The friends was being beaten up. if convicted. Bangladesh police spokes- At least fi ve people - includ- PBI chief had described careful There, Majumder said, AFP Rafi was lured to the rooftop man Sohel Rana confi rmed ing three of Rafi ’s classmates - planning - including the pur- she was pressured to with- Dhaka senior Bangladesh police of an Islamic seminary she at- in a text message to AFP that tied her up with a scarf before chase of kerosene, burkas and draw the case and asked to offi cer has been arrested tended where her attackers Hossain had been arrested. setting her on fi re. The plan was gloves. The accused are alleged sign a blank piece of paper. Afor failing to properly asked her to withdraw a sexual He and two other inspectors to pass the incident off as a case to have divided roles among When she refused she was angladesh authorities have investigate allegations made harassment complaint fi led have been suspended by the of suicide. themselves on April 6, the day gagged and bound before be- upgraded a 200-year-old by a teenage girl, who was later with police against the head police department. Rafi suff ered burns to 80% of of the murder. ing doused with kerosene and Bcolonial-era breakfast burned to death, that she had teacher. Rafi went to the police in late her body and died in hospital on Some guarded the gates of burned, he said. menu in all its prisons, an offi cial been sexually harassed by a When she refused, she was March to make allegations of April 10. the seminary to make sure In the ambulance, fearing she said yesterday, as part of a reform teacher, offi cials said. doused in kerosene and set on sexual harassment against the According to Police Bureau only students entered, while might not survive, she recorded of the country’s penal system. The killing of Nusrat Jahan fi re. She died fi ve days later, her head teacher. A leaked video of Investigation (PBI) chief Ba- others kept watch in front of a statement on her brother’s Bazlur Rashid, deputy head of Rafi in April sparked protests death highlighted an alarming showed Hossain registering her naj Kumar Majumder, Siraj Ud the specifi c building where mobile phone and identi- the prison directorate, said the across the South Asian na- rise in sexual harassment cases complaint, but dismissing it as Doula, principal of the semi- Nusrat was to be attacked, fi ed some of her attackers as nation’s more than 81,000 con- tion, with the prime minister in Bangladesh. “not a big deal”. nary, had instructed his associ- Majumder said. students at the seminary. victs would from Sunday receive promising to prosecute all those An investigation by authori- Hossain was accused of il- ates to intimidate Nusrat’s fam- According to a statement “The teacher touched me, I an improved breakfast, replacing involved. ties later found Moazzem Hos- legally fi lming the video, which ily to withdraw the complaint, given by Nusrat, she was lured will fi ght this crime till my last the bread and molasses that has At least 16 people - including sain, the police chief of the was later circulated on social local media reported. to the roof of that building by a breath,” she can be heard saying been on the menu since being the teacher - have been charged town where Rafi was killed, media platforms. He went into When this failed, the prin- fellow female student. She was in the video. introduced by British colonial rulers in the 18th century. The new diet will contain bread, vegetables, sweets and khichdi - a spiced rice cooked Yoga session with lentils - Rashid said. Previously prisoners were giv- Mandarin en just 116 grams (four ounces) of bread and 14.5 grams (half an ounce) of molasses, he said. Bangladesh’s 60 prisons, built to house 35,000 inmates, are mandatory notoriously overcrowded and frequently draw criticism from rights organisations. Inmates also often complain about the quality and quantity of in food served in the jails. Rashid said the diet change is part of a series of reforms to “help prisoners get motivated and rehabilitated”. schools “We are gradually trying to adapt... so the convicts can re- form themselves during their IANS “If a subject has to be made stay in the facilities,” he said. compulsory, it is us who take Several thousand prisoners the decisions, not the schools.” cheered the new breakfast menu Schools that spoke to The in Dhaka’s Keraniganj central any schools across Himalayan Times were aware prison yesterday, he said, add- Nepal have made it of this rule, but they have sim- ing: “Good food makes everyone Mmandatory for stu- ply overlooked it, as they are happy.” dents to learn Mandarin lured getting Mandarin teachers for The offi cial said the govern- by the Chinese government’s free. ment has also introduced cheap off er to cover salaries of teach- “We introduced Mandarin telephone calls for inmates in the ers who teach the language, as a compulsory subject two prisons. according to a media report. years ago after the Chinese “They would be able to talk to Principals and staff of at Embassy agreed to provide Yoga enthusiasts take part in a mass yoga session on a field at Chulalongkorn University to mark International Yoga Day in their family via screened phone least 10 renowned private teachers free of cost,” said Bangkok yesterday. calls whenever they want,” he schools told The Himalayan Kuldip Neupane, principal at said. Times that Mandarin was a United School. compulsory subject in their Other schools also con- institutions. fi rmed that salaries of Manda- Many more private schools rin teachers were being paid by in Pokhara, Dhulikhel and the Chinese embassy in Kath- other parts of the country have mandu. Italian man arrested in for Clooney fraud also made Mandarin compul- “We only need to provide sory for students, according stipend to Chinese teachers to Shiv Raj, board of trustee, to cover their accommoda- AFP Saturday at a house on the out- Italy for multiple scams includ- Interpol red notice since 2013 - plice - had fraudulently used founder and chairman of LRI tion and food costs,” said Hari Bangkok skirts Pattaya after an operation ing selling fake Rolex watches carrying a bag as they were taken his name to promote a fashion School. Dahal, principal of Apex Life between Thai and Italian au- online, the statement said. They into custody. range. “Schools are allowed to School. thorities, offi cials said. sometimes mocked their victims They were nabbed after po- Pattaya, the Thai town they teach foreign languages, but “We know children n Italian who allegedly “During interrogation, by sending packets of salt in- lice surrounded their luxury were found holed up, is infamous they cannot make those sub- should be allowed to make posed as Hollywood su- Francesco confessed to claim- stead of the timepieces. compound in a stakeout using as a hideout for gangsters and jects mandatory for students,” choices. So, if there are vol- Aperstar George Clooney to ing to be George Clooney and Their crimes led them to be electronic surveillance and a criminals from across the world. said Ganesh Prasad Bhattarai, unteers who wish to teach sell clothes online has been ar- opening a clothes business dubbed the Italian ‘Bonnie and drone, Italian police said in a “They stayed in Thailand information offi cer at the Cur- Japanese and German, rested with his wife in Thailand to trick people into send- Clyde’ after the notorious Amer- statement. since 2014 and never left,” police riculum Development Centre, we will always welcome after years on the run, police said ing money,” a statement from ican bank robbers of the Great The case against the pair said, adding a court will charge a government body which de- them,” Khyam Nath Tim- yesterday. Thailand’s Crime Suppression Depression era. stretches back several years after them under local immigration signs school-level academic sina, principal of Shuvatara Francesco Galdelli, 58, and Division said. Footage from a police drone Clooney told a Milan court that laws before extradition proceed- curriculum. School said. Vanja Goffi , 45, were arrested on The couple is also wanted in showed the pair - wanted on an the pair - and another accom- ings begin. Rare wolf killed in Bangladesh after Thai cave rescue changes lives, fi rst appearance in eight decades

AFP local tourism one year on Dhaka DPA looked much brighter for the Wild Boar team to which the the cave has been revamped as Bangkok boys, many of whom come from cave boys belong. a tourism site, with a museum he fi rst Indian grey wolf underprivileged backgrounds. Since no interviews are al- showcasing arts related to the to be seen in Bangla- Three of the boys and the lowed with the boys - they have rescue and souvenir vendors Tdesh in eight decades ast year, the whole world 26-year-old coach who were granted exclusive rights to direct setting up tents to sell T-shirts has been beaten to death by held its breath when a previously stateless were also contacts to SK Global, a US- with “Tham Luang” - the name farmers after preying on their Lgroup of teenaged boys granted Thai citizenship a few based entertainment fi rm, tes- of the cave where the boys were livestock, wildlife experts said and their football coach got months after their cave ordeal. timonies only come from people trapped - on them. yesterday. trapped in a cave in northern Despite their newly found close to them. “Let’s take a photo with our The grey wolf was last seen in Thailand for two weeks. fame and fortune, the boys are “We’re doing everything we hero,” a tourist from Bangkok Bangladesh in 1949, according Now alive and well one year still the same to their friends and can to keep things as normal told his family in front of the to the International Union for on, the group has become semi- families. as possible. They do not re- museum, referring to the statue Conservation of Nature. celebrities, having appeared on “I am very proud of him. He ceive special treatments, and of Saman Kunan, the former Locals in a town near the the Ellen Show in October and did not change. He still wants no one really talked about the SEAL who died during the Sundarbans - the world’s big- played a friendly football match to become a professional incident at school,” said Kan- mission. gest mangrove forest that at the 2018 Summer Youth Ol- player. When he’s back from et Pongsuwan, headmaster On weekdays, hundreds of straddles India and Bangladesh ympics in Buenos Aires. school he is meeting his old at Mae Sai Prasitsart School tourists, mainly from Thailand - captured and killed the wolf Many of them have had a friends and they are still play- where fi ve of the cave boys are and neighbouring , because it had attacked their social media boost since then. ing together as a team,” said studying. visit the museum and the area livestock. Fifteen-year-old Ekkarat Thanaporn Promthep, mother The only special thing is surrounding the cave. “With the images we con- Wongsukjan and 17-year-old of 14-year-old Duangpetch the extra classes they have on On weekends, there have been fi rmed that the animal is an In- Pornchai Khamluang have al- Promthep. weekends and holidays so they more than 1,000. dian grey wolf,” Y V Jhala of the most 150,000 followers on In- “We play football and futsal can catch up with their class- But the number is expected to Wildlife Institute of India said. stagram each. together during breaks between mates when they were away, skyrocket when the cave, which There are still about 3,000 A movie called The Cave classes. It’s still the same. He stuck in the cave, recuperat- remains closed for safety reason, of the animals in India, some in In this handout photo, a man measuring the corpse of an Indian produced by Thai-Irish direc- [Nattawut Khamsong] still has ing at home, and serving as reopens. captivity, but they disappeared grey wolf, the first to be seen in the region in eight decades, at tor Tom Waller featuring some time for me,” said Puvadech Buddhist novices last year to It is not immediately known from their habitat in north and Taltali town near the Sundarbans mangrove forest in Bangladesh. 300 local and international cast Khamngoen, 14, Nattawut’s express their gratitude for be- when the local authorities will northwest Bangladesh in the members is expected to be re- close friend. ing rescued, according to the recondition the cave to make it 1940s, he said. “It’s sad it was beaten to when photos of its corpse were leased in September, while a deal “The kids are still the same headmaster. safe for tourists to explore. Anwarul Islam, a zoologist death. We need to conduct sent to experts. with Netfl ix has been made to even though their lives have As the sensational rescue mis- “I can’t wait for the cave to at Dhaka University, collected further investigations to fi nd A host of animals - including bring the story to life. completely changed. They still sion has changed the boys’ lives, open so I can explore it. I want DNA samples from the animal whether it travelled in a pack,” the striped hyena, swamp deer Rumours have circulated that obey the coaches. No one shows things have also changed at the to see what it’s really like,” said as his team looks for signs of said Islam. and black buck - have disap- each boy received 3mn baht off their new-found fame. We’re formerly unknown cave itself. Alisa Boonmee, a tourist from more Indian grey wolves in the The wolf was killed in early peared from Bangladesh over in ($96,000) for the Netfl ix deal. like brothers,” said Pichai Api- No longer muddy without the north-eastern province of region. June but was only identifi ed recent decades. Things have undeniably chai, one of the coaches of the proper facilities, the area around Udon Thani. Gulf Times 10 Monday, June 17, 2019 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

China prepared for long trade fi ght with the US, says party journal

Reuters tions with the United States on any threats or pressure the Unit- off a tariff battle with China in ing to hamper Chinese techno- economic burden of a trade war costs for US businesses and push Shanghai ending the dispute, the com- ed States is making that may es- 2018, seeking sweeping struc- logical innovation. “We must would shift to China. up US consumer infl ation. mentary in the ideological jour- calate economic and trade fric- tural changes from Beijing and keep the initiative of innovation Qiushi said US consumers “As a result of the trade fric- nal Qiushi, or Seeking Truth, tions. China has no choice, nor alleging that the Chinese have and development fi rmly in our and businesses had reaped huge tions, only a very few Americans he United States has un- said. escape route, and will just have engaged in intellectual property hands, increase investment and benefi ts from trade with China will benefi t, but the majority of derestimated the Chinese The editorial represented “a to fi ght it out till the end,” the theft over many years, which research in key, core technology and warned that trade frictions Americans will suff er.” Tpeople’s will to fi ght a further mobilisation of Chinese commentary said. China denies. But tensions rose areas, pool together more high- would inevitably have a serious The US Trade Representative’s trade war and Beijing is prepared society” in the struggle against “No one, no force should un- sharply in May after the Trump value talents, enhance innova- negative impact on the US econ- Offi ce today will kick off seven for a long economic battle, an US trade pressure, wrote Hu Xi- derestimate and belittle the steel administration accused China tion and get rid of the core tech- omy. “In an era of economic glo- days of testimony from US re- infl uential Chinese Communist jin, editor-in-chief of the state- will of the Chinese people and its of reneging on promises it had nology plight,” it said. balisation, trade protectionism is tailers, manufacturers and other Party journal said yesterday. run Global Times newspaper, in strength and tenacity to fi ght a made during months of talks. US President Donald Trump’s poison, not panacea,” the article businesses about Trump’s plan China would not give way on a tweet. war.” The commentary also ac- top economic advisor, Larry said, adding that higher tariff s to hit another $300bn worth of major principles in its negotia- “China will not be afraid of The United States kicked cused the United States of try- Kudlow, said on Thursday the would increase manufacturing Chinese goods with tariff s. Hong Kong leader apologises as record protest chokes city

AFP Hong Kong

ome 2mn protesters choked Hong Kong’s streets in a Spowerful rebuke of a re- viled extradition law, organisers said yesterday, piling pressure on the city’s embattled pro-Beijing leader who apologised for caus- ing “confl ict” but refused to step down. The historic show of force saw vast crowds marching for hours in tropical heat, calling for the resignation of chief executive Carrie Lam, who was forced to suspend the bill as public anger mounted. Throngs of largely black-clad protesters snaked their way for miles through the streets to the city’s parliament – with the or- ganiser estimate for the crowd size doubling an already record- breaking demonstration last Sunday. Police, who historically give far lower estimates for polit- People react at the site where a man fell from a scaff olding at the Pacific Place complex while protesting ical protests, said 338,000 people against a proposed extradition bill, in Hong Kong. turned out at its “peak”. As night fell the huge crowds had once earlier in the week. test. He had unfurled a banner on Lam’s decision to ignore those more taken over multiple major The Civil Human Rights Front, scaff olding attached to an up- warnings and press ahead with thoroughfares, including outside which is organising the huge ral- scale mall, but fell when rescuers the bill even after last weekend’s the legislature, with the police lies, said Hong Kongers would tried to haul him in. Police said massive rally placed her adminis- seemingly ceding the streets to protest and strike on Monday they suspected the 35-year-old tration under pressure from both the jubilant masses. “until their voices are heard”. was suicidal. opponents and allies. Critics fear the Beijing-backed The international fi nance hub Throughout the day, dem- Advisers and pro-establish- law will entangle people in Chi- was rocked Wednesday by the onstrators queued for hours to ment lawmakers urged her to na’s notoriously opaque and po- worst political violence in dec- leave fl owers and tributes where delay the bill after Wednesday’s liticised courts and damage the ades as protesters were dispersed he fell. The extradition furore is violence, while Beijing began to Protesters gather along a road after taking part in a march and rally against a controversial extradition city’s reputation as a safe busi- by baton-wielding riot police. just the latest chapter in what distance itself from her admin- law proposal in Hong Kong yesterday. ness hub. Many accused the police of us- many see as a battle for the soul istration. Her climbdown is a rare Lam’s offi ce put out a state- ing excessive force, and anger of Hong Kong. example of the city’s unelected be released from prison today strategy,” 20-year-old protester engines and social media plat- ment late yesterday admitting was further fanned by authorities For the last decade the city has leaders caving-in to demonstra- morning, his party said late yes- Vivian Liu told AFP after Lam’s forms showing no sign of the that shortcomings in how her calling the largely young protest- been convulsed by political tur- tions — something more recent terday. It was not clear whether statement. “And to defi ne our demonstration. Police said they administration handled the law ers “rioters”. bulence between pro-Beijing au- administrations have been in- his early release was a gesture protests as a riot is totally inap- had no choice but to use force had “led to a lot of confl ict and Nearly 80 people were injured thorities and opponents who fear creasingly unwilling to do. from the authorities or merely propriate.” Wednesday to meet violent pro- disputes” and “disappointed and in the unrest – including 22 po- an increasingly assertive China Two months of protests in typical procedure under provi- “Personally I think she can no testers who besieged their lines distressed many citizens”. lice offi cers – with both sides is stamping on the city’s unique 2014 calling for the right to di- sions for good behaviour. Esti- longer govern Hong Kong, she outside the city’s parliament. It came a day after she an- showing a willingness to escalate freedoms and culture enjoyed rectly elect Hong Kong’s leader mates of yesterday’s crowd size has lost the public,” added Dave But critics — including legal nounced she would postpone the action and reaction to levels un- since the handover in 1997. won no concessions from Beijing, will not be available until later, Wong, a 38-year-old protester and rights groups — say offi cers law indefi nitely. But it fell well seen in the usually stable busi- Opposition to the extradition and key fi gures from that move- but the last marchers to leave the who works in fi nance. used the violent actions of a tiny short of protester demands that ness hub. One man died Satur- bill has united an unusually wide ment are now in jail. rally’s starting point at a public In mainland China, the Inter- group of protesters as an excuse she resign, shelve the bill perma- day when he fell from a building cross-section of Hong Kong, One of that movement’s most park left some six hours after it net was scrubbed clean of refer- to unleash a sweeping crackdown nently and apologise for police where he had been holding an from infl uential legal and busi- prominent leaders, 22-year-old started. ences to the massive rally, with on the predominantly young, using tear gas and rubber bullets hours-long anti-extradition pro- ness bodies to religious leaders. activist Joshua Wong, is due to “Her response is purely a PR entries for Hong Kong on search peaceful crowd.

