BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Qatar, Russia Brazil trip look to ‘signifi cant strengthen step’ for economic Qatar ahead and trade ties of 2022 WC

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TUESDAY Vol. XXXX No. 11211 June 11, 2019 Shawwal 8, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Qatar’s blockade fuelling other rows in region, says FM

Guardian News & Media presenting themselves as bulwarks of London stability and a force against terror- ism, Sheikh Mohamed challenged their defi nitions, saying political stability audi Arabia is a force for disrup- comes through inclusion. “Any country tion across the Middle East and that is not led by an authoritarian, they SAfrica and often uses blackmail see as terrorists,” he said. “A terrorist Hassan al-Thawadi and Fahad bin Mohamed al-Attiyah held a number of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the forum. and economic pressure to enforce its can include anyone who disagrees with brand of authoritarian rule, Qatar’s them.” deputy prime minister and foreign He said Saudi foreign policy in the minister has said. past three years had led to “nothing In recent weeks the Saudis and Emi- positive” in Lebanon, Libya or Yemen. ratis have been accused of interfering Without directly accusing the Suda- ‘Qatar 2022 shows mega events to stifl e popular movements in Sudan, nese military of being under Riyadh’s Libya and Somalia. instruction, the foreign minister said In a briefi ng in London, HE Sheikh “a brutal massacre” had occurred in the Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman country last week, describing Sudan as can transform countries’ appeared to accept that an unresolved al-Thani crucial for the whole region. two-year dispute between Qatar and In Somalia, the government had been he 2022 FIFA World Cup is how cities and countries could benefi t during and long after the tournament Saudi Arabia was starting to fuel other UAE to demonise us,” Sheikh Mo- subject to Saudi blackmail, he said, af- helping transform the region from hosting mega-events. has fi nished. disputes across the region, making hamed said. “Some of the countries, ter it refused to sever links with Qatar. Tand accelerate Qatar National During the panel, al-Thawadi em- “The World Cup is already help- those disputes more diffi cult to resolve. especially in the need for support of Though US President Donald Trump Vision 2030, Supreme Committee phasised the need for innovative leg- ing Qatar develop new industries, at- Saudi Arabia, along with the UAE, Bah- the Saudis and the UAE, have even is close to the Saudi leadership, there is for Delivery & Legacy (SC) secre- acy planning to ensure that tourna- tract new talent and investment into rain and Egypt, launched an economic been blackmailed to follow the same a growing mood in Congress pressing tary-general Hassan al-Thawadi has ments leave an impact on a country the country, and accelerate legislative and political blockade of Qatar two policy against Qatar. It creates a lot of his administration to be more critical of stressed. long after they have fi nished. change in critical areas, such as labour years ago, partly in objection to Qatar’s instability in the Horn of Africa and Saudi foreign policy. He made the observation while “Qatar has always understood the reform. It’s also helping promote foot- independent foreign policy, including the sub-Saharan area. The foreign minister added that Qa- speaking at the three-day St Peters- potential impact of the World Cup and ball and a healthier lifestyle in Qatar. alleged support for the Muslim Broth- “Mainly the focus has been Africa, tar was among the countries trying to burg International Economic Forum, how it can accelerate our national vi- We’re still three years away from kick- erhood. but there have been attempts else- prevent a confl ict between Iran and the where he participated in two panel sion and transform our country for off but are already seeing the positive At the briefi ng, the foreign minister where. Africa has been the focus be- US. sessions and spoke alongside political, future generations,” he said. “From impact the tournament is having on the acknowledged the dispute was spilling cause many of the countries are in need “At some point there should be an business and sporting leaders from Day 1, we set about ensuring that the country’s development.” over across the region, citing Libya and of help and support.” engagement. It cannot last for ever. across the world, according to a press tournament leaves behind not just Al-Thawadi also praised Rus- Somalia as two countries in which the He added: “They try with every- If neither party is willing to engage in statement issued by the SC. world-class sporting infrastructure, sia’s hosting of the 2018 FIFA World Saudis have been determined to install body - in some places they succeed to further escalation, both parties need During the fi rst panel, titled ‘Big but that it has a positive social and Cup and noted how much Qatar had regimes sympathetic to Riyadh. a certain level, some succeed 100% and to come up with some ideas to open the Football in the Cityscapes’, al-Thawadi human impact on those in Qatar and learned from their operations. “Qatar has been subject to a lot of some have failed.” doors. We have to be active in advocat- and his fellow panellists discussed across the region in the build-up to, To Page 20 eff orts mainly led by Saudi and the With the Saudis and the Emiratis ing that.”

Amir congratulates Helicopter crashes Portuguese president on NYC skyscraper His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sudan deports three Da Vinci’s $450mn Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh A helicopter made a crash landing Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani sent onto the roof of a midtown yesterday cables of congratulations protest leaders to Juba Manhattan skyscraper yesterday, masterpiece is kept on to Portuguese President Marcelo killing at least one person and Rebelo de Sousa on his country’s Agencies main provider Sudatel stopped work- sending a plume of smoke skyward National Day. HE the Prime Minister Khartoum ing in Khartoum in the early after- from the top of the building, which and Interior Minister Sheikh noon, an AFP correspondent said, was shrouded in fog. Saudi prince’s yacht Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa adding the outage had aff ected em- The crash occurred shortly before al-Thani also sent a similar cable to nationwide civil disobedience bassies, luxury hotels and offi ces. 2pm (1800 GMT) on a rainy day at Leonardo Da Vinci master- Prime Minister Antonio Costa. campaign by Sudanese pro- Cyber security monitor Netblocks the AXA Equitable Center at 787 piece, whose whereabouts has Atesters entered a second day said “an almost total blackout” started Seventh Avenue. A been a mystery since it sold in yesterday, as the authorities released around noon local time. Dozens of emergency vehicles 2017 for a record $450mn, has turned Amir sends greetings and later deported three prominent “It’s the fi rst time Sudantel has swarmed the busy area, a few blocks up in an unlikely place, according to to Kazakh president rebels detained after a crackdown that cut off everything in the country,” a north of Times Square. Artnet.com. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim left dozens dead. spokesman for the group said. The city fire department said on “Salvator Mundi” is being kept on bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday sent a Some shops opened and buses plied State television reported that Ya- Twitter around 2:40pm that one superyacht Serene owned by Saudi cable of congratulations to President the streets of Khartoum, but much of sir Arman, deputy chief of the Sudan unidentified person was killed. Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on his the capital remained shut. People’s Liberation Movement-North Media reports said the person killed the publication reported yesterday, victory in the presidential elections An Internet blackout and power which is part of the protest move- was the helicopter pilot. citing two “principals involved in the in Kazakhstan, wishing him success outages made communication diffi - ment, was released along with two Governor Andrew Cuomo, who was transaction” that it didn’t identify. and the Kazakh people continued cult. other leading rebels from the group, at the scene soon after the crash, Another Saudi prince was said to progress and prosperity. His Landline Internet connections were Ismail Jalab and Mubarak Ardol. told reporters that it appeared have purchased the 500-year-old Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh down across Sudan yesterday, a week Arman later said he, along with a helicopter attempted a forced painting on MbS’s behalf at a 2017 Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani also after mobile online services were cut Jalab and Ardol were deported from emergency landing on the roof and Christie’s auction, the New York Times sent a cable of congratulations to following a deadly crackdown on pro- Khartoum to Juba in South Sudan that no one inside the building had reported previously. Christie’s declined President Tokayev. testers. after authorities claimed to have re- been injured. to confi rm that report. Internet lines from the country’s leased the three men from detention. A fire that broke out on the roof was The Saudi government’s Center for quickly brought under control, the International Communication didn’t Beating Boris: Race to fire department said. immediately respond to a request for replace May kicks off The building, which houses a comment. The contest to succeed Theresa number of corporate off ices, was The yacht’s location as of May 26 was Salvator Mundi is being kept on May as Britain’s next leader heated evacuated after the crash. in the Red Sea off Sharm El Sheikh, an superyacht Serene. up yesterday, with candidates lining It was not clear if the weather was a Egyptian resort town on the Sinai Pe- up to define themselves against the contributing factor. ninsula, according to Bloomberg ship ‘‘Salvator Mundi,” whose prov- “bluff and bluster” of Brexit-backing Nathan Hutton, who works in tracking data. enance has been questioned, will frontrunner Boris Johnson. Ten information technology for the While the high seas may not be the remain aboard MbS’s 439-ft (134- Conservative MPs gathered enough French bank BNP Paribas on the 29th best place for a fragile Old Master m) Serene until the Saudis create a support to qualify by yesterday’s floor, said the building shook when painting, it’s not uncommon for the planned cultural hub in the King- deadline for the race to replace the helicopter slammed into the roof. super-wealthy to decorate their yachts dom’s Al-Ula region, Artnet said. The May, who quit as the party’s leader “It felt like you were just standing with trophy art. Joe Lewis hung Francis project was in an “exploratory phase,” on Friday over her failure to take People walk in front of closed shops in the Sudanese capital Khartoum yesterday, there, and someone takes their hand Bacon’s “Triptych 1974-1977,” worth a spokesman for the commission Britain out of the EU on time. the second day of a nationwide civil disobedience campaign called to pressure and just shoves you,” he said. “You an estimated $70mn, on the lower deck overseeing the plan said in December. Page 10 the ruling military into handing over power. felt it through the whole building.” of his yacht, the Aviva. — Bloomberg Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, June 11, 2019 QATAR

Russian National Day celebration Sharp drop in prices of local veggies rices of locally produced vegetables have seen a Pconsiderable drop at the Doha Central Market, at times by around 50% compared to the same season two years ago be- fore the blockade started. Ever since the unjust blockade The Russian embassy hosted a reception in Doha yesterday to celebrate the Russian National Day. A number of Qatari dignitaries, was imposed by Saudi Arabia, diplomats and other guests were present on the occasion. Pictured are HE the Minister of Justice and Acting Minister of State for the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt on Cabinet Aff airs Dr Issa Saad al-Jafali al-Nuaimi and HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti June 5, 2017, Qatar has exerted cutting the ceremonial cake with Russian ambassador Nurmakhmad Kholov in the presence of ambassador Ibrahim Yousef Fakhro, great eff orts to enhance local director of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs, and other dignitaries. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil agricultural production through the use advanced technologies and by off ering local farmers and farm owners the necessary sup- port to increase their production and prolong the local farming Jaidah Group expands its cyber security off er season. The local vegetables currently on display at aidah Group has signed a the market are of a higher strategic partnership with quality than the imported JHavelsan, a business fi rm ones and the prices are that develops sophisticated sys- excellent, especially when tems for domestic and foreign compared to rates off ered military bodies, public sector in the retail market entities and private sector or- ganisations. Many Qataris have stressed Mohamed J Jaidah, group ex- the importance of continuing ecutive director, Jaidah Group with these eff orts to ensure the together with Ahmet Hamdi availability of local vegetables Atalay, CEO of Havelsan recent- in the market through the year ly signed a memorandum of un- while ensuring the same quality derstanding (MoU) to establish a at prices, according to a report in long-term partnership between local Arabic daily Arrayah. This the two companies that focuses will also help reduce the de- on the provision of an extensive pendence on imported agricul- range of cyber security solutions tural products, they point out. and services in Qatar. Jaidah While the prices of vegetables Group HE-Projects managing Jaidah Group and Havelsan off icials at the MoU signing event. at the Doha Central Market see director, Altug Okay, Havelsan periodic variations, consumers Qatar country manager Ozgur Havelsan was fi rst launched tion organisation in Turkey and Combating Department recently generally fi nd them reasonable Aytan and senior executives in 1982 by the Turkish Armed provides uninterrupted, secure launched a variety of eff orts to and particularly good for this Local produce on sale at Doha Central Market. from both organisations also Force Foundation for delivering and reliable services and solu- trace fake social media accounts time of the year. For instance, PICTURE: Ram Chand participated in the MoU signing. software solutions to the Turk- tions through the national cyber and tackle cybercrime. In addi- a box of tomatoes weighing The move refl ects Jaidah ish Army. Its advanced and pio- security systems. Havelsan also tion, Qatar has established ties around 5kg was priced between tables excellent for this time of the ated the role of local farms in Group’s diversifi cation in sup- neering technologies encompass develops command and control with Interpol and Europol to en- QR15 and QR20, while an 8kg box year, and were “much better than providing such good quantities port of long-term growth and command control systems, train- and combat systems for the air sure the systematic and eff ective of eggplants cost QR20. Simi- what they were before the block- of high-quality products during success. This also refl ects Havel- ing and simulations systems, as and naval forces and develops prevention of cybercrimes. larly, a 6kg box of cabbages cost ade”. He added that he did not this time of the year. san’s long-term vision for being well as information management land, naval and air platforms. “In Havelsan we have identi- QR5-7, 5kg zucchini QR15 and expect to fi nd such prices at the Mohamed al-Jabir stressed an international systems inte- systems. It helps to design, plan The MoU will enable Jaidah fi ed the ideal strategic partner to 5kg white onions QR15. The price vegetable market during this sea- that such positive results would grator in defence, security and and deliver critical infrastructure Group and Havelsan to engage extend our footprint in the criti- of a box of caulifl owers, weigh- son due to the high temperatures. not have been achieved in the information technology through for a wide range of governmental with a growing number of busi- cally important fi eld of cyber ing some 7kg, was QR15. Ali Saleem said the local veg- farm sector without the support developing high performance, defence organisations and private nesses in the fi nancial services, security. We’re seeing increas- As for watermelons, the pric- etables currently on display at provided by the government to high quality, cost eff ective and sector entities around the world. telecommunications sector and ing demand amongst existing es hovered around QR10 a piece the market are of a higher quality local producers. On their part, reliable solutions. Jaidah Group has long been government entities. It also in- customers and more broadly in for the Iranian and Omani va- than the imported ones and the the local farms have worked The partnership will see both known for its success in devel- cludes technology transfer from the marketplace for hardware rieties, while sweet melon was prices are excellent, especially hard to supply the market with businesses provide a broad array oping partnerships with stra- Havelsan to encourage coop- and software solutions that pro- sold for QR15 for the box of 5-6 when compared to rates off ered the adequate quantities of veg- of cyber security services and tegically important businesses eration with local universities in vide such capability. We’re now pieces. in the retail market (including etables and address any short- solutions in Qatar. It will initially to further expand its existing, Qatar to localise Havelsan’s so- ideally placed to support grow- Salim al-Marri, a citizen, said various shops and supermarkets) age caused momentarily by the involve Jaidah Group achieving world-class portfolio. It is de- lutions for the country. ing numbers of entities and or- he considered the prices of vege- around the country. He appreci- blockade, he added. certifi cation and access to pro- termined to give customers the It comes at a time when Qatar ganisations to minimise external prietary cyber-security plat- widest possible range of options is making increasing progress threats, protect their assets and forms developed by Havelsan across all the key sectors of the in investing in and launching ensure the safety and security of and the establishment of a cyber economy where it is active. advanced technologies and sys- their operations. We’re excited security centre in Qatar operated Havelsan is the most signifi - tems to tackle cybercrime. The to see where this partnership will by Jaidah Group. cant e-government transforma- Economic and Cyber Crimes lead,”Jaidah added. Commercial Bank launches campaign for its Limited Edition Black card customers Three cheers for Al Khor Zoo PHCC health centres ommercial Bank has tion will take place every week Khajeh, AGM, head of Cards and launched an exclusive for 13 weeks through a lucky Payments. Csummer campaign for its draw that will reward five cus- “Commercial Bank takes receive nearly 24,000 Limited Edition Black card cus- tomers 500,000 Qmiles on a pride in its best-in-class cards, tomers. The Black card proposi- weekly basis. particularly in the Limited Edi- tion from Commercial is known A grand prize awaits one lucky tion Black card programme that patients during Eid for its market leading high-end Limited Edition customer at the has been recognised as the re- rewards. end of the campaign, whereby gion’s best-in-class programme QNA The PHCC affi rmed that The bank’s summer campaign for every cumulative interna- for high net-worth individuals Doha meeting the needs of the pa- for 2019 introduces unprec- tional spend worth QR100,000 with a loyalty programme on par tients is one of the main priori- edented rewards on a weekly done on the Black card in the with the best in the world. ties that the corporation is keen basis, along with a grand prize campaign period, a customer “The bank’s cards have al- he Primary Health Care to achieve as it is one of the most draw scheduled to be held after gets an entry into the grand prize ways led the market, thanks to Corporation (PHCC) on important pillars of the National the end of the campaign period. draw to win QR100,000. One its innovative features, a wide TEid al-Fitr holidays re- Health Strategy in line with the Every week from June 5 un- lucky Limited Edition customer variety of rewarding loyalty pro- ceived 23,900 patients across Qatar National Vision 2030. til August 31, 2019, Limited will earn back what they spent grammes and exciting promo- their 17 health centres. The PHCC also stressed its Edition Black card customers during their trip, the bank said in tions that appeal to our present During the period from June 2 keenness to exert utmost eff orts stand a chance to win 100,000 a statement. and potential customers.” to yesterday, the PHCC provided to provide the best medical serv- Qmiles when they spend a “Every year, we strive to de- Khajeh added: “More reward- general medicine services, den- ices and healthcare to citizens The Al Khor Zoo has welcomed new members to its peacock minimum of QR30,000 on in- liver the most rewarding cam- ing and innovative products, and tal clinics, as well as emergency and residents alike refl ecting the family with the birth of three peachicks, the Ministry of ternational retail purchases paigns that would benefi t our even more exciting promotions services, and other specialised eff orts of the primary healthcare Municipality and Environment has tweeted. in any given week during the customers and enhance their are being planned for our valued clinics and prenatal examination. institution in this fi eld. campaign. The winners’ selec- banking experience,” said Roya customers in the near future.” Women twice more prone to depression than men, says expert

ey issues in women’s mit suicide,” said Dr Felice Watt, summarised the psychosocial, diff erent ways. more likely to experience pov- der, postpartum depression and health disorders, and reforming mental health were ex- division chief of Adult Psychia- cultural and biological determi- These determinants consist erty, discrimination and social menopause. social and cultural structures Kplored at Weill Cornell try for Women’s Health at Sidra nants of women’s mental health. of genetic diff erences, bio-neu- disadvantage and to have low- All of these factors contribute that discriminate against women Medicine – Qatar’s (WCM-Q) Medicine at the lecture. She explained that while the to- rological factors, psychological status jobs and decreased deci- to the types of mental health dif- is also key, she added. latest Grand Rounds lecture se- “Women have four times the tal prevalence of mental health factors, socio-cultural issues sion-making powers. fi culties experienced by women, The lecture, titled ‘Key Is- ries. risk of anorexia, bulimia and disorders in women and men is and economic, legal and envi- They are more likely to provide maintained Dr Watt. sues in Women’s Mental “Women have twice the other eating disorders than men equal, each group is aff ected in ronmental factors. Gender issues care to others, to provide unpaid Violence against women is Health’, was accredited lo- prevalence of depression than and 2.5 times the risk of PTSD diff erent ways. often deepen disparities associ- labour and to work in poorly paid also an important determinant cally by the Qatar Council for men, twice the amount of anxi- [post-traumatic stress disor- “Close consideration of the ated with socioeconomic deter- agricultural jobs. of women’s mental health. As Healthcare Practitioners-Ac- ety disorders and are two times der],” she continued. key determinants of mental minants like income, employ- Additionally, women’s mental such, gender-informed ap- creditation Department and more likely to attempt suicide, Dr Watt described the preva- health can shed light on the rea- ment and social status,” noted health is impacted by hormonal proaches are important in the internationally by the Accred- although we know that men are lence and eff ects of women’s sons why men and women ex- Dr Watt. factors and conditions such as eff ective prevention, diagnosis itation Council for Continuing more likely to successfully com- mental health issues globally and perience mental health issues in According to her, women are premenstrual dysphoric disor- and management of women’s Medical Education. Gulf Times Tuesday, June 11, 2019 3 REGION/ARAB WORLD

Japan’s Iran warns over ‘economic war’ Abe on mediation waged through US sanctions mission

AFP Tehran Govt believes in salvaging N-deal: Rouhani AFP Tokyo Iran still believes that the nu- steps” towards this. ran’s foreign minister clear deal it struck with world Iran’s goal, the Iranian president warned yesterday of the powers in 2015 is worth saving said, is to further develop apan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Iconsequences of waging despite current tensions, relations with the EU, “and Abe heads to Iran this week “economic war” against the President Hassan Rouhani said Germany in particular.” Jon a rare diplomatic mission, Islamic republic through US yesterday during a meeting Both Rouhani and Maas sug- hoping to ease tensions between sanctions, saying those con- with Germany’s top diplomat in gested that further tensions the Islamic Republic and Tokyo’s ducting and supporting it could Tehran. “We still believe in sav- in the Middle East could lead key ally Washington. not expect to “remain safe”. ing the deal, and Germany and to a military escalation. Maas Tehran is locked in a bitter “One cannot expect an eco- the EU can play a decisive and described the situation in standoff with the US after presi- nomic war to continue against positive role in this process,” the region as “highly volatile dent Donald Trump withdrew the Iranian people and that Rouhani said during a meeting and highly dangerous,” while from a landmark nuclear deal those waging this war and those with German Foreign Minister Rouhani said the region has last year. supporting it remain safe,” Mo- Heiko Maas, according to a “definitely not become safer” Washington has now reim- hamed Javad Zarif said at a joint statement from the presidential since the US exit from the deal. posed sanctions and shifted news conference in Tehran with off ice. The US unilaterally with- OUTPUT BOOST troops to the region, putting his German counterpart Heiko drew last year from the Iran Also yesterday, International military and economic pressure Maas. agreement, which was aimed Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Iran, including by forcing US “The only way to decrease at preventing Tehran from chief Yukiya Amano confirmed allies like Japan to stop purchas- tensions in the region is to stop acquiring a nuclear arsenal. that Iran has boosted the ing Iranian oil. the economic war,” he added, Washington’s decision to begin output of its uranium enrich- Japanese government offi cials noting Germany and the Euro- implementing oil and banking ment facility — as Tehran had say Abe will not present Tehran pean Union could have an “im- sanctions have crippled Iran’s announced last month in the with a list of demands, or deliver portant role” to play in defusing economy and placed the deal’s wake of its decision to gradu- a message from Washington, and the situation. European signatories under ally leave the agreement. instead want to position Japan Iran signed a landmark nu- pressure. Tehran is at the “The pace of production is as a neutral intermediary. That clear accord with Britain, Chi- centre of a flurry of diplo- increasing,” he told reporters, could prove useful, said Michael na, France, Germany, Russia matic activity this week, with citing recent measurements Bosack, special adviser for gov- and the United States in 2015, visits from Maas and Japanese collected by IAEA inspectors ernment relations at the Yoko- leading to sanctions relief in ex- Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohamed Javad Zarif (right) and his German counterpart Heiko Maas give a joint Premier Shinzo Abe aimed at in Iran. suka Council on Asia-Pacifi c change for curbs on its nuclear press conference in the capital Tehran, yesterday. finding a solution for upholding However, it is not clear when Studies. programme. the nuclear deal. Iran’s stock of enriched “Japan carries none of the But the US administration of in Tehran, and both said they “have made the greatest eff ort after the ministers’ meeting. Yesterday, Rouhani said Europe uranium will exceed the limit historical or religious baggage President Donald Trump has discussed the future of the nu- to meet (their) commitments.” The oil embargo has hurt must oppose US sanctions set by the 2015 nuclear pact of other potential media- imposed sweeping sanctions clear pact and regional issues, “We will not work miracles. Iran’s main supply of foreign and “economic terrorism” and because production is fluctuat- tors...(and) has demonstrated on Iran and, according to Te- although their news conference But we are doing all we can to revenues, while the banking fulfil its obligations under the ing, Amano added, indirectly its willingness to go its own hran, waged an “economic war” appeared tense and they ap- prevent a failure.” sanctions have scared away for- nuclear deal, adding that they confirming that there has been way on Middle East policy,” against it after walking away peared to agree on little. But Iran begged to diff er. eign investors and made money had not taken “any serious no breach yet. he said.“These factors better from the deal. “We had a serious, frank and “What the Europeans must transfers through offi cial chan- position Abe for engagement Germany’s visiting foreign rather long discussion,” Zarif do, and have done has so far, has nels nearly impossible for busi- with Ayatollah Khamenei and minister said his country would said. not satisfi ed” our interests, for- nesses. ment restrictions and resume the entrance to the Gulf on May mean that Japanese-proposed do its utmost to ensure tensions Ahead of their meeting, Maas eign ministry spokesman Abbas Europe tried to respond to the building a heavy-water reactor 12. An international investiga- options could allow hardlin- do not escalate. acknowledged the economic Mousavi said. US withdrawal by setting up a at Arak that was shut down as tion found a “state actor” was ers in Iran to entertain pro- “There is war in Syria and in benefi ts Tehran hoped for from The US sanctions reimposed special trade mechanism called part of the deal. The Gulf has likely to have been responsible posed off-ramps, without the Yemen, fortunately not here,” the deal were now “more diffi - last year targeted crucial parts Instex that would allow legiti- been tense for about a month for the attacks. potential fallout that could Maas said. “We want to do eve- cult to obtain” but urged Iran to of Iran’s economy, especially mate trade with Iran to continue over increased strain between The UN’s International come from accepting ‘West- rything we can to keep it that fully respect the deal. the oil and banking sectors. without falling foul of US sanc- Iran and the United States on Atomic Energy Agency, said ern’ solutions.” way” for Iran. It was in Iran’s “political and “The summary of Maas’ re- tions, but it has yet to become one hand and the Islamic repub- yesterday it was “worried about Abe will meet President “Nevertheless, the tensions strategic interest to maintain marks: we are nothing without operational. lic and US allies on the other. increasing tensions” over Iran’s Hassan Rouhani and the coun- here in the region are worrying, this agreement and the dialogue America and are not capable of Iran has given Europe, China The tensions worsened after nuclear programme. try’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah and we fear that single events with Europe”, he said. doing anything, do not expect and Russia until July “to make the US military announced it IAEA chief Yukiya Amano Ali Khamenei on the June 12-14 can trigger developments that ‘NO MIRACLES’ much from us,” Abdollah Gan- their commitments operation- was dispatching reinforcements also said Iran’s “production rate trip — the first time a Japanese end in violence, and we want The nuclear deal, Maas said, ji, the managing director of al”. Otherwise Tehran said it to the Middle East in response to (of uranium) is increasing”, al- prime minister has visited Iran to prevent this under all cir- is “extraordinarily important” ultra-conservative Javan daily, would stop complying with the alleged “Iranian threats” as well though he was unable to give an since 1978, a year before the cumstances.” Maas met Zarif for Europe’s security and they wrote mockingly on Telegram nuclear deal’s uranium enrich- as the sabotage of four ships at exact fi gure. country’s revolution.

