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QU hosts graduation Emblem of FIFA Club for eight colleges World Cup unveiled published in QATAR since 1978

SATURDAY Vol. XXXX No. 11340 October 19, 2019 Safar 20, 1441 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

In brief Regional problems

ARAB WORLD | Confl ict Erdogan threatens to need independent continue operation Turkish President Recep Tayyip internal will: Qatar Erdogan has threatened to continue Operation Peace Spring in northern Syria if the US does not keep its QNA German Marshall Fund of the United promises after 120 hours. “During Bucharest States. the 120-hour process, the YPG/ She argued that the core problems PKK terrorist organisation will in the region are caused by several rea- withdraw from the region we have E the Spokesperson for the sons, such as the lack of institutions designated a safe zone,” Erdogan Ministry of Foreign Aff airs, that protect civil liberties, and the high said in remarks yesterday. The HLolwah Alkhater, has under- percentage of illiteracy and the lack of Turkish president explained that the lined that the regional problems re- employment opportunities and eco- depth of the safe zone is 32km and quire the existence of an independent nomic empowerment. that the length is 444km. Turkish internal will in the countries of the She said that everyone is looking for a security forces will not withdraw Foreign Ministry Spokesperson HE Lolwah Alkhater speaking at the Bucharest Forum panel. region representing their collective in- solution for the region’s issues includ- from northern Syria, he pointed out. terests and separating the accounts of ing multilateral institutions, non-state Page 4 international players. actors, regional and international play- She said that the ability to assess and ers, but in isolation from each other. AFGHANISTAN | Attack manage problems eff ectively will be Answering a question about the na- greater when we take external interests ture of the tension between some Arab At least 62 killed in out of the equation. nations and Iran, HE Alkhater stated Afghan mosque blast This came in a speech by HE Alkhater that the tension is not sectarian, as it At least 62 people were killed by Qatar ‘instrumental in at a panel titled “Middle East – Is Any- appears to some; rather it is a power a blast inside an Afghan mosque one Still Looking for a Solution,” which and infl uence struggle in the region during Friday prayers, according was held as part of the programme in between two diff erent poles that must to off icials. The attack — the year’s Bucharest Forum, an annual event or- be addressed through constructive dia- second most deadly to date — took ganised by Aspen Romania and the logue and diplomacy. place in the eastern province of educating millions’ Nangarhar and also wounded at least 33 people, the provincial By Joseph Varghese the only way to uproot terrorism from governor’s spokesman Attaullah Staff Reporter the world. Khogyani said. The blast was “What is needed is not rote learn- Protests sweep Lebanon carried out with “explosives that ing but critical thinking, the main ele- were placed inside the mosque”, atar has been instrumental in ment in education. In the pretext of Khogyani said, though other providing education to mil- education, some people promote radical sources — including the Taliban — Qlions, especially for out of thinking, leading to extremism and ter- said the building may have been hit school children, on account of its vi- rorism. What is needed is to give hope to by a mortar. sionary leadership and innovative ap- the youngsters by educating them with proach to education, noted the found- critical thinking skills to understand the AMERICA | Space er of the Soufan Centre. reality,” maintained Soufan. “The programme, ‘Educate A Child’ “Education gives children the tools US milestone with fi rst by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint to lead a better life. It is the corner- all-female spacewalk Nasser, helps in educating millions of stone of life. Those who are educated US astronauts Christina Koch and children around the world especially properly, live a balanced life; do not Jessica Meir yesterday became in confl ict areas. This is one of the best care for other things and will work for the first all-female pairing to ways to help them live a better future. a better society in a productive way. carry out a spacewalk — a historic It enables the youngsters to come out For this, we need education with criti- milestone as Nasa prepares to with critical thinking,” Ali Soufan, Ali Soufan feels that education with cal thinking,” highlighted the offi cial. send the first woman to the Moon. CEO, Soufan Group, told Gulf Times. critical thinking is the necessity of the Soufan felt that terrorism is a dis- “Christina, you may egress the Soufan, a former FBI (Federal Bu- times. ease with several symptoms and airlock,” spacecraft communicator reau of Investigation) agent who has causes and there is not any particular Stephanie Wilson said as the investigated several terrorism-related a hub of education in the region and method to solve the issue. pair set out to replace a power cases, was in Doha to take part in the beyond. We can see students from “To eliminate terrorism, what controller on the International two-day Global Security Forum. several countries studying in these works in one country, may not be Space Station. They began their “Qatar has been one of the fi rst universities and making it a learning suitable for another country or re- mission with standard safety countries in the region to adapt an centre for everyone. The addition of gion. There are social, cultural, eco- checks on their suits and tethers, education system with critical think- several museums and the Qatar Na- nomic and geopolitical factors behind before making their way to the ing. It is very unique in the region. The tional Library with its great resources, it. The reasons for terrorism could be repair site. Page 5 phenomenal role of Qatar Foundation are truly transforming the country and identity issues, poverty, alienation in introducing world-class education provide a multicultural environment among others. Terrorist groups make BRITAIN | Politics in the country by establishing branch with people from most parts of the use of these people especially young- campuses of several leading universi- world,” he said. sters and recruit them for their pur- PM: ‘no better outcome’ ties, has truly transformed the coun- Soufan who has dealt with many im- poses. Education with critical think- Lebanese demonstrators stand by a fire as they erect a make-shift barricade amidst than his Brexit deal try,” explained, Soufan. portant cases against terrorism noted ing is the only way to overcome such a clashes with security forces during a mass protest at Riad al-Solh Square in the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson “The country has already become that education with critical thinking is scenario,” he added. centre of Beirut yesterday against dire economic conditions. Page 4 warned yesterday there was “no better outcome” to the tortuous Brexit process than his divorce deal, as he scrambled to get MPs behind the agreement ahead of a knife-edge vote in parliament. The day before the House of Commons Qatar wins high praise for hosting Beach Games meets to consider the agreement, Johnson urged lawmakers to back the “fantastic” terms he struck with By Sports Reporter and on June 14 a formal announcement aware of what they could expect, but Meanwhile, ANOC Secretary-Gen- European Union leaders and let Doha was made to that eff ect. the second, third and especially the last eral Lindberg also said that based on Britain leave the bloc on October 31. ANOC Secretary-General Gunilla day there were big crowds everywhere,” the success of the inaugural Qatar Page 8 Lindberg said the more than 1,200 ath- Lindberg said. edition, the future of the event ap- he ANOC General Assembly letes at the Games thoroughly enjoyed “It takes time to introduce a new pears bright. EUROPE | Protest concluded in Doha yesterday themselves in Qatar. kind of competition and some of the “There are many countries that are Twith Qatar earning rave reviews “They were happy with how the sports were not very well known, but I coming up and are interested,” she Clashes in Barcelona for effi ciently hosting the inaugural event was conducted. The accommo- think they are now.” said. as separatists rally Beach Games at short notice. dation provided to the athletes was US beach volleyball gold medallist “I think around January or Febru- Hundreds of masked youths clashed The event was originally sched- impressive and the transportation be- Casey Patterson was particularly im- ary we should be ready to announce angrily with police in Barcelona uled to be hosted by San Diego, but tween hotels and venues was also fl aw- pressed with Qatar. the next edition or at least have docu- on the sidelines of a mass march on May 30 it was announced that it less,” the veteran Swedish IOC member “This country has been so inviting ments from candidates coming with which drew more than half a million was being relocated as the US city said. for us – maybe pushing the limit of interest.” people in protest over Spain’s was unable to raise funds to the tune The athletes, representing 97 na- the cultural balance with some of the “I think the format of the Games… jailing of nine Catalan separatist of $20mn. tions, were put up at four luxury high- sports,” said Patterson, a 2016 Olym- it’s low budget, it’s not too complicated leaders. It was the biggest gathering ANOC said then the event would still rise apartments that constituted the pian. and the sports – we were working with since Monday’s explosive verdict, take place in 2019 and would be award- Athletes Village. “For them to do that and run such a the IOC – they have Olympic federa- which had already brought tens ed to another host city that has “the She said people initially were not tight-knit event, I haven’t experienced tions, but we have non-Olympic disci- of thousands of independence fi nancial guarantees necessary and a certain what to expect from the Games ANOC Secretary-General Gunilla anything like this that was done in such plines,” Lindberg said. supporters onto the streets in proven track record to host a world- but started thronging the venues as Lindberg addressing the ANOC General a short period of time. “Maybe we add some sports, maybe protest in this wealthy northeast class event.” they became more aware. Assembly at Sheraton Doha Hotel “They can be very proud and we are we change some sports. There are many region. Page 9 It was here when Qatar stepped in, “I don’t think people were really yesterday. honoured to be a part of it.” sports that could be coming.” Gulf Times 2 Saturday, October 19, 2019 QATAR Eff orts for attaining self-suffi ciency in farm production praised

By Ayman Adly Al-Marri said that Qatar has stocks adequate for at least six agriculture has created a new HE Dr Ali bin Fetais al-Marri participates in a meeting of the Peace Advisory Board at the UN Staff Reporter adopted a long-term strategy for months is maintained while di- experience for the workers in the headquarters in Geneva. food security (2018-2023) based versifying the sources of supply, fi eld, where readymade tech- on the new situation after the as no single country would sup- nological solutions would not he eff orts exerted by Qa- unjust blockade was imposed on ply more than 35% of the needed work as they have to be modifi ed tar to enhance its agri- the country on June 5, 2017. amounts to guarantee uninter- to suit the actual situation and Tculture production and The strategy is based on two rupted fl ow of such commodities local needs. A-G made member of UN attain self-suffi ciency in such main pillars: the fi rst is achieving to Qatar. He pointed out that the skilled areas have been praised at the self-suffi ciency in agriculture Al-Obaidly said that after agriculture workers and experts recent centenary celebrations products that could not be stored the blockade, Qatar was able to who came to work in Qatar has of the International Labour for long periods such as fresh overcome all the challenges in learned over the past few years Peace Advisory Board Organisation (ILO) in Doha. vegetables, poultry and meat the agriculture sector in particu- to adapt their expertise to the lo- The ceremony was held at Ka- in addition to fi sh and milk and lar, achieving self-suffi ciency in cal requirements to address the tara – the Culture Village under dairy products; the other pillar many products. However, now challenges. The industry accord- QNA topics related to the work of together highly experienced the patronage of HE the Minis- is to maintain adequate strategic the issue of exporting the surplus ingly fl ourished and an increase Geneva peacekeeping forces in various people, including special rep- ter of Administrative Develop- stock of the products that could products has come up, in order to of around 300% was achieved in countries. resentative of the UN Sec- ment, Labour and Social Aff airs not be planted or produced in the sustain the productivity of this some products. He also lauded The Advisory Board provides retary-General on violence Yousef bin Mohamed al-Othman country such as grains and other new industry. the government support in the he United Nations has technical and critical analysis against women in confl ict and Fakhro, under the topic “The similar products. He said that the agriculture fi eld, especially in encouraging chosen HE the Attor- of the peacekeeping activi- former Sierra Leone Minister of Future of Work in Qatar.” The offi cial said that the coun- production in Qatar has adopted farmers through its various mar- Tney-General Dr Ali bin ties around the world to en- Foreign Aff airs Zainab Bangura, The event featured a panel try has been keen to create green the approach of employing latest keting projects and initiatives. Fetais al-Marri to be a member sure that the quality standards Executive Director of Kofi An- discussion on “The future of job opportunities. However, the technology which require only Ingianni pointed out that the of the Peace Advisory Board adopted in compliance with nan Foundation Alan Doss, and work in agriculture in Qatar”, strategy is to address the chal- a minimum number of highly increasing investments in agri- of the UN Institute for Train- the UNITAR mandate and UN others. moderated by Mattias Thorns, lenges such as reducing the cost skilled workers, who should be culture production in the coun- ing and Research (UNITAR) in guidelines are respected and The Council holds annual deputy secretary general at the of water supply and electricity encouraged to stay in the country try have created the need for Geneva. well-integrated. meetings to discuss the topics International Organisation of and achieving the optimum use for as long as possible to benefi t more specialised workers, who The Attorney-General The UN draws on the vast on its agenda. This was its fi rst Employers, with the partici- of the limited arable land in the from their expertise. need to be trained to meet the participated in the two-day experience and knowledge of meeting following the struc- pation of Masood Jarallah al- country. Al-Khalaf said that the partic- needs of the local market. “This meeting of the board at the the Advisory Board members to tural adjustments and reforms Marri, director of food security Regarding the storage of ular challenges of the climate and makes it necessary to retain such UN headquarters in Geneva. support its peacekeeping staff . of UNITAR and several UN department at the Ministry of grains, he stressed that strategic environment of Qatar regarding workers for longer periods.” The meeting discussed several The Advisory Board brings specialised agencies. Municipality and Environ- ment; Mohamed bin Ahmed al- Obaidly, president of committee on food security at Qatar Cham- ber; Nasser Ahmed al-Khalaf, president of Agrico group; and Speaker leaves Belgrade for Doha Luigia Ingianni, commissioner of the employment standards QNA The Shura Council Speaker of parliaments to maintain the offi ce at Qatar Financial Centre. Belgrade and his accompanying delega- international legal order. It also Thorns pointed out that Qatar tion participated in the 141st discussed good practices that has been experiencing an agri- assembly of the Inter-Parlia- contributed to the maintenance culture revolution in spite of all E the Speaker of Shura mentary Union (IPU) and the and strengthening of the inter- the challenges, which helps to Council Ahmed bin Ab- related meetings that lasted for national legal system and how create more job and investment Hdullah bin Zaid al-Mah- fi ve days. these practices could be further opportunities in the country in moud left the Serbian capital, The assembly discussed sev- highlighted, as well as other new areas. Panellists during a discussion. Belgrade, yesterday for Doha. eral topics, including the work relevant topics.

Embassy cautions Qataris in Lebanon The embassy of Qatar in the ConocoPhillips underscores collective work Lebanese capital Beirut has called on Qatari citizens to wait and avoid travelling to Lebanon for the time being due to developments to preserve their safety. with QSTP in water sustainability initiative The embassy asked the Qatari nationals visiting Lebanon to take caution and stay away from the By Peter Alagos industry…QSTP presented an places of demonstrations, and to Business Reporter excellent opportunity for Cono- communicate with the embassy in coPhillips to establish the GWSC Beirut in case of emergency on the to be our centre of excellence for following numbers: 009611835111, he collective work be- water-related technologies ap- 009611835444. (QNA) tween ConocoPhillips plied to oil and gas industry,” Tand Qatar Science and Adham explained. Technology Park (QSTP) con- Adham said the GWSC’s pri- Kahramaa advisory tinues to contribute to the reali- mary goal is to develop innova- sation of Qatar National Vision tive solutions for the manage- on use of electrical 2030, according to an offi cial of ment of by-product water from item during rains the Global Water Sustainability the oil and gas operations. It Centre (GWSC). also included, as part of GWSC, The Qatar General Electricity & “With our knowledge, exper- a Water Visitor Centre mainly Water Corporation (Kahramaa) tise, and resources, this helps to to educate school-age children has issued an advisory on how to strengthen Qatar’s human, eco- the value of water and need for stay safe and use electrical items nomic, environment, and so- conservation in Qatar. properly during rains. cial developments, and beyond,” “QSTP is a unique facil- The advisory, which comes in the GWSC manager Samer Adham told ity where multiple top-quality form of an infographic, is available reporters during a recent media companies work under one on Kahramaa’s Twitter page. tour of the centre headquartered roof to do research on local and Do not handle electrical items at QSTP, a part of Qatar Foun- global challenges, in addition with wet hands, the advisory dation Research, Development, to a cluster of visionary star- says, advising people to wear and Innovation (QF RDI). tups with defi nite economic ‘electrically insulated’ gloves Adham said ConocoPhillips ambitions,” he noted. and shoes while handling such is the world’s largest independ- On the centre’s achievements, Samer Adham at the Water Visitor Centre. PICTURE: Ram Chand objects. Also, one should not ent exploration and produc- Adham said the GWSC has con- approach an electricity pole or tion company headquartered in ducted more than 15 evalua- lab analyses that used to be “The Water Visitor Centre “On top of that, we have a ing to competitively secure mul- power line in rainy conditions. Houston, Texas and operating tions of innovative technologies performed abroad. is the centrepiece of our edu- wide range of industry in Qatar, tiple projects from Qatar National In case of a sudden power in 17 countries. In Qatar, it is a related to oil and gas produced “Our specialised staff exper- cational outreach, with more including the oil and gas opera- Research Fund by teaming with outage, one should turn off partner of Qatargas in produc- water management and seawa- tise is actively utilised to support than 8,000 school-aged chil- tions that need innovative re- local universities, including Qatar plugs and switches, the advisory tion of Train 6 with a capacity ter desalination. Two of these local and international partners, dren already educated on the search and advanced technology. University and Texas A&M to con- continues. “Never use electrical of 7.8mn tonnes per annum of technologies are being applied including Qatargas and the wider value of water and need for I strongly believe this environ- duct applied research on advanced wiring or cords in wet places.” liquefi ed natural gas. at Qatargas for process water re- ConocoPhillips global network, conservation,” he stressed. ment fosters a culture of col- water technologies. “We were also it adds, stressing that people “Water is a strategic resource cycling and reuse. to date assisting in saving mil- According to Adham, proxim- laboration and innovation that able to organise and/or participate should carry out regular and to Qatar, and it is of critical Also, Adham noted that the lions of dollars to operations by ity to Qatar Foundation’s world- ultimately benefi ts all the stake- in various knowledge-sharing and required maintenance for internal importance to the success of GWSC is now regularly contact- addressing fl ow assurance chal- class universities and national holders,” he emphasised. networking activities, all of which electrical installations. our operations at ConocoPhil- ed to conduct advanced techni- lenges and/or conducting capital research institutes has helped He added: “We have been able in direct support to the QF RDI One also needs to make sure that lips, and the overall oil and gas cal investigations and unique projects assessments. facilitate team-work. to leverage our investment fund- ecosystem.” outdoor electrical panel boxes and lighting do not have any water leaks and the outlets are insulated, Kahramaa states. “Keep all electrical appliances away from direct rain,” it points out. Afi f Charity sponsors QRCS programme in 50 schools Further, the advisory says people should stay away from tall, ‘standalone’ trees and electrical atar Red Crescent Soci- students of diff erent grades on within the bilateral mandate of benefi ciaries in 159 schools. In health education and training, poles, and find a ‘low, safe spot’ in ety (QRCS) has agreed the main fi rst-aid skills for com- empowering vulnerable groups, refl ection of trust in its content earthquake risk reduction, and rainy conditions. Qwith Afi f Charity to mon injuries, whether for self or such as women and children,” and objectives, the programme social peace and integration, the Also, one should never touch support the QRCS School Pro- for others. Also, awareness ses- said Muna Fadel al-Sulaiti, ex- became part of the academic statement notes. an electrical appliance if it has gramme, which is implemented sions will discuss health topics ecutive director of Volunteering achievement requirements Zulaikha Hassan al-Asmakh, dropped in water, and must turn off in public and private schools, of interest for society members and Local Development Divi- approved by the Ministry of consultant to the board of direc- the power supply in such cases. under the supervision of the in everyday life. sion at QRCS. “It goes in line Education.” tors at Afi f Charity, praised the The advisory concludes by Ministry of Education and The topics include fi rst aid with the overall government Al-Sulaiti urged school man- agreement as an important step stating that one should have Higher Education. for bleeding, nosebleed, head strategy of capacity-building agements to pay attention to towards better preventive ef- ness against disasters, through emergency lighting devices that It is a capacity-building pro- injury, fracture, burn, epilepsy and development of young gen- this ambitious development forts and as a joint work to pro- the protection and education can be used whenever needed. gramme for students, teachers and heat stroke. Other examples erations, towards the human programme as it contributes to tect vulnerable groups against of students, so that they be- In the event of an emergency, one can and administrative staff in rstfi are protection against injuries development goals of Qatar the educational process by cre- future risks. come active contributors to the call 991 and also report the matter via aid and health education, QRCS and diseases, food and hygiene, National Vision 2030. ating student leaderships that Al-Asmakh said, “Afi f Char- development of this country.” the Kahramaa mobile application. has said in a statement. communicable diseases, home “This support from Afi f Char- are capable of protecting the ity is fully aware of the impor- She emphasised co-opera- The safety tips from Kahramaa The agreement involves the safety, oral health and smoking ity is testimony to the impres- school community and beyond tance of this kind of awareness tion as being key to promot- come at a time when reports of sponsorship of health training risks. sive success of the programme. against risks and preserving the programmes to achieve positive ing awareness and enhanc- rain, as well as thundery conditions and education in 50 schools. “We are happy for this co- Within three years only, it could environment. It is a compre- results. They fall under the com- ing individual and community at times, have come in from parts Training courses will be held for operation with Afi f Charity, reach out to more than 11,000 hensive programme that covers prehensive concept of aware- resilience. of Qatar over the past few days. Gulf Times Saturday, October 19, 2019 3 QATAR Qatar Airways in ‘exciting promo’ off er for FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019

Qatar Airways is the the cultural delights of Qa- World Cup Qatar 2019 will serve off icial airline partner tar. More information is avail- as an exciting preview to the big- of the event, taking place able from qatarairways.com/ gest event in world football, the from December 11-21 FCWC2019 FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, in Qatar Airways will launch a just over three years’ time.” atar Airways has global TV campaign to support Featuring the six continen- launched an ‘exciting this extraordinary travel off er tal club champions from around Qpromotion’ to Doha as entitled, ‘Make Qatar Your Goal’. the world along with Qatar Stars the Offi cial Airline Partner of The TV campaign will be broad- League champions Al Sadd Club, the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar cast in over 160 countries world- the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019, taking place between De- wide and is available to view at: 2019 action will start on Decem- cember 11 and 21. https://youtu.be/a42rI6Doafk ber 11, culminating in the fi nal on The award-winning airline Qatar Airways Group Chief December 21. has announced ‘incredible fl ight Executive, HE Akbar al-Baker, Reigning European champions off ers’ on Economy and Business said: “We are delighted to off er Liverpool FC open their campaign Class tickets as well as packages fans these amazing deals to visit on December 18, marking the from the world to Doha. Qatar and be part of the FIFA inauguration of Education City Qatar Airways invites its cus- Club World Cup Qatar 2019. We Stadium, the latest FIFA World tomers to book fl ights and re- are committed to inspiring our Cup Qatar 2022 stadium to be ceive match tickets to see the passengers to come and discover completed over three years ahead stars of world football in action what Qatar has to off er, on and of the World Cup fi nals. For more at the FIFA Club World Cup Qa- off the football pitch. information on individual match tar 2019, according to a state- “As an airline, we fi rmly be- ticket sales, please visit www.fi fa. Qatar Airways has announced ‘incredible flight off ers’ on Economy and Business Class tickets as well as packages to Doha as the Off icial ment. lieve in the power of sport to com/tickets Airline Partner of the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019. Passengers who already unite people, and we look for- Qatar Airways was recently booked their travel journey are ward to bringing thousands of named ‘Airline of the Year’ was also named ‘World’s Best erates a modern fleet of more The airline has launched a key; Mogadishu, Somalia and invited to extend their holiday passionate fans together in Qa- for the fifth time by the 2019 Business Class’, ‘Best Business than 250 aircraft via its hub, host of new destinations in earlier this week Langkawi, with a stopover in Doha and tar to enjoy world-class football World Airline Awards, managed Class Seat’, and ‘Best Airline in Hamad International Airport 2019, including Lisbon, Por- Malaysia. Gaborone, Botswana receive match tickets to experi- alongside fi ve-star hospitality by international air transport the Middle East’. The national to more than 160 destinations tugal; Malta; Rabat, Morocco; will be added to the airline’s ence world-class football and and organisation. The FIFA Club rating organisation Skytrax. It carrier for Qatar currently op- worldwide. Davao, Philippines; Izmir, Tur- growing network later this year. Top Indian musician performs at Katara Asian Night Market opens at Aspire Park