Second cracked tower in Japan town trying to recycle all its waste

sparks fears about building rules AFP Many parts of Japan already require anywhere except the United Kamikatsu States. In the past, some plastic separation of rubbish, but most was exported for recycling, par- AFP need to look at the cracks in structure move “one to two mil- areas have just a few categories, ticularly to China, but a ban by Sydney those beams while the residents limetres”. NSW, ’s most lastic, paper, metal? In Ja- Beijing on imports has left plas- aren’t there,” Fire and Rescue populous state, said after a public pan’s Kamikatsu, sorting with the bulk of household waste tic recyclables piling up in parts New South state Assist- outcry over the scare that it would Prubbish isn’t that simple. going to incinerators of Japan. Still, not all residents ustralia’s building and ant Commissioner Roger Mentha embark on the “biggest overhaul Residents face a mind-boggling think the initiative could work construction codes came told the Australian Broadcasting of building laws” in its history. 45 separate categories for their elsewhere. Aunder scrutiny yester- Corporation. The changes included appointing garbage as the town aims to be “It works because we’re only day after hundreds of residents “Then they can do an analy- a building commissioner to audit “zero-waste” by 2020. At the town’s waste facil- ards. That left the town with just 1,500 people here,” said Yokoya- were evacuated from a high-rise sis on whether there have been work done throughout the design And that’s not all: there isn’t ity, there are dozens of diff erent one incinerator that couldn’t ma, who moved from Kyoto. Sydney apartment block where any movements.” The incident and construction process. Peak even trash collection. The 1,500 boxes for each category. If the handle all of Kamikatsu’s waste, “It would be diffi cult in a big cracks were discovered in the at the 10-year-old building fol- body Engineers Australia said residents of the town in western parts of an item fall into diff er- and there wasn’t enough money town with a larger population,” second such scare in six months. lowed the Christmas Eve evacu- Saturday the state “has been slow Japan have to transport their ent categories for recycling, res- for a new one or to pay a neigh- she added, because authorities Some residents said they were ation of residents in the recently to move, but it is not too late if we waste themselves to a local fa- idents are expected to take them bouring town for use of theirs. would struggle to enforce it. But left homeless and in tears after completed 38-storey Opal Tower start now”. cility. apart and send each bit to the “We thought, ‘If we can’t other residents say the policy is they were ordered to leave the in the Sydney Olympic Park after “The Mascot Towers situa- “Yes, it’s complicated,” said right container. One man who burn waste in the town, then just common sense. 10-storey, 122-apartment Mascot “cracking noises” were heard. tion is further evidence that we Naoko Yokoyama, a 39-year-old had brought in a shelf had to let’s recycle.’ It’s cheaper to re- “I understand it’s convenient Towers in a southern Sydney sub- Investigators found there were need changes in the building and resident who had brought her use a hammer to prise the wood cycle waste than burn it,” said to just burn waste,” said 71-year- urb late Friday after cracks were a number of “design and con- construction sector,” Engineers trash to the town’s waste cen- from the metal, while elsewhere town offi cial Midori Suga. old local Saeko Takahashi, as she found in the structure’s beams. struction issues” that could have Australia’s Jonathan Russell said tre. “But I have become more workers chopped up a thick, Kamikatsu is already close washed milk cartons and tied “At this stage, the engineers led to the damage that saw the in a statement. environmentally conscious long rubber tube so it would fi t to achieving its goal, recycling newspapers together. “It’s bet- since I moved here a year ago,” into a sorting box. about 80% of the 286 tonnes ter to recycle, it’s such a waste she told AFP. The categories Many parts of Japan already of waste it produced in 2017, far otherwise,” she explained. Two dead after light planes collide mid-air in cover everything from pillows to require separation of rubbish, more than the national aver- She uses a compost bin for toothbrushes as the town aims but most areas have just a few age of 20%. The remainder, like food waste such as fi sh and meat Two light aircraft collided plane, a training aircraft. A immediate information about a to recycle all its waste, sending categories, with the bulk of most waste in Japan, is inciner- and throws vegetable waste di- mid-air on their final approach helicopter, also preparing to land, potential cause of the crash and nothing to incinerators, by next household waste going to in- ated, as the country’s moun- rectly into her garden. “Food at a regional aerodrome in managed to avoid the collision. the police would not release the year. The process can be oner- cinerators. Kamikatsu was not tainous terrain considered un- lasts longer when it’s shipped New Zealand yesterday killing The police said that both planes names of the victims, saying they ous — not only are there dozens much diff erent until an ulti- suitable for landfi lls. The nation in plastic packaging. So it’s not both pilots, police said. Four dropped immediately after were still trying to locate family of separate categories, but items matum: in 2000, the town was produces less general waste per all bad, but multiple layers of parachutists on board of one of impact, hitting the ground south members. Witnesses told media like plastic bags and bottles ordered to shut down one of its person than most developed plastic aren’t necessary,” added the planes had jumped shortly of the Hood Aerodrome near the that they heard a loud bang and must be washed and dried to fa- incinerators because it no longer countries, but it generates more Takahashi. before it crashed with the other town of Masterton. There was no saw the planes spiralling down. cilitate recycling. met stricter emissions stand- plastic waste per capita than Gulf Times Monday, June 17, 2019 11 BRITAIN Extinction Rebellion puts off Heathrow drone protest

Reuters rope’s busiest airport intermit- to the group’s announcement by fl oated last month caused a Yesterday the group provided a who co-ordinates Extinction year. Thousands of fl ights were London tently in June and July to high- repeating its previous warning backlash among some support- more detailed plan that said pro- Rebellion actions, said the plan grounded at Gatwick Airport light the damage that a planned that any use of drones near the ers who feared a furore over safe- tests would take place within an to shut down Heathrow was outside London in December third runway would cause to airport would be a “reckless ac- ty concerns would eclipse the exclusion zone in a 5km radius aimed at pushing for the system- when drones were spotted near limate activism group Earth’s climate. tion” that could endanger lives. group’s broader message over around the airport, use only light- ic change needed to cut Britain’s the perimeter. Extinction Rebellion has The protest had been due to “We are working with the au- the need to take radical action to weight drones fl own below head emissions as quickly as possible. Extinction Rebellion was not Cpostponed until later this start on June 18. thorities to address any threat of tackle the climate crisis. height, and avoid fl ightpaths. “Our aim is to cause economic involved in that incident. year a plan to shut down Hea- “Extinction Rebellion will protests which could disrupt the That earlier draft of the plan The notice period for any disruption to cause system change Extinction Rebellion has throw Airport using drones and not be carrying out any actions airport,” the airport authorities had stated that there was ‘no drone action would be at least while minimising disruptions to pushed the climate crisis up the yesterday published more details at Heathrow Airport in June or said. “We agree with the need chance’ of fl ying drones while two months. the passengers and recognise that political agenda, with more than of the protest action in a bid to July this year,” the group said in a to act on climate change, but planes were in the air since the “Creating any risk to aircraft 75% of all fl ights are taken by 15% 1,000 volunteers willingly ar- allay public safety fears. statement. “The Heathrow Air- that requires us to work together movement would inform the or threatening any such risk of people,” Maxey said. rested over 11 days of peaceful Last month aviation authori- port authorities will therefore not constructively — not commit se- authorities of their plans well in must be avoided,” a legal brief by The group did not give a new London protests in April that ties went on the alert when the have to pause any summer fl ights.” rious criminal off ences.” advance, forcing the airport to the group said. date for a new drone action be- forced parliament to declare a activists pledged to paralyse Eu- Heathrow Airport responded Initial proposals to use drones ground all fl ights. Larch Maxey, part of a team yond saying it would happen this symbolic ‘climate emergency’.

Trump Sturgeon at Thomson Learning Centre attacks Johnson plan Khan on Twitter means no-deal AFP Washington

S President Donald Trump launched a fresh Brexit or polls, Uattack on London Mayor Sadiq Khan, backing a right- wing British columnist who has been widely accused of Islamo- phobia and once called migrants “cockroaches.” Trump attached his latest warns Hunt denunciation of the mayor to a retweet by Katie Hopkins about Guardian News and Media “Approached by a British PM, day, has suggested he would be crime in “Khan’s Londonistan”. London someone they were willing to willing to delay by a few weeks “LONDON needs a new mayor deal with, who had ideas to solve or months if necessary to get the ASAP. Khan is a disaster — will the Irish border, they would be right deal, but Johnson, who is only get worse!” Trump wrote in eremy Hunt has said the willing to renegotiate the pack- the overwhelming frontrunner, response to Hopkins’ tweet, later Brexit deadline of October 31 age,” he said. has insisted he will leave on time. adding the mayor was “a nation- Jshould not be a “hard stop” “In particular, they’re pre- Rory Stewart, Johnson’s fel- al disgrace who is destroying” and that Boris Johnson is posing pared to consider whether you low old Etonian, who picked up the city. a “stark choice”, between leaving could get much more detail over the support of the Defence Min- Earlier this month the presi- the EU without a deal and a gen- the future relationship, so that ister Tobias Ellwood yesterday, dent’s plane had not even touched eral election. you wouldn’t need the back- told the BBC he did not know down in London for the start of a Hunt warned it would be stop.” what Johnson’s Brexit plan re- state visit when he tweeted that wrong to commit now to leave Earlier, Raab had highlighted ally was. Khan was a “stone cold loser.” the EU by Halloween, come what the risks of “corrosion of public “This is the moment, in this Khan had criticised the red car- may. trust” for his party, with the Brexit leadership race, to say who – and pet treatment being given Trump He told BBC One’s The Andrew party leading in several polls. it’s a very brutal question – who for the visit. Trump said the may- Marr Show: “I want to make an “The Tory party will be toast do you trust to be your prime or should “focus on crime in Lon- argument that what Boris is of- unless we’re out by the end of minister? How is Boris going to don, not me,” and made a derisive fering – a hard stop at any cost, October. People need to wake up deliver Brexit? How? reference to Khan’s height. on October 31 – means that he is to this. We’ve seen from the Pe- “I don’t even know what he Khan, London’s fi rst Muslim eff ectively committing the coun- terborough by-election, we’ve believes – he won’t talk to me, he mayor, had led opposition to try to no deal … or an election, if seen it from the European elec- won’t talk to you, he won’t talk Trump’s visit, writing a newspa- parliament chooses to stop that. tions,” he said, referring to “the to the public,” he said, before per article in which he compared And my argument is, are those frustration, the scandal people reiterating his insistence that he the US leader to European dicta- really the best that we as Con- feel” over the delays to Brexit. would not take a Cabinet job if tors from the 1930s and 1940s. servatives can off er the country?” “The Conservatives cannot Johnson were to off er him one. “I At that time, the mayor’s Hunt’s comments contrasted win an election unless we’ve de- would not serve,” he said. spokesman called Trump’s with a fresh warning from his livered Brexit,” he added, speak- Johnson did not taking part tweets “childish” and “beneath fellow leadership contender Do- ing to Sophy Ridge on Sky News. in yesterday’s TV debate, after the president of the US.” minic Raab yesterday that the Raab also again declined to warning he feared it could be On a trip to London in July Tory party would be “toast” if it rule out proroguing parliament, “cacophonous” – but will join last year, Trump accused Khan failed to take Britain out of the if as prime minister he believed a similar event tomorrow night, of doing “a very bad job on ter- EU by the end of October. a no-deal Brexit was the right after at least one more leadership rorism,” linking immigration to a Hunt said he wanted to ne- course and MPs sought to block contender has been knocked out. deadly wave of crime in London. gotiate a new package with the it. Stewart said his approach The feud began when Khan, the EU27. “It’s not impossible to do “I don’t think it’s something would be to try to get the exist- son of a bus driver who emigrated this by October 31, but it will be we would want to do,” he said, ing Brexit deal through parlia- from Pakistan in the 1960s, criti- diffi cult,” he said. “I’m not com- “and I think it’s very unlikely. ment, telling MPs: “This is the cised Trump’s travel ban on people mitting to an October 31 hard But what’s really scandalous last-chance saloon. Get it done.” from certain Muslim countries. stop at any cost, because I don’t about this, is where people have If that failed, he would convene Hopkins, who wrote in sup- think you can make that guaran- been trying to sabotage the will a citizens’ assembly to decide port of Trump’s election cam- tee.” of the people, and break their what should happen next. paign during her time at the Hunt said recent discussions promises left, right and centre.” “All these other people are just Daily Mail, has been dogged by ’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon meets six-month-old Emily MacPhearson in the with EU leaders, in his post as Brexit has dominated the early saying: I’m just going to go to numerous allegations of Islamo- Home-Start Dundee pre-school group in the Thomson Learning Centre during a visit to foreign secretary, had convinced stages of the leadership debate. Europe, and I’m going to shout, phobia and hate speech during the V&A design museum in Dundee, Scotland. him there could be a negotiated Michael Gove, who came third and I’m going to get us out, ‘Give her career as a columnist. way through the Brexit impasse. in the fi rst MPs’ ballot on Tues- me a deal,’” he said. Death toll from eating Film premiere Hundreds of homes hospital sandwiches rises evacuated after fl ood Guardian News and Media thorities may need to consider London in future what could have been Guardian News and Media MPs demanded a statement while the most recent case was done better to prevent the del- London to Parliament from Hancock reported on May 15. uge, but said “ultimately, that and questioned whether he had Sandwiches and salads sup- undreds of homes have level of water was always going been distracted by his failed plied by the fi rm in question – been evacuated in a Lin- to cause problems”. hospital listeria out- Tory leadership bid. The Good Food Chain – were Hcolnshire town following Warman also praised the multi- break was branded a As pressure mounted for of- withdrawn on May 25, as soon severe fl ooding as the local MP agency response to the fl ooding. Anational scandal after it fi cials to keep the public better as a link with the cases was warned that residents are “by no He added: “In terms of the emerged that fi ve patients have informed: suspected. But it was not until means out of the woods yet”. response, we have seen an in- now died. z The British Sandwich As- June 7 that Public Health Eng- Residents in at least 590 credible working together of the Following a week of silence, sociation said seriously ill pa- land informed the public. homes in Wainfl eet and Thorpe agencies. Local people should offi cials have now revealed tients should not be served The government agency said Culvert were told to leave as wa- keep an eye on the police because that food poisoning blamed on sandwiches or salads due to it had waited to confi rm the ters continued to surge. there is still the potential for risk pre-packed sandwiches and poor hygiene standards source of the contaminated The town fi rst fl ooded on to homes and lives. salads had claimed two lives z A leading food safety ex- meat before releasing details. Wednesday after more than two “But in the long term, it will on top of the three announced pert said the sandwich manu- Despite MPs demanding months’ worth of rain fell in two always just be a huge thank you.” last week. facturer in the outbreak had a full explanation, no state- days, causing the River Steeping Lincolnshire police have A further three non-fatal ‘made a mockery’ of measures ment on the growing scandal to burst its banks. shared a list of more than 100 cases have been identifi ed. aimed at stopping bugs like lis- has been given to Parliament On Friday, three RAF heli- postcodes, all in the PE23 and Health Secretary Matt Han- teria – and officials say more cases copters dropped 270 one-tonne PE24 area, where evacuations cock has ordered an urgent z Former health ministers may be identified because lis- sandbags in an attempt to repair are possible. “root and branch review” of demanded the release of the teria has a 70-day incubation the bank. Among the residents already hospital food. names of all the hospitals hit by period. Conservative MP for Boston aff ected by the fl oods was Jean Public Health has the outbreak The Good Food Chain sup- and Skegness, Matt Warman, Hart, who said she and her hus- been accused of keeping the z Kaarin Goodburn, direc- plied food to 43 of the NHS’s told the Press Association that band had been left with only public in the dark by refusing tor of the Chilled Food Asso- 135 trusts. It is only known “the Environment Agency is in their pets and the clothes they to say exactly which hospitals ciation, yesterday branded the that two of those who died had the process of putting together were wearing after the river have been aff ected and holding outbreak a ‘national scandal been treated at Manchester two pumps that will start taking burst its banks on Wednesday. back details of the outbreak. It that has been going on for 20 Royal Infi rmary and another at away some quantities of water”, “The whole of the bottom of has also decided not to set up years’. Aintree University Hospital in US actor Tom Hanks poses on the red carpet upon arriving but he was unsure when they our house is completely gone. a helpline for worried families, Of the cases announced last Merseyside. The outbreak also for the European premiere of the film Toy Story 4 in London would be up and running. Everything’s fl oating, including saying they should check the week, the fi rst patient dis- hit William Harvey Hospital in yesterday. He also suggested the Envi- our beds,” Hart told Lincoln- NHS website or dial 111. played symptoms on April 25, Ashford, Kent. ronment Agency and other au- shire Live. Gulf Times 12 Monday, June 17, 2019 EUROPE