CONFLICT Yemen foreign Anniversary celebration minister quits amid differences Palestinian minister hits back over UN efforts at Israeli annexation talk Yemen’s foreign minister has submit- ted his resignation as diff erences emerge within the Saudi-backed AFP new elections in September. one could really touch?” government over the handling of a Warsaw Israel occupied the West In Jerusalem, the Palestin- UN-led peace initiative in the main Bank in the 1967 Six-Day War ian foreign ministry said it was port city of Hodeidah, two ministry and the continued construc- looking at fi ling a complaint sources said yesterday. Khaled he Palestinian for- tion of settlements there has with the International Crimi- al-Yamani, who took over the post in eign minister yesterday been a major stumbling block nal Court. May 2018, said he would step down Tcalled for sanctions on to progress in the peace process Palestinian leaders said the after some off icials in the government Israel if it starts to annex parts with the Palestinians. Friedman comments showed of Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi faulted of the occupied West Bank. The international commu- “extremists” are involved in him for not criticising UN special en- But Riyad al-Maliki also nity regards the settlements White House policy on the is- voy Martin Griff iths’ performance. The questioned whether Israel was as illegal. “Friedman with his sue. The Palestinian leadership resignation needs to be accepted by a “holy cow” no one dare touch. statement is trying to help has already rejected the long- A handout picture released by the Jordanian Royal Palace yesterday shows Jordanian King Hadi, who last month complained in a He was talking to reporters in Netanyahu to have the courage delayed US peace plan, say- Abdullah II and his son Crown Prince Hussein (third right) performing a military salute during letter to the UN secretary-general that Poland after a US envoy’s com- to take such a decision” to an- ing President Donald Trump’s an off icial ceremony at the Martyrs’ Memorial museum in the capital Amman, marking the Griff iths was “legitimising” the Houthi ments that Israel had the right nex, said Maliki. moves so far show him to be King’s 19th coronation anniversary, the National Army Day, and the 103rd anniversary of the movement locked in a four-year to annex at least some of the “This is really something blatantly biased in favour of Revolt against Ottoman rule. war with a Saudi-led coalition loyal territory captured in 1967. that the international commu- Israel. to the president. “He (Yamani) was US ambassador to Israel nity has to stand up to,” he said. The Palestinians have called expecting to be dismissed and so he David Friedman made the “We cannot accept the an- for countries to boycott a June submitted his resignation before that claim in a New York Times in- nexation of territories by any 25-26 conference in Bahrain to happens,” one source said. Yamani terview published on Saturday. country because this is (a) vio- discuss economic aspects of could not immediately be reached for “Under certain circum- lation of international law.” the peace deal. comment. In his letter to Secretary- stances, I think Israel has the The minister said sanctions More than 600,000 Jewish Troops arrest 14 Palestinians General Antonio Guterres, Hadi said right to retain some, but un- should be imposed if Israel re- settlers now live in the West Griff iths had failed to properly oversee likely all, of the West Bank,” sorts to annexation. Bank and annexed east Jerusa- the agreement for a ceasefire. Friedman said. “It should be expected that lem, among 3mn Palestinians. QNA out in diff erent areas in the oc- and arrested 14 Palestinians, Prime Minister Benjamin (the) international community Putting settlements under Ramallah cupied West Bank yesterday. claiming they are wanted. Netanyahu pledged ahead of will take up sanctions against Israeli sovereignty on a large- The Palestinian Prisoners Since Eid al-Fitr holiday until UNREST April elections to begin annex- Israel if Israel really ventures scale could kill any remaining Club said in a statement that the Sunday, the Israeli occupation UN hears calls ing West Bank settlements. into such (an)approach. hopes for a two-state solution sraeli occupation forces ar- occupation forces stormed vari- forces arrested 37 Palestinians After failing to build a gov- “Or when it comes to Israel, to the confl ict with the Pales- rested 14 Palestinians during ous areas in the cities of Hebron, in the West Bank and occupied to enforce Libya erning coalition, he now faces is it really the holy cow that no tinians. raids and searches carried Salfi t, Tulkarem and Bethlehem, Jerusalem, including three girls. arms embargo I The UN Security Council yester- day renewed a green light to a European Union mission to com- bat migrant traff icking and arms Regime, Russia fi ring kill 25 Alarm as fi re ravages wheat smuggling off Libya’s coast amid calls for action to cut the flow of weapons. The council voted unani- in northwest Syria: monitor near oil installations in Syria mously to extend authorisation of Operation Sophia until June 2020, more than two months after the Agencies the eastern neighbourhood of Khan Sheikhoun AFP the head of the Kurdish agriculture authority forces of Khalifa Haftar launched Beirut and also a school in the city. Al Qahtaniyah Salman Bardo said, referring to the town named an off ensive to seize Tripoli, seat Ahmed Sheikho, head of White Helmets Idlib, Al-Qahtaniyah. “It’s a huge danger for the region of the UN-recognised govern- said 24 people were wounded, among them chil- because the fi re is close to oil wells and stations,” ment. Germany told the council yrian regime and Russian fi re yesterday dren, when government strikes hit the centre of Kurdish offi cial in northeast Syria called he warned. An AFP correspondent saw black that arms supplies delivered in killed 25 civilians including seven children the city. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for help from the US-backed coalition smoke billow over golden fi elds scorched black, violation of a UN embargo were Sin diff erent parts of a northwestern region for Human Rights confi rmed the strikes and said Ayesterday as fi res ravaged through vital as men tried to put out fl ames with shovels just the main hurdle in the way of beyond government control, a Britain-based war most of those wounded are suff ering from serious wheat fi elds in the latest of such blazes nation- metres (yards) away from oil installations. an end to the fighting in Tripoli monitor said. injuries. wide. One man in a bulldozer was desperately trying and a return to political talks. “A The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said The watchdog said government planes carried Syria’s Kurds have led the fi ght against the to plough the earth to stop the fi re from spread- seemingly unlimited arms supply 13 of those slain were killed in regime air raids on out 65 strikes targeting Khan Sheikhoun in the Islamic State group in the north and east of the ing. “We ask the international coalition to in- fuel the erroneous belief in the the town of Jabala in Idlib province. southern countryside of Idlib and other areas in country, backed by a US-led military coalition. tervene to extinguish the fi res using special fi re military solution to the conflict and Earlier, Syrian government forces intensifi ed the northern countryside of Hama. As the eight-year civil war winds down, they planes” we don’t have, Bardo said. contributes to the unwillingness of their air strikes on rebel-held areas in the prov- Late last month forces of Syrian President are seeking to retain a degree of autonomy from Abderrizq al-Mahmud, a 29-year-old wheat actors on the ground to agree on ince of Idlib yesterday, killing at least eight civil- Bashar al-Assad, supported by Russian air pow- the Damascus regime in a large cereal and oil-rich grower, said his family’s land had been destroyed. a ceasefire and resume a political ians, a rescue team and monitoring group said. er, initiated a massive campaign against rebels region their control in the northeast of the coun- “Forty-fi ve hectares have gone up in fl ames, process,” said Germany’s Deputy The White Helmets, rescue teams that work in Hama and Idlib, the last major opposition try. “Fires today engulfed hundreds of hectares and I only have eight hectares left” after the fi re UN ambassador Juergen Schulz. only in rebel-held areas, said the strikes targeted stronghold in Syria. of wheat in Tirbespi and the fi res are still raging,” roared in on Sunday, he said. Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, June 11, 2019 AFRICA

95 killed by SA green suspected Liberia protest coalition groups terrorists sue govt in Mali over air DPA issues string of demands Bamako pollution AFP Weah, 52, is being challenged Nathaniel Patray in connection source of discontent. pleteness of the CBL’s internal Monrovia over the same issues on which with fi nancial problems at the Fingers have been pointed at records.” AFP t least 95 people were he campaigned in his rise to Central Bank of Liberia which past and present managers of the More irregularities came to Johannesburg killed when suspect- the presidency of the impover- led to price hikes. Central Bank of Liberia (CBL). light related to a cash injection Aed terrorists attacked protest coalition in ished West African state just 18 The coalition also called for Last October, rumours of $25mn that Weah ordered in a village in central Mali, the Liberia that has chal- months ago. Weah and all of his offi cials to swirled that newly-printed Li- July 2018 to mop up excess Li- wo South African envi- government said yesterday. Alenged President George Issuing its demands, the declare their assets and the berian dollars worth $102mn, berian dollars and bring infl a- ronmental groups are su- Nineteen others are missing since Weah on the streets of Mon- protest coalition said it ex- government to stop fi nancing intended for the CBL’s re- tion under control. Ting the government over unknown armed men attacked the rovia over rising prices and pected the government “to re- the offi ce of the First Lady. serves, had disappeared shortly Weah says he is aware of the air pollution in the northeast- village of Sobame Da in the Mopti corruption has issued a string spond to these demands within Revered in Liberia and be- after arrival from abroad. burden of ordinary people, and ern province of Mpumalanga, region in the early hours yesterday, of demands with a four week the period of one month, after yond for blazing a trail for Afri- Charles Sirleaf – the son of improvement to health, education where 83% of the country’s coal according to the statement. deadline. which we will determine the can footballers in Europe, Weah former president and Nobel and roads remain his priorities. is mined, their lawyer said yes- The attackers also killed animals Thousands of people – new course of action”. is struggling to revive a country laureate Ellen Johnson Sirleaf He has said Liberia will terday. and burnt down houses, the govern- 10,000 according to organis- The demands included im- that is one of the poorest in the – was detained in March with benefi t from an Interna- GroundWork and the Vukani ment said, adding that an investiga- ers, 4,000 according to police provements in areas such as world and still traumatised by two other CBL fi gures. tional Monetary Fund aid Environmental Justice Move- tion into the attack was under way. – took part in a protest on Fri- human rights and corruption back-to-back civil wars between An independent probe found programme, but experts say ment in Action say the gov- The UN special representative day in the capital city, in a key as well as the prosecution of Fi- 1989 and 2003 that claimed a no money was missing, but IMF support typically comes ernment has violated the con- for Mali condemned the attack, political test for football icon nance Minister Samuel Tweah quarter of a million lives. fl agged “concerns regarding with demands for reform and stitutional right to a healthy saying he was “shocked and out- Weah. and Central Bank Governor Rising prices are a major the overall accuracy and com- belt-tightening. environment. raged” by what he called an “act According to an October re- of unspeakable barbarism.” port by Greenpeace, Mpumalan- “The threshold of the unbear- ga’s nitrogen dioxide emissions able is reached: It is time for a na- are the highest in the world. tionwide outcry,” said Mahamat Security at Goma airport The province, which borders Saleh Annadif, who also serves as Two more Zimbabwe Mozambique, is also home to 12 the head of the UN’s MINUSMA coal-fi red power plants run by peacekeeping mission in Mali. South Africa’s electricity pro- “I call on the Malian authorities activists released vider Eskom. to quickly investigate this trag- Papers were served on Friday edy and bring the perpetrators wo Zimbabwean rights “We welcome the court’s to the South African president, to justice,” Annadif said. campaigners arrested decision in releasing the hu- the national air quality controller MINUSMA had started co-ordi- Tlast month and charged man rights campaigners. They and the environmental minister, nating response eff orts, including with subversion were released did not deserve to have been in and they have 15 days to respond humanitarian aid, with security on bail yesterday, lawyers said. prison in the fi rst place,” he said. to the application, the NGOs’ forces in the aff ected area, he added. The pair were among a group Mafunda said they were re- lawyer Robyn Hugo said. Mali’s centre and north have of seven human rights defend- leased on $1,000 bail each and Activists say being exposed to experienced regular fl are-ups of ers arrested at Harare airport that the court imposed “oner- toxic products from coal plants violence and attacks in the wake on their arrival from the Mal- ous conditions” on the activ- such as sulphur dioxide and of a 2012 military coup that saw dives, where police allege they ists, including having to report heavy metals like mercury have separatist rebel groups and later attended a workshop on how to to a police station every day. led led to chronic diseases like Al Qaeda-associated militants overthrow President Emmer- Their fi ve co-accused were asthma, bronchitis and lung can- take control of the region. son Mnangagwa’s government. released on bail on Friday. cer and contributes to cerebral French and African military High court judge Justice Amy Their arrests came after accidents and premature births. operations, alongside the Malian Tsanga ordered the release of state-owned newspaper The According to an independent army’s eff orts, scattered militants Rita Nyamupinga and Stabile Herald ran a story saying that survey cited by the two NGOs, and restored government control Dhewa, who were charged with “a group of shady organisations the 12 Eskom sites plus two oth- over the area, but rebel activities A platoon of the DR Congo National Police deployed on the road to Goma airport yesterday during “subverting a constitutional with links to the (main opposi- ers are responsible for the bulk and military operations continue a demonstration of supporters of the opponent Moise Katumbi. Katumbi was scheduled to travel government”, Zimbabwe Law- tion) MDC-Alliance has been of air pollution which caused in some areas, despite the signing to Goma yesterday but the visit was cancelled at the last minute, angering his supporters. yers for Human Rights spokes- hard at work laying the ground- between 305 and 650 premature of various peace agreements. man Kumbirai Mafunda said. work for civil unrest”. (AFP) deaths in the province in 2016. Gulf Times Tuesday, June 11, 2019 5 AFRICA

US military vehicle Nairobi traffic grid hit by bomb in Niger Three Cameroon soldiers A US military vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device in Niger, site of a deadly jihadist killed in Boko Haram attack attack on American forces, the military has announced. The Mine Resistant Ambush AFP “Around 3:45am, many heavily Protected All-Terrain Vehicle Yaoundé armed Boko Haram members targeted activated the bomb “while entering a a post of the multinational force and a firing range in the vicinity of Ouallam, brigade. Niger on June 8, 2019” during a joint hree Cameroonian soldiers and “It was followed by heavy fi ghting training exercise, US Africa Command an unspecifi ed number of civil- lasting several hours,” the source said. said in a statement. Tians were killed during an over- Boko Haram’s decade-long upris- “There are no reported US night attack by Boko Haram on a military ing to establish a hardline Islamic casualties, however, as a post manned by a multinational force, state in Nigeria’s northeast, which precaution, US service members security sources said yesterday. has killed more than 27,000 people are being evaluated,” it said, The raid in the village of Darak in and left 1.8mn homeless, has spilled adding that Nigerien forces had western Cameroon’s Lake Chad re- into neighbouring Niger, Chad and secured the scene of the blast. gion was followed by heavy fi ghting, a Cameroon. Four American soldiers and four security source said. An anti-Boko Haram force combin- Nigerien soldiers were killed in an “Three soldiers and (some) civilians ing soldiers from Chad, Cameroon, Ni- October 2017 ambush in the country, were killed,” the source said, confi rming ger, and Nigeria has been set up but has when scores of jihadists overran their a claim from a member of a local self- failed to rout the group from the restive convoy in southwestern Niger, near defence militia. Lake Chad region. the border with Mali. (AFP)

A motorcyclist ferrying farm produce uses the cycle lane to navigate past afternoon traffic along Likoni Road in Nairobi’s Kilimani suburb yesterday. A recent study by the World Bank ranked Nairobi as the sixth city with the worst traffic in the world. Nigerian gangs kill 43 in several attacks AFP tani, from the village of Satiru, where “We lost 18 people in the raid by the Kano 18 people were murdered. gunmen, who came into the village In Sokoto state’s Rabah district, on motorcycles,” said Satiru village gunmen rode into four villages – resident Umeh Na-Ta’ala. unmen on motorbikes killed 43 Rukunni, Tsage, Giire and Kalfu – The gangs have long been a scourge people in waves of attacks in massacring 25 people. of rural communities in northern Ni- Gnorthern Nigeria, police said “Twenty-fi ve people were killed,” geria, raiding villages, stealing cattle, yesterday, the latest violence by crimi- said Ibrahim Kaoje, Sokoto state’s top burning homes, looting food, and nal gangs raiding villages and stealing police offi cer. “Several domestic ani- kidnapping for ransom. livestock. mals were rustled by the attackers.” The communities have taken up The string of attacks, carried out Four people were arrested in connec- arms to defend themselves, although overnight Saturday to Sunday in Ni- tion to those attacks, Kaoje said, “in- the vigilantes are often accused of geria’s far northwestern Sokoto state, cluding a female informant of the gangs, extrajudicial killings of suspected saw the gangs ride out from forest who was disguised as a mad woman.” bandits. hideouts, speeding into villages and In a separate wave of attacks in Sat- President Muhammadu Buhari con- unleashing their weapons. iru village, in Sokoto’s Isa district, the demned the killings, expressing “deep “They opened fi re on the village in- raiders shot 18 people, and then stole shock and sadness” in a statement discriminately,” said Abdullahi Dan- animals. issued late Sunday. Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, June 11, 2019 AMERICA Crane crashes down on Dallas building, killing 1, injuring 6

Reuters ness accounts reported in the news media. Dallas A nearby resident identifi ed as Abbey Kear- ney told CNN that she and her husband saw the crane come down on the Elan City Lights construction crane, apparently top- apartment building in downtown Dallas just pled by high winds, collapsed onto an as extremely high winds kicked up in the area. Aapartment house in Dallas on Sunday “It just sliced through the building...like a hot and sliced through fi ve fl oors of the building, knife through butter,” she said. killing at least one person and injuring six Evans said one person was found dead in a others, a city fi re and rescue spokesman said. residential portion of the fi ve-story building The building’s parking garage was also heavi- hardest hit by the fallen crane, and six others ly damaged, and authorities planned a thorough were taken to hospitals. Local media reports search of the entire structure for anyone else said the person who died was a woman. who may have been trapped or killed inside, the While the precise cause of the accident spokesman, Jason Evans, told reporters at the was not immediately determined, Evans said scene. “We’re hoping that what we have at this there was a “strong possibility that yes, the point is where it ends” in terms of casualties, wind did play some role in the collapse of Evans said during the televised news briefi ng. the crane itself.” The crane broke into several The collapse occurred just before 2pm as a pieces that fell into diff erent portions of the bout of severe weather blew through the city, apartment building, located across the street according to Evans and a number of eyewit- from a large construction site, Evans said.

This April 23, 2018, file photo shows US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron planting a tree on the grounds of the White House in Washington, DC as Trump’s wife Melania and Macron’s wife Brigitte look on. Oak symbolising Trump-Macron friendship is dead

Reuters Washington

he photo of Donald Trump and his French counter- part Emmanuel Macron planting an oak tree in the Tgarden of the White House symbolised the friend- ship shown by the two leaders. But relations between them have since frayed — over issues ranging from Iran to trade — and the tree, a diplo- matic source said this week, did not survive. The French president off ered the young oak to Trump on the occasion of a state visit to Washington in 2018, and the two shovelled dirt around it under the watchful eyes of their wives — and cameras from around the world. It was a symbolic gesture: the tree came from a north- ern French forest where 2,000 US Marines died during the World War I. But a few days later, the tree was nowhere to be seen, having disappeared into quarantine. “It is a quarantine which is mandatory for any living or- ganism imported into the US,” Gerard Araud, then-French ambassador to America, wrote on Twitter, adding that it would be replanted later. But it was never replanted: the tree died during its quar- antine, the diplomatic source said.

Study fi nds Google is making billions from news content

AFP Washington

oogle took in some $4.7bn in revenue in 2018 from “crawling and scraping” news websites without Gpaying publishers, according to a media industry- sponsored study released yesterday. The study by the News Media Alliance underscores in- dustry arguments about Google and other online giants harming traditional news organisations by dominating the Internet news ecosystem and ad revenues generated through it. According to the study, Google has increasingly mon- etised news content as it works to keep consumers in its ecosystem, and that news searches helps the Internet giant gather data from its users to help tailor its other products. The report is expected to be presented this week to a congressional hearing on antitrust abuses by Big Tech fi rms and to support legislation that would allow news or- ganisations exemptions from antitrust to negotiate digital revenues. Google disputed the fi ndings of the study, as did some media analysts. “These back of the envelope calculations are inaccurate as a number of experts are pointing out,” a Google spokes- person said. “The overwhelming number of news queries do not show ads. The study ignores the value Google provides. Every month Google News and Google Search drive over 10bn clicks to publishers’ websites, which drive subscrip- tions and signifi cant ad revenue.” Other analysts also voiced scepticism about the meth- ods and conclusions of the study by the media group pre- viously known as the Newspaper Association of America. Jeff Jarvis, a City University of New York journalism professor, called the study fl awed, in part because it relies on “snippets” in search results. “Snippets in search are NOT content,” Jarvis said on Twitter. “They are links TO the publishers. Google does not monetise Google News. When it makes money on news it’s by serving ads ON publishers’ sites.” Temple University professor Aron Pilhofer said the study fails to consider how Google drives users to news websites where publishers can generate revenue. “Even if you accept the methodology (which I do not), I think it’s fair to also account for all the traffi c Google is pushing to publisher sites, wouldn’t it? This is just silly,” Pilhofer tweeted. Gulf Times Tuesday, June 11, 2019 7 AMERICAS

ENTERTAINMENT JUSTICE FACING THE HEAT SURVEY TECHNOLOGY Oprah to interview Top court upholds Yemeni’s California utilities plan for More millennials now Microsoft unveils next-gen Central Park Five indefinite detention at Gitmo long, hot summer subscribe to video games Xbox for release in 2020

The Queen of All Media will sit down tomorrow The US Supreme Court yesterday upheld the With temperatures soaring and strong winds More American millennials now subscribe to a Microsoft on Sunday unveiled its next-generation with the Central Park Five for the first time ever for detention of a Yemeni prisoner held without blowing through forests across Northern California video game service than to a traditional paid Xbox console, known as “Project Scarlett,” which a special in-depth conversation scheduled to air charge or trial for 17 years at an American over the weekend, rural areas in the Sierra Nevada television service, according to a survey yesterday, is set to hit store shelves during the 2020 holiday on Netflix and OWN. The streaming giant and the military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The foothills plunged into darkness after Pacific Gas & as consumers favour new forms of entertainment season. The device will be four times more basic cable channel announced over the weekend top court refused to take up a petition on behalf Electric Co shut off high-voltage transmission lines that are shifting the broader media landscape. powerful than the Xbox One X console and be that Oprah Winfrey will interview Antron McCray, of Moath al-Alwi, who was arrested on the to avoid sparking wildfires. Working collaboratively About 53% of people born between 1983 and 1996 powered by an Advanced Micro Devices chip, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana Afghan-Pakistan border in December 2001. The with the California Department of Forestry and now pay for gaming services, versus 51% who the company said during its Xbox E3 conference and Korey Wise — the subjects of the acclaimed four- Yemeni national is considered to be an “enemy Fire Protection, local agencies and the state Off ice pay for television, according to a survey from the in Los Angeles. The console will show up to 120 part miniseries When They See Us, which chronicles combatant,” a classification that allows him to of Emergency Services, the utility continued to accounting and professional services firm Deloitte. frames per second, or twice the average TV, the controversial case of five teenagers, labelled the be held for the duration of the conflict. Alwi’s monitor weather conditions. Meanwhile, the Sand That is compared with Deloitte’s survey last year, and include a solid-state drive, Microsoft said, “Central Park Five,” who were convicted of a 1989 lawyers argued that unlike past conflicts, the fire in rural Yolo County had spread to 2,200 acres in which paid subscriptions among millennials allowing games to load much faster than on its rape they did not commit in the city. The ensemble war against Al Qaeda is of an indefinite duration, by Sunday afternoon, prompting the Bay Area Air were 44% for video games and 52% for TV. Paid older mechanical hard drives. The latest version cast includes Asante Blackk, Felicity Huff man, creating “the risk of lifelong detention for him.” Quality Management District on Sunday to declare TV through cable, satellite or fiber has been of Microsoft’s popular “Halo” videogame will be Michael K Williams and John Leguizamo. The court gave no reason for rejecting the case. the first smog alert of 2019. challenged by changing viewer habits. launched along with the new console. Democratic hopefuls Single-use plastic faces Canada ban