By Joey Aguilar yam Sayed, Innovative High- parel and cosmetics to toys Staff Reporter Tech Solutions CEO Renato and kitchenware, among other Febbraio, other diplomats and items. guests were present. The event is showcasing he fi rst Doha City (DC) DC Event CEO and manag- some of the best Asian res- Asian Night Market ing director Victor Magnipes taurants and eateries in Qatar, Topened at Aspire Park told reporters that part of the including Filipino, Indian, Pa- yesterday (October 18), putting programme includes giving an kistani, Thai, Korean, Turkish Renowned Indian classical musician Shujaat Husain Khan presented ‘Tarana,’ a sitar recital yesterday at Katara Theatre Hall as part a spotlight on Asian culture appreciation award for HOPE and Arab outlets, apart from of the ongoing Qatar-India Year of Culture 2019. He was accompanied on the tabla by Amit Choubey and Sapan Anjaria. The concert through an array of cuisines Qatar Centre for Diff erently specialty cafes and ice cream was organised by the Indian embassy and the Indian Cultural Centre Advisory Council. Indian ambassador P Kumaran addressed the and products, as well as a tradi- Abled Children and Youth as shops. gathering. PICTURE: Ram Chand tional performance. DC’s honorary guest to the Young visitors also have the A festival street dance per- month-long event. opportunity to learn cupcake formed by students of Philip- Organisers are also set to and pizza-making, at the event. pine International School Qa- announce the winners of the Asian Night Market, running tar enthralled a large number Best Food and Non-Food stalls. until November 16 at Aspire’s of families and children at the More than 30 food stalls pro- Children’s area, will also fea- event. vide visitors with a wide range ture festival dances, modern WOFAPS 2019 accredited for Group Learning Activity Ecuadorian ambassador of Asian cuisine while non- production numbers, acoustic Ivonne A-Baki, Elite Qatar food vendors off er a variety night, and other live acts dur- public relations manager Mar- of products, ranging from ap- ing the weekends. idra Medicine has an- creditation also applies to sev- nounced that WOFAPS eral pre-congress workshops S2019 has been accred- including live-surgeries that will ited as a Group Learning Activ- be held on October 30 and 31. ity (Category 1) as defi ned by the Dr Mansour Ali, chair of Pae- Qatar Council for Healthcare diatric Surgery at Sidra Medicine Practitioners – Accreditation and co-chair of the WOFAPS Department. 2019 organising committee, The accreditation has been added: “WOFAPS 2019 can be a approved for a maximum of 35 considered a major educational hours. symposium. The platform will The WOFAPS (World Federa- create an opportunity for at- tion of Associations of Paedi- tendees to build important men- atric Surgeons) congress will be toring relationships, which is hosted by Sidra Medicine from especially important for young November 1-3 at the Qatar Na- Dr Mansour Ali Prof David Sigalet surgeons and those working in Students of Philippine International School Qatar perform a festival street dance for the event’s tional Convention Centre. The isolation of large surgical centres opening yesterday at Aspire Park. international congress, a fi rst for Patient Services at Sidra Medi- “The accreditation allows the and expertise. Qatar, is expected to welcome cine and president of WOFAPS, attendees to learn and discover “This is a unique chance to more than 1,000 surgeons from said: “We are now only three new best practice methodolo- learn from some of the most em- all over the world, Sidra Medi- weeks away from one of the gies in paediatric surgical care. inent experts across the surgical cine has said in a statement. biggest surgical conferences in In addition, we are hosting sev- spectrum. I am proud to say sev- WOFAPS 2019 aims to cover the Middle East and are pleased eral workshops that will off er at- eral of our own experts based in Two Indian siblings die in Doha the most cutting-edge advances with the progress we are making tendees an opportunity to hone Qatar will be conducting work- in paediatric surgical care in ad- towards hosting a stellar event. their knowledge and skills in shops in surgical urology and dition to addressing the cur- With a theme based on ‘Moving their area of interest.” laparoscopy with trainee doc- wo Indian siblings died child, aged three, unresponsive cations and passed away at the rent challenges impeding opti- Collaboration, Education and The academic sessions at tors. There is much to learn and in Doha yesterday, in the morning. He was taken to hospital around 10am. mal surgical care for children in Training Beyond Borders’, Qatar WOFAPS 2019 will be led by in- much to discover at WOFAPS Tsources said. They are hospital but was declared dead Both parents also had devel- high- and low-income coun- will be welcoming the brightest ternationally recognised health 2019.” natives of the southern state of upon arrival. Meanwhile the oped similar symptoms but are tries, the statement noted. and innovative thought leaders professionals, who are experts To register and for additional Kerala. younger child, a seven-month- reportedly stable. The reason Prof David Sigalet, chief of in the surgical and medical fi eld. in their fi eld of practice. The ac- details, visit: www.wofaps.org Parents found the elder old girl, also developed compli- for the deaths is not known.

HBKU concludes workshops with HMC Nursing Informatics department

amad Medical Corporation’s The workshops primarily touched ready for future breakthroughs and (HMC) Nursing Informatics upon topics related to ethics, proposal developments.” HDepartment provided the basis writing, quantitative, quantitative and “This highly-collaborative and for a series of workshops developed by mixed method approaches for health ultimately-successful partnership the College of Science and Engineering informatics, research communication, reflects a simple truth: that HBKU (CSE) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University and data analysis. acts as a catalyst for positive trans- (HBKU) in partnership with the coun- The recently-concluded second formation in Qatar and further afield. try’s largest healthcare provider. round of workshops was initiated by A healthy population is one of the HBKU’s involvement in this initia- QCRI’s Dr Luis Fernandez-Luque goals outlined in Qatar National Vi- tive was also supported by signifi cant in conjunction with HBKU’s project sion 2030 and health informatics will contributions from Qatar Computing leader, Dr Mowafa Said Househ. Im- play an important role in fulfilling Research Institute (QCRI). portant contributions over the course this ambition. We’re confident that Launched in March 2019, the Nurs- of both sessions came from Dr Was- both the CSE and QCRI have made ing Informatics Research Community miyah Dalhem, executive director of important contributions to HMC’s Programme was designed specifi cally nursing informatics, and Noha Ahmed, capabilities in this particular disci- to support the work of HMC’s nurs- nursing informatics specialist. Both pline,” noted, Dr Househ, associate ing and midwifery department and its were instrumental in developing the professor at CSE. eff orts to build capacities in the fi eld workshops and co-ordinating activi- “Nursing research has a tremen- of health informatics research. The ties between HMC, HBKU and QCRI. dous infl uence on current and future programme consisted of four research “The college’s Master of Data Analyt- professional nursing practice and the seminars attended by 500 nurses, ics in Health Management and Mas- Hamad Medical Corporation’s Nursing Informatics Department was exposed to diff erent research methodologies and establishment of the Nursing Infor- followed by two batches of work- ter of Information Systems in Health mechanisms presented by HBKU’s entities. matics Research Community is a major shops which attracted 55 participants. Management were introduced in an- step forward in HMC’s journey towards Teaching and expert insights were pro- ticipation of the revolutionary and Dr Fernandez-Luque, a social formatics Research Community Pro- sophistication. Our partners at HMC building research capacity among our vided by HBKU’s Dr Samir Belhaouari, transformational role data will play in computing scientist at QCRI, said, gramme. Digital health practices and are not only determined to apply such nurses and midwives and empowering Dr Dena al-Thani, Dr Tanvir Alam and the healthcare sector,” said Dr Mounir “It was a privilege to bring my re- techniques will only evolve in the technologies to their current health them to engage in research projects,” Dr Alaa Abd-Alrazaq. Hamdi, dean of CSE. search interests to the Nursing In- years ahead, both in terms of use and informatics activities but also to be added Dr Dalhem. Gulf Times 4 Saturday, October 19, 2019 ARAB WORLD/AFRICA

POLITICS UNREST POLLS DISTRESS CRIME Partial election results show Violent protests against Namibian president set for Flooding caused by rain Iraqi blogger returns day big win for ruling party Madagascar’s ‘new city’ re-election next month leaves 28 dead in Ghana after kidnapping: family

Partial results for Mozambique’s high-stakes general Clashes broke out between police and protesters Namibians will elect a president on Nov 27, with Floods caused by eight days of torrential down- A prominent Iraqi blogger resurfaced yesterday a election were released yesterday, showing President in Madagascar overnight after stone-throwing Hage Geingob expected to be returned with a pours in northeastern Ghana have left 28 peo- day after he was seized by masked gunmen, his Filipe Nyusi and his ruling Frelimo party headed for demonstrators stormed the construction site of a reduced margin as voters complain about the ple dead and displaced hundreds, off icials said father said, as Amnesty International denounced a dominant victory. The National Electoral Com- controversial urban expansion project, police said worst economic crisis since independence nearly yesterday. “At the moment the death toll is 28. About a “climate of fear” in the country after protests and mission (CNE) published the incomplete results as yesterday. Madagascar’s government has launched 30 years ago. Geingob, Namibia’s third president 640 people in some six communities have been deadly violence. Shujaa al-Khafaji’s family said armed the US embassy in the country said its observers the construction of a shiny new urban complex since rule by apartheid South Africa ended in 1990, displaced and we are providing shelters for them,” men had snatched him from his home on Thursday witnessed voting irregularities that it said “strains meant to unclog the capital Antananarivo. President is seeking a second and final term. He is being chal- George Ayisi, spokesman for the National Disaster without identifying themselves or showing an arrest credulity”. Frelimo, had been widely expected to win Andry Rajoelina promised to ease Antananarivo’s lenged by nine other hopefuls including a member Management Organisation, said. “We’ve counted warrant. Khafaji’s Facebook page, Al-Khowa al-Nadifa the presidential, parliamentary and provincial polls overcrowding and chronic traff ic jams while of his own SWAPO party. The country will also elect about 286 collapsed houses during this disaster.” Re- (Arabic for “Those Who Have Clean Hands”), carries held on Tuesday. But the lopsided nature of partial campaigning in last year’s elections. The Tana- 96 members of parliament. SWAPO, the former lib- lief items were being transported 800kms by road posts on political and social issues and has some results published by the National Electoral Commis- Masoandra project, dubbed “the new sun — the new eration movement turned governing party, currently from Accra to the aff ected region on the border with 2.5mn followers. “Around 15 men wearing masks sion (CNE) yesterday could revive fears over the city”, is expected to house government buildings, has 77 seats in parliament while its closest rival, the Burkina Faso as meteorologists warned the rains and black uniforms” took Khafaji from his home, the country’s fragile peace deal. businesses and 100,000 inhabitants. Popular Democratic Movement, has five. could last into November. blogger’s father, Fares al-Khafaji, said.

Palestinian Lebanon protesters pledge to shot dead in West Bank continue anti-austerity rallies AFP Jerusalem

DPA after bodyguards of an ex- Beirut lawmmaker in the port city of sraeli security guards at a Tripoli fi red on protesters fol- West Bank crossing into Is- lowing a scuffl e, private Leba- Irael shot dead a Palestinian housands of Lebanese nese broadcaster MTV reported. fi ghter who ran at them with a demonstrators vowed Two of those injured later knife yesterday, the Israeli de- Tyesterday to continue died in hospital, the television fence ministry said. their protests against auster- report added. There was no im- Civilian guards employed by ity despite assurances by Prime mediate offi cial comment. the MOD Crossing Points Au- Minister Saad Hariri that his Lebanon’s protests were thority called on the man to stop government will work to solve sparked by an unpopular pro- but when he kept coming he was the country’s festering eco- posal to introduce fees for us- shot and killed, the ministry said nomic woes. ers of messaging apps such in a statement. Hariri gave a 72-hour dead- as WhatsApp. Telecommu- The incident took place just line to his partners in the gov- nications Minister Mohamed outside the occupied West Bank ernment to agree on a solution Choucair announced overnight city of Tulkarem. The Palestinian to the economic crisis, which that he would cancel the new health ministry confi rmed that a has triggered mass protests charges. man was killed by Israeli fi re but across Lebanon. Protesters in eastern Leba- did not immediately identify “There is a short period of non set up tents in the middle of him. time for our partners in the gov- the street, while burned wood In clashes yesterday along ernment to start working,” Har- and garbage bins lay around the Gaza-Israel border Israeli iri said yesterday in a televised the capital Beirut. Many ma- troops injured 48 Palestinians, speech as anti-government jor roads were blocked. Several 15 of whom were hit by live fi re, protests were under way in dif- Arab embassies have called on the health ministry said earlier, ferent parts of the country for their citizens to leave Lebanon. without giving their condition. the second straight day. The Saudi embassy has re- An Israeli military spokes- Hariri added that Lebanon served a seaside hotel for na- woman said that around 4,500 has to implement badly needed tionals from the kingdom who Palestinians staged disturbances reforms to heal its economy. plan to leave Lebanon, accord- along the border fence, some He accused unnamed po- ing to Lebanese media. throwing petrol bombs and ex- litical parties of hampering the Lebanese citizens have been plosive devices.“A number of implementation of reforms that suff ering from dire economic suspects breached the fence in international lenders deem cru- conditions in the heavily in- the north of the strip but they cial. Demonstrators gesture and chant slogans during a protest over the deteriorating economic situation, in Beirut, yesterday. debted country and from tax immediately went back into the Hariri’s remarks came shortly hikes, with anti-government strip,” she said in Hebrew. after Lebanese Foreign Minister evised statement. He accused Ahmed, a taxi driver, said. army presence in the evening some demonstrators burnt a protests erupting several times “Response was with riot con- Jubran Bassil said the govern- some domestic parties of ex- Mahmoud, 27, said he had as they moved towards a road picture of Aoun, while others in recent months. trol means in accordance with ment must not impose new tax- ploiting the protests to achieve been without a job for the past leading to the presidential pal- vandalised an offi ce belonging Lebanon is under pressure the rules of engagement,” she es and should carry out drastic their goals of toppling the year. The outbreak of protests ace, where Aoun resides. to lawmaker Ali Bazi, in south- from the World Bank and the added. Palestinians have been reforms. presidency, the government and against the government’s eco- Riot police dispersed pro- ern Lebanon, witnesses said. International Monetary Fund to gathering for weekly demonstra- Bassil urged protesters to al- parliament. Some protesters nomic policies, which started testers in downtown Beirut by Other groups blocked a main take austerity measures in re- tions at various points along the low the government until next were unimpressed by the latest late Thursday, has led to mass throwing dozens of tear gas highway leading to the Beirut turn for fi nancial support. border of the blockaded territory week to fi nish discussing the promises. closure of shops, businesses and bombs as they vandalised and International Airport. The country has one of the since March 2018. 2020 budget. “They always give us false schools across Lebanon. broke windows of shops in the Some passengers were seen biggest public debt ratios in “The current alternative is promises,” said 50-year-old The Education Ministry said area. walking with their luggage try- the world, equivalent to about very foggy,” Bassil, who is the Marie at a protest in central schools and universities will re- “Leave. We do not want your ing to reach the airport on foot. 150 per cent of gross domestic DIALOGUE son-in-law of Lebanese Presi- Beirut. “They should know main closed today. rule any more,” the protest- An unspecifi ed number of product (GDP). Sudan, rebel dent Michel Aoun, said in a tel- we’ve lost confi dence in them,” Protesters defi ed a heavy ers chanted. Earlier in the day, people were meanwhile injured groups agree on roadmap for peace

Sudan and a major rebel group agreed yesterday to a roadmap Turkey plans presence across northeast Syria: Erdogan that will allow suspended peace talks to resume, giving new impe- tus to eff orts by the government Reuters On the border itself shelling could be it, and the ultimate solution, to hap- allies that fought for years alongside US envoy for Syria, James Jeff rey, said the to end multiple conflicts around Istanbul heard near the Syrian town of Ras al- pen.” The United Nations Offi ce for the troops against Islamic State. accord covered a smaller area where the country, the two sides said. Ain yesterday morning despite Thurs- Co-ordination of Humanitarian Aff airs Trump has praised Thursday’s deal, Turkish forces and their Syrian rebel The government and the Sudan day’s deal. But Reuters journalists at described the situation at “reportedly saying it would save “millions of lives”. allies were fi ghting, between two bor- People’s Liberation Movement- urkey will set up a dozen obser- the border said the bombardment sub- calm in most areas, with the exception Turkey cast it as a victory in its cam- der towns of Ras al-Ain and Tel Abyad, North (SPLM-N) agreed that the vation posts across northeast sided around mid-morning and a US of Ras al-Ain, where shelling and gun- paign to control territory more than just 120km away. Speaking to journal- focus of the negotiations would TSyria, President Tayyip Erdogan offi cial said most of the fi ghting had fi re continued to be reported earlier to- 30km deep into Syria and drive out ists later, Erdogan said Turkey plans to be political issues first, followed by said yesterday, insisting that a planned stopped, although it would “take time day,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric Kurdish fi ghters from the YPG, the set up 12 observation posts in northeast humanitarian concerns and then “safe zone” will extend much further for things to completely quiet down”. told reporters in New York. SDF’s main Kurdish component. Syria. A map of the region showed the security arrangements. Yester- than US offi cials said was covered un- US President Donald Trump said yes- The truce, announced by US Vice “As of now, the 120-hour period is planned posts stretching from the Iraq day’s announcement came during der a fragile ceasefi re deal. terday he had spoken with Erdogan who President Mike Pence after talks in An- on. In this 120-hour period, the ter- border in the east to the Euphrates river peace talks between the govern- Less than 24 hours after he agreed told him there had been some “minor” kara with Erdogan, sets out a fi ve-day rorist organisation, the YPG, will leave 300 miles to the west. ment and multiple rebel groups, the fi ve-day truce to allow Kurdish sniper and mortar fi re in northeastern pause to let the Kurdish-led SDF militia the area we identifi ed as a safe zone,” With the US pulling its entire hosted by neighbouring South forces time to pull back from Turkey’s Syria despite the truce, but that it had pull out of the Turkish “safe zone”. The Erdogan told reporters after prayers in 1,000-strong contingent from north- Sudan. Negotiations will continue crossborder assault, Erdogan under- been quickly eliminated. deal was aimed at easing a crisis that Istanbul yesterday. ern Syria, the extent of Turkey’s ambi- over the weekend. Sudan’s ruling lined Ankara’s continued ambition to “He very much wants the ceasefi re, saw Trump order a hasty and unex- The safe zone would be 32km deep, tions is likely to be determined by Rus- council and rebel groups restarted establish a presence along 300 miles of or pause, to work,” Trump said in a post pected US retreat, which his critics say and run “440km from the very west sia and Iran, fi lling the vacuum created peace talks on Monday to end territory inside Syria. on Twitter. “Likewise, the Kurds want amounted to abandoning loyal Kurdish to the east”, he said. But the US special by the US retreat. years-long conflicts. Lagos children learn new skills at unicycle academy

Reuters African country, Olalekan Kuy- ances at events and carnivals and Lagos oro founded the academy in also impromptu shows at market 2014 and has trained more than venues when in need of urgent 40 children since. funds for costumes, unicycles n a driveway of a suburban After failing to get into univer- and, sometimes, food. Lagos house, 14-year-old sity, Kuyoro learned to unicycle They take home money from IKehinde Oguntokun jug- in 2012, soon deciding to teach their performances, Kuyoro said, gles colourful circus clubs as he children full-time rather than and also show off their skills swings around on a unicycle. adults, saying they picked it up in Instagram posts, where the The teenager has been cycling faster. school’s account has more than on the one-wheeled vehicle for “I started with...a seven- 16,000 followers. four years, learning the skill at a year-old boy and I was amazed “People really don’t know dedicated school, the Gkb — or that (it) took me a month to ride what it is, like a broken bike. “God knows best” — Unicycle and a seven-year-old boy could They are like ‘What is the fu- Academy, in Nigeria’s commer- just do it easily,” the 29-year-old ture for this thing? I’d rather put cial capital. said. my child in football academy.’ So “People don’t actually do it The self-funded school, I have to talk to them,” he said, very much so it looks new to which holds classes in Kuyoro’s adding the daily rehearsals kept people when they see it with driveway, trains children aged pupils from hanging out on the us,” Oguntokun said at an after- seven to 15, teaching them jug- streets. school practice session, where gling, skipping and other tricks “We take a lot of kids out of pupils learned how to ride in on unicycles. the street...so what they are unison, holding hands and twirl- It has 18 unicycles, each cost- doing now is channelling their ing around each other. ing 7,000 naira ($23) and requir- energy towards productive A performance skill rarely ing regular maintenance. thing instead of doing funny seen on the streets of the west Pupils put on paid perform- things.” Members of the GKB academy, a unicycle club, juggle while balancing on their unicycles during a training session in Lagos. Gulf Times Saturday, October 19, 2019 5 AMERICA