Russia dismisses Far-right bid to capture charges of meddling fi rst German town fails in EU polls AFP Dane becomes fi rst foreigner to win German mayor’s seat as well as Brandenburg state. EU funds have been poured into Reuters Berlin Both of those regions will go renovating the pretty old town Moscow Danish businessman Claus Ruhe Madsen has become since 1992 and settled two decades ago in to the polls on September 1, fol- on the Neisse river. the first non-German to win the mayor’s off ice in a Rostock on the Baltic Sea. lowed by another eastern state, Despite its expensive facelift, he far-right Alternative major German city, with his election victory in Ros- However he has never taken a German passport. Thuringia, on October 27. Goerlitz long struggled to at- n offi cial from Russia’s for Germany (AfD) party tock yesterday. He has led the local chamber of commerce for six The AfD’s parliamentary tract tenants for its renovated security council de- Tlost its bid to capture its Madsen, an independent, claimed about 57% of the years and ran a campaign promising “pragmatic” group leader in Berlin, Alice buildings, where many shops Ascribed as absurd ac- fi rst mayor’s offi ce in the coun- vote in a run-off ballot in the northern city, beating politics and a strong ecological stance. Weidel, said that the neck-and- have “for sale” signs visible in cusations that Moscow used try in a bellwether election yes- Steff en Bockhahn of the far-left Linke with around Madsen, who sports a beard and sharp business suits, neck result in Goerlitz in the face the windows. disinformation to sway voters terday ahead of three key re- 43%. had pledged to hand over management of five furni- of strong opposition marked Leading fi lmmakers and au- towards right-wing parties in gional polls. The -born Madsen, 46, has lived in ture stores he owns to his wife should he be elected. an “enormous success” for her thors also called on the people last month’s European Union In a run-off ballot in Goerlitz, party. of “Goerliwood” – as the town elections, Rossiyskaya Gazeta Octavian Ursu, 51, a Romanian- “He nearly managed to be- is also known in Germany – to newspaper reported yesterday. born classical musician from The AfD made strong gains in Hotel, Inglourious Greens, who came third with come the fi rst AfD mayor: Se- shun political extremists or risk An EU review into elections to Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Goerlitz’s economically strug- Basterds, Around the World in 80 27.9% last time. bastian Wippel won an unbe- isolation. its parliament, published on Fri- centre-right Christian Demo- gling Saxony state in May’s Eu- Days, and The Reader. The CDU’s Saxony state pre- lievable 44.9% of the vote – it “Don’t give in to hate and hos- day, said that there was evidence cratic Union (CDU) party, drew ropean elections and hopes to But many of its young citizens mier, Michael Kretschmer, who could hardly have been closer,” tility, confl ict and exclusion,” both Russian and European on- 55.1% of the vote against 44.9 for beat Merkel’s CDU party in the have turned their backs on the hails from Goerlitz, had urged she tweeted. read a petition signed by actor line sources had sought to pro- the AfD’s Sebastian Wippel, 36, upcoming regional poll. town due to a lack of job oppor- voters to reject the AfD, arguing Goerlitz, a major trading hub Daniel Bruehl (Goodbye Lenin) mote extreme views and polarise a former police offi cer. With a population of 55,000, tunities. that “many people underesti- in the Middle Ages, was spared and British director Stephen debate on issues such as migra- The contest for Goerlitz’s city Goerlitz on the Polish border Wippel had won the fi rst mate how radical the party is”. damage by Allied bombing dur- Daldry. tion and religion. hall was seen as a litmus test for boasts a quaint historic town round three weeks ago with The anti-immigration, anti- ing World War II, preserving its Wippel told AFP last week The preliminary report is the three upcoming state elections centre that has turned the town 36.4% against Ursu’s 30.3%. Muslim AfD – already repre- cobblestone lanes and Baroque that he was not taking the peti- latest in a string of allegations in the ex-communist east, with into a tourist magnet and at- However, Ursu had since at- sented in Germany’s parliament architecture. tion against him very seriously, from Western governments that the future of Merkel’s fragile tracted top Hollywood directors. tracted the support of the two and all 16 regional assemblies Since the fall of the Berlin Wall calling it a hollow gesture “by Russia has used online disinfor- right-left coalition potentially Goerlitz has served as a loca- smaller parties that were out – is currently polling as the almost 30 years ago, hundreds of people who don’t live in Goerl- mation techniques, including on the line. tion for fi lms such as The Grand of the race – one of them the strongest party in both Saxony millions of euros in German and itz”. the creation of fake social media accounts, to try to infl uence vot- ers. Sites such as Facebook have come under particular pressure to tackle the issue since the 2016 1,600 at Heavy toll for French farms following hailstorm US presidential election cam- paign, when Russian troll ac- counts and bots allegedly fl ood- Moscow AFP ed social media platforms with Romans-sur-Isère, France content aimed at undermining Democrat candidates and pro- rally moting the victory of current US armers in southeast President Donald Trump. France counted the costs Moscow has repeatedly denied against Ffrom lost harvests yester- targeting elections. day after a fi erce storm battered “Statements made in the the region with hail the size of Western media that Russia was police ping-pong balls, decimating allegedly deeply interested in orchards and vineyards just as the victory of right-wing parties the summer season was kicking during elections to the Euro- despotism into high gear. pean parliament are completely “Pretty much my entire har- absurd,” Russian security coun- vest is ruined,” said Gregory cil deputy secretary Alexander Reuters/DPA Chardon who grows apricots, Venediktov was quoted by Ros- Moscow peaches and cherries at his siyskaya Gazeta as saying in an farm in La Roche-de-Glun in interview. the Drome department, about “Let me remind you that, until everal hundred protesters an hour’s drive south of Lyon. today, no convincing evidence gathered in Moscow yes- Even the netting strung over has been presented to the global Sterday in a small, govern- his fi elds was no match for the community to prove that Mos- ment-authorised rally support- tempest of hail which suddenly cow allegedly tried to infl uence ing investigative journalist Ivan struck on Saturday afternoon, the elections in the United States Golunov and decrying abuse of strewing the ground with dam- or in Europe,” Venediktov was power over his fi ve-day arrest aged fruit and broken branches. quoted as saying. this month on drug charges. “The damage is enormous The 36-year-old reporter, and widely spread – cere- known for exposing corrup- als, greenhouse and vegetable president tion among Moscow offi cials, farms, and vineyards as well,” was freed following an outcry Chardon said. visits Mariupol by supporters who said he was In the neighbouring village framed by corrupt police. of Pont-de-L’Isere, Aurelien New Ukrainian President Journalists critical of Russian Esprit showed apricots littering Volodymyr Zelenskiy has made authorities have led a danger- the ground and battered apple People walk on fallen tree leaves on a street of Romans-sur-Isère, southeastern France, following a storm. his first off icial visit to the major ous existence since the 1990s trees at his orchards in a Face- trading port city of Mariupol, – sometimes threatened, at- book video. and other help to farmers facing The epicentre of the storm sium where a judo competition offi cials said 10 people were in- where he observed joint military tacked or even murdered over “Unfortunately the season huge losses. was at Romans-sur-Isère, was being held. jured. exercises in the Sea of Azov. their work – but Golunov’s case ended for us last night. I don’t “It’s catastrophic, I’ve rarely where streets were turned into In the neighbouring Haute- “Weather episodes as violent The city, about 20km (12 miles) triggered an unusually strong think I’m going to make it this seen scenes like this,” Guil- raging torrents. Savoie region, a 51-year-old as this are quite rare,” said Lieu- from the frontline of the conflict backlash. time,” he said. laume told BFM television while The hail shattered car wind- German woman was a killed tenant Colonel Herve Gabion of in eastern Ukraine, which was An unsanctioned rally on June Agriculture Minister Didier touring the area yesterday. “It’s shields and severely damaged after a tree fell on her camper the fi re brigade for the Drome seized by Russian-backed 12, the day after he was released, Guillaume said the state would unthinkable that farmers would the roofs of dozens of homes, during the storm. department. separatists, was celebrating the led to more than 500 detentions, declare a natural emergency be forced into bankruptcy be- including smashing the sun- Rescue workers responded to He added: “I’ve never seen fifth anniversary of its liberation including opposition politician to trigger insurance payments cause of this.” light on the roof of a gymna- hundreds of calls for help and one like it in this area.” from the rebels. Alexei Navalny. However, yesterday’s event was given the go-ahead, raising questions over whether Presi- dent Vladimir Putin’s govern- ment was trying to provide a safety valve for public anger. France launches trial The rally, called by the Rus- sian Union of Journalists and named “Justice and Fairness to Everyone”, had drawn a few hun- dred people by early afternoon, a of national service Reuters witness said. State news agency Tass cited police as saying that around AFP Some 2,000 youngsters were and social cohesion in a country 1,600 were there. Paris chosen out of 4,000 volun- battling deep divisions between Yesterday’s rally was about teers for the fi rst part of the left and right, rich and poor, and “the future of Russia’s civil so- trial, which started yesterday at religious and non-religious. ciety”, said Vladimir Solovyov, early two decades after boarding schools, holiday vil- The programme, which will the head of the Russian Union of France phased out con- lages and university campuses be written into the constitu- Journalists. Nscription for men, some around the country. tion, will be rolled out over Computer programmer 2,000 teenagers began trialling Each volunteer will leave the next seven years, target- So-called ‘Rosinenbomber’ (candy bombers) aircraft are seen on display at the air base in Fassberg, Sergey, 28, said he was attend- a new national service yes- home for another region for the ing about 800,000 youngsters northern Germany. ing in the hope the protest would terday, a pet project of French two weeks, during which time per year, eventually becoming help stop others having drugs President Emmanuel Macron. they will be required to wear compulsory. planted on them as he believes For a fortnight, the 15- and navy uniforms and sing the France requires all citizens to happened to Golunov. 16-year-olds will leave home Marseillaise, France’s national participate in a one-day “De- “Someone has to (protest),” he for training in fi rst aid and other anthem, every morning. fence and Citizenship” course Berlin remembers ‘candy bombers’ said, noting the small number at basic skills, followed later by when they turn 18, which in- the rally. another two weeks of volun- The national service cludes a presentation of the It was unclear why the turnout teering. programme, to be rolled country’s military forces and a DPA took off from Fassberg airfi eld terway blockade of the west- fell signifi cantly short of the ex- Macron caused surprise out over the next seven French language test. Berlin in Lower Saxony where there ern part of Berlin by the Sovi- pected number of participants. on the campaign trail in 2017 years, targets 800,000 Macron is the fi rst French is a memorial to the life-saving ets from June 24, 1948, to May Namarsh.ru, a website that by promising to introduce a teenagers president not to have been airlift. 12, 1949, the Western Allies usually posts coverage of pro- month-long compulsory na- called up to serve, having come round 20 so-called The vintage planes were not brought much-needed relief tests, initially published a report tional service, saying that he Described as an “integration of age after the compulsory “candy bombers” fl ew able to land at the decommis- supplies to the isolated resi- on the protest but later took it wanted to give girls and boys phase”, the teens will be taught 10 months of military service Aover the German capital sioned former inner city air- dents by aeroplane. down. “a direct experience of military fi rst aid, map reading, and other for school-leaving men was yesterday to mark the legendary port, which is now a public park. With nearly 280,000 fl ights, Golunov was invited to yester- life”. skills. abolished by then-president Berlin Airlift of 70 years ago. The square in front of the the US, British and French mili- day’s event but did not turn up. The proposal got a cool re- A second two-week phase, Jacques Chirac in 1997, with The vintage planes – dubbed former terminal building bears tary supplied more than 2mn The journalist gave an inter- sponse from the army, which later this summer or during the the last conscripts discharged “candy bombers” by the US the name Airlift Square (Platz people with nearly 2mn tonnes view earlier in the day saying baulked at the prospect of hav- coming school year, involves in 2001. Air Force and known aff ection- der Luftbruecke) in commemo- of vital cargo such as food and that he feared for his safety. ing to put millions of teens work on a “collective project”, Macron has said that his aim ately by the Germans as “raisin ration. fuel. Golunov, an employee for the through their paces, prompting such as volunteering with a is to give young people “causes bombers” – fl ew over crowds at The city state of Berlin had About 70% of the coal trans- critical Internet portal Meduza, the government to come back charity or local government. to defend and battles to fi ght in the now closed Tempelhof air- already commemorated the air- ports were fl own to Berlin from had previously received threats with proposals for a compul- Macron has billed the service the social, environmental and port in the south of the city. lift on May 12. Fassberg in the northwestern for months. sory civic service instead. as a way to develop patriotism cultural domains”. The Douglas DC-3 aircraft During the rail, road and wa- state of Lower Saxony. Gulf Times Monday, June 17, 2019 13 INDIA

Designer emphasises handicrafts, opposes mechanisation

IANS we were looking for an idea that A fi rm believer in the hand- rich legacy of handcrafted skills. decor of the India pavilion left “These engagements can get ate a major handicrafts industry, Jaipur was synonymous with the In- crafted legacy of India, the Early this year, Kasliwal de- visitors from across the world the handmade products indus- but only if we have policies to dian culture. The ‘hasta mudra’ Jaipur-based Kasliwal has made signed and curated the India pa- extremely impressed. try a long-awaited recognition promote our homegrown crafts,” from the Hindu iconography that a mark on the global map as one vilion of international consumer At the global platform, he also on world platform. This in turn he says. series of nine ‘hasta mu- refers to spirituality and per- of the country’s leading design goods fair, Ambiente 2019, in raised questions on the growing can help boost the business of “Handmade products have dras’ (hand gestures) jut- forming arts, including yoga and thinkers and practitioners. A fur- Frankfurt. emphasis on mechanising things craft-based enterprises, giving no regulatory policies. The need Ating out of a wall full of dance, is something essentially niture designer by profession, he “With India being the partner world over. “Why do we need to them a global reach. This is sure of the hour is to have a separate copper discs at Terminal 3 of the Indian.” believes in socially conscious and country for the fair, the aim was mechanise everything, when we to project India as a nation that ministry of crafts, which can help Indira Gandhi International Air- A National Institute of Design sustainable art and has been ad- to build credibility for Indian have so many hands to create thinks and believes as it makes frame guidelines for the sector. port (IGIA) in New Delhi often - Ahmedabad alumnus, Kasliwal vocating women’s empowerment aesthetics and to give the coun- beautiful things,” asks Kasliwal. for the world,” adds Kasliwal. The Ministry of Textiles, which leaves visitors in awe. has since designed several such as well as the cause of artisans. try the intellectual edge of being The designer believes such He also has a few complaints looks after this segment, does Ayush Kasliwal, who designed artworks, fi ve of which have won Known for developing com- the creator and owner of an aes- global engagements can have though. “At present, we are busy not recognise crafts as a prior- and created the installation in Unesco awards for their use of munities, the young designer is thetics, rather than only a manu- a snowball eff ect, turning our skilling unskilled hands, without ity. Once we have a ministry, 2010, says: “To welcome the visi- craft traditions and collaboration encouraging a new generation of facturing centre,” says Kasliwal. handicrafts into a scalable indus- recognising the power of skilled our craft sector can scale new tors at the airport the Indian way, with local artisans. artisans to carry forward their As expected, the handmade try. hands. We have the power to cre- heights,” he says. Disruptions bad for parliament, Modi tells MPs