By Jacques Lemieux, AFP responsible for “the entire life-cycle” of their Montreal products. pitch ideas on how to Both plastic manufacturers and the compa- nies using their products, as in packing materi- anada will ban single-use plastics from als, will have to provide recycling plans. 2021, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau an- Canada, France, Germany, Britain and Italy, Cnounced yesterday, declaring it a “global along with the European Union, subscribed at challenge” to phase out the plastic bags, straws last year’s G7 summit in Quebec to a new char- and cutlery clogging the world’s oceans. ter against pollution in the world’s oceans. beat Trump in 2020 “I am very pleased to announce that as early The United States and Japan did not join the as 2021, Canada will ban harmful, single-use pact. By John Whitesides, Reuters turn to normal. We are where we plastics from coast to coast,” Trudeau said, ar- The non-binding Ocean Plastics Charter Cedar Rapids, Iowa are because normal broke,” he said. guing Canada has a unique chance to lead the called on participating countries and the EU to Iowa party leaders said the din- fi ght against plastic pollution as the country commit to making all plastics reusable, recycla- ner would be an opportunity for with the world’s longest coastlines. ble or recovered by 2030. ineteen Democratic presi- lesser-known candidates to make Less than 10% of plastics used in Canada are A total of 21 governments have by now taken dential candidates de- their case, and several of those currently recycled, he said. that pledge, Trudeau said. Nlivered rapid-fi re sales Democrats warned the party Each year a million birds and more than In addition, the EU earlier this year passed pitches to Iowa party leaders on against leaning too far to the left, 100,000 marine mammals worldwide suff er in- legislation this year to ban single-use plastic Sunday evening, touting their refl ecting the lingering tensions jury or death by becoming entangled in plastic products starting in 2021. ability to energise voters, win the between the party’s progressive or ingesting it through the food chain — with Several Canadian cities already ban the use White House and deliver on long- and more pragmatic, moderate single-use items representing some 70% of the of plastic bags — Montreal passed its ban last time party goals such as universal wings. plastic waste littering the marine environment. year — and some provinces have banned other healthcare. Former Colorado Governor “You’ve all heard the stories and seen the products. At the biggest gathering so far John Hickenlooper took aim at photos. And to be honest, as a dad it is tough But Trudeau said a “national solution” was of 2020 presidential candidates, Sanders’ democratic socialist trying to explain this to my kids,” Trudeau said. needed. the Democrats had fi ve minutes agenda and said it was bad politics “How do you explain dead whales washing “Every year, Canadians throw away over 3mn each to sum up their case for the Democratic presidential candidate and New York City Mayor Bill De that could be a stumbling block to up on beaches around the world, their stomachs tons of plastic waste,” the prime minister said in presidency. Blasio speaks at the Iowa Democratic Party’s Hall of Fame Dinner on defeating Trump in 2020. jam-packed with plastic bags? a statement. Most agreed on the problems, Sunday night in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. “We must present a bold vision “How do I tell them that against all odds, you “This represents up to $8bn per year in lost including fi nding a solution to for the future, but we also must will fi nd plastic at the very deepest point of the value and wastes valuable resources and en- climate change, improving pub- in the Democratic presidential race “I understand there are some acknowledge that the most eff ec- Pacifi c Ocean? ergy.” lic education and easing pay and in February, came one day after well-intentioned Democrats and tive charge Republicans can level “People around the world are grappling with Recycling, he said, would not only cut down wealth inequality. the Des Moines Register published candidates who believe the best against us is ‘socialism’,” he said. this every day. on pollution but would help produce 42,000 They all agreed on the solution: a new Iowa opinion poll showing way forward is a middle-ground Former US Representative John “As parents we’re at a point where we take jobs in the recycling and recovery businesses. Defeating Republican President former US vice president Joe Biden strategy that antagonises no one, Delaney said Democrats should be our kids to the beach and we have to search out a The environment is shaping up as a key issue Donald Trump. leading the pack in the state. that stands up to nobody and that a “big-tent” party that appealed to patch of sand that isn’t littered with straws, sty- in Canadian legislative elections set for Octo- “Now is not the time to be po- US Senators Bernie Sanders changes nothing,” Sanders said. progressives, moderates, independ- rofoam or bottles. ber, with Trudeau’s main challenger vowing if lite. Now is not the time for small and Elizabeth Warren, along with “In my view, that approach is ents and disaff ected Republicans. “That’s a problem.” he wins to roll back environmental protections, steps. Now it’s time to fi ght like South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete not just bad public policy, but it “If we become that party, we’re Straws, plastic bags, cutlery, plates and stir including a federal carbon tax and a tanker traf- hell,” US Senator Kirsten Gilli- Buttigieg, were bunched closely in is a failed political strategy that going to win every election. And sticks would be among the items banned, a gov- fi c ban along a pristine part of the Pacifi c coast. brand told the 1,400 Iowa state a fi ght for second place in the poll. I fear would end up with the re- more importantly, we’ll be able to ernment statement said. And while Trudeau has declared it a top pri- party leaders and activists who Sanders and Buttigieg took election of Donald Trump.” govern,” he said. The list will be refi ned based on further sci- ority, a recent parliamentary report concluded jammed a hotel ballroom for the what seemed to be veiled swipes Buttigieg ridiculed the idea that The dinner tested the organisa- entifi c research between now and 2021. Canada is doing too little to combat climate state party’s Hall of Fame dinner. at Biden, the Democratic front- Democrats could return to the tional strength of campaigns that Trudeau said producers of other plastics — change, even as government scientists warned The dinner in Iowa, the state that runner who skipped the dinner 1990s. “We’re not going to win by purchased tickets for supporters such as bottles or food packaging — will be held the country was warming at twice the global rate. holds the fi rst nominating contest because of a scheduling confl ict. playing it safe or promising a re- and packed them into the hotel ballroom. Watergate figure Dean to testify on ‘obstruction’ allegations Supporters of most of the can- didates lined the street outside Almost a half-century after his stunning testimony Dean was the top lawyer for the Nixon’s White House the dinner’s main entrance start- helped sink president Richard Nixon, Watergate figure in 1972 when the president sought his help to cover up ing early on Sunday. John Dean was to speak in Congress yesterday on his staff ’s involvement in the break-in of Democratic Warren and fellow US Senators Donald Trump’s alleged obstruction crimes. off ices at the Watergate complex. Cory Booker, Kamala Harris and Democrats of the House Judiciary Committee have in- Facing criminal prosecution, Dean turned against Amy Klobuchar had big turnouts vited the former White House counsel and two other legal Nixon, laying out his own work with the president to of chanting and cheering sup- experts to talk about the Mueller Russia meddling report’s hide their ties to Watergate. He spent four months porters in red, blue, pink, green allegations that Trump obstructed justice — keeping alive in prison for his own obstruction off ences and was and yellow T-shirts outside the the possibility that they could move to impeach the presi- permanently disbarred as a lawyer. hall, and then led them in raucous dent. Dean has no role in the Russia investigation, but “I’m clearly not a fact witness,” Dean said yesterday marches inside. Trump, unable to shake accusations that he obstructed morning on CNN, where he is a regular commentator. “It’s time for a woman in the justice, has lashed out, calling him a “sleazebag attorney” “But I hope I can give them some context and show White House!” chanted Harris in a Democratic eff ort to “redo” the Mueller investigation. them how strikingly like Watergate what we’re seeing and Klobuchar supporters. “For two years all the Democrats talked about was the Mu- now, and as reported in the Mueller report, is.” Sanders led a march to the eller Report,” Trump tweeted on Sunday. But despite the bias, “The fact, that Nixon was hands-on very early, is just hall of McDonald’s workers and when the Report came out, the findings were No Collusion like Trump,” he said. other union activists who sup- and facts that led to No Obstruction. But they want a Redo, “Nixon waded in and tried to influence the FBI in- port a $15-an-hour federal mini- or Do Over. They are even bringing in @CNN sleazebag at- vestigation as did Trump,” he said, pointing to Trump’s mum wage. “No middle ground!” torney John Dean. Sorry, no Do Overs — Go back to work!” firing of FBI director James Comey in May 2017. chanted the Sanders supporters.

Defence merger touts tech, but Trump has questions

By John Biers, AFP ing the United States has to buy missiles, often the fi rst weapons growth in multiple areas that af- New York things and does that make it less fi red from US navy ships in recent fect our business,” Kennedy said. competitive? Because it’s already confl icts. “So we believe that we need to non-competitive.” UTC is a big player in the aero- invest in technology and that ca- xecutives from United Moments after Trump’s com- nautics industry with its Pratt pability.” Demonstrators hold signs and yellow umbrellas as they gather in front of the Chinese Technologies and Raytheon ments, United Technologies chief & Whitney engines, which are Expertise from UTC’s Pratt Consulate in Vancouver, Canada, on Sunday to protest against a controversial extradition Esaid yesterday their merger executive Gregory Hayes said on used in civil and military aircraft, & Whitney business on thermal law proposed by Hong Kong’s pro-Beijing government to ease extraditions to China. would benefi t the Pentagon and CNBC that the two companies including the F-35 multi-role management could have applica- other customers but the proposed currently have almost no overlap stealth fi ghter, considered among tions in Raytheon’s defence prod- deal garnered immediate scep- and that their combination would the most advanced combat air- ucts, while Raytheon’s under- Hundreds protest in Vancouver ticism from President Donald not dent competition. craft in the world. standing of cybersecurity to boost Trump. “We are looking forward to Combing the companies will commercial aviation, he added. against HK extradition plans The two companies, which talking to the president later to- result in annual savings of $1bn A note from Morningstar unveiled a “merger of equals” on day,” Hayes said. “Once he under- by year four, about half of which praised the deal, saying the “com- Hundreds of people protested outside the Chi- and Michael Spavor, who were detained in China Sunday, said combining would stands the benefi ts of this merger could go to the US government, bined company will benefi t from nese consulate in Vancouver on Sunday against after the December arrest in Vancouver of Meng boost development of faster and what it is going to do to re- the companies said. increased scale, complementary controversial plans to allow extraditions from Wanzhou, a top executive with Chinese telecoms weapons systems, connected air- duce the costs of the government Those savings are one reason technology that plugs the gaps of Hong Kong to the Chinese mainland. giant Huawei. craft and other envelope-pushing and what it’s going to do for jobs the US Department of Defense each separate company’s portfo- “This amendment will aff ect millions of people, Thousands of immigrants from Hong Kong set- products, while saving the Penta- in this country, I think he’s going “is going to really like this deal,” lios, and a portfolio that can off set not just Hong Kong people — people around the tled in the Vancouver area in the 1980s and 1990s gon and other customers money. be supportive.” Hayes told analysts on a confer- a slowdown in either end market’s world,” Mabel Tung, the protest organiser and because of uncertainties related to the handover But Trump, who has shown The UTC merger with Raythe- ence call. spending growth.” chair of the Vancouver Society in Support of of Hong Kong’s governance from the Britain to more willingness than past US on would transform the two com- The companies’ pitch also Morningstar added it does not Democratic Movement, told AFP. China in 1997. presidents to haggle with defence panies into a single conglomerate emphasised the upside in terms expect “any signifi cant hurdles Tung, who migrated to Canada from Hong Kong “We don’t want Hong Kong to become just an- contractors and interject himself with varied but well-established of technological breakthroughs on the regulatory front, given that 40 years ago and has advocated against human other city in China, that people have no freedom into the private sector in general, brands, each in the top tier of its through an $8bn research and de- both fi rms have minimal overlap rights violations in China, is concerned that activ- at all,” said Jeremy Cheng, a protester and immi- emerged as a potential question specialty. velopment budget, 60,000 engi- in terms of their underlying busi- ists like her would face the risk of extradition when grant to Canada who left Hong Kong in 1997. mark, telling CNBC yesterday The two companies together neers and 38,000 active patents. nesses.” transiting through Hong Kong if the bill passes. Jackie Law, a social work student from Hong that he was “concerned” by the would have about $74bn in 2019 Technology is no longer chang- A Credit Suisse note also allud- The demonstrators carried signs against the ex- Kong who is in Vancouver for an internship, said merger. sales, according to the announce- ing in “a linear fashion,” Raytheon ed to “limited product overlap” tradition law and yellow umbrellas as a nod to the the solidarity of protesters in Vancouver was “When I hear they’re merging, ment. CEO Thomas Kennedy told ana- but said the economic benefi ts of series of 2014 pro-democracy protests in Hong “very touching.” does that take away more com- Raytheon is best known for its lysts, saying the speed of change is the deal “seem modest” and that Kong that are known as the ‘Umbrella Movement’. “Even though they now stay in Vancouver with petition? It becomes one big fat Patriot air defence systems, which “exponential” in many instances. the promised $1bn in annual cost Several protesters also held signs calling for a stable life, they are voicing out for Hong Kong beautiful company,” he told CNBC. gained fame during the fi rst Gulf “We’re starting to see sig- savings appear “somewhat ques- the release of two Canadians, Michael Kovrig people, which is very great to me,” she said. “But I have to negotiate, mean- War, and its Tomahawk cruise nifi cant increases in technology tionable.” Gulf Times 8 Tuesday, June 11, 2019 ASIA Vietnam to curb fake Environmental campaign rally goods destined for US

AFP seafood and agricultural prod- for the United States, Europe In the fi rst three months of Hanoi ucts – are from Vietnam when in and Japan. this year, US imports from Vi- fact they originate in China. The government called for etnam reached nearly $16bn, up The trend has “aff ected more stringent inspection of ex- 40% from the same period last anoi has vowed to crack the reputation of Vietnamese ports to those markets and said year, according to US trade data. down on manufacturers businesses and goods”, said Vietnam could be punished by Nearly half of all American Hillegally using “Made in Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Min- the US – one of its leading trade companies working in China Vietnam” labels on items des- ister Pham Binh Minh, quoted partners – if it failed to stem the have said they are considering tined for America to dodge pun- in an offi cial report published problem. shifting production from the ishing tariff s as the US-China Sunday on the government Vietnam has long been a so-called ‘Factory of the World’ trade spat drags on. website. manufacturing hub for cheaply- as a result of the trade dispute, Exporters have started shift- “We will increase the pun- made goods from Adidas sneak- according to a poll by the Ameri- ing production from China to ishment to deter cases of goods ers and H&M dresses to Sam- can Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam to avoid 25% levies claiming to be Vietnamese goods sung smart phones and Intel China. imposed by US President Don- entering other markets,” he processors. Trump raised the tariff s last ald Trump on $200bn worth of added, according to the report. Those exports have soared month after trade talks broke Motorcyclists are seen during the flag off ceremony of a motorbike rally “Red Panda Challenge” at Chinese goods. The report said Vietnamese this year as Beijing and Wash- down, prompting Beijing to the eastern border with India in Kakarvitta, southeastern Nepal. Some 20 motorcyclists participate But Hanoi said some manu- customs offi cials had uncov- ington have escalated tit-for- retaliate with higher duties in a bike rally from Siliguri to Sandakphu (West Bengal-India) as part of an environmental campaign facturers are illegally claiming ered dozens of cases of incor- tat tariff s on billions of dollars on $60bn worth of American with the mission to help conserve the red panda and elephants habitat. their goods – including textiles, rectly labelled goods destined worth of goods. products.

Man trapped in cave found dead after nine-day Lanka search Hasina hits out at aid agencies Rescue workers in northern reopens Vietnam found a man dead inside a cave system after a gruelling nine-day search, state media for objecting to Rohingya return airport for reported yesterday. Giang Seo Lu, 56, went inside the cave with his brother, Giang AFP ty if they return to Myanmar, She also criticised interna- Myanmar, where the Muslim of the shelters Bangladesh has pick-up, Seo Dung, on June 1 to retrieve a Dhaka where the Muslim minority tional aid agencies working in minority faced several waves built on a barren, fl ood-prone pump used to provide water for has faced decades of repression the refugee camps in the border of persecution before the 2017 island in the Bay of Bengal. their farm in Lao Cai province’s and erosion of rights. district of Cox’s Bazar – who crackdown which saw wide- Hasina’s comments follow see-off rural Si Ma Cai district, the Tuoi angladesh Prime Min- But the Bangladeshi prime object to any forced relocations spread murder, rape and arson. the leak of a report by the As- Tre newspaper reported. ister Sheikh Hasina has minister’s comments late Sun- - saying they are not interested But Hasina called for an in- sociation of Southeast Asian ri Lanka’s Civil Aviation Shortly afterward, a flash flood Bslammed Myanmar for day are a sign that the coun- in ending the crisis. vestigation into the organisers Nations emergency response Authority yesterday said it caused a mudslide that sealed the delays in the repatriation of try’s patience is wearing thin. “The problem that I now see of protests against repatriation team, seen by AFP last week, Shas reopened the Bandara- entrance. Rohingya refugees who fl ed The two governments signed is that diff erent international that have been held within the which gave a glowing assess- naike International Airport for While Dung managed to escape, violence in the neighbouring a repatriation deal in Novem- agencies that are providing squalid camps. ment of Myanmar’s eff orts to pick-up and see-off after strict Lu was trapped inside. country. ber 2017, yet so far virtually no voluntary services or working “Who instigated the entice Rohingya refugees back. security measures were imposed A nine-day rescue eff ort was hampered Some 740,000 Rohingya Rohingya have volunteered to at Rohingya camps in Cox’s movement?” she asked. The report left observers following the Easter Sunday ter- by more rain and mudslides. took shelter in fetid, over- return. Bazar never want any refugee “Those who provide assist- incredulous for glossing over ror attacks. Lu was eventually found dead on crowded camps in Bangladesh “The problem lies with My- to go back,” she said. ance to Rohingyas have a seri- army atrocities, ignoring the Airport and Aviation Services Sunday, around 40 metres from after Myanmar’s military drove anmar as they don’t want to “The principal problem lies ous objection, though the gov- ongoing civil war in Rakhine of Sri Lanka (AASL) chairman the cave’s entrance. them over the border in a 2017 take back the Rohingyas by any here.” ernment has constructed very state and blaming the delays in Dammika Ranatunga said in a His cause of death was not crackdown. means,” Hasina told a press Bangladesh has said it will beautiful houses and structures repatriation on bungled paper- statement that the passenger ar- initially revealed. (DPA) Many still fear for their safe- conference. not force Rohingya to return to at Bhashan Char,” Hasina said work by Bangladeshi offi cials. rival and departure terminals were re-opened for visitors who pick up or see off passengers, and accordingly two visitors per pas- senger would be allowed to enter Cool leap the terminals. 400 held in Cambodia drug raid Heightened security would re- main in place at the airport, Xin- DPA between drug users and dis- Vyrith said the investiga- hua news agency reported. Phnom Penh tributors, said General Meas tion was ongoing and he had The Bandaranaike Interna- Vyrith, secretary-general of not received information tional Airport was closed to visi- the National Authority for about the number of peo- tors following the April 21 bomb- t least 400 people were Combating Drugs. ple who tested positive for ings which targeted three luxury arrested at a Phnom About half of the people drugs or the amount of drugs hotels, three churches and two APenh nightclub over arrested were Cambodians, confi scated at the venue. other locations, killing over 250 the weekend, including Cam- while the rest included Chi- Authorities told the Khmer people. bodian and foreign nationals, nese, Vietnamese, Malaysian Times however that nearly Only passengers were allowed some of whom tested positive and Singaporean nationals, 100 people had tested posi- to be dropped off at the arrival for illicit club drugs MDMA Vyrith said. tive for drug use and about and departure terminals since and ketamine, an anti-drug About 100 people had so 100 patrons, mostly young then due to the emergent secu- offi cial said yesterday. far tested negative for drugs, people, were released from rity measures put in place. Police seized illegal drugs he said. custody after testing negative. Sri Lankan President Maithripa- at the Luxurious night- They could be released fol- Police identifi ed the owner la Sirisena said last week the coun- club late Saturday and were lowing police questioning if as a Vietnamese national and try was soon returning to normal as questioning those detained they were not believed to have said they were seeking an ar- a majority of those involved in the Bangladeshi youths take a bath in the Buriganga River during a hot summer day in Dhaka yesterday. at the Phnom Penh police been involved in any crime, he rest warrant from a court, the suicide attacks had been arrested headquarters to distinguish added. Times reported. or had died. (IANS) Gulf Times Tuesday, June 11, 2019 9 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

Populist China-friendly mayor to run for Taiwan president

AFP mayoralty of southern Kaohsi- Taiwan goes to the polls in Jan- Since her election Beijing has after ending the DPP’s 20-year outsider who has shaken up the is largely between Han and Gou, Taipei ung city from the ruling party uary and the race will be dominat- cut offi cial communications, rule in its traditional stronghold staid politics of the KMT – but who has been actively campaign- in a shock victory last year, was ed by its relationship with China. ramped up military exercises, Kaohsiung during local elections detractors are unnerved by how ing since announcing in April that among fi ve candidates announced Gou and Han are seen as the two poached diplomatic allies and last November, with media de- favourably he speaks of China. he has secured the backing of a lo- populist mayor who can yesterday by the opposition front-runners in the KMT prima- ratcheted up economic pressure scribing his rising popularity as The 61-year-old took the unusual cal Sea Goddess for his presiden- command huge crowds Kuomintang (KMT) party for its ry, which will conclude on July 16. on the island. The KMT are push- the “Han tide”. Earlier this month, step of meeting with the head of tial bid. Aand wants closer ties with primary election. Under current president Tsai Ing- ing for much warmer ties with tens of thousands of supporters China’s Taiwan Aff airs Offi ce and Gou, 69, has vowed to balance China has thrown his hat in the Confi rmation of Han’s entry wen, relations with Beijing have Beijing — a stance that appeals gathered in Taipei for a rally that Hong Kong’s chief Carrie Lam, Taiwan’s relationship with both ring to stand as a candidate in shakes up an opposition list that soured because she and her rul- among older voters but rattles the was seen as a show of strength among other Chinese offi cials, the United States and China, but Taiwan’s upcoming presidential had until now been dominated by ing Democratic Progressive Party nerves of many younger Taiwan- before announcing his run. during a trip to the mainland in his huge factories in China have elections. Taiwan’s richest man, Foxconn (DPP) refuse to recognise the idea ese. Supporters see him as a plain March. led to concerns about possible Han Kuo-yu, who seized the billionaire Terry Gou. that Taiwan is part of “one China”. Han shot to political stardom talking maverick and political Observers say the KMT race confl icts of interest. Hong Kong leader refuses to scrap extradition bill

AFP Hong Kong

ong Kong’s pro-Beijing Chief Executive Carrie Lam speaks during a press conference in Hong Kong yesterday. leader yesterday refused Hto scrap a controversial she said. But her words drew an tests was planned by organised than two months with frequent plan to allow extraditions to the incredulous response from oppo- groups. “It’s easy to tell they are clashes between police and dem- Chinese mainland, a day after nents who accused her of ignor- organised, premeditated, pre- onstrators. record crowds came out to oppose ing massive public opposition. pared, radical and violent peo- Two years later violent clashes the proposal. “Yesterday 1.03mn of us ple,” said Li Kwai-wah, senior broke out in the crowded district Striking a defi ant tone after marched and the government is superintendent of the Organized of Mongkok when police tried the city’s largest protest since the still indiff erent, turning a deaf ear Crime And Triad Bureau. There to close down unlicensed street 1997 handover, chief executive to the people. This government was a heavy police presence out- vendors. Key protest leaders Carrie Lam said the legislature has become a dictatorship,” law- side parliament yesterday as of- have since been jailed or barred would debate the bill on tomor- maker Ip Kin-yuen told report- fi cials moved twisted remains of from politics. Many young Hong row as planned, rejecting calls to ers. Political analyst Dixon Sing barricades and debris left by the Kongers have hardened their at- delay or withdraw the law. warned Lam could be facing “po- skirmishes the night before. titudes towards China after fail- The decision sets her admin- litical suicide” if she pushed for a Hong Kong has been convulsed ing to win any concessions since istration on a collision course showdown after such huge dem- by political unrest in recent years the 2014 protests and the violence with opponents who decried her onstrations. as fears soar that a resurgent Bei- after Sunday’s rally fi ts a now fa- stance and called on supporters to “In the short run, the Hong jing is trying to quash the inter- miliar pattern. China yesterday rally outside parliament tomor- Kong government led by Carrie national fi nancial hub’s unique strongly backed the Hong Kong row or hold strikes. “She’s really Lam will suff er a worsening legit- freedoms and culture. government and voiced opposi- pushing Hong Kong towards the imacy crisis,” he told AFP. “Fewer Under the 50-year hando- tion to “outside interference”. brink of a precipice,” pro-democ- and fewer people will trust her ver deal with the British, China Beijing “will continue to fi rmly racy lawmaker Claudia Mo told and the entire cabinet.” agreed to a “one country, two sys- support” the Hong Kong ad- reporters. But he said much would rest on tems” model where Hong Kong ministration, foreign ministry Sunday saw huge crowds whether the public comes out to would keep freedom of speech spokesman Geng Shuang said, march in blazing summer heat back further protests or strikes. and assembly rights that are un- adding that the government will through the streets of the fi nan- Police charge protesters after a rally against a controversial extradition law proposal in Hong Kong yesterday. Sunday’s huge rally passed with- heard of on the authoritarian “fi rmly oppose any outside in- cial hub’s main island in a noisy, out incident until shortly after mainland. terference in the legislative af- colourful demonstration calling the legislature that would allow an opposition that unites a wide Hong Kong’s freedom of speech midnight when small pockets of But many locals believe Bei- fairs” of the city. In an editorial, on the government to scrap its extraditions to any jurisdiction cross-section of the city, with was still protected. She said her protesters fought running battles jing is now reneging on that deal, Beijing’s state-run China Daily planned extradition law. Organ- with which it does not already critics fearing the law will entan- administration had already made with police in chaotic and violent aided by the city’s loyalist local called the law a “sensible, legiti- isers said as many as a million have a treaty — including main- gle people in China’s opaque and major concessions to ensure po- scenes. Nineteen people were ar- government, especially since Xi mate” piece of legislation, and people turned out — the largest land China. politicised courts. litical cases would not be con- rested, police said, mostly young Jinping became China’s leader. said “some Hong Kong residents protest in three decades and the Authorities say it is needed to In her fi rst comments since the sidered and that human rights men in their early twenties. In 2014 mass democracy protests have been hoodwinked by the op- biggest by far since the city’s re- plug loopholes and to stop the mass rallies, Lam pushed back safeguards met international Hong Kong authorities said calling for the right to directly position camp and their foreign turn to Chinese rule. Lam’s gov- city being a bolthole for fugitives. against calls to delay the law and standards. “We have been listen- they believed the violence at the elect Hong Kong’s leader para- allies into supporting the anti- ernment is pushing a bill through But the proposals have birthed said the huge rallies were proof ing and listening very attentively,” end of the largely peaceful pro- lysed parts of the city for more extradition campaign”.