‘Most overrated general’ Mattis takes swipe at Trump White House AFP New York

ormer US defence secre- tary James Mattis said he Fwas honoured to be the ‘admits’ aid link “world’s most overrated gener- al” in a swipe at his former boss Donald Trump who insulted him earlier this week. At a gala charity dinner in New York on Thursday evening, Mattis told diners he had now “achieved greatness”. to Biden probe “I’m not just an overrated general. I am the greatest, the AFP much later, that Mr Giuliani’s world’s most overrated,” he Washington agenda might have also included said. an eff ort to prompt the Ukrain- “I’m honoured to be con- ians to investigate vice-president sidered that by Donald Trump top White House offi cial Biden or his son or to involve because he also called Meryl has admitted that Presi- Ukrainians, directly or indirectly, Streep an overrated actress,” he Adent Donald Trump had in the president’s 2020 re-elec- said. Mattis: I’m honoured to be considered (the world’s most overrated tied military aid for Ukraine to tion campaign,” he said. “So I guess I’m the Meryl general) by Donald Trump because he also called Meryl Streep an Kyiv undertaking an investiga- Sondland, a businessman who Streep of generals, and frankly overrated actress. tion that would help Trump po- was appointed ambassador after that sounds pretty good to me,” litically, adding ammunition to donating $1mn to Trump’s in- he said to laughter and applause avoid the Vietnam draft. “And I realised how easy I had it over- Democrats’ impeachment probe. auguration festivities, sought to at the annual Alfred E Smith I think the only person in the seas in a combat zone.” Acting White House Chief of distance himself from the politi- Memorial Foundation dinner. military that Mr Trump doesn’t Referring to Trump’s “Mad Staff Mick Mulvaney’s stunning cal storm enveloping the White “And you do have to admit that think is overrated is Colonel Dog” nickname for him, the admission supports a key allega- House. between me and Meryl, at least Sanders.” general said he had “turned over tion in the House impeachment Sondland said Giuliani was the we’ve had some victories.” The softly spoken but battle- a kinder, gentler leaf”. eff ort, that the president illicitly Mulvaney: Did (Trump) also mention to me in passing the corruption principal messenger, and that he Trump called Mattis “the hardened former Marine left “I like to think of myself as sought foreign political help as related to the DNC server? Absolutely. No question about that ... that’s had few communications with world’s most overrated general” the administration last year, less of a mad dog and more of an he seeks re-election next year. it, and that’s why we held up the money. the president’s lawyer. during an acrimonious White saying in his resignation letter emotional support animal, and Mulvaney said it was true that “My understanding was House meeting on Wednesday that Trump’s worldview was ir- that’s really great because the Trump used the aid to prod Kyiv lated election legislation. Energy Secretary Rick Perry, who that the president directed Mr with top Democrats over Syria reconcilable with his own. airlines let me fl y for free.” in July to investigate the allega- “Mulvaney just said that US was deeply involved in Ukraine Giuliani’s participation, that Mr. policy. “I commanded forces in Iraq A year on from leaving the tion – widely viewed as ground- military aid for Ukraine was held talks, was stepping down. Giuliani was expressing the con- The retired Marine general and Syria and Afghanistan. I administration, Mattis joked: less – that the Democratic Na- up pending Ukraine’s investi- Word of Perry’s departure cerns of the president,” Sond- said he was not bothered by tried to bring some peace and “The recovery process is go- tional Committee (DNC) had gation of Democrats,” tweeted came a day after the publication land stated. “Our view was that Trump’s comments. order to places with no organ- ing well, the counsellor says I’ll hidden a computer server in Adam Schiff , the House Intel- of an interview in which Perry the men and women of the State “Of course not, I earned my ised government, chaotic and graduate soon.” Ukraine that would undermine ligence Committee chairman said that – on Trump’s orders Department, not the president’s spurs on the battlefi eld ... and warring factions, irrational “A year, according to White claims that Trump’s 2016 elec- who is leading the impeachment – he had communicated with personal lawyer, should take re- Donald Trump earned his spurs fears and toxic hatred,” Mattis House time, is about 9,000 tion victory was helped by Rus- inquiry. “Things just went from Giuliani over alleged corruption sponsibility for all aspects of US in a letter from a doctor,” Mattis told diners. “It was hard work hours of executive time or 1,800 sian meddling. very, very bad to much, much in Ukraine. foreign policy towards Ukraine.” said, in a jab at the medical con- but it wasn’t until I started holes of golf,” he said in another Trump did not want to send worse.” Trump said Perry had told him Sondland was the eighth dition which allowed Trump to working in Washington DC that jab at the president. nearly $400mn in military aid to But Mulvaney argued that of his plans to resign months ago. witness to testify to the three Ukraine because the country was Trump had done nothing wrong, Gordon Sondland, the US am- House committees leading the deeply corrupt, Mulvaney said. because he acted in support of a bassador to the European Union, impeachment investigation, all Russia ‘grooming’ California launches statewide “Did he also mention to me in Justice Department probe into said in written testimony that defying White House eff orts to passing the corruption related the origins of 2016 Russian med- Trump ordered diplomats in May block them from appearing. US Democrat for earthquake early warning system to the DNC server? Absolutely. dling allegations. to involve Giuliani in talks with Democrats appear increas- 2020 run: Clinton No question about that,” Mul- And Mulvaney denied that new Ukraine President Volody- ingly likely to unveil articles of California off icials has launched the first-ever earthquake early vaney told reporters. “That’s it, Trump also tied the aid to myr Zelenskiy. impeachment – formal charges – Hillary Clinton has warned that warning app for all of the state’s residents. and that’s why we held up the Ukraine investigating a top Dem- Giuliani, he said, sought to before the end of the year. Russia, which interfered in the Authorities will also begin issuing quake early warnings money.” ocratic rival, Joe Biden, ahead of pressure Zelenskiy to investigate If approved by the Democrat- US election she lost in 2016, through the Wireless Emergency Alert system, off ering text Hours later, he abruptly re- the 2020 vote. Biden and Biden’s son over ties to dominated House of Representa- is “grooming” a Democratic message alerts even for people who have not downloaded the canted. That Biden allegation is the a Ukraine energy company, Bur- tives, Trump would then go on candidate for a third-party app. “Let me be clear, there was other key leg of Democrats’ isma, as well as to fi nd evidence trial for removal in the Senate, run next year, signalling that The MyShake app, built by the University of California, Berkeley absolutely no quid pro quo be- charges against Trump. for the 2016 Democratic server where Republicans have the ma- congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and funded by the California Off ice of Emergency Services, tween Ukrainian military aid and “The money held up had abso- theory. jority. could fill the role. begin on Thursday morning to publicly broadcast earthquake any investigation into the 2016 lutely nothing to do with Biden,” Hunter Biden served on the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi The goal of this would essentially early warnings for OS and Android users who have downloaded election,” he said in a statement. he said. board of Burisma for fi ve years denied on Thursday that the in- be to divide the US electorate and the program. “The president never told me to Mulvaney’s comments added until April this year. vestigation was politically driv- help President Donald Trump win Off icials are urging smartphone users to download the app, withhold any money until the to a dramatic day in which a “Mr Giuliani specifi cally men- en, and said there was no time- re-election, Clinton said. which will provide warnings at a more sensitive threshold than Ukrainians did anything related senior diplomat told Congres- tioned the 2016 election (includ- line. “I’m not making any predictions through the text-messaging system. to the server.” sional investigators that Trump ing the DNC server) and Burisma “None of us came to Congress but I think they’ve got their eye Until now, only smartphone users physically in Los Angeles Nevertheless, his initial ad- and his personal lawyer Rudy as two anti-corruption investi- to impeach a president,” she told on somebody who’s currently County who have downloaded the city of Los Angeles’ mission appeared to support Giuliani sought political help gatory topics of importance for reporters. “Any such actions are in the Democratic primary, and ShakeAlertLA app – released 10 months ago – have been able to Democrats’ charges that Trump from Ukraine. the president,” Sondland said. to be taken very solemnly, seri- they’re grooming her to be receive earthquake early warnings. had abused his power and vio- Trump also announced that US “I did not understand, until ously and in my view prayerfully.” the third-party candidate,” the former secretary of state told David Plouff e in his Campaign HQ podcast. “She’s the favourite of the Russians. They have a bunch of sites and bots and other ways of supporting her so far.” History made with all-female spacewalk Clinton, speaking on the podcast which first aired on Thursday, did not name Gabbard, but it is highly AFP one medium-sized suit, with a The two were working to re- that he hoped that an all-fe- likely she was the woman Clinton Washington male-female combination per- place a faulty battery charge/ male spacewalk would soon be a was referring to. forming the required task at a discharge unit, known as a “routine” matter that would not The other women in the race later date. BCDU. require celebration. are US senators Elizabeth S astronauts Christina Traditionally male-dominat- The station relies on solar Asked why it had taken so long Warren, Kamala Harris and Amy Koch and Jessica Meir ed Nasa’s failure to be adequate- power but is out of direct sun- – Meir is the 14th US woman Klobuchar, and author Marianne Ubecame the fi rst all- ly prepared was denounced in light for much of its orbit and spacewalker – he explained that Williamson, none of whom are female pairing to carry out a some quarters as evidence of therefore needs batteries, and men’s added height was an ad- linked to Moscow in ways similar spacewalk yesterday, a historic implicit sexism. the BCDUs regulate the amount vantage. to Gabbard. milestone as Nasa prepares to When they had been out- of charge that goes into them. “There have been a lot of US media analysis has shown send the fi rst woman to the side space station for about fi ve The current task was an- spacewalks where very tall men that sites tied to Russia have Moon. hours, President Donald Trump nounced on Monday and is part who are the ones that were able celebrated Gabbard’s campaign The mission was originally reached the astronauts in a video of a wider mission of replacing to do the jobs because they were launch, defended her 2017 planned for earlier this year but call and told them they had made ageing nickel-hydrogen batter- able to reach and do things a lit- meeting with Syrian President had to be aborted due to a lack of history. ies with higher capacity lithi- tle bit more easily,” he said. Bashar al-Assad, and attacked properly fi tting spacesuits, lead- “You are very brave, brilliant um-ion units. “But we’ve also brought people who have suggested ing to allegations of sexism. women,” Trump told Koch and The US sent its fi rst female as- women into the crews, because Gabbard is a pawn for Moscow. “Christina, you may egress Meir. tronaut into space in 1983, when of their brains right, they come Last week the New York Times the airlock,” spacecraft commu- “You represent this country so Sally Ride took part in the sev- in and they bring diff erent skills, quoted influential Republicans nicator Stephanie Wilson said This image taken from a handout video obtained from Nasa shows well,” the president added. “We enth space shuttle mission, and they think of things diff erent who said they were impressed as the pair set out to replace a Koch and Meir outside the International Space Station (ISS). are very proud of you.” has now had more women astro- ways. with Gabbard’s policy positions. power controller on the Interna- Koch, an electrical engineer nauts than any other country. “And by using their brains, Far-right conspiracy theorist Mike tional space Station (ISS) at 1138 minutes earlier, National Aero- an 11-year-old daughter, I want who is leading the mission, is But the fi rst woman in space they can overcome a lot of those Cernovich said she “seems very GMT. nautics and Space Administra- her to see herself as having all carrying out her fourth space- was Soviet cosmonaut Valentina physical challenges.” Trumpian”. They began their mission with tion (Nasa) administrator Jim the same opportunities that I walk and was hooked up to the Tereshkova in 1963, followed by Nasa plans to return to the The US intelligence community standard safety checks on their Bridenstine emphasised the found myself as having when I station’s robot arm. compatriot Svetlana Savitskaya Moon by 2024 for the fi rst time has concluded that Russia suits and tethers, before making symbolic signifi cance of the day. was growing up.” Meir, who holds a doctorate in 1982, who was also the fi rst since the Apollo landings of interfered in the 2016 election their way to the repair site on the “We want to make sure that The fi rst all-female space- in marine biology and is making woman spacewalker two years 1969-1972. in order to help boost the station’s port side, as the sunlit space is available to all people, walk was supposed to take place her fi rst ever spacewalk, made later. The new mission is named Republican Trump’s chances of Earth came into view. and this is another milestone in in March but was cancelled be- her way carefully across using Ken Bowersox, Nasa acting Artemis, after the twin sister of winning the presidency. In a call to reporters a few that evolution,” he said. “I have cause the space agency had only handles. associate administrator, said Apollo in Greek mythology. Virgin Galactic unveils commercial space suits

AFP US sportswear designer Un- human spacefl ight and what as- Park said. “They started with ... statement from Virgin Galactic. Yonkers, US der Armour “worked day and tronauts wear are inextricably understanding the sport, under- And they are designed so night for about two years on this linked,” Branson explained. “I standing the needs of the athlete, wearers can fi t perfectly into the project” said Branson, who him- love the way the spacewear looks understanding the extreme con- spacecraft’s seats. he date for the world’s fi rst self served as a model at the pres- and I love the way it feels.” ditions they go through.” Every space tourist will get commercial space fl ight is entation at a skydiving simulator “I also love the fact that the The material for the suits, their own custom suit that they Tnot even confi rmed yet, near New York. next time I put it on, I will be on undergarments and boots were can take home with them back but future passengers’ Star Trek- The 69-year-old British bil- my way to space.” chosen for their ability to aid on Earth, complete with a label like space outfi ts are ready and lionaire donned the personalised Under Armour president Kevin in the body’s temperature and of their name and their country’s waiting. royal blue suit that he plans to Plank said the suits’ creators ap- moisture regulation. fl ag. Virgin Galactic founder Rich- wear during his company’s inau- proached the design the same A transparent interior pocket The company plans to off er Sir Richard is seen wearing Virgin Galactic’s new space-wear system, ard Branson on Wednesday in- gural fl ight – sometime in 2020. way they would think about was added so space-exploring weightless fl ights to six pas- developed in partnership with Under Armour. With him are Under troduced the custom suits that “Spacesuits are a part of the clothing for extreme sports. customers can keep pictures sengers at a time, at $250,000 Armour founder and chief executive Kevin Plank and Virgin Galactic will be worn by the fi rst private iconography of the fi rst space “They approached it just like of their loved ones “literally ... (€225,750) a ticket for the fi rst commercial director Stephen Attenborough. astronauts. age. Our visual impressions of one of our typical uniform deals,” close to the heart”, according to a customers. Gulf Times 6 Saturday, October 19, 2019 ASIA

Three killed in heavy rains and flooding in Vietnam

Indonesia steps up security At least three people have been killed and five injured after days of prolonged rains ravaged central Vietnam, authorities said yesterday. A two-year-old boy was swept away by floods and a 53-year- for presidential inauguration old man drowned in Nghe An province, the Central Steering DPA regulation to replace a new Committee for Natural Disaster Jakarta anti-graft law. Prevention and Control said. Protesters say the law is in The third victim was a 32-year-old fact hampering the fi ght against man who was struck by lightning ndonesian authorities have corruption, which is endemic in on Wednesday. beefed up security ahead of the South-East Asian country. Five secondary school students Ithe inauguration ceremony At least 36 terror suspects were also injured after being of President Joko Widodo and with alliance to an IS-affi liated struck by lightning on the same his vice president-elect Ma’ruf militant group, Jemaah An- day on the way to school in Nghe Amin tomorrow, an offi cial said sharut Daulah (JAD) were also An. yesterday. arrested this week, police said. Images on state media showed Military chief General Hadi The crackdown came af- many streets in Vinh City in Nghe Tjahjanto said 30,000 person- ter Security Minister Wiranto An submerged. nel from the military and police was stabbed in the abdomen Floods damaged some 600 have been conducting a simu- by a man with ties to JAD on houses, killed more than 23,000 lation to prevent any security October 10. livestock and caused major breaches during the ceremony. Indonesia scrambled to tight- traff ic disruptions, the Steering At least six heads of state and en its anti-terrorism laws after Committee report said. government from neighbour- a series of suicide bombings Over the last three days, some ing countries are scheduled to linked to the JAD group killed regions have seen up to 957mm attend the oath-taking ceremony. more than 30 people in the city of rainfall, where the average Other countries are also of Surabaya last year. rainfall is between 80 and sending representatives to at- The former general, who 150mm. tend the event at Jakarta’s only goes by one name, had to Heavy rains are expected to parliament building. undergo surgery. ease, but authorities have Police have barred students Widodo was re-elected as warned of flash floods and from staging rallies this week. president for another fi ve-year landslides as a result of water The students demand the term in a divisive election in absorption in the mountainous president issue a government April. Armoured vehicles are stationed inside the parliament complex ahead of the presidential inauguration, in Jakarta yesterday. areas. (DPA) Thai billionaire in court over alleged share holdings Indonesia AFP election which ended fi ve years there is no evidence,” he said. to an army that has carried out a last week delivered a diatribe Bangkok of outright junta rule. Thanathorn, who held coup at an average of once every warning of the spectre of a com- The party was backed by mil- 675,000 shares in V-Luck Me- seven years since the 1932 es- mmunist rebellion in a speech lions of young people wearied by dia, has repeatedly insisted they tablishment of a constitutional fl ecked with barely-concealed ramps up he charismatic frontman the dominance of the conserva- were sold to his mother on Janu- monarchy. references to Thanathorn and of Thailand’s anti-mili- tive old guard. ary 8 – weeks before he regis- “The party is against the mili- his party. Ttary parliamentary bloc But Thanathorn’s electoral tered to run as a candidate. tary... I support their vision and I FFP has been a rare voice of appeared in court yesterday ac- success has been matched by a As judges fi red questions at absolutely support Thanathorn,” criticism against Thailand’s cused of breaching election rules battery of legal woes. him during yesterday’s hearing, Punjarat Wattawongvibul, 35, royalist establishment. said outside the court. regional by holding media shares, a case He has been suspended from the usually cool-headed party The monarchy, one of the which could see him barred from attending parliament since the leader appeared tense, saying he A ruling is expected to be an- world’s richest and headed by politics and jailed for up to 10 Election Commission accused couldn’t recall the legal details of nounced on November 20. King Maha Vajiralongkorn, is at years. him of breaking polling laws by divesting the shares. The highly intervention- the apex of Thai power. Billionaire Thanathorn Juan- holding media shares – an of- His supporters say the case ist court disbanded a diff er- On Thursday, 70 Future For- diplomacy groongruangkit, 40, has rattled fence that carries a long jail term. has been trumped up to take out ent anti-military opposi- ward MPs voted against a royal the kingdom’s arch-royalist es- Arriving for the fi rst hearing at Thailand’s most popular politi- tion party linked to former decree transferring two key tablishment since seizing the the Constitutional Court yester- cian and deliver a gut punch to premier Thaksin Shina- army units to the direct control political limelight with his caus- day, Thanathorn again pleaded the FFP and its radical reform watra right before the March of the king – an unprecedented tic take downs of the army’s role his “innocence” telling reporters agenda. elections. political objection to a royal with aid fund in Thai politics and society. the media company had ceased The party wants to amend the Thanathorn has also been command. His upstart Future Forward operations fi ve months before constitution to excise the mili- singled out by the kingdom’s The decree still passed par- Party became Thailand’s third the election. tary’s infl uence, slash defence powerful army chief. liament with an overwhelming Reuters The government made no largest political group in a March “We are convinced that spending and end conscription General Apirat Kongsompong majority. Jakarta link to Papua-related diplo- macy during the fund’s launch and a foreign ministry spokes- ndonesia launched an man declined to comment on international aid agency any connection when asked by Disaster preparedness ceremony Iyesterday to strengthen Reuters. Mexican its regional diplomatic rela- Yose Rizal Damuri, the head tions, some of which have of the economics department been strained by Jakarta’s at the Jakarta-based Center with Turkey approach to the restive for Strategic and International Papua region. Studies (CSIS), said the fund Several Pacifi c nations have should strengthen Indone- cleric links backed calls for investigations sia’s diplomacy beyond its into allegations of violence by usual allies and expand export security forces in Indonesia’s markets. arrested in easternmost region, although “Including on Papua, for only Vanuatu has openly anything related to small voiced support for independ- countries, one of the most Cambodia ence of former Dutch colony eff ective instruments is to Papua. provide aid,” Damuri said. Reuters Jakarta, which has defended A separatist movement Bangkok the actions of security forces has simmered in Papua since in Papua, said on Friday that it was incorporated into In- the new agency, with an initial donesia in 1969 in a widely ambodian police have ar- budget of about 3trn rupiah criticised UN-backed ref- rested the Turkish-Mex- ($212mn), can provide devel- erendum. There has been a Cican former director of a opment aid or disaster relief to spike in violence since August school run by the movement of smaller countries. after racial slurs against stu- US-based Turkish cleric Fethul- “The main objective is to dents on the main island of lah Gulen, who Ankara blames increase our diplomacy eff ort Java, with demands for a new for a failed 2016 coup, his wife to help partnership with other independence vote. said yesterday. developing countries to tackle Indonesia has provided Osman Karaca, former director issues like refugees or con- grants to seven countries this of Zaman International School, fl icts,” Vice President Jusuf year, including fi ve Pacifi c was arrested by eight policemen Kalla told a news conference nations for tackling climate while he was at a bank on October after the launch. change. Other benefi ciar- 14 in the capital Phnom Penh, said Foreign Minister Retno ies were Myanmar and the his wife Grace Karaca, who fears Marsudi told a news confer- Philippines. he will be deported to Turkey. ence that Indonesia’s new “It’s diffi cult not to con- “That’s the last we have heard Agency for International clude that the aid is more a of him,” Karaca told Reuters yes- Development (AID) was a political tool, to win favour terday from Mexico, where she is way for the G20 economy from those countries,” An- living with her son. Royal Thai Marines stand in formation with rescue boats during a disaster preparedness ceremony in Chulabhorn Camp ahead of the to help other countries dreas Harsono, a senior re- The Mexican embassy in Vietnam rainy season in Thailand’s southern province of Narathiwat yesterday. achieve sustainable devel- searcher for Human Rights – it does not have one in Cambodia opment goals. Watch, said. – confi rmed the arrest in a letter and asked Cambodia’s Interior Ministry to provide information and let him communicate with a consul. Erdogan blames Gulen for the coup attempt and has demanded the extradition of various people Rights panel calls for probe into Papua deaths tied to Gulen’s movement – in- cluding staff at schools it funded worldwide. Gulen denies any con- AFP Since mid-August, Pa- ing some victims who had been perpetrators are from the secu- A low-level separatist insur- “We hope that after his inau- nection with the abortive putsch. Jakarta pua has been hit by waves of shot. rity forces they must also be in- gency has simmered for decades guration as President on Sunday, At its peak, the Gulen move- mass protests and violence Separately, offi cials from the vestigated,” he added. in the former Dutch colony after (Widodo) will make Papua a pri- ment operated schools in 160 fuelled by racism against agency also said at least a dozen Indonesia ramped up its mili- Jakarta took over in the 1960s. ority for the government,” Beka countries, from Afghanistan to ndonesia’s human rights indigenous Papuans by In- people had died from gunshots tary operations in jungle-clad A UN-sponsored vote to stay added. the United States. Since the coup commission called for a donesians from other parts or illness in another part of the Papua – which shares New within the archipelago in 1969 A Papua police spokesman attempt, Turkey has pressured Iprobe into scores of deaths of the archipelago, as well as region after tens of thousands Guinea island with the inde- was widely viewed as rigged, did not immediately return allies to shut down Gulen-run in Papua, yesterday after some calls for self-rule in the im- of Papuans were displaced by pendent nation of Papua New but Indonesia has long refused phone calls seeking comment establishments. of the deadliest violence in years poverished region. fi ghting between Indonesia’s Guinea – following a massacre to consider another referendum. about the rights commission’s Karaca, who was born in Tur- swept the restive region. Yesterday, Indonesia’s Na- military and independence- of employees at a state-backed Beka Ulung Hapsara, deputy fi ndings. key and holds a Mexican pass- Dozens were killed when ri- tional Commission on Human seeking rebels. contractor in December. chairman of the rights agency, In August, protests broke out port, was director of Zaman ots broke out in Wamena city Rights (Komnas) called for a full “The police must probe all A humanitarian team com- called on Indonesia’s govern- across Papua and in other parts school until it was sold last year last month, with some vic- investigation into the wave of these deaths,” Konmas chairman prised of public offi cials, NGO ment to solve the crisis in Papua of the country after the arrest, and has since working as an tims burned alive when build- fatalities, saying that the death Ahmad Taufan Damanik told re- workers and local church leaders as President Joko Widodo gets racial abuse and tear-gassing of educational consultant for the ings were set ablaze, and others toll had hit 43 in Wamena – up porters in Jakarta yesterday. has said over 200 displaced peo- set to kick off a second term at dozens of Papuan students, in school, his wife said. stabbed in the chaos. from an earlier 33 dead – includ- “Even if some of the alleged ple died after fl eeing the fi ghting. the weekend. the city of Surabaya. Gulf Times Saturday, October 19, 2019 7 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA HK protesters to hit streets on weekend