IANS issues, including the one nation, New Delhi one election, Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary and cre- ating good atmosphere in the day ahead of the com- parliament... This novel initiative mencement of budget would go a long way in building Asession, Prime Minister team spirit among all the parlia- Narendra Modi yesterday urged mentarians which in turn would political parties to keep political ensure the smooth functioning diff erences aside and not disrupt of the parliament in future,” Joshi the two houses of parliament. said. Addressing political leaders In the budget session, the Lok in his concluding remarks after Sabha and the Rajya Sabha would a two-hour all-party meeting, have 30 and 27 sittings, respec- Modi said all political parties tively, between June 17 and July 26. must work cohesively with the Giving details, Joshi said the government for the smooth func- fi rst session of the 17th Lok Sabha tioning of the parliament. will commence today while the The prime minister welcomed 249th session of the Rajya Sabha the newly-elected MPs and ex- will begin on June 20. pressed hope that fresh zeal and The coming session will mainly energy would be infused in the be devoted to oath taking, the functioning of the parliament. election of the speaker, the mo- He also urged all the MPs to in- tion of thanks on the president’s trospect whether they were able address and fi nancial issues re- to fulfi l people’s aspirations as lated to the Union Budget for Junior doctors hold placards during a protest at North Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri, West Bengal, yesterday. The doctors, who are protesting against the assault on two of their representatives. 2019-20. their colleagues at NRS Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, have sought an unconditional apology from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and demanded adequate security and “We are for the people... We Time will also be provided for protection from the West Bengal government to meet to withdraw their protest. cannot win hearts by disrupting the transaction of essential leg- the functioning of the parliament. islative and non-legislative busi- All parties must keep political dif- nesses. ferences aside and commit them- The resolution seeking exten- selves to tirelessly work in the di- sion of Article 356 in Jammu and rection of nation’s progress.” Kashmir also needs to be ap- The prime minister said the proved by both houses by July 2. government was always receptive The Economic Survey of India Doctors want media to be to issues raised by the political will be presented in parliament on parties and was ready to discuss July 4 and the Union Budget for all matters of national impor- 2019-20 will be presented in the tance. Lok Sabha at 11am on July 5. Parliamentary Aff airs Minister Ten ordinances have been Pralhad Joshi said that there was promulgated during the inter- present at talks with CM consensus across party lines to session period which are to be ensure the smooth functioning of replaced by Acts of parliament IANS College and Hospital said as the to the common people once all the fi gure will be around 15 and healthcare system should be the parliament without disrup- as they would cease to operate at Kolkata strike entered the sixth day that our demands are met adequately the fi nal number will be decided solved through discussions tions and deadlocks. the expiration of six weeks from has badly hit state-run health and logically,” the representative by the CM,” Mitra said. without letting the children suf- Noting that the country would the reassembly of parliament by services. said. Also, the chairperson of the fer. celebrate the 75th anniversary of August 1. triking doctors in West “We want an immediate end “We are hopeful that our hon- National Commission for Pro- According to sources, the its independence in 2022 and the Of the 46 bills lapsed on the Bengal yesterday decided to this impasse through dis- ourable chief minister will be tection of Child Rights, Priyank doctors and the chief minister 150 birth anniversary of Mahatma dissolution of the 16th Lok Sabha, Sto hold talks with Chief cussions with the CM which, considerate enough to solve the Kanoongo, who arrived in Kolk- would hold a meeting today at Gandhi this year, Joshi said the some are likely to be revived and Minister Mamata Banerjee to to maintain transparency, problems that our entire state is ata on Saturday night, visited the state secretariat. However, prime minister urged all parlia- brought before the parliament. immediately end the impasse shouldn’t be behind closed facing currently,” he added. the paediatric wards of some it is not clear if media coverage mentarians to think about the sac- While the government put but said there should be media doors,” he said after a meeting Director of medical education state-run hospitals to assess the of the entire meeting will be al- rifi ces they can make for the na- forth its legislative agenda, the coverage of the deliberations to that was attended by represent- Pradip Mitra, who attended the condition of patients. lowed. tion keeping in mind the sacrifi ces opposition parties raised other is- avoid discrepancies. atives of other hospitals partici- meeting, tried to mediate a mid- “I found that children are not Meanwhile, doctors in Goa made by the freedom fi ghters. sues, including problems related “The last press interview by pating in the strike. dle path for the junior doctors getting treatment and the situa- have decided to join the Indian Joshi said Modi had invited to farmers and water availability. our honourable chief minister “The venue can be chosen by and the government. tion is very pathetic. I will sub- Medical Association’s call for presidents of all political parties After the meeting, senior Con- was full of discrepancies which the CM, but that should be able “The doctors had demand- mit a report when I reach Delhi. a nationwide closure of non- with representation in parliament gress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad had led to false propagation of to accommodate representatives ed two to fi ve representatives Children’s lives should be every- essential medical services today on June 19 and MPs from both said his party told the government the motive behind our protests of all medical colleges and the from each medical college to be one’s priority and no ego should to show solidarity with doctors houses on June 20 to freely inter- to focus on issues related to farm- and the response of the gov- national media,” he said. present during their meeting come in between,” Kanoongo in West Bengal and support the act and exchange views with the ers, drought and water availability ernment to it. Hence it needs “Doctors want to join duty with the chief minister. Even if a said. demand for a special legislation government. and take immediate steps to con- clarifi cation,” a representative of as early as possible in the best single delegate from each medi- According to him, the cease- to make assault on doctors a “The prime minister would trol unemployment which had in- the doctors of the NRS Medical interest of healthcare delivery cal college attends the meeting work and the disruption in the non-bailable off ence. like to discuss all the important creased in the last fi ve years. Rajasthan college student Party splits two months crowned Miss India 2019 after founder’s death IANS he founded it in 1976 till his Kottayam, Kerala death in April this year. After Agencies The prestigious event was ard. Some critics went so far as his death, a power tussle broke Mumbai adjudged by Bollywood chore- to say that the women resembled out between Joseph and Jose K ographer Remo D’Souza along- ‘clones’ rather than representa- rouble has erupted in Mani. side actresses Huma Qureshi tives of the nation’s ethnically Kerala Congress (Mani) In 2010, Joseph pulled out of uman Rao from Rajasthan and Chitrangada Singh, fashion diverse beauty. T party, the third big- the Left Democratic Front gov- was crowned the Femina designer Falguni Shane Pea- Skin-tone in particular has gest ally of the Congress-led ernment in Kerala, and merged SMiss India World 2019 cocka and Indian footballer Sunil been a hot topic among women United Democratic Front in his Kerala Congress (Joseph) beauty pageant during a star- Chhetri among others. in India, as some females at- the state. with Kerala Congress (Mani). studded ceremony at Sardar Val- During the event, fi lm stars tempt to reverse the historical Yesterday, the party split af- Now it remains to be seen labhbhai Patel Indoor Stadium in including Katrina Kaif, Vicky preference for fairer skin and ter Jose K Mani, son of late K who will get the official flag and Mumbai. Kaushal and Mouni Roy en- counteract society’s emphasis on M Mani, was elected as its new the party symbol of the Kerala from Chhat- thralled the audience with their whitening cosmetic procedures. chairman leaving out its work- Congress (Mani). tisgarh clinched the Femina Miss dance performances. These days, beauty pageants ing chairman P J Joseph. With Joseph still the par- Grand India 2019 title and Shreya The event was hosted by the try to focus more on participants’ Jose, a Rajya Sabha MP, later liamentary party leader of Shanker from Bihar won the Miss Bollywood fi lmmaker Karan Jo- intelligence and talent in an ap- told party members that even the Kerala Congress (Mani), a India United Continents 2019 ti- har and actor Manish Paul. parent eff ort to steer away from though K M Mani was not phys- new arrangement will have to tle during the grand fi nale of the The beauty contest came un- the traditional judging and rank- ically present, he was always be worked out soon to repre- beauty pageant on Saturday. der intense scrutiny after a collage ing of physical attributes – which with them. “We will go forward sent the party in the state as- Suman will represent India at featuring all 30 participants was has been labelled anti-feminist. the way Mani Sir wished,” he sembly, which is in session at 2019 in Thailand. published in a newspaper, RT news However, the contests still face said. present. “When you get yourself deter- channel reported. The composite criticism internationally for their This is the 11th division in Reacting to the turn of mined towards a particular goal image sparked a heated online di- objectifi cation of women. the party since its inception, events, Congress spokesper- in life, every single nerve and fi - versity debate over the girls who Recently, India’s Miss Charm- but the first after Mani’s death son Joseph Vazhakan said his bre of your body starts working all looked remarkably similar with ing 2017, Garima Yadav, received and true to his stock statement: party wanted Kerala Congress into that direction for a victori- fair skin and dark hair. praise for choosing to pursue a “We are a party that splits as we (Mani) to stay united and ous journey,” the 20-year-old Organisers of the pageant were career in the army over progress- grow and grows as we split.” senior Congress leaders were college student said in an inter- slammed for appearing to prefer ing to the next stage of the pag- (centre), Shivani Jadhav (left) and pose K M Mani remained chair- talking to the rival factions to view. a single look and beauty stand- eant. for a photo after the crowning ceremony in Mumbai yesterday. man of the party from the time sort out things. Gulf Times 14 Monday, June 17, 2019 INDIA

INVESTIGATION CRACKDOWN POLITICS APPEAL POLITICS NIA search operation in 4,000kg of plastic Fadnavis inducts 13 new UP family wants to end life Cop sacked for seeking Yogi Madurai for IS sympathisers bags seized in Punjab faces in cabinet revamp over contaminated water government’s dismissal

A National Investigation Agency (NIA) team The Punjab Pollution Control Board, along with With an eye on assembly elections in four Contaminated water in Hathras in Uttar Pradesh is In a bizarre incident, a Provincial Armed carried out searches in Madurai yesterday local civic bodies, has seized nearly 4,000kg months, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra pushing residents to the wall. Unable to get clean Constabulary (PAC) constable has been sacked following information about suspected IS of plastic shopping bags which are banned in Fadnavis yesterday reshuff led his cabinet by drinking water for themselves, a father and three for demanding the dismissal of Chief Minister supporters, off icials said. The NIA off icials the state, an off icial said yesterday. In day-long dropping six ministers and inducting 13 new daughters have written to Prime Minister Narendra Yogi Adityanath in Uttar Pradesh. Munish searched three buildings on suspicion that the raids carried out at nearly 500 shops and faces. The 13 comprise 10 from the Bharatiya Modi seeking his permission to end their lives. “We Yadav on Saturday wore a red Samajwadi Party residents there have contacts with the global private establishments on Saturday, over 200 Janata Party (BJP), two from Shiv Sena and cannot drink this salty water,” Chandrapal Singh, cap with his uniform and went to the district terror outfit through social media. On June 12, violations were found, K S Pannu, director of one from the Republican Party of India (A). a farmer, said. “Whenever my daughters drink it, collector’s off ice carrying a placard which said, the NIA conducted searches at seven locations Tandrust Punjab Mission said in a statement. As expected, former Congressman leader they throw up. The crops are also drying because ‘Yogi sarkar ko barkhast karo’ (Dismiss the Yogi in Coimbatore and seized incriminating material Pannu said Rs1 lakh was collected on the spot as Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil joined as a minister. of excessive salinity. I cannot aff ord bottled water government). Yadav told reporters that the state including books and documents from the homes fine and 179 warning letters were issued during Another long-time contender and Mumbai BJP for the family. My pleas for action have fallen government should be dismissed because it and work places of six suspects. The NIA also the drive. The biggest seizure of nearly 1,100kg president Ashish Shelar was also inducted. All the on deaf ears and I have now sought permission has failed to control the law and order situation. said some of the suspects and their associates plastic carry bags was made in Fatehgarh Sahib ministers were administered the oath of off ice from the prime minister to end my life and also He said he had come to give a memorandum to were in touch with Zahran Hashim, the district. As per Sub-section 2 of Section 7 of the and secrecy by Governor C V Rao at a function that of my minor daughters,” he told reporters. the governor, through the district magistrate. mastermind of the Easter Day bombings in Sri Punjab Plastic Carry Bags (Manufacture, Usage in Raj Bhavan. Besides Vikhe-Patil and Shelar, the Other residents of the area are also battling with Director General of Police O P Singh has issued Lanka that killed around 250 people. On June 12, and Disposal) Control Act, 2005, manufacturing, other cabinet rank ministers who were sworn in the problem. “The water is so salty that even the dismissal orders for Yadav on grounds of gross the NIA arrested Mohamed Azarudeen, a social stocking, distributing, recycling, selling or using are Sanjay Kute, Suresh Khade, Anil Bonde, Ashok animals do not drink it. We have to walk 3 to 4km to indiscipline. His family pleaded that he was media friend of Hashim. plastic carry bags is banned in the state. Uike, Tanaji Sawant and Jaydutt Kshirsagar. get potable water,” said Rakesh Kumar. mentally disturbed.

Karnataka seeks central funds for Villagers fl ee relief works

IANS Bengaluru as water crisis

eeling under severe drought and delay in the Ronset of monsoon rains, Karnataka has sought Rs1,500 crore from the central govern- deepens amid ment to fund relief works in the state, an offi cial said yesterday. “Chief Minister H D Kumar- aswamy urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday to release Rs1,500 crore to the state under the Mahatma intense heat Gandhi National Rural Employ- ment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) Guardian News and Media The acute water shortage has enough water to wash clothes, scheme for the various relief works New Delhi devastated villagers’ agricul- clean dishes or fl ush the toilet. underway in the 26 drought-hit ture-based livelihood. Crops Hospitals are fi lling up with peo- districts across the state,” the of- have withered and died, leaving ple suff ering from dehydration – fi cial told IANS in Bengaluru. undreds of villages in livestock starving and with little and gastrointestinal disease from In his fi rst interaction with India have been evacu- to drink. Major crops, including drinking contaminated water. Modi after he returned to power Hated as a historic drought maize, soya, cotton, sweet lime, Residents who can aff ord it pay with a thumping majority for forces families to abandon their pulses and groundnuts – drivers private water tankers the equiv- the Bharatiya Janata Party in the homes in search of water. of the local economy – have suf- alent of Rs300 for 1,000 litres of recent Lok Sabha elections, Ku- The country has seen ex- fered. water. Many end up in hospital maraswamy told the prime min- tremely high temperatures in Around the world, stronger El as a result – even cows refuse to ister that the state government recent weeks. Last Monday New Nino weather patterns and the drink the muddy and salty liquid had submitted a report on the Delhi saw its highest ever June ongoing climate breakdown are that has been dredged from the grim situation in 160 of the 196 temperature of 48C. In Rajas- bringing harsher and more fre- bottom of exhausted dams and local bodies across the southern than, the city of Churu recently quent droughts – and already- lakes in the region. state due to 45% defi cit rains experienced highs of 50.8C, dry India has been particularly “Over the last one-and-half last year and weak pre-monsoon making it the hottest place on hard hit. months, there has been a 50% showers this year. the planet. Scientists predict that as tem- rise in the number of patients “Our revenue department has Further south, less than 400km peratures continue to rise with suff ering from diarrhoea, gas- also sent a report to the Union from the country’s commercial global heating and populations tritis, etc,” said Sandeep Desh- Home Ministry in March with capital Mumbai, village after vil- grow, the region will experience mukh, a doctor at the Beed Civil a copy to the Prime Minister’s lage lies deserted. Estimates sug- harsher water shortages – and will hospital. Offi ce, seeking fi nancial aid of gest up to 90% of the area’s popu- need to fi nd clever solutions to en- He blamed contamination for Rs2,064 crore to pay drought-hit lation has fl ed, leaving the sick sure there is enough water for all. the rise in water-borne diseases. farmers and rural folk reeling un- and elderly to fend for themselves In Marathwada, by many es- “We have appealed to the people der last year’s drought and weak in the face of a water crisis that timates the Indian region most to boil drinking water,” Desh- pre-monsoon spell in the last shows no sign of abating. aff ected by drought, increasingly mukh said. three months,” the offi cial said. The village of Hatkarwadi, frequent droughts have led to By the end of May, 43% of In- The chief minister also about 36km from Beed in Ma- more than 4,700 farmer suicides dia was experiencing drought, brought to Modi’s notice his Ja- harashtra, is almost completely in the last fi ve years, includ- with failed monsoon rains seen nata Dal-Secular and Congress deserted. ing 947 last year. That crisis has as the primary reason. The coalition government’s eff orts The drought, which offi cials deepened. In the city of Beed, country has seen widespread to provide relief to thousands say is worse than the 1972 fam- clean drinking water has run drought every year since 2015, of farmers by waiving their crop ine that aff ected 25mn people out and households do not have with the exception of 2017. loans and interest. across Maharashtra, began early “The state is working on waiv- in December. By the end of May, Severe heat kills dozens in Bihar ing Rs12,830 of crop loans of 23 Hatkarwadi had been deserted lakh farmers in the state, as part of with only 10-15 families remain- Severe heat has left dozens that has been hit by drought, the assurance the ruling allies gave ing out of a population of more dead over a 24-hour period he said. “It was a sudden in the pre-poll manifestoes ahead than 2,000. in Bihar state, as the country development on Saturday of the general elections,” the of- With 80% of districts in enters a third week of searing afternoon. People aff ected fi cial said. The chief minister also neighbouring Karnataka and temperatures, off icials said by heatstroke were rushed met Finance Minister Nirmala 72% in Maharashtra hit by yesterday. The deaths occurred to diff erent hospitals,” Kumar Sitharaman and urged her to clear drought and crop failure, the in three districts of the state, added. “Most of them died pending grants to the state. 8mn farmers in these two states where temperatures have on Saturday night and some “Kumaraswamy has also re- are struggling to survive. More hovered around 45 degrees on Sunday morning during quested Sitharaman to hire only lo- than 6,000 tankers supply water Celsius in recent days, senior treatment.” Kumar said about cal candidates for the regional rural Youths look for mud crabs and fish in an almost dried out Puzhal reservoir on the outskirts of Chennai. to villages and hamlets in Ma- health off icial Vijay Kumar told 40 more people were being banks in the state for ease of doing Scientists predict that as temperatures continue to rise with global heating and populations grow, states harashtra daily, as confl ict brews AFP. Forty-nine people died in treated at a government-run business in the native language in in India will experience harsher water shortages – and will need to find clever solutions to ensure there is between the two states over three districts of the Magadh hospital in Aurangabad. the state,” the offi cial added. enough water for all. common water resources.