Kim Dotcom’s Flooding in Guangxi extradition case Australia broadcaster arrives in NZ weighs legal action Supreme Court The legal saga over the extra- dition of former Internet mo- after police raid gul Kim Dotcom was set for a final showdown at a five-day appeal hearing that began in AFP journalists,” Buttrose told ABC New Zealand’s Supreme Court Sydney radio. yesterday. In December 2015 The Australian newspaper re- Auckland’s District Court ruled ported the public broadcaster had that Dotcom, founder of the ustralia’s public broad- retained the services of top media file-sharing service Megau- caster is considering le- barrister Matthew Collins. pload, and his associates were Agal action to demand the Some 100 documents were eligible for extradition to the return of documents seized in seized by police in the raid and United States to face criminal a police raid, its chairwoman put onto two USBs that were charges including conspiracy said yesterday, ahead of a meet- placed into sealed bags, accord- to commit racketeering, copy- ing with the prime minister over ing to the head of the ABC’s in- right infringement, money a crackdown on whistleblower vestigations team John Lyons. laundering and wire fraud. leaks. The ABC has two weeks to ap- The decision was upheld by The Sydney headquarters of peal the warrant or ask for indi- the country’s High Court in the Australian Broadcasting Cor- vidual documents to be returned. February 2017 and the Court poration (ABC) was raided by If there is no appeal or it is not of Appeal in June 2018. If the federal police on Wednesday, the successful, the police can then Supreme Court should find second high-profi le raid on jour- access those documents, Lyons that Dotcom as well as associ- nalists in 24 hours. said. Buttrose said she would be ates Mathias Ortmann, Finn meeting Prime Minister Scott Batato and Bram van der Kolk The ABC has two Morrison this week to express her are eligible for extradition, the weeks to appeal views about the raid. She said last final decision still lies with New week it was “clearly designed to Zealand’s Justice Minister. the warrant or intimidate”. Dotcom wrote on Twitter ask for individual “I’m not going to tell the prime A man wading through floodwater in Rongan in China’s southern Guangxi region after heavy rainstorm hit the area. yesterday, “in 2005 I created minister what to do. But I will tell a website that allowed people documents to be him how we feel at the ABC and to upload files to the cloud. returned how I feel,” she said. “I think all of “At the time only small files the media organisations in Aus- could be attached to e-mails. It targeted executives and jour- tralia need to get together and Megaupload allowed users nalists involved in a two-year-old pressure the government to re- to e-mail a link to a file. That’s investigative report where the view the laws and the rights and Two Indonesian volcanoes erupt two days in a row it. “In 2019 the NZ Supreme ABC obtained documents show- freedoms of the media.” Court decides if I should be ing Australian special forces had Police last week also raided a extradited for this ‘crime’,” he killed innocent men and children News Corp journalist’s home in DPA after noon and the moderate- mains at the second-highest The volcano stands at 2,460 added. in Afghanistan. Canberra over a report detailing Jakarta intensity ash column was seen level, as known as “stay on metres above sea level. Local The tech mogul, born as Kim ABC chairwoman Ita Buttrose the authorities’ bid to gain pow- billowing east and south-east of alert,” along with three other residents were advised to wear Schmitz in Kiel in Germany, said her organisation had con- ers to spy on Australian citizens the volcano, which is revered as volcanoes: Mount Karangetang face masks to prevent them from has been resident in New sulted with lawyers over what communications at home. ount Agung on the sacred by Balinese people. and Mount Soputan in North inhaling volcanic ash. Zealand since 2010. His options they had, but had yet to Police said there was no link Indonesian island of Yasa said a seismograph that Sulawesi and Mount Sinabung There are about 127 active website Megaupload made brief anyone. “At this point, we’re between the two raids, which MBali erupted yesterday, recorded the eruption showed in North Sumatra. volcanoes scattered along the millions from advertising and really assessing the allegations to related to stories involving sen- emitting a 1-km ash column that lasted for one minute. Lo- The latter erupted on Sunday, Indonesian archipelago, which premium subscriptions. At its see what actions can be taken and sitive and potentially classifi ed from its crater, an offi cial said. cals and tourists are forbidden spewing a thick black ash col- sits on the Pacifi c Ring of Fire, peak, Megaupload was the we want to make sure that we’re materials and were embarrassing I Dewa Made Merthe Yasa of from entering a 4-km radius of umn 7km into the sky from its making it prone to earthquakes, 13th most popular site on the in the strongest available position to the government and the secu- Mount Agung observatory said the volcano, which is 3,142m crater during a 9-minute erup- tsunamis and volcanic erup- Internet and accounted for 4% to defend ourselves and also our rity services in particular. the eruption occurred shortly high. The volcano’s status re- tion. tions. of all online traff ic. Gulf Times 10 Tuesday, June 11, 2019 BRITAIN

Police probing baby deaths at Chester hospital re-arrest nurse

Guardian News and Media arrested last July as part of a ma- the attempted murder of three with a blue forensic tent posi- ing the deaths of 17 babies and administrative role. In a 2013 ing everything we can as quickly London jor police inquiry into the deaths additional babies. tioned at the front of the semi- 16 non-fatal collapses between interview with the Chester and as we can to identify what has of 17 babies at the Countess of Detective inspector Paul Hugh- detached property. March 2015 and July 2016. District Standard newspaper, the led to these baby deaths and Chester hospital. She was sub- es, of Cheshire constabulary, who The investigation is the fi rst Letby, originally from Hereford, nurse said she cared for babies re- collapses. Due to the nature of children’s nurse who was sequently bailed pending further is in charge of the investigation, major police inquiry into child had worked at the hospital for sev- quiring various levels of support. this investigation it is extremely arrested nearly a year ago inquiries. said the woman – whom police deaths in UK hospitals in nearly en years and was training to work She had worked at the unit as a challenging but it is important Aon suspicion of murder- It is understood she was re-ar- have not named but is understood 30 years. It was launched two with babies in intensive care when student nurse during three years to remember that it is very much ing eight babies and attempting rested yesterday on suspicion of to be Letby – was in police custody years ago following an unusually she was detained last July. of training before qualifying as a active and ongoing – there are to kill a further six is now sus- murder in relation to the deaths helping offi cers with the case. high number of deaths and non- It is understood she was sus- children’s nurse at the Univer- no set timescales and we re- pected of trying to murder an- of eight babies and the attempted Police were conducting fatal collapses in the Countess of pended a year earlier and before sity of Chester in 2011. main committed to carrying out other three infants. murder of six babies. She has also searches at her home in the Bla- Chester’s neonatal unit. this she had been removed from Hughes said: “I would like to a thorough investigation as soon Lucy Letby, 29, was initially been arrested in connection with con area of Chester yesterday, Detectives are investigat- clinical duties and placed in an reassure people that we are do- as possible.” Foreign Offi ce cleaners begin fi ve-day strike in pay dispute

Guardian News and Media dad’s house and say: I’m so sor- London ry, have you got any money?” Another worker on strike said he and colleagues felt par- leaners, porters and main- ticularly disrespected because tenance staff at the For- Interserve had not imposed a Ceign Offi ce have begun a change in payroll date on offi ce fi ve-day strike over low wages, staff . “It seems like anyone in a lack of union recognition and be- (facilities worker’s) black T-shirt ing made to go without pay for six who gets their hands dirty is get- weeks, which has forced some to ting trodden on,” he said. resort to using food banks. Interserve was reappointed as Outsourced workers at the the agency employing the FCO’s FCO have been left struggling support staff despite a fi nancial to pay bills after Interserve, collapse that led to a restructur- the agency that employs them, ing of the company in March. changed their payroll date, Compounding the problems Conservative MP and joint acting chair of the 1922 Committee, Cheryl Gillan, stands alongside Conservative MPs Charles Walker (second left) and Nigel Evans (second meaning they have not been paid with changing paydays, some right) as she reads out the list of the candidates who will stand in the contest to become leader of the Conservative Party, in the Houses of Parliament in London yesterday. since April 28. They are on their workers on the Interserve con- third round of strike action re- tract at the FCO are not being lated to the dispute. paid the 2019 London living wage, The FCO is the second gov- and Interserve managers refuse to ernment department where food recognise the workers’ organising banks have been set up for low- through the PCS union. paid workers, after collection box- On a rain-soaked picket line es were set up last month at the yesterday, workers held placards department for business, energy calling on the Foreign Secretary, 10 vie to succeed May and industrial strategy for out- Jeremy Hunt, to “show some sourced cleaners, security guards leadership”. In March in response and other support staff there. to a question in the Commons Workers expect to be paid a over failures to pay FCO support month’s wages today, but those staff on time, Hunt said he would on the picket line yesterday said take “full responsibility”. being forced to work an extra two The FCO yesterday rowed back as Tory party leader weeks before the money was re- from Hunt’s promise, issuing a leased had left them struggling. statement saying: “Members of DPA/Guardian News and pitch to be the “serious leader” ate, said Hunt was best placed “Without a deal, any prime He made a series of digs at the Most have had to make two rent the PCS union working for In- Media the UK needs in an apparent dig to break the Brexit impasse, minister who promised to leave frontrunner Johnson, including or mortgage payments, two terserve Group Ltd are currently London at Boris Johnson, as his cam- while Mordaunt, the defence by a certain date would have to criticising his rival’s fl agship tax council tax payments and two on strike and no FCO staff are in- paign won the support of Penny secretary, said he had “the ex- call a general election to change policy to increase the higher- payments on other regular bills volved in the dispute. FCO busi- Mordaunt and Amber Rudd – perience, values, and a plan” to the parliamentary arithmetic. rate tax threshold, which would on just a month’s pay. ness is continuing as normal.” ritain’s ruling Conserva- two big Cabinet hitters on both take the UK out of the EU. That is an election we would benefi t only those at the upper One maintenance worker who An Interserve spokesperson tives say 10 candidates sides of the Brexit divide. Hunt’s pitch was that he was lose badly. If we fi ght an elec- end of the income scale. joined pickets outside the FCO disputed the workers’ claimed Bwill vie to succeed Prime Launching his campaign to the best negotiator to deliver tion before delivering Brexit, we “One thing I will never do as yesterday told the Guardian he grounds for strike action. “We Minister Theresa May as party enter No 10, Hunt made the Brexit, arguing that his two years will be annihilated,” he told the prime minister is to use our tax expected to be in debt for the do not believe that strike action leader, in an election expected case that he was the most ex- as culture secretary before the audience. and benefi ts system to give the next 12 months after he refused is justifi ed and are disappointed to be dominated by Brexit. perienced candidate, while his London Olympics had given him Earlier Gove pledged a raft of already wealthy another tax a three-month bridging loan of- the PCS has made misleading Favourite Boris Johnson, For- leafl ets made the bold claims experience of complex projects. policies targeting “overlooked cut,” Gove said. fered by his employer. statements about this matter,” eign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, that he had “delivered the Ol- In a warning to his col- families and undervalued com- In another implied criticism “And I’m one of the lucky the spokesperson said. Environment Secretary Michael ympics” and “negotiated peace leagues, he said the next prime munities” as he sought to shrug of Johnson, Gove said he would ones,” he said. Some mornings “Interserve rebid and suc- Gove and Home Secretary Sajid talks in Yemen”. minister must deliver Brexit be- off revelations about drug use confront Jeremy Corbyn direct- he and colleagues had banded cessfully secured the FCO con- Javid are among those who will The foreign secretary, who is fore allowing a general election, and remain in the race to be ly rather than hide in a “bun- together to lend money to the tract last year. This provided an enter this week’s fi rst round of now second favourite in the race, saying the failure to leave the EU Britain’s next prime minister. ker”. And he added: “These are most hard-up to get breakfast. improved operating structure voting by the 313 Conserva- gave a speech in London, with his had “put our country and our The environment secretary serious times; we need a seri- Others have turned to their to increase the local delivery of tive lawmakers, says the party’s wife, Lucia, numerous MPs and party in grave peril”. launched his campaign with ous leader. The stakes couldn’t families for help. “My dad is 78, the services and increased the 1922 Committee, which organ- other supporters in the audience. His message that he wanted a forthright speech, delivered be higher, the consequences he’s a pensioner,” one worker number of staff working on the ises leadership contests. Rudd, the work and pensions to avoid a general election was without notes, in which he in- couldn’t be greater, if we get said. “I have to go round to my contract.” Meanwhile Hunt set out his secretary and a leading moder- applauded by supportive MPs. sisted he was “in it to win it”. this wrong.”

Only 13 Windrush victims McVey snubbed by given emergency support ex-colleague on TV Guardian News and Media ber at all, it was an awful long Guardian News and Media the work of the Commonwealth by the Home Offi ce; at least 12 London time ago.” London Citizens Taskforce. people who were mistakenly This year, Kelly won a land- The Home Offi ce has scru- removed died before offi cials mark tax case after arguing she tinised the consequences of its were able to apologise to them. rospective Conserva- is a theatrical agent playing a nly 13 Windrush vic- hostile environment data-shar- Yvette Cooper, chair of the tive leadership candidates “friendly, chatty and fun per- tims had been granted ing programme, and acknowl- home aff airs select commit- Pmight expect to get a hard sonality” called Lorraine Kelly, Oemergency support by edged that offi cials repeatedly tee, said: “It’s worrying that the time from the Today programme rather than appearing as herself. the government by the end of tipped off other government de- Home Offi ce is still failing to pro- or Newsnight, but for Esther However, this upbeat persona April, it has emerged, a year af- partments, wrongly informing vide vital support to the Win- McVey, it was Lorraine Kelly who appeared to have deserted her ter the government apologised them that Windrush generation drush generation. Of the nearly left her squirming. McVey, who when the topic of McVey was for its “appalling” mistake in people were in the UK illegally. 100 people who have requested is considered a long shot to be- mentioned. classifying thousands of legal As a result a number of peo- urgent support, it’s shocking come the next prime minister, Morgan went on to joke that if UK residents as illegal immi- ple lost their benefi ts or driv- that only 13 have been accepted was previously a television pre- “looks could kill, she’d be six feet grants. ing licences, and letters were and 41 others have been outright senter who at one point hosted under”, and added that he would Many of those aff ected were sent to their employers advis- rejected. So more than 12 months GMTV in the 1990s alongside “love to hear the backstory”. pushed into destitution because ing them to conduct a “right to on from the Windrush scandal Kelly, a mid-morning TV stal- The ITV News political corre- of the combined eff ect of being work” check. only very few people are being wart known for her genial de- spondent Paul Brand later asked forced out of their jobs, and be- The Home Secretary, Sajid supported for the hardship they meanour. McVey about the exchange. “Es- ing told they were ineligible for Javid, has written another have endured.” During a live link to ITV’s Lor- ther McVey tells me she and Lor- benefi ts and healthcare. 46 letters of apology to those The shadow home secretary, raine from Good Morning Brit- raine Kelly used to share a dress- With some facing eviction wrongly sanctioned as a result Diane Abbott, said the govern- ain, where McVey appeared as a ing room and Lorraine used to and visits from bailiff s, the of this data-sharing exercise. ment should acknowledge grave guest yesterday, Susanna Reid be on TV with Eamon Holmes … government agreed to launch a “I have been very clear that concerns that the compensa- said: “Do you remember Esther until Esther was promoted,” he hardship fund at the end of last the experiences of some mem- tion scheme “isn’t working”. McVey from her GMTV days?” said. year, but by the end of April, 91 bers of the Windrush gen- Labour’s Helen Hayes said Kelly glossed over the question, McVey, who was forced to people had applied for help and eration (have) been completely community groups in her con- shook her head and said curtly: apologise for misleading parlia- only 13 had received support. unacceptable, which is why stituency had described prob- “Yeah, yes I do. OK, coming up ment while serving as work and Over 6,400 have been given I am committed to right the lems with the scheme. “The form after half past eight … ” pensions secretary, interviewed documents confi rming that wrongs of successive govern- is too complex, advice is neither Piers Morgan then asked the likes of Martine McCutch- they are living in the UK le- ments,” he said. accessible nor specialist enough, Kelly: “So you got on with eon and appeared on children’s gally, of whom 4,200 have been Offi cials have still failed to and the burden of proof is far too Esther then, Lorraine?” The television introducing cartoons granted British citizenship, ac- make contact with 16 people high,” she told ministers at Home presenter replied: “I don’t re- of the Muppets during her stint cording to the latest update of who were wrongly removed Offi ce questions in parliament. Esther McVey: left squirming member love, I don’t remem- on screen. Gulf Times Tuesday, June 11, 2019 11 BRITAIN Outcry as BBC bans reporters from using the word ‘terror’

Daily Mail Instead, they will refer to ter- attack or the Manchester Arena “I think there is a common us- The BBC should not try to sani- man’s terrorist is another man’s month. A source said: “The end re- London ror attacks by naming specifi c bomb attack instead. But, MPs age, which has some recognition tise the behaviour of terrorists freedom fi ghter’. Our question sult is a desire to squeeze the word details, such as the location and and experts accused the broad- in law, which if you use attempt- by not calling it out.” is, ‘Is Darren Osborne (who was terror out altogether, which many the method of slaughter used. caster of ‘failing in its public ed killing or injury to a political According to well-placed BBC behind the Finsbury Park terror people think is nuts.” he BBC has been accused The controversial edict means service duty’. objective, then that’s terrorism. sources, bosses are eager to report attack) a terrorist?’ He is being BBC reporters are already ad- of ‘sanitising’ terrorism that the BBC will no longer use David Green, a former Home It would be misleading not to say terror attacks consistently, re- motivated by far-Right think- vised to steer clear of ‘terrorist’ Tunder plans for an eff ec- the phrase ‘terror attack’ to de- Offi ce adviser and chief execu- that these are terrorist episodes gardless of the terrorists’ political ing, in the same way as the guys and ‘terrorism’, under guidance tive ban on journalists using the scribe the massacres at London tive of the think tank Civitas, if they are attempts to advance ideology. But instead of branding in the attack on London Bridge. fi rst drawn up during the IRA word ‘terror’. Bridge or Manchester Arena, as said: “If they don’t want to a political or ideological cause them all as terror attacks and risk Consistency will be the key.” bombings. Guidelines tell staff : Reporters will be told to avoid the corporation did when the use that (the word terror) then through violence. accusations of bias, it wants to Many BBC reporters are angered “Terrorism is a diffi cult and emo- using the word to describe any atrocities occurred. they’re failing in their public Conservative MP Andrew avoid the word altogether. by the decision, which will come tive subject with signifi cant po- terror attack, unless they are Reporters would describe service duty which is to be clear Bridgen said: “They are terror- A senior news source said: “It into force when the BBC’s new edi- litical overtones.” Presenters use quoting someone else. them as the London Bridge van and accurate. ists and these are terror attacks. boils down to that phrase, ‘One torial guidelines are published this the words ‘militant’ as substitute.

Huntsman Tech Week starts found guilty of animal BBC confi rms cruelty

Guardian News and Media plans to make London

senior huntsman has been found guilty of ani- Amal cruelty after activists secretly fi lmed him apparently over-75s pay preparing to throw fox cubs to a pack of baying hounds. Animal rights campaigners claim the conviction is signifi - cant because it shows a master of hounds “blooding” the animals – training them to kill foxes – 15 TV licence fee years after the ban on hunting with dogs was introduced. Guardian News and Media lone females do not apply for been an easy decision. Whilst The footage was obtained by London benefi ts. And that will be true for we know that pensioner incomes members of a group called HIT this as well.” have improved since 2000, we (the Hunt Investigation Team), The policy of free TV licences also know that for some the TV who say they include ex-services he BBC has confi rmed for the over-75s was introduced licence is a lot of money. personnel who have had training plans to make most over- in 1999 by the then Labour “I believe we have reached the in covert investigative methods. T75s pay the TV licence fee, chancellor, Gordon Brown, with fairest judgment after weighing They obtained evidence for arguing that it is the only way to the cost met by the government, up all the diff erent arguments. the prosecution by fi xing a avoid closing channels and mak- which paid the BBC to provide It would not be right simply to tracking device to the vehicle ing substantial cutbacks. the service. abolish all free licences. Equally of a man they believed to have Millions of households will However, in 2015 the Con- it would not be right to maintain connections to the South Here- have to start paying £154.50 a servative government, guided it in perpetuity given the very fordshire Hunt and mapping his year from June 2020 for the right by George Osborne, struck a profound impact that would movements out into the wilds, to watch live television and ac- deal under which the subsidy have on many BBC services.” where they suspected he was cess the BBC’s iPlayer service. would be phased out from 2020 Hall also said the licence fee catching fox cubs. Research from the House of onwards, with the broadcaster settlement should never again The activists also set up cameras Commons Library found that having to shoulder the cost of be agreed in secret. He said: at the hunt’s kennels and obtained 3mn households would lose their free TV licences. “The last two settlements have footage that showed the then mas- free TV licence as a result of the The government later gave the been made in the dark and with- ter of hounds, Paul Oliver, taking decision. The BBC has said it will BBC responsibility for deciding out proper consultation. It is fox cubs into the kennels. continue to provide TV licences what to do about the benefi t, vital that future decisions are Though the footage does not to over-75s who can provide evi- meaning any unpopular deci- evidence-based and made after show what happened inside the dence that they claim pension sions on charging over-75s had proper consultation and scruti- kennels complex, the prosecu- credit, a means-tested benefi t to be made by the BBC rather ny. We need to fi nd a better way.” tion at Birmingham magistrates designed to help older people. than ministers. The BBC is battling to main- court claimed he was blooding However, up to 1.3mn families A consultation was launched tain its main source of funding the hounds. who are entitled to receive pen- at the end of 2018, with the BBC while also remaining relevant Oliver, 40, and kennel maid sion credit do not claim the ben- arguing that many over-75s were to younger viewers. The average Hannah Rose, 30, both of Spald- efi t, according to offi cial govern- increasingly wealthy and it could age of a BBC One viewer is now ing, Lincolnshire, were found ment fi gures, suggesting many not aff ord the cost of providing 60-plus, meaning many people guilty of causing unnecessary poor households will be hit hard them with a service for free. who consume the broadcaster’s suff ering to fox cubs. Joanna by the change. The corporation argued that content are currently viewing it Dickens, the district judge, con- Charities including Age UK the £745mn annual cost of main- for free. victed Oliver of four counts of have said some elderly view- taining the status quo would Both the 2015 and 2017 Con- animal cruelty and Rose of three ers will be pushed into relative have taken up a fi fth of its budg- servative manifestos pledged to counts of the same charge. poverty by the decision, with et, equal to the total amount it maintain free TV licences for the The pair and two others who concerns over whether older spends on all of BBC Two, BBC over-75s, although the party has pleaded guilty were due to be viewers will be able or willing to Three, BBC Four, the BBC News since dismissed the latter pledge sentenced later. prove they are receiving benefi ts. channel, CBBC and CBeebies. as a mistake. The Masters of Foxhounds As- It is also likely to result in the The BBC estimates that the new The BBC decided to announce sociation suspended the South criminal prosecution of elderly proposal will cost it £250mn a the change on a day when multi- Herefordshire Hunt after the Britons who do not or are not year, requiring some cuts but no ple Conservative leadership can- footage emerged and it has dis- able to pay. channel closures. didates formally launched their banded. “It’s a massive hardship for The BBC director general, campaigns, turning the issue A spokesperson for the asso- millions of people,” said Claire Tony Hall, said the decision to into a potential issue in the lead- ciation said Oliver’s actions were Prime Minister Theresa May speaks as she addresses attendees at the start of London Tech Enders of Enders Analysis. “The means test the free TV licence ership race, as hopefuls compete “completely disgraceful” and Week in London yesterday. really vulnerable won’t apply for would protect those most in for the votes of older Tory party had no place in hunting. this benefi t – the disabled and need, adding: “This has not members.

Fashion week ends Health chiefs ‘were told Prince Philip marks sandwiches had food bug’ quiet 98th birthday DPA parade to mark the Queen’s of- London ficial 93rd birthday. Guardian News and Media Chain, which serves 43 out of An earlier report in 2003 re- He was not seen during last London the 135 hospital trusts in Eng- vealed how fi ve pregnant wom- week’s royal banquet and other land. en in Swindon fell ill after eat- rince Philip, Queen Eliza- events to mark a state visit to But a series of documents ing contaminated sandwiches beth II’s husband of 71 Britain by US President Donald ealth bosses have been expose how scientists and from a hospital shop. Pyears, marked his 98th Trump and his family. accused of repeatedly health offi cials have been LibDem health spokesman birthday yesterday. Philip, Hignoring warnings over warning about the dangers of Judith Jolly said: “It is com- whose offi cial title is the duke of the deadly risks of contaminat- contaminated sandwiches for pletely shocking and heart- Edinburgh, celebrated in private, ed sandwiches. more than a decade. breaking to see that lives have with no public events held. Three patients have died and In 2008, the government’s been lost by these catastrophic The prince is the oldest and another three remain seriously Health Protection Agency – failures. The fact that warnings the longest-serving consort in ill after eating sandwiches in- now Public Health England – were ignored shows the full ex- British history, described by the fected with listeria – a deadly found listeria in 2.7% of sand- tent to which these hospitals 93-year-old Queen as her “con- foodborne bacteria – at two wiches served in hospitals and have failed in their duty of care. stant strength and guide.” The prince is the oldest and hospitals in the North West. care homes – equivalent to Changes must be made urgent- His sons Prince Charles and the longest-serving consort But research by the govern- roughly 1 in 40 sandwiches or ly to ensure something like this Andrew, the Duke of York, in British history, described ment’s own health agency had 432,000 out of the 16mn sand- does not happen again.” wished him a happy birthday by the 93-year-old Queen as previously warned that one wiches provided by the NHS Labour’s shadow health sec- via Twitter, as did his grand- her “constant strength and in 40 hospital and care home each year. retary Jonathan Ashworth said: son Prince William and his wife guide” sandwiches may be contami- Then in 2016, a report com- “Given there were warnings Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge. nated. missioned by the Food Stand- three years ago about the liste- Philip is known for combining But he was photographed last On Friday, Public Health ards Agency found that at least ria risks... it’s urgent ministers a strong sense of duty with pub- month at a wedding and in charge England announced that six nine listeria outbreaks had oc- outline what action was taken lic popularity and a propensity of a carriage at a royal horse show. patients had been infected with curred in UK hospitals since in response to these fi ndings.” for gaff es. Prince Philip also appeared in listeria after eating contami- 2003 – almost all caused by Listeria most commonly He has attended few engage- a photograph last month with nated sandwiches. Three died sandwiches. infects chilled, ready-to-eat A model presents a creation during the University of ments with the Queen since his latest great-grandchild Ar- – two at Manchester University The authors identifi ed that foods such as pre-packed Westminster MA catwalk show at London Fashion Week announcing his retirement chie, the infant son of Prince Hospital and a third at Aintree sandwiches were commonly sandwiches, pate and soft Men’s in London. Models in zombie make-up and a growing from most public duties in May Harry and Meghan, the Duchess University Hospital in Liver- stored in fridges or canteen dis- cheeses. In rare cases it leads number of women on the catwalks were among the eye- 2017. of Sussex. pool. play units which weren’t cold to listeriosis, which can cause catching features of Men’s Fashion Week, which wrapped Philip did not join the rest of The Queen and Philip have four The sandwiches had been enough or on trolleys in warm a temperature, vomiting and up in London yesterday. the royal family at Saturday’s children, eight grandchildren, supplied by the Good Food wards prior to being served. aches and pains. annual Trooping of the Colour and eight great-grandchildren. Gulf Times 12 Tuesday, June 11, 2019 EUROPE ‘Europe seizing record amounts of purer cocaine’

AFP drugs trade, the report said. available, but, he said, “synthetic an average street price of €55 to Although an international nabis resin seized in the EU in and is a full member of the man- Brussels There is a “more systematic drugs and drug production with- €82 ($62-92) per gram in the EU. crackdown on chemicals used 2017 was in Spain whose proxim- agement board though without and organised use of diff erent in Europe are growing in impor- Belgium accounted for the to produce that synthetic drug ity to north Africa makes it a hub the right to vote. social networks, messaging apps tance”. highest proportion of cocaine disrupted the market in the late for sending drugs to Europe. Synthetic drugs – which mim- uropean authorities are and communication methods Dimitris Avramopoulos, EU seizures with 45 tonnes, followed 2000s, producers have increas- EU-candidate country Turkey ic the eff ects of natural drugs seizing record quantities that also use encryption” than in Commissioner for Home Aff airs, by Spain with 41 tonnes. ingly been using non-controlled is a signifi cant transit country for such as heroin – have become Eof increasingly pure co- the past, Alexis Goosdeel, head of told the same press conference An increase in traffi cking via chemicals to manufacture it. drugs traffi cking between Europe more common, the report said. caine, the EU drugs agency said the European Monitoring Centre on Thursday that the “report shipping containers is a “major Cannabis accounted for nearly and the Middle East, despite its Eleven new synthetic opioids in a report published this week, for Drugs and Drug Addiction presents a worrying picture” challenge”, it said. three-quarters of illicit drugs strict drugs laws. were detected in Europe in 2018, also warning of a growing use of (EMCDDA), told reporters in with the record seizures of illicit The purity of cocaine at street seizures in the EU in 2017. It seized more MDMA tablets usually in the form of powders, synthetic drugs and dealing via Brussels. drugs like cocaine and heroin. level reached its highest level in The herbal cannabis or mari- (8.6mn) and more ampheta- tablets and liquids, it said. smartphones. “There is a steady increase in He also said the EU and its a decade in 2017, while its retail juana consumed in Europe is mine (6.6 tonnes) than all the EU With only very small volumes The rise in traffi cking on so- the size of the market and sale partners had “no time to spare” price has remained stable. mainly cultivated in Europe, but member states combined in 2017. needed to produce many thou- cial media, darknet markets and over the Internet and darknet,” in tackling “the role of digitalisa- The MDMA (3,4-Methylen- cannabis resin or hashish tends There were also more heroin sands of street doses, these sub- cocaine “call centres”, where he said. tion in the drug market”. edioxymethamphetamine) con- to be imported from Morocco, seizures (129,000) in Turkey than stances are easy to conceal and dealers deliver quickly to users Not only are there signs that EU member states seized 140 tent of the party drug ecstasy also and increasingly from confl ict- all EU countries combined. transport, representing a chal- who order online, are creating a established plant-based drugs tonnes of cocaine in 2017, the reached a 10-year high the same torn Libya. Since 2014, Turkey has par- lenge for law enforcement and “potential ‘Uberisation’” of the like cocaine are increasingly highest level ever recorded, with year. Almost three-quarters of can- ticipated in the EMCDDA’s work customs.