Reuters Hong Kong

ong Kong pro-democ- racy campaigners yes- Hterday vowed to stage a major march at the weekend de- spite police ruling the rally ille- gal, setting the scene for possibly more unrest in a city battered by months of violent protests. Hong Kong has been relatively People carry a banner as they march to protest against what they say is the abuse of pro-democracy protesters by Hong Kong police, near Chater calm for the past week, with only Garden in Central district, Hong Kong. small, often colourful demon- strations, and Sunday’s march Britain for inciting the unrest. be sent to Communist Party- will test the strength of the pro- Riot police and protesters have controlled courts for trial, was democracy campaign, which has Masked protesters look at their mobile phones as they take part in a fought street battles, with police seen as the latest move to erode in the past rallied millions onto human chain rally in Hong Kong’s Sha Tin district yesterday. fi ring tear gas, rubber bullets and those freedoms and sparked the the streets. occasionally live rounds against unrest. Lam says the bill is now In rejecting the protesters’ re- “We will not back down even af- to stretch a 40km along the city’s brick and petrol-bomb throwing dead, but it has not been formally quest for a march permit, police ter the attack on the Civil Human metro, with many people wear- activists. Two people have been withdrawn. said past events had been “hi- Rights Front convener Jimmy ing humorous and eccentric shot and wounded by police and The Asian fi nancial hub is fac- jacked by a group of radical pro- Sham. Our most powerful force masks in defi ance on a ban on thousands injured. Police have ing its fi rst recession as a result of testers” who set fi re to buildings, is the unity and resistance of covering faces at public rallies. arrested more than 2,300 people the unrest, which has damaged hurled petrol bombs at police, this civil society,” said the rights Wearing a face mask at a public since June. tourism and retail. detonated a home-made bomb, group, calling on the public to rally carries a maximum penalty Many Hong Kong residents Protesters dressed in black and wrecked infrastructure. rally on Sunday. of one year in jail. are angry with what they believe ninja-like outfi ts have torched “While we always respect citi- Prominent rights activist Jim- “I am not worried about be- is excessive force by police and metro stations, and Chinese zens’ rights to assembly and free- my Sham was brutally beaten by ing prosecuted because I violate the introduction of colonial-era banks and shops they believe are dom of speech, we are alarmed four men wielding hammers and the anti-mask law. I think people laws, which ban face masks, by linked to mainland China. Many by this epidemic that radical knives on Wednesday, a move won’t be afraid to come out on embattled leader Carrie Lam. businesses have been forced to protesters resort to violence in pro-democracy lawmakers said Sunday,” said Kiki, 29, wearing a Lam has rejected the protesters’ close. expressing their opinion,” Acting was meant to intimidate protest- face mask. 5 core demands: universal suf- China has banned the bulk People march while holding up pictures of 15-year-old student Chan Chief Superintendent of Police ers and incite violence ahead of Hong Kong has been hit by frage, an independent inquiry shipment to the city of black Yin-lam, whose mysterious death is suspected to be linked to police bru- Public Relations Branch, Kong Sunday’s planned march. Pro- four months of protests, driven into police behaviour, amnesty clothing and other items popu- tality, to protest against what they say is the abuse of pro-democracy Wing-cheung, said in announc- testers yesterday night formed by concerns Beijing is eroding for those charged, stop describ- larly used by Hong Kong protest- protesters by Hong Kong police, in Central district, Hong Kong. ing the rejection. a human chain wearing Jimmy freedoms granted when Britain ing protesters as rioters, and the ers, staff at Chinese courier firms Thousands have defi ed police Sham face masks, with a banner handed the city back to China in formal withdrawal of a China ex- said. operated fully. Pro-democracy aged by the protests, with the in the past and staged mass ral- reading: “We are all Jimmy Sham. 1997. China denies the accusa- tradition bill. Secretary for Transport and candidates will stand in almost outcome of the November poll lies, often peaceful at the start Je Suis Jimmy Sham”. tion, blaming foreign nations The bill, which would have al- Housing, Frank Chan, said it all 452 seats in Hong Kong’s up- a barometer of support for the but becoming violent at night. The human chain was planned such as the United States and lowed Hong Kong residents to would be weeks before the metro coming local elections, encour- city’s embattled government. Longest non-stop fl ight to ‘Industrial scale’ slaughter of take off from NY to Sydney Australian racehorses revealed AFP terns, melatonin levels, and food end of the year. Joyce has said it is Sydney consumption. “ultimately a business decision”. Pilots will also wear a device Another hurdle could come AFP New South Wales, requiring all The ABC said it forensically healthy thoroughbred as it exits that tracks their brain waves and from within the organisation. Sydney retired racehorses be rehomed. cross-matched horses slaugh- the racing industry must remain plane and its passengers alertness. With a 15-hour time Qantas pilots have raised con- But Paul McGreevy, a pro- tered there, using microchips a priority for all,” he said. are set to test the men- diff erence between New York and cerns about the impact of ul- fessor of animal behaviour and and brandings, to the industry’s Five-time Melbourne Cup- Atal and physical limits of Sydney, the impact of jetlag will tra long-range fl ying on safety housands of retired Aus- welfare science at the University offi cial online record of thor- winning trainer Lee Freedman long-haul aviation when Qantas be closely watched. standards. tralian racehorses are of Sydney who has been study- oughbreds, the Australian Stud was also outraged, tweeting operates the fi rst direct fl ight by “We know from the basic sci- The Australian and Interna- Tbeing secretly killed on ing thoroughbreds for 25 years, Book. that he was “broken-hearted”, a commercial airline from New ence of circadian rhythms that a tional Pilots Association (AIPA), an “industrial scale”, with their said around 4,000 horses “dis- It revealed around 300 adding that “if we don’t make York to Sydney this weekend. bigger time diff erence between which represents Qantas pilots, meat shipped abroad for human appeared” each year. “We’re racehorses, with combined real changes the court of public In the fi rst of three “ultra long- departure and arrival locations, said the exploratory fl ights “will and pet consumption, an inves- talking about destroying ani- prize money of almost A$5mn opinion will bury racing”. haul” test fl ights planned by and travelling east rather than produce a limited set of data that tigation has revealed. mals on an industrial scale,” he (US$3.4mn), went through the Currently, when thorough- Australia’s national fl ag carrier west, tends to mean people feel will not adequately replicate re- Horse racing is a popular and said. abattoir in just 22 days. bred horses retire their owners this year, researchers will moni- more jetlag,” University of Syd- al-world fl ying conditions”. lucrative business in Australia, “We’re seeing animals suf- Queensland state Racing must inform Racing Australia of tor the eff ects on passengers of ney professor Stephen Simpson AIPA safety director Shane with the revelations coming on fering. I don’t think anyone in Minister Stirling Hinchliff e said their plans for the animal. But the 19-hour non-stop journey. told AFP. “But people seem to be Loney has called for a “scientifi c the eve of the world’s richest the industry can defend this.” the allegations were shocking the sport’s peak body said in a Up to 40 passengers and crew wildly diff erent when it comes long-term study” into the im- turf race, The Everest in Syd- The Coalition for the Protec- and inspectors had been sent to statement that any subsequent – most of them Qantas employ- to the experience of jetlag – and pacts on crew. “Pilots are con- ney, and just weeks ahead of the tion of Racehorses said they had the facility yesterday. change of ownership once it left ees – will be on board the Boeing we need more research on what cerned about being able to get prestigious Melbourne Cup. been monitoring one abattoir “The mistreatment of ani- the industry could not be legally 787-9 when it departs New York contributes to jetlag and travel enough quality rest during ultra While the slaughter of race- north of Brisbane for two years mals is abhorrent. Claims of tracked. today. The plane is scheduled fatigue, so we can try and reduce long-range fl ights to maintain horses is not illegal in Australia, and claimed it slaughtered 500 animal cruelty will be investi- To counter this, it is backing to arrive Down Under Sunday the impact of long-haul fl ights.” peak performance and we believe a two-year undercover probe horses a month. “It’s an abat- gated,” he tweeted, amid reports a National Horse Traceability morning. Qantas last year introduced signifi cant caution should be ex- by the Australian Broadcasting toir that kills horses for human that authorities had received Register, which is currently be- Passenger numbers have been the fi rst direct service from the ercised in the initial operations to Corporation unveiled Thursday consumption,” the group’s Elio fi ve complaints about the abat- ing considered by the national restricted to minimise the weight western Australian city of Perth make sure there are no unintend- alleged the practice was far more Celotto told ABC, which broad- toir over the past 19 months. government. on board and give the plane suf- to London, with the 17-hour ed consequences,” he said. widespread than acknowledged. cast secretly fi lmed footage it Racing Victoria chief execu- “A National Horse Regis- fi cient fuel range to travel ap- journey one of the longest pas- A Qantas spokesperson said According to the broadcaster, alleged showed workers beating tive Giles Thompson said he ter would fi ll this gap, allowing proximately 16,000km (about senger fl ights in the world. the test fl ights are “just one part around 8,500 horses are retired and abusing horses. was “sickened by the horrifi c federal and state authorities ac- 9,500 miles) without re-fuelling, As well as the New York-Syd- of the work we are doing to assess from the track each year. The “(The meat) goes to various images”. “Equine welfare is a cess to ownership and location heading west over the Pacifi c. No ney route, Qantas will test a serv- how to the operate these fl ights industry insists less than 1% countries in Europe, it goes to non-negotiable for the Austral- information and help improve other airline has ever achieved ice from London to Sydney in the safely”. end up in an abattoir or knack- Japan, and Russia’s a big im- ian racing industry and the goal equine welfare outcomes na- the feat, which Qantas CEO Alan coming months. The airline is Both Airbus and Boeing have ery, with some states, including porter as well,” added Celotto. of ensuring a home for every tionally,” it said. Joyce has called the “fi nal fron- considering launching commer- pitched aircraft for the Qantas tier in aviation”. cial services on the marathon ultra long-haul routes. Joyce has Scientists from two Australian routes – if the economics stack said it is not a “foregone con- Pro-Pyongyang universities will be on board to up. A decision will be made on clusion” which company will be Greener pastures students break monitor passengers’ sleep pat- the validity of the fl ights at the chosen. into US envoy’s residence in Seoul Singapore hands down fi rst Nearly 20 pro-Pyongyang South Korean students broke into the US ambassador’s residence in Seoul yesterday, conviction for terror fi nancing displaying banners demanding Harry Harris leave the country in an embarrassing security AFP two and a half years for donating prison term Thursday, was ar- breach. The students broke into Singapore S$1,146 ($840) to Sheikh Abdul- rested in July 2018 under Sin- the compound in the centre of lah al-Faisal, an preacher living gapore’s Internal Security Act, the capital by climbing over the in Jamaica, according to court which allows for detention with- wall, pictures they posted on Singaporean man became documents seen by AFP yester- out trial for up to two years. He Facebook showed. One image the fi rst of the country’s day. had been radicalised and “want- showed a group standing on Acitizens to be jailed for fi - Hussein reached out to Faisal ed to undertake armed violence the verandah of a hanok — a nancing terrorism after he was after watching videos on his in Syria in support of the Islamic traditional Korean house — hold- convicted of sending money to a website and YouTube channels State in Iraq and Syria,” court ing up banners reading “Harris radical preacher. in which he preached support documents said. leave this land”, among others. There have been a steady for the Islamic State (IS) group. The prosecution recommend- They said they were protesting stream of arrests in Singapore Faisal was jailed for nine years in ed jail time to send “a strong against Washington’s demands related to support for extrem- Britain in 2003 after calling for message to other like-minded that Seoul increase its contribu- ism, and the affl uent city-state’s the murders of non-Muslims and individuals that supporting ter- tion to the cost of defending the leaders have warned it is a prime was deported to his native Jamai- rorist propaganda through fi - South. The US stations 28,500 target for an attack. ca after serving four years of his nancial means will attract un- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visiting Jungphyong vegetable greenhouse farm and tree troops in the country to protect Ahmed Hussein Abdul Ka- sentence. compromising punishment”, nursery under construction in Kyongsong county. it against the nuclear-armed dir Sheik Uduman was jailed for Hussein, who was handed a they said. North. Gulf Times 8 Saturday, October 19, 2019 BRITAIN/IRELAND Schools forced to cancel fl u vaccine sessions in England

Guardian News and Media due to be vaccinated. and then tell vaccine manufactur- cal Centre in south-west London scary if your child has asthma.” “We would urge parents of chil- manufacture of new strains for the London Children and young people ers what strains of fl u to protect said: “My 11-year-old daughter Professor Helen Stokes-Lamp- dren not to be deterred from mak- 2019-20 season, deliveries of the whose health could be at par- against in their products being de- has asthma and so must have the ard, the chair of the Royal College ing arrangements for their child to vaccine will be spread across the ticular risk if they got fl u, such as ployed in Britain. fl u vaccine. But my doctor’s sur- of GPs, said the delay was “con- get their vaccinations. But it might season, as opposed to being con- hildren have been unable asthmatics and those with a heart The vaccine is being off ered to all gery has cancelled two fl u clinics cerning” and could damage trust be worth checking that the vac- centrated in the initial months of to get immunised against problem or cystic fi brosis, are primary school pupils in England, all because of vaccine shortages and in the vaccination programme. cinations have defi nitely arrived the season. Cfl u this winter because GP among those aff ected. children aged two and three as well have no idea when they’re going to “We have been made aware of a when you book your appoint- “AstraZeneca is manufactur- surgeries and schools have been hit AstraZeneca, which makes the as anyone up to the age of 17 with an get new supplies. delay to some of the nasal vaccines ment.” ing and delivering the full quan- by shortages of the nasal spray ver- nasal spray, admitted delays were underlying illness. “The government said earlier that that are given to children, but we AstraZeneca sought to reassure tity of vaccine required for the sion of the vaccine that is meant to occurring. Parents have been left anxious all children aged two to 11 will be of- have been assured that this delay parents that suffi cient quantities UK childhood infl uenza vaccina- protect every two- to 11-year-old. It blamed the hold-up on the that their children have not been fered the nasal spray vaccine in the will be short and that GP practices of the vaccine would eventually be tion programme.” Public Health Supply problems have forced World Health Organisation taking able to get the nasal spray, known coming weeks. This is clearly not will still receive their vaccinations available, so no child would miss England said it had advised GP GP practices and primary schools a month longer than planned to as Fluenz or LAIV, which means happening, putting children at risk early enough in the season for pa- out. surgeries not to schedule sessions in England to cancel sessions in re- analyse the recent winter fl u sea- live attenuated infl uenza vaccine. from what can be a deadly disease.” tients to receive full benefi t from It said: “Due to the delay in strain at which the nasal spray would be cent weeks at which children were son in the southern hemisphere A patient at the Victoria Medi- The girl’s mother added: “Flu is them,” she said. recommendation and subsequent administered until mid-October.

Climate protester PM’s ‘deal or scales London’s Big Ben no-deal’ set to

Reuters/Guardian News and Media London face wrecking climate-change protester climbed the scaff olding Aaround London’s Big Ben tower at parliament yesterday, as nearly two weeks of action from the Extinction Rebellion (XR) attempt today group drew to a close. The movement has been tar- Reuters he supports the deal, is seen as Varadkar could try to capital- geting government buildings, a London an attempt to close a loophole ise on what is likely to be hailed local airport and fi nancial in- whereby Britain could end up in Ireland as a diplomatic success stitutions such as BlackRock to leaving the EU without a deal if if British lawmakers today ratify highlight the threat posed by rime Minister Boris John- one is approved today, but the the Brexit deal reached with the global warming. son will today have to fend legislation to implement it is EU and leave by the end of Octo- The organisation said the “free Poff an attempt to wreck his blocked or delayed. ber, the four members said. solo” climber was Ben Atkinson, “deal or no-deal” Brexit vote as Letwin was among 21 lawmak- The centre-right Fine Gael are a 43-year-old tree surgeon. Just a group of lawmakers propose to ers expelled from the Conserva- primed for an election, they said before 4pm yesterday he un- delay giving parliament’s back- tive Party last month after they on condition of anonymity as furled two Extinction Rebellion ing for his new exit agreement. rebelled against Johnson in a bid Varadkar has publicly stated he banners from the scaff olding on Johnson confounded his op- to prevent a no-deal Brexit. wants to hold a poll next May. the clock tower. ponents on Thursday by clinch- He said: “My aim is to ensure A fi fth party source said that a A roar of celebration was au- ing a new deal with the EU, even that Boris’s deal succeeds, but lot of colleagues had discussed the dible in Parliament Square as though the bloc had promised that we have an insurance poli- prospect of an election this week supporters arrived to see Atkin- it would never reopen a treaty cy which prevents the UK from though he expected Varadkar to son’s stunt. it agreed last year. But that was crashing out on October 31 by stick to the May 2020 timetable. A spokesman for XR said At- only half the challenge. mistake if something goes wrong Asked about the clamour kinson had climbed the tower He now has to persuade par- during the passage of the imple- among lawmakers and party – currently under maintenance liament, where he does not have menting legislation.” supporters to hold an election if – to “highlight government in- a majority, to back the deal, and The Letwin amendment would the Brexit agreement is passed, action on the climate and eco- has convened the country’s fi rst not completely crush Johnson’s one of the fi rst four party sources logical emergency”. Saturday sitting in 37 years in or- hopes of leaving on October 31. said: “It’s signifi cant.” The protest came after activ- der to do so. If he can get the necessary im- “When we thought about ists blockaded Oxford Circus in That vote could be in doubt plementation legislation through going on previous occasions, central London with a pyramid because expelled Conserva- parliament in time — which he there was some kickback. There structure made of wooden poles. tive lawmaker, Oliver Letwin, says he can, but others see as a doesn’t seem to be any amongst At 9.30am, a whistle was blown has proposed that the decision stretch — then Britain could still colleagues. I imagine they are go- to instruct activists to block the to back a deal or not be deferred leave on schedule. ing home this weekend and get- roads leading into the junction, until separate legislation to im- The opposition Labour Party ting their troops together,” the one of London’s busiest, which plement the terms of the deal has has not said whether it will sup- source said. was the scene of days of lively pro- passed through parliament. port the amendment, but doing If Prime Minister Johnson fails tests by the group in April. This proposal, known as an so would be consistent with their to win the vote in parliament to- In minutes, activists had amendment, will be put to a vote opposition to Johnson’s exit deal. day, continued Brexit instabil- erected the structure in the mid- at the end of today’s debate if se- The Scottish National Party ity would shut the window for a dle of the road, with three climb- lected by Speaker John Bercow. said they would probably back snap poll in Ireland, all fi ve said. ing on top and more locking If the amendment is approved the amendment. Varadkar has more reason to themselves on around its base. by parliament, Johnson’s deal Meanwhile supporters of Irish call an election if the British par- The latest action follows 12 days would not then be put to a vote Prime Minister Leo Varadkar will liament backs the deal today be- of protests by XR, beginning last today. urge him to call a snap election if cause his approval rating rose 15 Monday, which have so far led to The amendment has the sup- Britain can seal its departure from points to 51% in an opinion poll more than 1,700 arrests. port of members from several the European Union, four mem- following a meeting with John- Greg Frey, 23, from London, diff erent parties, some of whom bers of his Fine Gael party said. son last week that preceded the who was locked to the base of want to delay Brexit. Varadkar’s minority government, Brexit breakthrough. the structure with a bicycle The law states that if John- run via a co-operation deal with the The 40-year-old premier’s lock around his neck, said: “We son has not secured approval for main opposition Fianna Fail party, personal rating has shot up at any would love to go home. I would his deal by today, he must write was supposed to last only until the potential sign of success during love to have not spent the last 13 to the EU requesting a delay to end of 2018 but its lifespan was ex- the Brexit talks and the poll sug- days on the streets, but we have The words ‘Britain now wants to remain’ is cut by anti-Brexit group Led By Donkeys in a field near Brexit until January 31, 2020. tended as Dublin took on a pivotal gested he was by far the country’s no choice. We’re trapped.” Swindon, county Wiltshire. The move by Letwin, who says role in Brexit talks. most popular leader. 700 held in crackdown Security alert Man jailed for life over on county lines gangs lecturer’s murder Guardian News and Media Buckinghamshire. London After protracted deliberations, Guardian News and Media Offi ce-funded unit aiming to tar- lines just as drug dealers. We will Field was cleared of a charge of London get the organised gangs that take work tirelessly to prosecute them conspiracy to murder Moore- their name from mobile phone for these off ences but also, where church warden has been Martin, who lived a few doors lines criminals set up to receive or- we have the evidence, we will jailed for life after being away from Farquhar, and also ac- ore than 700 people have ders from drug users. seek to prosecute them for child Afound guilty of murdering quitted of her attempted murder. been arrested and more There are about 2,000 lines in traffi cking under modern slav- a university lecturer following a Farquhar died in October 2015, Mthan £400,000-worth of operation. ery laws to refl ect the devastat- sustained campaign of physical while Moore-Martin died in May drugs confi scated in a week of UK- The county lines gangs use safe ing nature of their exploitation and mental abuse. 2017 from natural causes. wide crackdowns on county lines houses in smaller towns to sup- of young and vulnerable peo- Benjamin Field, 28, was con- Prosecutors said Field had a gangs, police said. port their operations in bigger cit- ple.” Nikki Holland, the National victed in August of killing Peter “profound fascination in control- In co-ordinated law enforce- ies, and often exploit young and Crime Agency county lines lead Farquhar, 69, a retired teacher and ling and manipulating and hu- ment activity between October 7 vulnerable people by either tak- and director of investigations, part-time university lecturer, to miliating and killing” and alleged and 13, 49 “deal lines” across Brit- ing over their homes, also called said: “The only way we can ef- inherit his house and money, and he had plotted his crimes with his ain were disrupted, 389 vulnerable “cuckooing”, or by employing fectively tackle this national trying to make his death look like friend, Martyn Smith. adults and 292 children were safe- them as drug couriers. problem is by adopting a whole- an accident or suicide. Smith, 32, a failed magician, guarded and 169 weapons were During the operation, 41 people system approach, with partners Field was given a life term with a was found not guilty of murdering seized, including 12 guns, knives, were fl agged up to the national re- in public health, department for minimum term of 36 years by Jus- Farquhar at Oxford crown court. swords and machetes. ferral mechanism, which assesses education, social care and the tice Sweeney at the Oxford Crown He was also cleared of charges of A total of £253,200-worth of potential victims of human traf- charity sector working to prevent Court yesterday. conspiracy to murder and the at- cocaine, £100,170-worth of crack fi cking and modern slavery. that exploitation happening in Detectives branded Field a psy- tempted murder of Moore-Mar- cocaine and £72,670-worth of The National Crime Agency said the fi rst place.” chopath and said he would have tin. heroin were seized. 652 men and 91 women had been Lucy Dacey, the national dis- posed an “ongoing danger to soci- During the trial, jurors were told Police said they were “disman- arrested, and 655 cuckooed ad- rupting exploitation programme A police off icer inspects the site where a suspicious ety” had he not been stopped. of Field’s elaborate project of be- tling these criminal networks dresses had been visited. manager at the Children’s Society, package was found, at Whitehall, London, yesterday. Police After Farquhar’s death, Field, friending elderly individuals, who piece by piece”. Duncan Ball, the National urged the government to introduce later said they had removed and made safe the package a Baptist minister’s son, began were vulnerable and lonely, then The operation was led by the Police Chiefs’ Council lead for an appropriately funded, national found in the Whitehall political district. “The cordon has targeting Farquhar’s neighbour, defrauding them by allowing them National County Lines Co-ordi- county lines, said: “We will not strategy to help end the prevailing now been lifted. Enquiries continue,” they said on Twitter. 83-year-old Ann Moore-Martin, to think he was in a loving rela- nation Centre (NCLCC), a Home- treat the criminals who run these “postcode lottery”. in the village of Maids Moreton, tionship with them. Gulf Times Saturday, October 19, 2019 9 EUROPE