Stuntman missing after Ganges escape Minister reviews situation after attempt goes wrong A stuntman who entered the Ganges 84 children die of encephalitis river yesterday tied up with steel chains and rope is missing, police said. IANS of the disease. “We should also to work to contain and control Chanchal Lahiri, known by his stage Patna work with international organi- the disease”, he said. name “Jadugar Mandrake” (Wizard sations to contain the disease.” He said that biological labo- Mandrake), was lowered into the He said all children in the af- ratories in Muzaff arpur will be river by crane as family members, ederal Health Minister fected areas should be immu- upgraded and new labs would be media and police watched from the Harsh Vardhan yesterday nised and people should be sen- set up in the state including at banks. Fstressed the need for re- sitised about the disease. AIIMS Patna. But the 40-year-old failed to emerge search on encephalitis that has Vardhan, who reviewed the Vardhan said hot weather with from the water, triggering a frantic caused the death of 84 children situation, said the central gov- high humidity was also one of search by authorities. in Bihar’s Muzaff arpur district. ernment has been assisting the the reasons for the outbreak of “We are still searching,” a family “There should be research to state to control the situation af- encephalitis. member told AFP. identify the disease that is still ter outbreak of the disease. “I have discussed the outbreak Lahiri earlier said he had successfully not identifi ed and for that re- “The central government will with doctors and health offi cials, pulled off a similar stunt 21 years ago search facility should be devel- provide all possible help in- taken an overall comprehensive at the same venue. oped in Muzaff arpur,” Vardhan cluding fi nancial to the state to view and asked them to ensure “I was inside a bullet proof glass said after visiting the state- control the situation, provide that such situations are not re- box tied with chain and locks and owned Sri Krishna Medical Col- proper treatment and develop peated,” he said. dropped down from Howrah bridge. lege and Hospital (SKMCH). infrastructure needed for it. It is He said that he has personally Then I came out within 29 seconds,” Vardhan, accompanied by shocking and painful that chil- seen all seriously-ill children he told AFP. Minister of State for Health dren are dying. I have felt the undergoing treatment, met their He admitted it would be tough to free Ashwani Kumar Choubey and pain and grief of the parents,” he parents, and discussed with himself this time. Bihar Health Minister Mangal said. them about their problems. “If I can open it up then it will be Pandey, visited Muzaff arpur The minister said that a new “I have also discussed about it magic, but if I can’t it will be tragic,” where 84 children have died due 100-bed Intensive Care Unit will in Muzaff arpur with top health he said. to encephalitis in the past fort- be set up in SKMCH within a offi cials.” When Lahiri tried the stunt at the night. year to provide proper treatment The situation is still alarm- river in 2013, he was assaulted by Vardhan said all branches of to patients with symptoms of the ing as two children undergoing onlookers who saw through his the medical sector should work disease. treatment in SKMCH died dur- Health Minister Harsh Vardhan visits children suffering from encephalitis at a hospital in escape from a locked cage via a door together to control the outbreak “A timeline has been decided ing the minister’s visit. Muzaffarpur in Bihar yesterday. that was clearly visible. Gulf Times Monday, June 17, 2019 15 LATIN AMERICA

Argentina ex-army offi cer accused of murder found in Sicily

Guardian News and Media Luis Malatto in a tourist village Writing to the court of appeal for the murders of Marie Anne non-governmental organisation to childless military couples to continue to live in hiding in Eu- London in the province of Messina, even in the Argentinian state of Men- Erize, a French-Argentinian 24 Marzo. “We fear that Malatto raise as their own. rope, especially in Italy where though he is currently on trial in doza, prosecutors alleged that model; Juan Carlos Campora, may escape justice. It is sad that In 1985, barely two years after many Argentinians have family Rome for crimes committed in Malatto “actively participated the rector of the University of Italy is still today a refuge for the country returned to democ- ties. Malatto’s family originally uman rights groups have Argentina, which is also seeking in various detention procedures San Juan; Angel Jose Alberto torturers.’’ racy, coup leader Jorge Videla hailed from Abruzzo and he expressed outrage after his extradition. and is one of the most infamous Carvajal, a communist party of- After the 1976 coup, Argen- was convicted of human rights holds an Italian passport. Ha former Argentinian A video posted on the newspa- perpetrators” of the dictatorship fi cial, and Jorge Bonil, a soldier. tina’s military set about system- abuses and crimes against hu- Meanwhile, relatives of the army offi cer accused of com- per’s website shows Malatto re- “for his participation in interro- However Italian judges re- atically crushing any potential manity. military junta’s victims are still mitting murder and forced dis- fusing to answer questions when gations under torture”. fused to put him under house opposition, and eventually mur- Since then, more than 1,000 fi ghting for justice: on Thursday appearances during the 1976-83 he was confronted by reporters. Malatto fl ed Argentina and ar- arrest, leaving him free to travel dered some 30,000 people – al- other former offi cers have been the human rights organisation military dictatorship was found Prosecutors in Argentina have of- rived in Italy in 2011, but in 2014 – and take beach holidays. most all of them unarmed non- sentenced for the torture and Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo enjoying a beach holiday in Sic- fered a 500,000 peso (£10,000) Rome refused Argentina’s re- “We asked the Italian judici- combatants. Pregnant prisoners extrajudicial murder of activ- announced that they had iden- ily. reward for the capture of Malatto, quest to extradite him. The fol- ary to at least monitor Malatto’s were kept alive just until they ists and political opponents and tifi ed the 130th victim who was Reporters from la Repubblica who is accused of fi ve counts of lowing year, Italy’s justice min- movements, said Jorge Ithurbu- gave birth; some 500 babies their families. taken from his mother during discovered Lt Colonel Carlos crimes against humanity. istry approved his trial in Rome ru, attorney for the Rome-based are believed to have been given But many former offi cers the dictatorship. Cubans feeling the pinch as Trump cruise ban bites

AFP tourists bringing much-needed Havana dollars after nearly six decades of US embargo. Cuba seemed set to welcome he waxy sheen on his record numbers of US cruise ship splendid 1934 Ford glim- tourists this year, with 250,000 Tmers in the Caribbean arriving in the fi rst four months sun, but nobody is hiring Esta- of 2019 alone, double the rate of ban Estrada’s red and white con- the previous year. vertible these days — the dollars Then, on June 4, President have dried up now that US cruise Donald Trump made good on his liners are no longer calling at threat to tighten the economic Havana. squeeze on Cuba, angered over Estrada’s pride and joy is one Havana’s support for Venezue- of a line of classic American au- la’s socialist regime. tomobiles lined up outside Ha- On June 5, the old American vana’s baroque-style Cathedral, cars lined up on Havana’s dock- A man works by a candle light at a bakery during a power cut in Buenos Aires yesterday. mostly idle since the Trump ad- side as the last American ship ministration re-imposed travel sailed out, their drivers wav- restrictions this month. ing, bidding farewell to a regular “We are all stopped when nor- source of dollars after Trump mally we would all be working,” targeted the most common way says Estrada, as dozens of his col- US tourists visit the island. leagues shoot the breeze on near- “European tourists usually by benches. “And this has been come in the winter, so the ones going on now for several days.” that allowed us to keep working Power outage blacks out He calls out to two passing were American tourists from the women: “Taxi, princesses?” cruise ships,” Estrada says. Business had been good. Their departure means the In 2014, then-president Cuban state is also denied reve- Barack Obama broke new dip- nue from docking fees and taxes lomatic ground with the com- paid by the cruise companies. munist-run island and its leader “Yesterday, I did not work for Argentina and Uruguay Raul Castro. the day,” says Hector, who drives US cruise liners began calling an old Chevrolet. “I’m giving Reuters gentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, UTE said on social media that ating chaos in places even on a eral provinces were forced to at Havana as decades of Cold myself a month, six weeks tops, Buenos Aires whose populations total nearly power had returned to parts of normally quiet Sunday. temporarily delay local elec- War chill thawed. and if it goes on like this, I’m 55mn, said power was being re- Montevideo and the southern “The city is a disaster. There tions slated for yesterday. Estrada began taking Ameri- turning in my licence.” stored to major cities, including coast of Uruguay. are no traffic lights. Stores A spokesman for Argentine can tourists around Havana’s Costs must be paid regardless ower had been restored to Montevideo and Buenos Aires. In Paraguay, the capital of aren’t open. It spoiled Father’s state oil company YPF said must-sees: the Malecon, Revo- of business, he says — licence, one-third of Argentina by Argentina’s energy agency Asuncion was unaff ected by the Day,” said 75-year-old reti- all of the plants at its La Plata lution Square and the Capitol. parking, gas and insurance cost Pearly afternoon, hours af- said in a statement it had begun outage but local providers said ree Liliana Comis, of Buenos refi nery, a critical link in the The San Cristobal restaurant up to $30 a day. ter a massive blackout hit South investigating the causes of the they were restoring power to Aires. country’s oil infrastructure, had on San Rafael street became a Like his colleagues, he says America yesterday morning, outage, but had not provided smaller cities and rural areas. The outage also spilled over been shut down following the landmark on the tourist trail af- the Cuban authorities, taken off leaving tens of millions with- further details by midday. The massive blackout on Fa- into local and national politics. outage. ter Obama dined there during his guard by Trump’s cruise ship out power, the country’s energy Energy company Edesur Ar- ther’s Day left Buenos Aires Alberto Fernandez, a Peronist Argentina is home to the Vaca breakthrough trip in 2016. ban, “have no Plan B”. secretariat said. gentina called the outage “ex- dark early yesterday morning, presidential candidate looking Muerta shale formation, one of Owner Carlos Cristobal Instead, Trump’s policies have Argentina’s grid “col- ceptional” and said it would hobbling public transporta- to unseat incumbent Mauricio the world’s biggest reserves of Marques has seen a sharp down- driven Cuba “backwards”. Yoel lapsed” around 7am local time likely take the rest of the day tion, cutting off water supply Macri in this year’s hotly con- shale gas and oil. turn in business in recent weeks. Montano, 44, had bet heavily on (1100GMT), leaving the en- before power was completely and crippling phone and inter- tested election, tweeted that It was not immediately clear “Today we are 20% full, yester- the surge of American tourists. A tire country without power, restored. net communications across the “the president should...give an to what extent drilling opera- day we served only six tables all farmer, he left his tobacco fi elds Argentina´s energy secretariat Argentina’s energy secre- city. explanation for what Argen- tions there had been impacted. day.” to ply Havana’s tourist trade said in a statement. tariat said energy distribu- Images from social media tines are suff ering.” A spokesman for Brazil’s Nearly 900,000 tourists visit- with a horse and carriage. The outage also cut electric- tors nationwide had brought showed long lines of cars at the Macri had yet to make a power system operator (ONS) ed the island on cruise ships last Now his mare “Mulata” stands ity to swaths of neighbouring back 5,000 megawatts out of few service stations still in op- statement on social media as of said the outage had not impact- year, according to offi cial fi gures. idle in the shade of a tree in the Uruguay and Paraguay. 15,000MW of total demand. eration in Argentina’s capital late morning in Argentina. ed the regional neighbour to the Almost 40% were American old town. Energy distributors in Ar- Uruguay power company city and traffi c lights dark, cre- Elsewhere in Argentina, sev- north. Rio governor ‘would use elections Brazil development missile’ against criminals bank chief quits AFP his resignation after an in- Rio de Janeiro vestigative website published AFP like those we saw in the favela,” in 2018, official figures show. leaked documents showing he Rio de Janeiro Witzel said at the event in Nova That is the highest quarterly collaborated with anticorrup- Iguacu municipality near Rio. fi gure in the 21 years since the he head of Brazil’s pow- tion prosecutors to keep leftist Renata Souza, president of the state Institute for Public Safety erful state development icon Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva io de Janeiro’s far-right Rio legislative assembly’s human began keeping records of police- Tbank quit yesterday a out of the 2018 presidential governor Wilson Wit- rights commission, condemned related killings. day after far-right President race, which he was expected Rzel has advocated using a Witzel’s remarks, saying they In late March, Witzel told O Jair Bolsonaro threatened to to win. “missile” to blow up criminals in “revealed an authoritarian and Globo newspaper that police sack him, fuelling a political On Saturday, Bolsonaro one of the Brazilian city’s most violent mentality,” the daily Fol- were now using snipers to take crisis engulfi ng the govern- once again defended Moro violent slums. ha de Sao Paulo reported. out suspects from long distanc- ment. against allegations of wrong- Witzel, who presided over a es. BNDES president Joaquim doing, but added he did not record number of police kill- “If it were authorised by “The order is clear: if someone Levy, a Chicago-educated have “100%” confi dence in the ings in the fi rst three months of the UN, in other parts is carrying an assault rifl e, they economist and former fi nance former judge, who is seen by his term, said Rio residents were of the world, we’d have have to be neutralised in lethal minister in the left-wing many Brazilians as a hero and living in a “state of terrorism,” in authorisation to send a fashion immediately,” Witzel government of ex-president is a key member of Bolsonaro’s comments broadcast by RJTV. missile there to blow up said. Dilma Rousseff , submitted his Cabinet. “If it were authorised by the UN, those people” He sparked further outcry resignation to Economy Min- Moro handed Lula his fi rst in other parts of the world, we’d last month after posting a video ister Paulo Guedes after Bol- conviction in 2017, ending have authorisation to send a mis- They show his “prejudice and on Twitter of himself in a police sonaro said he had a “price on both his hopes of contesting sile there to blow up those people,” contempt for the lives of the helicopter as offi cers fi red to- his head.” the election and decades of Witzel said, referring to the City of poor who live in the favelas,” she ward a favela below. Levy’s sudden departure centre-left rule in Brazil. God favela, which earned world- said. Pro-gun Bolsonaro last month follows a tumultuous week Bolsonaro had threatened wide notoriety with the hit 2002 Witzel was elected in large signed a decree allowing mil- for a government less than six on Saturday to dismiss Levy, fi lm of the same name. part due to his support for the lions of Brazilians to carry load- months into its term, in which who had served as treasury Witzel’s widely quoted remarks tough anti-crime policy of far- ed weapons in public, which Bolsonaro fi red his third min- secretary under Lula, over the came after an intense gunfi ght be- right President Jair Bolsonaro, has triggered legal and political ister, retired general Carlos appointment of an offi cial to tween police and gangsters in the who also came to power in challenges. Alberto dos Santos Cruz, who BNDES who has links to the stricken favela on Wednesday that January. A record 434 people A Senate committee voted last Sandra Torres, presidential candidate for the National Unity had clashed with Bolsonaro’s left-wing Workers’ Party. killed at least one person, the news were killed during “police in- week in favour of overturning of Hope (UNE) casts her vote at a polling station during the sons, and then sacked the head “Government is like this, it website G1 reported. terventions” in the first three the order. first round of the presidential election in Guatemala City, of Brazil’s postal service. can’t have suspicious people” “Our police don’t want to kill, months of this year — a 17.9% The full Senate is expected to Guatemala, yesterday. Justice Minister Sergio in important positions, Bol- but we don’t want to see scenes increase from the same period vote on the decision today. Moro also has faced calls for sonaro told reporters. Gulf Times 16 Monday, June 17, 2019 PAKISTAN Billion-tree project at risk in Top parties face northwest tribal districts Internews outstanding bills and continue provincial governments. Peshawar the plant maintenance. He said the BTAP was an all- Sources said the row between Pakistan project, but the forest the forest and tourism depart- department launched the drive aplings planted over hun- ments dating back to the alleged without fi rst obtaining approval dreds of acres of land dur- “biased role” of the former in for its funding. scrutiny over Sing the previous spring Malam Jabba land scandal had “It is unprecedented to ex- season in the merged districts of resulted in a “hiccup” in the re- ecute a project without approval Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are in dan- lease of funds. of its (funding),” he said, adding ger of dying, after staff of the for- The National Accountability that he thought some offi cials est department abandoned their Bureau (NAB) is looking into the had overreacted by launching maintenance due to the lack of high-profi le land scam. the drive in an attempt to please funds. Offi cials admitted that the for- Prime Minister Imran Khan. Offi cial sources said the offi ce est department is in hot water A senior offi cial of the forest foreign funding of the conservator forests for the after two ministers opposed the department insisted that fund- merged districts were unable to approval of funds. ing application for the spring Internews regularities in the handling of hopeful that massive irregulari- lation to charges pf money laun- get Rs90mn from the provincial The cabinet had deferred the plantation drive was approved Islamabad foreign funds by the PPP and the ties would come to the light. dering in the fake accounts case. government to clear the bills of matter for an indefi nite period. and that Prime Minister Khan PML-N. Habib, who is also parlia- His sister Faryal Talpur is contractors and labourers hired had launched tree plantation However, these two parties, mentary secretary, while com- presently held under “house ar- for the spring plantation drive. The forest departments campaign in Haripur in Septem- he Election Commission arch-rivals of the ruling party, menting on the notice issued to rest”. The plantation over 3,000 needs Rs1.8bn to clear ber 2018. of Pakistan (ECP) has is- deny any wrongdoing. the PPP, alleged that the party’s Former prime minister Nawaz hectares of land in tribal districts outstanding dues of He said that the plantation Tsued notices to the ruling In return, these parties also political history is marred with Sharif of the Pakistan Muslim is part of the 10 Billion Trees Af- contractors in all districts, drive in the merged districts was Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), accuse the PTI of having mis- massive corruption. League – Nawaz (PML-N) is forestation Programme 2018-23 including the merged areas part of the federal government- the Pakistan Peoples Party used funds meant for philan- He alleged that the PPP cor- also in prison, having been con- (BTAP). funded Green Pakistan Pro- (PPP), and the Pakistan Muslim thropy for other purposes and of rupted the country through victed of corruption. “Our forest range offi cers and When approached, a senior gramme, which was launched League – Nawaz (PML-N) for other irregularities. their politics and is now defend- Side by side with the scru- forest guards cannot go out of offi cial of the forest department by then-prime minister Nawaz scrutiny of their foreign funding A former PTI central infor- ing their corruption using the tiny of the PPP and PML-N, the their offi ces for the maintenance acknowledged that the fi nancial Sharif in 2017. details. mation secretary, Akbar S Babar, same platform. Election Commission of Paki- of plants as contractors and la- crunch had cast a pall over plan- The offi cial is optimistic that The Election Commission’s had fi led a petition in the Elec- “(Former president Asif Ali) stan will resume hearing in the bourers run after them to get tation in other districts of the the provincial and federal gov- three-member scrutiny com- tion Commission in Novem- Zardari and his sister are be- long-continuing PTI’s funding their wages,” said an offi cial. province, too. ernments would allocate funds mittee, formed last year, will ber 2014, alleging fi nancial ir- hind the bars for their fi nancial case from June 20, after a break He said that contractors and He said that new plantation for the BTAP in the new budget. carry out scrutiny of the ac- regularities in the PTI’s foreign crimes,” Habib said, and added of several weeks. daily wage labourers had staged had become liability for the de- The estimated cost of the counts of these three main- funding, which the ruling party that the PPP’s fi nancial records In this connection, notices protests in front of the district partment due to delay in pay- fi ve-year BTAP in Khyber Pa- stream political parties in rela- vehemently denies. should be thoroughly investi- were served on the petitioner, forest offi ces (DFOs) for payment ment. khtunkhwa is Rs27bn, to be tion to foreign funding. PTI member of the National gated. Akbar S Babar, and the PTI offi - of dues. “The newly-planted saplings equally shared by the provincial The PTI, which had moved Assembly (MNA) Farrukh Habib Zardari is currently being held cials to attend the ECP scrutiny The data consolidated by for- are at risk of dying if funds are and federal governments. the Election Commission, al- said that during the ECP’s scru- in detention by the National Ac- committee meeting fi xed for estry offi ces shows that the de- not provided immediately,” said The KP government has al- leges that there are massive ir- tiny of the PPP’s accounts, he is countability Bureau (NAB) in re- June 20. partment planted saplings over he said, adding that the depart- ready carried out the Billion Tree 3,126 hectares, against the tar- ment needed Rs1.8bn to clear the Tsunami aff orestation project get of 6,095 hectares, during the outstanding dues of contractors at the estimated cost of Rs18bn, previous spring season in seven in all districts, including merged and grew over 1bn trees during merged districts through dif- areas. the last fi ve years, according to ferent interventions, apart from Sources said that the depart- the forest department. Green and Govt to empower the FBR free distribution of 4475,000 ment concerned launched the The forest-covered area in the saplings out of 3.6mn. spring plantation campaign merged districts is around 20%; However, funds have so far not without the approval and release some 19mn hectares of land re- clean cities to seize undeclared assets been released to DFOs to clear of funds from the federal and main barren. rankings Internews volved in malpractices. missioner has been given the Islamabad Talking to Daily Express, authority to conduct a raid on planned FBR chairman Shabbar Zaidi receiving confi rmed informa- Counter-terror expert Separate confi rmed that by amend- tion about illegal assets. he government of Paki- ing the law, the tax author- He will be entitled to search Internews stan has decided to em- ity would be given the power the premises of suspected of- appointed spy chief PTI set-up Islamabad Tpower the Federal Board to carry out raids in order to fi cers, politicians, bureau- of Revenue (FBR) to conduct confi scate illegal currency, crats, traders, industrialists raids at the premises of those undeclared gold and bearers and others. DPA talks in Afghanistan. for South dviser to Pakistani Prime who are allegedly involved in securities. Sources at the tax authority Islamabad Hameed had served as head Minister on Climate making illegal wealth, stor- However, he said, the FBR said that the basic purpose for of the ISI counter-terrorism AChange Malik Amin ing undeclared gold, jewellery, will not exercise this author- introducing amendments in wing responsible for formulat- Punjab Aslam has announced that the foreign currency and bearer ity as he has enforced a ban on the law is to tighten the noose akistan has appointed a ing policies and laying down government will launch a “Clean securities, and to confi scate raids. around the corrupt, to take commander with coun- strategies to fi ght Islamist mil- and Green Pakistan Cities Rank- these assets. Zaidi said that there should into possession money that Pter-terrorism expertise itants linked to Al Qaeda and its Internews ing” soon. For this purpose, the be a provision in law so that it was earned through loot and as the new chief of the coun- allied Taliban. Islamabad He was chairing a consulta- government has proposed can be used whenever the need plunder, and to confi scate un- try’s spy agency, the army said Hameed would replace Lieu- tive meeting regarding the Clean amendments to the Income arises. declared gold. in a statement. tenant General Asim Munir and Green Pakistan Cities In- Tax Ordinance 2001 through The government via the Fi- The amendments are in line Lieutenant General Faiz less than a year after the latter’s he ruling Pakistan Te- dex (CGPI) with representatives the Finance Bill 2019. nance Bill 2019 has introduced with recommendations of the Hameed will now lead the In- appointment as ISI chief. hreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has from the provinces, experts, and The amendments intro- a new sub-clause 6A in sec- Financial Action Task Force ter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The unusual reshuffl e in the Tdecided to establish a sep- offi cials of the ministry of cli- duce various changes to the tion 175 of the Income Tax Or- (FATF), and would be made The military’s spy wing, the army comes months ahead arate provincial-level organisa- mate change. legal framework governing tax dinance. part of the Finance Act 2019 ISI is considered vital in Paki- of army chief General Qamar tion for South Punjab, a province The CGPI is a city- and neigh- evaders, absconders, abettors, According to this sub- after approval from the parlia- stan’s battle against Islamist Javed Bajwa’s three-year term it has promised to create during bourhood-level index that aims offi cials and individuals in- clause, the land revenue com- ment. militants and setting up peace ending in November. its tenure. at ranking cities and neighbour- This was decided in a meeting hoods according to their cleanli- between Prime Minister and PTI ness and greenery. chairman Imran Khan and PTI According to Aslam, the key Hot but cool kids chief organiser Saifullah Khan indicators in the index include Nyazee. water supply, sanitation, hy- They discussed at length the giene, solid waste management, important issues relating to re- street conditions, and parks and organisation of the PTI. tree cover in the area. The overall political situation Initially, 20 cities will be of the country also came under ranked according to the index, discussion during the meeting. which is planned to be launched The prime minister directed in August this year. Nyazee to hand organisational responsibilities to hardworking and faithful party workers. Only 28 cases In a statement, the PTI chief organiser said the party is com- pending before mitted to protecting the rights of judicial council the people of South Punjab. Nyazee maintained that he According to a press release had sought directions from the issued by the Supreme Court of prime minister to establish a Pakistan, the figures of pending provincial-level organisation, cases before the Supreme which would be constituted as Judicial Council (SJC), being per guidelines laid down by the quoted by various people in the party chairman. media, are not only erroneous “This organisation will car- but also misleading and contrary ry forward the agenda of the to facts. people’s welfare, and the reor- In the past few days, discussions ganisation process of the party on electronic and print media across the country will also be convey an impression that concluded soon,” he explained. around 350 references are He said that this PTI organi- pending with the SJC. sation would further the agenda The press release says 426 of the welfare of the people of complaints or references were South Punjab. received in the SJC. The proposed province is to All were processed and after consist of Multan, Bahawalpur, going through various stages of Dera Ghazi Khan, Mianwali, process, 398 cases have been Layyah, and Bhakkar. disposed of and only 28 cases, The ruling PTI leadership had including the two presidential promised before the last year’s references, are pending before it. Children get some respite from the heat at a fountain in Lahore. general elections to push for South Punjab province within six months. However, nothing concrete has so far come up on this count. The party leadership has Hot weather brings extra helpings for ice-cream vendors sought the co-operation of the opposition parties for this pur- pose, as a two-thirds major- Internews sweltering summer is bringing sian non-liquid sweet dish, Rabri or rabri falooda is an- rabri falooda, or kulfi falooda, gredients visibly layered. ity vote is needed for a constitu- Islamabad additional business for vendors similar to a sorbet, known as fa- other popular version of falooda with various additions such Falooda is very good for can- tional amendment. and shopkeepers. loodeh. in the country, a shopkeeper as sabja seeds, almonds, jelly, cer patients as it cleans stomach, On its own or even with the Falooda is a very popular A kulfi maker who has been in said. fruits, kesar, rose water, and so said Dr Zain Umair. support of its allies, the ruling s kulfi falooda, a kind of sweet and cold beverage in Pa- business for over 60 years, said: Falooda is made of khoya, ver- on. “One glass of rabri a day is PTI is not in a position to initiate ice-cream, is one of the kistan, that contains variety of “People come here from far away micelli and sweet syrup, he ex- Another vendor said that fa- benefi cial for boosting blood a move in Parliament for the new Amost popular chilled tra- ingredients. to enjoy the treat during sum- plained, adding that falooda is looda could be served in a big cells in a dengue patient,” he province, without the support of ditional dessert in Pakistan, the It is a modifi ed form of a Per- mer.” served as an ice-cream sundae, glass with ice cream with the in- said. the opposition parties. Gulf Times Monday, June 17, 2019 17

