BUSINESS | Page 1 QATAR | Page 24

Commercial Bank ‘VIP Sadara’ customers hosted QF to unveil M F Husain’s at ‘Al Tawash’ Gallery fi nal art installation published in QATAR since 1978

THURSDAY Vol. XXXX No. 11380 November 28, 2019 Rabia II 1, 1441 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

24th Arabian Gulf Cup Amir meets Palestinian president Yesterday’s Results Doha emerges Oman 0-0 Bahrain Saudi Arabia 1-3 Kuwait as cruise hub Qatar participates in Bosphorus Summit Doha Port welcomes first turnaround call Qatar is taking part in the 10th with arrival of Costa Diadema cruise liner Bosphorus Summit which kicked off in Istanbul yesterday with a osta Diadema, the fl eet fl ag- the ship’s Captain Georgio Moretti. delegation led by HE the Minister ship of leading Italian company On this occasion, HE Jassim Seif of Commerce and Industry Ali bin CCosta Cruises, docked at Doha Ahmed al-Sulaiti, Minister of Trans- Ahmed al-Kuwari. The summit Port for the fi rst time yesterday, mark- port and Communications, welcomed His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met yesterday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas features seminars and discussion ing the fi rst of 16 turnaround calls that the arrival of Costa Diadema to Doha at the Amiri Diwan. During the meeting, President Abbas briefed the Amir on the latest developments in Palestine, panels including a discussion session the Dream-class cruise liner will make Port, praising the strong partnership and thanked him for Qatar’s continued support to the Palestinian people and their just cause. The meeting also entitled “Bilateral Relations between during the 2019-20 Season. with Costa Cruises and looking forward discussed bilateral relations and ways to support and strengthen them. Page 24 Qatar and Turkey” to be attended by Doha’s emergence as a turnaround to many years of fruitful co-operation. CEO of Qatar Financial Center Yousuf port marks a major milestone in the HE the Minister said: “Doha Port al-Jaida. The Summit brings together development of the country’s cruise continues to help in positioning Qatar Amir gets Kuwaiti leader’s verbal message more than 3,000 participants from tourism. as one of the most sought-after desti- 80 countries. Page 11 For the fi rst time, visitors can begin nations among cruise travellers in the His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim and end their journey from Doha and region, thanks also to the role played by bin Hamad al-Thani received a verbal Aft ershocks hamper have the opportunity to enjoy Qatar’s National Tourism Council, the Qatar message from Kuwaiti Amir Sheikh fi ve-star airline and award-winning Ports Company and other stakeholders Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, search for survivors hospitality before and after their cruises. in providing distinguished services to pertaining to bilateral relations and Emergency workers yesterday Offi cials, including HE Akbar al-Bak- cruise ships and the necessary facilities ways to enhance them, in addition to pulled dust-covered corpses from er, Secretary-General of Qatar National for their passengers.” the latest regional and international the ruins of an earthquake that Tourism Council (QNTC) and GCEO of Turnaround voyages contribute sig- developments. The message was has claimed 30 lives in Albania, as Qatar Airways; Ahmed al-Jamal, chair- nifi cantly to the country’s economy conveyed by the Speaker of the aftershocks hampered the second man of the General Customs Authority; and strengthen the tourism sector. Kuwaiti National Assembly, Marzouq day of search eff orts for survivors. Captain Hassan al-Maqeef, executive In addition to visitor spending, bin Ali al-Ghanim, during a meeting The 6.4 magnitude earthquake vice president, Commercial at Mwani the growth in Qatar’s cruise tourism with His Highness the Amir at the that rattled the Balkan state early Qatar, Rehan Ali, executive director of is also contributing to the country’s Amiri Diwan yesterday. The Speaker Tuesday morning was the most Al Tawfeeq Travels, and Ravi Ramach- economy through cruise line spending conveyed Kuwaiti leader’s greetings to powerful and damaging in decades. andran, general manager of Inchcape, on port services and maintenance. As the Amir, wishing him every success, In Durres and the town of Thumane, among others, were present to receive the cruise season grows year-on-year, and the Qatari people further progress apartments and hotels collapsed the mega ship. thousands of jobs and business oppor- and prosperity. into mountains of rubble. Page 18 HE al-Baker presented a plaque to tunities are created. To Page 11

Gulf Times Thursday, November 28, 2019 3 QATAR

Civic ministry wins prestigious Kuwaiti award

Qatar’s Ministry of Municipality and Environment has won Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah Informatics Award for its Aoun Application. The application was designed by the ministry’s Information Systems Department, which was among the best technical projects in the Award’s 19th edition. HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Subaie received the award at a ceremony held under the patronage and in the presence of Kuwaiti Amir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah. The award recognises the ministry’s eff orts in developing Aoun Application on smartphones, the new of which was inaugurated under the patronage and in the presence of HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani on September 23, 2018. The ministry is among the first government agencies to provide services to the public via smartphones and mobiles, as part of its strategic plan aiming at providing the best services to the public.

Justice ministry dept gets ISO certifi cation

QNA Doha

he Ministry of Justice Information Sys- Ttems’ department received yesterday an ISO certifi cation for informa- tion systems. The department ob- tained the certificate from Intertek. The latest certification means the department Off icials displaying the ISO certification. has completed all the requirements to obtain ing data and for facing rahim commented on the security of data. the ISO 27001, meaning cybersecurity threats. occasion and said it refl ects He also said that they will it has one of the world’s Director of the depart- the commitment of the begin working on obtaining best practices for secur- ment Khalid Mohamed Ib- Ministry to the safety and the ISO 27001. Gulf Times 4 Thursday, November 28, 2019 QATAR

Amir condoles with Albania leader FM receives message from Omani counterpart His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and 16,809 standard His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al- Thani have sent cables to Albanian President Ilir Meta, in which HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister they expressed condolences on the victims of the earthquake of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin specifi cations which hit northwestern Albania, wishing the injured a speedy Abdulrahman al-Thani yesterday received recovery. HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh a written message from the Minister Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani has sent a similar Responsible for Foreign Aff airs of Oman issued in Q3 cable to Prime Minister Edi Rama. Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, pertaining to bilateral relations between Qatar and Qatar condemns Baghdad bombings Oman and the means to develop them. QNA helped them better commit The message was handed over by Oman’s Doha to the regulations and con- Qatar expressed its strong condemnation and denunciation ambassador to Qatar Najib bin Yahya al- ditions of importation. The of the series of explosions that took place in the Iraqi capital Balushi during his meeting with the Deputy amount rejections of pro- Baghdad, which led to deaths and injuries. In a statement Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign atar General Organi- duction issued by the au- yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs reiterated Qatar’s Aff airs. sation for Standards thority due to a violation of firm position on rejecting violence and terrorism, whatever the Qand Metrology is- the specifi cations was only motives and reasons. sued a total of 16,809 stand- 33. This, in turn, is part of ard specifi cations during the State’s eff orts to improve the 3rd quarter of 2019 in a regulation of the products number of sectors such as that are produced locally or G77 lauds Qatar’s role in electricity and electronics, imported from abroad. chemicals, textiles, con- The authority also carried struction, food products, out 17 fi eld visits of facto- UN resolution adoption agriculture, as well as oil ries and labs to follow up on and gas. The total number of the progress made in those standard specifi cations is- places. It also analysed pre- he United Nations General Assembly Third Commit- sued in the fi rst nine months cious stones to ensure they tee adopted, by consensus, the resolution of the “20th of 2019 was 20,054. were in line with its specifi - TAnniversary of the International Year of the Family and The authority said that cations. The total weight of Beyond” to implement the objectives of the International Year its eff ort in raising aware- gold that was analysed was of the Family. Qatar facilitated the negotiations on the resolu- ness among merchants has 1.305 tonnes. tion on behalf of the Group of 77 and China in the United Na- tions. The Group of 77 expressed special appreciation to Qa- tar’s mission to the United Nations, which over the past years has facilitated consultations on the resolution. Qatar intro- duced the resolution since 2004, after having hosted the Doha Qatar-Singapore International Conference for the Family in that year. – QNA forum concludes

atar-Singapore Urban Planning Forum concluded yesterday in Doha. Q The forum was organised by the Ministry of Mu- nicipality and Environment. The three-day event focused on exchanging expertise on issues of joint interest. Assistant Undersecretary for Urban Planning at the min- istry Fahd Mohamed al-Qahtani said that the event was one of the outcomes of an agreement the two countries signed in 2009. – QNA Al-Hammadi meets EU off icial

HE the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs Dr Ahmed bin Hassan al-Hammadi yesterday met the EU Commissioner for Migration, Home Aff airs and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos, in Brussels. During the meeting, they reviewed the co-operation relations between Qatar and the EU, as well as issues of common concern. HE al-Hammadi also met the Governing Board Chair of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Jan Eliasson and Director of SIPRI Dan Smith. During the meeting, they reviewed the scope of co-operation, as well as issues of common concern. Gulf Times Thursday, November 28, 2019 5 QATAR Moroccan official praises Qatar Al Meera to off er more local products: offi cial

By Peter Alagos Business Reporter

l Meera Consumer Goods Company launched yes- Aterday its latest initiative that supports local entrepre- neurs by showcasing ‘Made in Qatar’ products on the super- Chief Public Prosecutor in Morocco and the King’s Attorney-General Mohamed Abdel Nabawi market chain’s shelves. praised the achievements of Qatar in the area of legislation. This came during a lecture organised “This initiative is important by the Public Prosecution represented by the Institute of Criminal Studies. The Chief Public for both Al Meera and local en- Prosecutor in Morocco, who is currently visiting Qatar, described the activities of the public trepreneurs because it is the fi rst prosecution in Morocco and the role it plays in serving society and fighting corruption. He also step to transform their small expressed his appreciation of the eff orts of HE the Attorney-General Dr Ali bin Fetais al-Marri on businesses into full-fl edged the Arab and International stage, and his commitment to fighting corruption and supporting the companies in the future,” Al law. The lecture was attended by a number of deputies of the Attorney-General and ambassador of Meera IT director Mohamed Morocco to Qatar Mohamed Setri. al-Bader told Gulf Times on the sidelines of the event held at Ka- tara – the Cultural Village Build- ing 15. In a statement, Al Meera ex- plained that the event was organ- ised to showcase the products of Ooredoo announces new Qatari small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to Al Meera’s commercial team. It also off ers them the oppor- campaign for football fans tunity to compete in the mar- Al Meera IT director Mohamed al-Bader (left) viewing the products on display during the event held at ket, as well as to improve their Katara yesterday. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil standards across the industry, oredoo has announced a the statement continued. importance of registering small This year alone, al-Bader said Meera is playing an instrumen- “fun new campaign” for “Working under the guidance businesses with Al Meera, cit- Al Meera has as many as 31 Qatari tal role in realising the economic Ofootball fans, running of three leading entities, Nama, ing the recent memorandum of suppliers, three of which, have development goals of the Qatar until December 8. Bedaya and the Ministry of Ad- understanding (MoU) it signed transformed into full-fl edged National Vision 2030,” the state- During the campaign, fans can ministrative Development, La- with Qatar Fuel Company (Wo- businesses. He added that Al ment said. take a snap with one of the Qa- bour & Social Aff airs, the Qatari qod) for the management of Wo- Meera is sourcing a wide range Al Meera added, “‘Made in tar team cut-outs – installed at SMEs enjoyed the opportunity to qod’s Sidra convenience stores. of products from local suppliers Qatar’ products have assumed selected Ooredoo shops – using gain new insights about product “At present, Al Meera has 55 and entrepreneurs in support of greater importance in recent the Ooredoo App to get free data. development and market cap- branches that are showcasing Qatar’s food security strategy. years due to geopolitical circum- Also, fans can take part in the ture from the commercial team locally-made products. Qatari “This initiative targets entre- stances, but also as the country Nojoom Daily Quiz for a chance Speaking of the campaign, many football fans among us, of Al Meera,” the statement ex- entrepreneurs registered with us preneurs and newly-established gears up to meet the diversifi - to win diff erent prizes every day Manar Khalifa al-Muraikhi – who will no doubt want to stay plained. will also benefi t from our MoU businesses, and Al Meera’s sup- cation agenda of economic de- until December 8. director of PR and Corporate connected during these excit- According to al-Bader, Al with Woqod because this will port was extended as part its velopment laid out in the Qatar All fans need to do is to an- Communications at Oore- ing events, so the free data of- Meera’s commercial team also provide them with a wider expo- corporate social responsibility National Vision 2030, which is swer the daily quiz question via doo – said: “We’re delighted fer is a great way for them to provides free advisory services sure once we manage their Sidra mandate. Every great company just a decade away. The initiative the Ooredoo App and, if the an- to offer this fun, lighthearted do so for less. on marketing and branding, as stores,” said al-Bader, who add- starts with an idea, which needs is Al Meera’s continued eff ort in swer is correct, they’ll go into the campaign to our customers “We are also sure our custom- well a feasibility study to deter- ed that ‘Made in Qatar’ products nurturing and support to fl our- its pursuit to support local pro- draw to win one of the “amazing to enhance their enjoyment ers will love the Nojoom quiz, mine the success of the business comprise around 15% to 20% of ish. ducers and activate the SMEs’ gifts”, the company has said in a of the ongoing football at- with its daily wonderful prizes and its products. the total goods being sold in Al “By engaging with these busi- contribution to the economic statement. mosphere. We know we have and brain teasers.” Al-Bader also underscored the Meera stores. nesses with our expertise, Al diversifi cation of Qatar.” Gulf Times 6 Thursday, November 28, 2019 QATAR Nearly 900 to HBKU holds Graduate take part in Esrar Race on Nov 30 By Joey Aguilar Studies Open House Staff Reporter The annual event signals start of admissions cycle at early 900 participants the university will take part in Esrar NRace 2019, scheduled on November 30 at Aspire amad Bin Khalifa Uni- Park, making this edition of The annual event has been versity (HBKU) yes- the obstacle course event in attracting a large number of Hterday held its annual Qatar the largest so far. participants from Qatar and Graduate Studies Open House The annual event, held un- other parts of the world. – the university’s largest stu- der the patronage of the Min- dent recruitment drive event istry of Culture and Sports, is of runners will begin at that provides key informa- organised by Diverse Sports 8am while the last hit starts tion regarding the 2019-2020 in partnership with the Qatar at 10:30am. academic year. National Tourism Council. The latest edition of Esrar In keeping with previous “This year’s race will be big- will also feature the Kids Race, years, the Graduate Studies ger than any of our previous a 1km mini obstacle course for Open House was directed at events. By creating more cate- children aged 5-12 years, with prospective students who have gories, we are aiming to appeal all fi nishers receiving medals. already identifi ed a programme to everyone interested in par- Organisers also announced of interest and want to know taking or watching fun sport- that Vodafone Qatar is the more about course content, ing events,” Diverse Sports Gold Sponsor of this year’s study options and student life at Snapshots from the HBKU Graduate Studies Open House. PICTURES: Shaji Kayamkulam CEO Khalid al-Kuwari said in Esrar Race. Education City. a statement. “Vodafone Qatar has a long To assist, faculty and admis- HBKU’s academic experience. colleges. In academic year 2018- cruitment drive event, Dr Emad “The kids’ race is also a great history of supporting sports sions staff fi elded questions The 2019-2020 academic year 2019, the university introduced El-Din Shahin, dean of CIS and addition as it encourages fami- in the country and playing an and off ered their perspectives sees the introduction of two new eight new programmes: a Master interim provost of HBKU, said: lies to do fun and active activi- active part in events that bring on working and studying with programmes. The College of Hu- of Arts in Applied Islamic Eth- “The annual event is one of our ties together,” he added. people together. Esrar Race HBKU. manities and Social Sciences’ ics from the College of Islamic most important channels for Diverse Sports is a Qatari 2019 is set to be a fantastic Current students were also Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies (CIS); PhD in Humani- highlighting how HBKU’s aca- company that seeks to deliver community sporting event and on hand to highlight a range of Communication is the fi rst de- ties and Social Sciences from the demic programmes provide un- quality sporting events in Qa- we are delighted to work with extracurricular activities avail- gree of its kind in Qatar. College of Humanities and Social paralleled opportunities for in- tar that engage with Qatar’s Diverse Sports to help bring it able across Education City. Ad- Students will engage in re- Sciences; Master of Information quiry and discovery. The event community and beyond. to life,” said Vodafone Qatar ditionally, participants had the search, education, and outreach Systems in Health Management is an opportunity to highlight Esrar Race, which has been COO Diego Camberos. opportunity to discuss strategies to understand the challenges of and Master of Science in Sports how we inform national research attracting a large number of Esrar Race has also wit- for developing stronger applica- today’s changing intercultural Management (a joint degree with capabilities, collaborate with participants from Qatar, the nessed Qatar’s Olympic cham- tions and watch a video in which settings in Qatar and worldwide. the University of South Caro- world-leading academic institu- region and other countries pion, IAAF Athlete of the Year college deans highlight HBKU’s The College of Law’s Doctor of lina) from the College of Science tions, develop future leaders and across the globe every year, and IAAF 2019 high jump gold unique contributions to local, Juridical Science is also the fi rst and Engineering; Master of Laws entrepreneurs, and shape novel will be giving away a total of 12 medallist Mutaz Essa Barshim regional and global learning fully-fl edged research-intensive in International Law and For- solutions for a positive impact at prizes this year. taking part (as an honor- ecosystems. doctorate degree in the Middle eign Aff airs and Master of Laws home and abroad. Ultimately, we According to organisers, ary ambassador) in the 2018 The Graduate Studies Open East and North Africa (Mena). It in International Economic and hope that the event inspires pro- categories for the event in- edition of the event. House presented the perfect is expected that the programme Business Law from the College spective students to study with clude team, female and male He said Esrar Race, a “very opportunity to highlight HB- which are Qatari nationals. will create a vibrant community of Law; Master of Science in Ex- us and uphold our commitment individual, and masters (45 special event to him, has be- KU’s growing domestic and As things stand, HBKU’s cur- of legal scholars who will assume ercise Science from the College to unlocking human potential.” years-old and above). come a platform in promoting international profi le. rent student body represents teaching positions in universities of Health and Life Sciences (a Admission to HBKU’s pro- The race features 20 ob- healthy and active lifestyle in For the 2018-2019 academic more than 60 nationalities, 34% and government roles in Qatar, joint degree with the University grammes is now possible via stacles and covers 5km, giv- Qatar, especially for the youth, year, the university enjoyed its of whom are Qataris. A mul- the Mena region and beyond. of South Carolina); and a Master the university’s website. HBKU ing participants “an excit- Esrar 2018 saw over 500 play- largest intake made up of more tinational roster of more than Both degrees take HBKU’s of Public Policy off ered by the regularly holds events to high- ing fi tness challenge, testing ers and enthusiasts, including than 370 new students com- 75 faculty members contin- course off erings up to 35 pro- College of Public Policy. light its research activities and endurance, strength, speed, professionals, participating in prising 46 nationalities, 26% of ues to add its own diversity to grammes spread across its six Speaking after annual re- projects. and stamina.” The fi rst batch diff erent categories.

Participants of the TOT Academy. Foreign coaches receive training at TOT Academy he Training of In- which will take place in refl ected the focus on how ternational Train- March 2020 in Doha, and to be tolerant to people’s Ters (TOT) Academy, will be held entirely in opinions which contrib- organised and hosted by Arabic language. uted to the diversity of dis- QatarDebate Centre (QD), With 10 international cussions and information a member of Qatar Founda- trainers from nine Arabic- exchanged. tion (QF), at student centre, speaking and non-Arabic The participants em- Education City, featured speaking countries, the phasised the role of Qa- intensive workshops for Academy featured partici- tarDebate Centre through fi ve consecutive days, will pants from Turkey, Kos- the academy to establish conclude today. ovo, Czech Republic, Libya, standards for debate and The event, which began Lebanon, Kuwait, Oman equip cadres of qualifi ed on November 24, brought and Britain. trainers to spread the art together coaches of dif- A variety of QD’s debate of debate in Arabic in their ferent nationalities from instructors presented and countries. schools around the world led discussions and work- The participants in the to equip them with the shops on all aspects of art TOT Academy expressed necessary skills to select of debate, with emphasis on happiness in participating and train students upon debate skills, critical think- in the academy, which ac- return to their respective ing, refuting and argument quainted them with a great institutions. but also extending to top- deal of information and These students will par- ics such as adjudication, extensive experience, un- ticipate in the fi fth Inter- motion analysis, and case derscoring its excellence, national Schools Arabic building. demanding its continuation debating championships, While the participants in the long term.

Dutch off icial receives Qatari envoy to Uganda papers of Qatari envoy presents credentials The protocol department director at the Ministry Ugandan Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sam of Foreign Aff airs of the Netherlands, Pascalle Kutesa received a copy of the credentials Grotenhuis, received a copy of the credentials of of Qatar’s ambassador Jabor bin Ali al- Abdullah bin Hussein al-Jaber as ambassador of Dosari in Kampala yesterday. The Ugandan Qatar to the Netherlands. The director wished the minister wished ambassador success in ambassador success in his duties and bilateral his duties and bilateral relations further relations further development and progress. development and progress. Gulf Times Thursday, November 28, 2019 7 QATAR

Qatar students head to China Vodafone Qatar’s Gulf Cup for Huawei ICT contest fi nal Fan Zone proves huge draw odafone Qatar, the offi - The AR game has been spe- delighted to have extended the uawei has announced cial telecommunications cially customised to incorporate fan experience well beyond the the winners of the Qa- Vsponsor of the 24th Ara- elements of the Arabian Gulf pitch and into our Fan Zone. Htar edition of the Hua- bian Gulf Cup, has “upped the Cup, while the mascot — Sodeifi “Vodafone Qatar demon- wei Middle East ICT Compe- fan experience” with a high-tech — guides participants through strates how cutting-edge tech- tition 2019, held recently in Fan Zone at Khalifa Internation- their games, the statement nology can transform the way collaboration with the Ministry al Stadium, where thousands of notes. people stay entertained and we of Education and Higher Edu- football fans attending Tues- Participants also have the op- hope that fans will truly enjoy cation. day’s opening match between portunity to play on 5G handsets our virtual reality gaming expe- The longstanding competi- Qatar and Iraq enjoyed the latest powered by Vodafone’s high- riences as part of an unforgetta- tion, which falls under Hua- technology in real-time gaming. speed 5G network. ble Arabian Gulf Cup 2019.” wei’s strategy to develop the The Fan Zone gives visitors Integrating game visual and Organised by the Arab Gulf global information and com- the chance to experience an audio content with the user’s en- Cup Football Federation, the munications technology (ICT) augmented reality (AR) game vironment in real time, AR gam- tournament kicked off with the talent ecosystem, aims to nur- powered by Vodafone’s 5G Gi- ing showcased how Vodafone’s participation of all eight nations ture local talent in the ICT gaNet network as well as a Vir- 5G GigaNet network transforms — Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Yemen, fi eld with a vision to bring dig- tual Reality (VR) football game, real-time gaming. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain ital benefi ts to every person, the company said in a statement. In turn, fans can get into the and Qatar. home and organisation for a 5G technology provides gam- action in the VR Game that As part of its sponsorship of fully-connected and intelligent ers with ultra-fast speed, a more transports each participant right the Gulf Cup, Vodafone Qatar world, the company said in a reliable connection and ultra- into the arena where they can is covering the two tournament statement. low latency to enjoy an enhanced show off their football skills. venues — Khalifa International This year’s winning team, gaming experience. Vodafone Qatar CEO Sheikh Stadium and Abdullah Bin Kha- comprising three students and The Fan Zone is open at Kha- Hamad Abdulla al-Thani said, lifa Stadium — with free Wi-Fi their professor, was chosen lifa International Stadium until “It has been an exciting start to powered by its GigaNet network from a fi eld of 253 fi nalists who This year’s winning team, comprising three students and their professor, was chosen from a field the fi nal match is played on De- the highly anticipated Arabian that will keep thousands of fans competed following the pre- of 253 finalists. cember 8. Gulf Cup, making us even more connected during the games. liminary round involving en- tries from four universities. China this month, where they their mentors will have the op- nurture through opportuni- This year’s fi nalists from Qa- will compete with their fellow portunity to meet their coun- ties such as the Huawei ICT tar represent Qatar University fi nalists from around the Mid- try’s ambassador to China Competition.” and Community College of Qa- dle East region to win the ICT during the Huawei-organised Throughout the Huawei ICT tar. Competition’s grand prize – Ambassadors Summit Discus- Competition stages, contest- In addition to competing $30,000. sions event. ants receive the latest updates against other winners from Their visit will include a This will provide the par- on emerging technologies that the Middle East, the regional “once-in-a-lifetime chance ticipants with the chance to are reshaping Lebanon’s digital winners will be invited back to to work among some of the discuss with respected leaders economy. China to take part in a compe- world’s most renowned tech- and cultural envoys their future These include Artifi cial In- tition with global Huawei ICT nology pioneers in Huawei’s ambitions and anticipations for telligence (AI), Big Data, the Competition winners. facilities”. their national ICT sector. Internet of Things (IoT) and, “The competition promotes Participants will conduct Frank Fan, CEO of Huawei most importantly, 5G broad- innovation and creativity while fi eld experiments in Huawei’s Technologies Qatar, said: “By band — seen as a crucial digit- serving as a bridge between the specialised labs and research investing in future talent and al-service enabler. classroom and the workplace. centres at its headquarters in building a more robust ICT tal- The competition is an op- “By nurturing university Shenzhen, helping equip stu- ent ecosystem in Qatar, we are portunity for students to test students’ talent in Qatar, it dents with the tools needed to investing in the future of the their abilities in these cutting- also contributes to increasing tackle complex challenges in country. edge fi elds, and helps colleges national ICT competitiveness areas such as cloud computing, I off er them (the winning and universities better under- while supporting Qatar Na- IoT and network security. teams) my congratulations and stand the talent requirements tional Vision 2030,” the state- The technical programme wish them the best of luck in of today’s top businesses and ment notes. will be complemented by a the competition’s fi nal stage.” government leaders. Having already received cer- number of cultural experiences Farhan Khan, vice-presi- During the fi nal, participants tifi cates and prizes as Qatar’s and knowledge-exchange op- dent of Huawei Qatar, added: are equipped with an online national winners, the local portunities while in China. “Qatar has exceptional ICT guide and are supervised by teams have now earned a trip to In addition, students and talent, which we are proud to university professors. The Vodafone Qatar Gulf Cup Fan Zone. Gulf Times 8 Thursday, November 28, 2019 QATAR Qatar’s keenness to improve transportation hailed

By Shafeeq Alingal Staff Reporter

atar’s keenness to imple- ment innovative meas- Qures to improve trans- portation won accolades from experts at the International Road Transport Union (IRU) confer- ence yesterday. “Qatar is taking eff orts to get innovative things done to bring in improvement in the trans- portation sector. The country has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Interna- tional Road Transport Union in order to develop joint activities in the transport sector and de- velop land transport projects in Qatar in line with best practices and international standards. The country is now looking to acti- vate International Road Trans- Rashid Taleb al-Nabet Nasser Mamdouh al-Shammari, Dr Badr Yaroob and Najla Malallah al-Jaber attending the IRU conference. PICTURES: Thajudheen and supplied port Agreement (TIR) electronic system to provide a further boost will be implemented in Qatar titled ‘Ensuring Safe Mobility of international organisations also monitor our staff in order to the transportation sector,” next year,” he added. People and Goods During Major specialised in traffic safety. to ensure that they follow the said Rani Wehbe, IRU special He hailed various entities, in- Events in the State of Qatar’, were Nasser Mamdouh al-Sham- rules and regulations and pro- adviser to the Middle East. cluding the General Authority launched by Rashid Taleb al- mari, operations manager, LTS vide the best service,” he said. He was presenting a paper on of Customs and Qatar Cham- Nabet, Assistant Undersecretary at Mowasalat, noted that Mow- Al-Shammari was speaking ‘Qatar’s accession to TIR — State ber, for showing much inter- of Land Transport, Ministry of asalat is initiating measures on ‘taxi and limo sector stake in of the matter’ during a session est in implementing the TIR Transport and Communications to ensure improvement in the road, traffic and driving safety’ on the second day of the confer- agreement.“Seventy-six coun- (MoTC), at the Traffi c Depart- country’s transportation sec- during the session. ence. tries, including 12 Arab coun- ment’s headquarters in Madinat tor. The session was also attend- Wehbe, who explained that tries, have signed the agreement Khalifa. “We keep educating our staff ed by Dr Badr Yaroob, regional the TIR will further ease pro- while 62 of them have imple- The second day witnessed and monitoring the capacity of adviser, Transport and Logis- ceedings and expedite cargo mented it. Qatar is one of the various sessions in which ex- vehicles and staff. The fitness tics, UN Economic and Social movement, said it would fur- countries to maintain security perts and offi cials contemplated of vehicles is monitored with Commission for Western Asia, ther prevent irregularities in the and international standards in measures to improve transpor- Rani Wehbe the help of various stakehold- and Najla Malallah al-Jaber, transportation sector. “Training transportation,” he noted. tation. ers, including the MoTC and land transport planning spe- to implement the TIR electronic The proceedings of the second The conference has been or- in partnership with the Traffic fic Safety Committee, with the Traffic Department, in order to cialist at the Land Transport system has been carried and it day of the three-day conference, ganised by Mowasalat (Karwa) Department and National Traf- participation of national and improve their performance. We Planning Department, MoTC.

