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FRIDAY Vol. XXXX No. 11451 February 7, 2020 Jumada II 13, 1441 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Deputy Amir meets ConocoPhillips CEO Aviation sector urged to fi ght climate change zDoha Declaration issued at end of two-day summit

By Pratap John try to engage collectively to reduce ures are being taken and co-operate Business Editor the level of emissions. The aviation with and encourage airports to play an and travel industries recognise there active and integral role in improving is no single ‘one-size-fi ts-all’ solu- operational effi ciencies. lobal aviation leaders have tion to the environmental challenges The declaration urged governments stressed the need for the in- the world is confronted by today,” the around the world to consult actively Gdustry to “engage collectively communiqué said. with industry to complement industry to reduce the level of emissions in the To secure environmental sustain- action while minimising the regulatory face of climate change” and issued ability for future generations, it is rec- temptation to impose additional taxes ‘Doha Declaration 2020’ at the end of ommended that urgent action be taken in the form of charges and fees. a two-day 2020 CAPA Qatar Aviation, by airlines, governments and other “Whenever taxes are imposed, these Aeropolitical and Regulatory Summit stakeholders. should be transparently allocated to in Doha yesterday. Doha Declaration 2020 called upon activities that will serve to reduce the The Doha Declaration emphasised airlines to work actively with manu- industry’s impact on the environ- that travel and tourism, within a lib- facturers and fuel suppliers to explore ment,” it said. eral regulatory framework, are essen- all avenues for emission reduction, Governments should help achieve a tial for global connectivity and socio- including but not limited to using and reduction in carbon emissions by im- economic development. One in 20 developing alternative fuels, and en- proving the eff ectiveness of air traffi c new jobs is created in this industry, it suring effi cient operational processes. management. Urgent steps should be pointed out. Airline industry should promote a made in every jurisdiction to achieve “However, in the face of climate clear and coherent industry message to rapid improvements in that direction. His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani met at his Amiri Diwan off ice yesterday morning change, it is essential for the indus- assure the public that eff ective meas- To Page 3 with ConocoPhillips CEO Ryan Lance and his accompanying delegation who are on a visit to Qatar. Woman sets spaceflight record In brief China wages ‘people’s war’ QATAR | Offi cial Amir condoles with Turkish president on virus as global fears rise His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Reuters In a striking image of the epidem- Whistleblower doctor dies His Highness the Deputy Amir Beijing ic’s reach, about 3,700 people moored Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al- off Japan on the Diamond Princess A whistleblowing Chinese doctor Thani yesterday sent cables of faced testing and quarantine for at who was reprimanded for “spreading condolences to Turkish President hinese President Xi Jinping de- least two weeks on the ship, which rumours” about the coronavirus Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the clared a “people’s war” yester- has 20 cases. before it was off icially recognised died victims of two avalanches in Cday against the fast-spreading In Hong Kong, another cruise ship yesterday after testing positive for the Turkey’s southeast city of Van coronavirus whose impact has been felt with 3,600 passengers and crew virus, the hospital where he worked and the plane skidding at Sabiha around the world from slowing factory was quarantined for a second day said. Li Wenliang, an ophthalmologist Gokcen Airport in Istanbul, and fl oors to quarantined cruise liners. pending testing after three cases on at a hospital in Wuhan was one of wished the injured a speedy The death toll in mainland China board. eight people reprimanded by Wuhan recovery. HE the Prime Minister and jumped by 73 to 563, with more than Taiwan, which has 13 cases, banned police last month for spreading “illegal Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid 28,000 infections also confi rmed in- international cruise ships from dock- and false” information about the virus. bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani side the world’s second largest econ- ing. Pages 6 ,7 also sent a similar cable to the omy. Such was the anxiety that some Turkish president. Chinese were asking HIV patients for medicines. ARAB WORLD | Confl ict But Xi, again seeking to prevent Several Palestinians global panic, said China’s strong mo- bilisation capacity and rich experi- dead in fresh violence ence in public health would enable it Violence gripped parts of Jerusalem to beat the coronavirus. and the West Bank yesterday, “The whole country has responded leaving several Palestinians dead with all its strength to respond with and 12 Israeli soldiers and a police Nasa astronaut Christina Koch reacts shortly after landing in a remote area the most thorough and strict preven- off icer injured in Palestinian attacks. outside the town of Dzhezkazgan (Zhezkazgan) in Kazakhstan, yesterday. tion and control measures, starting a Conflict in the region seemed to Koch returned to Earth safely having shattered the spaceflight record for people’s war for epidemic prevention spike in recent days following the female astronauts after almost a year aboard the International Space Station. and control,” Xinhua news agency The Diamond Princess cruise ship with over 3,000 people on board arrives US unveiling of its Middle East plan Page 5 quoted him as saying. at Yokohama