Painting contest De Lima slams killing of human rights workers

By Bernadette E Tamayo odic surveillance conducted attack, De Lima reiterated the Manila Times by uniformed personnel, and need for Congress to push for if this surveillance has some- the passage into law of a bill thing to do with their deaths,” protecting HRDs from any etained Senator Leila she added. forms of abuses. de Lima yesterday de- Two members of rights “Don’t we find it alarming Dnounced the recent group Karapatan from Sorso- that the bad guys keep on un- killings of two human rights gon, Bicol — Ryan Hubilla and leashing bloodbath victimis- workers in Sorsogon, who were Nelly Bagasala — were gunned ing the very defenders of hu- both reportedly subjected to down at about 8.20am on June man rights without fear for periodic surveillance by the 15 in a subdivision just a kilo- accountability anymore?” she military and police operatives metre away from the City Po- asked. before their deaths. lice Offi ce in Barangay Cabid- De Lima recently vowed to De Lima raised the need to an, Bicol. refile in the upcoming 18th “seriously investigate” the in- They were killed by uni- Congress the Human Rights cident to ensure justice for the dentifi ed assailants onboard a Defenders’ Protection Bill, victims and their families, and motorcycle after they escorted the House counterpart meas- fi nd out whether state agents lawyer Bart Rayco, who visited ure in the Senate, which was were indeed involved in the his clients, all of whom were not acted upon by the Sen- crime. identifi ed as political prison- ate Committee on Justice and “The deplorable murder ers, at PNP Cabid-an. Human Rights under Sen. of two Karapatan members is Prior to the killing, Kara- Richard Gordon during the nothing but an attack against patan revealed that Hubilla and previous Congress. all fearless warriors who fi ght Bagasala, were tailed by a grey She noted that the House for human rights, justice and pick-up vehicle and a black of Representatives on June 3 freedom,” De Lima said in a motorcycle that had no license approved on third and final statement. plates last April 21. reading House Bill 9199, also “Aside from investigating De Lima said their deaths referred to as the “Human this alarming trend of killings “added up to the snowball- Rights Defenders Protection targeting human rights de- ing record of rights defenders Act,” but its Senate counter- fenders in the country, there is killed under the Duterte ad- part filed by De Lima, Sen- An artist paints one of the ruins in Aduana, as she joins the Manila Times’ painting contest titled ‘Intramuros on Canvas.’ The contest will an urgent need to thoroughly ministration.” ate Bill 1699, had languished conclude on June 30. investigate why the two vic- With human rights defend- at the committee level since tims were subjected to peri- ers (HRDs) still under serious February 2018.

Red Cross US-Philippines joint programme to open more aims to halt militant recruitment blood

By Masiding Noor Yahya gramme, while also preparing said Natali, chief of the State Lanao del Sur and former trad- rather than to IS or Al Qaida, tween poverty and violent ex- Manila Times to release results of a study Department’s Bureau of Con- ing hub. Natali said. “If there is a key tremism in this case.” banks showing that poverty was not a fl ict and Stabilization Opera- Fighter jets pounded the mil- fi nding, it was that this is very Despite the fi ndings, accord- major driver of radicalisation in tions. itants with near-daily bombing local,” she said. ing to Natali, there was not a oint Filipino-American pro- four southern Philippine prov- The study, conducted by runs to end a fi ve-month battle The survey also found that one-size-fi ts-all programme By Javier J Ismael gramme aimed at stifl ing re- inces, where extremist groups Washington from December that killed more than 1,200 peo- respondents who had expressed for dealing with extremist Manila Times Jcruitment eff orts by Islamic operate, US Assistant State 2017 to May 2018, involved 1,213 ple, most of them local extrem- sympathy for violent extremism groups. State (IS)-linked militants in Secretary Denise Natali said in Muslim respondents in the four ists backed by an undetermined tended to be better off econom- “So, what we do in one coun- southern Philippines would be an interview with BenarNews, southern Philippine provinces number of foreign fi ghters, and ically than their resilient peers, try has to be then tailored to he Philippine Red Cross launched within weeks, a sen- an international news online of Maguindanao, Sulu, Basilan left the city centre devastated. Natali said. another,” she said. “What we (PRC) would soon open ior US State Department offi cial agency. and Lanao del Sur, Natali said. Contrary to common belief, “There is no statistical dif- fi nd in one province can diff er Tmore blood banks and blood said. “The programme is being fi - In a bid to carve out their own sympathy for Filipino militant ference between wealth and in another province, and even centres to ensure suffi cient supply Filipino and American of- nalised and should be launched province, local militants led the groups in those provinces might poverty,” she said. “There is no within diff erent localities in a of blood nationwide, according to fi cials were fi nalising the pro- in the next couple of weeks,” 2017 siege in Marawi, capital of be related to local grievances direct causal relationship be- province.” Senator Richard Gordon. “This year, PRC eyes new blood facilities in Marikina City; San Carlos in Pangasinan; San Captain seeks accountability over Chinese vessel ramming incident Rafael, San Jose del Monte and Bocaue in Bulacan; Imus and Ba- The captain of a Filipino fishing Insigne is scheduled to meet with Navy. Duterte has not yet issued Angat Dam level falls further coor in Cavite; Sorsogon; Mind- boat that sank after being rammed Duterte today, according to the a statement about the incident, oro Oriental; Romblon; Batanes; by a Chinese vessel in the disputed mayor of San Jose town in Occi- which other Filipino politicians Coron, Palawan; Malay, Aklan; South China Sea has urged the dental Mindoro province, where the have denounced. Vice President By Divina NJD Cruz feel the recharge… the rain that has fallen is not Biliran, Eastern Samar; Basilan; Philippine government to hold the captain is from. Leni Robredo condemned the boat Manila Times enough to moisten the ground),” he added. and Taw-Tawi,” Gordon, PRC perpetrators accountable. The meeting has yet to be con- sinking and demanded that the The decline in Angat’s water level, however, chairman, said. Junel Insigne, captain of FB Gemvir firmed by the presidential palace. Chinese crew members be tried in has slowed. The loss was 0.30 metres yesterday “The PRC and the Department 1, said yesterday he would person- Off icials have issued conflicting Philippine courts. he water level at Angat Dam has contin- compared to the previous day’s 0.54 metres. of Health are ensuring that sure ally ask President Rodrigo Duterte statements as to whether a cabinet Robredo also urged the Duterte ued to drop despite the onset of the rainy “Since we have declared the start of the rainy and safe blood will be available to make sure the Chinese boat meeting has been scheduled to administration to be “more coura- Tseason, the state-run weather bureau season, there are rains… that will help slow the for all, even in the most vulner- captain is made to answer for the discuss the incident on June 9 near geous in asserting” the Philippines’ said yesterday. swift water level drop seen when there were no able communities in the rural ar- sinking earlier this month when he Reed Bank in the South China Sea. rights over the South China Sea, The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysi- rains,” Flores said. eas in the country,” he added. meets with him to discuss what According to the Department of lamenting that its “less assertive cal and Astronomical Services Administration Sustained monsoon rains are needed to sig- The PRC currently has 93 happened. Defence, the Chinese boat rammed policy” has led to more abuses by (Pagasa) said Angat — the primary source of nifi cantly raise Angat’s water level, he added. blood service facilities, including “I plan to ask the president to the Gemvir 1, which was anchored China. “Its failure to consistently water for Metro Manila — was at 162.82 metres, Pagasa expects these to start sometime next 27 blood centres, 66 blood col- hold the captain of the Chinese near Reed Bank, and left the area contest Chinese encroachment in near the critical mark of month. lecting units/blood stations and fishing vessel accountable for what without helping the 22 crew mem- our waters was inevitably going to 160 metres. Flores also said two typhoons were expected 11 apheresis centres. happened to us,” he said in an bers of the sinking Filipino ship. result in less and less respect of our Pagasa hydrologist Danny Flores said recent for June, but failed to materialise. Gordon stressed the impor- interview with the ABS-CBN News A passing Vietnamese boat laws and sovereignty from China thunderstorms were not enough to replenish National Water Resources Board Director tance of donating blood, saying Channel. “I will also ask for help in rescued Insigne and his crew and — and to the direct harm of our the reservoir. Director Sevillo David Jr has said that water al- that blood donors are everyday fixing the boat.” turned them over to the Philippine people,” she said. “We have come from a dry spell, a drought so locations for Metro Manila could be reduced if heroes because the blood they it means that the watershed, the dam has yet to Angat’s water level hits the critical mark. donate could save lives. Cabinet meeting set to discuss boat sinking