Malachite at Galeries Lafayette Doha. Galeries Lafayette Doha launches Qatari luxury abaya brand Malachite

aleries Lafayette Doha has “The perfectly set Arabic ambiance of balance, abundance, manifestation launched luxury abaya brand refl ected the brand’s philosophy that and intention. It represents “personal GMalachite by Qatari designer luxury is an experience,” the statement growth and abundance of spirit”. The Amna Abdulwahab, celebrating the noted. signature green colour of the brand creations of yet another local talent. Addressing her audience, Abdul- “symbolises the rich and verdant hues Founded in 2017 in Doha, Malachite wahab said: “We are glad to be a part of nature in full bloom”. off ers “elegant handmade couture abaya of Galeries Lafayette Doha, especially “The luxury brand’s vision and in- using the fi nest silk, the best Swarovski because we share the Parisian depart- terest in details is portrayed in the fi ne crystals and the most exquisite pearls”, ment store’s vision of bringing togeth- selection of accessories and embel- according to a press statement. er art and culture. This collaboration lishments and delicate designs that The boutique was ceremonious- will introduce a new chapter in the manifest the luxurious experience of ly launched on November 21, when world of abaya fashion. Malachite is all abaya couture. guests enjoyed the fi rst look of Mala- about empowering women as we be- Their distinguished work ensures chite’s Capsule Collection created ex- lieve that with the right abaya, you can excellence and a touch of fi nesse and clusively for Galeries Lafayette Doha, conquer the world.” couture in the making of abayas,” the while sipping on some Arabic coff ee. The name Malachite means a stone statement added.

QU students receive training from QRCS

atar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has trained a group social issues and phenomena to understand them and of students from Qatar University (QU), in partial propose potential solutions. Qfulfi lment of their academic requirements for gradu- Among the skills acquired by the Qatari students were ation in the 2019-2020 academic year. one-on-one interviews, case studies, field visits, re- Over three consecutive months, six seniors at the Depart- porting, listening, observation and data collection and ment of Social Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, analysis. The internship was part of a memorandum of attended as full-time interns at QRCS’ Volunteering and understanding signed by QRCS and QU to work together Local Development Division. on research topics of common concern, training and con- They were engaged in the day-to-day activities of the sultation programmes, and capacity-building in first aid, division’s social workers, from receiving, examining and disaster management, social work and other fields of spe- deciding on aid applications to conducting research on cialty.

2017 models of BMW G 310 R, G 310 GS recalled

he Ministry of Commerce and forts to protect consumers and ensure to report violations to its Consumer Pro- Industry (MoCI), in co-operation that dealers follow up on vehicle defects tection and Anti-Commercial Fraud De- Twith Alfardan Motorcycles, dealer and repairs. partment, which processes complaints, of BMW motorcycles in Qatar, has an- The ministry has said it will co-or- enquiries and suggestions, through the nounced a recall of BMW G 310 R and dinate with the dealer to follow up on call centre: 16001, e-mail: info@moci. G 310 GS models of 2017 due to possible the maintenance and repair works, and gov.qa, Twitter: @MOCIQATAR, Insta- corrosion on the brake calipers. communicate with customers to ensure gram: MOCIQATAR, and the ministry’s The recall campaign comes within the that the necessary repairs are carried mobile app for Android and iOS: MO- framework of the MoCI’s continuous ef- out. The MoCI has urged all customers CIQATAR Gulf Times Thursday, November 28, 2019 9 QATAR Generation Amazing, Jordan Hashemite charity kick off ‘football for development programme’

eneration Amazing (GA) An offi cial partnership signing ty support to aff ected individuals “The partnership between the morale of refugees, giving has announced that it ceremony took place during the and communities in Jordan, the the Jordan Hashemite Charity them the stepping stones they Gis partnering with the 2019 World Innovation Summit Mena region and further afi eld. Organisation and the Supreme need to improve their qual- Jordan Hashemite Charity Or- for Education (WISE) held re- We see that this partnership will Committee for Delivery & Leg- ity of life. Hands-on work, such ganisation for Arab and Islamic cently at Qatar National Conven- not only ensure that both GA and acy’s Generation Amazing pro- as that exhibited in this pro- Relief, Development and Co-op- tion Centre in Doha. JHCO are able to serve refugee gramme provides a valuable op- gramme, will most defi nitely eration (JHCO) in order to bring The event was attended by and other vulnerable populations portunity for both organisations improve the relationship and the ‘football for development JHCO chairman of the board of over the coming years, but also to not only provide support to instils trust between the charity programme’ to refugees and vul- trustees Prince Rashid bin El innovate respectively as organi- refugees and vulnerable commu- and refugees, providing a solid nerable communities in Jordan Hassan, SC Secretary-General sations working in the humani- nities in Jordan and other coun- ground for both parties to grow and across the world. Hassan al-Thawadi and JHCO tarian sector. We look forward to tries, but to also aid in modern- together and creating a mutually Generation Amazing, the Su- secretary-general Ayman al- implementing this collaborative ising their skills and experience benefi cial environment, creat- preme Committee for Delivery & Mufl eh. eff ort, which will use football for to help integrate them into host ing the fi rst steps for socio-eco- Legacy (SC)’s fl agship CSR pro- “We are proud and excited to development to improve the lives communities through sport for nomic growth.” gramme, joins forces with JHCO, partner with such a renowned of young people.” development,” al-Mufl eh noted. More than 500,000 benefi ci- who are known for their cross-sec- international humanitarian or- The Generation Amazing Further elaborating on what aries have been reached to date toral relief and humanitarian work ganisation, and will be further ‘football for development pro- the partnership is hoping to through Generation Amazing, across Jordan and internationally, enhancing our Generation gramme’ works with participants achieve, al-Mufl eh said JHCO which is currently operating in bringing emergency assistance and Amazing reach and impact across to develop communication, lead- is looking forward to extending eight countries: Qatar, Oman, providing aid for victims of man- the region and the world by ership and teamwork skills while the ways in which it can support Nepal, Pakistan, Jordan, Leba- made and natural disasters. working together with the Jordan also promoting values like in- refugee communities by further non, the Philippines and India. The partnership aims to im- Hashemite Charity Organisation clusion, integration and gender establishing alternative methods The programme plans to ex- plement the Generation Amazing Dignitaries at the agreement-signing ceremony. over the next four years,” said al- equality and building a higher for interacting with young peo- tend its outreach in the next few methodology into already exist- Thawadi. sense of active citizenship among ple. years by doubling that fi gure and ing sport for development infra- tiate an exchange of knowledge Qatar and worldwide, according “JHCO has an impressive rep- youth through the power of foot- “This partnership provides an impacting the lives of 1mn ben- structure in Jordan as well as ini- and operating space in Jordan, to a press statement. utation for providing high-quali- ball. essential opportunity to boost efi ciaries by 2022.

Qatar Biobank expert showcases nation’s progress at conference MIA hosts public lecture by Biobank – a member of Qatar Foundation – was also shared, including blood samples, waist and hip measurements, grip strength, retinal imaging and an Hermitage Museum offi cials MRI scan. Dr Nahla, who spoke on the final afternoon of the three-day he Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) congress, said: “It was a great has hosted a talk titled ‘The Her- occasion to attend and much Tmitage Days’ in collaboration with knowledge was gained as ex- the State Hermitage Museum of St Pe- pertise was shared by everyone. tersburg as part of an ongoing partnership Delegates from around the world between the two cultural institutions. had the chance to learn about the Dr Mikhail Piotrovskiy, general direc- incredible progress that we have tor of the Hermitage, delivered a lec- Dr Nahla Afifi achieved over the past few years ture titled ‘Museum in the 21st Century’, at Qatar Biobank. which shed light on the rich history of the Qatar’s eff orts to advance preci- “We are delighted to share museum and its approach to conservation sion medicine have been show- important knowledge with the and collection care. cased to the world of biobanking worldwide biobanking commu- During his talk, Dr Piotrovskiy deliv- at an international conference in nity in such gatherings, which sig- ered a presentation on the collections ex- the US. nificantly aids precision medicinal hibited across the museum as well as the Qatar Biobank director Dr support work across the world. iconic visits by Russian and international Nahla Afifi was one of a select It was a pleasure and honour to heads of state, celebrities and others. group of speakers invited to represent our great institution at The lecture was followed by one deliv- present at the Cambridge Health- the congress.” ered by Irina Guruleva, research offi cer in tech Institute’s 11th International The address also highlighted the Department of Scientifi c Restoration Leaders in Biobanking Congress, Qatar Biobank’s goal to con- and Conservation, titled ‘Conservation in in Miami, Florida, US. tinue collecting and analysing the Hermitage’. Dr Nahla explained how Qatar important health data from the Guruleva introduced the Hermitage’s Biobank’s dedicated work to Qatari population, and to carry best practice approach to collection care. collect health information from out further investigations, the The lecture is the latest initiative by Qatari nationals and long-term eventual aim being the realisation MIA “designed to allow an exchange of residents was progressing, and of personalised medical care for expertise and knowledge between cultur- helping to identify serious health all citizens in Qatar and further al organisations and to expose members conditions such as diabetes, high afield. of the community to renowned cultural blood pressure and cardiovascu- Over the coming years, Qatar fi gures and benchmarks of museum prac- lar diseases. Biobank will collect health infor- tice”, a press statement notes. Early counteraction against mation from 60,000 people in “Conservation forms a core part of Dr Mikhail Piotrovskiy Dr Julia Gonnella Irina Guruleva such issues would be beneficial to Qatar – 20,000 participants have safeguarding cultural heritage for genera- patients in Qatar to help improve already completing the screening tions to come – both in Qatar and across this collaboration,” said Dr Julia Gonnel- a conference on museology. Additionally, partnership by two wonderful museums.” their long-term health. process. the globe. We were pleased to host our la, director of the Museum of Islamic Art. we participated in exhibitions hosted at The collaboration between MIA and An overview of the series of Details of Qatar Biobank is guests from the Hermitage Museum and Dr Piotrovskiy said: “Our co-operation MIA, including the recent ‘Syria Mat- the Hermitage Museum “is a testament the detailed tests that par- available online at www.qatar- exchange best practice approaches with with MIA is an extremely important one, ters’. Our teams also have good rela- to the lasting legacy of the Year of Culture ticipants go through at Qatar biobank.org.qa/home regards to conservation and collection I remember talking in this room a year af- tions — the team in Qatar has visited the programme, of which Russia was a part- care. We hope to continue and expand ter the opening of MIA, when there was Hermitage. It is a good and permanent ner country in 2018”, the statement adds.

Off icials at the MoU-signing ceremony. QU, Universiti Utara Malaysia to strengthen co-operation

atar University (QU) has Prince of Kedah; Prof Dato’ Dr student exchange, as well as co- and higher education. Therefore we hosted a memorandum Ahmad Bashawir bin Hj Abdul organising symposiums and work- are honoured to have this collabora- Qof understanding (MoU)- Ghani, UUM vice-vhancellor and shops.” tion and we look forward to working signing ceremony with Universiti Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mukhriz “Our relationship with Malaysia is together,” he noted. Utara Malaysia (UUM), which will Tun Mahathir, Chief Minister of very strong; His Highness the Amir The UUM vice-chancellor also strengthen co-operation between Kedah. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani spoke on the occasion and expressed the two academic institutions, im- QU president Dr Hassan al-Der- visited Malaysia on a state visit two his appreciation, saying it was a prove understanding and seeks to ham was on hand to sign the agree- years ago, when he signed several great opportunity to visit the QU establish mutual benefi cial collabo- ment and spoke on the occasion, MoUs with diff erent institutions. It campus and meet the community. rations to benefi t the students. saying: “We are honoured to host is essential for us to follow up with He spoke about UUM and its ar- The event was attended by a the Universiti Utara Malaysia and widening our collaboration with eas of focus, listing the universi- number of dignitaries from Ma- to sign this agreement between universities in Malaysia because ties most recent achievements, and laysia, including Tengku Sarafu- both universities. It is important Malaysia’s development is a model expressed enthusiasm on behalf of din Badlishah Ibni Al Aminul Ka- for universities to work together to for us both economically, socially UUM in establishing a formal edu- rim Sultan Sallehuddin, Crown collaborate in terms of faculty and but also specifi cally in education cational collaboration with QU. Gulf Times 10 Thursday, November 28, 2019 QATAR

UN delegation visits Shura Council FM sends message to IPU Secretary-General

A delegation from the United Nations Off ice of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) yesterday visited the Shura Council. The UN delegation was briefed on Qatar’s eff orts in supporting the least developed countries, achieving comprehensive and sustainable development therein and Qatar’s role as an active member of the international community. The UN delegation was received by a member of the Shura Council, Nasser bin Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Martin Chungong has received a written Sulaiman al-Hayder, and a number of Shura Council off icials. message from HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani pertaining to the relations between Qatar and the IPU and ways of promoting them. The message was handed over by the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the UN Off ice in Geneva ambassador Ali Khalfan al-Mansouri, during his meeting with the IPU Secretary-General.

Ashghal continues Swiss School of Qatar to plant trees as part receives prestigious Triple IB authorisation of green campaign ensure that it was truly interna- HE Dr al-Marri assured me that By Ayman Adly Staff Reporter tional by attracting students and he would give his full support he Public Works Author- teachers from across the globe.” to the project. It has become a ity (Ashghal) joined hands “Rich in language — English, Ar- school of choice in Qatar and we Twith students from Al wiss International School abic and French, we continue to are proud of it. The school enjoys Markhiya School for Girls to plant of Qatar (SISQ) has re- grow and, within only two years, the eff orts of a highly dedicated trees at the Al Markhiya Street Sceived Triple IB authori- we became an authorised IB con- staff of 100 members on all levels, Development Project site as part sation (PYP, MYP, DP) from the tinuum school — PYP, MYP and and I really appreciate that we of the ongoing ‘Qatar Beautifi ca- International Baccalaureate Or- DP. Every step has made us bet- have wonderful students, teach- tion and Our Kids Planting Trees’ ganisation in Geneva, head of ter as individuals and better as a ers and staff , who constitute the campaign launched by the Su- school Philip Bradley announced school,” Bradley said while ad- real asset of the school, besides pervisory Committee of Beautifi - at a ceremony held on the school dressing a gathering of students, being a sophisticated school as a cation of Roads and Public Places premises yesterday. their parents and a number of joint venture of Bellevue and Qa- in Qatar. Accordingly, the school is now guests who included offi cials tar,” Malley noted. The students expressed delight authorised to off er its students from the Ministry of Education He added that the school at participating in the campaign the Primary Years Programme, and Higher Education as well as serves students aged from 3-18 and said they would like to make Middle Years Programme and Di- Mark Malley, CEO of Bellevue years, and the new accreditation Qatar greener by planting trees. ploma Programme of the Inter- Education, who came from Lon- would enable the students to join Sondos Mohamed, a student, national Baccalaureate (IB). don to take part in the event. any university around the world. said: “Qatar is beautiful and I love Bradley said the school cur- In his address, Malley recalled The ceremony featured a it. I like to plant trees on its streets rently has some 720 students when he met HE Dr al-Marri six choir performance by pupils of to make them more green.” The from 69 nationalities and is con- years ago to talk about the school the school, who started with the campaign has been launched as sidered one of the most sought- project. HE Dr al-Marri told him Qatar national anthem and then part of the ‘Plant Million Trees’ after schools in the country. He that he needs to create a truly in- performed some other songs ac- mission that is being imple- stressed that “the school was ternational school and discussed companied by the piano. Even- mented in co-ordination with the borne out of the vision of HE what should be done to realise tually, the students, parents Ministry of Municipality and En- the Attorney-General Dr Ali bin such a vision, he said. and members of the school staff vironment (MME). Fetais al-Marri, president of the “Now the school has set the posed for photographs to mark Apart from the MME, the su- school board, as he wanted to highest bar in the GCC region as the occasion. pervisory committee works in co-ordination with several min- istries and other entities in Qatar, such as the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Minis- try of Culture and Sports, Qatar Museums, Qatar Rail and Private Engineering Offi ce, for project forestation and greenery areas. of more public transport op- ing through increased aff ores- implementation. The commit- The supervisory committee’s tions aiming at reduced use of tation and landscaping, which tee is responsible for fi ve major campaign will enhance sustain- private cars and improve lifestyle will greatly help in reducing the tasks, including the construction ability through minimising envi- through clean and safe transpor- temperature in cities. The Al of central public parks, provision ronmental pollution and reduc- tation. Markhiya Street Development of dedicated lanes for pedestrians ing the emission of CO2 through The initiative works to ensure Project implemented by Ashghal and bicycles, development of the minimised consumption and a healthy environment within includes planting 300 trees and Doha Corniche, development of conservation of energy resources. residential neighbourhoods development of 51,835sqm of Central Doha and increasing af- It also focuses on the provision and places of public gather- landscape.

Off icials mark the occasion. PICTURES: Ram Chand

Students from Al Markhiya School for Girls. The event was attended by students, their parents and a number of guests. Gulf Times Thursday, November 28, 2019 11 QATAR Qatar attends Bosphorus summit in Istanbul

QNA The 10th Bosphorus Summit more than 3,000 participants, key and the future of world trade national platforms for exchang- partnerships to support the strategic partnerships with vari- Istanbul which runs until tomorrow un- including heads of states and and its role in changing the glo- ing views and foreseeing future multilateral international co- ous countries of the world. der the theme, “Towards a New governments, ministers and bal system, in addition to the prospects in all fi elds. operation. The Minister noted that the World Order” features seminars businessmen, from 80 countries digital transformation and the The Minister underlined that On the Qatari economy, the positive performance of the na- he State of Qatar is taking and discussion panels includ- to discuss the challenges facing increasing role of computers and the participation of the State of Minister said that the State of tional economy is the fruit of part in the 10th Bospho- ing a discussion session entitled, the world economy and the chal- artifi cial intelligence as a com- Qatar stems from its keenness Qatar has succeeded in imple- Qatar’s drive to consolidate its Trus Summit which kicked “Bilateral Relations between Qa- lenges of globalisation, and the mercial and fi nancial tool. on consolidating the integrated menting a robust strategy to policy of economic diversifi ca- off in Istanbul yesterday with a tar and Turkey” to be attended means of making trade co-oper- In a speech during the Sum- strategic co-operation frame- fortify the Qatari economy and tion in accordance with the goals delegation led by HE the Min- by CEO of Qatar Financial Cent- ation among countries a success. mit, HE al-Kuwari said that the works with Turkey, noting that move forward in achieving its set by the National Development ister of Commerce and Industry er Yousuf al-Jaida. The Summit also highlights Bosphorus Summit represents the State of Qatar looks forward National Vision 2030, based on Strategy 2018-2022. Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari. The Summit brings together the investment climate in Tur- one of the most important inter- to building new investment its own capabilities and strong Business Page 2

Costa Diadema docked at Doha Port. HE Akbar al-Baker presented a plaque to the ship’s Captain Georgio Moretti. Doha emerges as major cruise hub From Page 1 round cruise hub. The expanded network of Qatar Airways cover- HE al-Baker said: “Receiv- ing over 160 destinations world- ing turnaround calls is a great wide provides visitors numerous milestone for our cruise tourism, options to suit the cruise itiner- that will support the hospital- ary (passengers from seven des- ity, retail and aviation sectors as tinations in six countries across thousands of passengers spend Europe were able to arrive in time exploring Qatar. Doha this morning on board “We’re particularly pleased fl ights landing within a span of that our cruise visitors can expe- less than two hours). rience the excitement of regional The passengers are further fa- and international sporting events cilitated by the speedy immigra- taking place this season. Together tion system at the fi ve-star Ha- with support from our partners mad International Airport. in public and private sectors, in- Running parallel to the cruise cluding global partners like Costa season is an exciting winter cal- Cruises, Qatar is on its way to be- endar of events featuring FIFA come a distinctive cruise hub in Club World Cup 2019 matches, the region,” he said. music concerts by global artists The arrival of Costa Diadema and numerous retail, travel and comes as a result of an agree- hospitality promotions that the ment signed between QNTC and cruise passengers will be able to Costa Cruises in September last enjoy during their stay in Qatar. year to develop cruise tourism in As a result of various initia- Qatar. With a capacity of 4,974 tives by QNTC and its partners, passengers and over 1,200 crew Qatar’s cruise industry has seen members, Costa Diadema is the remarkable growth during the latest addition to the fl eet of last few years. Costa Cruises launched in 2014 The 2018/19 season achieved and is currently the largest ves- 121% growth in the number of sel fl ying an Italian fl ag. cruise passengers and 100% “Costa Cruises was the fi rst growth in the number of cruise cruise company in the world to ships, with over 140,000 pas- start regular cruises in the Ara- sengers arriving aboard 44 ships, bian Gulf back in 2006. As a pio- including 38 mega ships, which neer in the cruise industry, it is typically carry between 3,000 part of Costa DNA to constantly and 4,000 passengers and crew. innovate its product, off ering The 2019/20 season is ex- new features and destinations pected to be even bigger, with Cruise passengers enjoying a number of activities at the terminal. Costa Diadema passengers enjoying authentic Qatari hospitality at the Doha Port terminal. with the aim to deliver guests an over 186,000 passengers and unforgettable cruise experience. over 61,000 crew arriving on 74 We are glad Costa Diadema is ships. Five ships will make their now operating in an increasingly maiden calls to Doha this season. interesting destination such as In addition to the 16 turnaround Qatar, which has a huge poten- calls, it is also the fi rst season tial for the cruise industry and is where 9 ships will be staying a strong addition to the regional overnight at Doha Port, giving itinerary”, said Neil Palomba, the passengers ample time to ex- president of Costa Cruises. plore the destination’s off erings. Qatar has multiple advantages Also 45 ships are making transit that make it a perfect turna- calls during this season.