Enough food, but humanity EU united over Brexit, is at risk of hunger divided over much else ‘crises’ Reuters human rights and the rule of law. climate change, the long-term Brussels Since issues like enlargement budget and the goals of the next require unanimity among mem- commission – were wrapped up AFP ber states, Macron’s unbend- in a few hours, with no signifi - Paris ummits are usually a ing opposition scuppered any cant developments. chance for European Un- agreement. Despite the unity that Brexit Sion leaders to discuss That sent a chilling message has brought among the 27, fi s- espite producing more problems and try to strengthen not only to North Macedonia sures and discontent are appear- food than it can con- their union. and Albania, but four others in ing, posing questions for the Dsume, humanity risks a However, after two days of the region – Bosnia, Kosovo, future of a club struggling for menacing mix of “food crises” talks in Brussels, the only issue Montenegro and Serbia – who answers to euroscepticism, frail brought on by social inequali- they could agree on is the very have long held out the hope of economic growth and resurgent ties, environmental degrada- one that’s a symbol of disunity: joining the bloc and putting be- global powers China and Russia. tion, climate change and wars, a Brexit. hind them the ethnic divisions Already the next Commission, UN report warned yesterday. Ironically, on the question of that fuelled the Balkans’ wars of the executive that will soon be After decades of steady de- actually adding two more mem- the 1990s. headed by Germany’s Ursula von cline, the number of people who ber states, North Macedonia and At the end of the summit, Eu- der Leyen, has come in for criti- suff er from hunger worldwide Albania, the leaders bickered ropean Council President Don- cism, with the European Parlia- has been slowly increasing since and agreed to disagree. ald Tusk, who chairs EU sum- ment opposing three of its nom- 2015, said the report by the UN’s They made no headway on mits, was apologetic to Tirana inees and von der Leyen herself Food and Agriculture Organisa- setting the bloc’s next long- and Skopje, telling them that at odds with some EU leaders. tion (FAO), the European Com- term budget, and failed to set it wasn’t their fault that they Her Commission faces a mission and France’s CIRAD ag- tougher climate targets ahead of hadn’t received a green light. welter of issues, all divisive, ricultural research centre. December’s UN global confer- “I would like to send a mes- from migration and climate pol- Last year, more than 820mn ence on climate change in Chile. sage to our Macedonian and Al- icy to justice and the rule of law. people went hungry. While several leaders cel- banian friends: ‘Please, do not As Britain leaves the EU stage, A key obstacle is unequal ac- ebrated the unity that the 27 give up’,” he said, adding that the countries in east Europe, in par- cess: while some throw away member states had maintained EU would return to enlargement ticular Poland and Hungary, are food they buy too much of, oth- during the tortuous talks with next May. looking to make their size and ers cannot aff ord or fi nd the nu- Britain, their lack of summit Juncker and Tusk at their joint news conference at the end of the European Union leaders summit in For Tusk and European Com- importance felt. trition they need, said the report achievements refl ects strains Brussels. mission President Jean-Claude Their more right-leaning pol- entitled Food Systems at Risk. and mistrust between them on a Juncker, on the podium beside itics and opposition to a shared “The available food on the host of issues. is not optimal but the only way EU’s most troublesome nation opening of what are known as him, it brought the summit to a migration policy puts them on planet amounts to just under “The EU faces many very dif- the EU advances at this stage.” was out of the way, the real divi- accession talks, France refused close with a whimper. a collision course with Brussels 3,000 kilocalories (kcal) per fi cult choices,” said Guntram For British Prime Minister sions began. to approve it for North Macedo- It is their last gathering after and member states like France. person per day, while the nutri- Wolff , director of the Brussels- Boris Johnson, the summit was Those who remained debated nia and led a group of three who fi ve years at the EU helm, a peri- And all the while the European tional needs of the population is based Bruegel think tank. “One a win. into the early hours of yesterday blocked it for Albania. od in which Brexit has dominat- Parliament, which regards itself estimated at about 2,200 kcal,” of the core problems is that on On Thursday he clinched a on whether to give the go-ahead French President Emmanuel ed the agenda and little progress as the only truly representative said Sandrine Dury, an econo- many issues France and Germa- deal that clears the way for Brit- to Albania and North Macedonia Macron said neither member- has been made elsewhere. body among the EU’s institu- mist involved in the research. ny do not see eye to eye.” ain to leave the bloc on Octo- to begin negotiations on joining ship bid could progress until After the failure of the Bal- tions, is pushing for its powers to There was also the question “I expect that diff erences on ber 31, and fl ew back to London the club. the EU changes how and when kans’ debate, and a cautious be more fully recognised. of quality, with too many people key strategic issues will be over- where he now needs parliamen- While most agree that the candidates are vetted on meet- statement on Turkey’s incursion Yet the assembly itself is more relying on calories from fat and come when the need is over- tary backing for the agreement. two Western Balkans countries ing the accession targets, which into Syria, the summit’s dis- fragmented and polarised disu- sugar which are poor in vitamins whelming. This way of operating Yet, once the leader of the have done enough to justify the range from economic policy to cussions yesterday – covering nited after elections in May. and minerals. People increasingly “suff er from obesity and dietary defi - ciencies at the same time”, Dury said. The report, presented to the Protesters fl ood Barcelona on fi fth day of demonstrations FAO in Rome, warned that the problem of poor nutrition “will only get worse if current trends Reuters a way that people are getting are not reversed”. Barcelona angry,” said Carlota Llacuna, a The risks are many and mul- 19-year old student from the tiplying. Maresca region near Barcelona. The global population will ens of thousands of dem- “They put our leaders in prison.” expand from 7.7bn in 2019 to onstrators waving pro- One of the main ringleaders, 8.5bn in 2030, mostly in already Tindependence fl ags and Catalonia’s former chief Carles hungry Africa and Asia, piling chanting “freedom for political Puigdemont, has so far escaped pressure on limited available re- prisoners” poured into Barce- trial after he fl ed to Belgium in sources. lona yesterday, the fi fth day of 2017 when the independence Urban populations will grow protests over the jailing of Cata- drive was thwarted. by 50% by 2030, while rural lan separatist leaders. Spain this week renewed its ones by more than 20% in some Roads leading into the city bid to get him extradited and he countries. were packed as marchers from was briefl y detained by Belgian Migration fuelled by confl icts across the region joined a mass police yesterday before a judge and natural disasters, in turn rally against this week’s ver- ordered his release pending a worsened by global warming, dict by Spain’s Supreme Court, decision on the Spanish arrest will further exacerbate the situ- which sentenced nine separa- warrant. ation, the report said. tists to jail over a failed, 2017 se- A court is meant to hear the “In general, food systems cessionist bid. case on October 29. which are unsteady due to low The ruling set off the worst Several main streets in Bar- food production capacities, low sustained street violence Spain celona were closed to traffi c be- resilience, high pressure on re- has seen in decades, with anger cause of yesterday’s marches, sources and political insecurity running high in Catalonia. while regional trains and the generate more migrations and Unions in the wealthy region city’s metro were running on a displacements,” it said. called for a general strike yes- reduced timetable. As more and more people are terday and students boycotted Barcelona’s main landmark, lifted out of poverty, there has classes for a third day running. the multi-spired Sagrada Fa- been a higher demand for animal The interior ministry has milia cathedral designed by An- food products, the report noted. dispatched police reinforce- toni Gaudi, was closed due to the This, in turn, has contributed ments to the Mediterranean city, protests, an offi cial told Reuters. to deforestation to make way for which is a major tourist magnet, The Spanish soccer federa- farms growing animals and their and warned that troublemakers tion (RFEF) said in a statement feed. would be swiftly dealt with. on that Barcelona’s October 26 In a vicious cycle, shrink- “Throughout this week, as home match against Real Ma- ing forests mean fewer trees to you well know, there have been drid, which is known as “el cla- absorb planet-warming carbon violent incidents in Catalonia. sico” and is one of the biggest dioxide, accelerating climate They have been organised ... by rivalries in world sport, had been People gather for a protest rally yesterday in Barcelona, on the day change. groups who are a minority but postponed due to security con- that separatists have called for a general strike and a mass rally. “The projected growing im- are very organised,” Interior cerns. pact of global warming will cer- Minister Fernando Grande- Barcelona’s El Prat airport Right: Protesters pull a bike from a burning skip near the police tainly increase disaster-related Marlaska told a news confer- cancelled 57 fl ights yesterday, headquarters in Barcelona. displacements and potentially ence. “Their actions, as we have airport operator Aena said. fuel social unrest and confl icts already said, will also not go un- Barcelona town hall said 700 deftly directing its followers to Although it says it is com- as populations migrate in the punished.” garbage containers had been various demonstrations. mitted to non-violent protests, search for new land, water and Some masked youths hurled set ablaze since protests be- However, as soon as its site many young demonstrators have food,” the report said. stones at police late in the after- gan on Monday and estimated was shuttered, the group mi- battled police over the past three noon on one city street, but the that the city had suff ered dam- grated its homepage to a new nights in Barcelona in scenes vast majority of yesterday’s ral- age totalling more than €1.5mn URL (uniform resource locator reminiscent of the some of the Rescue ship Ocean lies were peaceful, with Barce- ($1.67mn). – also known as a Web address), urban unrest that has rocked lona’s broad boulevards packed In an apparent eff ort to ham- sidestepping the ruling. France over the past year. Viking takes 104 with people draped in the Cata- per the protesters, a Spanish Democratic Tsunami is a new, Regional police said 16 peo- migrants aboard lan independence fl ag. judge ordered yesterday the secretive group that emerged in ple were arrested across Cata- “We have always been peace- closure of webpages linked to a September and has drawn thou- lonia on Thursday, while health The Ocean Viking rescue ship has ful people, but you get to a point pro-independence group, Dem- sands of followers on both its offi cials said 42 people needed taken 104 refugees, including two where you get treated in such ocratic Tsunami, which has been website and social media. medical attention. babies, off a rubber dinghy found in diff iculties off the Libyan coast, the French aid organisation SOS Mediterranee reported yesterday. There were 40 minors in the group taken aboard the Hello world: Zoo’s panda twins open eyes Norwegian-flagged Ocean Viking, SOS Mediterranee said on Twitter. The Alan Kurdi rescue vessel, DPA Meng as they snuggled, the zoo What exactly the two cubs can loan to Germany from China, which is operated by the Berlin said yesterday. now discern with their beady gave birth to the twins on August Sea-Eye organisation based in A short time later, the older eyes is hard to tell for their car- 31, delighting the country. the southern German city of twin also opened its eyes. egivers and vets. It was the fi rst time that pan- Regensburg, has also resumed irst a squint, then a blink: The two pandas now both What they know for sure is das were born in Germany. operations in the area. around six weeks after be- weigh around 2kg and are about that the animals’ eyesight will Zoo visitors will probably The Alan Kurdi is now receiving Fing born, Berlin Zoo’s fa- 30cm long. steadily improve over the com- be able to see the young family support from the city of mous panda twins have opened Their typical white and black ing days and weeks. starting at the end of the year. Hamburg, and from the Berlin- their eyes. fur has slowly grown since their The zoo expects both to soon At that point, the zoo also based organisation Sea-Watch, This photo released yesterday shows one of the panda twins at The younger of the two cubs birth and their claws are already start moving purposefully. plans to announce the cubs’ Sea-Eye said yesterday. Berlin Zoo. fi rst looked at its mother Meng noticeable. Meng Meng, a giant panda on names and sex. Gulf Times 10 Saturday, October 19, 2019 INDIA

HEARING CRIME POLITICS LAW AND ORDER LEGAL Chidambaram ‘tried Ex-Hindu Mahasabha Shiv Sena expels TV anchor arrested Tejpal plea to postpone to influence witnesses’ leader shot dead woman legislator for wife’s murder rape hearing dismissed

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Kamlesh Tiwari, leader of the Hindu Samaj The Shiv Sena yesterday expelled rebel A television anchor has been arrested for the The Bombay High Court bench in Goa yesterday opposed the bail plea of former finance minister Party and a former leader of the Hindu legislator Trupti Sawant for anti-party murder of his wife in Uttar Pradesh’s Etawah dismissed a petition filed by former Tehelka P Chidambaram yesterday and told the Supreme Mahasabha, was shot dead in broad daylight activities, sources said. Sawant had raised district. Anchor Ajitesh Misra’s wife Divya was editor-in-chief and rape accused Tarun Tejpal, Court that he had tried to “pressurise and in Lucknow yesterday. He was rushed to the a banner of revolt in the backyard of found dead at their residence in Etawah’s who had sought to postpone the cross- influence” key witnesses in the INX Media case. trauma centre where he succumbed to his Sena president Uddhav Thackeray in the Katra Bal Singh locality on Monday. Besides examination of the victim scheduled for next After hearing both the sides, the court reserved injuries. According to reports, the attackers, Bandra East assembly constituency. She Ajitesh, the police also arrested his alleged week, because of the non-availability of his the order on Chidambaram’s bail plea. Solicitor wearing saffron clothes, walked into Tiwari’s filed her papers as an independent against lover Bhawna Arya of Delhi and a friend, Akhil lawyer. Hearing Tejpal’s plea challenging an general Tushar Mehta told the court that the office in Khurshid Bagh area on the pretext the Sena’s official nominee and Mumbai Kumar Singh, for the murder. All three worked order of a trial court, which earlier this month statements of witnesses showing a clear case of handing over a box of sweets. Soon after mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar and her for a TV channel in New Delhi. “Ajitesh has had scheduled the hearing over three days of former minister influencing witnesses was walking in, the assailants opened the box, took expulsion is the first by the party in the confessed that his wife Divya had learnt about starting from October 21, justice C V Bhadang seen by the court based on which a categorical out the firearm and sprayed Tiwari with bullets current elections. Piqued after she was his relationship with Bhawna,” a police off icer yesterday, dismissed the petition paving way for finding was recorded by the court. As the and fled. Tiwari was taken to the trauma centre denied a re-nomination, Sawant turned said. The couple’s relationship turned sour the hearing to be held as scheduled. Tejpal has investigation in the case is at a crucial stage, the but could not be saved. Tiwari, a former Hindu rebel and flouted a party diktat to take after Divya confronted Bhawna. Thereafter, been charged with sexually assaulting a junior release of Chidambaram would pose a serious Mahasabha leader, had formed the Hindu back her candidature on the last date of Ajitesh sought help from his colleague Akhil to colleague inside a lift of a resort hotel in Goa in threat to the investigation, Mehta said. Samaj Party in January 2017. withdrawal of nominations. kill his wife. November 2013.

Rahul addresses rally BJP set to sweep Maharashtra, Haryana polls, claims survey

Reuters sues of farmers can only be put on New Delhi/Mumbai track by the Congress party,” Jha stressed. Modi, analysts say, has moved he ruling Bharatiya Janata decisively, including withdrawing Party (BJP) is set to sweep special rights for Kashmir, and Ttwo state polls next week, consolidating the BJP’s hold over the fi rst since Prime Minister the electorate. Narendra Modi’s landslide win in In Maharashtra, two Congress a parliamentary election in May, a offi cials said the top leadership’s leading pollster said. relative indiff erence and infi ght- The BJP is set to comfortably ing had hurt their already weak win elections in Maharashtra and campaign. Haryana, leaving the main op- Congress’s state wing had position Congress party trailing, asked for Rahul, his mother and according to a survey by polling current party chief Sonia Gan- agency CVoter released yesterday. dhi, and his charismatic sister CVoter estimates that a BJP- Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to join the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Haryana party chief Selja Kumari wave to supporters during a public meeting at Khel Parisar Ground in Haryana’s Mahendragarh yesterday. led alliance in Maharashtra will campaign, one of the two offi cials pick up 194 of the 288 seats on said. off er. But only Rahul came and spoke In Haryana, the party is pre- at a handful of rallies. dicted to win 83 of the state’s 90 “Senior leaders from BJP have seats, leaving just three for Con- covered every district. They have gress. been visiting Maharashtra for the Voting in the elections will be last two months to build momen- held on Monday with the results tum,” said one Congress offi cial, expected to be announced on who is contesting the upcoming Thursday. poll. Singh defending Congress’ Several Congress party offi cials “There wasn’t any concrete ef- conceded they had all but given fort from Congress leaders in New up hope of posing a serious chal- Delhi to give energy to our cadre,” lenge to Modi and the BJP. he said. In particular, the resignation The list of recent resignations of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi from the party include Ashok unprincipled position: BJP in July, after weeks of drama fol- Tanwar, Congress’s former chief lowing the loss to the BJP in the in Haryana who quit earlier this IANS “When the bill to abrogate Arti- Congress party stand on the ab- “I respect Dr. Manmohan Singh He had also said that the United general election, has sown inter- month and is now campaigning New Delhi cle 370 came to the Parliament, rogation of Article 370? Well, Dr for telling me not to do the blame Progressive Alliance (UPA) gov- nal confusion, triggering infi ght- against his old party. the Congress party voted for it. It Manmohan Singh clearly doesn’t game. But recalling when and ernment had not been in power at ing and exits, two party offi cials in “The state of aff airs in the Con- didn’t vote against it.” know...” what went wrong during a certain the Centre for the last fi ve years, New Delhi said. gress party is so dire that the deci- he BJP yesterday launched In the second clip, a relatively The BJP social media head later period is absolutely necessary to while the BJP-led government “It’s going to be a rout, and it sion makers can’t win an election a scathing attack on former old one, party spokesman Man- said: “He has on many occasions put it in context, now that I’m be- was passing the buck. will defl ate morale even further,” themselves, while the soldiers on Tprime minister Dr Manmo- ish Tiwari was heard saying, “I am in the past willingly suppressed ing charged that there’s no nar- “When I was in offi ce, what one of the offi cials said, referring ground who stay in touch with the han Singh accusing him of being surprised that you do not know facts and provided cover for the rative at all about the economy,” happened did happen. There were to the state elections. “It’s like a masses are neglected,” Tanwar “economical with truth” and giv- what the offi cial position of the Congress’ unprincipled position. Sitharaman told reporters in the some weaknesses. But you can’t slow-moving disaster.” wrote in his resignation letter. ing a “cover” to the Congress on Congress party is. Because the It does not behove a former prime US, where she is slated to attend claim that the fault lies with the They requested anonymity be- The situation has even riled Article 370. Congress party in the Lok Sabha minister to misrepresent facts.” the World Bank-IMF meetings. UPA always. You have been in of- cause they are not authorised to Congress allies. BJP’s national social media cell and in the Rajya Sabha voted The government abrogated the Singh had earlier said here: “I fi ce for fi ve years. Mainly passing speak to the media. Two leaders from the Nation- chief Amit Malviya posted two against both the abrogation of contentious Article on August 5 have just seen the statements by buck to UPA is not enough,” he Pranav Jha, the secretary-in- alist Congress Party, which is videos of Singh and Congress Article 370 as well as the dismem- this year, creating a virtual split Finance Minister Nirmala Sithar- said. charge of the Congress’s com- in alliance with the Congress in spokesperson Manish Tiwari on berment of Jammu & Kashmir and in the grand old party with many aman. I won’t like to comment on Singh himself was responding munication department, said the Maharashtra, said their partner Twitter in which both are seen its truncation into two Union ter- leaders taking opposite stands. that statement, but before one can to Sitharaman’s earlier remark party was undergoing a period was slack. “It looks like Congress taking complete divergent stands ritories.” Tiwari further said, “The Meanwhile Finance Minister fi x the economy, one needs a cor- during her talk at New York’s of “cleansing and churning” and is not very serious about the state on Article 370 on behalf of their Congress Working Committee of- Nirmala Sitharaman responding rect diagnosis of its ailments and Columbia University that Indian remained committed to taking on elections,” one of the leaders said. party. fi cially passed a resolution to that to Singh’s remark that the govern- their causes. The government is public sector banks had their the BJP. “The people of India... “The Congress is not in the pic- In the fi rst clip, which was from eff ect. So that is the position of ment is “obsessed” with fi xing the obsessed with trying to fi x blame “worst phase” under Manmohan can see through the diversion- ture. Congress leaders are not at- Manmohan Singh’s press confer- the Congress party.” blame on its opponents for things on its opponents, thus it is unable Singh, and former Reserve Bank ary drama of the ruling party, and tacking the ruling party the way ence in Mumbai on Thursday, an Reacting to the two clips, gone wrong, said it was necessary to fi nd a solution that will ensure of India (RBI) Governor Raghura- realise that jobs, economy and is- we expected.” unusually aggressive Singh said: Malviya tweeted: “Where does to recall past mistakes. revival of economy.” man Rajan.