port yesterday. last week. Israel has conducted nearly daily strikes on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip in response to rocket, mortar and incendiary balloon attacks in the days since US President Donald Trump’s announcement. UN praises Qatar’s support for sporting events initiative AMERICA | Politics Trump celebrates QNA Terrorism, Vladimir Voronkov, said: Moratinos said that when he was supporters of the global programme to New York “Let me start by thanking the gener- in Qatar seven years ago he witnessed secure major sporting events and har- acquittal, slams foes ous support to this UNOCT (UN Of- that Qatar put education, sports and ness sports as a tool to combat terror- President Donald Trump, facing a fi ce of Counter-Terrorism) initiative youth as priorities and made them pil- ism. bruising re-election campaign and he United Nations has praised of the government of the State of Qatar lars and goals within its development She said Qatar has prioritised the possible further investigations in Qatar and its support for the – who also gave us the idea to develop path. support of the UN Offi ce of Counter- Congress, celebrated his acquittal Tlaunch of a global programme this global programme and helped us to “Qatar has succeeded in convincing Terrorism and the international strat- on impeachment charges yesterday to secure major sporting events and to launch it.” us that sport should have a place in for- egy to combat violent extremism in in a speech that drew on White harness sport as a tool to combat ter- He added that the support extended eign policy,” Moratinos said. support of projects that focus on vic- House pomp to underscore the rorism. by Qatar along with China and South Director of the UN Interregional tims of terrorism, youth and sports fact that he remained in off ice. The ‘Global Programme on Security Korea constitutes a global dimension Crime and Justice Research Institute security, while referring to the agree- After walking down a red carpet of Major Sporting Events and Promo- to the programme on the security of Research, Bettina Tucci Bartsiotas, ex- ment signed by Qatar with UNOCT to to a standing ovation from tion of Sport and its Values as a Tool major sporting events and acquires pressed her deep appreciation for the establish a centre in Doha to study be- scores of Republican lawmakers, to Prevent Violent Extremism’ was special importance. generous support provided by Qatar havioural information and the causes administration off icials and launched on Monday at the United Na- UN High Representative for the Al- to ensure the successful launch of this that lead to violent extremism. conservative media figures in the tions headquarters in New York with the liance of Civilisations, Miguel Angel project. Sheikha Alya referred to Qatar’s White House, Trump re-aired old support Qatar, China and South Korea. Moratinos, also praised Qatar, which Qatar’s Permanent Representative annual donation of $1mn to the UN- grievances and accused Democrats In a speech during the fi rst session put sport at the forefront of its agenda HE Sheikha Alya: ‘Qatar presents to the United Nations HE Ambassador OCT as well as Qatar’s hosting of the of staging a “corrupt” eff ort to of the meeting of the programme, UN from the security perspective as a soft an ideal model of protecting sports Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani International Centre for Sport Secu- undermine his presidency. Page 5 Undersecretary-General for Counter- force to prevent violent extremism. facilities’ said her country was among the fi rst rity. To Page 3 Gulf Times 2 Friday, February 7, 2020 QATAR

Off icial Qatar chairs meeting of Arab Economic and Social Council

QNA the Arab development summit in work, and specifi cally the issues He highlighted that one of the Cairo Beirut in January 2019, the Arab that are currently on the meet- important topics that the mem- strategy for tourism, and the ing’s draft agenda. ber states must work on is expe- support of Arab countries host- He said that the draft agenda diting the removal of all obsta- atar chaired yesterday ing Syrian refugees to reduce the includes many items, the most cles facing the Greater Arab Free Amir sends cable the 105th session of the relevant economic and social important of which is the eco- Trade Area (GAFTA) in a manner of congratulations QArab Economic and So- burdens. nomic and social issues sched- that will assist in launching the cial Council meeting at the min- The council also adopted a uled for presentation at the Arab Arab Customs Union. to Queen Elizabeth isterial level that took place at report on the progress made to summit scheduled for March, a The minister added that one the headquarters of the General complete the requirements of follow-up on the implementation of the achievements at the eco- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Secretariat of the Arab League the greater Arab free trade area, of the decisions of the 104th ses- nomic level was the agreement Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and here. the establishment of the Arab sion of the Economic and Social on liberalisation of trade in serv- His Highness the Deputy Amir The meeting approved the customs union, the Arab stra- Council and of the decisions of ices among the Arab countries, Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad economic and social issues of tegic framework for the social the Arab Economic and Social De- adding that Qatar supports the al-Thani yesterday sent cables of the upcoming Arab summit at work profession, addressing tax velopment Summit, including the outcome of the experts meet- congratulations to Queen of the its regular session, which will be challenges arising from the dig- initiative of the Amir of Kuwait ing that took place in Rabat two United Kingdom Elizabeth II on