Technical data sheet of Costa Diadema

Shipyard: Fincantieri, Marghera Sports facilities: multipurpose Gross Tonnage: 132,500 court, jogging track Length: 306 metres Wellness Center: Samsara spa Breadth: 37.2 metres on four levels (over 6,200 m2) Height: 60.29 metres with gym, spa baths, thalas- Decks: 19 (14 passenger decks) sotherapy pool, treatment Propulsion: 2 x 21,000kW rooms, sauna, Turkish bath, UVA Cruising speed: 20 knots (top solarium, cabins and suites. speed: 22.5 knots); Crew: 1,253 Entertainment: Theatre on three Cabins: 1,862 including 130 cab- levels, “Star Laser,” with the ins and 11 Suite inside Samsara “Laser Maze” and “Laser shoot- area, 756 cabins with private ing” games, Video Arcade area, balcony, and 64 Suites with Internet Point – Wi-Fi, shopping private balcony centre, casino disco, 4D cinema, Promenade: Over 500 metres Kids’ and teens’ areas: Squok Restaurants: 7 Club with a pool for children, Swimming pools: 3 (one with a and a reproduction of a Galleon retractable roof) and a Castle Big Screen on the Jacuzzis: 8 central pool deck A warm welcome for Costa Diadema passengers yesterday. Gulf Times 12 Thursday, November 28, 2019 HOL STIC Wellbeing Slow and steady wins the race I ate dairy

derstand what veganism is, and they may be keen to jump on to the fast-growing trend of offer- ing vegan food but that doesn’t mean they don’t make mistakes, haven’t trained their staff in the area of veganism, or are simply… wrong. I’ve even seen things labelled vegan that list whey, honey, By Reem Abdulrahman Jassim dairy, and eggs in products’ in- al-Muftah gredients. It’s always a good idea to check, educate, and have con- By Ghanim al-Sulaiti versations to really ensure that see a lot of people trying and products are genuinely vegan, starting to get healthy but and while veganism has grown I then also see a lot of them Yesterday, I accidentally ate dairy this year faster than any other struggling with maintaining in the form of yoghurt branded year there still isn’t a worldwide their new, and usually sudden, taking place and how easy it is we aren’t meeting our own un- should hold yourself account- near your room door as a re- as an alternative to regular dairy understanding. lifestyle changes; so I keep ask- to actually live a healthy life- realistic expectations. We have able. minder. yogurt, here in Doha. On the Despite my anger, I also had to ing myself why… For example, a style. Do you notice yourself or to actually stop and be real with Be real with yourself, be mind- 10- Monitor the time you are menu of the popular cafe, I opted adopt some understanding. The colleague will tell me that they someone else yo-yo dieting or ourselves. In this case, what is ful, think of what you are doing on your phone and have other for ‘coconut yoghurt’ given it is reality is that we live in a non- started a new diet, started work- working out in phases like a few the secret key to success? Well, I with every decision you make distractions around, acknowl- made from coconut milk, and a vegan world and this is just an- ing out and are hoping to reach days in and then stopping again personally believe that the one of and how it links to your goals. edge those distractions. good vegan alternative...or so I other reminder that we all need their goals within a month. A and always complaining that the most powerful keys and part 11- Place healthy snacks expected. to do our best to keep educating friend will also tell me that they they aren’t seeing results? Due of the criteria of living a healthy Tips to reach consistency: around you and remove those Given the cafe was offering the and helping people understand started eating better, having to the trend of health and well- lifestyle is consistency. Isn’t it 1- Think about what really that aren’t. coconut yoghurt as an alterna- why we choose to not consume smaller portions, began gym- ness and how everyone wants harder to get back on track all motivates you and keep remind- 12- Keep fresh easily available. tive to the regular yoghurt, I animal products. ming 6 times a week and can’t to get on the wagon, I’m really those times than staying on track ing yourself of it. 13- Don’t spend too much didn’t even think to check, that Encouraging more vegan op- wait to see their new body. A worried that people just behave in the fi rst place? So can a person 2- Make sure your goals are re- time with those who don’t follow all may not be what it seems. tions at restaurants is a great family member will also explain as if they maintain a healthy life- be consistent? alistic and manageable accord- clean eating habits. After consuming most of the way to make vegan eating easier to me how they started having style but aren’t because they are Be realistic, manage your ex- ing to your time and priorities. 14- Put reminders in your yoghurt, I started to have some for the millions of people who more fruit and healthier snacks ashamed of their struggles with pectations, have goals but be real 3- Observe your food and wa- phone calendar. doubt and went on to enquire are moving away from animal and started walking in the morn- the change. But the real problem with yourself. ter intake; eat and drink mind- 15- Have your partner, close with staff as to how long they products — so we have to stay ing and can’t wait to feel and here is that then they start get- Be open to change, you might fully. friend or family call you out on had been serving the vegan positive. I spoke with the café look better. Okay…so what are ting sad, disappointed, angry or have to remove somethings from 4- Have a smart game plan for your bad habits, such as not eat- alternative. It turned out the staff and went on to explain that the red fl ags in all these state- maybe even depressed because your home, from your life or even when you are eating out or or- ing clean all day or skipping your coconut yoghurt was not they could very easily off er genu- ments? It seems people keep they aren’t see any changes or people that are bad infl uences. dering in. workout for a few days in a row. genuine coconut yoghurt made ine coconut yoghurt, which would hoping to change overnight and because they are surrounded by Monitor your progress, you 5- Keep water readily avail- If you aren’t comfortable, join a from coconut milk, but instead encourage vegan visitors and to be strong enough to stick to people who are on track or make don’t have to track yourself and able. group or have a diary that keeps was ordinary, dairy yoghurt with would also mean the company lifestyle changes automatically. it seem like they are not success- put that kind of pressure on 6- Observe your sleep sched- track of your habits and monitor artificial coconut flavouring. I were off ering a sustainable, vegan, That’s good, don’t get me wrong, ful yet. Yes, the trend is positive, yourself, but take general notes ule. yourself. was frustrated, angry and came healthy version of their dish. but they all stopped a week into but we have to look at it with on the changes you are making 7- Leave a mat near your bed 16- Don’t let travelling or hol- to the realise that I had just I think that here in the Middle their wellness journeys. I keep simple eyes and realise that it is and noticing. to remind you to stretch. idays get your off track. consumed dairy for the first time East, once more restaurant hearing a lot of high expecta- a challenge, but still a realistic Be accountable with yourself. 8- Observe the total amount of in six years. owners get an idea of how easy, tions from people, their chal- goal to achieve, but we shouldn’t You are your own boss when it time you are actually physically Unfortunately, our world is not delicious and profitable it can be lenging goals and how they start get sucked into a world where comes to your health, so if you active each day.  The author is a wellness advocate as vegan as I sometimes wish it to serve vegan food, it won’t take imagining the changes simply we beat ourselves up because aren’t following good habits you 9- Place your workout stuff and infl uencer @keys2balance. were. There are uses of dairy in much to get them to add it to the things one would suspect would menu permanently. be vegan, but you can’t be too Have you had accidentally careful and it’s always a good consumed non-vegan food as a idea to double check when try- result of a restaurant’s mistake? The Eternal Awkwardness Of Elevator Rides ing new products — even when something is described as an  The author is an expert in vegan alternative. wellbeing and health. Instagram piece of technology that looks like Restaurants may claim to un- handle: @Ghanim92  a lot of other spaces in the building. In other words, it looks like a room, although it’s a very, very small one. And we all know how we behave in rooms. We give each other an appropriate amount of little, polite, Wellness Meal Plan social distance between ourselves. And that’s all fine until we’re in the tiny, tiny room – that’s the elevator”. It’s interesting to notice how space can change social behaviour and bring it to a level of adolescent awkwardness. Often, I’ve walked By Sanah Thakur into two people engaging in intense conversation and the minute I walk into the elevator, it seems almost The universal experience of riding rude to continue speaking because an elevator can be summed up in the norms of behaviour change one word: awkward. And time has instantly. Elevator rides are essen- changed nothing, whether maga- tially social situations which change zines and pagers were companions with every individual’s entry and or highly advanced cellphones – the exit, creating a dance in behaviour- journey essentially involves a state al responses. Hence why, it never of awkwardness. feels normal to ride an elevator I’m the type of person who unless you’re completely alone. loves being attentive to human While the eternity of this awkward behaviour in social settings and behaviour seems to be going that’s why it intrigued me why we nowhere, I did find relief in one all conformed to the unspoken the keypad of my laptop, to type in Entering into close proximity with an elevator are usually disguised study on releasing this behavioural etiquette of elevator rides. Isn’t it ‘awkward elevator rides’ and to my strangers triggers a protective distractions from the silence. Tex- tension. Maestripieri’s research funny that we hardly ever witness surprise, curiosity had led research- stance because the mind perceives ting consistently, staring into the studies revealed that the simple act anything drastically diff erent from ers to the same. The characteristic a threat of aggression. He explains depths of the insecurity highlight- of smiling could eliminate the likeli- silence, prolonged stares at the stance of standing uncomfortable that while this threat is not real, ing mirror or essentially anything hood of aggression. It seems easy level buttons or looking intensely in tension, (what I’ve referred to our mind responds as if it is and to avoid eye contact. Lee Gray, to walk into an elevator and smile at downwards? Imagine someone as the awkwardness), is believably therefore produces protective Associate Dean at the University of the occupants, yet I can count the walking in screaming at the top of instinctive, according to Profes- behaviours. This explains why we North Carolina, and also ‘Eleva- number of times I’ve experienced their voice or deciding to crouch on sor Dario Maestripieri from the often walk into an elevator and tor Historian’, comments on the a journey with smiling strangers. the floor. That would be uncomfort- University of Chicago. The innate move towards the corners or at an oddness of elevator behaviour in So the next time you walk into able. Even having someone walk in way of responding to danger has arm’s length from the people inside his NPR interview. “Well, I think an elevator, remember, however and stand in the opposite direction also remained eternally the same, it. The confined space creates a one of the things that first, to sort awkward it gets, you can always of the door would create confusion, for about a million years! Behaviour feeling of discomfort, as we aren’t of characterise it, is, we’re all ac- just SMILE. because hey, no one really ever in elevators is mostly odd and while used to being socially intimate with customed to go into the buildings. Sweet Potato Hummus does that. we believe its rational thinking, people we ‘really don’t know’. We all know buildings are filled  The author can be contacted on My curiosity escorted my fingers to Professor Maestripieri disagrees. Typical behaviours one can spot in with technology. But this is the only Instagram @sincerelysanah Ingredients:

2 cups of boiled chickpeas 1 and 1/2 cup of chickpea water 1/2 a cup of yoghurt (substitute dairy yoghurt with vegan yoghurt to make vegan hummus) The $64,000,000 question 1 lemon 1/4 cup tahini 1 sweet potato (peeled, sliced and baked) been betrayed, injured or abused. 1 tsp of each of the following spices: Those feelings lead us to decide 1- salt that the world and those around 2- black pepper us cannot be trusted. Sometimes 3- smoked paprika this can result in us losing the faith 4- garlic powder which is so important in life. 5- chilli flakes So what was my answer to the lady? The answer to fear is to firmly root Method: ourselves in God. When we realise Incorporate all the ingredients in a food processor or a blender and that God is always with us, always there you have a tasty silky smooth sweet potato hummus. for us, we will never be afraid, regardless of the circumstances we Tip: find ourselves in. Keep in the fridge up to 4 days and enjoy it as a snack with some By Shefa Ali Our family and friends may betray veggies; or spread a generous amount on toast with some lebnah, us. They may sadden us or hurt us, avocados and chilli flakes! but if we give ourselves to God, if Enjoy the taste of eating right! During a one on one coaching ses- we make our relationship with Him sion recently, a woman with tears our first priority, then we will never in her eyes asked me, ‘How do I be broken inside; we will always be overcome fear?’ I could almost feel cared for. We must realise that if the pain in her heart. She went on God can provide for even the small- to say that she lives her life afraid est insects, he certainly will provide all the time. The object of her fear for us. changes as time passes, but the fear remains constant. In my opinion, this omnipresent life. When I say fear, I don’t neces- things that make us anxious, nerv- need to control our surroundings.  The author is a consultant and fear is the biggest obstacle to our sarily mean fear of danger for life. ous, tense and stressed. The things In my experience, the root of fear coach. Instagram handle: @miss_ peace, happiness and progress in What I am talking about are all the that give us the feeling that we is distrust. Maybe we feel we have shefa, Website: missshefa.com Gulf Times Thursday, November 28, 2019 13 REGION/ARAB WORLD/AFRICA

TRAGEDY UNREST STRIFE ELECTION HEALTH Black boxes from crashed UN launches probe Suspected militants kill 15 Tanzania vote irregular, South Africa to launch helicopters found in Mali over protester death in latest east Congo attack lacked credibility: US, UK advanced new HIV drug

The black boxes from two French military helicop- The UN peacekeeping mission in DR Congo said it Suspected militant rebels have killed about 15 The US and Britain yesterday expressed concern South Africa yesterday said it was introducing an ters that collided in Mali killing 13 soldiers have been was launching a probe after gathering evidence that people in east Congo, an off icial said yesterday, the over elections in Tanzania where strongman Presi- aff ordable, cutting-edge drug to fight HIV in the found, a French military spokesman said yesterday. its troops may have killed a young demonstrator, as latest in attacks causing anger at perceived inaction dent John Magufuli’s party won 99% of seats, saying country with the largest number of people living The crash occurred late Monday during an opera- a fresh protest unfolded in the east of the country of the army and UN troops. The raid occurred over- the vote lacked credibility. with the Aids-causing virus. Hailing the new anti- tion against jihadists in the Liptako region, near the yesterday. “The elements that we have indicate that night in the village of Malika, near the city of Oicha The long-ruling CCM party ran almost entirely retroviral drug as “the fastest way to reduce HIV borders with Burkina Faso and Niger. It was the it was Blue Helmets who were responsible for the in a forested region near the Ugandan border, said unopposed in local government polls on November viral load”, the health department said it will start heaviest single loss for the French military in nearly death of this young man,” said a spokesman for the Donat Kibwana, the administrator of Beni territory. 24. The opposition boycotted, citing violence and rolling out the advanced pill known as TLD on four decades. “The two black boxes from the heli- mission, Monusco. The death occurred on Tuesday Kibwana blamed the attack on the Allied Demo- intimidation that rights groups say have become a December 1, international World Aids day. copters have been recovered, they will be handed in the eastern city of Beni where angry locals have cratic Forces (ADF), a militants rebel group originally hallmark of Magufuli’s rule. His party clinched most Health Minister Zweli Mkhize unveiled the over to the relevant authorities to be analysed,” the been demonstrating against Monusco. In a statement, from Uganda that has operated for decades in of the 16,000 seats for street and village leaders — pioneering drug at a ceremony in southwestern spokesman, Colonel Frederic Barbry, told BFMTV. Monusco quoted mission chief Leila Zerrougui as say- Congo. They have killed at least 80 people in 14 influential posts essential for grassroots campaign- KwaZulu-Natal, the province with the country’s Three helicopters and a squadron of Mirage jets had ing the man “was reportedly killed in an exchange with raids since the army launched an operation against ing ahead of polls next year in which Magufuli is highest prevalence rates, where more than a arrived on Monday to support ground troops. Blue Helmets as he was about to throw a petrol bomb.” them late last month, according to UN figures. expected to seek re-election. quarter of the population is infected.

Troops arrest six Five shot dead as Iraq protesters Palestinians in West Bank block roads to press reforms

Reuters evidence for the claim. unrest broke out on Oct 1 to 344 QNA Baghdad Government reform has people dead nationwide. Occupied Jerusalem amounted to little more than a Prime Minister Adel Abdul handful of state jobs for gradu- Mahdi expressed concern over rotesters blocked roads ates, stipends for the poor and both the violence and the fi nan- he Israeli occupation with burning tyres in pledges of election reform cial toll of unrest late on Tues- forces arrested yester- Psouthern Iraq and clashed which lawmakers have barely day, but mostly blamed uniden- Tday six Palestinians from with police in Baghdad yester- begun to discuss. tifi ed saboteurs for the damage. diff erent parts of the occupied day, aiming to use economic “First we were demanding re- “There have been martyrs West Bank. disruption as leverage to push form and an end to corruption,” among protesters and security Palestinian sources said that the government from power and said Ali Nasser, an unemployed forces, many wounded and ar- the Israeli forces arrested four root out state corruption. engineering graduate protesting rested...we’re trying to iden- Palestinians from Beit Kahil and Security forces shot dead two in Basra. tify mistakes” made by security Deir Samet in Hebron. people in Kerbala overnight and “But after the government forces in trying to put down the In occupied Jerusalem, the Is- two in Baghdad yesterday, while started killing peaceful protest- protests, he told a televised cab- raeli occupation forces arrested a fi fth person died from gunfi re ers we won’t leave before it’s inet meeting. two other young Palestinians by security forces during pro- been toppled together with the “The blocking of ports has after they raided their homes tests in the southern oil capital corrupt ruling class.” cost billions of dollars.” in Silwan, south of Al-Aqsa of Basra. Alia, a 23-year-old medical Protesters have blocked traf- Mosque. Demonstrators prevented student, said: “The reforms are fi c into Iraq’s main commodities On Tuesday, Israeli forces government employees get- just words. We want actions. port near Basra this month and raided Ras al-Amoud neigh- ting to work in Basra by install- We’ve had 16 years of words tried to surround the Central bourhood in Silwan and arrested ing concrete barriers painted without actions. We have been Bank in Baghdad, apparently three youths. as mock-up coffi ns of relatives robbed for 16 years.” bent on causing economic dis- Meanwhile, Israel’s defence killed in weeks of unrest, a Reu- Security forces meanwhile ruption where calls for removal minister announced that the ters witness said. shot dead more demonstrators. of the government have failed. bodies of Palestinian attack- Iraq’s large protests are the In the holy city of Kerbala, The government is moving ers will no longer be returned to most complex challenge to the south of Baghdad, they used live slowly in enacting any kind of their families, in a policy change ruling class that has controlled An Iraqi demonstrator grapples with a tear gas canister amid clashes with security forces in the capital ammunition against protesters, change. meant to deter “fi ghters.” state institutions and patronage Baghdad’s Al-Rasheed street near Al-Ahrar bridge, yesterday, during ongoing anti-government demonstrations. killing two overnight. Promises of electoral reform Naftali Bennett, who took up networks since a 2003 US-led Two more were killed in and an early general election the post earlier this month, said invasion toppled dictator Sadd- from decades of confl ict and that calm and authorities warn tants are waging an insurgency. clashes near Baghdad’s Ahrar have yet to be ratifi ed by parlia- he had ordered a complete halt to am Hussein. sanctions despite two years of against its exploitation by The extremist group claimed Bridge yesterday. Near Basra ment, and the political class has the release of the bodies, regard- Young protesters say politi- relative calm following the de- armed groups, especially should three bomb blasts in Baghdad one protester died of wounds closed ranks in the face of a sig- less of which organisation the cians are corrupt and blame feat of Islamic State. protest-related violence spread overnight which killed at least from gunfi re, police and med- nifi cant challenge to its grip on fi ghter, or attempted fi ghters, them for Iraq’s failure to recover The unrest has shattered to northern Iraq where IS mili- six people, but provided no ics said, bringing the toll since power. was part of. The army and defence estab- lishment were informed of the change, which will take full ef- fect after approval by the Securi- ty Cabinet. Israel holds onto the Lebanon petrol stations set to Khamenei says ‘dangerous’ plot foiled bodies of Palestinian fighters to prevent funerals celebrat- ing their martyrdom, and to begin nationwide strike today AFP tions attacked, petrol pumps killed, citing what it said were use them as bargaining chips to Tehran torched and shops looted. “credible reports”. Mansoureh trade for the remains of Israeli Connectivity was restored for Mills, an Amnesty researcher, soldiers being held by fighter Reuters porters to bring in goods. fuel, medicine and wheat, but much of the country after the said in Paris that protesters took groups. Two Israeli civilians Beirut The union said it was strik- buyers tapping the facility are ran’s Supreme Leader Ayat- unrest was quashed within days, to the streets because they no thought to be suffering from ing because of losses sustained still required to supply 15% of ollah Ali Khamenei yesterday and mobile access was returning longer felt they had anything to mental illnesses are presumed while using a parallel market their own dollar needs. Isaid his sanctions-hit coun- late yesterday.The outage aimed lose. “They can’t get a job, they to be held captive by Hamas, ebanon’s petrol stations for dollars relied on to import Lebanon’s energy ministry try had foiled a “very danger- to temper shows of dissent and can’t feed their families...so we the group which rules Gaza, will begin an open-end- fuel, according to a statement is set to trial a state tender ous” plot after violent demon- stem the fl ow of videos of vio- are going to continue to see pro- as are the bodies of two Israeli Led strike today nation- cited by state news agency for gasoline next month after strations triggered by a fuel price lence being shared online, rights tests like this” periodically, she soldiers killed in 2014. wide, a union representing NNA. The Lebanese pound’s fuel importers threatened to hike. groups said. said in a telephone interview. According to the Jerusalem them said yesterday, amid the value on the parallel market, raise prices. The ministry sets The demonstrations fi rst It also made it diffi cult to as- “Consequently, therefore, Centre for Legal Aid, a Pales- country’s worst economic cri- the only source of dollars for price guidelines for fuel sta- fl ared on November 15, hours af- sess the full extent of the blood- we are going to see more crack- tinian group that tracks the sis in decades. most importers, has slumped tions, who typically import ter a midnight shock announce- shed. Offi cials in Iran have con- downs...it’s like a vicious circle.” issue, Israel is currently hold- Protests that have swept since the protests erupted, the gasoline themselves. The ment that petrol prices would fi rmed fi ve people were killed Iran has blamed the unrest on ing the bodies of 51 Palestin- Lebanon since Oct 17 have currently trading about 40% Lebanese Economic Bodies, immediately go up by as much as and so far announced about 500 “thugs” backed by its foreign ians, including that of Sami added to deep strains in the weaker than the offi cial rate. a private sector group that 200% in the Islamic republic. arrests, including of some 180 enemies, including the Unit- Abu Diak, a prisoner who died fi nancial system, worsening The central bank said last includes industrialists and A near-total Internet black- “ringleaders”. London-based ed States, Israel and an exiled of cancer in Israeli custody this a hard currency crunch that month that it would prioritise bankers, called off a separate out was imposed as the protests Amnesty International said on armed opposition group it con- week. has hit the ability of many im- foreign currency reserves for three-day strike. turned violent, with police sta- Monday that 143 people were siders a “terrorist” cult. Namibians vote in tight contest Striking doctors warn of ‘silent genocide’ clouded by economic crisis AFP hospital, the senior doctors who Harare all work in the public sector said until all the fi red doctors were Reuters 1993 to 17% in 2016, accord- reinstated, they would “no long- Windhoek ing to the World Bank. The enior Zimbabwean doc- er able to off er any emergency economy has been marred by a tors joined hundreds of services”. drought that ravaged agricul- Sjunior colleagues in a mass “We do not accept that one amibians voted yes- tural export crops, as well as by walkout this week, warning of a can be dismissed for being inca- terday in what was ex- unprofi tably low prices for Na- “silent genocide” caused by dire pacitated to come to work in an Npected to be the tough- mibia’s main hard commodities, conditions in hospitals. unsafe environment,” the group est contest yet for the party that uranium and diamonds. The public sector doctors de- said in a separate statement is- has ruled for three decades of The Bank of Namibia expects manded the reinstatement of sued yesterday. independence as the southern the economy to contract by 440 junior colleagues, who were The doctors said hospitals African country wrestles with 1.7% in 2019, which would be its fi red after downing tools in a pay were lacking basic equipment an economic crisis and its big- third year of declines in a row. dispute in September. and staff , the situation becom- gest corruption scandal. A scandal in which two min- It was unclear how many sen- ing so bad that it amounted to “a President Hage Geingob, Na- isters were alleged to have ior doctors had gone on strike. silent genocide (which) contin- mibia’s third leader since the conspired to dole out fi shing A severe economic downturn ues to be perpetrated upon the sparsely populated and mostly licences to Iceland’s biggest has forced infl ation to triple people of Zimbabwe”. arid country freed itself from fi shing fi rm, Samherji, in return digits in Zimbabwe but salaries State hospitals cater for the the shackles of apartheid South for kickbacks has also taken the have failed to keep pace with majority of Zimbabweans who Africa in 1990, is seeking a sec- shine off the ruling party. price hikes, pushing many serv- cannot aff ord private care. ond and fi nal term from 1.3mn Namibians wait in line to access a polling station during the presidential and parliamentary elections in “I want change. I am sick and ices beyond the reach of most Wealthier patients including registered voters. Windhoek, yesterday. tired about corruption in this people. top politicians usually seek care Geingob’s ruling Swapo party country which no one is doing an- Doctors in the public health in neighbouring South Africa or has successfully tackled some which have conspired to make he was “very confi dent of win- ment, testing Swapo’s 77-seat ything about,” 55-year-old busi- system say the value of their pay Asian countries of the problems left after dec- this vote unexpectedly tough ning”. Geingob faces nine chal- majority. nessman Jacques Kotzee said after shrank more than 15-fold in the A senior doctor who asked ades of neglectful rule, fi rst by for Geingob, who won by 87% lengers including Panduleni It- Polls opened at 7am (0500 voting. But loyalty to the former past year — a legacy of economic for his name to be withheld Germany and then by White last time. ula, a dentist-turned-politician GMT) and close later. Results guerrilla movement remains high. mismanagement under ex-pres- said the situation had become minority South African admin- “I campaigned like hell but if I who is a Swapo member but are expected within 48 hours. “Namibia has gone through a very ident Robert Mugabe. untenable. istrations. lose I will accept that. running as an independent. Under Swapo, the former terrible time,” Leevylee Abrahams Many government workers — “There is no public health in Swapo is now contending I am a democrat,” Geingob Itula is popular with young guerrilla movement that fought said after casting his vote. “But junior doctors among them — Zimbabwe at the moment, eve- with an economy in recession told reporters shortly after vot- people, nearly half of whom are for independence, the propor- I’m voting for continuity because have stopped work because they rything has come to a standstill, for nearly three years, one of ing while Popular Democratic unemployed. tion of Namibians living below I believe that this government can cannot aff ord to commute. even those who were providing Namibia’s worst droughts and Movement opposition party Concurrent legislative polls the poverty line fell by three really improve the lives of people, In a letter dated Tuesday ad- emergency services have given its biggest graft scandal — all of leader McHenry Venaani said will elect 96 members of parlia- quarters, from nearly 70% in given a chance again.” dressed to Zimbabwe’s largest up,” said the doctor. Gulf Times 14 Thursday, November 28, 2019 AMERICAS

ACCIDENT STUBBED OUT ON TRACK OLD AGE WOES JUSTICE Three injured in Texas Massachusetts bans Canadian Railway resumes Jimmy Carter released from Judge delays sentencing of petrochem plant blast vaping, tobacco products services after biggest strike hospital after surgery ex-Trump adviser Flynn

Three workers were injured in an early morning Massachusetts yesterday adopted the Operations resumed yesterday at Canada’s Former US president Jimmy Carter has been A US judge yesterday delayed the planned explosion yesterday that sparked a blaze at a country’s toughest ban on the sale of largest railway, Canadian National Railway Co, a released from hospital and sent back to his home December 18 sentencing hearing of President Texas petrochemical plant, the latest in a series flavoured tobacco and vaping products, day after company and union off icials reached in Georgia to continue his recovery from injuries Donald Trump’s former national security adviser, of chemical plant accidents in the region. An including menthol cigarettes, in response a tentative deal to end an eight-day-long strike sustained recently as a result of tumbles. The Michael Flynn, but did not set a new date. Judge initial explosion at a TPC Group plant in Port to a rise in youth vaping and an outbreak of that had triggered a severe propane shortage 95-year-old underwent “successful” surgery earlier Emmett Sullivan had been expected to put off Neches, Texas, was followed by secondary vaping-related serious lung injuries. Governor and left many Canadian exports stranded. A this month to relieve pressure on his brain caused sentencing after both Flynn, who has pleaded guilty blasts, shattering windows and blowing locked Charlie Baker, a Republican, signed into law CN spokesman said yesterday that there were by the recent falls. He will celebrate Thanksgiving to lying to FBI agents, and the United States filed a doors off their hinges in homes near the facility, legislation passed by the state’s Democrat- no hiccups in the return to work and that trains at his home in Plains, along with his family, The joint motion to request the delay, citing the expected about 130km east of Houston. Residents within controlled legislature earlier this month that were resuming operations as expected. About Carter Center said in a statement yesterday. Last December release of the Justice Department a half-mile radius were evacuated. The fiery also places a 75% excise tax on e-cigarettes. 3,200 striking conductors and yard workers had month, Carter was also admitted to hospital to inspector general’s report on the origins of blast follows others at petrochemical plants in Several states have adopted emergency bans been demanding improved working conditions, monitor a minor pelvic fracture after he fell in his investigations into alleged Russian election east Texas. In April, a fire at a KMCO LLC plant on the sale of flavoured vaping products amid including rest breaks. Transport Minister Marc home in Plains, 215km south of Atlanta. It was the interference. Flynn pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying northeast of Houston killed one worker and a nationwide outbreak of lung injuries among Garneau said on Tuesday the government would second fall that month for Carter, who required about his 2016 conversations with Sergey Kislyak, injured a second. e-cigarette users. be monitoring CN’s return to operations. stitches above his eyebrow after the first incident. then-Russian ambassador to the United States.