Five-year-old among 10 injured in blast near Rome Ten people have been injured, including a five-year-old girl who is in critical condition, following Kremlin faces pushback an explosion yesterday caused by a gas leak in the centre of a small town near Rome. The accident took place in Rocca di Papa, about 25km southeast of Rome and close to Pope Francis’s summer residence of Castel Gandolfo. over journalist’s arrest The injured girl “is currently in a stable condition with a severe AFP last week on allegations that channel host Irada Zeinalova facial and cranial trauma”, Moscow he manufactured and dealt in said onscreen. children’s hospital Bambino Gesu drugs. Golunov has been charged said in a statement. He faces up to 20 years in with attempting to deal in a Rocca di Papa Mayor Emanuele ussian authorities faced prison, but defence lawyers say “large amount” of the designer Crestini was taken to another unprecedented pushback drugs were planted on him. drug mephedrone and cocaine. hospital with arm and face Ryesterday against the ar- Golunov’s arrest sparked out- But Yevgeny Bryun, a nar- burns, the Ansa news agency rest of an investigative reporter rage among journalists and sup- cotics expert with the Russian said, quoting regional health on drugs charges, with inde- porters and prompted expres- health ministry, said that there authorities. pendent as well as pro-Kremlin sions of international concern, was no trace of illegal substances Two more children were checked fi gures urging his release. including from the United States in the journalist’s urine. into hospital by their families Journalist Ivan Golunov was and European Union. Golunov’s lawyer and sup- while six adults were treated detained on drug charges last He was released from pre-trial porters pointed to many viola- at the scene of the accident, week but says he is being pun- jail at the weekend and placed tions in the case. regional health commissioner ished for his work as an investi- under house arrest after hun- Police released pictures of Alessio D’Amato said. gative reporter. dreds of supporters gathered what they said was a drug lab al- The blast took place inside Rocca As his arrest unleashed a rare outside a Moscow court. legedly run by Golunov, but later di Papa’s town hall, partially show of popular solidarity, the In identical front page state- admitted only one of the pho- destroying its facade and Kremlin said that it is important ments, the three newspapers tos was taken in the journalist’s triggering a fire. to “admit mistakes” and not re- said the journalist’s arrest A photo taken yesterday in Moscow shows the front pages of Kommersant, Vedomosti and RBK dailies, apartment. The children aff ected by the peat them, but also defended its amounted to an act of intimida- reading ‘I am (we are) Ivan Golunov’. Russia’s three most respected dailies published the same front Golunov believes he is being explosion were in a nursery law enforcement agencies. tion, and demanded an inves- page in an unprecedented act of solidarity over the arrest of an investigative reporter on drug charges. punished for his investigation school adjacent to the town hall. Yesterday three top newspa- tigation into the police offi cers of the country’s shady funeral pers – Kommersant, Vedomosti who detained him. During his two decades in “great number of questions”. march in support of Golunov industry. and RBK – published the same The dailies said they did not power, President Vladimir Putin But he sought to defend the tomorrow. Many prominent fi g- News of his detention over- Threatening man front page with the words “I am/ consider the evidence presented has silenced most of his critics police and courts. ures have came out in his sup- shadowed on Friday an interna- we are Ivan Golunov” in giant by investigators to be convinc- and sought to muzzle the media. “I believe it would be wrong to port, with rock stars and rappers tional economic forum held in shot at train letters, a bold act of defi ance in ing. The few opposition and inde- make general conclusions about joining forces with rights activ- Saint Petersburg, attended by station in Sweden a country where most media toe “We do not rule out that Golu- pendent media that still operate the mistrust towards the entire ists and authors. Putin and Chinese President Xi the Kremlin line. nov’s detention and subsequent in Russia are under huge pres- system based on his case,” he “Police and security services Jinping. Police off icers in the southern The phrase was drawn from arrest are linked to his profes- sure, Kremlin critics say. said. have declared war against us,” The Bell, an independent Rus- Swedish city of Malmo shot and the slogan “I am Charlie” that sional activities,” they said. Their journalist frequently Since Friday, Russians have opposition newspaper Novaya sian online media outlet, wrote injured a man who had acted emerged after the 2015 killing Many newspaper kiosks in face criminal probes, physical been holding one-person pick- Gazeta said on its front page. that the Kremlin has found it- threateningly, saying he had a of 12 people at French satirical Moscow ran out of the special attacks and offi cial pressure. ets, one at a time, outside Mos- “Well, we’ll respond.” self in a bind and will be forced bomb, police said yesterday. weekly Charlie Hebdo. edition by early afternoon. Drugs accusations, however, cow’s police headquarters – the Even some staunchly pro- to take sides. “If in this situa- The man had three bags and Golunov, a 36-year-old re- All three publications are pri- are not common. only form of protest that does Kremlin television journalists tion the state ... does not restore said he was “armed and had porter with Meduza, an in- vately owned, but increasingly Putin’s spokesman Dmitry not require prior approval from have given their backing to the justice, the governability of the explosives”, Per-Olof Soyseth of dependent Russian-language being pressured to toe the gov- Peskov conceded yesterday that authorities. independent journalist. country as a whole would be put the Malmo police told reporters. media outlet, was detained ernment line. Golunov’s case had thrown up a Supporters plan to stage a “This is a test for us all,” NTV into doubt.” The incident took place in Malmo central train station. Police off icers responded after being alerted by members of the public who said they’d heard the man say he had a bomb. 14 French and Dutch children of IS militants repatriated The suspect refused to co- operate with police off icers. “The situation became so AFP They were handed over to themselves in, together with French Foreign Minister Jean- threatening that one of the Paris French and Dutch representa- their families, in the fi nal stages Yves Le Drian last month esti- off icers fired at least two shots, tives by Syrian Kurdish authori- of the US-backed Kurdish as- mated the number of French na- hitting the man in the legs,” ties, said Abdelkarim Omar, a sault on the last fragment of IS’s tionals living in Kurdish camps Soyseth added. welve children of French senior Kurdish offi cial. “caliphate”. at 400-450. The suspect was the only person religious extremists, most Ten of the French children are Paris has been loath to take The government had already injured in the incident. Tof them orphans, were orphans and the other two are back French fi ghters or their repatriated fi ve orphans from Police were seeking to establish fl own home yesterday from “particularly vulnerable” – a wives, seeing them as a secu- Syria in mid-March, as well his identity. camps in Syria, along with two girl aged 10 and a three-year- rity threat and arguing that they as a three-year-old girl whose Dutch orphans who were hand- old boy – travelling with their should face local justice. mother was sentenced to life ed over to the Netherlands, the Franco-Moroccan mother Saïda Samia Maktouf, a lawyer rep- imprisonment in Iraq. Locusts decimate foreign ministry said in Paris. El Ghaza, who has agreed to be resenting some of the French The foreign ministry said yes- The latest repatriations of separated from them. religious extremists’ families, terday that it could carry out a crops in Sardinia foreigners from northeast Syria The transfer, which took place welcomed the latest repatriation third such operation if it identi- involved a group of children that on Sunday in the town of Ain as a “very important step”. fi ed other vulnerable children, Millions of locusts have were “isolated and particularly Issa, near Syria’s border with “It’s about the security of the amid reports that plans are afoot devastated at least 2,000 vulnerable”, the French ministry Turkey, marks the latest step children, whose lives were in for further transfers. An Airbus A400M, allegedly transporting the 14 children, is parked hectares of crops in Sardinia, said, adding that some were sick in eff orts to resolve the prob- danger. They are French, they France’s human rights om- on the tarmac at the Velizy-Villacoublay airport yesterday. Italian farmers union Coldiretti and malnourished. lem posed by the huge numbers have their place in France,” she budsman Jacques Toubon last said yesterday, with experts Since the fall of the Islamic stranded in Syrian camps. told AFP. month accused the government and the United States have also even less clear, with few Euro- calling the invasion the worst in State (IS)’s “caliphate” in March, The returned children will Marie Dose, another lawyer of treating the women and chil- started taking back some of their pean countries willing to bring six decades. the international community undergo a thorough medical be- representing French families, dren in an “inhumane and de- nationals. them back and the Kurds unable The most aff ected areas are has been torn over what to do fore being placed in the care of called the repatriations a drop grading” manner. But the movement has been to give them trials. Nuoro, Ottana and Orani in the with the families of foreign re- the social services, the French in the ocean leaving other chil- The Kurdish administration sluggish and Al-Hol, the main Eleven French nationals have middle of the Mediterranean ligious extremists captured or foreign ministry said. dren “who are guilty of nothing” in northeastern Syria is not of- camp in the Kurdish region, is been sentenced to death in Iraq, island, with many areas blanketed killed in Syria and Iraq. Last week, two American subject to “inexplicable and un- fi cially recognised and the legal still bursting with more than triggering an outcry at home af- by the insects, Coldiretti said in a The 12 French children – the women and six children from justifi able discrimination”. framework for any repatriations 70,000 people from at least 40 ter lightning trials which rights statement. oldest aged 10, according to Syr- suspected religious extremist Larger than expected numbers and transfers is unclear at best. diff erent countries, mostly dis- groups say make a mockery of The locust invasion is the worst ian Kurdish offi cials – had been families were repatriated. of families emerged from the ru- The biggest returns so far have placed from neighbouring Iraq international justice standards. in the area in 60 years, local in two camps housing thousands France has one of the largest ins of the last IS enclave and the been to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Syria itself. Paris has called on Iraqi au- entomologist Ignazio Floris told of people who fl ed recent fi ght- contingents of religious extrem- fate of tens of thousands of them and Kosovo, while countries The fate of suspected IS fi ght- thorities to commute the sen- La Stampa daily. ing against the IS group. ists who were captured or turned remains unclear. such as Russia, Sudan, Norway ers held in Kurdish prisons is tences. The insect explosion is linked to a sharp rise in temperatures after a relatively cold May, with many of the young insects emerging from Hand-picked successor sweeps Kazakh vote uncultivated land. Light plane lands AFP Commission said, in elections the country’s 78-year-old Nur-Sultan and in Almaty, the on highway Nur-Sultan on Sunday marred by a police president of three decades biggest city, organised by what crackdown. who shocked Kazakhs with his it described as “radical ele- A light plane made an emergency His nearest rival, opposition abrupt retirement in March. ments”. landing on a highway in Portugal, he hand-picked suc- candidate Amirzhan Kosanov Sunday saw hundreds of ar- Tokayev thanked the police leaving one woman aboard cessor of Kazakhstan’s took 16.2%. rests after the biggest protests for putting down protests that injured and damaging vehicles on Tlongtime ruler won a At a post-victory press con- in Kazakhstan in at least three he said were infl uenced “from the road, emergency services and sweeping victory in presidential ference, Tokayev insisted he was years, as demonstrators urged a the outside” – a reference to local media said. elections criticised by moni- the “fully mandated president” boycott of what they said was a Nazarbayev’s foreign-based The Flyer Pelican plane, which tors as having shown “scant re- of the oil-rich Central Asian fi xed election. political opponent Mukhtar had been on its way to the town spect” for democracy. country of 18mn people. The interior ministry said Ablyazov. of Sintra landed on the road near Kassym-Jomart Tokayev took But he will likely play second that about 500 people were ar- He said the elections were Pinhal Novo, in the Lisbon area, Tokayev: thanked the police for putting down protests. 70.8%, the Central Election fi ddle to Nursultan Nazarbayev, rested in protests in the capital “fair and open”. the Lusa press agency reported. Gulf Times Tuesday, June 11, 2019 13 INDIA Veteran playwright and actor Girish Karnad dies

Agencies According to a family source, bai, Karnad began his career as an Tributes poured in from across There would be no fl owers, no lish author, R K Narayan. Bengaluru Karnad died of multi-organ fail- actor and then went on to write the country for Karnad. wreaths and no VIP visitors for He also bagged four Film- ure at his home on Lavelle Road plays and direct fi lms, winning “Girish Karnad leaves behind Karnad’s funeral according to his fare awards, including three for near the famous Cubbon Park. multiple awards. such a towering legacy. His plays, wishes, NDTV news channel re- best director of Vamsha Vriksha enowned actor, playwright The state government declared He began his career as an actor his writings, integrity and kind- ported. in 1972, Kaadu in 1974 and On- and fi lmmaker Girish Kar- holiday yesterday as a mark of re- in 1970, but he is best known for ness – one of our greatest Indian The veteran artist is survived danondu Kaladalli in 1978 and one Rnad died yesterday after a spect to Karnad and a three-day his plays, which are incisive so- writers and thinkers,” literary critic by his son Raghu, a writer and a for best screenplay for Gadhuli in prolonged illness in Bengaluru, mourning will be observed across cial commentaries. Nilanjana Roy posted on Twitter. journalist. 1980 along with another noted his family said. Karnataka till June 12. He was awarded India’s high- “Girish Karnad will be re- In a career spanning six dec- Kannada fi lm director B V Karanth. He was 81 years old. “The scheduled state cabinet est literary honour, the Jnanpith membered for his versatile acting ades, Karnad acted in Kannada, He was celebrated internation- A Rhodes scholar from Oxford expansion on Wednesday has Award, and the Padma Bhushan across all mediums,” Prime Min- Hindi and Marathi fi lms, which ally for his plays such as the fi rst University, Karnad wrote sev- also been postponed to a later national civilian award. ister Narendra Modi tweeted. were both mainstream and paral- acclaimed Yayati in 1961 while he eral critically acclaimed plays in date,” said an offi cial. Karnad also made a mark as a “He also spoke passionately lel cinema. was at Oxford, historical Tughlaq Kannada that have been trans- “Karnad will be cremated with fearless social and political activist, on causes dear to him. His works He also featured in television (1964) and Agni Mattu Male and lated and performed in several state honours in the city as per often raising his voice against reli- will continue being popular in serials, including the famous three seminal works Hayavadana languages, including English and Hindu rites,” the offi cial added. gious fundamentalism and for the Karnad: leaves behind a towering the years to come. Saddened by Malgudi Days, based on the (1971), Nagamandala (1988) and German. Born on May 19, 1938, in Mum- cause of freedom of expression. legacy his demise.” works of renowned Indian Eng- Taledanda (1990). Govt dismisses 12 tax offi cers for corruption, misconduct

IANS One of the disgraced offi cers, New Delhi Rajvansh, had illegal assets worth Rs3.17 crore. Finance Ministry sources said Rajvansh was arrested he government has com- by the CBI after absconding from pulsorily retired a dozen his headquarters. Tsenior tax offi cers on charg- Prasad was arrested by the CBI es ranging from extortion, bribe on allegations of passing favour- and sexual harassment. able orders for illegal gratifi cations The axe has fallen on senior of- while Srivastava is accused of sex- fi cers of the rank of chief commis- ual harassment to two women IRS sioners, principal commissioners, offi cers of Commissioner rank. commissioners of income tax de- In the case of Ajoy Kumar Singh, partment under rule FR (funda- sources said that the CBI had reg- mental rule) 56 (j) of central civil istered a disproportionate assets services (pension) rules. case when he was the additional The offi cers are Ashok Agarwal, commissioner of Income Tax in Police escort Surender Verma (second left) and Deepak Khajuria (fourth right) accused for the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua, as they come out of a court joint commissioner of Income Tax Mumbai. He was also arrested by in Pathankot yesterday. and former deputy director of En- the CBI in connection with the forcement Directorate; S K Srivas- case and placed under suspension tava, commissioner (Appeal), No- on October 25, 2009. ida; Homi Rajvansh; B B Rajendra Arulappa was compulsorily re- Prasad; Ajoy Kumar Singh; B Aru- tired for incompetence. He allegedly lappa; Alok Kumar Mitra; Chan- proved to be ineff ective as a supervi- der Saini Bharti; Andasu Ravinder; sory offi cer and failed to ensure as- Vivek Batra; Swetabh Suman and signment of important cases having Three sentenced to life for Ram Kumar Bhargava. large tax implication to senior and This is major crackdown by the experienced offi cers. government on bureaucrats and Ministry sources said Mitra is offi cials indulging in alleged cor- allegedly involved in many cases ruption practices. of corruptions and extortion and Agarwal remained suspended passed many wrong and malafi de Kathua rape-murder case from 1999 to 2014. He faced seri- assessment orders which were ous allegations of corruption and later on reversed by the appellate Agencies tension in the state. awaiting judgment in the Jammu court yesterday, had hoped that according to official data, extortion from a businessman authorities. Pathankot, Punjab The Supreme Court shift- and Kashmir High Court. all six would be given the death while a 2014 UN report said accused of helping the late ‘god- Bharti was caught by the CBI ed the trial from Kathua to Investigations suggested that sentences, prosecutors said. one in three rape victims was a man’ Chandraswami. Agarwal was and a bribe of Rs30 lakh was re- Pathankot in neighbouring Pun- the girl was targeted in order to India has the death penalty minor. found to have acquired ill-gotten covered from an ‘angadiya’ (cou- court yesterday sen- jab to ensure the safety of wit- strike fear in her nomad com- for the most brutal murders and Yesterday hundreds of police wealth to the tune of Rs12 crore rier) used by him. He was allegedly tenced to life imprison- nesses and a fair trial. munity and drive them out of terror attacks. were on duty in Pathankot for and faced a Central Bureau of In- found using illegal channels for Ament three men found The fast-track court in the area. The last execution happened the trial. vestigation probe. transferring the ill-gotten money. guilty of the rape and murder of Pathankot found six men guilty. “The girl and her family got in 2015 over bombings in Mum- Wary of new protests, secu- The 1989-batch Indian Revenue Suman was arrested by the CBI an 8-year-old girl in Jammu and Sanjhi Ram, a retired gov- justice today. We are satisfi ed bai in 1993. rity was also heavy in Kathua Service (IRS) offi cer has also been in New Delhi on April 13, 2018 for Kashmir, lawyers said. ernment official and custodian by the judgment,” prosecution The Kathua case sparked two town and surrounding Muslim retired prematurely as he faced allegedly demanding Rs50 lakh Three others were given fi ve of the temple, Parvesh Ku- lawyer M Farooqi said outside days of violent protests in Jam- areas, although no incidents charges of alleged sexual harass- for giving relief in a shell company years in jail for destruction of mar, another local person, and the court. mu and demonstrations in sev- were reported. ment. case to a businessman. The money evidence. special police officer Deepak “We will appeal against the eral other places across India, Also yesterday, police arrested Some of the tax offi cers forced was recovered from a middleman The body of the girl belonging Khajuria were held guilty of verdict in the Punjab and Harya- including in New Delhi, Mumbai a man for the rape and murder of to exit the service acquired mov- and searches were carried out on to a nomadic community was kidnapping, murder, rape and na High Court,” said Mohan Lal, and Bengaluru. an eight-year-old girl in Bhopal able and immovable properties the premises linked to Suman in found with injury marks in a for- assault. lawyer for Sanjhi Ram. The ruling Bharatiya Janata in Madhya Pradesh. without obtaining required ap- Guwahati, Jorhat, Shillong, Noida est near Kathua city in January Three policemen – Surender “Welcome the judgement. Party also drew fl ak after two of Vishnu Prasad, 35, was arrest- provals. and Delhi. 2018. Verma, Anand Dutta and Tilak High time we stop playing poli- its members participated in ral- ed from Khandwa, about 275km She was kept captive in a Raj, who were accused of taking tics over a heinous crime. Hope lies in support of the accused. from Bhopal. temple in Kathua, in the Hindu- bribes for sabotaging the case – loopholes in our judicial system The protests were reminiscent The police claimed family Modi to meet Macron ahead of G7 summit dominated Jammu region, for were found guilty of destruction are not exploited and culprits get of those that followed the fatal members gave away Prasad’s lo- Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s yesterday. Lemoyne said that over four days, sedated, repeat- of evidence. exemplary punishment,” former gang-rape of a Delhi student on cation. visit to France in August to Macron and Modi have “a strong edly raped, battered and stran- Sanji Ram’s son Vishal was Jammu and Kashmir chief min- a bus in 2012 that made head- The child went missing attend the G7 summit will be pre- relationship personally and a gled to death, according to the acquitted due to lack of evi- ister Mehbooba Mufti said in a lines around the world. around 8pm on Saturday and ceded by a bilateral engagement great mutual respect. That’s prosecution. dence, but the fate of his neph- Twitter post. Sexual violence, including her body was recovered from a with French President Emmanuel why President Macron was very Seven men stood trial in the ew, a minor, will be decided by Prosecutors said that they against children, remains una- nearby drain in the early hours Macron, French Minister of State happy to invite Prime Minister case, including a temple priest the juvenile court. would study the verdict before bated in India. of Sunday. for Europe and Foreign Affairs Modi to join the G7 leaders’ and policemen. His trial is yet to begin as a deciding whether to appeal. Nearly 20,000 child rape There were cuts on her face Jean Baptiste Lemoyne said meeting in France.” The incident sparked religious petition to determine his age is The family, who were in the cases were reported in 2016, apparently caused by blades.