held in March. ital economy, the Arab strategy Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber months ago. the anniversary of her accession The summit’s economic and for the advancement of women’s HE the Minister of Finance Ali Sherif al-Emadi addressing the al-Sabah regarding the estab- Meanwhile, the Committee to the throne. social fi le has a number of items, work within the framework of meeting in Cairo yesterday. lishment of a fund for the digital on Follow-up and Preparation including the report of the Sec- the sustainable development economy with a value of $200mn. for the Arab Development Sum- Amir greets retary-General on joint Arab goals 2030, and the establish- isterial councils, and joint Arab importance of the meeting in Qatar has provided $50mn, mits: Economic and Social, held economic and social develop- ment of the Arab center for eco- action institutions to implement advancing joint Arab work and with Kuwait providing an addi- yesterday a meeting at the min- governor-general ment, a report on the follow-up nomic and social empowerment the outcomes and decisions of enhancing the scope of co-oper- tional $50mn that are managed isterial level chaired by Lebanon. of New Zealand to the implementation of the studies in the State of Palestine. the Arab development summit in ation in all economic and social by the Arab Fund for Economic The committee includes Qa- decisions of the ordinary Arab The council welcomed the Beirut in January 2019. fi elds between Arab countries. and Social Development, adding tar, represented by HE the Dep- His Highness the Amir Sheikh summit in Tunisia in 2019, a re- measures taken by the Arab Addressing the meeting Qa- HE al-Emadi added that Qatar that he expects the fund’s stat- uty Permanent Representative of Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, His port on the follow-up to the im- League’s General Secretariat, tar’s HE the Minister of Finance looks forward to more co-op- ute to be completed in the near Qatar to the Arab League Hassan Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh plementation of the decisions of member states, specialised min- Ali Sherif al-Emadi stressed the eration in all fi elds of joint Arab future. bin Ahmed al-Mutawa. Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani and HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani sent cables of congratulations to the Governor-General of New Zealand Patsy Reddy on the occasion of her country’s Doha forum echoes youth’s National Day. El Salvador FM meets Qatar’s envoy

Minister of Foreign Aff airs of El aspiration for nation building Salvador Alexandra Hill has met the Acting Charge d’Aff airs of choing the youth’s aspira- tween the Ministry of Culture embassy of Qatar in El Salvador tion and keenness to help and Sports and Social Develop- Tariq Othman al-Othman. During Ethe country attain devel- ment Centre (Nama) as part of the meeting, they reviewed opment goals, the third edition the eff orts to encourage youth bilateral relations, in addition to of Qatar Youth Forum came to an and help them develop their ca- topics of common interest. end at Ali bin Hamad Al Attiyah pabilities in performing their Arena on Wednesday. duties to the nation while an- World Arabic Organised by the Qatar Cul- other MoU was signed between Language Day tural And Heritage Events Cen- the Youth Centres and the Qatar tre under the patronage of the Scientifi c Club. celebrated Ministry of Culture and Sports, Seven members of the Youth the two-day forum witnessed Advisory Committee were an- Qatar National Commission dialogues, empowerment initia- nounced during the forum. The for Education, Culture and tives, interactions, training ses- future plans of the committee Science, in collaboration with sions, signing of memorandums were also presented while the the Qatar Forum of Authors, held of understanding (MoU) and functionaries discussed vari- a workshop yesterday entitled launching of applications. ous issues and challenges, being challenges in teaching Arabic Featuring 33 pavilions, the fo- faced by the youth and they put spelling and how to address rum was participated by 22 youth forward the solutions. them, on the occasion of World centres and fi ve cultural centres The Al Majd Centre for Girls, a Arabic Language Day. in addition to educational institu- collective of more than 20 youth The workshop was presented tions, government agencies and centres, functioning under the at the Training and Educational clubs. There were also 20 work- Ministry of Culture and Sports, was Development Centre of the shops attended by around 500 Winners of the various competitions were given prizes during the Off icials of the Youth Centres and the Qatar Scientific Club after also formed during the forum. Two Ministry of Education and youths from across the country. forum. signing an MoU. applications were launched in order Higher Education by Professor An array of activities ranging to help the youth chalk out plans. of Language and Grammar in from discussions to skill devel- as, share their concerns, fi nd so- youth by helping them explore draw them towards nation build- In a session on the fi rst day, The valedictory function saw the Department of Language at opment training provided the lutions and hone their leadership various fi elds. Innovative ideas ing and contribute their part to projects by the Qatar Fund for the announcement of the winners the Faculty of Arts and Sciences participants with the appropriate skills. Besides, they also opened and initiatives were presented help the country attain the goals Development (QFFD) were re- of various competitions, hosted at Qatar University Dr Abdullah environment to present their ide- up new spaces for the aspirant in bid to motivate young people, of Qatar National Vision 2030. viewed. A MoU was signed be- by the forum. al-Hitari.