US moves to protect House panel invites Trump indigenous women, girls

By Ellen Wulfhorst, Reuters to impeachment hearing New York

Reuters “We will also discuss whether your Washington Trump pardons Bread and Butter ahead of Thanksgiving alleged actions warrant the House’s ex- S President Donald ercising its authority to adopt articles of Trump launched a task In keeping with one of the modern and impeachment,” Nadler wrote. Uforce on Tuesday to help he US House of Representatives light-hearted traditions of the White House, House Republican Conference protect Native American women Judiciary Committee on Tues- President Donald Trump pardoned two tur- Chairwoman Liz Cheney tweeted that and children, calling the rate of Tday invited President Donald keys ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, in Democrats “have decided to give @re- violence among indigenous peo- Trump to its fi rst impeachment hearing, a brief ceremony held in the Rose Garden. alDonaldTrump the right to question ple “heartbreaking.” scheduled for December 4, starting a The turkeys are named Bread and liberal law professors, but not any fact The task force aims to improve new phase of the inquiry that could lead Butter. witnesses. At all.” co-ordination and communica- to formal charges against the president Technically, only Butter was granted the The Democratic-led House is aiming tion among federal, state and trib- within weeks. full pardon, based on a public poll, while to resolve the question of Trump’s im- al authorities in response to cases Trump is not required to attend the Bread will serve as an alternate. peachment before the end of the year, of missing and murdered indig- hearing. Both birds will get to live out their days possibly by approving formal charges enous women and children, the But the move allows the president at a university in Virginia. known as articles of impeachment and White House said in a statement. and his legal team access to congres- “Butter, let’s talk to you for a second,” forwarding them to the Republican- Native American women in sional impeachment procedures that he Trump said as the bird was brought out. controlled Senate for a trial that could some tribal communities are 10 and other Republicans have denounced “Butter, I wish you a lot of luck. I hereby begin in January. times more likely than the aver- as unfair, partly because the White grant you a full and complete pardon.” A trial would determine whether age American to be murdered, House has not been able to call or cross- Trump could not resist the chance to Trump should be convicted and re- it said, and the initiative called examine witnesses. hail record numbers on the stock market, moved from offi ce. Operation Lady Justice is an The House Intelligence Committee, and during his speech also took jabs at his But Senate Republicans have shown “aggressive, government-wide which has led the impeachment in- opponents. little inclination to remove Trump, strategy” to address the crisis. vestigation into Trump’s dealings with “Democrats are accusing me of being their party’s leader, who is seeking re- “The statistics are sober- Ukraine through weeks of closed-door too soft on Turkey,” Trump said, amid election in 2020. ing and heartbreaking,” Trump testimony and televised hearings, is ongoing tensions with the government in On Tuesday, the House Intelli- said at a White House ceremony expected to release a formal evidence Ankara. gence Committee released transcripts where he signed an executive or- report shortly after lawmakers return The birds were not spared a reference to of closed-door testimony from Mark der creating the task force. to Congress on December 3 from their the impeachment inquiry, the main divisive Sandy, a career offi cial with the White “Too many are still missing Thanksgiving recess. issue that has many in the country on edge House Offi ce of Management and and their whereabouts are un- The Judiciary panel will use the re- as they go home to dine with their families. Budget, and Philip Reeker, acting as- known. We’re taking this very port to consider formal charges that it “They have already been served sistant secretary of state for European seriously,” he added. could recommend for a full House vote subpoenas to appear in Adam Schiff ’s and Eurasian aff airs. Research by the National In- by mid-December. basement on Thursday,” Trump said with In his testimony, Sandy, one of the stitute of Justice, a government It gave Trump until 6pm on Sunday snark, referring to the lawmaker heading only current White House aides to research agency, has found more to advise the committee on whether he the probe. agree to testify to congressional in- than four out of fi ve American would attend the hearing, and to indi- “Unlike previous witnesses, you and I vestigators, said a budget office attor- Indian and Alaska Native wom- cate by then who would be his counsel. have actually met,” Trump said about the President Donald Trump pardons the National Thanksgiving turkey during a ney and another staffer in that office en — more than 1.5mn women The White House did not immedi- birds. ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington on Tuesday. resigned partly because of concerns — have experienced violence in ately respond to a request for comment. over the hold on US military aid to their lifetime. Representative Jerrold Nadler, the Ju- Ukraine. More than 5,700 American In- diciary Committee’s Democratic chair- into whether Trump abused his power warrior,” Trump told O’Reilly, adding Democrats have accused Trump Reeker in his testimony discussed the dian and Alaska Native women man, told Trump in a letter that he was to pressure Ukraine to launch investi- Giuliani “possibly saw something” and of abusing his power by withholding “irregular” role three offi cials close to and girls were reported missing reminding the president that the com- gations of political rival Joe Biden and a “he’s done work in Ukraine for years.” $391mn in security aid to put pressure Trump — the ambassador to the Euro- in 2016, according to the Na- mittee’s rules allow him to attend the discredited conspiracy theory promot- Giuliani has said he conducted an on a vulnerable US ally to interfere in an pean Union and Trump donor Gordon tional Crime Information Cent- hearing and for his legal team to ques- ed by Trump that Ukraine, not Russia, investigation into corruption and pos- American election by digging up dirt on Sondland, Energy Secretary Rick Perry er, a government data agency. tion witnesses. interfered in the 2016 US presidential sible collusion in Ukraine in his role as a his domestic political opponents. and Giuliani — played in US policy to- Several leading Native Ameri- The hearing, scheduled to begin at election. defence attorney trying to clear Trump. Trump denies wrongdoing and has ward Ukraine. can rights organisations did not 10am, will have legal experts, who have In an interview on Tuesday with The inquiry centres on a July 25 dismissed the inquiry as a sham by Dem- A Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released respond to requests for com- not yet been identifi ed, as witnesses. former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly, phone call in which Trump asked ocrats who want to overturn the result of on Tuesday found support for impeach- ment on the new task force. “The president has a choice to make: Trump denied he directed his personal Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelen- the 2016 US presidential election. ing Trump tracked higher over the past Law enforcement and pros- he can take this opportunity to be rep- lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, who had been skiy to investigate Biden, now a leading In his letter, Nadler said the hearing few weeks of televised impeachment ecutions are often hampered by a resented in the impeachment hearings, pushing Ukraine for the investiga- Democratic presidential contender, and was intended as an opportunity to dis- hearings. maze of jurisdictions and justice or he can stop complaining about the tions, to act on his behalf in trying to get his son Hunter, who had worked for a cuss the historical and constitutional According to the poll, which split systems based on such factors process,” Nadler said in a statement. “I Ukraine to help turn up dirt on his po- Ukrainian energy company while his basis of impeachment, as well as the largely along party lines, 47% of re- as whether a crime occurred on hope that he chooses to participate.” litical rivals. father was vice president under Demo- meaning of terms like “high crimes and spondents believed Trump should be tribal land or whether the victim The impeachment probe is looking “No, I didn’t direct him, but he is a cratic president Barack Obama. misdemeanours.” impeached and 40% were opposed. or the accused is a tribal member. Pair of storms stymie Americans during Thanksgiving travel

By Peter Szekely, Reuters Firefighters battle new blaze in California weather — was relatively serene. New York “It’s a normal day here,” said Hundreds of California firefighters and that has just dried the fuel management consultant Nimish on Tuesday battled a wind-driven bed out to the point where we’re Mittal, 26, as he and his wife Sle- wo winter storms lum- brushfire that grew out of control seeing the fire behaviour we saw sha, who live in Manhattan and bering across parts of the overnight near Santa Barbara, last night.” got to the airport early for lines TUnited States yesterday threatening thousands of homes He said the blaze was all the that never materialised, awaited disrupted the travel plans of mil- and prompting evacuation orders. more challenging for firefighters as their fl ight to Kansas City, where lions of Americans who typi- The so-called “Cave Fire” that high winds were pushing the flames they both have families. cally jam the country’s highways started on Monday in Los Padres downhill and then back uphill. Margaret Moir, 67, had just ar- and airports to visit family and National Forest, grew overnight Authorities said the fire, the rived at LaGuardia from Detroit, friends over the long Thanksgiv- as it moved toward populated cause of which was unknown, was for a weekend in New York with a ing weekend. areas in the cities of Santa Barbara, zero per cent contained but they girlfriend. One of the hardest-hit areas Goleta and nearby communities were hopeful that a storm set to It was to be her fi rst Thanks- on the day before Thanksgiving about a two hours’ drive north of arrive in the area later in the day giving without her husband, who Day was Minnesota’s Twin Cit- Los Angeles. would help extinguish the flames. died of liver cancer two weeks ies region, which was blanketed Some 600 firefighters were While the rain could bring ago. in white by the same system that battling the blaze that prompted much-needed relief for firefighters, “I’ve cried plenty,” said Moir, a clobbered the Denver area a day evacuation orders for about 2,300 off icials warned that it may also retired state government worker, earlier. homes, or nearly 5,500 people. prompt flash floods and debris as she waited for her friend’s de- Snowfall totals in and around Fire off icials said helicopters and flows. layed fl ight from Atlanta to ar- Minneapolis had reached 15cm to fixed-wing planes were assisting Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill rive. 20cm by yesterday morning be- the firefighters who faced steep, Brown said that about 4,000 peo- On their agenda for the week- fore topping out at up to 18cm as rugged terrain. ple who were forced to evacuate end was watching the Macy’s the system slides to the east, said “The Cave Fire is burning under would be allowed back into their parade from their Times Square Brian Hurley, a meteorologist some of the toughest firefighting homes Tuesday afternoon. hotel room, before heading to the with the National Weather Serv- conditions anywhere in the world,” The blaze comes on the heels of upscale Bergdorf Goodman de- ice in College Park, Maryland. said Los Padres National Forest a series of major fires that erupted partment store for turkey. The storm, which is also pack- Fire Chief Jimmy Harris. in the state last month destroying But winds forecast at 32kph to ing high winds, was expected “We’ve experienced several homes and vineyards and forcing 40kph with gusts of up to 64kph move eastward across upper off shore wind events at this point, thousands of people to flee. A videographer records flames at a wildfire dubbed the Cave Fire, burning in the hills of Santa Barbara. were threatening to sideline the Michigan and upstate New York parade’s 16 giant balloons for toward central Maine, which safety reasons. could get 15cm to 25cm of snow, ern California, where damag- As a side benefi t, the rain was Upper Midwest and far Western The weather woes set in as a fl ights cancelled yesterday Organisers have said they will the Weather Service forecast. ing winds, coastal fl ooding and expected to douse the so-called states, they spared the highly near-record 55mn Americans morning were going to or com- make a decision today morning. “By the time we get to tonight, heavy mountain snows of up to Cave Fire in Santa Barbara Coun- populated East Coast and central follow through on their plans to ing from the Twin Cities’ MSP The storm now in the West is we’re really looking for the im- 120cm were forecast. ty, which has charred 1,810 hec- Midwest, which were also ex- use to planes, trains and auto- Airport, according to FlightA- expected to move eastward and pacts to move into northern New Farther south, the front was tares of brush and woodlands, pected to fare well as travellers go mobiles to travel at least 80km ware.com. create new woes, especially in England,” Hurley said. expected to dump heavy rain, and prompted temporary evacu- back home on Sunday. for today’s Thanksgiving holiday, Despite being one of the busi- the Upper Midwest, for travel- On the other side of the coun- threatening fl ash fl oods from San ation orders for 5,500 residents. “The densely populated areas according to the American Auto- est travel days of the year, New lers planning to return home try, a second major storm was Diego to Los Angeles, the weath- Even as the storms bought are going to be fi ne in both cases,” mobile Association. York’s LaGuardia Airport — un- on Sunday, the weather service slamming Oregon and North- er service said. rain, snow and high winds to the said Hurley. One-quarter of the 103 US aff ected by the worst of the said. Gulf Times Thursday, November 28, 2019 15 ASIA

17 killed Bangladesh sentences 7 to in Nepal bus crash

DPA death for 2016 cafe attack Kathmandu

Reuters ports sector, and foreign inves- passenger bus veered off Dhaka tors. a road and plunged into a Five young militants, armed Agorge in southern Nepal with guns, sharp weapons and yesterday, killing at least 17 peo- Bangladesh court hand- grenades stormed the Holey Ar- ple and injuring 13 others, local ed death sentences to tisan cafe, took diners hostage police said. Aseven members of a and killed them over 12 hours. The bus fell about 300m and militant group yesterday for Nine Italians, seven Japanese, crashed into the gorge in San- their role in an attack on a cafe an American and an Indian were dhikharka town of Arghakhanchi in 2016 that killed 22 people, among the dead. The attackers district, police offi cer Madhav mostly foreigners, in the South were also killed in a rescue bid Regmi said. Asian nation’s worst such inci- by army commandos. Thirteen passengers, includ- dent. Prosecutor Khan said the ing the driver, were being treated “Charges against them were seven men convicted belong to in two hospitals in the region, he proved beyond any doubt. The Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bang- said. court gave them the highest ladesh (JMB), a group that seeks The police offi cer said the punishment,” public prosecu- to establish Shariah rule in the cause of the accident was not tor Golam Sarwar Khan told predominantly Muslim country. immediately clear. reporters after the verdict, amid “The ruling will set an ex- The crash site is around 227km tight security at the court in the ample. It will give a message south-west of Kathmandu. capital, Dhaka. to militant groups that none of Road accidents are fairly com- One of the eight accused was them will be spared,” Law Min- mon in mountainous Nepal, acquitted, he added. ister Anisul Huq said. which in recent years has seen A defence lawyer said the Under Prime Minister Sheikh a drive to build roads connect- convicted men would appeal the Hasina, Bangladesh has been ing remote regions to towns and charges, which include train- cracking down on militant cities across the country. ing the attackers and supplying groups to preserve its image as arms, explosives and funds. a moderate Muslim nation. Af- After the ruling, they shout- ter the cafe siege, police raided ed, “We did nothing wrong” suspected hideouts and killed from the dock to a packed dozens of militants believed to courtroom, witnesses said. have helped mount the attack. 85 Chinese Two were seen wearing prayer Hundreds more were arrested. caps bearing the insignia of Is- “We are happy that justice has lamic State; authorities opened been served,” said Shamsuzza- Police escort extremists, centre, accused of allegedly plotting the Holey Artisan Bakery cafe attack in 2016, to a courtroom for their trial in held over an investigation into how the man Shams, whose policeman Dhaka yesterday. caps reached them while they brother was killed when he tried were in police custody. to enter the cafe to foil the at- get justice,” he said. Islamic State, blaming domestic In the year before the atroc- said the trial was a landmark online scam The July 1 attack on the res- tackers, adding: “We want im- The assault was claimed by militants instead. ity, Bangladesh saw a string of case. “We remain committed taurant popular with foreign- mediate execution of the ruling.” Islamic State but the govern- Police said a faction of Jamaat- grisly individual murders, in- to continuing to support Bang- ers in Dhaka’s diplomatic area But defence lawyer Delwar ment has consistently denied ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, cluding of secular writers and ladesh in its fi ght against ter- in Indonesia shocked the nation of 160mn Hossain said all seven men con- the presence in the country of which has pledged allegiance to foreigners, claimed by Islamic rorism, especially in our shared and unnerved businesses, in- victed will challenge the verdict any transnational militant or- Islamic State, was involved in or- State or Al Qaeda. eff orts to improve rule of law,” AFP cluding the vital garment ex- in a higher court. “They didn’t ganisation such as Al Qaeda or ganising the cafe attack. The US embassy in Dhaka it said. Jakarta

ozens of Chinese nationals have been arrested in Indo- Dnesia over an online scam that bilked victims out of millions Thailand reverses of dollars, authorities have said. Acting on a tip-off from their Chinese counterparts, Indone- sian police said they conducted a half dozen raids in the capital ban on weed killer Jakarta and Malang city, arrest- ing 85 Chinese nationals and six Indonesians. The roundup comes several days after almost 700 Chinese nationals linked to cancer were arrested in neighbouring Ma- laysia where authorities raided a AFP employs 40% of the population. opmental delays in children. building and busted a major online Bangkok Studies have linked Manufacturer Monsanto - a investment scam operation. glyphosate, paraquat and subsidiary of German chemi- It was not immediately clear if chlorpyrifos to a variety of ill- cal giant Bayer - could be on the busts were related. hailand reversed a nesses, and the kingdom last the hook for billions of dollars, Yesterday, Indonesian police decision yesterday month decided the trio would though its chief executive has said the suspects targeted vic- Tto ban a controver- be prohibited from its crops insisted “leading regulatory tims in mainland China and net- sial weed-killer and ex- by December 1. agencies worldwide are con- ted some 36bn rupiah ($2.6mn) tended the permitted use of But Thailand’s National vinced that glyphosate-based over a period of four months. two other pesticides for six Hazardous Substances Com- products are safe”. They did not say how many peo- months, following pushback mittee ruled yesterday that The weedkiller remains ple were scammed. Relatives move coff in of John Nguyen Van Hung and John Hoang Van Tiep, victims who were found dead in the from its multi-billion dollar the continued “limited” use popular among agricultural “They pretended to be police back of a British truck last month, out of ambulances upon arrival in Nghe An province of Vietnam yesterday. agriculture industry. of glyphosate would be per- workers for its eff ectiveness or prosecutors and called their Glyphosate - a weed killer mitted, said Industry Minis- and its low cost, and is still victims, telling them that they better known by its trade ter Suriya Juangroongruang- widely used in the US. had legal problems and demand- name Roundup - is a light- kit, without elaborating. The US Department of Ag- ed money to settle the issue,” ning rod for controversy, as The committee’s decision, riculture had written letters said Jakarta police chief Gatot more than 42,700 lawsuits which was “unanimous”, also to Thailand asking to delay Eddy Pramono. First bodies of UK truck pile up in the US with plain- allows farmers to continue the ban, saying that it could “Some of them also pretended tiff s alleging that it caused using the two other pesticides disrupt soybean and wheat to be bankers off ering invest- diseases including terminal until June 1, 2020, he added. imports to the kingdom. ments,” he added. cancers. Paraquat, a herbicide Suriya of the Industry Min- Police also seized evidence in- But it remains popular which the US Centers for istry said those impacts on cluding laptops and computers, victims arrive in Vietnam among farmers in Thailand - Disease Control calls “highly Thailand’s agro-animal busi- Gatot said. one of the world’s leading rice poisonous”, has been banned nesses had been overlooked Some scammers have moved AFP ashes, or $2,900 for the cost of a migrants from Vietnam. and sugar producers - who in the European Union since when the ministry origi- to Indonesia and other regional Dien Chau, Vietnam coffi n carrying the body. Most of the victims hailed are among the heaviest users 2009, while studies have nally banned glyphosate in countries after China cracked Authorities in Vietnam en- from just a handful of central Vi- of pesticides in a sector that linked chlorpyrifos to devel- October. down on their networks. couraged relatives to opt for ash- etnamese provinces, which are he fi rst remains of the es “to ensure speed, low cost and among the poorest in the coun- 39 people found dead sanitation safety”, but many paid try and where well-entrenched German tourist Tin a truck in Britain last more for the bodies so they could networks of brokers help to fa- month arrived in Vietnam yes- carry out traditional burials. cilitate the risky trips abroad. killed in Myanmar terday where they were met by Cremation is rare in the Viet- Ten of the dead were teenag- landmine blast Cambodia’s Hun Sen off ers huge crowds of sobbing relatives nam countryside, where many of ers, including two 15-year-old who have been waiting weeks for the victims were from. boys. A German tourist was killed their return. Some funerals were due to Britain’s ambassador to Viet- and an Argentine woman Sixteen bodies were fl own start yesterday and burials could nam Gareth Ward sent his con- injured in a landmine US new ‘bond of friendship’ from London to Hanoi, where take place later this week. dolences to families on Wednes- explosion in Myanmar, local they were quickly shuttled in The rest of the remains are ex- day in a video message, saying it police said yesterday. Reuters The opposition Cambodian Na- ambulances to their hometowns pected to arrive in Vietnam this was a “very diffi cult time”. The accident happened near Phnom Penh tional Rescue Party was accused in central Vietnam. weekend, though offi cials have He promised families the UK the town of Hsipaw, a popular of plotting to take power with US Hundreds of people fi lled the not announced the schedule. and Vietnam would cooperate to hiking spot for backpackers help, and its leader, Kem Sokha, compound of a church in ru- All 16 victims whose bodies “prevent human traffi cking and who often ride the scenic ambodia’s leader Hun was arrested on treason charges. ral Dien Chau district in central came back yesterday hailed from protect vulnerable people here”. route by train from Mandalay Sen, pictured, has of- Kem Sokha was released from Nghe An province to greet two three provinces - Nghe An, Ha Several families told AFP they to reach the mountains. Cfered to renew friend- house arrest earlier this month, returned bodies, many carry- Tinh and Quang Binh. went deep into debt after bor- Tim Geibler, 40, died on Tuesday ship with the United States though the treason charg- ing white fl owers to off er the It was a painful homecoming rowing money to pay for their afternoon near the villages of after receiving a letter from es remain, as the EU moved families of the dead. for families who have been sus- children’s journeys overseas, Pan Nayung and Kwun Haung, President Donald Trump, a closer to cutting off preferen- The cousin of 33-year-old pended in grief for weeks antici- and would now struggle to repay a local police off icer said, on turnaround in relations with tial trade status over human victim Nguyen Van Hung waited pating their relatives’ return. the cost of repatriation as well. condition of anonymity. the country he once accused of rights, though a fi nal decision is hours in the crowd near the town “We have been waiting for this Their children were promised “Tourists are not conspiring to overthrow him. threatened to turn its back on months away. church. moment for a very long time. We well-paid jobs, possibly in nail permitted to go to that A letter dated November 26 both the United States and the Hun Sen’s letter followed one “He was a nice man. No one will organise the funeral as soon bars or cannabis farms where area,” he said, adding that from Hun Sen to Trump thanked European Union (EU) over their from Trump seeking to improve ties expected him to return home like as he’s returned,” said Vo Van many Vietnamese migrants a 39-year-old Argentine him for assurances that Wash- criticism of political repression. but also urging him to put Cambo- this,” said the cousin, refusing Binh, whose son Vo Van Linh was end up. woman was also slightly ington was not seeking “regime Less than four months ago, dia back on a democratic path. to be named, as relatives wept among the victims. Several of the 39 people who injured in the blast. change” in Cambodia. a Cambodian offi cial said US The Cambodian leader, in nearby. “We are very sad but happy died last month paid thousands Local NGO Without Borders, Both countries foreign aff airs diplomats should “pack up power for more than three dec- Hung was among 31 men and as fi nally my son is back,” he of dollars to brokers who prom- which runs a de facto teams should now work “to re- and leave” after a US embassy ades, acknowledged tumultu- eight women found dead in a re- told AFP from central Ha Tinh ised the truck - billed as the ambulance service staff ed by store trust and confi dence, and statement that the 2018 elec- ous periods in US relations. frigerated truck in an industrial province, where the family had “VIP route” - was the safer op- volunteers, said she had since renew the bond of friendship tion did not refl ect the will of “However, I am of the view that park in Essex, east of London, on gathered awaiting the arrival of tion, their families said. been discharged from hospital. between our two countries and the people. we should not become hostage of a October 23. Linh’s body. On Monday, the North- A German foreign ministry peoples”, he added in the letter Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian few dark chapters in our history,” Victims’ relatives have taken The tragedy exposed the ern Irish driver of the truck, spokesman confirmed the seen by Reuters. People’s Party (CCP) won all 125 he wrote. “There are so many other out hefty loans from the gov- dangers of illegal journeys 25-year-old Maurice Robinson, incident and said its Yangon The rapprochement comes parliamentary seats in the election beautiful chapters that are worth ernment to cover the cost of re- from Vietnam to the United pleaded guilty to conspiring to embassy was in close contact after Cambodia, one of Chi- after the Supreme Court disband- nourishing for the greater good of patriation: $1,800 to bring back Kingdom, a top destination for assist illegal immigration. with Geibler’s relatives. (AFP) na’s closest allies in Asia, had ed the main opposition party. both our countries and people.” Gulf Times 16 Thursday, November 28, 2019 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