Food fest opens Private uni chancellor Kerala ‘prepared for arrested for murder

IANS husband did not return home on Bengaluru Tuesday night. October 21 by-polls’ “Video footage from closed circuit television cameras at IANS ends. In addition to the police, fall at the feet of caste outfits. engaluru-based private Dore’s house and the locality and Thiruvananthapuram 10 companies of central forces The Hindu Nair’s social-cul- Alliance University chan- mobile call records of the ac- will provide security,” the CEO tural outfit, Nair Service Soci- Bcellor Sudhir Angur and cused and the victim gave us disclosed. ety, who all along approached his aide Suraj Singh have been clues on their alleged involve- erala’s chief electoral of- He said the Kerala High Court elections with its equidis- arrested for the alleged murder of ment and the motive behind the fi cer (CEO) Tika Ram will be monitoring the practice of tant policy towards all politi- former vice-chancellor Ayyappa gruesome murder – a family dis- KMeena yesterday said all green protocol for the elections cal fronts, has now said they Dore here, police said yesterday. pute over the varsity’s ownership arrangements were in place to and no plastic materials would will take a ‘straight path’. They “Angur and Singh were arrest- with younger sibling Madhukar ensure the smooth conduct of be used. Meena added that they should not have altered their ed for allegedly plotting Dore’s Angur,” the offi cer added. by-elections to the fi ve Assembly have kept adequate standby elec- earlier policy,” said Meena. murder at the HMT ground Though a local court judge re- constituencies scheduled to be tronic voting machines and this Ever since the Pinarayi Vijay- near his residence on Tuesday- manded the accused to 14-day held on October 21. time the election commission is an-led Left government took a Wednesday night in the city’s judicial custody after they were The constituencies that go using the M3 model EVMs. strong position last year after northern suburb,” Bengaluru produced before him, the police to the polls are Vatiyoorkavu, The CEO has also asked all po- the Supreme Court ruled that deputy commissioner of police have sought their interrogation Aroor, Konni, Ernakulam and litical parties to advise their poll- the Sabarimala temple should be (DCP) N Shashi Kumar said. to fi nd the motive under Section Manjeswaram. Polling will be ing agents to stay alert so that no open to all women, the NSS has The police are on the lookout 302 and other sections of the In- held from 7am to 6.30pm. bogus voting takes place. been up in arms against the Vi- for four unidentifi ed youth who dian Penal Code (IPC). Thirty-fi ve candidates are On cases registered against jayan government. allegedly stabbed 53-year-old “We have also summoned in the fray for the by-polls and bogus voters during the Lok Sab- Their anger increased after the Dore to death. Madhukar, Sudhir’s younger the total electorate is 9,57,509, ha polls earlier this year, Meena government allowed full police “We have set up fi ve teams to brother, for more details on the Meena said, adding that the vot- said the probe into such cases security to two women activists hunt down the four accused who southern state’s fi rst private ers will exercise their franchise will take time as the police and to enter Sabarimala early this seem to have agreed to eliminate university and the legal disputes at 846 polling stations, of which the concerned election district year. Dore for Rs10mn that Angur over its ownership,” said Kumar. 140 would be fully covered by offi cials have to sit together to Since early this week, the NSS promised to pay through Singh A ruling by the Registrar of webcasting. verify all the records. has been openly expressing its Visitors try out food at ‘Bengaluru Aaharotsava’, a three-day who hired them for the crime,” Companies (RoC) on the uni- “Co-operative bank’s pass Meena also stressed that po- ‘straight path’ position in the vegetarian food festival, in Bengaluru yesterday. With over 100 Kumar said. versity’s ownership in favour of book identity card will not be litical parties must keep away upcoming by-elections and had stalls and over 1,000 dishes, the city’s biggest food festival The duo (Angur and Singh) were Madhukar appears to have pro- allowed to be used as voter from caste outfits. “Political given a huge boost to the Con- gives foodies an opportunity to sample Indian, regional, street, arrested on a complaint fi led at the voked Sudhir to get Dore killed identity. All poll surveys will be parties should introspect and gress-led UDF and invited criti- continental and local food varieties all at one venue. local (R T Nagar) police station by through hired assailants for sid- banned for 48 hours till polling they should see that they do not cism from the CPI-M. Dore’s widow Bhavana after her ing with his younger brother. Gulf Times Saturday, October 19, 2019 11

LATIN AMERICA US outrage at Venezuela election to UN rights council fl ayed

AFP China in particular. election as a slap in the face to Assembly in New York. Iraq and Moldova were unsuc- Meanwhile, Venezuela an- tion and reflected its engage- Beijing “What the US said is utterly the people of Venezuela and the The UN General Assembly cessful. nounced the release of 24 ment to guarantee peace in the unjustifi able,” said Chinese for- international community. elected a total 14 Human Rights Government leaders celebrat- prisoners jailed for political country, broadcaster Telesur eign ministry spokesman Geng The election saw Caracas win Council members from fi ve re- ed the UN vote. “We think it is reasons, shortly after its elec- reported. hina yesterday denounced Shuang. one of two seats allotted for Latin gional blocs. historic given that we were up tion to the UN Human Rights Alfredo Romero from the hu- the US for calling Ven- The election result “refl ects America — beating Costa Rica — Germany, the Netherlands, against a ferocious campaign,” Council. man rights group Foro Penal con- Cezuela’s entry into the UN the mainstream wishes of inter- which the US called “an embar- Libya, Mauritania, Namibia and Venezuelan Foreign Minister Attorney General Tarek Wil- fi rmed that 12 of the prisoners Human Rights Council “a trag- national society — it is reason- rassment to the United Nations Sudan were elected uncontested Jorge Arreaza said on state televi- liam Saab announced the re- had already been released. edy”, after the South American able and lawful,” he told reporters and a tragedy for the people of but still needed to win a major- sion. lease of the inmates who, he President Maduro has so far country won a seat despite criti- at a press briefi ng in Beijing. Venezuela.” ity vote. However, US Secretary of State said, had been implicated in an- resisted a campaign by self-de- cism from advocacy groups. “We advise the US not to...po- Venezuela was among 14 new Armenia, Poland, Indonesia, Mike Pompeo called it a “harsh ti-government protests in 2014 clared interim president Juan The leftist government of liticise the human rights issue,” members elected on Thursday Marshall Islands, South Korea blow” for victims of the regime and 2017. Guaido, who has the backing Venezuelan President Nicolas he added. to the UN Human Rights Coun- and Japan beat competition in and the cause of human rights. Saab said the decision formed of dozens of countries, to oust Maduro has a strong support The comments came as rights cil. The vote took place in a se- their regional blocs to win seats The United States withdrew part of the government’s dia- him amid a massive economic at the UN, from Russia and groups condemned Thursday’s cret ballot held in the General — Japan for a second term. from the council in 2018. logue with part of the opposi- crisis. Cuba’s ballet legend Alonso dies aged 98

Reuters guest artist of the Royal Ballet, Havana said in a statement. “Alonso de- stroyed all these prejudices when she made her entrance on the egendary Cuban balle- stage.” rina Alicia Alonso, who Alonso’s breakout role was Lachieved global acclaim in “Giselle” in New York on Novem- the 1940s and went on to run the ber 2, 1943, when she replaced internationally renowned Na- British dancer Alicia Markova, tional Ballet of Cuba for decades, who fell ill, in the newly formed died aged 98, state-run media company that would become the said. American Ballet Theatre (ABT). “Alonso has gone and left For her debut in the ethereal 1841 an enormous void, but also an French Romantic role, Alonso unbeatable legacy,” President had learned the steps with her Miguel Diaz-Canel said in a hands while recovering from eye post on Twitter. “She positioned surgery. Cuba at the altar of the best of “Her imprint on ABT as one dance worldwide. Thank you of the charter members of Ballet Alicia for your immortal work.” Theatre is immeasurable,” said One of the greatest 20th cen- Kevin McKenzie, artistic director tury ballerinas, Alonso used her in a statement. “Alicia’s grace, Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador addresses a press conference in Oaxaca, Mexico, yesterday. star power to make a sometimes intelligence and courage will elitist art form popular on her surely leave a lasting impact on Caribbean island, forging the our art form.” world’s largest ballet school with Petite with an angular face, a unique bravura style. Alonso danced until her 70s de- Alonso immediately iden- spite having trouble walking, and tified herself with the 1959 continued to direct her company revolution and, with her dance with the help of trusted artists partner of many years, the Rus- who served as her eyes. Mexico ‘did well’ to free sian Igor Youskevich who died “She has a very vivid imagi- in 1994, performed for the nation which allows her to see bearded guerrillas of Fidel Cas- things in her mind as they would tro’s rebel army after they took appear on stage,” Suki John, an power in Havana. American scholar on Cuban She remained closely associ- dance whom Alonso had invited ated with the Communist gov- to choreograph for the National Guzman son: president ernment until the end. Ballet of Cuba, said in a July 2015 So revered is Alonso in Cuba interview. Reuters his regular morning news con- ping centres and supermarkets On Thursday the government 2015. Under the previous admin- — where a perfume carries her Alonso for years did not name Mexico City ference who had taken the de- as gunfi re roared. said the soldiers had come un- istration security forces cap- name and the huge Coppelia a successor because, she said, “I cision to release Guzman’s son, Black plumes of smoke rose der fi re as they neared the house tured him two times in Sinaloa, ice cream parlour is named af- will live until I’m 200,” according and he said that his top security across the skyline. where Ovidio was. in 2014 and 2016. ter one of her signature roles to several of her dancers and col- exican President Andres offi cials had made the call, add- Lopez Obrador, a veteran left- The chaos in Culiacan, long The previous government — that she carried the rare title laborators. Manuel Lopez Obrador ing that he supported it because ist who took offi ce in December, a stronghold for the Guzmans’ extradited ‘El Chapo’ to the US of prima ballerina assoluta, re- Critics accused her of holding Mdefended security forces it saved lives. rejected criticism that the govern- Sinaloa cartel, has turned up on the eve of President Donald served for only the most excep- onto power for too long, even as yesterday over their handling of “The offi cials who took this ment had acted weakly in releas- pressure on Lopez Obrador, who Trump’s accession. tional of dancers. her health faltered. a shocking outbreak of drug vio- decision did well,” Lopez Obra- ing Ovidio, describing this view took offi ce promising to pacify a He was found guilty in a US “As the daughter of a small Dancer Viengsay Valdés, who lence, saying they had saved lives dor said. “We’re doing really well as “conjecture” put about by his country weary after more than a court in February of smuggling Caribbean island, Alonso con- was named deputy artistic di- by releasing a son of jailed kingpin in our strategy.” adversaries to discredit him. decade of gang violence, disap- tons of drugs and sentenced to fronted all the barriers, rector in January, is widely Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman after The violent reaction in Culia- A trenchant critic of past ad- pearances and shootouts. life in prison. those who said ballet expected to take over the his brief capture. can, in Sinaloa state, to Ovidio’s ministrations, Lopez Obrador However, murders this year ‘El Chapo’ is believed to have was an art of devel- company. Cartel gunmen surrounded capture was on a scale rarely said the previous strategy had are set to reach a record high. about 12 children including oped countries, that Together with her fi rst security forces in the northwest- seen during Mexico’s long drug turned Mexico into a “grave- Thursday’s events follow the Ovidio. the Latino physique husband Fernando Alon- ern city of Culiacan on Thursday war, even after his more famous yard” and that his critics wanted massacre of more than a dozen The US department of justice and temperament so and his brother Alber- and made them free the drug father’s arrests. him to continue with it. police in western Mexico earlier unveiled an indictment against could not adjust to to, the ballerina forged a lord’s son Ovidio Guzman, af- Chaos in the city continued Lopez Obrador said security this week, and the killing of 14 Ovidio and another of the broth- the needs of classi- national ballet style that ter his detention triggered gun- into the night. forces had swooped in to cap- suspected gangsters by the army ers in February, charging them cal dance,” Cuban- Castro used to show- battles and a prison break that A large group of inmates es- ture Ovidio after a judge issued a day later. with conspiracy to distribute born Carlos Acosta, case Cuban cul- stunned the city. caped from the city prison. a warrant for his arrest and ex- ‘El Chapo’ escaped from pris- cocaine, methamphetamine, former principal ture. Lopez Obrador was asked at Residents cowered in shop- tradition. on in Mexico twice, in 2001 and and marijuana in the US.

Anti-govt rally Court debates ruling Fleeing robbers shot on convicted criminals

Reuters Justice Marco Aurelio de Mel- dead by Brazil police Brasilia lo, the second-longest-serving justice on the 11-member court, said he would vote for a return to Reuters Two private security guards with the man before he placed a razil’s Supreme Court has the original rule that all appeals Sao Paulo and a police offi cer were shot and gun to the head of the woman, begun debating on wheth- must be exhausted before a con- injured in robbery at Viracopos prompting a sniper to shoot and Ber to overturn a three- victed defendant goes to prison. airport, which is a growing in- kill him. year-old rule that convicted Mello rejected criticism that razilian police shot dead ternational hub and the principal The woman was hit by shrap- criminals must go to prison right the debate was geared to benefi t three suspected armed base for airline Azul SA. nel and is in a stable condition. after losing their fi rst appeal and Lula, who went to jail in July 2018 Brobbers who broke into an Police did not say how much Brazilian police have come not wait until they have exhaust- for eight years and 10 months for airport terminal and fl ed with cash was stolen in the raid on the under the spotlight for a spike in ed their appeal options. receiving bribes from engineer- cash before blocking a highway cargo terminal, before the sus- police killings as offi cials crack The rule contributed to the suc- ing companies in return for gov- by lighting trucks on fi re and pects fl ed in SUV vehicles to a down on crime in a country that cess of Brazil’s biggest corruption ernment contracts. shooting at security guards and nearby highway where container has one of the highest homicide investigation, the so-called Car Mello told reporters at the court police. trucks, lit on fi re, blocked general rates in the world. Wash operation that put dozens that he expects a 7-4 decision in Police said two of the men access. Police have defended the in- of company executives and poli- favour of allowing defendants the were killed while fl eeing Viraco- “Still on the run, the suspects creasing deaths, saying offi cers ticians in jail for bribes and kick- right to a full appeals process be- pos International Airport in the were intercepted by police...as are fi nding themselves in more backs, including former leftist fore they are imprisoned. city of Campinas, near Sao Paulo, they abandoned their SUVs and violent confrontations because president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Former judge Sergio Moro, while the third ran into a house passed cash and weapons into of a nearly 50% increase in the The prospect of serving im- who handled most of the Car and took a family hostage before a garbage truck they had pre- number of raids, a response to mediate prison time after losing Wash trials and is now justice being shot by a sniper. pared,” police said. higher crime. a fi rst appeal encouraged sus- minister in the government of More than a dozen suspects Police intercepted the garbage Sao Paulo’s governor, Joao pects to negotiate plea deals with right-wing President Jair Bol- had fl ed the airport in a well-or- truck, sparking a shootout where Doria, congratulated the offi c- prosecutors, providing them sonaro, said such a decision ganised heist that involved wait- the suspects abandoned the gar- ers who participated in the chase with information that helped would be a big setback for Brazil’s ing transport, police said, adding bage truck and stole two police and said those killed “are where unravel the biggest graft scheme fi ght against corruption. they were still searching for fugi- vehicles. they deserve to be.” in Brazil’s history. Lawyers for political parties tives. When police caught up with “The criminals are dead and Lula and many others convict- opposed to the rule and the Bra- The incident is the second high- the suspects again, two men were the innocent are alive,” Doria ed of corruption in the Car Wash zilian Bar Association argued in profi le theft at a major Brazilian shot at the scene, while a third told reporters and police offi cers. investigation could be released court that the rule violated the airport this year, after armed men broke into a nearby house and “Between the life of a criminal Chairman of the Pitit Desalin political party Jean-Charles from prison if the top court re- constitution, which establishes broke into Guarulhos airport, the took a woman and toddler hos- and the life of a police offi cer, the Moise (centre) speaks during a protest demanding the verses the rule, as expected, the presumption of innocence of a country’s largest, in July and stole tage. government of Sao Paulo choos- resignation of President Jovenel Moise in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. when the justices vote on Octo- defendant throughout the appeals $40mn worth of gold. Police attempted to negotiate es to keep life of a police offi cer.” ber 24. process. Gulf Times 12 Saturday, October 19, 2019 PAKISTAN

Journalists’ group Global watchdog keeps offi cial denied Pakistan on ‘grey list’ entry into Reuters/AFP/DPA should signifi cant and sustain- country has not made signifi - Tensions between Paki- complied with nine, partially their access to the global fi nan- country Paris able progress not be made across cant progress, we will consider stan and India have escalated complied with 26, and totally cial system as well as interna- the full range of its action plan further actions which poten- sharply over the disputed re- missed four parameters, which tional aid. by the next Plenary, the FATF tially could include placing the gion of Kashmir this year, and were mandatory if Islamabad In total, the FATF grey list has AFP/Reuters/DPA/Internews global fi nance watchdog will take action.” country ... on the blacklist.” Prime Minister Imran Khan has wanted to be removed from the 12 countries which have been Islamabad kept Pakistan off its ter- Pakistan, struggling with a “The Pakistani government mounted a diplomatic off en- grey list. summoned to address measures Arorism fi nancing blacklist balance of payments crisis that has demonstrated strong po- sive in order to try and drum up It said that Pakistan should or policies that could be exploit- yesterday, but warned Islama- has forced it to turn to the Inter- litical will to implement its ac- support from the international adequately identify, assess and ed for fraud or to fi nance terror ights organisations have bad that it only had until Febru- national Monetary Fund (IMF) tion plan,” he added. “We will community. understand risks associated operations. slammed Pakistani au- ary to improve or face interna- for help, has promised a series of provide all the necessary train- Prior to the FATF decision with militant groups operating Three countries were re- Rthorities after a member tional action. measures to crack down on ter- ing and assistance, and we have yesterday, Pakistani offi cials in Pakistan such as Islamic State moved at this week’s meeting – of a leading media watchdog was An offi cial of the Pakistan fi - rorism fi nancing. called on our members and our said that they were confi dent Is- group, Al Qaeda, Jamat-ud- Ethiopia, Sri Lanka and Tunisia denied entry to the country, call- nance ministry in Islamabad However, it still faces consid- global network to help in that lamabad would not be placed on Dawa (JuD), Lashkar-e-Taiba – while Mongolia, Iceland and ing the move a “slap in the face confi rmed the decision had been erable scepticism over whether regard.” the blacklist. and Jaish-e-Mohamed (JeM), Zimbabwe were added. to those concerned about press conveyed to Pakistan. the announcements have been The FATF already has Pakistan However, any relief will be which continue to raise funds The others are the Bahamas, freedom”. The Paris-based Financial followed by eff ective action to on its “grey list” of countries temporary with the February openly. Botswana, Cambodia, Ghana, On Thursday, immigration of- Action Task Force (FATF), which curb militant groups that oper- with inadequate controls over deadline looming over the hori- Islamabad says it has seized Panama, Syria, Pakistan, Trini- fi cials at Lahore airport told Ste- tackles money laundering, said ate from its territory. curbing money laundering and zon. the groups’ assets and put the dad and Tobago, and Yemen. ven Butler – the Asia programme it is concerned that Pakistan “Pakistan needs to do more terrorism fi nancing. Ahead of yesterday’s meet- militants on trials, like the entire The FATF, which includes 37 co-ordinator of the Committee had failed to complete the action and it needs to do it faster,” FATF But its arch-rival India, which ing, the watchdog’s Asia Pacifi c leadership of the JuD, including countries as well as the Euro- to Protect Journalists (CPJ) – plan fi rst by a January deadline, president Xiangmin Liu told re- came close to war with its nucle- Group on Money Laundering its chief Hafi z Saeed, the alleged pean Commission and the Gulf that he was on an interior min- then a May deadline and now porters in Paris. ar-armed neighbour earlier this (APG) issued a critical report mastermind of the 2008 Mum- Co-operation Council, is based istry “stop list”, the rights group October. “Despite a high level com- year, wants Pakistan blacklisted. on progress made by Islamabad bai attacks in India, which killed at the Paris headquarters of the said. “The FATF strongly urges Pa- mitment by Pakistan to fi x these That would likely result in since last year. 166 people. Organisation for Economic Co- Butler had travelled to Paki- kistan to swiftly complete its full weaknesses, Pakistan has not sanctions that could cripple Of the 40 recommendations, Only two countries, North operation and Development stan on a valid visa to attend a action plan by February 2020,” it made enough progress,” Liu Pakistan’s already-struggling the report said, Pakistan fully Korea and Iran, are on the FATF (OECD) group of free-market human rights conference in La- said in a statement. “Otherwise, said. “If by February 2020 the economy. complied with only one, largely blacklist, which severely crimps democracies. hore, according to the CPJ and organisers of the event. After arriving in the country, Pakistani offi cials confi scated his travel documents and Bulter was put on a plane back to Doha and later to Washington, the CPJ Royal couple wrap said. “Pakistani authorities’ move to block Steven Butler from en- tering the country is baffl ing and is a slap in the face to those up Pakistan visit concerned about press freedom in the country,” said Joel Simon, the CPJ’s executive director, said DPA/Reuters/AFP military post in the Khyber re- der for more than two thousand in a statement. “If the govern- Islamabad gion yesterday morning was years, keeping their unique cul- ment is interested in demon- cancelled because of the change ture and heritage alive. strating its commitment to a free in their schedule, but the prince One of the highlights of the press, it should conduct a swift ritain’s Prince William and said learning about the security visit was their arrival at a cul- and transparent investigation his wife Kate left for home situation in the country was an tural evening event in Islama- into this case.” Byesterday after wrapping objective of the visit. bad in a three-wheeler rickshaw Last year, Butler had authored up a visit to Pakistan, the fi rst “What happens here in Paki- dressed in traditional Pakistani a CPJ report warning that the by members of the British royal stan directly correlates to what clothing. powerful Pakistani military had family in over a decade. happens on the streets of the Among the most memorable “quietly, but eff ectively, set re- The Duke and Duchess of UK,” William told British media visits of members of Britain’s strictions on reporting”. Cambridge were seen off from after he and Kate saw dogs that royals to Pakistan were three Pakistan’s ministry of interior a military airbase in the capital are trained to sniff out explo- trips by William’s late mother and information both refused to Islamabad by the British high sives. “We are involved with the Princess Diana, who is still ad- comment on the case when con- commissioner to Pakistan, of- Pakistanis for a very good rea- mired in Pakistan for her beauty tacted by AFP. fi cials said. son, it will actually keep people and elegance. Brad Adams, executive direc- The couple fl ew home hours safe back in the UK.” Pakistan’s government hopes tor of Human Rights Watch’s after a delayed arrival from La- During their visit, William the couple’s four-day visit will Asia division, called the move hore. and Kate had lunch with the Pa- help boost the country’s image “alarming” and demanded the Their plane had to return to kistani prime minister and met as a tourist and business desti- government “reverse the deci- Lahore overnight due to a storm. the president. nation, after decades of sectar- sion and take urgent steps to- Pakistan’s aviation authori- In Lahore they saw a 17th- ian violence and political unrest. wards providing an enabling en- ties advised the pilot to return to century mosque, participated On Friday, a global money- vironment for free expression”. Lahore after two failed landing in birthday celebrations of chil- laundering watchdog gave Pa- The organiser of the event also attempts at an airport and the dren at an orphanage, and spent kistan until February to improve voiced concerns. military airbase, offi cials said. time with cancer patients at a its counter-terror fi nancing “The theme of this year’s con- The couple spent the night at hospital. operations in line with an inter- ference itself was freedom of ex- a luxury hotel in Lahore along They visited the country’s nationally agreed action plan, or pression. If they are doing this to with journalists covering their northern mountains to see gla- face action (see lead story). a member of a media watchdog, trip and staff of the British high ciers melting due to climate “In terms of Pakistan’s posi- what else is left?” said Muni- commission. change and meet communities tive international image, the zae Jahangir, an organiser of The incident forced changes aff ected by impact. visit has been an unmitigated the Asma Jahangir Conference- in the tightly scheduled itiner- William and Kate also trav- success,” said Rifat Hussain, Roadmap for Human Rights in ary of the royal couple, said an elled to meet an ancient com- analyst and a former professor at Pakistan. offi cial at the high commission, munity thought to be the de- Quaid-e-Azam university in Is- The move comes amid grow- which is in charge of Britain’s scendants of soldiers who came lamabad, though he added that ing complaints from the media diplomatic relations in countries to the region with Greek king there had been some complaints in Pakistan that they have been that are members of the Com- Alexander the Great. from Pakistanis about the huge subjected to increasing censor- monwealth. The Kelasha people have lived security operation around the ship and pressure following the A planned visit to a Pakistani in a valley near the Afghan bor- trip. William and Kate wave goodbye before their departure at Islamabad airport. election of Prime Minister Imran Khan in 2018. Earlier this week Pakistani Honorary doctorate for cabinet member news outlet Geo announced that they were unable to broadcast a Kings College London has conferred with both a PhD and a DSc. press conference of a leading op- PPP loses seat in Bhutto hometown the prestigious doctorate of science According to the chairman of Kings position member after receiving Honoris Causa on current Pakistani College, “honorary degrees are a warning from regulatory au- federal cabinet member Dr Sania conferred by Kings on persons of thorities. Internews Bilawal says PPP to challenge by-poll shock result Nishtar in London. conspicuous merit and the highest “Broadcasts in today’s Paki- Larkana Nishtar is a Kings’ alumna and already distinction. stan are arbitrarily suspended Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto has said that his party will chal- earned got a PhD from the institution, “Honorary graduands have no formal in a manner better suited to re- lenge the result of electoral constituency PS-11 Larkana by-poll, where the party suff ered says a press release received here. duties as such but may of course pressive regimes where ‘autono- pposition Grand Democratic Al- a crushing defeat at the hands of Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) on Thursday. The college gave this honour contribute to the life of the university mous’ regulatory authorities are liance (GDA) candidate Moaz- In a series of tweets, the PPP chairman said: “We will challenge this rigging at every in recognition of her work and by sharing experiences and expertise in reality a handmaiden of the Ozam Ali Abbasi has won a shock forum. The truth can’t be hidden. We will expose this selection. We will have a re-election contribution in the fields of global or engaging socially.” state,” read an editorial in the by-election held for the Sindh As- and take back this seat.” health and development. Nishtar, while receiving her degree, Pakistani daily Dawn yesterday sembly’s electoral constituency PS-11 He alleged that the PPP candidate was not even allowed inside polling stations. Nishtar is the only Pakistani woman said she was deeply humbled. in response to the incident. (Larkana-II), the hometown of the rul- “We kept asking ECP to intervene, but its mala fide intent was apparent in its silence. De- ing Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader spite all this political engineering, the PPP has reduced the GDA/JUIF/PTI lead by 5,000 Bilawal Bhutto and his mother Benazir votes in less than a year,” he said. Bhutto. “I’m proud of PPP workers for fighting an honourable election. Despite immense pres- According to unoffi cial results yes- sure from the establishment. From pre-poll with NAB [National Accountability Bureau] terday, Abbasi bagged 31,557 votes while arresting and sending notices to PPP workers and their families,” Bilawal said. Polio chief resigns after massive surge his rival Jamil Soomro of the PPP for He continued: “On polling day, Rangers took over the inside of polling stations, harassed 26,021 votes, according to the unoffi cial our women voters, threw out our polling agents, and deliberately slowed polling. results received from all the 138 polling Women polling stations where PPP performs well were purposely started hours late.” DPA/Internews “When I look back, I am proud to love and respect all of you have of- stations that were set up for the by- Since morning media was reporting women voters were threatened to vote for the GDA Islamabad say that I made all possible eff orts fered,” he further noted. election. but despite our pleas, the ECP did not take notice, Bilawal added. to create that enabling environment At least 72 new polio cases have Polling was held on Thursday in a where polio eradication is priority. been reported in Pakistan in 2019 so peaceful environment, with no unto- he head of Pakistan’s anti- “A 24/7 call centre will soon be in- far compared to only 12 last year, ac- ward incident reported anywhere in the Soomro, who is political secretary of of the PPP, including Bilawal, Khur- polio programme resigned augurated to address all concerns of cording to offi cial statistics. constituency. PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, sheed Ahmed Junejo, and Nadir Magsi, Tyesterday after a large rise people who have questions related to The number is the highest in the Special security measures were put in cast his vote in a polling station estab- to various polling stations. in number of new cases this year, the vaccine,” he elaborated. fi ve years since the military regained place, including deployment of Rangers lished at the public health engineering PPP secretary-general Farhatullah prompting fears of a resurgence of Atta added that Pakistan’s fi rst control of the country’s northwest- and the army in the constituency, in ad- offi ce, while Abbasi cast his at a polling Babar in a letter to the Chief Election the crippling disease. ‘Perception Management Initiative’ ern border regions from Taliban dition to the police. station in a government-run primary Commissioner (CEC) pointed to delay Babar bin Atta, the head of UN- will be rolled out by the end of the militants, who were opposed to vac- Polling began at 8am and continued school. in the start of polling at some polling funded programme, told reporters month, the eff ects of which will be a cination. till 5pm without break. Both Soomro and Abbasi talked to re- stations for women due to late arrival of in the capital Islamabad that he was “game changer”. The polio cases peaked at 306 in The Election Commission of Pakistan porters after casting their votes and vis- women police personnel. stepping down for personal reasons, “I am leaving at a time when the 2014, the year when the off ensive (ECP) had announced the re-election ited some other polling stations in the The PPP’s central election cell chief without specifying. low transmission season is about to against the Taliban began. after the Supreme Court unseated Ab- constituency. Taj Haider wrote a letter to the CECm In a series of posts shared on the commence,” he remarked. The number came down to only basi, who had won the seat in the 2018 The voting process was quite fast in drawing attention towards complaints social networking platform Twitter, “Pakistan is in a position that will eight in 2017, offi cial data shows. general election. the morning, but later its pace slowed by Bilawal, who had accused the Rang- Atta said that he had asked Prime fi nally eradicate polio once and for Most cases have been recorded The total number of registered voters down. ers of interfering in the political proc- Minister Imran Khan to relieve him all. The opportunity should be capi- in the province of Khyber-Pa- in the constituency is 152,614 – 83,016 GDA supporters raised objections ess, checking voter slips and harassing of his duties due to some personal talised and should not be lost from khtunkhwa, where clerics still op- men and 69,598 women. over the visits of elected representatives polling agents and candidates. reasons pertaining to his family. here. I forever remain indebted to the pose vaccination. Gulf Times Saturday, October 19, 2019 13 PHILIPPINES Indian president on Philippine visit Anti-graft agency pledges action against steel smugglers