At 48 degrees, Delhi sets new Team treks to fi nd record as heatwave intensifi es missing climbers

IANS According to private forecaster derway to resume traffi c from the AFP risk of further avalanches on the New Delhi Skymet, the absence of rains over alternative runway. New Delhi diffi cult terrain. A ground team the past two weeks and dry west- A United Air Newark-Mumbai was now attempting a treacher- erly winds led the temperature to fl ight was diverted to Delhi, the of- ous trekking route. eatwave in Delhi peaked soar substantially yesterday. fi cials said. ndian mountaineers yester- “The objective is to determine yesterday, with the mer- “There has been no pre-mon- Rail traffi c was hit on the Central day began a dangerous trek the location of the bodies and see Hcury touching 48 degrees soon activity in the past two Railway’s Harbour line near Chuna- Itowards an isolated Himalay- if it’s possible to bring them back,” Celsius, the highest-ever in na- weeks. So no rains. Also, westerly bhatti due to a technical snag. an slope in a bid to fi nd the bod- said Maninder Kohli, a member of tional capital. dry winds from Pakistan and Ra- Road traffi c also slowed down ies of eight climbers feared killed the IMF. He said the retrieval op- Dry winds from Rajasthan and jasthan contributed to intensifying on the Eastern Express Highway, by an avalanche. eration was fraught with risks. Pakistan caused the temperature the heatwave situation,” Skymet Western Express Highway and An Indian Mountaineering “The ground team will fi rst to cross the previous highest of director Mahesh Palawat said. arterial roads due waterlogging in Federation (IMF) offi cial said the make an assessment and see if 47.8 degree recorded on June 9, The western, central, and some low-lying areas. team had a rough idea of where the bodies can be moved to a fl at 2014. northern parts of the country yes- In other news, IMD has put Gu- the four Britons, two Americans, surface where helicopters can The Palam observatory of the terday witnessed a surge in tem- jarat on alert with Cyclone Vayu one Indian and one Australian land,” he said. Indian Meteorological Depart- perature, making the heatwave closing in on the Arabian Sea coast were on Nanda Devi, India’s sec- “If there is a risk to life in ment (IMD) recorded the tem- conditions severe. bringing heavy rains and winds ond highest mountain. bringing back the bodies, moun- perature of 48 degree after 3pm, Meanwhile, a thunderstorm ac- sweeping across parts of the state But they could take four days to tain burials for the bodies can be an offi cial of the state-run weather companied by lightning and heavy at speeds ranging from 75km per reach the mountain’s eastern slope considered.” forecaster said. rains disrupted air, road and rail hour to a maximum of 135km. where the bodies are believed to be Kohli said it would take “about “Today was the hottest-ever traffi c in Mumbai late last night, “The system currently is seen at a height of about 5,000m. three to four days” for the team day in the history of Delhi,” the of- offi cials said. as a depression over the South- Military helicopters last week to reach the site, but the window fi cial added. All fl ights were suspended east and East Central Arabian Sea spotted fi ve bodies in the snow, of opportunity was closing and The IMD’s observatory in Safdar- due to low visibility at Chhatra- and is centred at 11.2°N and 71°E, A monkey sits inside a cardboard box to protect itself from the but attempts to drop troops by the team had about 10 days in to- jung, however, recorded the maxi- pati Shivaji International Airport around 800km South-Southwest heat on a hot summer day at Guindy Children’s Park in Chennai air to retrieve them were aborted tal before the scheduled arrival of mum temperature at 45.6 degrees. around 10pm and eff orts were un- of Mumbai,” according to Skymet. yesterday. due to turbulent winds and the monsoon rains. Gulf Times 14 Tuesday, June 11, 2019 INDIA

JUDICIARY POLITICS ADMIRATION EDUCATION INVESTIGATION SC relief for residents of Modi is our Supreme Man gets Scindia’s image DU’s new admission Accused in chopper deal Kochi coastal apartments Court: Shiv Sena leader tattooed on chest norms challenged in court scam allowed to go abroad

The Supreme Court yesterday stayed for six Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said yesterday that Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia may have The Delhi High Court yesterday sought an The Delhi High Court yesterday allowed Rajiv weeks the demolition of 400 flats in five posh Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the Supreme lost the parliamentary elections but there is no explanation from Delhi University after it Saxena, an accused in the AgustaWestland coastal apartments in Maradu area of Kochi Court for his party on the Ram temple issue dearth of enthusiasm among his fans. A fan not amended criteria for admissions just a day chopper deal scam, to travel abroad for medical giving some relief to homeowners. Justices because the country had elected him with an only got the former minister’s image tattooed before opening of registrations. Justices Anu treatment. Justice Anu Malhotra granted Indira Banerjee and Ajay Rastogi passed the overwhelming majority. Speaking to reporters on his chest but has also stopped wearing Malhotra and Talwant Singh said there was him permission to go to Dubai, UK and other order while considering a writ petition filed in Lucknow, Raut said: “The auspicious time has a shirt or footwear. On Sunday, Scindia was arbitrariness in amending the criteria a day European countries for medical treatment for by a group of residents. The court on May 8 arrived. Soon the construction of the temple addressing party workers in Madhya Pradesh’s before opening of registrations for admission. a month from June 25. The court dismissed the ordered demolition of the apartments within will begin in Ayodhya under the leadership Guna parliamentary constituency - from where The court asked the central government, the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) plea challenging a month after finding their construction in of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar he contested and lost - and Rupesh Sharma was university and the University Grants Commission the trial court’s June 1 order allowing him to violation of the Coastal Regulation Zone Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. This among those who came to listen to his favourite to file a reply on a petition filed by advocate travel abroad. Representing the ED, advocate notification. Earlier, a bench headed by Justice is not a fight for taking credit. We will listen to leader. When reporters spotted Sharma and Charanpal Singh Bagri challenging DU’s new Amit Mahajan told the court that investigation in Arun Mishra ordered the Kerala Coastal Zone Modiji because the country has elected him. He asked him about the tattoo, he said Scindia admission norms for undergraduate courses. the Rs3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper Management Authority (KCZMA) to demolish is our Supreme Court.” He said the BJP “cannot was his favourite leader. The fan added he was The lawyer said that DU’s decision to amend the deal was at a crucial stage and that Saxena may three apartments in Maradu. The builders keep asking people for votes in the name of the upset because Scindia lost the elections and so criteria at the last moment was in violation of the escape justice if he was allowed to travel abroad. of two apartments filed review petitions temple year after year.” His comments came decided to remain without a shirt or footwear principle of natural justice. He urged the court to The court asked Saxena to submit details of his challenging the judgment and argued that the ahead of his party chief Uddhav Thackeray’s for five years. Guna was considered a traditional continue with the admissions for undergraduate contact numbers, hotels, hospitals and schedule court was misled by the KCZMA. visit to Ayodhya. stronghold of the Scindia family. courses as per the old eligibility criteria. of his appointment with the doctors.

Tension over delay BJP spreading in rescuing boy from rumours about borewell

Agencies Bengal violence, Sangrur/Chandigarh

ension prevailed among villagers in Sangrur over Tthe inability of the Pun- jab government to rescue a two- says Mamata year-old boy trapped down a narrow disused well for fi ve days. IANS number of deaths. Two (BJP) rail tracks at Bhyabla station in Thousands of angry protest- Kolkata persons died (in Sandeshkhali), North 24 Parganas district and ers blocked the road leading to but they claimed fi ve deaths. at South 24 Parganas’ Taldi rail- Bhagwanpura village in Sunam, They also claim that three of way station. some 15km from district head- est Bengal Chief Min- their supporters were missing Markets largely remained quarters at Sangrur, where the ister Mamata Baner- without mentioning details of shut. While state-owned buses accident occurred. Wjee yesterday alleged their identities.” ran, most private buses and au- Sensing trouble, Chief Punjab that the Bharatiya Janata Party Banerjee alleged the BJP-led to-rickshaws were off the roads. Minister Amarinder Singh asked was spreading rumours about central government had issued In a bid to block roads at Nim- offi cials to ensure that no borewell violence in the state accused an advisory to the state in or- cha, BJP supporters burnt tyres is left open in any district. the saff ron party of plotting a der to prevent her from “expos- and stopped vehicles on the Ba- The chief minister said he was conspiracy to topple her govern- ing the BJP’s game plan” in the santi highway. constantly monitoring the op- ment. recently concluded Lok Sabha “The law and order situation eration personally to rescue the “There is no point sending me elections. She claimed that has been under control. The child. behind bars. If the BJP thinks it many institutions of democracy strike has aff ected life partially,” He said in a tweet that he was can stop me from opposing them had already “sold out”. police said. constantly monitoring the ongo- by shutting my mouth and plot- In New Delhi, West Bengal ing rescue operation being led by ting a conspiracy to topple my “Would you believe that Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi the National Disaster Response government, it must know an the CPM transferred all its met Prime Minister Narendra Force (NDRF). injured tiger is more dangerous votes (in favour of the BJP)? Modi and Home Minister Amit Fatehvir Singh fell into the than a dead one,” Banerjee said Can anyone control all the Shah yesterday amid the con- 110ft well on Thursday while in Kolkata. votes?” tinuing violence in the state. playing in fi elds near his house. She alleged that her Trina- “I have met the prime minis- “The well had been covered mool Congress (TMC) lead- Commenting on the general ter and the home minister. It was with a sand bag but it appears ers have been threatened in the election results in which the a courtesy call. I informed them the boy stepped on it and slipped name of Enforcement Directo- TMC bagged 22 Lok Sabha seats, about the general situation in the and fell inside,” local lawmaker rate (ED) and Central Bureau of 12 less than in 2014, Banerjee re- state,” Tripathi told reporters af- Vijay Inder Singla said. Investigation (CBI). iterated her doubts on electronic ter the meetings. The rescue has been beset by The chief minister said her voting machines (EVMs). The governor fi rst called on multiple challenges, with the di- government in the state was “Would you believe that the Modi at his residence, and then ameter of the well just 23cm and elected by the people and the CPM transferred all its votes (in met Shah for some 20 minutes at it being unused since 1991. next assembly elections would favour of the BJP)? Can anyone the North Block. But Singla was hopeful the be conducted after two years as control all the votes? The Elec- Talking to the reporters ear- boy would be rescued soon. scheduled. tion Commission should look lier in the day, Tripathi said his “We are quite hopeful that in “Our state is the best. Our into it. I have heard that the meetings were pre-scheduled. another couple of hours we will performance was the best at the CPM got no votes in two booths “I couldn’t wish him person- be able to track the child,” he said. all India level. Rumours about in Siliguri. Which means even ally on the swearing-in day, An air ambulance was on violence in West Bengal have their polling agents did not vote hence this is a courtesy visit,” standby and all necessary equip- been spread through social me- for the party. Is it an outcome said the governor whose tenure ment including land movers dia to defame Bengal. There were of pre-planned programming?” ends on July 23. and cranes had been pressed two-three post-poll incidents Banerjee wondered. Meanwhile, BJP leader Kailash into service, he said. TV footage due to the BJP,” she said at the Train services were disrupted Vijayvargiya accused Banerjee showed a large crowd of people state Secretariat, Nabanna. and life was aff ected in Basirhat and her nephew of being behind gathered at the rescue site. Police said political violence sub-division yesterday due to the “anarchy and violence” in Rescuers were trying to reach in 24 Parganas’ Sandeshkhali a 12-hour strike called by the the state. the boy by digging and inserting district on Saturday claimed the BJP to protest against the kill- He said though the central a 36-inch wide pipe parallel to lives of three political workers - ing of its party workers in Sand- government hadn’t interfered the well. two from the BJP and one from eshkhali. The BJP is also observ- in the governance of the state, it They have also managed to in- Supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hold placards as they observe ‘Black Day’ during a TMC. The two parties, however, ing a ‘Black Day’ across the state. may think about imposing Presi- sert an oxygen pipe into the well silent protest rally against the recent killings at Sandeshkhali in West Bengal, in Siliguri yesterday. claim at least seven deaths. Train services were disrupted dent’s Rule there if the violence, where the boy is trapped, as well Three BJP and one Trinamool supporters have been killed in violence in West Bengal, police said. The chief minister said: “They in the Sealdah-Hasnabad divi- which began before the general as a camera. At least 18 others were injured in the clashes that broke out on June 8 in the eastern state. are also telling lies about the sion as BJP workers squatted on elections, doesn’t end.

Kamal Nath takes oath as MLA Govt mulls 3-5% tax on cash Tamil writer and actor withdrawals of Rs1mn a year Crazy Mohan dies at 67

IANS own drama troupe Crazy Crea- IANS The RBI said it was doing so to ted the report to Prime Minister Chennai tions which went on to create New Delhi boost digital transactions. Narendra Modi. It had suggest- over 30 plays that have been “Why should someone with- ed “considering levy of banking staged over 6,500 times. Some draw over Rs10 lakh for cash cash transaction tax (BCTT) on enowned Tamil writer, ac- of their popular plays include ithdrawing a cumu- transactions when digital pay- transactions of Rs50,000 and tor and comedy giant Cra- Chocolate Krishna, Satellite lative Rs1mn a year ments are being encouraged,” above.” Rzy Mohan died in Chennai Saamiyar, Marriage Made in Sa- Wcan attract a 3-5% another source was quoted as The Finance Act 2017 pre- yesterday after a heart attack. He loon and Return of Crazy Thieves, tax if a proposal by the Finance saying. scribed imposing a penalty was 67. among others. Ministry takes shape in the During 2005-2008, the Con- equal to the transacted amount “After he complained of pain In 1983, Mohan made his fi lm coming budget to track high gress-led government imposed on those who violated the rule in his chest and suff ered a heart debut as a writer for K Balach- value cash deals and make dig- tax on withdrawals of more restricting cash transactions. It attack, he was rushed to Kauvery ander’s Poikkal Kuthirai, which ital payments mandatory. than Rs50,000 from current provides that no one can deal in hospital in the afternoon. Eff orts was based on Mohan’s own play Since paying Rs30,000- accounts for detection of unac- cash in excess of Rs200,000 in were taken to revive him but Marriage Made in Saloon. The 50,000 for Rs1mn annual with- counted money in the absence a single day, in respect of a sin- unfortunately he passed away fi lm featured Kamal Haasan in a drawal will be seen as a loss, of alternative methods. This tax gle transaction or transactions around 2pm,” a family source cameo. the government thinks it will was applicable only on cash and relating to one event or occa- told IANS. As a writer, Mohan was widely discourage large cash transac- not on payment by cheques. sion barring a banking compa- Born as Mohan Rangachari popular for his association with tions. In 2017, a high-level com- ny, post offi ce savings bank and in 1952, Mohan’s fi rst stint with Kamal Haasan in multiple Tamil Offi cial sources said discus- mittee on digital payments, co-operative bank. writing began in college, when comedies which include Sathi sions have been held internally headed by Chandrababu Naidu, To curb large-cash transac- he wrote the script for Great Leelavathi, Michael Madana on the fallout of such a move. the then chief minister of And- tions and discourage black econ- Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath takes oath as a Bank Robbery for an inter-colle- Kama Rajan, Apoorva Sagod- As a step towards this, earlier hra Pradesh, had suggested a omy, then fi nance minister Arun member of the state assembly after winning a by-election giate contest. harargal, Avvai Shanmugi, Pan- this week, the Reserve Bank of tax to discourage cash transac- Jaitley in the 2017-18 budget from Chhindwara assembly constituency, in Bhopal He then started writing scripts chatanthiram and Vasool Raja India waived the fee currently tions, a cap on the maximum proposed to ban transactions of yesterday. Nath has been elected nine times from the for his brother Maadhu Balaji’s MBBS. imposed on banks for using its allowable limit for large-size over Rs300,000 a day. Chhindwara parliamentary constituency. He took over as drama troupe. In 1976, Mohan Mohan forayed into tel- NEFT/RTGS payment servers. cash transactions and a com- This limit was lowered to the chief minister in December 2018 after the Congress’ wrote his fi rst full-length play evision in 1989 and produced The central government also plete abolition of charges on Rs200,000 through an amend- victory in the state assembly polls. The by-election to the called Crazy Thieves in Paala- popular comedy serials, which said it was setting up a panel card payments to incentivise ment to the Finance Bill 2017 Chhindwara assembly seat was held after its Congress MLA vakkam, thereby, earning the include Crazy, Kalyanath- to review charges imposed by digital transactions. that was later passed by parlia- Deepak Saxena resigned. moniker ‘Crazy’. ukku Kalyanama and Vidathu banks on ATM withdrawals. The committee had submit- ment. By 1979, Mohan started his Sirippu. Gulf Times Tuesday, June 11, 2019 15

LATIN AMERICA

TRAGEDY DECISION DISEASE MIGRATION CRIME Brazil bus accident Nicaragua frees 50 Peru declares Venezuela asylum seekers Venezuelan killed in kills 17 people opposition prisoners health emergency to European Union soar service station line

A bus carrying 40 people crashed into Nicaragua yesterday released 50 opposition Peru has declared a health emergency in five The number of new asylum seekers in the A Venezuelan man was killed in a service several cars killing at least 17 people in prisoners under a controversial new law regions, including Lima, after the deaths of European Union has grown by about 15% station line in the western state of Merida, a southeast Brazil, according to firefighters granting amnesty to protesters and police at least four people linked to Guillain-Barre compared to last year’s January-to-April period, municipal mayor said, signalling the growing and local media. The fire brigade in the involved in last year’s deadly uprising against syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that due in part to the crisis in Venezuela. There impact of the Opec nation’s fuel shortages. Campos de Jordao area, about 180km from President Daniel Ortega. The interior ministry attacks the nervous system. Health Minister were about 206,500 new asylum applicants Citizens have been spending hours and Sao Paulo, said the accident was caused announced the release of “50 people in Zulema Tomas said that in addition to the during the first four months of 2019, compared in some cases days queued up to buy gas when a bus overturned, hitting other compliance with the provisions of the amnesty deaths there were currently 206 cases of with 179,000 the year before, according to over the last month as plummeting refinery vehicles. Media reported at least 17 deaths law approved by the National Assembly” on the disease. He added that health authorities European Asylum Support Off ice. The number output and stalled imports have added to and a video shot by a witness shows a Saturday. Widespread opposition protests were taking steps to control and contain the of asylum seekers from countries whose the chaos of a hyperinflationary economic car involved in the accident turned into a broke out in April 2018, plunging the country disease. While the syndrome is not contagious, citizens don’t require a visa to travel in the collapse. The killing took place in the town tangled mass of scrap metal. About 41,000 into crisis, and a brutal crackdown by Ortega’s a 90-day health emergency was declared Schengen zone increased, including Venezuela, of Tabay when a fight in a service station people died on Brazil’s roads in 2016, troops over the next four months left 325 because the current cases “have unusual and Colombia, Albania and Georgia. According to a queue led to gunshots, Tabay Mayor Jose according to estimates in the World Health dead, 800 in prison and thousands in exile. A atypical characteristics that require rapid or report by the Funke Media Group the number Otalora said in a telephone interview, adding Organisation’s 2018 global road safety statement by the ministry said it was preparing immediate initial treatment,” Peru’s Institute of of Venezuela asylum seekers grew by 121% in that those involved had been drinking report. the release of more prisoners. Neurological Sciences said. the first four months, to 14,257. alcohol.

Mexico softens stance Lula ‘jailed over US demand to keep him AFP Mexico City

exico yesterday said it will discuss a “safe Mthird country” agree- from 2018 ment with the US - in which mi- grants entering Mexican terri- tory must apply for asylum there rather than the US - if the fl ow of undocumented immigrants con- tinues. Amid speculation about the contents of Mexico’s deal to curb election’ migration in order to avert Presi- dent Donald Trump’s threat of AFP on Twitter the leak was “one of term of eight years and 10 months tariff s, Foreign Minister Marcelo Rio de Janeiro the largest & most important in after being convicted of accept- Ebrard said he had rebuff ed the years.” ing a seaside apartment as a bribe US demand for such a measure, This is “just the very beginning for helping the OAS construction but agreed to revisit the matter razil’s justice minister and of what we intend to reveal from company get lucrative deals with in 45 days. prosecutors collaborated this massive archive about him state oil fi rm Petrobras. “In the meeting with the Bto convict left-wing icon (Moro) & the prosecutors with While behind bars, Lula’s vice president of the US, they Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on cor- whom he unethically worked,” Workers’ Party (PT) registered were insistent on the safe third ruption charges to prevent him Greenwald tweeted. him as their presidential can- country issue,” Ebrard told a from contesting the 2018 elec- The documents could not be didate in August 2018 — two press conference, three days af- tion, an investigative news outlet verifi ed by AFP. months before the election. An ter reaching a last minute deal reported. The claims come at a bad time electoral court barred him two to avoid punitive tariff s over the Citing leaked documents, The for Bolsonaro who is already fac- weeks later. surge of Central American mi- Intercept website co-founded ing mounting opposition less A second conviction was grants arriving at the US-Mex- by Glenn Greenwald said an than six months into his term, as handed down in February for ican border. “We told them - I anonymous source had provid- Latin America’s biggest economy which he was sentenced to al- think it was the most important ed material, including private teeters on the edge of recession most 13 years. achievement of the negotiations chats, audio recordings, videos and his signature pension reform Fernando Haddad, the PT’s - ‘let’s set a time period to see and photos, that show “serious remains stuck in a hostile Con- election candidate who lost to if what Mexico is proposing will wrongdoing, unethical behav- gress. Bolsonaro, said on Twitter “we work, and if not, we’ll sit down iour, and systematic deceit.” In response to The Intercept could be facing the biggest insti- and see what additional meas- Among the explosive claims, reports, Moro defended his ac- tutional scandal in the history of ures’” are needed, he said. The Intercept said prosecutors tions as judge in the ongoing Car the republic.” Ebrard, who led the Mexican in a massive, year-long anti- Wash probe and said the mate- “The truth will prevail” was negotiating team in marathon corruption probe known as “Car rial obtained through the “crimi- posted on Lula’s Twitter account talks in Washington, spoke as Wash” had expressed “serious nal invasion of prosecutors’ cell above a link to The Intercept sto- Trump renewed his tariff threat doubts whether there was suf- phones” had been “taken out of ries. over a secret provision in the deal. fi cient evidence to establish context.” Days before filing the indict- Trump tweeted that part of (former president) Lula’s guilt.” “Careful reading reveals that ment that put Lula in jail, group the deal would require approval Justice Minister Sergio Moro there is nothing there despite the chats involving prosecutors in by the Mexican Congress - he was the anti-corruption judge sensational material,” Moro said the case show chief prosecutor did not give details - and that “if who handed Lula his fi rst con- on Twitter. Deltan Dallagnol “expressed for any reason the approval is not viction in 2017, which prevented The Car Wash task force con- his increasing doubts over two forthcoming, Tariff s will be re- him from running in a presiden- fi rmed its investigators had been key elements of the prosecu- instated!” tial election he was widely ex- hacked, but said it did not know tion’s case: whether the triplex The comment came as he pected to win. the extent of the breach. was in fact Lula’s and whether fended off criticism over a New President Jair Bolsonaro, who Lula, who led Brazil through it had anything to do with York Times report that said said during his campaign that he a historic boom from 2003 to Petrobras.” the key terms of the migration hoped Lula would “rot in prison,” 2010, has denied all the corrup- The leaked material also shows deal had in fact been agreed on Central American migrants and locals arrive in Ciudad Hidalgo in Chiapas State, Mexico, after illegally later made Moro part of his Cabi- tion charges against him, arguing “Car Wash prosecutors spoke months ago. crossing the Suchiate river from Tecun Uman in Guatemala in a makeshift raft, yesterday. In the net. they were politically motivated openly of their desire to prevent Speaking later on CNBC, framework of Mexico’s deal to curb migration in order to avert US President Donald Trump’s threat of Greenwald, who was part of to prevent him from competing the PT from winning the election Trump said the secret provision tariff s, Mexico’s Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said Mexico will discuss a “safe third country” the team that fi rst interviewed in the elections. and took steps to carry out that was “a very powerful tool.” agreement with the US. Edward Snowden in 2013, said He is serving a reduced jail agenda,” The Intercept said. Ex-baseball star Ortiz shot Legal fight Thousands demand in Dominican Republic Moise resignation AFP the centre of an “embezzlement DPA and CDN 37 claim that surgery as a cost-saving measure. Port-au-Prince scheme” that had siphoned off New York was performed on Ortiz. After being recruited by Pedro Venezuelan aid money intended Diario Libre, as well as ESPN Martinez, Ortiz played the rest for road repairs. Deportes’Enrique Rojas and of his career in Boston, where he everal thousand demon- Venezuela’s Petrocaribe aid ormer Red Sox star David Marly Rivera, are both reporting was the heart of Red Sox teams strators marched through programme has been plagued by Ortiz was shot in Santo that they spoke with Ortiz’ fa- that won World Series titles in SPort-au-Prince to demand allegations of corruption since FDomingo, Dominican Re- ther, Leo Ortiz, who confi rmed 2004, 2007 and 2013. the resignation of Haitian Presi- its establishment in 2008. public, on Sunday night, which that he received a call informing The title in 2004 was the dent Jovenel Moise over allega- The judges’ report laid out a was fi rst reported by Dominican him that David Ortiz had been team’s fi rst in 86 years, and Ortiz tions of embezzlement. litany of examples of corruption outlets CDN 37 and Diario Libre. injured and was being taken to a batted.400 with fi ve home runs Led by dozens of protesters on and mismanagement. Ortiz was said to be with tel- medical centre, but did not re- in that postseason run. motorcycles, the mostly youth- The magistrates discovered, evision personality Jhoel Lopez ceive further details. The Dominican slugger retired ful demonstrators fi lled city centre for example, that in 2014 Haitian at Dial Bar and Lounge in the Rivera, speaking to Domini- following the 2016 season, and streets in a rally organised by op- authorities signed contracts with Ensanche Ozama/Zona Oriental can journalist Dionisio Soldev- ranks 17th on the all-time home position parties and civil society two diff erent companies — Agri- area, and was taken to the Abel ila, went on to report that Ortiz run list with 541. groups. Amid a heavy police pres- trans and Betexs — for the same Gonzalez Center for Advanced underwent surgery for a bullet In 2009, it was reported that ence, the marchers erected barri- road-repair project. Medicine. wound in the lower back. Ortiz was included on a list of cades of burning tyres, and at least The two turned out to have the It is also believed that Lopez Videos have also surfaced on about 100 players who tested two buildings near the departmen- same tax registration number was injured in the incident. Twitter that claim to feature the positive for performance-en- tal police headquarters caught fi re. and the same personnel. While it was initially thought alleged gunman. hancing drugs compiled during There were also clashes near Moise, before he came to that Ortiz had been shot in the In the videos, the gunman, spring training of 2003. the presidential palace, but no power in 2017, headed Agritrans, leg during an attempted robbery, who was apparently detained, The list was never intended immediate reports of injuries. which received more than 33mn new reports have surfaced which had been attacked and beaten by to be made public, and MLB “We demand that all those gourdes ($700,000 at the time) suggest that Ortiz was shot in the people in the area. commissioner Rob Manfred squandering (public) funds be to do the road work, though the lower back. Another video purports to has since stated that because tried and punished, their assets company in principle did noth- Director of National Police, show security footage of the club the tests were meant only to be seized and turned over to the ing but grow bananas. Ney Aldrin Bautista Almonte, clearing out at the moment gun- a broad survey of PED use, and state for serious development The Petrocaribe scandal gave also confi rmed to media in front shots were fi red. was thus not as scientifically Former Argentine president and current senator Cristina projects, and that the president rise to parliamentary inquiries in of the hospital that Ortiz is in Ortiz played 20 big league sea- rigorous as a modern test would Fernandez de Kirchner waves as she arrives at Retiro’s resign and turn himself in,” said 2016 and 2017, and public protests stable condition, and that the at- sons and was a 10-time All-Star. be, there’s no way to definitive- Federal Court to attend the third hearing for an ongoing Velina Charlier, a protest leader. goaded the high court of auditors tack had nothing to do with an He broke into the majors in ly say if the players rumoured corruption trial on charges of diverting public funds, in The judges of the high court of to examine how the $1.6bn in Ven- attempted robbery. 1997 with the Twins, but was re- to have been on the list actually Buenos Aires yesterday. auditors said in a voluminous re- ezuelan funds were spent by suc- Additional reports from ESPN leased following the 2002 season did anything wrong. port last week that Moise was at ceeding Haitian administrations. Gulf Times 16 Tuesday, June 11, 2019 PAKISTAN