Samoa measles death toll rises to 37 amid anti-vaccination push: WHO

AFP “huge outbreak”, with more than partment, told reporters in Ge- two babies died after receiving Misinformation about the 14 children on ventilators, Nor- struggling with measles. WHO Geneva 2,500 cases in a country of just neva that “very low coverage of measles vaccination shots. This safety of vaccines, she said, “has ton said, stressing that this poses data for the fi rst six months of 200,000 people. measles vaccine” was to blame resulted in the temporary sus- had a very remarkable impact on “a huge, huge burden”. 2019 shows the highest number The death toll has been ris- for allowing the highly conta- pension of the country’s immu- the immunisation programme” He said mass vaccination was of measles cases reported world- measles epidemic rag- ing steadily since the country gious disease to rapidly spread in nisation programme and dented in Samoa. the only way to rein in epidemic. wide since 2006, and there are ing in Samoa has killed 37 declared a national measles epi- the country. parents’ trust in the vaccine, Ian Norton at WHO’s Emer- The UN children’s agency Unicef currently several large outbreaks Apeople, the World Health demic in mid-October. WHO In 2018, only 31% of children even though it later turned out gency Medical Team Unit mean- has sent than 110,000 doses of raging in places like the Demo- Organisation said yesterday, said another fi ve people had died under fi ve had been immunised, the deaths were caused when while warned that the outbreak measles vaccine and medical cratic Republic of Congo, Mada- blaming an anti-vaccine mes- Wednesday, bringing the total she said. “When measles enters a other medicines were incorrectly was taking a heavy toll on the teams from Australia and New gascar and Ukraine. saging campaign for leaving the number of deaths to 37. country like that, there is a huge administered. small country’s entire health sys- Zealand are helping administer And the UN health agency has Pacifi c island nation vulnerable Measles is caused by a virus group of people who are not im- O’Brien said that an anti- tem. them. been sounding the alarm over to the spread of the virus. and can lead to serious compli- mune,” she said. The tragedy, vaccine group had been stoking “It has really spiked dramati- Norton said Britain was also vaccination rates around the The UN health agency warned cations including pneumonia she said, was that immunisation these fears further with a social cally,” he told reporters, pointing preparing to send a support med- globe as the anti-vaccine move- that a steep decline in vaccina- and infl ammation of the brain rates used to be far higher in Sa- media campaign, lamenting that out that more than 200 new cases ical team, adding that WHO has ment gains steam, driven mainly tion rates in Samoa, a Pacifi c that can do permanent damage moa, with coverage measured at “this is now being measured in arrive at hospital every day. sent out an appeal to other coun- by fraudulent claims linking the Ocean island nation halfway and be deadly, especially in small 84% just four years ago. Offi cials the lives of children who have Apia’s main hospital, which tries in the region to send medical MMR vaccine against measles, between Hawaii and New Zea- children. Kate O’Brien, director have blamed the low rates in part died in the course of this out- normally has just four beds in its teams. mumps and rubella to a risk of land, had paved the way for a of the WHO’s immunisation de- on fears sparked last year when break.” intensive care unit, currently has Samoa is not the only place autism in children. Hong Kong police to enter university

Reuters China denies interfering and says Hong Kong it is committed to the “one coun- try, two systems” formula put in place at that time. ong Kong police said they The protesters had blocked would enter Polytechnic the tunnel’s mouth, smashed toll HUniversity today, bring- booths, lit fi res and cemented ing their near two-week siege of bricks to the road, but it was reo- the campus to an end, after fi nal pened early yesterday, and Hong searches for any pro-democracy Kong television showed a steady A journalist works on his laptop amid items left behind by protestors in Hong Kong Polytechnic University protesters still hiding turned up fl ow of vehicles passing through. (PolyU) in Hong Kong. empty. Hong Kong authorities hope that For a second day yesterday se- a lull in clashes over the week- fairs’ Offi ce in Hong Kong called curity teams from the university end during local elections, where the report “false”, without elabo- scoured the maze of buildings at pro-democracy candidates rating, in a statement posted on the campus, a focal point in re- scored a landslide victory, can its website. cent weeks of the citywide pro- translate into more calm after “No matter how the situa- tests that fi rst erupted in June, nearly six months of turmoil. tion in Hong Kong changes, the but no one was found. Hundreds of people are facing Chinese government’s deter- “As the school has completed potential jail time in connection mination to safeguard national the search, the police security District councillor Ted Hui delivers a statement to the media at Hong with the unrest. Secretary for sovereignty, security, and devel- team will enter Polytechnic Uni- Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) in Hong Kong yesterday. Security John Lee said police had opment interests is unwavering,” versity tomorrow, as we need arrested more than 5,800 people it said. to process dangerous items and dwindled dramatically, with Alliance for the Betterment and since June, the numbers increas- Despite the euphoria among collect evidence,” District Com- some managing to fl ee and oth- Progress of Hong Kong, urged ing exponentially in October and protesters over the electoral vic- mander Ho Yun-sing told re- ers brought out. A lone woman authorities to send medics to November, and had charged 923. tory, in which democracy advo- porters. found was “physically weak and the site to take any remaining Smaller scale protests continued cates swept around 86% of the Any remaining protesters emotionally unstable”, according protesters to hospital. The Poly- yesterday, as crowds in the cen- 452 district council seats, fresh would be given medical treat- to a statement from the univer- technic University campus was tral business district took to the demonstrations were planned for ment, he said. The red-brick sity. the last of fi ve that protesters had streets around noon. the weekend, including a march university on Kowloon peninsula The university yesterday asked occupied to use as bases from Reuters also reported that to protest against the use of tear was turned into a battleground in government departments for which to disrupt the city, block- China’s leaders had set up a crisis gas on “children”. Graff iti which reads “pro-Beijing” is seen on the ground at the Hong mid-November, when protesters help removing “dangerous ma- ing the nearby Cross-Harbour command centre in the Chinese A “Thanksgiving” protest, in Kong Polytechnic University campus in the Hung Hom district of barricaded themselves inside and terials” from the site, which is Tunnel linking Kowloon to Hong tech hub of Shenzhen, just across appreciation of the US Congress Hong Kong yesterday. clashed with riot police in a hail littered with rotting waste and Kong Island and other arteries. the border from Hong Kong, to passing legislation supporting of petrol bombs, water cannon detritus of the siege, urging au- Demonstrators are angry at what deal with protests that have be- protesters, is scheduled today, Hong Kong’s Beijing-backed published a front-page spread and tear gas. About 1,100 people thorities to take a “humane” ap- they see as Beijing’s meddling come the biggest populist chal- the date of the US holiday. leader, Carrie Lam, over her for the second successive day were arrested last week, some proach. in the freedoms promised to the lenge since China’s leader Xi Jin- The city-wide elections drew handling of the fi nancial hub’s calling for Lam’s resignation. while trying to escape. The city’s largest pro-estab- former British colony when it ping came to power in 2012. a record turnout and were seen worst crisis in decades. One “Hong Kong people had enough, The number of protesters has lishment party, the Democratic returned to Chinese rule in 1997. The Ministry of Foreign Af- as a vote of no-confi dence in Hong Kong newspaper, Sing Pao, Carrie Lam quit,” it read. US teen’s video on Xinjiang Singapore shows off goes viral on social media rare Philippine raptors

AFP loading Sunday’s clip slamming use the phone you’re using right profi le had been frozen. “Tik- AFP wild, conservationists say. The aviary. The scheme has echoes Beijing China, a claim disputed by the now to search what’s happening Tok does not moderate content Singapore birds, Geothermica and Sam- of China’s “panda diplomacy”, app. Human rights groups and in China, how they’re getting due to political sensitivities,” a bisig, are the fi rst breeding pair which sees the Asian giant send outside experts say more than concentration camps, throw- spokesperson told AFP. ever to be sent outside the Phil- the black and white bears to TikTok post by a young 1mn Uighurs and other mostly ing innocent Muslims in there, As of yesterday morning, the ingapore showed off two ippines and arrived in Singapore countries as gifts. woman, pretending to Muslim minorities have been separating families from each post had more than 1.5mn views critically-endangered ea- in June on a 10-year loan from A breeding programme is Agive eyelash curling ad- rounded up in a network of in- other, kidnapping them, mur- and 501,900 likes, and 600,000 Sgles yesterday that were Manila. also being carried out in the vice while actually condemning ternment camps across the dering them, raping them, forc- comments. loaned from the Philippines as The creatures are being cared Philippines by a small band of China’s crackdown on Muslims fractious region of Xinjiang. ing them to eat pork, forcing Two follow-up videos in part of a breeding programme to for at the city-state’s main avi- conservationists at a sanctu- in Xinjiang, has gone viral on China, after initially deny- them to drink, forcing them to which Aziz again addressed the reverse the dwindling numbers of ary and were shown to the me- ary outside the southern city of the Chinese-owned app that ing the camps existed, describes convert. Xinjiang camps had both re- the feathered giants. dia yesterday, as part of events Davao, close to the eagles’ main has been accused of censoring them as vocational schools “This is another Holocaust, ceived more than 7,000 views. Destruction of tropical rain- marking 50 years of diplomatic forest habitat. anti-Beijing content. aimed at dampening the al- yet no one is talking about it. The eyelash-curling clip had forest and relentless hunting relations between the countries. The bird of prey, which has The clip by US teen Feroza lure of extremism and violence Please be aware, please spread reached far more people on have decimated the population “Any future off spring of the white and brown plumage and Aziz, who describes herself as through education and job awareness in Xinjiang right Twitter, with versions of the of the Philippine Eagle — one eagles will be returned to the an enormous wingspan, is clas- “17 Just a Muslim”, had millions training. Aziz starts her video now,” she adds, before returning same video receiving more of the world’s biggest and most Philippines to contribute to the sifi ed as “critically endangered” of views across several social telling viewers: “The fi rst thing to the eyelash curling tutorial. than 6.5mn views on Twitter. powerful birds whose wingspan sustainability of the species’ by protection group the Interna- media platforms by yesterday. you need to do is grab your lash A previous account owned Aziz told Buzzfeed: “As a Mus- can reach 2m (7ft) — with only population,” said Wildlife Re- tional Union for Conservation of But Aziz said she has been curler.” by Aziz, reportedly from New lim girl, I’ve always been op- around 800 believed left in the serves Singapore, which runs the Nature. blocked from posting on the However, she soon chang- Jersey, was blocked by TikTok pressed and seen my people be hugely popular video platform es the subject, saying: “Then over another alleged violation, oppressed, and always I’ve been TikTok for a month after up- you’re going to put it down and but the app denied the current into human rights.” Earthquake drill in parliament China accuses Taiwan ruling party using “absurd” spying claims to win votes

China likened claims by a Chinese rule by force if necessary. China manipulation,” said Zhu. “Their Hong Kong-listed company, Xiang asylum seeker in Australia has already branded Wang a intention is to create the illusion Xin and Kung Ching, on suspicion who said he was a spy for fraud and said it was nonsense of the mainland getting involved of violating the island’s National Beijing to an absurd screenplay, to suggest it was interfering in in the Taiwan regional elections Security Act after they were accusing Taiwan’s ruling party of Taiwan’s January presidential and obtain improper election named in the allegations made manipulating the “concocted” and parliamentary elections. benefit for themselves.” Among by Wang. The pair were referred story to boost its chances in a Yesterday, Beijing doubled down several allegations levelled, to the Taipei District Prosecutors looming election. The allegations on that criticism. Speaking at Wang said he had helped guide Off ice yesterday for further by the self-professed spy Wang a regular news briefing, Zhu positive media attention toward investigation. Liqiang, reported by Australian Fenglian, spokeswoman for certain Taiwanese politicians and Xiang owns 15 companies in media, have rocked Taiwan China’s Taiwan Aff airs Off ice, had donated money to them, Hong Kong, including businesses after he detailed Chinese eff orts repeated that Wang was a including President Tsai’s main from media, education to to meddle in Taiwan elections fraudster who carried fake travel opponent, Han Kuo-yu of the technology, corporate filings and promote Communist Party documents. “Actually the facts are opposition Kuomintang party, show. Tsai wrote on her Facebook influence in Hong Kong. clear for this ‘fraud who became which favours close ties with page late on Tuesday that Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen a spy’. This is a totally absurd, China. Han, who has said he Chinese interference in Taiwan and her Democratic Progressive loophole-ridden ‘screenplay’ would drop out of the election was happening all the time and Party (DPP) have seized on the concocted by anti-China forces,” if he had taken any money from could not be denied. “China’s accusations to warn of the threat she said. the Communist Party, said on involvement in Taiwan’s elections from China, which deems Taiwan “The DPP authorities and the Tuesday he would sue Wang if he and infiltration of Taiwan society Lawmakers wear foldable helmets as they take part in an earthquake drill at the lower house of the to be sacred Chinese territory fraudster have bandied together, ever came to Taiwan. Taiwan is is something that is happening all parliament in Tokyo, Japan. to be brought under Beijing’s wantonly carrying out political investigating two executives at a the time. Gulf Times Thursday, November 28, 2019 17 BRITAIN/IRELAND Funeral fi rm ‘hits elderly with up to 57 calls a week’

Daily Mail one customer receiving 57 calls warned about misleading prac- Wolf of Wall Street. There was dustry is voluntarily regulated pre-paid funeral sector and Prosperous Life said it does London in a week. tices employed by fi rms selling even a life-sized cut-out of ac- by the Funeral Planning Author- promised to stamp out “shame- not cold-call customers – it re- The fi rm, which sells funeral pre-paid funeral plans. Last year tor Leonardo DiCaprio as fraud- ity (FPA). Firms can choose to ful” practices including high sponds to requests made on it plans costing between £3,595 a report revealed that call centre ster Jordan Belfort, who swindled sign up to its code of practice pressure sales tactics. is website. The fi rm said it has all centre staff selling fu- and £4,195, was also accused of staff regularly harassed custom- around £155mn from investors. giving customers extra protec- Martyn James, from com- never had a formal complaint. neral plans called them- encouraging those on low in- ers, with one agent calling 10 The former employee said tion. Prosperous Life is not a plaints website Resolver, said: It said staff were shown mo- Cselves “lions” as they come to pay for deals they could times in four hours. Employees staff at the call centre in Cheadle member of the FPA. “There have been concerns about tivational training videos, one preyed on elderly customers not aff ord on cards. were also found to be pressuring Hume, near Manchester, would Experts said that without gov- the industry for years. It is a ma- of which referred to lions and they referred to as “gazelles”, a Prosperous Life, which prides people in their late 60s and 70s push ahead with sales even if ernment intervention funeral nipulative area that sees fi rms gazelles. The fi rm admitted the whistleblower has claimed. itself on its “reputation and ex- to agree to home visits. they believed the customer was plan fi rms would continue to targeting groups who are the cut out of Leonardo DiCaprio A former employee at Pros- pertise”, has said the allegations The Prosperous Life whistle- not in charge of their fi nances target vulnerable customers with most exploited and using their had been in the offi ce, but said it perous Life said staff bombarded are “entirely false and without blower told The Guardian there because they had given power of unscrupulous sales practices. fear of death against them. It is was because it was running a sale targets with calls even after they foundation”. was a company sales culture in- attorney to a family member. In June the Treasury an- a Wild West and the sooner the promotion where staff could win said were not interested, with Money Mail has repeatedly spired by the Martin Scorsese fi lm The pre-paid funeral plan in- nounced plans to regulate the regulation is in place the better.” a trip to New York. GPs to send text alert if children miss jabs

Daily Mail remind parents based on a child’s London age that they are due vaccinations. Experts welcomed the an- nouncement, but said it must be arents will be sent text backed up with suffi cient fund- messages to remind them ing to enable the system to run Pwhen their children are smoothly. due to be vaccinated if the Tories Professor Martin Marshall, win the election. chairman of the Royal College The health secretary has of GPs, said: “GP practices have pledged to introduce a national systems in place to notify pa- vaccine-alert system to boost tients when their childhood vac- uptake of childhood jabs. cinations are due, and follow up Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks to patient Andrew Hall as he visits West Cornwall Community hospital in Penzance, Britain, yesterday. Families will be sent a message children who miss their jabs at from their GP surgery urging the scheduled time. them to book an appointment “However, these systems will be when their child is approaching on a practice-by-practice basis, their immunisation due date. and a more standardised approach Any parents who fail to show up across the whole country would for the life-saving jabs will be be a sensible measure. All parents sent another reminder. want to do the best for their chil- Health Secretary Matt Han- dren and having their children Premier in plot to ‘sell’ cock said the new system will be vaccinated is one of the most im- introduced within 30 days if the portant things they can ever do.” Conservatives win the general Dr Doug Brown, chief executive election. of the British Society for Immu- An alarming NHS report re- nology, said: “Vaccines save lives. vealed uptake has fallen for all Despite confi dence in vaccines 10 childhood jabs, including being high in the UK we have seen NHS to Trump: Corbyn measles, polio, meningitis and a decline in childhood vaccine up- whooping cough. Only 86% of take for fi ve years in a row. AFP However, the funding and coming election was “a fi ght sation which would end free ments contain,” she said. fi ve-year-olds received both “For us to reverse this trend, London running of the NHS is a recur- for the survival of the National healthcare. “The NHS will not be on the doses of the MMR jab in 2018-19, we need a multi-pronged ap- ring election topic. Health Service as a public serv- “We will never sell out our table in any future trade deal and the lowest level in fi ve years. proach which is ultimately Johnson’s Conservatives ac- ice”. National Health Service,” said the price that the NHS pays for Earlier this year the World backed up by signifi cant invest- ritain’s main opposition cused a “desperate” Corbyn “It’s already being talked Corbyn. drugs will not be on the table. Health Organisation declared ment in our local immunisation Labour party yesterday of “out-and-out lying” by about in secret. That could lead The Conservatives said the “This sort of conspiracy the UK was no longer “measles- services. Any steps a future gov- Baccused Prime Minis- peddling “conspiracy theory- to runaway privatisation of our documents — readouts of six theory-fuelled nonsense is not free”, with poor vaccination rates ernment can take to remind busy ter Boris Johnson of plotting fuelled nonsense”. health service,” he added. meetings of the UK-US Trade befi tting of the leader of a major blamed for the virus’s return. parents of when vaccinations are a “toxic” deal with President Corbyn had previously ob- “Megacorporations see John- and Investment Working Group political party.” Hancock said: “The science due would be a positive step in Donald Trump to allow US tained a redacted version of the son’s alliance with Trump as a between 2017 and 2019 — had For his part, Trump told Brit- is clear: vaccines save lives, the right direction. pharmaceutical companies ac- documents. chance to make billions from been online for two months and ain’s LBC radio last month that and ensuring that children are “This is particularly impor- cess to the state health service. But the Labour leader said the the illness and sickness of peo- only mentioned the NHS four he was not interested in the properly immunised is one of tant for the MMR vaccine, as the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn unredacted version catalogued ple in this country.” Talks were times. NHS. “We wouldn’t be involved the most important things any timing for when it is given falls held up what he claimed were six meetings between US and at “an advanced stage” and The party’s manifesto says in that,” the US president said. parent can do for their children. outside other routine check-ups 451 pages of previously secret UK offi cials since 2017, detailing could see an increase in the cost the health service, the price it “It’s not for us to have anything So we will introduce a national on child health. documents that proved Johnson “what they (the Conservatives) of generic drugs, he claimed. pays for drugs and the services to do with your healthcare sys- vaccination reminder system, to “However, for this strategy to was seeking to put the National don’t want you to know”. The NHS was set up in 1948 it provides are “not on the ta- tem. We’re just talking about make sure as many children as be successful, it must be coupled Health Service (NHS) on the ta- “The US is demanding that under a Labour government, ble” in any future trade talks. trade. I don’t even know where possible are vaccinated.” with funding for healthcare staff ble in a post-Brexit trade deal. our NHS is on the table in nego- promising free healthcare for The Conservatives’ Interna- that started...with respect to us The new system will primarily and services to ensure vaccina- Britain goes to the polls on tiations for a toxic deal,” Corbyn all “from cradle to the grave”. tional Trade Secretary Liz Truss taking over your healthcare sys- operate through text message and tion clinics are open and acces- December 12, with Johnson told reporters in central Lon- Labour has historically been slammed what she called Cor- tem. It’s so ridiculous.” digital reminders, with the op- sible to all in our communities so hoping to secure a majority to don. its staunchest defender and byn’s “stunt”. Trump is due to visit Britain tion for postal reminders for those we can ensure our children are be able to push through his di- The sale of the NHS was the repeatedly warned the free- “Corbyn is getting desperate next week for the Nato summit without a digital medical record. protected from these prevent- vorce deal to take the country government’s “secret agenda”, market Conservatives have an and is out-and-out lying to the on December 3-4, when the is- It will work with GP surgeries to able dangerous diseases.” out of the European Union. he added, warning that the agenda to introduce privati- public about what these docu- sue is likely to resurface. British celebrity chef Farmers’ protest shuts down Dublin

Rhodes dies aged 59 Reuters passengers to expect delays on Dublin all routes. “We’ll sit here for many Guardian News and Media ill and members of the Rock Oyster Rhodes Around Britain. He also more nights if we have to but London Team remain in Dubai to support had four restaurants and his armers shut down busy this has got to stop and we have the family as best they can.” own line of cookware and bread parts of Dublin’s city to start getting paid for our A statement released by the mixes. He went on to feature in Fcentre for a second suc- produce,” said Nicholas Hugh- V chef Gary Rhodes, famous family read: “The Rhodes fam- the ITV1 programme Saturday cessive day yesterday by park- es, a 53-year-old dairy farmer for shows such as Mas- ily are deeply saddened to an- Cooks, as well as the UKTV Food ing dozens of tractors in the from Moylough in County Gal- TterChef and Hell’s Kitchen, nounce the passing of beloved show Local Food Hero. capital to protest against low way who sat in his tractor all has died suddenly at the age of 59. husband, father and brother, Tributes to the chef came in beef prices and climate change night without sleep. Rhodes had been in Dubai Gary Rhodes OBE. Gary passed on social media, with many who initiatives they say they un- “It’s the only thing we can with his wife, Jennie, who was away last evening at the age of work in the food industry shar- fairly target them. do, we’re gone if we don’t do at his bedside when he died. A 59, with his beloved wife, Jennie, ing their condolences. Gordon The farmers arrived on trac- this. We can’t stay producing production company that was by his side.” Ramsay tweeted: “We lost a fan- tors from all over the country food below the cost of produc- working with Rhodes on a new Rhodes was born in London but tastic chef today in Gary Rhodes. on Tuesday for a planned pro- tion and we can’t keep getting TV series said he was taken ill grew up in Kent before embarking He was a chef who put British test in a cordoned off area but blamed for climate change. during a break in fi lming. on his career as a cook, training at cuisine on the map. Sending all parked their vehicles in the “This is about the death of Rock Oyster Media and Gold- a college in Thanet. He became the love and prayers to your wife very centre of the city and re- rural Ireland, it’s dying on its fi nch TV said in a statement: “It head chef at the Castle hotel in and kids. You’ll be missed Gx.” fused to leave until the coun- feet as we speak.” is with terrible sadness that we Taunton, where he retained its His fellow TV chef Ainsley try’s agriculture minister met The protest was similar to share the news that Gary Rhodes Michelin star at the age of 26. Harriott tweeted: “So sad to hear them. one staged yesterday by French OBE, TV chef, author and restau- He came back to London in the news about Gary Rhodes. A Some slept in their vehicles farmers in Paris, although the rateur has died suddenly at the 1990, according to reports in the true culinary icon and a love- overnight, many parked out- events were not co-ordinated. age of 59.Gary was in the middle Caterer magazine, to become ly man. Sending my love and side the fi ve-star luxury Shel- A weeks-long dispute be- of fi lming a wonderful new series head chef at Greenhouse in May- thoughts to his wife Jennie and bourne Hotel on the corner of tween Irish farmers and proc- with Rock Oyster Media for ITV. fair. He went on to launch several their boys. RIP, my friend. xx” St. Stephen’s Green, one of the essors over beef prices cut pro- “All at Rock Oyster Media and restaurants, including Rhodes & The chef Daniel Cliff ord, best main bus route into the city. duction and caused a wave of Goldfi nch are devastated by this Co, and opened his fi rst overseas known for his work at the Miche- Police warned commuters temporary layoff s earlier this tragic news. Gary was taken ill very venture in 2004. lin-starred restaurant Midsum- that a number of the city’s main year before a tentative agree- suddenly at home during a break in Rhodes was awarded an OBE mer House, said in a tweet: “Rest thoroughfares, including Kil- ment brokered by the govern- fi lming and died a short time after- in 2006. He presented TV shows in peace a true British classic Gary dare Street, the seat of parlia- ment lifted pickets at meat wards. Production was obviously including MasterChef, Mas- Rhodes you opened the door for so Protesting farmers block St Stephen’s Green with their tractors, in ment, remained closed to traffi c. factories by a grassroots group halted as soon as Gary was taken terChef USA and his own series, many young English cooks.” Dublin, Ireland yesterday. The city’s bus operator told of farmers. Gulf Times 18 Thursday, November 28, 2019 EUROPE