By William Depasupil of sub-standard steel. “PACC Manila Times chairman Dante Jimenez want- ed all those involved charged for corruption, economic sab- he Presidential Anti- otage and other crimes, if war- Corruption Commission ranted by the evidence,” Luna T(PACC) has vowed to in- said. “We, therefore, call on the vestigate the alleged smuggling public to provide us with infor- of billions of pesos worth of steel mation or leads in order to fur- billets and stainless steel by un- ther hasten our investigation.” scrupulous importers with the Earlier, the Customs bu- participation of brokers and cor- reau has assured the PACC and rupt employees of the Bureau of Congress that it would provide Customs (BoC). all the support and assist- “Their days are numbered. ance in their investigation on We have agreed to investigate,” the alleged collusion of some Commissioner Manuelito Luna, Customs officials with large who is in charge of the investi- steelmakers in the smuggling gation, told Manila Times. of substandard steel products He added that the PACC had which are now proliferating in identifi ed their sources of infor- the local market. mation, the importers and their The BoC chief earlier said ef- “contacts” inside the BoC. Luna, forts to weed out misfits in the however, refused to identify the bureau will continue. erring importers, brokers and Customs Assistant Commis- President Rodrigo Duterte and Indian counterpart Ram Nath Kovind gesture after attending a joint press conference at Malacanang Palace in Manila, yesterday. Kovind customs personnel. sioner Vincent Philip Maron- is in the Philippines for a five-day state visit that began on Thursday. “No stone will be left un- illa also told Manila Times that turned. Even this early, we al- four to five big steel companies ready would like to commend were under post clearance au- Customs Commissioner (Rey dit to determine if the duties Leonardo) Guerrero and his and taxes they paid were in or- team for their co-operation in der. the probe,” he added. “This is industry wide. We Luna also assured the public are auditing at present four to that his agency would go after five steel companies but there the importers and their co-con- will be more as we go on,” spirators. Maronilla said. He added that criminal and The proliferation of substand- Classes suspended administrative charges would ard steel across the country have be filed against anyone who been documented by concerned will be found to have cheated groups. They said substandard the government of billions of steel was used in the construc- pesos in customs duties and tion of buildings damaged by ty- in quake-hit areas taxes, and in the production phoons in Leyte and Samar. By Jan Arcilla tion process is ongoing, but we Manila Times have not yet gotten the number Agriculture dept staff ers of casualties or major damage but we have protocols and pro- he strong earthquake cedures implemented already,” decry ‘illegal’ dismissal that hit several regions in Sevilla said. TMindanao aff ected some DepEd Region 11 Spokesman 2mn students in 4,000 schools, Jenelito Atillo said it was his By Catherine S Valente salaries were not paid. “Aside according to the Department of fi rst time to experience a strong Manila Times from the abrupt dismissal, Un- Education (DepEd). earthquake. dersecretary Carpio has commit- Classes in these schools have Atillo lauded the local gov- ted grave abuse of authority by been suspended indefi nitely as ernment units that immediately everal employees of the De- illegally transferring contractu- authorities inspect buildings to suspended classes to ensure the partment of Agriculture als from other sections to replace assess the damage. safety of students and teachers, S(DA) have fi led before the them,” they added. DepEd spokesman Annalyn who were also instructed to in- Offi ce of the President a formal But Arvin Manauis, Carpio’s Sevilla said local offi cials in ar- spect classrooms and other fa- complaint over their alleged arbi- chief of staff , said the employees eas that were aff ected by the cilities for damage. trary dismissal from service. were given notices before their strong earthquakes had the dis- “‘The order was all the teach- In the complaint addressed to contracts were terminated. cretion to suspend classes. ers should report to the schools President Rodrigo Duterte, Ag- “What we can say for now is Classes were suspended in to check their classrooms and riculture Undersecretary Waldo we comply with all legal require- Davao (Region 11), Soccsksargen then report to the principal if Reyes Carpio was accused of ments in termination. They were (Region 12) and the Bangsamoro there is damage to deal with it abusing his power by illegally ter- given notices regarding their ter- Autonomous Region in Mus- instantly, but since there are no minating 10 contractual employ- mination. They were given proper lim Mindanao, among other classes, they can go home im- ees, who were assigned at the DA’s notices before they were termi- areas hit by a magnitude-6.3 mediately and prepare for the Farm-to-Market Road Develop- nated. They were not terminated earthquake that struck south- next day if the suspension will ment Programme. The complain- abruptly. We gave them a 15-day ern Philippines on Wednesday Debris is scattered on the floor of a damaged building in Digos, Davao del Sur province, southern be lifted,” said Atillo. ants said they had a valid contract notice,” Manauis added. night. Philippines. The earthquake struck at eff ective until December 2019. “As for the duration of the con- Sevilla said Education Secre- 7:37pm on Wednesday, killing “The termination was arbitrary tract up to December of this year, tary Leonor Briones instructed ices to inspect all schools af- She added that the process of of damage have yet to be deter- at least six people and injuring and violative of rules under the the parties can terminate the con- the department’s Disaster Risk fected by the earthquake for consolidation of the reports was mined. 27 others. Its epicentre was in existing labour code,” they said. tract, provided [there’s a] 15-day Reduction Management Serv- infrastructure damage. ongoing and the extent and cost “Until now the consolida- North Cotabato. They also complained that their notice, which we complied,” he said.

Ballet company battles Disney, typhoons and poverty to endure

AFP as Mickey Mouse....That’s hap- collectively put up 30% of the Manila pened a lot and it’s still happen- company’s annual budget. ing,” Ballet Philippines President Founded in 1969 by pio- Kathleen Liechtenstein tells neering Filipina contemporary rom fi erce typhoons and AFP. dancer and choreographer Al- tight budgets to losing its Principal dancer Denise ice Reyes with help from Im- Fdancers to cruise ships and Parungao, who started out as an elda Marcos — whose husband theme parks, Ballet Philippines $40-a month-apprentice at the Ferdinand ruled the country has weathered almost every type troupe, says she relied on family as a dictator until his ouster in of storm, but as it celebrates its to help pay her rent and under- 1986 — the company was one of 50th anniversary the renowned stands why others left. Asia’s first. arts organisation is determined “It’s really hard because the With Reyes still with the the show will go on. salary before was really low and company as artistic director, it Funding is diffi cult to secure most of the dancers are not well remains on a short list of devel- and there is little money for ne- off ,” the 25-year-old explains. oping nations that have their cessities such as dancer’s sala- Part of the success of Ballet own ballet troupes including ries or even shoes — but more Philippines has been the deter- Vietnam, China, Cuba and Bra- than 30,000 people watched the mination of its performers. zil. To open its 50th season in troupe’s productions last year, In 2014, a fi erce typhoon August, principal dancer Evg- no mean feat in a nation where knocked out power and fl oods eny Ivanchenko and first solo- millions live on less than $2 a left the orchestra stranded miles ist Elena Evseeva of Russia’s day. from the venue, but with two famed Mariinsky Ballet, previ- One of the biggest challenges hours before the show started — ously the Kirov Ballet, starred is keeping the dancers it has the organisation decided to carry File photo: Ballet Philippines dancers perform during a dress rehearsal at the Cultural Center in Manila. alongside local dancers in the trained — some go on to join on so as not to disappoint audi- Filipino troupe’s “Swan Lake” world-class organisations such ences who had travelled for the The same grit is evident down her own pocket to make sure her Carlo Pacis, a former senior sources in the arts world said its gala night. as Stella Abrera who is now a show. even when it comes to the use of footwear does not disintegrate soloist at the Hong Kong Ballet four to six productions per year The production evoked the principal dancer at American “The lights came back on as dancing shoes. during a live performance. who briefl y returned to Manila cost at least $100,000 each. glitter of Ballet Philippines’ Ballet Theatre and West Austral- the people started to fi ll the Cul- In big name companies a per- “Filipinas really have more to choreograph “A Midsummer Though it has always had free first decade, when the likes of ian Ballet soloist Candice Adea. tural Center of the Philippines former might go through four heart in doing this...we give our Night’s Dream” for Ballet Phil- use of the national cultural cen- legends Margot Fonteyn, Ru- But many leave after being lobby. It was a harrowing experi- pairs of ballet slippers in the whole selves to it,” Parungao ippines, believes its dancers’ tre’s facilities, the company only dolf Nureyev, Natalia Makarova poached to perform on cruise ence,” recalls Liechtenstein, who course of a single performance. adds. strengths are not just physical. gets about $40,000 a year in and Patrick Bissell danced for ships or as characters at Disney- says they had to use recorded “In Ballet Philippines, a dancer Unlike in Russia and the West, “We do not only dance: we government backing. the company in Manila. The land, who can off er 50-100 times music in place of live musicians. wears (a pair) for a whole month. there is no national programme embody the roles that we are For the rest it must rely on troupe’s reputation continues what they make at Ballet Philip- “The dancing was exquisitely They put glue, they varnish, for spotting dancing talent in the tasked to portray. We love to act, seat sales and sponsorships, as to pack a punch. Chris Millado, pines. unforgettable,” she says, adding do everything just to make them Philippines and few get an early we love to entertain,” he says. well as donations: The board Cultural Center of the Philip- “The only thing I’m not happy that the audience agreed — giv- last,” Parungao says. She buys start — those that succeed must Ballet Philippines declined of directors, a who’s who of the pine’s artistic director, says: “It about is when Disney gets them ing a roading standing ovation. an extra fi ve pairs a year out of battle to make their mark. to give its annual funding, but country’s wealthiest families, is one of the best in Asia.” Gulf Times 14 Saturday, October 19, 2019 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko Production Editor Amjad Khan

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 Call for using the Amazon’s natural bounty to save it Aluminium cans leave the production line at Ball Corporation, Wakefield, Britain. Brazilian prize-winning climatologist Carlos Nobre is calling Plastic bottles vs aluminium cans: for a bioeconomic plan to save the Amazon by drawing on its wealth of berries and nuts — an idea championed at a key Vatican summit. “The Amazon has great economic potential”, said Nobre, who has studied the tropical habitat for 40 years and contributed who’ll win the global water fi ght? to a scientifi c report for the special three-week assembly of Catholic bishops on the Pan-Amazonian region. Reuters Bioeconomy is the production of renewable biological London resources which are used in products such as food and medicines. “The forest generates more valuable products for the present lobal bottled water giants are and the future than could be gained by destroying it and ramping up trials of easily recyclable aluminium cans to replacing it with agricultural or mining land,” Nobre said replace plastic that pollutes the “Science must seek solutions and not just talk about risks. We G world’s seas. have to create an economy to keep the forest standing,” he said, Sound like a slam-dunk for the adding that the possibilities were “endless” and would benefi t environment? Not entirely. indigenous people too. Aluminium cans might indeed mean Nobre was the lead author of the IPCC report into climate less ocean waste, but they come with their change, which won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. own eco-price: the production of each can pumps about twice as much carbon Some 42 international scientists drew up into the atmosphere as each plastic bottle. recommendations and compiled facts for the assembly or French group Danone has become the “synod” at the Vatican. latest company to make a move, telling The Amazon’s natural Reuters it had started to replace some bounty — plants, bacteria, plastic bottles with aluminium cans for “We need an mosses, and lichens — could local water brands in Britain, Poland and be used in the pharmaceutical, Denmark. industrial The shift, previously unannounced, food or cosmetics sectors if comes as multinational rivals like Coca- and scientifi c investments were made in the Cola Co, PepsiCo and Nestle are also creation of high-value bio- launching some canned versions of water revolution” industries and technologies, brands. they say. The beverage industry has been The forest boasts acai berries (with medicinal properties), scrambling to react to public anger over babassu palm trees (oil used in cosmetics), chestnuts and cocoa. scenes of huge piles of plastic waste contaminating oceans, pledging to step Strict ecological standards could be set for the harvesting of up recycling eff orts. such resources, while protecting the rights of local populations. However it’s not black and white on the “For a middle class to emerge in the Amazon, forest products green front. need to be given added value,” said Nobre, a guest at the By increasing recycling via cans, assembly, which has called for more be done to protect the companies could fall back in eff orts region’s indigenous peoples. to reduce their carbon footprints, “We need an industrial and scientifi c revolution”, he said. illustrating the tough juggling act they can FILE PHOTO: Plastic bottles are seen at SFO airport, which has banned the sale of plastic bottles that contain less than a litre of face to keep environmentally conscious water, in San Francisco, California. The rainforest is home to between 10 and 15% of the world’s investors, campaigners and consumers biodiversity. on-side. driving a car 7km to 8km. similar volume, according to analyst Uday bottle made of 100% recycled material for The assembly has heard from indigenous peoples and “That’s the dilemma you’re going to A plastic bottle of the same size, made Patel at consultancy Wood Mackenzie. another brand, LIFEWTR. international experts on the fate of locals who are threatened — have to choose between,” said Ruben from the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) A broad shift to aluminium cans “The consideration for aluminium is and sometimes murdered — by economic predators. Griffi oen, sustainability manager of plastic typically used, accounts for up to would raise costs for drinks companies, much higher on the list than it has been Felicio de Araujo Pontes, a Brazilian prosecutor who packaging materials at Heineken, adding 330 grams. also including new manufacturing for the last few years (but) the hardest specialises in defending indigenous peoples, criticised “a the company was trying to reduce both Bruce Karas, an executive at Coca-Cola infrastructure, some of which are likely to thing to change is infrastructure,” said plastic waste and emissions. North America in charge of environment be passed on to consumers, thus hitting Pepsi’s Lowden. colonialist mentality that persists with the idea of superiority Recycling plastic is more complex, and sustainability, acknowledged the products’ competitiveness against plastic “Hence our need to drive hard the over the people of the forest”. leads to degradation and has lower reuse confl icting environmental pressures at rivals. recyclability of plastic as well as look at He slammed an economy based on intensive cattle breeding rates than aluminium — so the metal has play. Another key factor is consumer our mix of cans and glass.” and soy cultivation, agreeing with fellow experts that “from an been heralded as a greener alternative. “When we look at a diff erent material, convenience. Another obstacle to a large-scale shift economic point of view, it is worth keeping the forest standing”. Cans have on average 68% recycled you look at all of the levers: the carbon How often do people down bottles of from plastic bottles is that there may not Amazon soy is widely used as feed for cattle, pigs and poultry. content compared to just 3% for plastic in footprint, consumer preference, energy, water in one go? While advances are being be enough cans to go round. Brazilian Archbishop Roque Paloschi said land grabbing had the US, Environmental Protection Agency water,” he said. “There’s a mix, there are made in can technology, most cans are The world’s top can maker Ball data shows. some things that are not that desirable, opened and stay open, while bottles can Corporation, which supplies the likes of left some communities with nothing. New water brands are also making a but if you have fi ve good things and one be recapped. Coke and Pepsi, is already scrambling to “The 1988 constitution said that by 1993 all indigenous splash. that isn’t, we’ll all have to make decisions. Plastic water bottles can also be sold add capacity to meet demand. peoples’ lands were to be defi ned, approved and registered. “Mananalu will rid the world of plastic It’ll never be that clean.” in a range of sizes, while cans are more “This is a level of growth that we “One third of them were, the others were invaded by gold water containers and start a wave of So aluminium has a larger footprint limited. haven’t seen in a long time. We’re looking hunters, and mining, oil and timber industries,” he said. change,” says the website of the new in production because of the vast power As a result of such factors, drinks giants at a number of speed-up projects, new Nobre warned time was running out for the Amazon, which is canned water launched by Hollywood needed in the smelting process. are cautious. can lines,” said Kathleen Pitre, chief spread over nine of the 12 countries of South America. actor Jason Momoa, of Aquaman fame. But, in a further example of the “It’s not necessarily saying we’re commercial and sustainability offi cer for Another entrant, Liquid Death, complexities of environmental impact, pulling the plug on plastic, it’s really Ball’s global beverage packaging business. “Science shows we are very close to a point of no return,” he meanwhile, hails its “eco-friendly cans” the overall carbon equation becomes looking at how do consumers react to Ball told investors it planned to add said, adding that some “60 to 70% of the Amazonian forest and uses the hashtag #DeathtoPlastic. more muddied when other issues such as canned water,” said Coca-Cola’s Karas. 4-5bn additional cans of capacity by mid- could disappear in the next 30 to 50 years”. “The aluminium industry can play on the logistics are taken into account. In an example of this toe-in-the-water 2021 to its existing 105bn, but this does “We must slam the breaks on logging and achieve zero fact that its product is infi nitely recyclable, “It’s a complex picture, certainly,” said approach, Coke is planning a limited not even include potential expansion in deforestation in the coming years. And we must fi ght global and they’re right,” said Martin Barrow, Simon Lowden, an executive who leads launch of its top US water brand Dasani the water sector. warming,” said Nobre. director of footprinting at UK-based non- Pepsi’s plastics drive. “You have to think in aluminium cans and aluminium A shift of only 1% of global soft drinks Some 15% of the forest has already disappeared due to profi t consultancy the Carbon Trust. about transport, secondary packaging, resealable bottles later this year. and bottled water from plastic and glass “But primary aluminium uses huge time in store, all those considerations Even while companies are beginning to cans, would mean a surge of 24bn more deforestation and fi res, many of which are intentionally lit. amounts of electricity and it’s also got come into play.” to sell water in cans, to assuage pollution cans, said the company, the third-biggest some chemical releases of greenhouse gas Because aluminium is lightweight concerns, they are also embarking on a stock gainer among the S&P 500 index emissions.” and cans make effi cient use of space, green makeover for plastic. over the past 12 months. To Advertise Comparing the carbon footprints of less transport is usually needed than Scientifi c eff orts include creating new That 1% change would increase aluminium and plastics is a complex for plastics or glass, while less power compounds that are biodegradable or aluminium demand by around 310,000 [email protected] calculation because making the metal is also needed to chill drinks in cans — more easily recyclable. tonnes, according to Patel at Wood Display with hydro power instead of fossil fuels particularly useful in tropical climes. Danone told Reuters it was replacing Mackenzie and further shifts could reduces emissions while using recycled “That means in some markets some plastic with aluminium cans for its counter wider market weakness. 44466621 44418811 aluminium slashes it even further. aluminium would actually not produce as Flyte brand in Britain, Sparkles in Poland Major aluminium producers Alcoa But when all types of metal are much greenhouse gas,” Lowden said. and Aqua d’or in Denmark. and Norsk Hydro have cut estimates of Classified averaged out, however, cans still account But while cans could well carve out a But the company, which uses 400,000 global demand growth for aluminium 44466609 44418811 for about double the greenhouse gases of niche within the $19bn-a-year bottled tonnes of PET plastic bottles each year, is recently, partly due to trade tensions plastic bottles, Barrow said, citing fi gures water industry, they are unlikely to sweep also focusing on increasing recycling of between the US and top metals Subscription for Europe. the board anytime soon, if ever, industry plastic and plans to use an average of 50% consumer China. At aluminium’s most polluting level, a experts say. recycled material in its water bottles by “You’re talking about billions and [email protected] 330ml can is responsible for 1,300 grams Simple economics is a major factor; 2025 and 100% for its Evian brand. billions of water bottles, so there’s a of carbon dioxide emissions, according to aluminium is more expensive than plastic And while Pepsi is testing aluminium potential revival for the aluminium can the analysis compiled for Reuters, roughly — the raw material cost for a can is about for its Aquafi na water at food service market,” said Patel. “But it’ll take three or © 2019 Gulf Times. All rights reserved equating to the emissions produced by 25-30% higher than a PET bottle of a outlets, it is also introducing a plastic four years to see if this is a real trend.” Gulf Times Saturday, October 19, 2019 15 COMMENT Can Johnson’s ‘deal’ succeed where May’s failed?