QOC to organise multiple SC chief to highlight Qatar’s 2022 journey at QF event

National Sport Day events atar’s journey toward With 33 months to go before Thawadi will join us for a special hosting one of the the tournament kicks off , al- edition of our Education City Qworld’s greatest sport- Thawadi will also talk about the Speaker Series. he Qatar Olympic Com- also include “fun run race” in ing events will be placed in the role that innovation is playing “Qatar’s hosting of one of the mittee (QOC) in partner- which senior offi cials will par- spotlight at Qatar Foundation in delivering the global sporting world’s premiere sporting events Tship with Msheireb Prop- ticipate. next week – when the man who showpiece – and how it will be is a landmark for the nation and erties will be celebrating the 9th Sport workshops on gymnas- leads the organisation tasked the most sustainable World Cup has captured the attention of its edition of National Sport Day tics, marital arts, along with ses- with delivering the Middle East’s ever. community. Next week’s Educa- (NSD) on Tuesday. sions for female, freestyle foot- fi rst World Cup becomes the lat- The moderated discussion on tion City Speaker Series will give The QOC has arranged a well- ball and entertainment games est guest of the Education City the eve of Qatar’s National Sport people the opportunity to hear equipped Sport Village at Bara- are also scheduled for the NSD’s Speaker Series. Day – is being held with the sup- from – and engage with – a lead- hat Msheireb for the occasion, events. In a public talk at Qatar Na- port of the SC. It is the latest er who is at the heart of deliver- which will open its gates from A number of Team Qatar tional Library on February 10, edition of Qatar Foundation’s ing a memorable, and sustain- 8am to 8pm for people of all age champions, headed by the world Hassan al-Thawadi, Secretary- (QF) Education City Speaker Se- able, World Cup that will create groups to participate in multi- and Olympic high jump cham- General of the Supreme Com- ries, a platform for experts and a true legacy for Qatar.” ple activities and competitions, pion, Mutaz Essa Barshim shall mittee for Delivery & Legacy thought-leaders from across a The discussion with al-Tha- including athletics, basketball, take part in the National Sport (SC), will speak about the range of fi elds to give their in- Hassan al-Thawadi wadi, which will be followed by volleyball, gymnastics, table Day’s events. progress that Qatar has made sights and perspectives on key a question-and-answer session, tennis, boxing, wrestling, taek- The QOC is celebrating the and the next steps that will be topics, themes, and trends. speakers, refl ecting QF’s com- “With National Sport Day fast will take place from 5-6pm in wondo, karate and judo. Also a National Sport Day under the taken as the nation prepares to Open to all members of the mitment to providing oppor- approaching, and with excite- the public events area at Qatar number of Team Qatar stars are theme “Sport For Life” to pro- stage the FIFA World Cup Qatar community, Education City tunity for the open exchange of ment and anticipation about National Library. due to honour the prestigious mote sports, physical education 2022, as well as how its positive Speaker Series events enable knowledge and opinions. the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 More information is available event. and sustainable development impact on the country will last people to hear and learn from, Mayan Zebeib, chief com- continuing to build, we are abso- on www.qf.org.qa/education- The NSD’s programme will across the country. – QNA long after the fi nal ball is kicked. and interact with, its guest munications offi cer, QF, said: lutely delighted that Hassan al- city-speaker-series

MoI holds industrial security course National Service Academy celebrates graduation of Iraqi offi cers The Ministry of Interior celebrated yesterday the graduation of students of a QNA Staff for Education and Train- course on protecting industrial Doha ing and Staff Major General facilities. Hamad Ahmed al-Nuaimi, A total of 43 students from the ambassador of Iraq to Qatar department of industrial security he National Service Acad- Omar Ahmed Karim al-Bar- and Qatar Electricity and Water emy celebrated yesterday zanji, and the head of the Na- Company (Kahramaa) attended Tthe graduation of Iraqi of- tional Service Academy Staff the course. fi cers who attended a six-week Major General Saeed Hamad Director General of Industrial long self-defence course. al-Nuaimi attended the grad- Security Lieutenant Colonel The course involved activi- uation ceremony. Khalifa