DEFENCE CRIME SNARLED BUSTED UNSAFE Russia urges US to extend Museum confirms 49-carat French farmers clog cities ‘Narcosubmarine’ a first Germany grounds chopper N-pact due to expire in 2021 diamond among heist haul to protest falling prices for Europe, says Spain in latest hardware woes

Russia has formally proposed to the United States A 49-carat diamond which analysts estimate Hundreds of French farmers descended The discovery of a submarine carrying The German army was hit yesterday by that the two nuclear superpowers extend their to be worth up to $12mn was among over a yesterday on Paris by tractor to protest the 3,000kg of cocaine off the coast of Spain another equipment problem, as it was forced New START arms control treaty by five years, dozen jewel-encrusted items snatched from a struggles of the farming community and marks a “historic” turning point in the battle to keep its new Airbus Sea Lion helicopter on though Moscow would also settle for a shorter German state museum in a spectacular heist, the put pressure on supermarket chains to pay against drug trafficking, Spanish authorities the ground because key technical documents extension, a senior Russian off icial said yesterday. museum confirmed yesterday. Publishing a list them more for their produce. Some 340km of said yesterday. Police described it as the were riddled with irregularities. The The New START accord, which is due to expire of the pieces taken in Monday’s brazen raid, the tailbacks were reported during rush hour in Paris first “narcosubmarine” to be intercepted in Bundeswehr took delivery of the first N90 Sea in February 2021, is the last major nuclear arms Green Vault museum at Dresden’s royal palace as convoys of tractors snarled traff ic along the Europe, adding in a statement that it had Lion chopper a month ago, but “because of the control treaty between Moscow and Washington. said the items stolen included a sword whose main roads into the capital. Tractors also blocked been found in waters off the northwestern inadequate and incomplete documentation, It limits the number of strategic nuclear warheads hilt is encrusted with nine large and 770 smaller traff ic in Lyon and other cities. In Paris, around region of Galicia on Saturday, stuffed with it is not possible” for the Navy’s personnel to they can deploy to 1,550 each. Russia warned diamonds, and a shoulderpiece which contains 200 farmers blocked the Champs-Elysees 152 neatly-wrapped bales of cocaine. The fly the helicopters. Irregularities were found earlier this month there was already not enough the famous 49-carat Dresden white diamond. avenue and dumped hay outside Fouquet’s estimated street value of the drugs is 100mn in “well over 150 positions”. “In all, these are time left for Moscow and Washington to negotiate Eleven pieces were removed completely, while restaurant, a hangout of the rich and famous, euros ($110.22mn), Javier Losada, head of the considerable errors that do not permit the safe a full-fledged replacement to the treaty and that individual parts of a further three items were which was sacked earlier in the year by “yellow central government delegation in Galicia, told operation of the flight for the moment,” added time was running out to agree on an extension. also missing. vest” protesters. reporters yesterday. the army.

Europeans face up to new space EU chief vows to build challenges

By Juliette Collen, AFP Paris a ‘green superpower’ uropean ministers yesterday met in Spain aim- ing to defend its top space ranking against By Francoise Michel, AFP Echallenges from the United States and China, Strasbourg and increasingly from industry disruptors such as Elon Musk’s Space X. Ministers of the 22 European Space Agency (ESA) russels’ next top offi cial Ur- member states gathered in Seville to discuss a re- sula von der Leyen will take quest for 14.3bn euros in funding, some 4bn euros Boffi ce on Sunday after win- more than in the previous 3-year budget. ning a comfortable parliamentary The European Union has already agreed to provide majority for her plan to make the EU 16bn euros and now the crucial question is what to a green superpower. spend it on. The 61-year-old conservative “There is a desire to do more, to have a more ambi- takes offi ce with Europe challenged tious scientifi c programme and to develop our infra- to fi nd its new role alongside geo- structure to match our ambitions,” ESA spokesman political and economic giants the Philippe Willekens told AFP. United States and China. In a fast changing environment, “Europe must Her path to offi ce, delayed from pay attention to remain the leader in those sectors it November 1, was rocky and Brus- already is and to continue to conquer new markets,” sels’ power has been undermined Willekens added. by Franco-German rivalry and Brit- In recent years, Europe has established itself as ain’s imminent exit. a major space player, with its very heavy Ariane 6 But yesterday, the European rocket launcher the latest off the production line and Parliament in Strasbourg gave the the Galileo GPS system operational. former German defence minister a But this position is now “threatened,” the Institut 461 to 157 vote of confi dence to al- Montaigne think-tank in Paris says, as global com- low her 27-strong commission to petition increases, led by the United States and Chi- get to work on December 1. na who have poured massive amounts of money into After a handover ceremony on the industry, both civilian and military. Sunday, the 10th anniversary of the “Europe does not have the structural advan- latest European treaty, she will head tages of the Americans and Chinese because it does to Madrid next week for the COP 25 not have a single, shared objective,” said Isabelle climate summit. Sourbes-Verger of France’s National Centre for “I ask for your support to give Scientifi c Research (CNRS). “Europe has the same Europe a new start,” she said, in a problem it has always had — what justifi es spending largely well-received speech at- more on space?” tended by the massed ranks of the Europe must answer these questions just as new play- new commissioners and in which ers such as Space X and a host of others, mostly Ameri- she shifted fl uently between Eng- can, have begun to emerge, shaking up the industry. lish, French and German. European Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen addresses the European Parliament in Strasbourg yesterday. This “New Space” evolution has seen Musk for “Our union will embark on trans- example develop reusable launchers for dramatically formation that will touch every part foreign direct investment anywhere “Our priorities are a crucial part ties oppose much of her programme, ecessor Juncker, who often made smaller yet more powerful satellites, many designed of our society and economy and we in the world. of the von der Leyen commission,” and the Greens are sceptical. jokes about what he saw as Lon- for the “connected world” of driverless cars and will do it because it will be the right “We should harness this twin said Manfred Weber, head of the “Having heard the von der Leyen don’s great mistake. countless other aspects of everyday life on earth. thing to do, not because it will be power of digitalisation and climate parliament’s centre-right EPP bloc speech in the European Parlia- “I have made no secret that I will Some experts fear that Europe is simply not com- easy,” she said. transition to boost our industrial and himself a disappointed former ment today, I already miss Juncker,” always be a remainer. But I will also petitive enough to get into these new markets, never She hailed the Dutch vice-presi- base.” presidential hopeful. sighed German MEP Reinhard Bu- always respect the decision taken by mind holding on to what it already has. dent that she was obliged by mem- Von der Leyen’s own appoint- “In 2024 Europe will have the tikofer. the British people,” she said. Ariane 6 is a particular cause for concern, with ber states to pick as her deputy, so- ment to succeed Jean-Claude most ambitious and inclusive cli- And there is one more cloud “And whatever the future holds, French state audit offi cials recently describing its cialist Frans Timmermans, as the Juncker as president was approved mate policy in the world, a Euro- hanging over the investiture: Brexit. the bond and the friendship be- economic model as “presenting some risks” given right man for the dossier. in July with only nine votes more pean border and coast guard, trans- Prime Minister Boris Johnson tween our people are unbreakable.” ferocious competition from Space X which in 2017 And she promised a “European than she needed, a narrow margin formed Europol into a European plans to pull Britain out of the EU Von der Leyen has not been in- took Arianespace’s global satellite launch crown. green deal...for the health of our in EU politics. FBI, a master plan to fi ght cancer on January 31, after Brexit was re- vited to observe next week’s the Nato Space X has forced down costs sharply, develop- planet, our people and our econo- And three of her initial nominees and created millions of jobs.” peatedly delayed amid wrangling summit in London, but said she con- ing a reusable rocket which the Europeans thought my.” were rejected during the parliamen- The commission has members in Westminster over the divorce tinues to regard the trans-Atlantic initially to be impossible, the offi cials said. As well as promising measures tary confi rmation process — an un- from across the political spectrum terms. alliance as key to Europe’s security Worse still, Europe “at this stage has only devel- to combat climate change, von der precedented snub — weakening her and 12 out of the 27 are women, not But in the meantime he has re- — distancing herself from Macron. oped the building blocks which will allow, in due Leyen insisted that Europe has the from the outset. quite the parity that was promised fused to fi ll Britain’s seat on the The French leader has branded time, to acquire” this re-usable technology, the au- heft to lead the world in a digital But the main centre-right, liberal but the highest number ever in the commission and is now standing for Nato “brain dead” and suggested ditors said in a report. economic revolution. and socialist voting blocs rallied European Commission. re-election in a December 12 vote. that Europe should take arms to Arianespace head Stephane Israel insists that “We are the world’s trading su- round her in the fi nal vote, and the There will nevertheless be oppo- Von der Leyen expressed regret at defend itself, but von der Leyen Ariane 6 is “just the beginning” and the rocket pro- perpower,” she boasted. “We are the Greens chose to abstain rather than sition. The parliament’s eurosceptic, Britain’s decision and was markedly insisted the EU “would never be a gramme “opens a cycle of innovations which will largest source and destination of vote against. far-left and right-wing populist par- more conciliatory than her pred- military alliance.” have to be accelerated.” Albania scrambles to fi nd earthquake survivors

By Briseida Mema, AFP according to relatives and neigh- rocked the island of Crete in was working with rescuers who Tirana bours. neighbouring Greece. used pickaxes, shovels and their “They went to heaven togeth- More than 27 buildings were hands to clear debris and move er, they were very honest and badly damaged, with several re- slabs of concrete. mergency workers in Alba- poor people,” said Valbona Cupi, duced to dust, in Durres, a beach “The rescue operation is very nia yesterday pulled dust- 60, another local, in tears. destination on the Adriatic coast. diffi cult because you can’t use Ecovered corpses from the Nearby, rescue teams were Thousands of people spent the heavy machinery, you have to ruins of buildings gutted by a combing another crumbled previous night sleeping in tents work with your hands,” he said, as violent earthquake, in a tireless building in hopes of reaching a or on the grass of the city’s foot- distraught neighbours watched search for survivors as the death young woman they believed may ball stadium. from the house next door. toll crept towards 30. still be alive after the more than Many were afraid to return Albania is one of the poorest Tirana declared a state of 24-hour ordeal. home as the aftershocks rattled countries in Europe, but experts, emergency in the areas hard- Earlier in the day, they pulled nerves and temporarily halted rescue teams and emergency aid est-hit by Tuesday’s 6.4 mag- out the body of a young man. rescue work. have fl owed in from around the nitude earthquake: the coastal By mid-day yesterday, the of- During a visit to Durres, Prime continent. city of Durres and the town of fi cial death toll was 27 after the Minister Edi Rama said the Tirana declared yesterday a Thumane, where victims were defence ministry revised down government would arrange for national day of mourning and trapped by toppled apartments an earlier fi gure of 28. homeless families to be moved cancelled festivities planned for and hotels. Some 45 people had also been into hotels. Independence Day celebrations Devastated relatives wept as rescued, the ministry said. “We cannot spend the winter on November 28-29. search teams in Thumane un- There was no estimate on how under open skies or in tents,” he In an act of solidarity, neigh- earthed the bodies of a mar- many people remained missing. said, pledging to put each family bouring Kosovo, whose popula- ried couple, Pellumb and Celike Around 650 people have been in a new home by 2020. tion is mostly ethnic Albanian, Greku, from one of the build- treated for mostly minor injuries, In the district of Keneta, emer- also went into offi cial mourning. ings torn down by the strongest according to Albania’s health gency workers and relatives kept Two Kosovar brothers, Shem- earthquake to strike Albania in ministry. up the search for a family of six — sedin and Isa Abazi, were among decades. Aftershocks continued yester- two parents and four children — those killed in Durres when their “Terrible, terrible,” an elderly day, with a 5.3 magnitude quake whose home was fl attened by the hotel collapsed, according to woman dressed in black shouted, shaking buildings in the seaside earthquake. Pristina. pulling at her hair as the bodies in town of Durres and spreading “Hope is the last thing that The powerful quake struck just pyjamas were wrapped in blan- panic after it struck just off the dies,” said Asije, 40, a close rela- before 4am on Tuesday. kets and carried away. coast, the European Mediter- tive of the Lala family who had Earthquakes are common in Their son Saimir, who was vis- ranean Seismological Centre re- moved to the port city from Al- the Balkans due to the move- iting from abroad, was rescued ported. bania’s poor north in search of a ments two large tectonic plates — Rescuers look for survivors through the rubble of a collapsed building in Thumane, northwest of Tirana, alive from the rubble on Tuesday Earlier in the day, a 6.1-mag- better life. the African and Eurasian — and after an earthquake hit Albania. night but later died in hospital, nitude underwater earthquake Another relative, Hasan Lala, the smaller Adriatic micro-plate. Gulf Times Thursday, November 28, 2019 19 INDIA

RELIGION POLITICS CONTROVERSY JUDICIARY CRIME Longowal re-appointed Hooda slams ‘paralysed’ Sikh boy asked not to AIMPLB to file review Man kills five family SGPC chief for third time Khattar government wear turban to school petition on Ayodhya verdict members in Jharkhand

Gobind Singh Longowal was yesterday re- Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda The Sikh community in Bijnore, Uttar Pradesh The All India Muslim Personal Law Board A man killed five members of his family in appointed president of the cash-rich Shiromani yesterday slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party- is up in arms against a private school that (AIMPLB) will file a review petition against the Jharkhand alleging that his wife had illicit Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) for led government in Haryana, saying it had failed to objected to a class 10 Sikh student wearing Supreme Court’s verdict on the temple issue relationships, police said yesterday. According the third time in a row. The decision was taken finalise the common minimum programme in the a turban. The Gurudwara Prabhandak Samiti in the first week of December. Senior advocate to the police, Gango Das, 30, had a quarrel with at the annual meeting of the SGPC general past one month. “When will this government start has lodged a complaint with district officials. Zafaryab Jilani said on behalf of AIMPLB that the his wife who was eight months pregnant. The house held inside the Golden Temple complex working? People don’t know what they are doing. According to reports, the student was asked review petition would be filed before the 30-day family members including the mother and two in Amritsar. His name was proposed by former They have not yet announced any programme for by the principal of St Mary’s school not to limit which ends on December 9. The board other relatives tried to intervene. He picked up SGPC president Jagir Kaur and seconded the people,” he said. After 18 days of dilly-dallying, wear the turban to school. The student had has already said it would ask for a review of the a rod and hit his wife Sheela Devi, 27, mother by Alwinder Pal Singh Pakhoke. The SGPC, the government on November 14 inducted been regularly attending school with his judgment in which the entire disputed land has Shanti, 60, daughter Radhika Kumari, 6 and considered a mini-parliament of Sikh religious 10 in the council of ministers, which included turban, but two days ago he was asked not to been given for the temple and a five-acre plot of son Piyush Kumar, 2 and two nieces. Except aff airs, has an annual budget of nearly Rs1,200 one Jannayak Janata Party legislator and an wear the turban. Balbir Singh, head of the Shri land would be given to Muslims for construction one niece all others died on the spot. The crore. It has control over Sikh religious aff airs, independent. Taking a dig at the post-election Guru Singh Sabha, said that the community of a mosque. The Babri mosque stood on a plot survivor has been admitted to a local hospital. and manages gurdwaras in Punjab, Haryana BJP-JJP alliance, Hooda said in democracy the had lodged a complaint with the sub- of land which is considered by Hindus to be the After the massacre, Das locked himself in a and Himachal Pradesh, including the holiest of mandate should be respected. The government divisional magistrate. Copies of the complaint birthplace of Ram. The mosque was demolished room. Police said Das was mentally disturbed. Sikh shrines Harmandir Sahib, popularly known was formed on the basis of “selfishness”, said have been sent to the Shiromani Gurudwara by a Hindu mob in December 1992 that led to Police have arrested him. The bodies have as Golden Temple. Hooda, a two-time chief minister. Prabandhak. riots across the country. been sent for postmortem. Maharashtra BJP ignored seniors, says party leader

IANS Nationalist Congress Party alli- partners parted ways,” Khadse Mumbai ance. said. His daughter-in-law Raksha The 67-year-old outspoken Khadse, however, is a BJP MP leader rued that though seniors n a veiled attack on former from Raver in Jalgaon. like him have worked hard and Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari holds a meeting with chief minister-designate and Shiv Sena Party’s leader Uddhav Thackeray Maharashtra chief minister Khadse, who has been a sen- did penance for the party for the in Mumbai yesterday. IDevendra Fadnavis, sen- ior party leader since the era of past 35-40 years, they were sim- ior state Bharatiya Janata Party the late veterans Pramod Ma- ply brushed aside and the party leader Eknath Khadse yesterday hajan and Gopinath Munde, is now looking at the damage. claimed that the party could served as a minister in the erst-  Prime Minister Naren- have won at least 25 more seats while Shiv Sena-BJP govern- dra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah in the October 21 assembly elec- ment of 1995-1999, became a and party working president J Farmers, widows, celebrities to tions if seniors had not been minister again in 2014, but was P Nadda in a meeting on Tues- sidelined. later forced to quit during the day decided to ask Fadnavis to Khadse, once the de facto No Fadnavis regime. put his resignation, sources said 2 in the state party and govern- On the irrigation scam, yesterday. attend Thackeray’s swearing-in ment before he was made to Khadse said the party had given The top leaders had to take resign on alleged corruption cartloads of evidence against this decision because they could charges, also targeted Fadnavis Ajit Pawar, but “now all these not arrange the majority to win IANS Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and ceremony of a chief minister – of Thakur, his son Kshitij Thakur for joining hands with Nation- documents have been disposed a fl oor test despite every eff ort. Mumbai Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Ke- a diff erent alliance government and Rajesh Patil. alist Congress Party leader Ajit of in ‘raddi’ (rubbish mart), and They thought that taking fl oor jriwal, and Dravida Munnetra – within a gap of fi ve days, will With this, the strength of Pawar to form the short-lived probably fetched a good price”. test when they knew they could Kazhagam chief M K Stalin. be held. the MVA goes up to 169 in the government last week. While clarifying that the party not prove the majority would be ore than 500 farmers Also invited is Maharashtra At the crack of dawn on No- 288-member assembly, said Though he did not specifi- was never wrong, he said that it more embarrassing than asking from diff erent parts of Navnirman Sena president and vember 23, a two-member gov- Chavan. cally take the name of Fadnavis, was when “some party leaders Fadnavis to resign, the sources MMaharashtra will be in- Thackeray’s cousin Raj Thack- ernment comprising chief min- Starting his political career it was quite obvious who he was entrusted with decision-making said. vited to attend the swearing-in eray. ister Devendra Fadnavis and with the Congress over four dec- referring to in his media inter- powers tend to take wrong deci- The prime minister was par- of Uddhav Thackeray as Mahar- Shiv Sena Legislative Party deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar ades ago, the six-time legislator action. sions that the party has to face ticipating in the special session ashtra chief minister at Shivaji leader Eknath Shinde said that was sworn in, leaving the state Hitendra Thakur later formed Khadse criticised Fadnavis the consequences”. of the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sab- Park in Mumbai today evening, apart from political dignitaries and country in a daze. his own political party which has for hobnobbing with Ajit Pa- Justifying his contentions, ha on the occasion of the Consti- a top Congress leader said yes- from all parties in Maharashtra However, that government been lording over the Palghar re- war, creating a big mess of the Khadse said when in 2014 the tution Day on November 26. In terday. and the rest of India, there will barely completed 80 hours in of- gion. government formation and then BJP snapped alliance with the between, the Supreme Court de- “We are having at least 500- be celebrities from the fi lm and fi ce, paving the way for the Maha The BVA wields total control giving the NCP leader a “clean Shiv Sena, it was the party’s de- livered its verdict on the Mahar- 700 farmers and widows for the glamour world, industrialists, Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance over the Vasai-Virar Municipal chit” in the irrigation scam. cision and he was entrusted with ashtra issue and ordered holding grand function tomorrow. There sports personalities and promi- government headed by Thack- Corporation and these twin towns Dwelling upon how sen- the responsibility of announcing a fl oor test by yesterday evening. will be at least 20 farmers from nent achievers in diff erent fi elds. eray to stake its claim to power, – barely 25km north of Mumbai ior leaders like himself, Vinod it. After attending the special each district in Maharashtra,” He said that at least 500 farm- and fi nally invited to take the – rank as the fi fth-largest in the Tawde, Prakash Mehta and “The two parties contested session, Shah and Nadda went said Vijay Wadettiwar, former ers and widows who have met oath of offi ce on November 28. state and the fastest growing ur- Chandrashekar Bawankule were separately, but later came to- to Modi’s room to discuss the Leader of Opposition in the as- Thackeray during his state-wide Meanwhile, a day before his ban conglomerate in India. denied tickets in the assembly gether and formed the govern- ongoing political scenario. The sembly. election tours will be attending swearing-in, Thackeray got a Once a staunch political rival polls, Khadse said: “You should ment which functioned well for meeting continued for half-an- Chief Ministers of all opposi- the function. boost when a Palghar-based of Shiv Sena, the BVA has largely have taken us along with you. the last fi ve years,” he said. hour. tion-ruled states have also been The chief Justice and judges party, Bahujan Vikas Aghadi remained unallied though it had That way, the BJP could have However, in 2019, the two par- According to the sources, invited besides central leaders of the Bombay High Court, top (BVA) joined the Aghadi, a top supported the Bharatiya Janata won around 20-25 seats more ties contested the elections as a when Modi got to know that Ajit of all political parties, and state police, civil and defence offi - leader said. Party after the election results which it has lost.” formidable alliance and were re- Pawar seemed unable to con- party leaders, he added. cials, diplomatic corps and high- In a statement, former Con- were announced on October 24. Instead, his daughter, Rohini turned in a majority. vince the legislators for the fl oor Some of them are Congress ranking government offi cials will gress chief minister Ashok Cha- Following the unilateral sup- Khewalkar-Khadse was given “The people gave a majority – test, they decided to save party’s interim chief Sonia Gandhi, also attend the swearing-in cer- van said that the BVA with three port extended to MVA, the BVA the ticket from Muktainagar, but 161 seats – to the BJP-Sena com- prestige through Fadnavis’ res- Trinamool Congress (TMC) su- emony, sources said. legislators has decided to throw could now be a contender for a she lost to independent candi- bine, but it was only on the issue ignation before the fl oor test. premo and West Bengal Chief This is the fi rst time in the its weight behind the MVA. The ministerial post, according to date Chandrakant N Patil, who of the post of chief minister that The step could also do a damage Minister Mamata Banerji, Aam state that a second swearing-in three legislators are Hitendra party sources. was supported by the Congress- the alliance broke and the two control for the party. Ajit Pawar likely to be Deshmukh’s son may take oath as minister