By Bill Smith and Helen Maguire Conservative hardliners, or even London Johnson himself, could still try to engineer a no-deal Brexit. And some analysts argue that losing nly hours after celebrating today’s vote could benefi t Johnson the clinching of a by allowing him to campaign in an Brexit deal in Brussels, election as the saviour of Brexit. OConservative Prime For all of his optimism at Minister Boris Johnson has urged Thursday’s summit talks, once British lawmakers to vote for it in a Johnson left the room the remaining special sitting of parliament today. 27 EU leaders began preparing for Johnson insists that the only a bumpy ride ahead. “We spent the alternative to his deal is to leave majority of time discussing scenarios the European Union on October 31 A, B, C and D,” Lithuanian President without an exit agreement to smooth Gintanas Nauseda reportedly told the process. journalists following the talks, As his predecessor Theresa May without going into detail. found after she issued a similar “No matter how confi dent Johnson ultimatum three times, many — a rather charming personality — is, opposition lawmakers do not accept nevertheless, everybody is thinking that dichotomy. about alternative scenarios,” he Johnson lacks a majority in added. parliament and many analysts suggest If British lawmakers reject the deal today’s vote will produce a very close today, one immediate question is result that could go either way. whether Johnson will seek to delay Tim Bale, a political scientist at Brexit beyond his “do or die” deadline Queen Mary University of London, of October 31. said Johnson has an “extremely He would be required to do so under narrow” pathway to a majority for his a new opposition-led law designed to deal. prevent a no-deal Brexit. Taking account of expected European Commission president absences, Johnson will require the Jean-Claude Juncker delighted support of about 320 lawmakers to Britain’s Leader of the House of Britain’s Transport Secretary Grant Shapps (left) and Conservative MP and Britain’s Business Secretary Andrea Conservative eurosceptics when he win votes in the 650-seat Commons, Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg smiles as Minister of State for the Northern Powerhouse, Jake Berry leave 10 Downing Leadsom smiles as she leaves 10 appeared to side with Johnson on the elected main house of parliament. he leaves 10 Downing Street yesterday. Street in central London yesterday after a meeting of the cabinet. Downing Street yesterday after a Thursday, declaring after bilateral Most of Labour’s 244 lawmakers, all meeting of the cabinet. talks on the summit sidelines that 35 Scottish National Party lawmakers appear to prefer a no-deal Brexit. wrote in a commentary for the “fear that this might be their last “there will be no prolongation.” and all but one of the 19 Liberal The ERG has been an ally of unionist-leaning Belfast Telegraph. opportunity to get the kind of deal month “might see this as a way back,” But European Council president Democrats are expected to vote Northern Ireland’s Democratic Johnson struck the new that they want, and it also gives them he added. Donald Tusk, who chaired the EU against the deal. Unionist Party (DUP) whose 10 arrangements to remove the earlier the kind of UK economy that they “So, a deal going through summit, said he would “consult Many of those opposed to Johnson’s lawmakers have vowed to oppose “backstop” provision. want.” parliament? Tricky, but not member states” on any such request, deal retain hopes of fi nding a Johnson’s deal after he agreed to It was designed to protect an open “There may be a few Labour MPs completely impossible,” Bale said. which EU leaders would have to agree better agreement, forcing another diff erent post-Brexit customs Irish border, and strongly opposed by who are willing to vote for this deal,” What happens if the deal is voted to unanimously. referendum, holding an election arrangements for Northern Ireland the DUP and the ERG. Bale said in a video commentary for down — or even if it passes — is also “There should be a reason (for before Brexit, or even cancelling from the rest of the United Kingdom. ERG chairman Steve Baker the think-tank UK in a Changing far from certain. an extension),” Luxembourg Prime Brexit. “Johnson’s deal with the EU is a yesterday tweeted that his group will Europe. Cautious opposition parties are Minister Xavier Bettel said yesterday, Some hardline eurosceptic U-turn extraordinary even by his not announce any position on the new Some of the 21 mainly pro-EU expected to wait until next week to giving the example of new elections Conservatives — including about considerable chameleonic standards,” deal until today morning. Conservatives who were expelled try to pass a vote for a second Brexit or a second Brexit referendum. “Just two dozen in the party’s infl uential John Tonge, professor of British and Bale expects many ERG lawmakers from the parliamentary party after referendum. to have a new delay is not a reason.” European Research Group (ERG) — Irish politics at Liverpool University, to back the accord because they voting against the government last There is also speculation – DPA

Climate leadership from developing countries Three-day forecast stewardship of the rainforests that forest, a well-managed forest can higher. CAFI is currently seeking to TODAY By Lee White and Tanguy Gahouma Maximum Temperature : 350c Libreville cover nearly nine-tenths of the retain up to 96% of its carbon and build on previous successes by making country will help us achieve this goal. 85% or more of its biodiversity. By more ambitious commitments, Minimum Temperature : 290c But we also know that our forests quantifying these impact reductions, improving coordination across SUNDAY hen Gabon ratifi ed the and natural resources are vital for we can contribute to our shared existing initiatives, and bringing in Maximum Temperature : 350c 2015 Paris climate agree- economic and social development. climate commitments under the Paris new partners and donors. Minimum Temperature : 280c ment, its real work was How can Gabon reconcile these agreement, as well as to the United We are encouraged by the progress MONDAY just beginning. The main apparently contradictory objectives? Nations Sustainable Development we are making in Gabon and the Congo Maximum Temperature : 350c W Minimum Temperature : 280c challenge was to fi nd ways to conserve How can we develop our agriculture Goals. Basin region as a whole. Developing- and timber sectors, which are critical By developing a more sustainable country governments need to build the country’s natural environment and Fisherman's forecast address the growing climate crisis, to enhancing food security and and climate-friendly logging industry, on this success and continue leading while not limiting economic opportu- diversifying the economy, while also Gabon can lead by example. We by example through their eff orts WARNING understand the economic imperatives to combat climate change, build Inshore : Strong wind expected nities for its people. Almost four years meeting our international climate at some places with later, we have a deeper understanding commitments and protecting Gabon’s of industries that help to raise living resilience, and promote sustainable thundery rain by of the crisis facing us, and the need to rich biodiversity? The answer lies in standards. But we also realise that if we development. afternoon reconcile our country’s development planning intelligently and reducing fail to safeguard our forests and natural In that regard, the recent agreement Offshore : Nil WEATHER with its climate response is greater and wasteful damage, so that our landscapes, we will not achieve the between Norway and Gabon, Inshore : Misty at some places at more urgent than ever. forests and lands can serve as both aims of the Paris accord. Moreover, any facilitated by CAFI, is a signifi cant first becomes relatively Developing countries such as ours a natural brake on climate change economic gains will be short-lived. step in the right direction. Under hot daytime with scat- tered clouds and a cannot follow the same development and a foundation for sustainable Although dramatic fossil-fuel this ten-year deal, Norway will pay chance of thundery path that Western economies have development. reductions are essential, we can avoid Gabon a fl oor price of $10 per certifi ed rain at places by after- taken over the last century and a half. Gabon intends to meet the a climate crisis only if we enhance ton for reducing greenhouse-gas noon Offshore : Scattered clouds with We know the dire consequences of majority of its climate commitment nature’s capacity to combat global emissions caused by deforestation and a weak chance of light rapid industrialisation for the global through improved forestry practices, warming. That means harnessing degradation, as well as for absorption rain at times climate and environment, so we must which can reduce carbon dioxide the power of tropical forests to of CO2 by natural forests. WIND Inshore : Northeasterly-South- fi nd a diff erent way to improve living emissions while maintaining wood absorb the CO2 that has already Collectively, however, we can still easterly 05-15/35 KT standards. production. Together with The Nature been emitted. Such natural solutions do much more to protect and restore Offshore : Northwesterly-North- It is only right, therefore, that Conservancy, the Central African could potentially provide one-third forests in order to combat climate easterly 03-12 KT advanced economies provide Forest Initiative (CAFI), and the Forest of the climate response we need by change. Too many policymakers Visibility : 4-8/3 KM 2030 to keep global warming below still harbour the misconception that additional technological and fi nancial Carbon Partnership Facility, the Around the region assistance to the developing world. government is launching a nationwide the thresholds targeted by the Paris economic development and climate Weather After all, this is the price of our initiative to reduce the contribution agreement. action are incompatible. That is not Weather tomorrow Max/min shared responsibility for the planet. of logging to climate change and In fact, Gabon is at the heart of a the case, as we are proving in Gabon. today Max/min M Sunny 36/21 But climate solutions will not come biodiversity loss. Central African carbon-sequestering But until more governments join us, Baghdad P Cloudy 36/22 M Sunny 38/25 solely from the West. Developing In 2017, we conducted a baseline powerhouse. In 2015, Gabon and fi ve the world will continue to fall short of Kuwait City Sunny 39/24 Sunny 35/28 countries – including Gabon – also study to quantify the impact of neighbouring countries established its climate commitments. Manama M Sunny 34/28 Sunny 33/25 have an opportunity to lead this existing logging practices. Over CAFI with the aim of recognising and The eff ects of climate change are Muscat Sunny 34/26 Cloudy 23/15 transformation. the next 12 months, we will work preserving the value of the region’s not constrained by national borders. Tehran M Sunny 26/16 Economic growth need not confl ict with concession managers to make forests, which together form the Only a truly global eff ort to reduce with environmental protection improvements, such as narrowing second-largest tropical forest in emissions and bolster carbon sinks and climate mitigation. In Gabon, logging roads, reducing wood the world, storing 70 giga tonnes of will enable us to prevent an even worse the government is committed to waste, and using more low-impact carbon and providing livelihoods climate crisis. – Project Syndicate reducing national greenhouse-gas equipment. We will then conduct a for 60mn people. The Congo Basin emissions by at least 50% by 2025. follow-up study to measure the eff ect may be only one-third the size of zLee White is Minister of Forests, As Minister of Forests, Oceans, of the changes. the Amazon, but it stores 60% Oceans, Environment, and Climate Environment, and Climate Change The latest research shows that of the amount of carbon that the Change of Gabon. Tanguy Gahouma is and the head of the National Climate whereas selective logging typically Amazon does, and its annual carbon the head of Gabon’s National Climate Council, respectively, we know that damages 11-33% of the remaining sequestration is proportionately Council.

Around the world Weather Weather Live issues today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Athens M Sunny 25/17 Sunny 27/16 Beirut Sunny 27/23 P Cloudy 27/23 Bangkok P Cloudy 34/26 P Cloudy 35/26 Milky Way raiding gas ‘bank accounts’ of its neighbours: study Berlin Showers 14/11 M Cloudy 19/12 Cairo Sunny 33/22 Sunny 34/22 Cape Town P Cloudy 22/14 P Cloudy 19/13 QNA was installed on the telescope by “We expected to fi nd the Milky Way’s considerably greater gravitational pull Colombo T Storm 29/24 T Storm 28/25 Washington astronauts in 2009 during its last books balanced, with an equilibrium of to siphon away their resources. Dhaka M Sunny 33/26 Sunny 33/26 servicing mission. gas infl ow and outfl ow, but 10 years of Additionally, this survey, while Hong Kong Sunny 27/22 Sunny 26/22 Researchers combed through the Hubble ultraviolet data has shown there galaxy-wide, looked only at cool Istanbul P Cloudy 23/14 P Cloudy 23/16 ur Milky Way is a frugal Hubble archives, analysing 200 past is more coming in than going out,” said gas, and hotter gas could play a Jakarta P Cloudy 34/25 P Cloudy 34/25 galaxy. Supernovas and ultraviolet observations of the diff use astronomer Andrew Fox of the Space role, too. Karachi Sunny 36/25 Sunny 36/24 violent stellar winds blow halo that surrounds the disk of our Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, “Studying our own galaxy in detail London P Cloudy 16/06 M Cloudy 13/09 Ogas out of the galactic disk, galaxy. Maryland, lead author of the study to be provides the basis for understanding Manila S T Storms 33/26 S T Storms 33/26 but that gas falls back onto the galaxy The decade’s worth of detailed published in The Astrophysical Journal. galaxies across the universe, and we Moscow Cloudy 15/10 Cloudy 16/11 to form new generations of stars. ultraviolet data provided an Fox said that, for now, the source have realised that our galaxy is more New Delhi M Sunny 32/22 P Cloudy 32/19 In an ambitious eff ort to conduct unprecedented look at gas fl ow across of the excess infl owing gas remains a complicated than we imagined,” said New York Sunny 17/10 S Showers 17/11 a full accounting of this recycling the galaxy and allowed for the fi rst mystery. Philipp Richter of the University of Paris Showers 15/11 Rain 13/10 process, astronomers were surprised galaxy-wide inventory. One possible explanation is that Potsdam in Germany, another co- Sao Paulo M Cloudy 26/15 P Cloudy 21/14 to fi nd a surplus of incoming gas. The gas clouds of the galactic halo new gas could be coming from the author on the study. Seoul Sunny 23/09 P Cloudy 22/09 Astronomers accomplished are only detectable in ultraviolet light, intergalactic medium. Recently, the Milky Way is the Singapore S T Storms 32/27 T Storm 31/26 this survey by collecting archival and Hubble is specialised to collect But Fox suspects the Milky Way is only galaxy that we have enough Sydney M Sunny 26/11 Sunny 18/12 observations from Hubbles Cosmic detailed data about the ultraviolet also raiding the gas “bank accounts” data to make such comprehensive Tokyo Rain 23/15 Cloudy 23/18 Origins Spectrograph (COS), which universe. of its small satellite galaxies, using its calculations of gas inside and out. Gulf Times 16 Saturday, October 19, 2019 QATAR

The College of Business and Economics graduating class.

College of Education group photograph.

College of Engineering group photograph. QU hosts series of graduation ceremonies for eight colleges atar University (QU) has hosted a series of gradu- Qation ceremonies for fe- male students of eight colleges over the course of a week. The ceremonies were held for the College of Education (CED), College of Business and Eco- nomics (CBE), College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), College of Engineering (CENG), College of Sharia and Islamic Studies (CSIS), College of Law (LAWC), College of Health Sciences (CHS) and the College of Pharmacy (CPH). The individual graduation cer- emonies took place from October 9, over a week, at the Sports & Events Complex of QU and cel- ebrated the 42nd batch of stu- Some of the College of Arts and Sciences graduates. dents. Since the university was founded in 1977, the graduation ble and contribute eff ectively to presence of Qatar International of Public Health, Dr Abdulla al- ceremony aims to celebrate stu- serving the nation and the vision Court and Dispute Resolution Emadi, attended the event as a dents graduating from bachelor College of Law graduates celebrate. of attaining a knowledge-based Centre CEO Faisal Rashid al-Sa- guest of honour, while the vice- and postgraduate degrees. economy.” houti, who was a guest of honour, president for Medical & Health On October 7, His Highness family and peers. She said, “This guests, saying: “I am very happy gardless of life and its burdens.” The graduation ceremony for QU president Dr al-Derham and Sciences and dean of the QU Col- the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin happy occasion is not only a cele- to be here, among academics and The following day (October 13) the College of Sharia and Islamic a number of QU offi cials, faculty, lege of Medicine, Dr Egon Toft, Hamad al-Thani attended the bration of your achievements and students. I fi nd my presence here, marked the graduation ceremony Studies took place on October student family and peers. also attended and gave a speech. graduation ceremony for all male eff orts during the academic peri- among you, a kind of personal for the College of Engineering, 14, where 95 graduates were cel- Al-Sahouti said, “I am pleased Dr Toft said, “Today’s gradu- students, while Her Highness od, but it is also the start of a new tribute to me and in this speech I where 260 graduates received ebrated. CSIS dean Dr Ibrahim to be among you in this joyful ates will contribute to refi ning Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad journey, where you must depend want to tell you that in my career their diplomas. al-Ansari and Dr al-Derham, as ceremony in celebration of the the nation’s health needs and bin Suhaim al-Thani, wife of His on yourself, where you must ac- I have succeeded in things, and A number of dignitaries and well as a number of QU offi cials, QU College of Law graduates become an essential asset for the Highness the Amir, honoured cept new responsibilities and en- failed in others. I learned from offi cials attended the ceremony, faculty, student family and peers who have demonstrated a high Health Strategy 2018-2022.” distinguished female students gage in professional experiences all the experiences in my life and including the guest of honour, attended the ceremony. level of effi ciency and a distin- This year’s graduating class the following day (October 8). in a new phase of your life.” sought to achieve success.” Undersecretary at the Ministry of Dr al-Ansari said, “Our college guished level of legal knowledge. includes some 3,220 students The fi rst of the individual col- The next day (October 10) On October 12, 834 students Education and Higher Education strives to be known regionally Today, we celebrate a new batch (2,468 female and 752 male) from lege ceremonies was for the Col- marked the graduation ceremony from the College of Arts and Sci- Dr Ibrahim bin Saleh al-Nuaimi, and internationally for its excel- of promising law graduates who a full academic year that encom- lege of Education, which took of the College of Business and ences were honoured at their CENG dean Dr Khalid Kamal Naji lence in Islamic and Sharia stud- will no doubt be a building block passes Fall 2018, Winter 2019, place on October 9. Previous QU Economics, where HE Sheikh graduation ceremony in the pres- and Dr al-Derham. ies, academic research, com- in the legal fi eld in Qatar.” Spring 2019 and Summer 2019, president Prof Sheikha Abdulla Faisal was the guest of honour. A ence of Dr al-Derham, CAS dean Dr al-Nuaimi spoke at the munity service and an authentic The week-long celebrations QU has said in a statement. al-Misnad was the guest of hon- total of 567 graduates were hon- Prof Ibrahim AlKaabi, QU offi - event, saying: “Through its mis- approach. concluded on October 16 when As QU graduates its 42nd our at the event and addressed oured that day in the presence cials, faculty, family and peers. sion, the college is keen to pro- “We aspire to be a reliable ref- the CPH, with 39 graduates, and batch of graduates, the univer- the hall, which included HE of dean of CBE, Prof Adam Mo- Prof AlKaabi addressed the vide quality engineering edu- erence for Arab-Islamic identity the CHS, with 111 graduates (both sity “continues to chronicle a Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Tha- hamed Ali Fadlalla, dignitaries, graduates, saying: “I hope you cation that contributes to the and present Islam in an actual members of the health cluster long history spanning decades ni, current QU president Dr Has- QU offi cials, faculty and student will never stop learning. Science realisation of Qatar National Vi- and positive light. We aim to pro- known as QU Health), jointly in which it contributes heav- san Rashid al-Derham, CED dean family and peers. and knowledge are valuable in sion 2030. mote co-existence and dialogue organised one graduation cer- ily to Qatar’s development and Dr Ahmed al-Emadi, 370 of the HE Sheikh Faisal thanked uni- and of themselves, regardless of The college works to ensure with others.” emony. prosperity, through boosting college’s female graduating class, versity offi cials for extending graduation and its requirements, that its graduates are highly On October 15, QU graduated Assistant Undersecretary for the labour market with qualifi ed dignitaries, faculty and student an invitation and addressed the regardless of your career and re- knowledgeable and responsi- 183 students from LAWC in the Shared Services at the Ministry graduates,” the statement notes.