‘Health tax’ planned on cigarettes and Ex-president Zardari carbonated drinks

Internews ing imposed to discourage the Islamabad use of tobacco, adding that the government cannot be black- mailed by the “merchants of held on graft charges he federal government death”. has decided to impose Special Assistant to the DPA/AFP/Internews through suspect bank accounts lawmakers stay out of jail as long Ta “health tax” on ciga- Prime Minister for National Islamabad and companies. as the assembly is in session. rettes and carbonated drinks Health Services Dr Zafar Mirza Last year, Pakistani authori- “@Denying Zardari permis- in the upcoming budget for the had said in a statement earlier ties discovered several accounts sion to go to the parliament is not fi scal year 2019-20. that the increase in cigarette akistan’s anti-graft agency in the name of poor people that a good omen for democracy,” said This was confi rmed by prices is imperative to prevent has arrested former presi- had been fl ooded with cash, then former prime minister Yousaf Prime Minister’s Focal Person children from taking up smok- Pdent Asif Ali Zardari after suddenly emptied. Raza Gillani from the PPP. for Tobacco Control Babar bin ing. a court rejected his bail applica- Pakistan’s Supreme Court es- Zardari, the PPP’s co-chair- Atta. Moreover, the aim of the tax tion. tablished a commission in Sep- man, has spent 11 years in jail in As part of the proposed is to reduce the overall con- Zardari, the widower of slain tember to investigate the scourge, the past over allegations of cor- move, the federal government sumption of tobacco and car- former premier Benazir Bhutto, fi nding that at least $400mn had ruption, but nothing has been has decided to impose a tax of bonated drinks for a healthier was arrested at his home in the passed through “thousands of proven in the courts. Rs10 on a pack of 20 cigarettes. society. capital Islamabad, according to false accounts”. Several opposition leaders, in- The government has also More than 15mn people in Mohamed Bilal Khan, a spokes- Zardari has repeatedly dis- cluding three-time prime min- decided to impose a tax of Rs1 Pakistan use tobacco, with an man for National Accountability missed allegations that he had a ister Nawaz Sharif, are in jail in on a 250ml bottle of carbonat- estimated 160,000 dying of Bureau (NAB). hand in the scheme. what the government says is a ed drinks, the prime minister’s smoking-related causes. The arrest came hours after “We will challenge the deci- corruption crackdown. aide said. Reports have revealed that a Islamabad High Court bench sion in the Supreme Court,” said The opposition says the deten- The health tax, erstwhile around Rs140bn is spent every comprising Justice Amir Farooq Khursheed Shah, a senior leader tions are politically-motivated. known as the “sin tax”, is ex- year on treatment of tobacco- and Justice Moshin Akhtar Kay- of the PPP. The news comes as opposition pected to be announced in the caused diseases. ani rejected a plea by Zardari and Shehbaz Sharif, Opposition parties led by Zardari and Sharif federal budget for the fi scal Tobacco use is a major cause his sister Faryal Talpur seeking an Zardari arriving for his bail appeal at Islamabad High Court yesterday. Leader in the National Assem- prepare a push to dislodge Imran year 2019-20. of non-communicable dis- extension in their interim bail in bly and chairman of the Pakistan Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Revenues generated from eases which include 15 types of the fake bank accounts case. its custody for up to 90 days. known in Pakistan as “Mr Ten Per Muslim League – Nawaz (PML- (PTI) government, which has a the tax are expected to be spent cancers, health reports say. Issuing its orders, the High The NAB did not take Talpur Cent”. N), said that there no reason to razor-thin majority in parlia- on the healthcare sector, pri- Currently, the government Court permitted the NAB to carry into custody. Small scuffl es erupted be- arrest Zardari since he was at- ment. marily providing health insur- regulates the price of ciga- out arrest of Zardari and Talpur. Zardari is embroiled in eight tween police and supporters tending NAB proceedings. Zardari’s arrest comes as the ance through the government’s rettes by imposing a greater tax Zardari and Talpur now have diff erent cases of using fake bank of Zardari’s Pakistan People’s Other leaders of the opposi- economy continues to spiral and fl agship health card, Atta said. on cigarettes, apart from in- the option of appealing the order accounts to transfer millions of Party (PPP) outside his family’s tion asked the National Assem- discontent simmers in Pakistan He added that the tax is ex- creasing the size of the graphic in the Supreme Court. dollars out of Pakistan. residence in Islamabad as he was bly speaker to issue orders per- following repeated devalutions pected to generate between warning on cigarette packs to The former president was These accounts were allegedly taken into custody. mitting Zardari, who was elected of the rupee, soaring infl ation, Rs40bn and Rs50bn in addi- discourage the use of the to- brought to a special NAB prison opened between 2013 and 2015. A senior PPP offi cial confi rmed member of national assembly in and rising utility prices. tional revenue for the govern- bacco product. where he was examined by a team Zardari served as president the arrest. the 2018 elections, to attend the Khan was elected prime minis- ment. Moreover, the beverage in- of doctors. from 2008 until 2013 and has The charges in the latest case assembly session, which is in ter last year after running a heat- The aide said that this will dustry faces a “capacity tax” Under Pakistani law, the anti- long been the subject of corrup- centre around allegations Zardari progress. ed campaign vowing to crack- be the fi rst time in the history for aerated water, spread over graft agency can keep a suspect in tion allegations, and he is widely laundered vast sums of money There is a rule stating that down on corruption. of the country that a tax is be- three categories.

Only judges can decide All in a day’s work fate of one of their Special law imposed own, says Chief Justice Chief Justice of Pakistan Asif Saeed in North Waziristan Khosa has said that the reference filed against Justice Qazi Faez Isa, a judge of the Supreme Court, is before the courts for security reasons and that they would ensure justice in the matter. The chief justice, who is on a visit to the Internews public servant) of the Pakistan UK, was addressing the union of the Islamabad Penal Code. Cambridge University. The order will not apply Khosa said that the setting up of model to congregational prayers in courts in the country is a welcome step. he district administra- mosques and funeral gather- He was asked whether he would seek tion has imposed Sec- ings. money a trail regarding Isa’s properties in Ttion 144 of the Code of The imposition of Section London. Criminal Procedure – the law 144 in North Waziristan comes Khosa said he would not comment on regulating the maintenance in the wake of a series of at- the matter since the matter is before the of public order – in North tacks on security personnel in courts, adding that the government cannot Waziristan tribal district of recent weeks that the military remove Isa because the matter is to be Pakistan in view of the existing has blamed on terrorist ele- decided by the Supreme Judicial Council. law and order situation in the ments. “You should trust your judges, they would area, it emerged yesterday. On Friday (June 7), three of- provide justice,” he was quoted by news TV An order imposing Section fi cers and a soldier of the Paki- channels as saying. 144, issued by Abdul Nasir stan army were killed in an im- According to a press release issued by the Khan, the deputy commission- provised explosive device (IED) Supreme Court on Saturday, Khosa did er of North Waziristan, cited explosion in the Kharqamar his Tripos and LLM at the University of “public interest” and dated area of the district. Workers clean the windows of a bank building in Karachi. Cambridge, before being called to the Bar June 8, and takes eff ect for 30 The explosion took place at the Lincoln’s Inn, London. days. less than a week after a Paki- According to the order, the stan army soldier was killed district police offi cer of North in a gun-and-bomb attack Waziristan reported that due on a security vehicle in North to the “current law and order Waziristan. situation, threats of militancy The Inter-Services Public Punjab government seeks amendments for War Book and other sabotage activities Relations (ISPR), the mili- are expected in the district in tary’s PR wing, had noted at case of dharnas (sit-ins), pro- the time that “terrorist activi- Internews tween India and Pakistan, it was role of the civil administration be protected and prohibited areas lice, who would liaise with intel- test rallies, jalsas (public meet- ties in North Waziristan have Rawalpindi observed that the War Book, be- and other departments, includ- strictly guarded. ligence to facilitate the move- ings) and public gathering[s] of increased lately”. ing an old document, needed to ing government hospitals, edu- The War Book also says that ment of the armed forces, look fi ve or more persons”. The ISPR linked that attack be amended to handle emergen- cational institutions and so on, civil defence will be activated after sensitive installations, and In order to prevent any “un- with the Kharqamar check he Punjab government cies and requirements of modern during wartime. for camoufl age, and civil defence provide security to transport. toward situation”, it was im- post incident of May 26, when sought amendments to times. It says that a monitoring and training is important for school The safety and security of perative to impose a complete a clash had taken place be- Tprovince’s War Book from Sources said the provincial control room is to be established and college students, while con- grids, dams and barrages would ban on dharnas, protest rallies, tween Pashtun Tahaff uz Move- divisional police chiefs, the Spe- government has directed the in each district where represent- tingency plans are to be prepared be ensured by the district admin- jalsas and public gatherings of ment (PTM) workers and army cial Branch and the deputy in- heads of all government depart- atives from all the departments by district departments. istration and police would meet fi ve or more people, the order troops. spector general of police (DIG) to ments to propose amendments working under the district ad- The deputy commissioner with chief executives of electric- stated. Three people were killed and update it to modern times. regarding their respective sub- ministration are present round- would activate the Maintenance ity distribution companies. According to the deputy 15 – including fi ve soldiers – Sources said that the War Book jects, as mentioned in the War the-clock to monitor the situa- of Public Order for the detention The Special Branch has to send commissioner, the order will were injured in an exchange spells out tasks that need to be Book. tion. of miscreants, and the War Book a daily report to the home de- be applicable to the entire dis- of fi re in North Waziristan’s taken by various departments They have been directed to The leave of staff from im- also describes civil participation partment. trict and anyone who fails to Boyya area, when the Khar- working under the district ad- send their proposals by the end portant departments would be by ulema, actors, journalists and Under the War Book, fi refi ght- comply could be punished un- qamar check post was attacked ministration or the provincial of June. cancelled and vital installa- local notables to motivate the ing services would be placed at der Section 188 (disobedience during a protest in which PTM government during wartime. A senior police offi cial said tions, such as oil storage facili- public. the disposal of district adminis- to order duly promulgated by members also took part. During the recent tensions be- that the War Book describes the ties and food go-downs, would It describes the role of the po- tration.

Pakistan to issue fi ve-year visas to Americans Flight delayed after passenger

Internews “has the honour to state that three-month visas to most Pa- been demanding fi ve-year multi- mistakes exit for toilet door Islamabad the government of Pakistan, in kistanis, and has enforced new ple-entry visas. line with its policy to encourage restrictions on offi cial visas. Their argument was that visas tourism, has allowed granting of In April, the United States facilities are usually bilateral and By Josh Halliday airport confi rmed the details of Flight PK702 was only able akistan has decided to give multiple-entry visas to US na- added Pakistan to a list of 10 na- since they issue fi ve-year mul- Guardian News & Media the incident. to take off when 38 passengers fi ve-year, multiple-entry tionals for up to fi ve years with a tions sanctioned for refusing tiple-entry visas to Pakistanis, Offi cials in Pakistan blamed volunteered to disembark, ow- Pvisas to US nationals, even maximum stay of three months”, to take back deportees and visa Pakistan should do the same for a shortage of airline staff for al- ing to its evacuation capacity though the US government has the note said. overstayers. their nationals. fl ight from Manchester lowing the emergency exit door being reduced. changed its policy of issuing fi ve- The United States had long de- The new restriction bars some Pakistani nationals in the US was delayed for almost to be opened, according to the Some of those who disem- year visas to Pakistani nationals. manded this change in Pakistan’s offi cials of Pakistan’s interior hope that a new, and more re- Aeight hours when a con- English-language newspaper barked have since complained In a note sent late last month, visa policy and recently changed ministry from receiving US visas. laxed, Pakistani visas policy fused passenger opened an Express Tribune. that their baggage was left be- the ministry of foreign aff airs ad- its own policy when Pakistan did However, even before this would ultimately lead to the res- emergency exit after mistaking The fl ight carrying nearly hind in Manchester. vised Pakistani diplomatic mis- not respond. change in the US visa policy, toration of the previous US visa it for the toilet door. 400 passengers eventually left A PIA spokesman said: “All sions in the United States to fol- Previously, the US issued fi ve- Pakistan had started issuing 90- policy for Pakistan. The Pakistan International Manchester at 5am on Saturday. passengers were provided din- low the new policy while issuing year, multiple-entry tourist and day visas to American nationals, They also say that this change Airways (PIA) fl ight to Islama- It arrived in Islamabad seven ner. visas to American nationals. visit visas to Pakistani nationals. which could be extended by the should have come earlier, before bad was nearly ready to depart hours late, having made up “The offl oaded passengers The ministry fi rst conveyed In some cases, professionals, interior ministry in Islamabad the Americans imposed new re- when the woman grasped for some time during the journey. were provided with transporta- this change to the US embassy such as journalists, were issued after arrival. strictions. the wrong door, launching the Several other departures tion and hotel accommodation in Islamabad on May 10 while fi ve-year multiple-entry visas. In some cases, one-year visas “Now, Washington will take emergency evacuation slide. from Manchester were also de- and will be adjusted on the next responding to a query regarding In return, the Americans de- with a 90-day stay were issued. its own time in reconsidering its The startled passenger told layed as a result of the disrup- available fl ight. the duration of visit/tourist visas manded similar facilities for their As the diplomatic note sent to policy, and this change may come airline staff that she thought the tion. “PIA regrets the inconven- for US nationals. nationals. the US embassy in Islamabad in- in months, or may take years. We door was for the toilet. The travel misery did not end ience caused to its passengers The ministry of foreign aff airs Now the US is only issuing dicates, the Americans have long don’t know,” one of them said. The airline and Manchester there. due to this incident.” Gulf Times Tuesday, June 11, 2019 17 PHILIPPINES

Agriculture dept sets up stalls to Protest against company policy cope with oversupply of mangoes

By Hannah Ellis-Petersen On the Philippine island of Department of Agriculture has Guardian News & Media Luzon alone there is a surplus launched a marketing campaign, of about 2m kg of mangoes, ac- dubbed “Metro Mango”, to try to cording to Piol, an oversupply shift a million kilograms of the he Philippines is strug- that has led the price to drop fruit in Metro Manila, with stalls gling under the weight of from 58 pesos (88p) as low as 25 selling mangoes to be put up all Ta sweet but troublesome pesos (38p) per kilogram. around the capital throughout burden: a glut of 2mn mangoes. Piol stressed the urgency of June. Agriculture secretary Em- dealing with the glut before the The fresh mangoes will be sold manuel Piol said mango farm- fruit went to waste and sent the at 25 pesos (38p) to 50 pesos (75p) ers had reported an “unusual price of mangoes crashing fur- a kilogram to entice buyers, who increase” in harvest, which they ther, hurting farmers. “We need will get the low prices only if had attributed to El Nino, the to do something about this in the they buy in bulk. climate phenomenon that has next two weeks,” he added. The department has also led to unusually hot, dry weather In a bid to make sure that the launched a cooking class to this year. excess mangoes don’t rot, the teach people how to cook with mangoes and will be holding a mango festival in mid-June, in a bid to drum up excitement and demand for the fruit. Some farmers in Luzon, where the oversupply is concentrated, have taken to just giving away their mangoes free, hanging bountiful bags of the fruit out- side the gates of their farms. Foreign interest in the cheap mangoes is helping ease the bur- den. A Japanese fruit importer has pledged to purchase 100,000kg of the mangoes, though this still leaves 1.9m kg to shift. Piol said they were also hoping Car owners and drivers facing deactivation by Grab hold a rally in Quezon City. Grab had threatened to deactivate the accounts of The Philippines government has launched cooking classes to inspire to increase daily mango imports 8,000 unaccredited drivers, as well as those using hatchbacks. people with mango recipes. to Hong Kong and Dubai.

Allergic Duterte urges PhilHealth president is no fan of offi cials to quit over scandal chocolates By Catherine S Valente Manila Times P10bn during former president Manila Times Manila Benigno Aquino 3rd’s admin- istration. Also earlier yesterday, Phil- resident Rodrigo Duterte resident Rodrigo Du- Health deputy spokesman Rey isn’t a fan of chocolate be- terte has asked offi cials of Balena said the firm’s officials Pcause it makes him vomit Pstate-owned Philippine were prepared to step down if and lose consciousness. Health Insurance Corp (Phil- asked to do so by Duterte. “I eat chocolate, in two min- Health) to resign in the wake of “For now, nobody has vol- utes I’ll pass out,” the president a “ghost dialysis” scandal, his unteered to resign, but if the said in a TV show hosted by former aide said yesterday. president asks us to prepare a evangelist Apollo Quiboloy. “Af- A few hours after Palace courtesy resignation, we are ter I puke, I really pass out,” he spokesman Salvador Panelo an- willing to do that,” he said. added. nounced that Duterte still had Balena reiterated that a Duterte recalled that in one “full trust” in PhilHealth Presi- shakeup was not needed for instance, he blacked out after dent Roy Ferrer, Senator-elect now, as an overhaul would be eating a Toblerone bar in a Ma- Christopher Lawrence implemented in September nila hotel. “Bong” Go claimed the state once the UHC Law’s imple- “It happened to me at the fi rm was up for an extensive menting rules were finalized Dusit, but it used to be Manila overhaul. and took effect. Garden. I was at the lobby eat- “The president really wants a PhilHealth also disputed a ing Toblerone. Then I puked and revamp,” he said at a press con- newspaper report that it had became unconscious. The next ference, adding that Duterte lost P154bn over the last six time, I was in the doctors’ clinic wanted a new PhilHealth chief years due to overpayments to at the hotel,” he said. who could properly implement “ghost” patients. Duterte said he has also expe- the recently signed Universal It has claimed that the loss rienced intense headaches after Health Care (UHC) Law. was much lower at P51.2bn, having chocolate for breakfast. Duterte was met with Phil- but Balena said the “avail- “When I was still a prosecu- Health executives later in the able evidence” only point to a tor, Elizabeth would cook eggs, afternoon and confi rmation of President Rodrigo Duterte meets off icials of PhilHealth yesterday. missing P300mn. dried fi sh … (and) chocolate. I Go’s announcement was not The “ghost dialysis” scandal would mix it with rice,” Duterte immediately forthcoming from thrive in PhilHealth under the other healthcare facilities” is revolves around WellMed Di- said, referring to his former wife, the Palace. Duterte administration. ongoing and “this syndicate alysis and Laboratory Center Elizabeth Zimmerman. Earlier yesterday, Panelo told “Our top management ex- will soon disintegrate,” Ferrer Corp, which reportedly con- “So, every nine o’clock, when reporters in Malacanang that ecutives, who are directly un- added. tinued to bill PhilHealth for I got to work to prepare for cases, Duterte had “no doubt on the der me, are loyal to the higher Go, however, said Phil- treatments of patients who al- I suff ered headaches,” he added. integrity of the president of ground principles and policies Health management had let ready died. Duterte advised people with PhilHealth.” of PhilHealth, and no villain- corruption “slip through their A lawyer for WellMed went frequent headaches to check Still, he said “anything is ous mafia member can survive fingers.” “This is unaccept- to the National Bureau of In- whether or not they had allergies possible” and stressed that the within their ranks,” he de- able. Come to think of it, there vestigation (NBI) yesterday to chocolate. president “certainly wants to clared. are dead people still claiming and said his clients would Amid reports that his health clean up alleged irregularities” He also said claims by a (funds) from the government,” comply with a subpoena. is deteriorating, the 74-year-old in the fi rm. former Health department of- he added. Two former WellMed em- chief executive has claimed to be “We do not know what will ficial that a mafia existed were Weighing in on the issue, ployees who accused the clinic suff ering chronic back pains and happen, that is up to the presi- “a thing of the past” that “no outgoing Sen. Joseph Victor of fraud also appeared and migraines and has also admitted dent. But, given that he’s pub- longer exists in the present “JV” Ejercito reiterated a rec- claimed they had ample evi- to having Barrett’s esophagus licly acknowledged his trust in PhilHealth and under the ommendation that a financial WellMed employees-turned-whistleblowers Edwin Roberto and dence. and Berguer’s disease. the (PhilHealth) president, I do strong government of Presi- expert be tapped to head Phil- Liezel Aileen Santos present evidence before the National Bureau Reports also said that Last year, Duterte revealed not think there will be any sack- dent Duterte.” Health. of Investigation against the firm. WellMed owner Brian Sy, who that he had an endoscopy and ing,” Panelo said. A campaign against “cheat- “What PhilHealth needs is earlier told Manila Times that colonoscopy because his doctor Ferrer, meanwhile, issued a ing, disloyal and disgruntled sound financial management, said in statement yesterday. had long been milked by un- the whistleblowers were the feared that a “growth” in his di- statement declaring that or- PhilHealth officers, who have specially as we are about to Ejercito, the principal spon- scrupulous individuals, point- ones behind the scam, had gestive tract had developed into ganised irregularities would not colluded with hospitals and implement the UHC (Law),” he sor of the law, said PhilHealth ing to the diversion of some been arrested by the NBI. cancer.

Talisay model to represent Philippines at Miss Universe contest

By Arlo Custodio at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. we have, and we will achieve it Rashem Saeed of Maguindanao up fi nish last year, surprisingly Manila Times She was chosen by a panel of because of those values, those was crowned failed to win a title. judges comprising celebrities, wisdom that they gave us. Thank Binibining Pilipinas-Supra- Observers attributed her loss entertainment executives and you,” she replied. national by fellow Mindanaoan, to her performance during the ashion model Gazini Ga- diplomats headed by Quezon Another Cebuana also made it Jehza Huelar of Davao City. question and answer portion, nados of Talisay City, Cebu City Mayor-elect Joy Belmonte to the winners’ circle, with Sa- With Leren Mae Bautista of La- which saw her stammering while Fwas crowned Miss Uni- and crowned an hour past mid- mantha Lo crowned Binibining guna named Binibining Pilipinas failing to give a substantial an- verse Philippines 2019 by reign- night, following proceedings Pilipinas-Grand International Globe, the roster of new queens swer within the 30-second al- ing Miss Universe Catriona Gray that started around 9pm. by last year’s winner, Eva Patal- has been completed. lowable time. on Sunday night. It was Granados’ caring and injug who is also from Cebu. First runner-up was Maria This year was the third time She will represent the country confi dent answer to ABS-CBN Crowd and pageantry afi cio- Andrea Abesamis of Pasig City, that proceedings saw 40 candi- in the world’s foremost beauty Integrated Events head Bobby nados’ favourite Bea Patricia while Samantha Mae Bernardo dates trimmed down to 25 then pageant in South Korea later this Barreiro’s challenging question Miss Universe 2018 winner Catriona Gray crowns Gazini Ganados of Magtanong of Bataan, who pre- of Palawan emerged second run- to 15. Rounding up the top 15 year. — “If you win the crown tonight, Talisay City, Cebu, who won the Binibining Pilipinas-Miss Universe viously made news for passing ner-up just like she did in last were April Short of Zamboanga The 23-year-old Ganados, what will you do to get more title at the Araneta Center Cubao in Quezon City. the bar exam, was crowned Bini- year’s pageant. City, Joanna Saad of Dumaguete who grew up with her grandpar- women in the workplace?” — bining Pilipinas-International. Vickie Marie Rushton of City, Jessica Marasigan of Mal- ents, also received two special that ultimately won her the title. us women to fi ght for our rights us to whatever ambitions that Another frontrunner, Emma Negros Occidental, who was abon, Marianne Marquez of Ma- awards — Face of Binibini (Miss “If I win the crown tonight, and for the elderly women and we have. We will be able to rise Mary Tiglao of Pampanga. was deemed the strongest contender rikina, Maria Isabela Galeria of Photogenic) and Best in Long what I will do is to promote my for us to know that someone is from our decisions, to whatever proclaimed Binibining Pilipi- from the start in returning to Sorsogon and Hannah Arnold of Gown — at the grand coronation advocacy. My advocacy is for loving us, someone is pushing dreams that we have, goals that nas-Intercontinental, while compete after her fi rst runner- Masbate. Gulf Times 18 Tuesday, June 11, 2019 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka 11 - 06 -2019 Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Nations League hailed though questions remain