Mohamed al-Attiyah ties such as swimming, running, An illustrative video of the stressed on the importance of barriers fi eld, ring exercises and training was shown on the oc- these courses, which aim to raise weight lifting, to raise the par- casion. the level of security personnel ticipants’ fi tness level. Certifi cates were distrib- to face the challenges related to The officers also underwent uted by HE Staff Major General the development of oil and gas Jujitsu training, in addition to Hamad Ahmed al-Nuaimi and industry. other self-defence skills such Omar Ahmed Karim al-Barzanji. He added that the department’s as armless combat and meth- Iraqi ambassador to Qatar ex- development in recent years ods of disarming the enemy, as pressed his thanks and appre- sought to keep up with Qatar’s well as combat with sticks and ciation to Qatar and the National expansion in the production of oil knives. Service Academy for their eff orts and gas. – QNA HE the Deputy Chief of in this course. Gulf Times Friday, February 7, 2020 3 QATAR/ARAB WORLD

Artist Abdo at work

HE Akbar al-Baker with CAPA – Centre for Aviation Chairman Emeritus, Peter Harbison. The two-day 2020 CAPA Qatar Aviation, Aeropolitical and Regulatory Summit concluded yesterday with a ‘Doha Declaration 2020’ that called upon the industry to ‘engage collectively to reduce the level of emissions in the face of climate change’. Aviation sector urged to fi ght climate change

From Page 1 industry. This insight is driven the most infl uential and es- by the discussion during the teemed leaders in the industry. Lebanese artist Roula Abdo paints a mural in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, yesterday. Doha Declaration 2020 called CAPA Qatar Aviation, Aeropo- More than 280 industry lead- upon other stakeholders to en- litical and Regulation Summit, ers attended the event, including sure travellers are provided with which demonstrates just how a lineup of high-profi le speakers clear, reputable, and globally- important it is to have platforms that guided the premier discourse acceptable means of off setting for open discussion with global on open skies, aviation access, their carbon footprint. aviation leaders, to help remove regulation and sustainability. It said leading education in- barriers to progress and drive Besides al-Baker, the speakers stitutions together with the the industry towards an open included IATA director general aviation industry should work marketplace.” & CEO Alexandre de Juniac; IAG to defi ne and develop appropri- Qatar Airways Group Chief CEO Willie Walsh; RwandAir ate data and skills – both tech- Executive, HE Akbar al-Baker CEO Yvonne Manzi Makolo; Turkey urges Russia nical and non-technical – with said: “I wholeheartedly endorse European Commission director the ultimate goal to support the the second iteration of the Doha general (Mobility and Trans- development of a strong and Declaration. The Doha Decla- port) Henrik Hololei; African eff ective cohort of aviation en- ration is a refl ection of the last Airlines Association (AFRAA) vironment professionals, and two days of productive discus- secretary general Abderahmane promote equal accessibility to sions and refl ects the need for Berthé; European Parliament to halt regime attacks leadership positions. all stakeholders in the aviation co-ordinator (Transport and Commenting on the declara- industry to work together to de- Tourism) José Ramón Bauzá tion, CAPA – Centre for Avia- velop the solutions for today’s Díaz; and AACO secretary gen- tion Chairman Emeritus, Peter and tomorrow’s challenges.” eral Abdul Wahab Teff aha. Harbison said: “Now is a criti- Supported by Qatar Airways, They were also joined by a cal time for our global industry. the summit provided a pivotal number of other executives in Syrian town of Idlib The Doha Declaration contin- platform to continue the dis- from airports, governments, ues to evolve based on the state cussion on open skies, aviation industry bodies, academics and AFP of liberalisation in the aviation access and regulation among other industry leaders. Istanbul