NCP fl oor leader again IANS by the NCP and the Shiv Sena. Mumbai The pre-poll alliance part- ners Congress and the Nation- IANS Bhujbal, supported Ajit Pawar’s splits’’. It now is clear that the alist Congress Party (NCP) Mumbai rehabilitation. saga of the Pawar family will ro- ith Shiv Sena chief Ud- have forged an alliance with the The junior Pawar revolted tate around Sule. dhav Thackarey, eight Bharatiya Janata Party’s former against the NCP and joined The high profi le rebellion WCongress leaders will ally Shiv Sena. he Nationalist Congress hands with the Bharatiya Ja- within the Pawar clan is be- also be sworn in as ministers in Uddhav Thackarey, fi rst fam- Party is likely to elect Ajit nata Party to take oath as deputy ing seen as the direct fallout of Maharashtra, including former ily member from the Thackarey TPawar again as its fl oor chief minister last Saturday.] Sule’s gradual elevation in the chief minister late Vilasrao Desh- family, will take oath as the chief leader in the assembly ahead of The optics in the assembly party, fi rst in the Rajya Sabha mukh’s son Amit Deshmukh, minister today at Shivaji Park. the swearing-in today, sources have set the NCP’s internal dy- and then in the Lok Sabha. Until party leaders said yesterday. Meanwhile, former fi nance within the Sharad Pawar-led namics straight with Sharad then Ajit Pawar had a free run in “Maharashtra Congress chief minister P Chidambaram yester- party indicated. Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule the NCP aff airs. Balasaheb Thorat, former chief day launched a scathing attack In a truce with uncle Sharad receiving the newly elected As the clout of Sule has gradu- minister Vilasrao Deshmukh’s on the BJP over the Maharashtra Pawar, the NCP wants to re- MLAs before the start of the fi rst ally increased in the party, Ajit son Amit Deshmukh, ex-chief political drama, saying it showed store the status of Ajit Pawar. session yesterday, and she wel- Pawar had been upset for quiet minister Ashok Chavan, party the honour they accorded to the However, it is not clear whether coming and hugging estranged sometime, said an NCP insider. working president Nitin Raut, constitution. Ajit Pawar will be a deputy chief cousin Ajit ‘Dada’ Pawar. In the past few days, Sule was Kisan Congress chief Nana Patole, In a brief interaction with minister or accommodated in With Ajit Pawar being pushed part of the hectic activity and Vishwajeet Kadam, Aslam Sheikh the media at the Rouse Av- the ministry. to the fence, Sule is at the centre even close Pawar aide Praful Pa- and Varsha Gaikwad are likely to enue Court, Chidambram said: After a surprise revolt, Ajit stage of the NCP now. tel was missing. be sworn in the ministers,” senior “That’s the honour they show Pawar was removed as the NCP She was part of all the meet- As Sharad Pawar emerges Congress leader told IANS. to the constitution? It’s sad that legislature party leader and Jay- ings and the negotiations that from shadows to becoming the He said the party is also push- the prime minister, the president ant Patil was appointed in his her father did towards the for- strong Maratha, Sule will be ing for the post of speaker in the and the governor were involved place. mation of the government. She the next heir apparent in the 288-member assembly. in the midnight (drama).” Ajit Pawar on Tuesday re- was also instrumental in pursu- NCP. “We are pushing for former Chidambaram was produced signed as deputy chief minis- ing Ajit Pawar back to the party Pawar on Tuesday walked in chief minister Prithviraj Chavan before Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar ter and then met Sharad Pawar fold. amid loud cheers at hotel Tri- to be elected as the speaker of the at the end of his judicial custody late at night. In the three-party After the Saturday coup, Sule dent where Uddhav Thackery assembly,” he said, adding the in the INX Media case. legislature meeting, at least immediately changed her What- was elected as the leader of the Nationalist Congress Party MP Supriya Sule hugs her cousin Ajit Congress is likely to get 12 cabinet The court extended the judi- two leaders, including Chhagan sApp status – “party and family three parties. Pawar outside the Maharashtra assembly in Mumbai yesterday. berth while the rest will be shared cial custody till December 11. Gulf Times 20 Thursday, November 28, 2019 LATIN AMERICA

US to designate Mexican drug cartels as terrorists: Trump

Reuters tion is not that easy, you have to tablish contact with his counter- sation, it is illegal under US law tolerate any move that would vi- bush in northern Mexico. both countries are responsi- Washington/Mexico City go through a process, and we are part, Michael R Pompeo, in order for people in the United States to olate its national sovereignty. Mexican authorities said they ble for the rising trade in drugs, well into that process,” Trump to discuss this very important is- knowingly off er support and its “We will be fi rm,” Ebrard add- may have been victims of mis- weapons and money.” said in an interview with former sue for the bilateral agenda,” the members cannot enter the coun- ed. taken identity amid confronta- The LeBaron extended family S President Donald Fox News host Bill O’Reilly. ministry said. try and may be deported. Earlier this month, Trump of- tions among drug gangs in the has often been in confl ict with Trump said he would Soon afterwards, Mexico’s for- Mexican President Andres Financial institutions that fered in a tweet to help Mexico area. drug traffi ckers in Chihuahua Udesignate Mexican drug eign ministry issued a statement Manuel Lopez Obrador rejected become aware they have funds “wage WAR on the drug cartels Alex LeBaron, a former Mexi- and victims’ relatives said the cartels as terrorist groups for saying it would quickly seek a Trump’s “interventionism.” connected to the group must and wipe them off the face of the can congressman and relative killers must have known who their role in traffi cking narcotics high-level meeting with US state “Co-operation, yes, interven- block the money and alert the US earth” in the aftermath of the of some of the victims, rejected they were targeting. and people, prompting a speedy department offi cials to address tion, no” Lopez Obrador said in treasury department. bloodiest attack on US citizens in the idea on Twitter of a US “in- “Co-operation, yes, inter- request for talks by Mexico. the legal designation as well as a morning news conference when Reacting to the comments Mexico in years. vasion.” “We have already been vention, no” Lopez Obrador “They will be designated,... I the fl ow of arms and money to asked about Trump’s comments. from Trump, Mexican Foreign Three women and six chil- invaded by terrorist cartels,” he said in a morning news confer- have been working on that for the organised crime. Once a particular group is Minister Marcelo Ebrard said in dren of dual US-Mexican na- wrote. “We demand real co-ordi- ence when asked about Trump’s last 90 days. You know, designa- “The foreign minister will es- designated as a terrorist organi- a tweet that Mexico would never tionality were killed in an am- nation between both countries... comments. Bolivia govt Lula’s supporters rally names fi rst envoy to US in 11 years

AFP group of around 50 countries. La Paz Foreign Minister Karen Longar- ic announced Venezuelan diplo- mats would be sent home for “vio- olivia has appointed its fi rst lating diplomatic norms.” Bolivia ambassador to the US in 11 also fi red all its ambassadors ex- Byears, offi cials said, as the cept those to Peru and the Vatican. interim government resets the The announcement comes as country’s foreign policy after the some 20 former members of Mo- departure of Evo Morales. rales’ government are holed up in Walter Oscar Serrate Cuellar Mexico’s embassy in La Paz, the has been given the key posting, foreign ministry said. the foreign ministry announced Five of them — including Mo- A supporter of former Brazilian president Lula da Silva holds a sign that reads “Lula was not tried. He’s the victim of political persecution” in front of the TRF-4 appeals court in on Twitter, fi lling a position left rales’ former top minister Juan Porto Alegre, Brazil, yesterday. vacant since a diplomatic spat be- Ramon Quintana — are wanted for tween La Paz and Washington in arrest. 2008. Both Morales and Quintana The high-profi le appointment, have been accused of sedition and which has to be approved by the terrorism. senate, comes as the caretaker Federal prosecutors are inves- government prepares to hold new tigating allegations that Morales, elections that exclude Morales. after arriving in Mexico, encour- Morales’ Movement for Social- aged his supporters to maintain ism party controls the upper house road blocks that caused severe of Congress. food and fuel shortages in La Paz. Brazil NGO raided in Serrate previously served as Bo- Interior Minister Arturo Murillo livia’s ambassador and permanent played a telephone recording to representative at the United Na- journalists last Wednesday, alleg- tions, the ministry said. edly of Morales issuing instruc- Under Morales, Bolivia’s pres- tions to a leader of the opposition ident for nearly 14 years, ties with movement in Bolivia. the US were tense. Relations took “Don’t let food into the cities, Amazon fi res probe a turn for the worse under former we’re going to block, really en- US leader George W Bush, with circle (the cities),” says the voice Guardian News and Media protected areas in this popular be made clear,” it said in a state- fi res,” he said. “They created a The NGO’s activities include the expulsion of ambassadors Murillo attributed to Morales. Brasilia tourist region. The four arrested ment. problem for them to solve and operating a hospital boat visit- from both countries in late 2008. Bolivia has lodged a formal pro- fi refi ghters were members of the Local indigenous associations make money from.” ing remote riverside commu- Morales resigned on November test to Mexico over Morales’s re- volunteer brigade, and one of and campaigners said the raid Detective Melo Jr sent the nities and helping indigenous 10 and fl ed to Mexico where he was marks, saying they “contravened” he headquarters of an them works for PSA. and arrests were a politically- Guardian a video he said fi re- communities develop sustain- granted political asylum after dis- his political asylum status. award-winning Brazilian The arrests came three motivated attack on dedicated fi ghters had uploaded to able tourism. It also runs an ex- puted October 20 elections ignited Looming new elections and TNGO which works with months after Brazil’s far-right fi refi ghters and a respected NGO. Youtube. Apparently shot from perimental agroforestry centre. street protests. talks between the interim gov- remote communities in the Am- president Jair Bolsonaro sought “This is a very serious NGO a drone, it showed blazes burn- On Monday, the Folha de Morales, who had been seeking ernment and opposition groups azon has been raided by police, to blame a surge in Amazon fi res whose work is recognised by the ing in a stretch of forest before S.Paulo newspaper reported a fourth term, claimed victory, but have helped defuse tensions after who also arrested four volunteer on NGOs, without providing any local population and interna- panning back to reveal a vehicle that real estate interests were opposition groups said the results weeks of unrest that left dozens fi refi ghters and accused them of evidence. tionally,” said Felipe Milanez, a on a dirt road, but did not show pressurising protected areas in were rigged. dead. starting wildfi res to raise inter- “It is a Kafkaesque situation, professor of humanities at the anybody lighting any fi res. Alter do Chao. In September Since declaring herself interim Normal activities are resum- national funding. we were all taken by surprise Federal University of Bahia. The Alter do Chao brigade federal prosecutors said they president, right-wing senator ing in La Paz and other cities Heavily armed police raided without understanding why,” “We know the serious work was formed last year and has suspected one of the Alter do Jeanine Anez, who has been rec- with schools and businesses reo- the offi ces of the Health and said the Health and Happiness and honesty of our fi refi ghters,” close links to the Health and Chao fi res had been started in an ognised by the United States, has pening this week and blockades Happiness Project, (known by Project’s co-ordinator Caetano said the Iwipuraga indigenous Happiness Project, founded in area invaded by a land grabber wasted no time rewriting Bolivia’s of major transport routes mostly its Portuguese initials as PSA) Scannavino. “If (the fi refi ghters) association. 1987 by Caetano Scannavino’s on the run from police after be- foreign policy. removed. in Alter do Chao in the Amazon were really criminals they must Jose de Melo Jr, the detective brother Eugenio, a doctor from ing handed a six-year, 10-month She broke ties with Cuba and An eight-point agreement state of Para, seizing computers be Hollywood actors because leading the investigation, de- Sao Paulo. prison sentence. Venezuela. released by the government and documents. they tricked us.” nied any political dimension and “They have paralysed our But detective Melo Jr said his Anez’s fi rst foreign policy deci- pledged, among other things, to PSA has close links to the Alter The Alter do Chao fi re brigade said he had evidence of arson. operations,” said Eugenio Scan- operation has not examined any sion was to recognise Venezuela’s set up a commission to free pro- do Chao volunteer fi re brigade, also denied the accusations. “We observed in some im- navino. “This is very danger- possible links between the fi res opposition leader Juan Guaido as testers who had not committed which in September helped bat- “We are sure that whatever the ages that the fi refi ghters were ous, it is a retaliation against the and land speculation which locals the country’s president, joining a any crimes. tle huge wildfi res raging through accusation, their innocence will responsible for starting these NGOs.” say is rife on protected areas.

Argentina’s president-elect Rights body calls for Chile police reforms rules out seeking IMF funds AFP Sebastian Pinera in Santiago, rec- Santiago ommending a series of reforms to AFP revive the economy in order to “It’s like a guy who drinks a lot help prevent police misconduct. Buenos Aires pay and solve the debt problem and is a little drunk. The solution The reforms were needed “in sensibly.” is not to continue drinking. The hile’s national police the wake of compelling evidence The return to power of protec- solution is to stop drinking,” he committed “serious hu- of excessive use of force and rgentina’s leftist presi- tionist Peronists has raised fears told the radio. Cman rights violations” abuses against demonstrators dent-elect Alberto Fern- of yet another debt default, and Debt soared by about $100bln as weeks of violent demonstra- and bystanders.” Aandez said he would re- eroded the peso’s value. under Macri and now exceeds tions across the South Ameri- Among its recommendations nounce the remaining $11bn 90% of GDP. At the time of his can country claimed 25 lives, is a thorough reform of the Chil- tranche of the country’s Inter- “I don’t want to sign election in 2017, it was 38% of Human Rights Watch said in a ean police, including reviewing national Monetary Fund loan agreements that I’m not GDP. report calling for reform of the detention protocols for identity as soon as he takes offi ce next going to fulfi l. Those “I try to be a serious person. A force. checks, setting up internal con- month. agreements were person who tells you ‘I’m going HRW said the police, known as trol mechanisms and strength- Outgoing centre-right Presi- already signed by Macri. to do such and such a thing,’ and Carabineros, “committed seri- ening police training. dent Mauricio Macri agreed a He signed one, two, three you know he’s going to do it. ous human rights violations, in- “We recognise the value of the massive $57bn loan loan package and fulfi lled none” “I don’t want to sign agree- cluding excessive use of force in Human Rights Watch report and last year, but the austerity meas- ments that I’m not going to fulfi l. the streets and abuses in deten- the recommendations that have ures he imposed failed to right The poverty rate has risen to Those agreements were already tion,” during the protests. been made to us,” said Lorena the economy. more than 35%, infl ation for the signed by Macri. He signed one, The New York-based right Recabarren, the Chilean minis- “What I want is to stop ask- year to September was at almost two, three and fulfi lled none,” group had received hundreds ter with responsibility for human ing (for money), and that they 38%, while the peso has depreci- said Fernandez. of disturbing reports of abuse, rights. let me pay,” said Fernandez, who ated 70 % since January 2018. The IMF suspended the re- including cases of beatings and She said the fi ndings “concern takes offi ce on December 10 af- The president-elect has in- lease of a $5.4bn disbursement in sexual assault, Jose Miguel Viv- us and, of course, are ones we re- ter ousting Macri in last month’s sisted his government would September following the govern- anco, HRW’s director for the ceive with pain.” elections. not default but rather seek to ment’s failure to meet infl ation Americas, told a press confer- Meanwhile university student “I have an enormous problem. renegotiate the terms of the targets. ence in Santiago. Gustavo Gatica became the fi rst And I’m going to ask for $11bn IMF loan, and sought to reas- “We want them not to lend us “We believe that the abuses demonstrator to be left fully more?” the incoming president sure voters in last month’s elec- more money, but to let us devel- are not isolated cases, they are blind after being hit in the eyes said in an interview Argentina’s tion that their bank deposits op. Let’s discuss the time I need not coincidences,” said Vivanco. by pellets fi red by riot police on Radio Con Vos. would be safe under his admin- to develop, but don’t give me A demonstrator is detained during a protest against Chile’s The rights groups said in a November 8 during a protest in Fernandez said he will “try to istration. more money.” government in Concepcion, Chile. statement it met with President Santiago. Gulf Times Thursday, November 28, 2019 21 PAKISTAN

PTI claims easy win in K-P Senate seat election

Zeeshan Khanzada, of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, was Court puts pressure on govt to elected a senator in a one-sided contest against Farzand Ali Khan, of the Pakistan Peoples Party, who was the joint candidate of the opposition in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly. Three lawmakers of the Jamaat-i- explain army chief extension Islami didn’t cast vote as the party had announced the boycott of the Reuters suspended the extension, cit- Khan’s administration has contest. Islamabad ing a series of irregularities enjoyed good relations with Four members of the Balochistan and ordering the government the armed forces, in contrast to Awami Party also voted for the and the army to produce legal the previous government of his PTI candidate. akistan’s Supreme Court provisions and detailed argu- main rival Nawaz Sharif. The seat was declared vacant yesterday gave the gov- ments on the reasoning behind On Tuesday, Law Minister following the resignation of PPP Pernment one more day to the move. Farogh Naseem resigned in or- Senator Khanzada Khan, who explain why it granted a three- The court adjourned without der to represent Bajwa in court, joined the ruling party recently. year extension to army chief passing a verdict yesterday. Ba- and being overruled by the Prime Minister Imran Khan General Qamar Javed Bajwa, jwa’s term expires at midnight court would almost certainly compensated Khanzada Khan setting up the possibility of a today, leaving just one day to weaken Khan. by nominating his son, Zeeshan rift between the judiciary and decide the general’s fate. Bajwa’s tenure in the military Khanzada, for the vacancy. The military. “If something unlawful has has been accused by opposition unoff icial results show that The court’s push has put the happened we have taken oath politicians of electoral manipu- Zeeshan Khanzada of the PTI government in a fi x over extend- to correct it,” Chief Justice Asif lation, meddling in politics, secured 104 votes, while his rival ing Bajwa’s time in the position, Saeed Khosa told a courtroom. suspension of civil liberties and candidate, Farzand, polled 31 who has good relations with The government had so far muzzling the media that helped votes. Four votes were rejected. Prime Minister Imran Khan. failed to provide legal justifi ca- Khan to power last year. The A total of 139 MPAs cast vote in Khan’s cabinet has twice ap- tion for reappointing Bajwa, he military has always denied in- the 145-member house in the proved a three-year extension added. terfering in politics. session chaired by Provincial for Bajwa, citing a worsening The court’s decision has The army chief usually serves Election Commissioner Pir national security situation in ramifi cations for the govern- a three-year term. Since the Maqbool Ahmad. the region over its rivalry with ment and the powerful mili- role was established in 1972, India. tary, which has ruled Pakistan only one general has had his But in a surprise ruling on for more than half of its 72-year term extended by a civilian More women police Tuesday, the Supreme Court history. government. Paramilitary soldiers stand guard outside the Supreme Court building in Islamabad. stations planned in rural areas The Ministry of Human Rights (MoHR) has planned to expand women police stations in rural Top offi cial, Red Line BRT project areas of the country to ensure easy access to justice at their doorsteps. The project would be started by next year under which IGP removed ready to start in Karachi women police stations would be established in far flung and rural Internews Red Line buses will make use $71.81mn last week and the route, the BRT project director areas of the country. Karachi of the Green Line corridor till same amount is also being pro- said it would comprise two cor- Off icial sources said, majority of Jama Cloth Market and divert vided by the French Develop- ridors spanning a total length of women did not report cases of in Punjab onto another specially con- ment Agency (FDA). 26.6km. The main corridor will domestic violence due to non- fter much sputtering, structed corridor from there to The Green Climate Fund is extend from Model Colony to availability of proper system. it appears the Red Line reach the tower. providing another $37.2mn as Numaish Chowrangi while the He said they would train even ABus Rapid Transit (BRT) As the hub of the entire BRT a loan and $11.8mn as a grant to secondary corridor will run from male off icers to attend female project is fi nally ready to start. system, Numaish Chowrangi make the project environment- Jama Cloth Market to Tower. complaints in diff erent cases of province Delayed for many years, the will also allow Red Line travel- friendly. The two corridors will be domestic violence and property Sindh government has com- lers to switch to other lines and The Sindh government it- connected by a 2.4km portion disputes especially. pleted all fi nancial and techni- access the rest of Karachi. self is putting in $75.9mn and of the Green Line track, which He said main aim of expanding Internews Amjad Javed Saleemi who was cal preparations for the trans- While the Red Line is expect- has acquired all the other loans will serve as a common corridor women police stations at district Lahore also removed from the key port scheme and will fl oat a ed to cost a staggering $503mn, on easy terms. It will have to for all BRT lines. He added that levels was to provide persecuted slot some six months after his request for tenders in January. according to project docu- pay off all debt in 30 years. Al- a total of 24 bus stations will women a safe way to report their appointment as head of the Construction work on the ments, much of this amount is though a Sindh government be built for the Red Line apart grievances to police in male he Pakistan Tehreek- provincial police force. project is set to begin from Au- being loaned by donor agencies project, the federal government from the fi ve stations it will use dominated society. i-Insaf (PTI) govern- Saleemi was appointed the gust next year and is planned on easy terms. has given a sovereign guarantee along the common corridor. He said women police off icers Tment has removed IGP when the PTI government to be completed within the 24 The Asian Development for the Red Line BRT. A total of 213 buses will run in their areas would provide Punjab Chief Secretary had removed Mohamed Ta- months that follow, offi cials as- Bank (ADB) approved a $235mn “Our vision for the Red Line along the Red Line charging necessary information to prevent Yousaf Naseem Khokhar and hir from the top slot a month sociated with the development loan for the project in July after is to ensure it is environment- fares ranging from Rs15 to Rs55, domestic violence, adding that Inspector General of Po- after his posting as Punjab said. it was green-lighted by the Ex- friendly,” said BRT project di- according to Mughal. police stations would be fully lice (IGP) Arif Nawaz Khan, police chief. Once fi nished, the Red Line ecutive Committee of the Na- rector Rasheed Mughal. “The “For the fi rst time, we are operational and all records would ahead of expected major Tahir’s abrupt removal had will connect Karachi’s Model tional Economic Council (Ec- buses will run on compressed implementing a third genera- be computerised. reshuffl e. upset Nasir Khan Durrani who Colony to the Tower area by nec) earlier this year. natural gas (CNG) and there tion BRT system that will let us The off icial said the ministry was Interior Secretary Azam tendered his resignation as way of Numaish Chowrangi The Asian Infrastructure are plans to build a bicycle path like 10 public transport routes taking number of reforms for Suleman Khan, a BS-22 offi cer chairman of the Punjab Po- and the Green Line. Development Bank (AIDB) ap- along the route.” to the Red Line corridors via women’s empowerment to have of the Pakistan Administra- lice Reforms Commission, the From Numaish Chowrangi, proved another loan worth Talking about the Red Line feeder buses,” he said. their equal rights in the country. tive Service (PAS), has been offi cial said. posted as chief secretary and According to the offi cial Shoaib Dastagir, a BS-21 po- documents, the Punjab gov- lice offi cer, as the provincial ernment had recommended police chief. Khan is the third to the prime minister three Fruit market chief secretary and Dasta- names for the appointment gir the fi fth IG during the last of one of them as IGP Pun- Lawyers seek 15 months. jab. The two others were Mo- Khokhar was asked to report hamed Mushtaq Mehar and to the Establishment Division. Ahmad Latif. Khan has spent the ma- The frequent transfer of jor portion of his service in IGPs of Punjab has kicked fast hearing Punjab. He has served as off debate as the senior cops Kasur deputy commissioner, believe that they are not Dera Ghazi Khan and Fais- against the ‘change of face’ alabad district coordination rather the humiliating way offi cer, irrigation secretary, the heads of the largest po- in Musharraf communications secre- lice force have been shown tary, and additional chief the door in violation of secretary home. the law. Sources said since there Earlier, they said, Nawaz had been a lot of pressure on served as the Punjab IGP for treason case Prime Minister Imran Khan 11 months and his second ten- to replace Chief Minister ure just spanned only seven Internews held that Musharraf would Usman Buzdar for his ‘poor months which is a matter of Islamabad lose his legal right to defence if governance’, he removed serious concern. he failed to turn up before the the IGP and chief secre- Offi cials expected massive special court hearing the trea- tary to give an impression senior-level administrative he Lahore High Court son case against him for im- that it was the bureauc- reshuffl e in Punjab as a result Bar Association ap- posing the November 3, 2007, racy which was responsible of meetings between the chief Tproached the Supreme emergency. for his government’s ‘poor minister and prime minister Court seeking, a directive The decree was issued by performance’. so as to improve governance for the special hearing of the the SC to help the special The outgoing IGP had re- here. Changes are expected in Traders gather at a fruit market in Lahore yesterday. treason case against former court reach a logical end, giv- placed BS-22 police offi cer the police department as well. president Pervez Mushar- ing a clear directive to go ahead raf to comply with its earlier with the treason case without observation in which it was having to record the statement held that the trial was a case of Musharraf under Section of paramount importance 342 of the Criminal Procedure under the Constitution and Code in case he did not show Persian language losing survival fi ght at Peshawar varsity should be proceeded with up before the trial court. expeditiously, and with due The order had asked the diligence. special court to decide on the Internews and just one faculty member. has one assistant professor. from the university’s Persian Zia-ul-Haq’s era. Propaganda A three-page petition fi led matter after hearing argu- Peshawar “From time to time, we trans- With the sole faculty mem- department. at the time portrayed Persian as by the bar association re- ments of the prosecution and late land ownership documents ber juggling with both cleri- “This is the language of Suf- the language of Shias,” Tayyab quested the apex court to di- if Musharraf appeared before in Persian for Jirga decisions,” cal and academic duties, the ism, Iqbal, and intellect,” said claimed. rect the special court and the the trial court, he would have he language of Rumi and said Dr Yousuf Hussian, the Persian language will soon the septuagenarian. Under Zia’s pressure in the federal government to follow all the normal rights of de- Omar Khayyam is on the only assistant professor at the merge with the Urdu and Arabic “Not too long ago, schools late 1970s, the K-P Text Book the April 4, 2019 SC directives. fence. Further, the order said, Tverge of losing the bat- depleted department. department. across K-P taught the Persian Board scrubbed Persian from It alleged that the federal the SC would keep the matter tle for its survival at Peshawar Four out of the fi ve full-time A sharp decline in interest in language, and we had outstand- its offi cial menu of languages government, under one pre- pending. University’s Persian language faculty members have retired, the language has also forced the ing teachers in the province,” taught across the province. text or the other, was drag- Musharraf left for the UAE department. leaving the department with just department to freeze admissions said Wahid, who has witnessed Persian never recovered ging its feet in presenting and for treatment of a spinal injury The decline of the language in one assistant professor. Ironi- this year. Not only that, the de- the rise and fall of the language. from that fatal strike. And proceeding with the trial, and in March 2016 and has since Khyber-Pakhtunkwa (K-P) has cally, all four retired instructors, partment has already halted all “The Bustan and the Gulistan, so began the fi nal descent of that the special court was not then been out of the country. been slow but signifi cant. Once including the former head of the classes, leaving the once fi lled a landmark of Persian literature, Persian that once served as proceeding expeditiously in Meanwhile, Pakistan Bar a mandatory subject in schools department, remain listed on the rooms with lovers of poetry at- are no longer being taught,” the offi cial language of the accordance with the directives Council vice chairman Syed the language, known for its po- offi cial website, which may have tributed to Omar Khayyam and Wahid added. Mughal court. of the apex court. Amjad Shah has condemned etry, is no longer being taught received update years ago. Rumi, empty. According to Muhamed Tayy- While the pluricentric lan- In its earlier order, the SC the fi ling of a petition in the and perhaps spoken as com- Known for training promi- Despite being abandoned, the ab, a historian from K-P, the lan- guage exists in subtle ways had stated that control over Islamabad High Court by the monly as it once was. nent politicians and mem- language still has some purvey- guage witnessed a brief period across the province, in ageing the proceedings of the trial government seeking directives Established in 1956, the bers of the academic com- ors. One such individual is Qazi of promotion after independ- documents and books of poetry, could not be allowed to vest in for the special court to refrain Persian language depart- munity, the bare-bones Fazli Wahid, a 70-year-old gold ence. “The language received it will perhaps never have the the accused. from announcing its verdict in ment has no students department at the university only medallist, who holds an MPhil a severe blow during General same status it once did. The judgement had also the high treason case. Gulf Times 22 Thursday, November 28, 2019 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Big Tech still doesn’t have a handle on its role in campaigns