Portugal lifted the inaugural Nations League title on Sunday and they are unlikely to be the only people in European football celebrating this week. European football governing body UEFA will have a sense of satisfaction after the successful conclusion of the event — although how the tournament progresses from here is not entirely clear. “It is a positive experience for European football,” said Swiss coach Vladimir Petkovic. And given his side fi nished fourth and last of those competing at the fi nals he seems an unbiased observer. UN talks host Chile ramps The brainchild of disgraced former UEFA president Michel Platini, the Nations League was created in part because the body’s fl agship club tournament — the Champions League — had achieved a dominance which threatened international football. up climate ambition More competitive games and fewer friendlies? Top sides playing well against each other? Minnows having realistic chances of success? An enjoyable fi nals with a global By Matt Maynard as “an enormous landmark in the tackling climate change. began production just six days before Santiago transformation needed throughout the Signatories included Extinction Pinera’s announcement. superstar delivering the title to a grateful host nation? world for sustainable development and Rebellion Chile, Greenpeace Chile and Gonzalez said the plants now slated Tick, tick, tick, tick, at carbon neutrality”. the international youth movement of for closure were already “past or very least from the point of view hile’s new climate change But not all politicians are satisfi ed. children skipping school to protest close to the end of their useful life”, It’s a positive of UEFA. Even England fans plan, unveiled by President In late May, opposition leader about climate inaction, “Fridays for meaning the industry was not being causing trouble early on in Sebastian Pinera this week, Catalina Perez proposed a “climate Future”. inconvenienced. “We hope COP25 will be remembered experience Porto and being branded Cputs the host of this year’s UN emergency” declaration to the “We know it is not fi nancially viable climate conference on track to play its organising committee for the “COP25” by future generations as the moment for these companies to build new for European “embarrassing” by manager part in meeting globally agreed goals to UN climate change conference. that the planet’s luck changed,” it plants,” he added. Gareth Southgate did not limit warming of the planet, researchers “It went badly,” she said afterwards, concluded. Electricity production in Chile football spoil the mood. said. with fellow members unable to reach Meanwhile, in the inhabited areas without coal would be “entirely “The Nations League is a But green-leaning politicians and consensus. around Chile’s coal-power plants, possible 10 years earlier, in 2030, activists in the South American nation Meanwhile, the eff ects of global air pollution is a far bigger issue than as demonstrated by numerous great tournament,” said Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman called on the government to bring warming are becoming more evident in carbon dioxide emissions. publications from civil society and after losing the fi nal to Portugal on Sunday. “You saw how forward its deadlines for closing coal- the Andean nation. Parliamentarian Diego Ibanez, who academia”, Perez argued. happy Portugal were to win this prize and how much we fi red power plants. “We have to learn to live with climate represents Quintero and Puchuncavi, In his speech, the president noted wanted to win it.” On Tuesday, Pinera unveiled a climate change,” a windswept Pinera said a two of the coal plant zones, warned Chile was rich in renewable energy After providing Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo with action plan that would shut all coal week ago, as he visited the southern that the region’s children would be sources, referring to solar, wind, marine power plants by 2040, and target carbon Bio Bio region, which had been hit by “condemned to fi ve more years” of and geothermal. another title after Euro 2016, “the next one” looms already neutrality by 2050, meaning the country highly unusual tornadoes. “It has come health risks, citing a prevalence of For now, Chile has yet to fi nalise its with the draw scheduled for early 2020 with group games would emit no more heat-trapping to stay.” cognitive diffi culties and cancer among much-debated climate change law, later that year and another fi nals in 2021. carbon dioxide emissions than it can Scientists are still investigating the the local population. which has been held up by bureaucratic But the headline League A has less glamour following absorb in its forests. infl uence of climate change on the Others fear plant closures could and legal hurdles but is expected to be in the relegation of World Cup fi nalists Croatia and mighty “One of the greatest dangers we severity and frequency of tornadoes. result in job losses and rising energy place before the UN talks. Germany. Promoted Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine, confront as humanity is global warming Chile is currently aff ected by a multi- prices, but Energy Minister Susana Neither has Chile adopted the and climate change,” said the president. year drought and creeping deserts, Jimenez said seven months of talks with Escazu Accord enshrining access to Denmark and Sweden have earned their top-fl ight spots but Eight coal-fi red power plants will be which are shifting fruit production to the aff ected industries had preceded the information and protection for those do not bring the same marketing appeal. closed down in the next fi ve years, he the more temperate south. announcement. working on environmental justice in A potentially bigger problem exists without the potential announced. The country is home to 82% of “We have analysed the security and Latin America and the Caribbean. carrot of a path to the European Championships. League Coal produces almost twice the Andean glaciers, nearly all of which are effi ciency of the electricity system and When a climate protest by striking D will send one of minnows Georgia, North Macedonia, amount of carbon dioxide as natural gas in retreat, threatening water supplies. of course the social and labour eff ects students overran the allotted time this when burned. Flooding, heatwaves and devastating that the closure will cause,” she told March in Santiago, police used tear gas Kosovo or Belarus through the play-off s to Euro 2020 but the By 2050, all economic sectors — forest fi res are other impacts already journalists. on the crowd. World Cup in 2022 complicates matters. including agriculture, waste and being experienced — and which Felix Gonzalez, president of the Green Flavia Liberona, head of Chilean UEFA has only 13 spots for Qatar rather than 24 for its industrial processes — should become scientists predict will worsen as the Ecologist Party, said the government environmental justice group Terram continental event. It has suggested the Nations League could carbon-neutral, the plan said. planet heats up. was allowing coal plants to continue Foundation, said it was “inexcusable” yet provide a path to the World Cup but how and how many Chile’s forests absorbed 36% of On Wednesday’s World Environment with their business model. that the host government of the UN national emissions in 2013, and the 2050 Day, Perez’s Democratic Revolution Party The last new coal plant in Chile, climate summit had not ratifi ed an has not been confi rmed. It would certainly seem unlikely the net-zero goal would depend on their joined 52 civil society groups in a letter built by French company ENGIE, accord “that is fundamental to tackle lower leagues C and D will be off ered a route to Qatar outside contribution to the carbon accounting. urging Pinera to deepen commitments to was commissioned in 2014, and socio-environmental confl icts”. traditional qualifying given the scarcity of spots. In December, 20,000 to 30,000 And perversely this creates an incentive for certain delegates, including world leaders, are countries promoted last time — Scotland to League B for expected in Santiago for the annual UN climate talks, where governments will example — to be be urged to ramp up pledges to reduce relegated back to a level they could realistically gain a emissions under the Paris climate play-off spot to Euro 2024 via the 2023 Nations League. change accord. Similarly Slovenia, relegated to League D, have little to Research consortium Climate Action gain from immediate promotion back to League C next time Tracker (CAT) told the Thomson Reuters Foundation that if Chile’s when, ahead of Euro 2024, a spot among the lowest nations decarbonisation plan became an would make them strong favourites to gain a play-off berth. offi cial commitment under the Paris Those are problems for the future, however. Before the fi rst Agreement, it would be compatible fi nal, Koeman insisted the competition was not the equal of with the most ambitious goal to curb the Euros or the World Cup. He is right but few could have warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7F) above pre-industrial times. predicted winning the World Cup in the 1930s or Euros in The Paris pact, adopted by nearly the 1960s would still hold such signifi cance today. 200 nations, set a goal to limit global “I’m sure this tournament will become a classic,” said temperature rise to “well below” 2C Portugal coach Fernando Santos. (3.6F), and to “pursue eff orts” for 1.5C. Looks like the event is here to stay. But still-rising global emissions are currently on track to fuel at least 3C of warming, climate scientists say. To Advertise In the build-up to the Paris conference where the climate accord [email protected] was agreed in 2015, Chile committed Display to reduce the intensity of its emissions relative to GDP by 30% by 2030 from 44466621 44418811 2007 levels. This target was rated “highly Classified insuffi cient” by CAT. 44466609 44418811 Moreover, under that plan, CAT calculated that Chile’s emissions would Subscription actually rise 41% by 2030 compared to 2010 levels as the country left itself [email protected] space for economic growth. Environment Minister Carolina Schmidt described the unveiling of Chilean President Sebastian Pinera speaks to the media next to India’s President Ram Nath Kovind (not pictured) during his © 2019 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Chile’s more ambitious plan this week off icial visit at the government palace in Santiago, Chile, April 1. Gulf Times Tuesday, June 11, 2019 19 COMMENT Maintaining the momentum against cholera

By Anita Zaidi remember 2019 as the beginning of Seattle the end of cholera, but much depends on our efforts in the next few years. For starters, global health donors hen Cyclone Idai ripped must step up to ensure that Gavi is through Mozambique, fully funded in the next strategic Malawi, and Zimbabwe investment period (2021-2025). This Won the night of March 14, support is critical not only for ending it wrought unimaginable devastation cholera, but also for achieving all of and claimed more than 1,000 lives. our health-related goals. The routine In its aftermath, and that of Cyclone immunisation that Gavi provides is Kenneth the following month, fl ooding essential to building strong primary and the loss of infrastructure created healthcare systems and reaching the conditions for an explosive universal coverage. outbreak of cholera, a deadly Second, cholera-aff ected countries diarrhoeal disease that can kill a person must follow the lead of countries within hours if left untreated. like Somalia, South Sudan, Zambia, But what happened next is key: Zimbabwe, and others. That means after Idai struck, the authorities working with the World Health launched a rapid-response initiative Organisation on a cholera control plan and within 24 hours arranged for to help governments unlock resources oral cholera vaccines to be delivered and receive technical assistance, to Mozambique. With a large-scale including the oral cholera vaccine. vaccination eff ort now under way, If we do not act now, WHO the outbreak is under control, and models show that climate change, thousands of lives have been saved. urbanisation, and population growth In the past, developing countries could increase cholera cases by 50% in that have been struck by natural the next 20 years. disasters or affl icted by war have not There is much more to be done, been so fortunate. After a devastating including making major investments in earthquake in 2010, Haiti experienced sustainable water, sanitation, hygiene a protracted cholera outbreak that services, improved disease surveillance, claimed thousands of lives and and stronger health systems. Fortunately, jeopardised its recovery. And in the return on these investments will be war-torn Yemen today, an equally immense. We can both eliminate cholera widespread outbreak has yet to be and make progress toward managing or brought under control. eliminating a wide range of waterborne An ancient disease, cholera once A general view shows destruction after Cyclone Idai in Beira, Mozambique. diseases, all of which is necessary for killed tens of thousands of people meeting the Sustainable Development in Europe and North America; but Global Task Force on Cholera Control protection that can last for up to fi ve delivery by supporting countries’ In addition to setting a new record Goals. it was eliminated from the Global (GTFCC), a network of leading global years. It thus serves as a necessary health systems. Owing to its innovative for the delivery of oral cholera Where one lives should not North more than 150 years ago. Now, health organisations, is working to bridge between emergency responses twenty-fi rst-century fundraising and vaccines, GTFCC and Gavi are also determine whether one lives. But until it is found almost exclusively in the consign cholera to history books. and broader, longer-term eff orts delivery model, it is one of our best supporting a long-term strategy led by we eliminate cholera deaths, that will world’s poorest communities, where In 2018, the GTFCC arranged the such as investment in water safety, assets in the fi ght against vaccine- cholera-aff ected countries to eradicate be the tragic reality facing vulnerable it is a deadly side eff ect of economic shipment of 17.4 million doses of sanitation, and hygiene services. preventable diseases. Better still, the the disease. As outlined in Ending communities across the Global South. deprivation and inequity. the oral cholera vaccine to aff ected This achievement would not have oral cholera vaccine is just one of 13 Cholera: A Global Roadmap to 2030, – Project Syndicate Nonetheless, in the past 18 months, countries. As a result, more people been possible without Gavi, the vaccines that Gavi supports. Since its the goal is to reduce cholera deaths by the world has made signifi cant are vaccinated for cholera today than Vaccine Alliance. A unique public- founding in 2000, Gavi has averted an 90% and eliminate the disease from 20 z Anita Zaidi is Director of Vaccine strides in the fi ght against cholera. ever before. The cholera vaccine is private partnership, Gavi leverages estimated 10 million deaths – a fi gure of the 47 countries currently aff ected Development, Surveillance, and Enteric In partnership with the governments not just safe and inexpensive, but also fi nancing for vaccination, reduces the that will grow as cholera outbreaks within the next 11 years. and Diarrheal Diseases Programs at the of cholera-aff ected countries, the highly eff ective, providing immediate cost of vaccines, and improves their recede. It is possible that historians will Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Three-day forecast The US economy’s dirty secret TODAY Maximum Temperature : 460c Minimum Temperature : 330c By Todd G. Buchholz much to do with interest rates. I visited an Apple store a few days ago, of them go to Canada and Mexico, San Diego Borrowing costs are currently lower an employee at the repair counter told whose economies have been doing WEDNESDAY than at any time since the founding me that I could fi nance a new iPhone okay. Moreover, many of the most Maximum Temperature : 420c of the US Federal Reserve in 1913, or at 0% interest. Car dealers are off ering valuable US exports are “must-have” Minimum Temperature : 330c here is a dirty little secret in in the UK’s case since the Bank of zero-interest fi nancing, too. items (or oligopolistic goods made THURSDAY economics today: the United England was established in 1694. The Moreover, the US stock market by only a few companies), such as Maximum Temperature : 430c States has benefi ted – and ten-year US Treasury bond is yielding has soared because yields on bank Boeing jets, Qualcomm chips, or Apple Minimum Temperature : 340c continues to benefi t – from about 2.123%, and in April, the certifi cates of deposit (CDs) look so iPhones. It is hard even for dejected T Fisherman's forecast the global slump. The US economy streaming service Netfl ix issued junk puny. When I was a kid in the 1970s, Frenchmen or angst-ridden Germans is humming along, even while bonds at a rate of just 5.4%. my mother placed our family savings to do without these. WARNING in a bank and received not only a 6% The buoyancy of the US economy protesters in the United Kingdom If a Rip Van Winkle economist were Inshore : Nil hurl milkshakes at Brexiteers, to wake up today after a decades-long return, but also a blender. Today, a six- worries policymakers in other French President Emmanuel Macron sleep and see only those numbers, month bank CD might pay only one- countries. They would prefer if the US Offshore : Nil confronts nihilist yellow-vested he or she would assume that one- third of a percentage point. And my stumbled along beside them and was Inshore : Very hot daytime with marchers, and Chinese tech fi rms such fi fth of Americans were unemployed mother can no longer expect a blender forced to concoct co-operative ways slight dust at some as Huawei fear being frozen out of and standing in lines outside soup or even a lollipop from the bank in of boosting global growth. Instead, places. foreign markets. kitchens. Instead, the US jobless rate is return for parking her money there. Trump needles rather than wheedles Offshore : Fine to some clouds Last year, the US economy grew by at its lowest level since Neil Armstrong Finally, low interest rates mean for trade deals, and happily pockets at times 2.9%, while the eurozone expanded took his famous fi rst step onto the that US businesses can obtain nearly the benefi ts to the US economy that WIND by just 1.8%, giving President Donald Moon’s surface 50 years ago. free fi nancing when they purchase result from doldrums abroad. Inshore : Northwesterly-North- Trump even more confi dence in his The idea that the US wins in a global equipment. As a result of low No one knows when Trump’s trade easterly 05-15/18 KT confrontational style. But relatively slump might sound like the sardonic borrowing costs and new tax write- needling will stop, of course. But as Offshrore : Northeasterly-North- strong US growth amid sluggishness musing of some unreconstructed off s, the US economy added 215,000 long as infl ation remains a distant westerly 03-12 KT elsewhere is not what economics Marxist in the dingy corner of a new machine manufacturing jobs in spectre, America’s economy will Visibility : 4-8 KM textbooks would predict. Whatever faculty lounge. But such a view is not 2018. And foreign investors realise continue to enjoy this unusual type of happened to the tightly integrated ideological. Rather, global interest that new equipment will make US growth. – Project Syndicate Offshore : 1-3 FT world economy that the International rates are scraping the fl oor because companies more competitive. z Todd G Buchholz has served as Monetary Fund and the World Bank GDP growth outside the US is so But surely, the textbooks insist, a Around the region have been advocating – and more sluggish. hobbled global economy will squeeze director of economic policy under Weather recently extolling – since World War Persistently low interest rates and US exports. That is true – especially President George HW Bush and as Weather tomorrow Max/min II? weak infl ation bring multiple benefi ts when combined with China’s new managing director of the Tiger hedge today Max/min Sunny 43/26 The US economy is in a temporary to the US economy. For starters, tariff s on American goods and a strong fund. He was awarded Harvard Baghdad M Sunny 45/29 Sunny 47/32 but potent phase in which weakness American consumers, whose real dollar, which makes US exports more University’s Allyn Young Teaching Kuwait CitySunny 47/34 Sunny 41/34 abroad lifts spirits at home. But this (infl ation-adjusted) wages are fi nally expensive internationally. Prize in economics and is the author of Manama Sunny 42/33 M Sunny 40/33 economic euphoria has nothing to do increasing after decades of stagnation, Still, exports make up only 12% of New Ideas from Dead Economists and Muscat Sunny 39/33 M Sunny 35/23 with Trump-era spite and malice, and are seeing all sorts of bargains. When the US economy, and nearly one-third The Price of Prosperity. Tehran Sunny 33/23

Live issues Sleeping with lights or TV on tied to obesity Around the world By Lisa Rapaport obese, according to their body mass said Park, a researcher with the 40 or higher is severely or morbidly Reuters Health index (BMI), a ratio of weight relative National Institute of Environmental obese. Weather Weather to height. None of them worked shifts Health Sciences at the National One limitation of the study is today Max/min tomorrow Max/min that could interrupt sleep cycles. Institutes of Health in Research Park that researchers relied on women to Athens Showers 29/20 M Sunny 31/21 or middle-aged and older After almost six years of follow-up, Triangle, North Carolina. report their own height and weight. Beirut Sunny 29/23 P Cloudy 27/22 women, sleeping with the women who slept with a television or “Thus, reducing exposure to Researchers also lacked data on any Bangkok S T Storms 32/28 T Storm 33/27 television or lights on has been light on in the room were 22% more artifi cial light at night while sleeping changes in artifi cial light exposure Berlin S T Storms 31/19 M Sunny 31/17 Flinked with higher odds of likely to be overweight and 33% more adds an important tool for preventing at night over time that might have Cairo Sunny 38/22 Sunny 35/22 becoming obese, in a recent US study. likely to be obese than women who weight gain,” Park said by e-mail. impacted the results. Cape Town Cloudy 16/13 S Showers 14/09 While a high-calorie diet and slept in total darkness without even a Globally, 1.9bn adults are Even so, the results “make a strong Colombo T Storm 31/26 T Storm 31/27 sedentary behaviour are the most nightlight or the glow from an alarm overweight or obese, according to the case for artifi cial light exposure at Dhaka P Cloudy 34/27 P Cloudy 36/28 commonly cited explanations for clock. World Health Organisation. Roughly 4 night being a risk factor for weight Hong Kong T Storm 29/26 T Storm 29/26 obesity, some previous research has The study wasn’t a controlled in 10 adults are overweight, and more gain,” said James Gangwisch, a Istanbul P Cloudy 27/21 I T Storms 27/19 also linked exposure to artifi cial experiment and so it can’t prove than 1 in 10 are obese, a condition that researcher at Columbia University in Jakarta M Cloudy 33/26 P Cloudy 34/26 light at night to an increased risk of whether or how exposure to artifi cial can increase the risk of heart disease, New York City who wasn’t involved in Karachi M Sunny 33/28 M Sunny 35/28 weight gain, researchers note in JAMA light at night might directly cause diabetes, kidney problems, joint the study. London Cloudy 18/11 Rain 16/11 Internal Medicine. obesity. disorders and certain cancers. The television and any bedside or Manila T Storm 34/28 S T Storms 33/28 For the current study, researchers Still, said lead study author Dr In the current study, women who overhead lights need to go off , and Moscow M Sunny 29/16 M Sunny 31/12 followed almost 44,000 generally Yong-Moon Park, “Cutting off lights slept with a television or light on in their then people need to look for other light New Delhi P Cloudy 44/31 P Cloudy 41/31 healthy women, ages 35 to 74. Many – at bedtime could reduce women’s room were more likely to have a BMI sources to eliminate, he advised. New York P Cloudy 26/16 Cloudy 26/17 about 17,000 – slept with a nightlight chances of becoming obese.” that put them in the overweight or obese “Even with the lights off , our Paris Showers 19/10 Showers 19/10 in the room, while more than 13,000 “In our study exposure to artifi cial range and to experience at least a 10% bedrooms are often aglow at night Sao Paulo P Cloudy 26/13 P Cloudy 26/13 left a light on outside the bedroom and light at night while sleeping was increase in BMI during the study than from luminous clocks, light-emitting Seoul M Sunny 27/14 M Sunny 28/16 about 5,000 slept with a television or associated with weight gain both in women who slept in total darkness. diodes from electronic devices, Singapore T Storm 31/28 T Storm 30/27 light on in the bedroom. women with insuffi cient sleep – less A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is and outside lighting that seeps Sydney Sunny 19/11 M Cloudy 22/15 At the start of the study, women than seven hours – and women with considered healthy, while 25 to 29.9 is through porous curtains and shades,” Tokyo Cloudy 21/15 Cloudy 24/16 were typically overweight but not yet suffi cient sleep – seven to nine hours,” overweight, 30 or above is obese and Gangwisch said. Gulf Times 20 Tuesday, June 11, 2019 QATAR

Hyatt Plaza Mall featured Palestinian and Jordanian folklore shows during the Eid festivities. PICTURES: QNTC Residents and visitors in large numbers witness the fireworks display at Katara–the Cultural Village during the Eid festivities. Summer in Qatar aimed at providing entertainment, growth in businesses

By Joey Aguilar Staff Reporter

part from providing a wide range of entertainment Aoptions, the Summer in Qatar (SiQ) programme also wants to boost local spending during this season, which runs from June 4 to August 16, an of- fi cial of Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC) has said. SiQ 2019, the biggest in the country so far, off ers an array of promotions and huge discounts from retailers at various partici- pating malls, hotels, and other business establishments. Qatar Airways is also giving away 25% discount on fl ights to Doha until August 15, along McLaren car at stake for SiQ grand raff le draw. with 25% discount on Al Maha Airport meet and assist/lounge spent. This qualifies them for services. the raffle draws, which will “We focus on a season as op- give away QR2mn worth of cash posed to time-based festival. prizes and a McLaren car as the QNTC distributes SiQ flyers and brochures to passengers at the Hamad International Airport. We removed the word festival grand prize because it is more of a season,” “We wrap this all with a lot of are also on off er at theme parks QNTC’s chief marketing offi cer off ers throughout summer,” al- across Qatar such as Trimoo Off to an exciting start Rashed al-Qurese said. Qurese said, adding that citizens Parks, Kidzania, Virtuocity, An- QNTC aims to provide en- of more than 80 countries can gry Birds World and Snow Dunes SiQ activities were off to an exciting start with residents enjoying Eid tertainment options for all seg- also enter Qatar visa-free. (opens mid-July) at Doha Festival festivities at Souq Waqif, Souq Al Wakrah, and Katara – the Cultural Vil- ments of society, giving residents An e-notifi cation system has City; KidzMondo Doha at Mall of lage. Crowds flocked to participating malls across Doha and in Al Khor a selection of activations and been introduced by the Ministry Qatar, Megapolis and Minipolis to enjoy a wide range of entertainment activities. With high footfall at events, and also to increase local of Interior, in co-operation with at The Pearl-Qatar, Circusland malls, 6,000 vouchers have been submitted for a chance to win the spending. QNTC, giving people who want at Landmark Mall, Go Fun and McLaren 570S or any of the cash prizes worth a total of QR2mn. Katara Hospitality is also of- to visit Qatar this summer visa Power Loads at Gulf Mall, and According to QNTC, residents and visitors still have plenty of activities fering an exclusive 40% discount upon arrival free-of-charge. Bounce at Tawar Mall. and entertainment events to look forward to throughout the summer for the residents of Qatar, Oman It is learnt that retailers across Retailers and food stalls at season. Doha Comedy Night with Indian comedian Zakir Khan is on and Kuwait; and 25% discount various locations in the country SiQ’s centrepiece and family- June 13, while football lovers can enjoy screenings of Copa America at for other guests from its 12 ho- got a windfall from the recent- Meet and Greet opportunity with The Justice League characters at favourite – the Summer Enter- DHFC starting June 14. Tickets are on sale for Hello Kitty and the Smurfs tels. ly-held Eid al-Fitr celebrations, Mall of Qatar. tainment City at the Doha Ex- Live on Stage shows which children can enjoy in July, in addition to the Shoppers can get up to 70% which also form part of SiQ, in hibition and Convention Centre Bollywood Music Festival, which takes place on June 21. Visitors and discount across nine partici- collaboration with over 30 part- QNTC also announced that on SiQ activities, retail, and ac- – also received a large number residents can also continue to benefit from enticing hospitality deals and pating malls, and gives them a ners from the public and private Qatar Museums Culture Pass cess to cultural and community of customers during the Eid retail off ers until August 16. raffle coupon for every QR200 sectors. members can avail discounts classes. Special summer deals holidays.

Scores attend festivals at Souq Waqif, Souq Al Wakrah ‘Qatar 2022 shows mega-events

housands of people have can transform countries’ participated and enjoyed the TEid-related festivities held at Souq Waqif and Souq Al Wakrah, From Page 1 try’s economy thrive over the last two dec- which concluded on Sunday night, ades to become one of the region’s strong- according to the Private Engineer- The SC secretary-general was joined est,” said al-Thawadi. ing Offi ce (PEO). Organised by the on the panel by Pavel Kolobkov, Russia’s “The hosting of the World Cup is just PEO’s Celebrations Committee, the Minister of Sport; Igor Levitin, aide to the one vehicle we are using to drive public- events at both souqs attracted thou- president of Russia; Alexander Dyukov, private partnerships, diversify the econo- sands of citizens, residents, and president of the Russian Football Union; my and encourage international investors tourists. Alexander Beglov, Acting Governor of and companies into the country.” The families arrived from the fi rst St Petersburg; Anton Alikhanov, Gover- Al-Thawadi said Qatar and Russia share days of the festival, where young nor of Kaliningrad; Martin Kallen, UEFA similar national visions and went on to people and adults enjoyed food in- Events CEO; and international football- discuss how both countries face similar side air-conditioned tents, as well ing legends Christian Karambeu and Sol challenges and opportunities in a rapidly as the various games and recrea- Campbell. changing global environment. tional activities. The panel was moderated by FIFA He was joined on the panel by Andrey Speaking to Qatar News Agency Council member Alexey Sorokin. Kostin, president and chairman of VTB (QNA), Souq Waqif manager Mo- The second panel al-Thawadi partici- Bank; Maxim Akimov, Deputy Prime hamed al-Salem said the Eid al- pated in was titled ‘Business in National Minister of Russia; Maxim Oreshkin, Fitr celebrations inside the large Development Projects: Ways to Succeed’, Russia’s Minister of Economic Develop- air-conditioned tent in Al Ahmad and transmitted live on the Russia 24 news ment; Chen Fenjian, chairman of China Square witnessed a huge turnout channel. Railway Construction Corporation Lim- from the families, exceeding ex- Panellists discussed the importance ited; Li Yong, director-general, United pectations. He also noted that Souq of public-private partnerships for large- Nations Industrial Development Organi- Waqif will witness several activities scale infrastructure projects and exam- sation; Sergey Sobyanin, Mayor of Mos- in the future. ined the model of national vision strate- cow; and Rustam Minnikhanov, President The activities inside the tent in gies. of Tatarstan. Al Ahmad Square included electro- Here, al-Thawadi explained Qatar Na- Al-Thawadi and Fahad bin Mohamed mechanical games and other intel- Magicians perform during the Eid festivities at Souq Waqif. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil tional Vision 2030, saying it had succeed- al-Attiyah, Qatar’s ambassador to Rus- ligence games for all age groups, as ed in driving and diversifying the country’s sia, went on to hold a number of bilateral well as recreational activities, fun Wakrah witnessed a huge turnout cantly to the fl ow of traffi c and the “is a great attraction, as the atmos- economy, and was using the FIFA World meetings on the sidelines of the forum games, entertainment, and theatre from the families and youth. arrival of large numbers to Al Wak- phere is nice in the evening,” in ad- Cup to further accelerate its mission. with leading political and business leaders, play for kids. Souq Al Wakrah manager Khalid rah. dition to the large air-conditioned “Qatar’s astute fi nancial planning and as well as experts in the fi elds of tourism, In addition, the Souq Waqif Cen- Saif al-Suwaidi also told QNA that He pointed out that public de- tent, which has more than 40 diff er- diversifi cation away from a wholly hydro- sport and technology. tre for Arts witnessed a large number the inauguration of the fi rst section mand exceeded expectations. ent games in addition to recreational carbon-based economy into new indus- Al-Thawadi and the SC delegation also of art afi cionados and children en- of the Qatar Rail’s Red Line of the Al-Suwaidi said the presence of activities and fun games on the sea- tries, such as Islamic fi nance, medicine, attended the Qatar-Russia gala dinner joyed face-painting. Also, Souq Al Doha Metro has contributed signifi - Souq Al Wakrah on the waterfront front. education and sport, has helped the coun- hosted by the Qatari embassy.