urkey urged Russia yester- day to press for an end to Tthe Syrian off ensive in the UN praises Qatar’s support last rebel bastion of Idlib after a deadly fl are-up this week. “We expect Russia to stop the regime as soon as possible,” For- for sporting events initiative eign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters in the Azerbaijani capital Baku in televised com- From Page 1 national co-operation, public- cybersecurity; and crisis plan- ments. Turkey and Russia back private partnerships and sus- ning and management; strategic opposing sides in the Syrian con- She highlighted the prepa- tainable security approaches, communication, etc,” he said. fl ict, but have worked to fi nd po- rations being made by the Su- while promoting the values of Moratinos welcomed the pro- litical solutions in the northwest- preme Committee for Delivery sport as a powerful means to gramme, saying its launch was ern province of Idlib. & Legacy, the organising com- counter terrorism and prevent a successful model of a unifi ed A renewed off ensive by Syr- mittee for the World Cup Qatar violent extremism. Voronkov approach strategy for the United ian forces has undermined exist- 2022, through the formation of opened the session, stressing Nations in meeting the global ing peace agreements and led to the security committee tasked that sport is a fundamental and need to protect major sporting deadly clashes between Turkish with the protection of sport fa- true human value, and a strong events. and Syrian forces in which more cilities. The Ambassador said vaccine against any kind of Sports events off er benefi ts than 20 soldiers and personnel Qatar presents an ideal model of criminal disease. to the international community were killed on Monday. protecting sports facilities and “Over the past decade, terror- by developing advanced policies Cavusoglu said Turkey and An aerial view shows smoke billowing from tyres burnt by Syrians in an attempt to hinder air strikes amid events in the light of terrorist ists have conducted a number of and practices to enhance their Russia were closely co-ordinating clashes between rebel fighters and government forces in the town of Binnish in Syria’s northwestern threats targeting major sport- deadly attacks against soft tar- security, Moratinos said, and after the clashes, adding that a province of Idlib. ing events, stressing that Qatar gets and crowded places resulting called for the provision of initia- delegation from Russia was due is among the 20 most secure in casualties, panic, and severe tives and activities that promote to visit Turkey for further talks. Wednesday urged Syria to with- countries in the world. damage to the way of life and the sport as a tool for social inclusion Turkish President Recep Tayyip draw its troops from Turkey’s The global programme was economy of aff ected countries. and values inherent in sport such Erdogan’s spokesman Ibrahim military observation posts in launched during the opening “Let us recall the attacks as respect for others, discipline, Kalin later yesterday said Turkey Idlib, warning that Turkey would session of a meeting organised against the 1972 and 1996 Ol- leadership and fl exibility. expected to establish a road map take matters into its own hands by the UN Offi ce of Counter- ympics, and the bombings dur- In a recorded video, HE the for the future during the delega- if this was not done by the end of Terrorism in partnership with ing the 2008 Sri Lanka and 2013 Secretary-General of the Su- tion’s visit but did not off er more February. Kalin told reporters in the UN Interregional Crime and Boston marathons.” preme Committee for Delivery details. Ankara that there would be “seri- Justice Research Institute, the Voronkov added that sport & Legacy, Hassan al-Thawadi “Our target on the ground in ous consequences for every mis- UN Alliance of Civilisations, the has always played a signifi cant praised the programme. He Idlib is not Russia,” Cavusoglu take made after this. We’ve told International Centre for Sport role in the dissemination of stressed the importance of in- said. “Who carried out the attack our Russian counterparts this.” Security and the Counter Ter- positive values across civilisa- ternational eff orts to make sport there? It is the regime.” Under a 2018 deal with Mos- rorism Committee Executive tions and cultures. a tool to combat violent extrem- He said Erdogan and his Rus- cow, Turkey has 12 observation Directorate. “Protecting major sporting ism and terrorism. He also re- sian counterpart Vladimir Pu- posts in Idlib aimed at preventing This new programme is aimed events entails multi-level co- viewed the steps taken by the tin could meet “if needed”. “We a regime off ensive. at developing innovative poli- operation and co-ordination, Supreme Committee with all should continue working together The spokesman said “the cies and practices to strengthen as well as complex security and parties concerned to provide with Russia. If we are to solve posts would remain where they the protection of major sporting policing arrangements – in- protection, security and safety problems there, we will solve are,” adding that “whatever ad- events through enhanced inter- cluding