Over the last year and a half, politicians and activists have spent more than $900mn pumping 5.7mn ads through Facebook’s network. Is there any wonder the company is reluctant to crimp that pipeline? In late September, Facebook took off one of the few restrictions it had placed on political advertisers, exempting candidates and political parties from the fact- checking process it had instituted to slow the virus-like spread of fake news on the platform. If President Trump wanted to run an ad saying he has proof that former vice- president Joe Biden is a Ukrainian spy, he’s free to do so. Pakistan, China dismiss And if Biden wanted to respond with an ad showing a faked Kenyan birth certifi cate for Trump, he can do that too. One is all for candidates speaking freely to the public. But one is not comfortable with the way Facebook and other tech companies enable candidates and campaigns US clamour over CPEC to turn their speech into something more manipulative and powerful than it would otherwise be. likely be the last. However, her rather the questions were valid in certain Meanwhile, Chinese ambassador to Facebook’s move was such an alarming renunciation By Kamran Rehmat Doha public and calibrated presentation respects but incorrectly posited for lack Pakistan Yao Jing expressed his “shock of responsibility, politicians and good-government is interesting for both its timing of intent or information. He spelt out, and surprise” at the US critique of advocates were aghast. They’ve been pressing for change and a clear sense of desperation in with facts and fi gures, how and why CPEC, saying Washington should not ever since Facebook’s see-no-evil approach to political hen a $62bn project, Washington over its own considerably these fell short of passing muster. be casting aspersions over something ads became offi cial in September. The company appears rich in economic and shrinking infl uence across the globe. Asserting that Islamabad would about which it does not have accurate infrastructural dividends, The timing is signifi cant because a never back out of CPEC given its time- information. to be responding; according to the Wall Street Journal, with a 3,000km network chastened US is attempting to revive tested relationship with Beijing that At a presser in Islamabad, he also Facebook executives are exploring ways to reduce the W of railways, oil and gas pipelines, and ties with Pakistan after a long period of had defi ed the odds since its inception, countered why the US had suspended power political renewable energy schemes connects distrust and what is evidently the latest Umar said the country would never its promised aid to Pakistan (in 2018, the “Internet political advertisers have to two countries, some attention is only retreat to a historically transactional again become a “collateral damage” Trump administration suspended $2bn manipulate Facebook inevitable. On the fl ip side, it will invite relationship. The Trump administration in a confl ict between two major military aid, including what it owed ads present the envy of those who will be hard- initially, disparaged Islamabad whilst powers. While agreeing with Wells to Islamabad as service charges for on users. In particular, pressed to match it and therefore, un- vainly trying to secure a face-saving exit that the external debt had considerably ground assistance in the anti-terror war entirely new they’re discussing able to stomach it. from Afghanistan after an 18-year-old impacted the economic progress over in Afghanistan) and not invested in its ways to limit how Early this week, it was evident in the draining war. It has since returned to time, he dismissed the suggestion it was power sector despite knowing about the challenges to civic precisely political unusually specifi c speech that Alice siding with pragmatism, and only last contrived by China. country’s dire shortfall. ads can be targeted to Wells, US Assistant Secretary of State week Trump called Prime Minister Imran “Our total public debt right now is “When in 2013, the Chinese discourse” for South and Central Asia, delivered Khan, with whom he has since built $74bn, out of which the CPEC debt is companies were establishing power specifi c audiences. on the subject at the Wilson Centre, an equation, to thank him for the role $4.9bn — not even 10% of the total debt,” plants, where was the US,” he bristled. These discussions come as Twitter and Google are a Washington think-tank before a Islamabad played in securing the release Umar pointed out. He also rejected the “If Pakistan was in need, China also adjusting the tools they off er political advertisers. host of diplomats, scholars and media of two Western hostages, including an notion that it was a one-way street. would never ask it to repay loans in But these Big Tech companies are fi nding that there’s persons where she basically warned American, held by Taliban since 2016. “Both countries have benefi ted: Chinese time,” Ambassador Jing declared. He no simple way to balance two important but competing that Pakistan was unwittingly priming This is not to suggest that Wells did fi rms got business as their machinery also dismissed Wells’ accusation of to be at the receiving end of a Chinese not raise pertinent posers, which would was exported to Pakistan. The lack of underwhelming Pakistani workforce, interests: our society’s free-speech values and our juggernaut. be par for the course in any project of infrastructure in Pakistan, especially saying that 75,000 Pakistanis were interest in free and fair elections. The China-Pakistan Economic this scale and, fundamentally speaking, in the power sector, was where a lot of employed in CPEC since 2015 — a Along with Google’s sister company YouTube, the three Corridor — or CPEC as it is simply economic sense. Two top ministers the country’s needs were met. Besides, number that he projected would grow companies dominate online advertising as well as play a referred to — is the jewel in the of Prime Minister Khan’s cabinet CPEC became a source of fi nancing in to 2.3 million by 2030. In a parting shot, central role in the fl ow of information on the Internet. It’s crown of China’s ambitious Belt and — Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood large amounts which was previously the envoy said he would be more than Road Initiative (BRI) that involves Qureshi and newly installed Minister for unavailable. So a base was laid out in the happy to see more investment coming more than just their near-ubiquitous reach; it’s also the partnering with dozens of countries Planning and Development Asad Umar fi rst phase and now further developments from the US to Pakistan. tools they off er to deliver messages tailored to individual around the world through trade and — quickly rebutted Wells’ argument will take place in the next phase,” the Reinforcing Islamabad’s position on leanings and susceptibilities, and the algorithms that infrastructure projects such as shipping that Islamabad was getting a raw deal minister explained. the subject, Umar clarifi ed the deep some of them use to decide which posts to favour and lanes, railroads and airports. A project from CPEC, which she claimed would Umar disclosed that special economic rooted ties with Beijing were not aimed which ones to bury. as grandiose as BRI is not without push it to the edge in terms of a stifl ing zones will be in business in about two against anyone. “We wish to have better its share of detractors and given the debt and foster corruption whilst months. While admitting that the relations with all countries. I can assure Combined, these factors have the potential not just to undercurrents of China’s rapidly repatriating jobs and profi ts to China. fi rst phase did not generate too many Alice Wells that American companies amplify deceit, but to deliver it to the audiences most expanding global reach and power was While Qureshi simply chose to reject jobs, he explained it was important to were welcome, are welcome and will likely to believe it. As Twitter chief Jack Dorsey put it, always bound to create unease for its Washington’s concerns as unfounded understand that when the objective continue to be welcomed to invest in “Internet political ads present entirely new challenges to rivals in the region and across the globe. in a decidedly diplomatic mien, Umar is infrastructural development, it Pakistan”. civic discourse: machine learning-based optimisation of The top American diplomat for South held a presser to pointedly address happens. However, he expects once the Asia isn’t, of course, the fi rst one to the questions raised by the American industrial development takes off , it will  The writer is Features Editor. He messaging and micro-targeting, unchecked misleading draw the red line on CPEC nor would diplomat whilst candidly agreeing that line up jobs. tweets @kaamyabi information, and deep fakes. All at increasing velocity, sophistication, and overwhelming scale.” People don’t want Big Tech companies to be a gatekeeper, picking and choosing which political speech is allowable. But people also don’t want them to make their amplifi ers and their vulnerability-seeking targeting tools available to candidates seeking to deceive either, especially not when these companies have a fi nancial incentive to turn a blind eye to abuses of their platforms. Otherwise, there will be no boundaries, and the US will truly be a post-truth society. The lesson here isn’t that these companies shouldn’t be trying to make their platforms both open and trustworthy. It’s that the two qualities aren’t well matched, and there’s no easy way to overcome that problem.

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CRITIQUE: US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Alice Wells made an unusually specific critique of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project at © 2019 Gulf Times. All rights reserved the Wilson Center in Washington DC earlier this week. (File photo) Gulf Times Thursday, November 28, 2019 23 COMMENT Putin’s regime means money

By Nina L Khrushcheva former KGB colleagues and friends management textbook.) Ultimately, Moscow into powerful positions in Russia’s only six were disqualifi ed. security and military apparatus. These RAN’s resistance is unacceptable so-called siloviki, or strongmen, could to the Kremlin, as is the high standing n her 2014 book on Putin’s regime, have accrued so much power that they of Khokhlov, who, having served as the late Karen Dawisha argued do what they please, even if it means Moscow State University’s vice-rector that the key to understanding undermining Putin’s eff orts to put until last year, is a likely successor to IVladimir Putin’s Russia is money. Russia on the road to progress. Sadovnichiy. If Khokhlov secures that While Putin was selling stories to This is possible, but not likely. position, the university may become the public about restoring Russia’s A more plausible explanation is less open to FSB-related construction global infl uence, she explained, he that Putin himself is confl icted. projects, less supportive of the First and a coterie of trusted cronies were While he wants to be able to tout Daughter’s institute, and less willing amassing massive amounts of personal Russian achievements in science and to hand out fake degrees to Kremlin wealth. More than an authoritarian, innovation, he also wants to enrich cronies. The FIAN raid – which, nationalist, or revanchist, Putin, in her himself as much as possible. And, as Sergeev laments, further diminished view, should be understood as a crook. Dawisha observed, if he has to choose, the reputations of Russian scientists At the time, I disagreed: though money comes fi rst. – may thus have been orchestrated to money was undoubtedly important to With regard to FIAN, Putin’s undermine him. understanding the Putin regime, the fi nancial interests seem to be linked In discussing the raid, a journalist drive for global infl uence was not to to his daughter, Katerina Tikhonova, friend in Moscow deadpanned, “In be dismissed. But in the wake of the who directs Innopraktika, a scientifi c Putin’s Russia, physics belongs to security forces’ raid on the Lebedev institute that receives state money. spies, history is written by Chekists, Physics Institute (FIAN) in Moscow Innopraktika is affi liated with Moscow and geography by soldiers.” And, last month, I have changed my mind. State University, whose rector, Viktor indeed, Sergei Naryshkin, Director of For decades, FIAN has been at the Sadovnichiy, has a long history of the Foreign Intelligence Service, is also frontier of Russian scientifi c and catering to those in power. president of the Russian Historical technological progress. It would thus The institute’s work seems to centre Society, and Defence Minister Sergei seem that the institute is ideally suited on devices that read brain activity. But Shoigu leads the Russian Geographical to play a central role in advancing the it also apparently oversees all kinds of Society. strategic priorities that Putin himself construction projects on a vast plot of Science is still putting up a fi ght. identifi ed in May 2018: science, land adjacent to the headquarters of But, given the insatiable fi nancial technological innovation, and export- the Federal Security Service (FSB) – appetite of Putin and his inner circle, oriented production. the KGB’s successor organisation – and there is only so much Russia’s honest And yet last month, Russian security the Federal Protective Service. scientists can do – a message that the forces descended on the institute, in If we keep following the scientifi c- FIAN raid conveyed loud and clear. order to fi nd, detain, and question money trail, we arrive at the As a retired academic put it to me, its director, Nikolai N Kolachevsky, prestigious Russian Academy of “Whatever you say about the Soviet about a supposed plan by the company Sciences (RAN), which held elections Union, knowledge mattered. Today’s Trioptics, which rented offi ces in last week. After the organisation’s Russia, despite its claims to be a ‘great FIAN’s premises, to export a special 2013 elections, in which the Kremlin- Vladimir Putin country,’ resembles a small former type of optical window to Germany. backed candidates for membership colony, where every general in power Because the window has applications did not perform well, the government brother of Putin’s billionaire “personal why young talent fl ees Russia – his continued to push back against the wants to call himself a doctor of in space or military activities, the announced major reforms, including banker,” Yuri Kovalchuk – RAN’s international reputation was so great Kremlin’s agenda. Two months before philosophy, just to increase his profi ts.” authorities claim, exporting it could a three-year moratorium on RAN president in 2017. that Putin had little choice but to the election, RAN’s anti-falsifi cation – Project Syndicate undermine national security. elections. But, despite all the machinations, approve his candidacy. commission named 56 candidates for Why are Russia’s security It was then decided that, to ensure the far more distinguished physicist The Kremlin did not do the same for membership as plagiarists or purveyors  Nina L Khrushcheva is professor apparatchiks taking actions that “fairness,” the government would Alexander Sergeev won the election. Sergeev’s colleague, the well-regarded of pseudoscience. The government of International Aff airs at The New contradict the Kremlin’s stated policy approve all candidates, despite the Although Sergeev had criticised the Alexei Khokhlov. Yet, in another blow ruled that this should not disqualify School. Her latest book (with Jeff rey goals? Some argue that they have fact that they are academics. The government’s RAN-reform eff orts, to the government, Khokhlov later them. (This stance is no surprise: Tayler) is In Putin’s Footsteps: simply escaped Putin’s control. For government then attempted to make as well as its broader control over became RAN’s vice-president. Putin’s own doctoral dissertation Searching for the Soul of an Empire 20 years, Putin has been installing his Mikhail Kovalchuk – the physicist scientifi c research – a major reason This year, RAN members have was allegedly copied from a 1978 Across Russia’s Eleven Time Zones.

The most important story you missed in 2019 Three-day forecast

TODAY international response. will help to save. The $14bn, the Fund The Fund managed to raise the Maximum Temperature : 280c By Mark Suzman Minimum Temperature : 220c Seattle At the United Nations, then- predicts, will be enough to cut the $14bn at a time of rising isolationism. Secretary-General Kofi Annan rallied three diseases’ death rates by almost Today, many governments seem to FRIDAY the world around the Millennium 50% again by 2023. That translates prefer to go it alone rather than engage Maximum Temperature : 280c ccording to the most recent Development Goals – a set of specifi c into 16mn lives saved. in the expansive problem-solving that Minimum Temperature : 210c tally, The Washington Post, targets related to poverty and disease But what happened on October 10 worked so well over the last 20 years. SATURDAY The New York Times, and The reduction – and launched the Global in Lyon is critical for another reason: it Brexit is one example of this. Others Maximum Temperature : 280c AWall Street Journal publish a Fund to achieve them. illustrates how we are at a pivotal point include US President Donald Trump’s Minimum Temperature : 210c The Fund was designed to be a new in history, from which the world might decision to withdraw the United States combined total of 1,000 stories every Fisherman's forecast day. Although the report didn’t say kind of multilateral venture, not just move in one direction or another. from the 2015 Paris climate agreement, how many people read all of them, it’s a coalition of governments. It also On one hand, the successful recent and his administration’s call for deep fundraising eff ort was a testament to cuts to US foreign aid (which, thanks WARNING safe to assume that nobody managed brought in partners from the business Inshore : Nil to do so. and philanthropic sectors, including the way the world went about solving to Congress, have yet to be made). Offshore : Nil Each of us probably overlooks the newly-formed Bill & Melinda humanitarian crises in the early years I often wonder what would have tens of thousands of important news Gates Foundation. This inclusive of this century. Multilateralism, it happened had the Aids crisis emerged WEATHER Inshore : Misty at places by early stories every year. But the biggest one approach enabled the initiative to turns out, worked – and worked 20 years later than it did. Would we be morning becomes that people missed in 2019 happened draw on a wider range of expertise. extremely well. able to create the Global Fund today? moderate temperature on October 10 in a conference hall in Over the last two decades, the That same period also gave rise to The answer, I think, is no. It would be daytime with clouds& c of rain at some places Lyon, France, where a gathering of Global Fund has transformed the organisations like Gavi, the Vaccine very diffi cult to build support for that Offshore : Partly cloudy with government offi cials, business leaders, way we fi ght Aids, tuberculosis, and Alliance, a global alliance of public- kind of initiative in this environment. chance of sctd rain and philanthropists pledged $14bn to malaria – the three biggest killers in and private-sector stakeholders that Last month’s news from Lyon, WIND an organisation called the Global Fund. poor countries. By pooling resources, aims to get vaccines to some of the then, is part of an ongoing story. Will Inshore : Northwesterly-North Not many people know what the the Fund created economies of scale world’s poorest children. Gavi has the world realise that multilateral easterly 05-15 KT Global Fund is until they hear its full for life-saving products such as anti- helped to immunise more than 760mn coalitions work and reverse course? Or Offshore : Northeasterly-South- name: The Global Fund to Fight Aids, malarial bed nets and antiretroviral children to date. And the coverage rate is the era of multilateralism at an end? easterly 04-14 KT Tuberculosis, and Malaria. The Fund drugs. Then, by working with almost of the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis The Global Fund’s replenishment Visibility : 4-8/3 KM was established shortly after the turn 100 countries, the Fund built a massive (DTP3) vaccine in Gavi-supported may be the best news you hadn’t heard Offshore : 2-4 FT of the millennium, when hundreds of supply chain to deliver the goods. countries increased from 59% in 2000 about yet in 2019. But unless we halt to 81% in 2018 – only four percentage the slide toward isolationism and start thousands of children were dying from In the process, deaths from Aids Around the region preventable diseases. The Aids crisis have fallen by 50% from their peak, points below the global average. (Gavi, rebuilding a global community, it’s Weather was at its height, with news outlets and malaria deaths have decreased too, will need to raise new funding the kind of news you may never hear Weather tomorrow Max/min describing the virus as a “malevolent by about 50% since the turn of the over the next year.) again. – Project Syndicate today Max/min P Cloudy 23/11 scythe” cutting across Sub-Saharan millennium. Now, the Fund has $14bn On the other hand, the fact that no Baghdad S Showers 22/13 M Sunny 26/16 Africa. Its unstoppable spread, some in new funding to continue this work. similar multilateral organisation has Mark Suzman is Chief Strategy Kuwait City M Sunny 27/18 Sunny 27/21 predicted, would lead to the collapse The replenishment is vitally been established since the early 2000s Offi cer and President of Global Policy Manama Sunny 26/21 Sunny 27/19 of entire countries. This was an important news, fi rst and foremost – at least not on such a scale – should and Advocacy at the Bill & Melinda Muscat Sunny 27/19 P Cloudy 13/06 international crisis that required an because of the sheer number of lives it give us pause. Gates Foundation. Tehran M Cloudy 12/06

Live issues US life expectancy declining due to more deaths in middle age

hit some regions of the country harder scoured the medical literature for distressing trends, said Dr John Rowe, By Linda Carroll Around the world Reuters Health than others, Woolf and his co-author studies of U.S. life expectancy and a professor in Columbia University’s found. Increases were highest in north- mortality trends. Mailman School of Public Health in Weather Weather ern New England and the Ohio Valley. Based on the data, life expectancy New York City. today Max/min tomorrow Max/min fter rising for decades, Economic hardship and the result- had increased by almost 10 years over “It is depressing,” Rowe said, “but I Athens M Sunny 21/14 Sunny 21/13 life expectancy in the US ing despair may be to blame in those the course of nearly 6 decades – from don’t think it’s much of a surprise. We Beirut S Showers 22/17 P Cloudy 22/17 decreased for three straight regions, Woolf suggested. “While it’s 69.9 years to 78.9 years – but had been knew the opioid epidemic was taking Bangkok P Cloudy 35/26 M Sunny 33/25 Ayears, driven by higher rates a little diffi cult to place the blame on declining since 2014. And the overall a major toll with 250,000 who have Berlin S Showers 11/06 P Cloudy 07/00 of death among middle aged Ameri- despair directly, the living condi- decline was explained by increased overdosed and died.” Cairo M Sunny 25/14 M Sunny 25/14 cans, a new study suggests. tions causing despair are leading to mortality among the middle aged. What’s striking is that the decline Cape Town Cloudy 28/16 Sunny 21/16 Midlife all-cause mortality rates other problems,” he explained. “For Death rates among the middle aged in life expectancy isn’t the same for Colombo S T Storms 30/25 T Storm 28/25 were increasing between 2010 and example if you live in an economically weren’t uniform across the country. The all age groups. “This is really evidence Dhaka Sunny 31/20 P Cloudy 30/20 2017, driven by higher numbers of distressed community where income largest relative increases in midlife mor- that mortality rates are increasing only Hong Kong Sunny 22/14 Sunny 20/17 deaths due to drug overdoses, alcohol is fl at and it’s hard to fi nd jobs, that tality rates occurred in New Hampshire, in middle age while they’re continuing Istanbul P Cloudy 17/15 Rain 18/14 abuse, suicides and organ system can lead to chronic stress, which is 23.3%, West Virginia, 23.0%, Ohio, to decline in children, adolescents and Jakarta S T Storms 33/26 T Storm 33/26 diseases, such as hypertension and harmful to health.” 21.6%, Maine, 20.7%, Vermont, 19.9%, people over 65,” Rowe said, noting that Karachi Sunny 29/16 Sunny 27/16 diabetes, according to the report pub- Noting that a pattern of increasing Indiana, 14,8% and Kentucky, 14.7%. it’s occurring as mortality rates from London S Showers 10/03 Sunny 07/-1 lished in JAMA. mortality in middle age is not seen in Life expectancy actually increased or cancer and stroke are declining. Manila P Cloudy 31/26 P Cloudy 31/23 “There has been an increase in death other high income countries, Woolf plateaued in some Western states, the Part of the problem may be that Moscow Cloudy -1/-2 S Showers 02/02 rates among working age Americans,” said this might be because “in other researchers reported. middle aged people are getting New Delhi S Showers 24/16 P Cloudy 23/13 said Dr Steven Woolf, director emeritus countries there are more support sys- “The current problems we are see- squeezed by health care costs because New York Cloudy 11/02 P Cloudy 08/-1 of the Center on Society and Health at tems for people who fall on hard times. ing are decades in the making,” Woolf they are less likely to have coverage Paris Showers 12/08 Showers 10/03 Virginia Commonwealth University. In America, families are left to their said. “We used to have the highest life than children and people over 65. In Sao Paulo Rain 21/15 Cloudy 21/17 “This is an emergent crisis. And it is a own devices to try to get by.” expectancy in the world. The pace at fact, another recent study found out- Seoul P Cloudy 10/-4 Sunny 07/-2 uniquely American problem since it is Data for the study came from the which life expectancy was increasing of-pocket costs were more likely to Singapore T Storm 31/26 T Storm 31/26 not seen in other countries. Something National Center for Health Statistics in the US started to fall off relative to prompt middle aged people to cut back Sydney Cloudy 24/16 P Cloudy 26/20 about life in America is responsible.” and the U.S. Mortality Database for other countries in the 80s.” on heart disease medications than Tokyo Rain 11/07 Clear 10/05 The rising rates of midlife mortality 1959 to 2017. The researchers also The new fi ndings highlight some people over 65. Gulf Times 24 Thursday, November 28, 2019 QATAR

Amir meets Palestinian delegation Qatar Foundation to unveil MF Husain’s fi nal art installation ust when his fans and critics thought that they had seen Jeverything that Maqbool Fida Husain could possibly off er, he re- appears. The artist’s latest instal- lation, the ‘Seeroo fi al Ardh’, will soon be unveiled in Qatar Foun- dation’s (QF) Education City on December 11. The new installation will be his fi nal project and it will also be his most unusual – Husain designed it to be an art installation that is both kinetic and experiential. The ‘Seeroo fi al Ardh’ is part of Husain’s extensive project on Arab civilisation. The installation was commissioned by Her High- ness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, in addition to a series of paintings that refl ect the 99 names of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate. The artwork itself tells the story of the progression of human civi- lisation through the history of the Arab region. The artwork touches on how The ‘Seeroo fi al Ardh’ art installation at Qatar Foundation. people throughout the region used nature, and ultimately ma- al-Naimi, president of Commu- inclusivity of QF and Qatar. It Qatar was held in 1984 at Doha’s chines, to further their ambitions. nity Development, QF, said: “The sends an invitation to both resi- Sheraton Hotel, with a further ex- It highlights the fact that the en- artwork is a natural progression of dents and visitors to explore the hibition being held at the Museum lightened mindset that sparks QF’s eff orts to help position Qatar country’s art and culture land- of Islamic Art, over a decade ago. innovation and experimentation as a hub for international art and scape and – like M F Husain – to Husain then took up residence existed in the Arab world both culture. be inspired by it.” in Qatar, and his close ties with before and during the European Additionally, this installation Following the unveiling, the the country were cemented when Renaissance. comes at a time when Qatar is installation will be housed in a he was granted Qatari citizenship. Husain passed away before the celebrating the Qatar-India 2019 permanent building near the Al An exhibition of the paintings installation was completed. After Year of Culture. Shaqab equestrian centre within that the artist created during his His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani receives members of the off icial his death, QF has completed the “This specifi c art installation Education City, and will be open time in Qatar, titled ‘Horses of delegation accompanying Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Amiri Diwan yesterday. installation, taking care to en- does not just refl ect the journey to the public. Husain’s works The Sun’, was held at Mathaf: The Amir met President Abbas who briefed him on the latest developments in Palestine, and sure it includes all the details in of Arab civilisation; it is also rep- have been exhibited throughout Arab Museum of Modern Art, in thanked him for Qatar’s continued support to the Palestinian people and their just cause. the artist’s fi nal plan. Machaille resentative of the openness and the world. His fi rst exhibition in Education City, earlier this year.