Manila Times ers it had been “cancelled.” against politicising the boat’s become “more courageous.” unchallenged, will only encour- The amount will cover the truth that we are already sure Manila A news report quoted Nog- sinking, which it described as a “While we acknowledge the age further abuse, giving rise to damage to the 14-tonne fi shing of is that our 22 Filipino broth- rales as saying that the afternoon “ordinary maritime incident.” statement of the Chinese am- impunity,” Robredo continued. boat and equipment, plus the ers had lost their fishing vessel discussions, which will include The Filipino boat’s crew — res- bassador that their government “It is still not too late. Now is loss of 2,721 kilos of fi sh. and their means of livelihood,” wo Cabinet clusters will other Cabinet offi cials, could cued by a Vietnamese vessel will investigate the incident, we the time for a shift in policy from “Aside from the damage to FFCCCII President Henry Lim meet in the afternoon to- not be called a Cabinet meeting — has claimed that the Chinese should ask: If the Chinese gov- being passive to being more cou- personal belongings and liveli- Bon Liong said in a statement. Tday to discuss the sinking as Duterte would not be present deliberately rammed the F/B ernment has already presented rageous in asserting our rights… hood equipment, our fi sher- “The FFCCCII wishes to of- of a Filipino fi shing boat in dis- due to a prior engagement. Gemvir 1 in a hit-and-run at- their own version of the events this is the time where we expect men have experienced moral fer our sincere assistance and puted waters, Malacanang said A week has already passed tack. and will not even accept that a our leaders to be true to their distress and trauma caused by support to our fellow country- yesterday in the wake of criti- since a Chinese vessel hit and The Department of Foreign wrong was committed, how can oath and speak, act and do what the life-threatening situation. men the 22 fishermen in the cism over President Rodrigo Du- sank a Philippine boat off Reed Aff airs has said that a diplomatic we expect it to mete justice on is needed to defend the dignity This trauma will surely haunt immediate rehabilitation of terte’s continued silence on the Bank in the West Philippine protest was immediately fi led those responsible?” she said in a of our nation and every Filipino.” them in the long run and will their damaged fishing boat, so matter. (South China) Sea, but no men- and that Chinese offi cials had statement. Also yesterday, Senate Minor- send a chilling message among that they can resume their live- Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nog- tion of the incident has been committed to investigate the in- ity Leader Franklin Drilon said the Filipino fi shermen who will lihood. We wish to express our rales clarifi ed initial reports that made by the president despite a cident. A week has already passed China should release the names most likely be discouraged to go concern for their welfare and Duterte had called an emergency number of public speeches. Over the weekend, the Chi- since a Chinese vessel hit of the captain and crew of the fi shing in the West Philippine our solidarity,” he added. Cabinet meeting, telling a radio Last week, Panelo claimed nese embassy in Manila claimed and sank a Philippine boat Chinese boat, following allega- Sea, in fear of another aggressive The Philippine Chamber station that discussions would that Duterte — known for fre- that the Yuemaobinyu 42212 had off Reed Bank in the West tions that they were militiamen intimidation from the Chinese of Commerce and Industry, be limited to the security, justice quently going off -script and de- tried to assist the Gemvir 1, but Philippine (South China) and not fi shermen. personnel,” Pamalakaya Presi- meanwhile, along with the In- and peace cluster led by Defence livering insults and crude state- was forced to fl ee after it was Sea, but no mention of the “If it is a militia vessel, it dent Fernando Hicap said in a ternational Chamber of Com- Secretary Delfi n Lorenzana and ments against opponents — was “besieged” by up to eight Fili- incident has been made means that the (Chinese) gov- statement. merce and the Philippine Silk the economic development “outraged” by the incident, but pino vessels. by the president despite a ernment is directly involved,” he What is also needed, Hicap Road International Chamber cluster headed by Finance Sec- was also a “a very cautious man” This has been dismissed by number of public speeches said. added, is for Chinese boats to of Commerce, said they had retary Carlos Dominguez 3rd. who “makes calibrated respons- observers, who pointed out Asked whether the Philippine leave waters claimed by the donated P1mn to the affected At least two Cabinet offi cials, es.” that steel-hulled Chinese fi sh- The government’s “failure to government should demand that Philippines. fishermen. including Lorenzana and Energy Panelo denied that the presi- ing vessels had little to fear consistently contest Chinese the Chinese crew face trial in Meanwhile, the Federation Half of the amount will be Secretary Alfonso Cusi, were dent was keeping silent as he did from much smaller outrigger- encroachment in our waters,” the Philippines, Drilon replied: of Filipino Chinese Chambers used for boat repair and the rest reported earlier in the day to not want to antagonise Beijing, equipped Filipino fi shing boats. she added, was inevitably going “At the very least, we must seek of Commerce and Industry Inc. for livelihood support. have confi rmed that a Cabinet which Duterte has been woo- The embassy’s claims were to result in less and less respect apology from them.” (FFCCCII) called for sobri- The donation was in re- meeting had been called. Pal- ing for support and investments criticised yesterday by Vice for our laws and sovereignty Fisherfolk group Pamalakaya, ety and said it would assist the sponse to a request from the ace spokesman Salvador Pan- since he assumed the presidency President Maria Leonor “Leni” from China — and to the direct meanwhile, demanded that Chi- fishers in rebuilding their boat, Mindoro Chamber of Com- elo, however, later said there was in 2016. Robredo, who also urged the harm of our people.” na pay P2-3mn to the Genvir 1’s even as both Manila and Bei- merce and followed a dialogue “none” and Executive Secretary The Chinese Foreign Minis- Duterte government to abandon “As our own history has re- 22 crew for the loss of their live- jing continued to investigate with the affected fishermen, Salvador Medialdea told report- try has warned the Philippines its passive stance on China and peatedly taught us, abuse, left lihood and other damages. the incident. “So far, the real the business groups said. Gulf Times 18 Monday, June 17, 2019 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka 17 - 06 -2019 Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Guantanamo detainees are still trapped in a legal black hole

Seventeen years after the George W Bush administration began to imprison suspected terrorists at a US base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and 10 years after then-president Barack Obama announced his intention to close the facility, 40 men remain incarcerated at Guantanamo facing the prospect of growing old and perhaps dying there. Only a handful have been charged with crimes. The rest are trapped in a legal black hole. That is a colossal failure of policy and an aff ront to human rights. But Supreme Court Justice Stephen G Breyer this week raised the possibility that this situation might also Hong Kong’s Lam caves in to violate both the Constitution and the law under which the court previously has upheld indefi nite detention of so- called enemy combatants. Breyer made his comments recently, when the justices declined to hear the appeal of Moath Hamza Ahmed al- pressure on extradition bill Alwi. Al-Alwi is a Yemeni who allegedly fought in a combat unit headed by an Al Qaeda offi cial before he was captured in Pakistan in 2001 and turned over to US authorities. He Reuters violent street protests including one last that reinforced his strongman image untenable that he believed it had led to a Hong Kong/ Beijing Sunday that organisers said drew more amongst Hong Kongers. recalculation by Han after meeting Lam was then sent to Guantanamo. than a million people. Many politicians, diplomats and in Shenzhen. Al-Alwi had argued that the authority to detain him Then on Saturday, Lam suddenly analysts had not expected Beijing to “I suspect...he (Han) would have indefi nitely – rooted in a 2001 congressional resolution ith an escalating US trade announced the bill had been postponed allow any backdown on the bill, unlike had to consider, are we prepared to authorising the use of military force against “those war, a faltering economy indefi nitely. in 2003 when contentious national continue to fi re rubber bullets or even and tensions in the South She told a news conference she security laws were scrapped after half a real bullets in order to get this through, responsible” for the Sepember 11 terrorist attacks – had China Sea vexing her felt “deep sorrow and regret that the million people took to the streets. and what would be the implications for “unravelled” with the W bosses in Beijing, Hong Kong leader defi ciencies in our work and various But a source in Beijing with ties to the central government internationally, passage of time. Carrie Lam appeared in no mood to other factors have stirred up substantial China’s leadership who meets regularly vis-a-vis the US So that protest was the Closing He also argued that even compromise on a planned extradition controversies and disputes in society”. with senior offi cials, said the Hong Kong turning point.” law at recent meetings, according to Hong Kong’s self-styled Iron Lady government had handled the extradition Lam has refused calls from the Guantanamo if the 2001 Authorisation foreign envoys and business people who had cracked, having apparently created saga badly. opposition and protesters to step for Use of Military met with her. an entirely fresh crisis for President Xi And while a backdown from Beijing down but her ability to govern has would be an Force (AUMF) could Some of the people at those meetings Jinping — and the city’s biggest since on the bill seemed near inconceivable been questioned on numerous fronts, justify his detention, the in recent weeks pointed to media Britain handed it over to Chinese rule just a week ago, the violence and including her failure to gauge the pulse important reports that even Hong Kong’s usually in 1997 with the guarantee its freedoms escalating unrest forced their hand. in Hong Kong, the broader US-China Constitution and the laws reticent judges were worried about the and autonomy would be preserved. “The outcome doesn’t bear thinking relationship, and Taiwan’s refusal to gesture of war prohibited lifetime proposed law which threatened to send Clues to the catalyst for the about- about if this situation wasn’t turned accept any extradition bill, undermining imprisonment of someone people for trial in mainland China for face may lie in a reported meeting around,” the source said, also declining her core argument the bill would resolve who had not raised arms against the United States. the fi rst time. between Lam and China’s Vice-Premier to be named given the sensitivity of the the Taiwan murder case. But Lam bluntly dismissed concerns Han Zheng. matter. Political scientist Tsang said he did not The justices chose not to hear the case. But in a statement about a Chinese justice system that is According to Hong Kong’s Sing Tao The source added that Beijing expect Lam to last much longer as leader. accompanying the court’s order, Breyer expressed concern widely criticised for forced confessions, newspaper, Lam had a clandestine now had severe doubts about Lam’s “I think Carrie Lam’s days are that al-Alwi “faces the real prospect that he will spend the arbitrary detentions and one-sided emergency meeting with Han, a capabilities. numbered...Beijing cannot aff ord to sack rest of his life in detention based on his status as an enemy trials, saying judges were not supposed member of the Politburo’s seven- China’s State Council and the central her right away because that would be an to speak. person Standing Committee, China’s government’s liaison offi ce in Hong indication of weakness. They would have combatant a generation ago, even though today’s confl ict Worries over the bill’s impact on top decision-making body, across the Kong did not immediately respond to to allow for a bit of decent interlude.” may diff er substantially from the one Congress anticipated Hong Kong’s international standing as border in Shenzhen on Thursday. Reuters requests for comment. Two former post-colonial leaders, when it passed the AUMF.” a fi nancial hub with a respected legal The content of the meeting is Steve Tsang, a London-based Tung Chee-Hwa and Leung Chun-ying, Breyer added that in the future he would vote to have the system were building in Washington, unknown. political scientist, said Lam had caused were forced to truncate their terms of London and other European capitals, Lam on Saturday refused to confi rm Xi “major embarrassment” at a time offi ce from various controversies linked court accept an “appropriate case” that would allow it to but Lam stressed the need for the or deny that it had taken place, despite that is not helpful for him given trade to policies that stoked fears of Chinese address “whether, in light of the duration and other aspects extradition law to help solve the murder repeated questions. tensions with the United States, and encroachment on the city’s freedoms. of the relevant confl ict, Congress has authorised and the of a Hong Kong woman in Taiwan. Beijing’s grip over Hong Kong has ahead of a possible meeting with US For her part, Lam has asked for Constitution permits continued detention.” “She needed a dinghy and she intensifi ed markedly since Chinese president Donald Trump at the month’s time so that the bill can be properly deployed the Titanic,” one diplomat President Xi Jinping took power in 2012, end at the G20 summit in Japan. deliberated. Breyer suggested that it’s time for the court to decide if who met Lam this month told Reuters, and after the city’s protracted 2014 pro- “Xi is not a leader who tolerates “Give us another chance and we will the unusual nature of the current war against Al Qaeda and declining to be identifi ed due to the democracy street protests. failures of offi cials,” Tsang said. do this thing well,” she told Saturday’s similar groups justifi ed open-ended detention. sensitivity of the issue. He warned in 2017 that any attempts Retired senior Hong Kong news conference. The sooner the court faces that question, the better, because In numerous public appearances after to undermine Chinese sovereignty government offi cial Joseph Wong said Asked about China’s leaders, she said: that, Lam was unyielding on the need were a “red line” that Beijing would he was shocked by Beijing’s U-turn, “They have confi dence in my judgment there seems little chance that either Congress or the Trump for the bill, despite huge and sometimes not allow to be crossed — warnings but the situation had become so and they support me.” administration will move decisively to address the issue. Yet it needs to be addressed, because it is utterly inimical to our laws and our Constitution to hold dozens of people for decades – or even indefi nitely – in an off shore prison without charging them with specifi c crimes or allowing them to face their accusers or to refute the charges by presenting evidence. President Trump hasn’t followed through with a campaign promise to “load up” Guantanamo with additional “bad dudes.” But last year he signed an executive order directing that the facility remain open indefi nitely. And it’s likely that Congress in its next defence authorisation bill will continue to prohibit the Pentagon from transferring Guantanamo detainees to the US. Closing Guantanamo would be an important gesture, but the more important objective is to end a system in which detainees are held indefi nitely. — Tribune News Service

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© 2019 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Gulf Times Monday, June 17, 2019 19 COMMENT Blame US trade policy for sky-high drug prices

By Jayati Ghosh patent only their processes, not the “enhanced therapeutic efficacy.” New Delhi chemical composition of drugs. In Since then, India’s law has come practice, this has meant that Indian under attack from multinational companies can “reverse engineer” corporations and the US government, harp price increases for the chemical compounds of major and Section 3(d) has eff ectively been essential and life-saving brand-name drugs through alternative diluted. According to a recent study, medicines have generated processes, and then sell those drugs for between 2009 and 2016, the Indian Sa political backlash against less, both in India and abroad. Patent Offi ce granted as many as 1,654 the pharmaceutical industry in the At fi rst, this competition from secondary patents (72% of all drug United States. In February, the US generic-drug makers forced patents) “in likely contravention of Senate Committee on Finance scolded pharmaceutical multinationals to drop anti-evergreening provisions under industry representatives for pursuing their own sky-high prices, including section 3 of the Indian Patents Act.” policies that are “morally repugnant.” for drugs to treat cancer, tuberculosis, Not surprisingly, drug prices in India Since then, 44 US state governments and HIV. For example, between 2000 have been rising rapidly. have fi led a lawsuit against Israel- and 2016, the yearly price per person Yet this has not stopped the USTR based Teva Pharmaceuticals and 19 of fi rst-line antiretroviral drugs to from maintaining pressure on India, other companies, alleging conspiracy treat HIV fell from more than $10,000 , and other governments to stifl e competition for generic drugs to $100. It is these price declines that that observe stricter defi nitions of and illegal profi teering from over 100 allowed us to expand HIV treatments inventions, and use compulsory diff erent medicines. globally and control the HIV/Aids licensing and price controls to prevent For its part, US President Donald epidemic, especially in poor countries. profi teering and other monopoly Trump’s administration has also But since the Agreement on abuses by drug companies. The USTR announced that it will pursue measures Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual has long worked with multinational to reduce the prices of drugs, especially Property Rights (TRIPS) entered pharmaceutical companies to keep those needed to treat America’s opioid into force in 1995, all World Trade drug prices high in other countries, epidemic. Yet the administration is Organisation member states have thereby threatening the health and also trying to export intellectual- had to recognise one another’s lives of poor patients in India and property rules that are known to be pharmaceutical patents. For Indian across the developing world. And now, associated with massive price increases drug makers, manufacturing generic the problem of exorbitant drug prices abroad, making basic medicines versions of patented drugs would is coming home to roost. unaff ordable to millions of poor people require a licence, and such licenses are It is ironic (but not surprising) that in developing countries. rarely if ever granted. an administration claiming to fi ght The US government has brought Nonetheless, following amendments for lower drug prices for Americans sustained pressure to bear to block IP to the Indian Patents Act, India still is actively pushing for rule changes rules that would allow manufacturers in had some safeguards to prevent that would grant even more price- other countries to produce and export the kind of excesses that major gouging power to pharmaceutical less expensive generic drugs. The US pharmaceutical companies routinely multinationals. If US federal agencies Trade Representative’s (USTR) annual get away with in the US and Europe. and state governments really want to “Special 301” watchlist, which identifi es For example, India abides by a do something about sky-high drug countries with “serious intellectual stricter defi nition of what constitutes prices, they should be taking a page property defi ciencies,” regularly includes an invention, which prevents from the Indian Patents Act, rather India, mainly because the US objects to “evergreening”: the process of than trying to shred it. – Project some features of its patent laws. In fact, extending the life of a patent by taking Syndicate Trump even cited India’s IP regime as out secondary patents for marginal a justifi cation for his recent decision improvements to the original drug. z Jayati Ghosh is Professor of to suspend Generalised System of According to Section 3(d) of the Indian A research associate works at the Moderna Therapeutics Inc. lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts, US. Economics at Jawaharlal Nehru Preferences (GSP) tariff exemptions on Patents Act, “the mere discovery of University in New Delhi, Executive certain Indian exports. a new form… property or… use for a reactant.” In practice, this means Section 3(d) explains why the as “Glivec,” but that was basically Secretary of International Development But India’s IP laws have allowed the known substance or of the mere use drug makers cannot extend the life of Indian Supreme Court ruled against the crystalline form of a drug that Economics Associates, and a member country to become a leading global of a known process” is not eligible a patent indefi nitely simply by, say, Novartis in 2013, denying the had previously been patented as of the Independent Commission for source of aff ordable drugs. Under its for a patent unless it “results in a new changing a drug from a tablet to a Swiss multinational a patent for an a powder. The court held that the Reform of International Corporate Patents Act of 1970, drug makers can product or employs at least one new syrup. anti-cancer drug that it marketed this change in form did not show Taxation.

Getting your news from a talkative automaton Three-day forecast TODAY culture gifs and links to viral content. September, carrying out surveys for make is thinking of chatbots as a way Maximum Temperature : 470c AFP Minimum Temperature : 330c Paris It chats about the news – brands keen to access the anonymous to attract a new audience to their particularly click-friendly, shareable data of its young database. existing website, rather than as “its TUESDAY stories – or asks about broad subjects, Old-school news organisations, own medium”. Maximum Temperature : 460c Do you ever lie to your such as your favourite band. meanwhile, are also experimenting “It requires its own style of writing, Minimum Temperature : 360c friends?,” Jam asks, popping up Once you settle on a subject, it with chatbots as a diff erent way so we have a dedicated team of writers WEDNESDAY in a private message box at the off ers up information – for example if to connect with and inform their and editors who produce this content Maximum Temperature : 430c “bottom of your screen. you’re discussing a movie it will link to audiences. just for our bot and app every day, Minimum Temperature : 340c the trailer. Grant Heinrich, the bot we’re not taking news articles and If it seems like a personal question, Fisherman's forecast don’t worry – Jam isn’t a person, You can type in responses, but it development producer for BBC putting it in the bot, (or vice and but a chatbot, eager for a bubbly works best if you simply click on one News Labs, said they recently used a versa),” she says. WARNING chatbot to give a fi ve-day crash course “What we would like to do is use Inshore : Strong wind expected conversation about the news, of several possible automatic answers, at some places during environment, pop culture and more. which of course include your own covering Brexit. machine learning to get smarter about daytime This particular cryptic query leads appropriately cool emojis. “We had a high completion rate with patterns and content that we don’t Offshore : Expected strong wind to Jam telling the story of Romain “Given the possibilities of this a very small amount to do each day, it even necessarily know about and to with high sea by noon Gary, a French author who deceived technology, the ‘bot’ must lead the didn’t waste your time, didn’t try to be better deliver content to users without WEATHER the literary world by writing under a conversation, not the other way super cute,” he said. them having to put in a lot of eff ort.” Inshore : Misty at first, becomes pseudonym. around, otherwise it gets limited “We’ve seen markedly better results Withrow says Quartz has stopped very hot daytime with slight dust at some Jam is one of a new generation of very quickly,” says Jam co-founder for bots that ask the audience their experimenting with Amazon’s digital places sophisticated chatbots that mimic Marjolaine Grondin. opinion rather than getting the audience assistant Alexa because people didn’t Offshore : Some clouds becomes how real people write in messages She is hoping to fi nd a successful to ask questions,” he said, giving the want to listen to robotic voices – it slight dust to dusty later WIND and on social media to inform their business model in news as traditional example of a question that asked seems, for the moment at least, Inshore : Northwesterly 10-20/23 readers, rather than the traditional dry media outlets struggle with the whether the reader thought 15, 20 or 30 that it’s easier to communicate in a KT question-and-answer format. transition to online, with Internet giants percent of people are alcoholic. believably human manner via text. Offshrore : Northwesterly 15-25/30 The French “chatbot media” startup siphoning off advertising revenue. He added that readers who accessed She noted that users of chatbots KT launched three years ago and now has Chatbots have come a long away since the BBC’s daily newsletter via the appeared “willing to open themselves Visibility : 4-8/3 KM exchanges with 150,000 people every embarrassing blunders committed by chatbot clicked on links about 12 times to technology, to form a relationship Offshore : 4-8/10 FT day, most of them young. Tay, a Microsoft chatbot launched in more than those who received it by and feelings about something that they know is not human.” Jam communicates via Facebook 2016 and quickly grounded after being e-mail. Around the region Messenger and adopts a talkative, gamed by some Internet users to post Emily Withrow, the director of “People say ‘I know it’s silly, I know Weather casual tone, like a friend telling an racist and misogynous tweets and to the bot studio at the business news it’s not actually a person, but I wanted Weather tomorrow Max/min anecdote, peppering its banter with praise Adolf Hitler. website Quartz, says that the main the bot to feel proud of me, I’m really today Max/min Sunny 43/26 plenty of smiley-face emojis, pop- Jam has been turning a profi t since mistake many media organisations looking forward to talking to it’.” Baghdad Sunny 44/27 Kuwait CitySunny 47/33 Cloudy 46/32 Manama P Cloudy 41/35 Cloudy 40/34 Muscat P Cloudy 40/33 Sunny 44/33 Tehran Sunny 37/24 Sunny 37/26 Live issues Experimental mobile app helps manage migraines

By Carolyn Crist technique of progressive muscle Patients with higher depression “The great thing about starting Reuters Health relaxation, a proven method of scores were less likely to use the daily a (behavioural therapy) BT is that migraine prevention, the authors note. headache diary, and those with higher you don’t have to stop your other The study team analysed whether anxiety scores were more likely to use treatments if you feel they are smartphone-based patients recruited from a neurology it. eff ective,” Pressman said by e-mail. relaxation app could help clinic would use the app regularly and “The number of mobile health “BTs can be used as add-ons with no Around the world migraine suff erers reduce whether they’d have fewer headache apps available in the iOS and Google added side eff ects.” Weather Weather Athe number of headaches days. Play stores has ballooned, and recent However, an in-person a today Max/min tomorrow Max/min they get each month, a small study During the study, 51 patients in their studies show that most people mindfulness-based stress reduction Athens M Sunny 33/22 S T Storms 31/21 suggests. 30s and 40s who typically had 13 or download an app but then rarely programme targeting migraines that Beirut M Sunny 27/22 M Sunny 28/23 Using the app twice a week was more headache days per month were use it,” Minen said. “Importantly, was off ered at her centre was diffi cult Bangkok T Storm 32/27 T Storm 31/27 associated with an average of four asked to complete a daily headache we were able to get a considerable for some patients to attend due to Berlin M Sunny 27/17 M Sunny 31/18 fewer headache days per month, diary and to do progressive muscle number of study participants to use time and location, Pressman said, so Cairo Sunny 36/23 Sunny 38/25 according to the report in Nature relaxation with the app for 20 minutes the app.” an online programme may help. At Cape Town P Cloudy 18/09 M Sunny 22/12 Digital Medicine. a day for 90 days. Nearly one third of The researchers have received the same time, patients should know Colombo T Storm 29/27 T Storm 29/27 “Migraine is now the second the participants were considered to inquiries about the app from patients that apps are still new and not fully Dhaka S T Storms 36/28 S T Storms 33/28 most disabling condition in terms of have severe migraine disability when with migraines outside the NYU studied. Hong Kong S T Storms 32/28 S T Storms 32/29 disability-adjusted years lost,” said they enrolled, meaning they had Langone system, she noted. Although “Research here is important to P Cloudy 29/22 P Cloudy 29/22 lead author Dr Mia Minen of NYU missed considerable amounts of work, it was created as a research tool, enable therapeutically eff ective and Jakarta M Sunny 33/24 M Sunny 33/24 Langone Health in New York City. school and family activities due to the Minen’s team is exploring ways to safe smartphone apps. Lots of apps Karachi P Cloudy 36/29 M Sunny 34/29 Migraines aff ect about 1 in 6 adults headaches. expand access to the app or include it are off ered that are not based on any London P Cloudy 20/11 Showers 22/14 in the US, with women most at risk. On average, participants used the in offi ce visits. They’re also studying scientifi c evidence,” said Thomas Manila T Storm 36/27 T Storm 35/27 “Previous research has shown that app on 22 days per month, for about whether the app can help healthcare Dresler of the University of Tuebingen Moscow P Cloudy 25/17 P Cloudy 26/14 the best treatment for preventing 11 minutes per day. Roughly half used providers who don’t know where to in Germany, who wasn’t involved in New Delhi M Sunny 40/29 P Cloudy 38/28 migraine is a combination of migraine it once per week and a third used it refer patients with migraines who the study. New York M Cloudy 27/20 S T Storms 24/19 medication and behavioural therapy,” two or more times per week. Overall, want behavioural therapy. “There are a lot of migraine apps Paris M Sunny 26/15 M Cloudy 28/18 Minen told Reuters Health by e-mail. those who used the app twice per “I would encourage people who out there, but customers need to know Sao Paulo P Cloudy 24/14 P Cloudy 25/14 However, “patients have signifi cant week had four fewer headache days live with migraines to consider a that the availability of an app per se P Cloudy 26/16 P Cloudy 28/18 diffi culty accessing these safe, top the following month, and those who behavioural treatment,” said Alice does not guarantee eff ectiveness, T Storm 30/27 S T Storms 30/27 evidence-based treatments.” used it once per week had two fewer Pressman of Sutter Health in Walnut safety or the developers’ adherence Sydney Rain 15/10 M Cloudy 17/08 Minen and colleagues created headaches days. Use of the app tended Creek, California, who wasn’t involved to specifi c quality standards,” Dresler Tokyo Clear 28/18 Cloudy 26/18 RELAXaHEAD, an app based on the to drop over time. in the study. said by e-mail. Gulf Times 20 Monday, June 17, 2019 QATAR

A group photo of the students. Inspirational speech by Nabeela Fakhri. Qatar Airways welcomes interns for summer training programme atar Airways’ Al Darb including Commercial, Finance, Qatar Airways Al Darb initiative ity by working on multiple as- most of their internship experi- awards for ‘Best Business Class Qatarisation Programme Information Technology, Hu- brings in more than 50 students signments while meeting tight ence. Interns who participate in Seat’, ‘Best Airline in the Mid- Qwelcomed more than 50 man Resources, Legal and Infor- deadlines.” the Al Darb Qatarisation Sum- dle East’ and ‘World’s Best First students into its 2019 Summer mation Technology, as well as at to its Summer Internship Students begin the Summer mer Internship Programme are Class Airline Lounge’. Internship Programme at an Qatar Airways Cargo and Qatar Internship Programme with four eligible to receive course credit Qatar Airways currently oper- induction ceremony that took Aviation Services, according to a multicultural world of innova- them to gain and enhance es- days of training in the fi elds of from a number of local and in- ates a fl eet of more than 250 air- place in Doha yesterday. press statement. tion and experience that paves sential career skills that will aid communication across cultures, ternational universities, the craft via its hub, Hamad Inter- The ceremony enabled the Qatar Airways senior vice- way to a future of possibilities them after their graduation. “As business communications and statement adds. national Airport, to more than students to receive a full brief- president (Human Resources) and success, both in the com- the internship programme con- eff ective presentation skills, in A multiple-award-winning 160 destinations worldwide. ing on the support they would Nabeela Fakhri said, “Qatari pany and their own personal de- cludes at the end of the summer, order to prepare them to work in airline, Qatar Airways was The airline will add a number of be given while working at Qatar students are equipped with the velopment. students will proudly display a professional environment. named ‘World’s Best Business new destinations to its extensive Airways. motivation to learn and grow in The students will have the newly honed skills in planning Following their induction Class’ at the 2018 World Airline route network in 2019, including This year’s interns will have whichever fi eld they choose to opportunity to experience Qa- and managing resources. In training, the students are paired Awards, managed by interna- Davao, the Philippines; Lisbon, the opportunity to work in vari- enter. tar Airways Group’s energetic addition, they will be able to with a line manager to ensure tional air transport rating or- ; Mogadishu, Somalia ous divisions of the company, Qatar Airways Group off ers a workplace, paving the way for exhibit personal responsibil- that each of them makes the ganisation Skytrax. It also won and Langkawi, Malaysia. Qatari travel writer to Galeries Lafayette Doha hosts exhibition share explorations at for Qatari artist Fahad al-Maadheed aleries Lafayette Doha is hosting an art exhibi- Gtion for local artist Fahad al-Maadheed. Al-Maadheed’s Qatar National Library paintings are displayed at the art exhibition corner inside Galer- ies Lafayette Doha, ground fl oor. atar National Library has The three-week-long exhibi- announced that it will tion runs until June 22 and “is a Qpresent a travel adven- perfect opportunity to witness ture seminar on June 20 with the exquisite art of this local tal- Qatari travel writer and televi- ent”, according to a press state- sion presenter Ali bin Towar al- ment. Kuwari. The exhibition also includes a Al-Kuwari’s role as host and live painting station for the art- presenter of the popular Ara- ist where he will be available to bic travel series, Khota Al Ra- paint on leather goods such as hala, has seen the young Qatari handbags, wallets and phone travel to far-fl ung places around covers. Customisations on each the world such as the Amazon product take approximately 2-5 rainforest in Brazil, the Shaolin weeks to be fi nished. Speaking School of Kung Fu in China, and about his art, the young artist on other exciting adventures. said: “My art is my passion and Al-Kuwari will share his explo- I am glad to be able to share it rations and experiences at the with the discerning clientele of seminar in his usual lively and Ali bin Towar al-Kuwari Galeries Lafayette Doha. It is frank style of storytelling. indeed a pleasure to be a part of In a statement yesterday, the bility in his role as brand ambas- al-Kuwari, who are having an this multi-dimensional depart- library said it regularly hosts sador for Vodafone Qatar and as impact both socially and profes- ment store that promotes and such events to recognise Qa- an avid cyclist, the statement sionally, to share his experience patronises art and culture.” Fahad al-Maadheed’s paintings are displayed at the art exhibition corner inside Galeries Lafayette tar’s outstanding youth and in- notes. Haya al-Sheeb, Infor- as a world traveller. Galeries Lafayette Doha gen- Doha, ground floor, and the expo also includes a live painting station for the artist. dividuals, who are seen to have mation Services librarian at the In this way, we hope that our eral manager David Miller add- a role in educating others about library, said: “The event is part youth will benefi t from interac- ed, “Art and culture is in our self-taught artist, having learnt of many prominent exhibitions in Doha and events held during the world and the diverse expe- of the library’s commitment to tions with role models who can DNA and we take special inter- everything he knows about his and workshops in diff erent parts the Qatar National Day celebra- riences of people from diff er- providing an engaging learning have a positive infl uence on their est in the works of our incred- art from various online resourc- of the Arab world. Apart from tions. ent communities and cultures environment where our com- formative learning and personal ible local artists. We are proud es. his personal exhibitions, which Hosting the exhibition is in across the globe. munity can be inspired to reach development,” added al-Sheeb. to showcase the magical brush- Today, he is well-known all have been acclaimed by art line “with the spirit of Galer- Al-Kuwari is not only a sea- their full potential.” The seminar is open to the strokes of Fahad al-Maadheed over the Gulf region for his art lovers, he has also been a part ies Lafayette, incorporating the soned traveller, but is also “We are proud to off er a plat- public and will take place at the on our premises.” and represents Qatar at the glo- of prominent cultural activi- element of art in a retail ambi- known in the community for his form here at the library for in- library on June 20 from 4.30pm Al-Maadheed’s love for art bal level, the statement notes. ties such as painting the walls ance”, the statement adds. commitment to social responsi- spiring individuals such as Mr to 5.30pm. started early in life and he is a Al-Maadheed has been a part of Katara – the Cultural Village

Qatar took part in the World Environment Day 2019 celebrations Environment Day celebrated under the theme ‘Beat Air Pollution’, as the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) held various activities at Mall of Qatar to mark the occasion. A large number of people participated in the activities and programmes organised by the MME at the mall. These included competitions, quizzes and various instructive activities to raise people’s awareness about the causes of air pollution and how to limit this to maintain the good health of humans and the entire environment in general. The initiative was particularly popular among children who showed great enthusiasm while taking part in activities such as drawing and colouring based on related themes. In a statement, the MME thanked the public for their participation and the mall’s management for the fruitful co-operation and excellent participation in the activities.