securing locations; for the World Cup Qatar 2022. them together,” added Cavusoglu. ditional measures are needed for Syrian rebel fighters unload artillery shells amid clashes with Turkey with Russia and Iran have our soldiers’ security, we are tak- government forces in the last major rebel bastion of Idlib in held talks together as part of the ing them.” The outposts at Morek northwestern Syria yesterday. Astana process which began in and Surman are now encircled by 2017 in the Kazakh capital, since regime forces, and Turkish troops tory for Human Rights. Turkey is a limit to our patience. After we re-named Nur-Sultan. at another post in Saraqeb shelled has yet to comment on clashes had eight martyrs, we retaliated... Israeli-Palestinian violence Kalin said there “could be” Syrian forces on Wednesday to at Saraqeb, but Cavusoglu said it If the regime keeps on its aggres- a meeting in March as part of prevent it also being surrounded, would not allow “aggression” by sion, we will not stop there,” he rises after Trump peace plan the Astana process. Erdogan on according to the Syrian Observa- Assad’s forces. “Of course there said.

Reuters ing the disputed holy city of long shunned the Trump ad- Ramallah Jerusalem and nearly all the oc- ministration, accusing it of bias UN envoy reports ‘progress’ in Libya rival talks cupied land on which it has built towards Israel, say the plan falls settlements. With violence on far short of their demands for t least two Palestinians the rise, the Israeli military said a viable independent state and AFP UN envoy Salame Army (LNA) of strongman Khalifa Salame also said that a sepa- were killed in the occu- it was sending reinforcements other rights. Israel supports the Geneva said the two Haftar are taking part in the mili- rate commission dealing with Apied West Bank and some to the West Bank, where Israeli Trump plan. The Arab League tary commission talks. economic aff airs between the Israelis were hurt yesterday in a troops in the city of Jenin shot opposes it, while the European sides were not Salame said the two sides were two sides would meet in Cairo on surge of violence that erupted dead a 19-year-old man during Union has rejected parts of it. he UN’s Libya envoy yes- not meeting together but engaged Sunday and he was hopeful that a amid strong Palestinian anger at clashes. In a separate incident in On Wednesday, Israeli troops terday reported “progress” meeting together in “shuttle diplomacy” with sep- political dialogue between them a US peace plan. Jenin, a Palestinian offi cer in the shot dead a 17-year-old Pal- Tin talks between military but engaged arate meetings. “If it is easier to could begin in Geneva on Febru- In Jerusalem, an Arab citi- local police station was killed estinian elsewhere in the West representatives of the country’s have an agreement through shut- ary 26. At a summit in the Ger- zen of Israel was killed after he by what Palestinian authorities Bank, saying he had thrown warring parties on coming up in “shuttle tle diplomacy, we do not have a man capital Berlin last month, slightly wounded an Israeli par- said was Israeli gunfi re. Israeli a fi re-bomb at them during a with a lasting ceasefi re that could diplomacy” with problem with that,” he said. “I am world leaders committed to end- amilitary border policeman at an offi cials did not comment, and violent protest against Trump’s include a UN monitoring role. not here for the picture of the two ing all foreign interference in the entrance to the walled Old City, Israeli media reported he was plan. He was the fi rst fatal- “Progress has been made on separate meetings sides shaking hands,” he added. oil-rich country and to uphold a Israeli authorities said, calling shot by troops by mistake. ity since the blueprint was an- many important issues,” Ghassan Asked about monitoring, he weapons embargo to help end the the attack politically motivated. Palestinian President Mah- nounced. The Israel-Gaza bor- Salame told reporters in Geneva, we leave Geneva” following this added: “I can tell you that the long-running civil war. The peace proposal an- moud Abbas condemned Israel der has also been shaken by adding that there were still “two week’s talks, Salame said. Five joint military commission would But Salame said the embargo nounced by US President Don- for the deaths, linking them to several days of violence. or three points of divergence”. senior offi cers appointed by the be involved in the monitoring of was being breached with weap- ald Trump would give Israel what Trump has billed as the Israel has carried out nightly “We are still working on re- UN-recognised Government of the ceasefi re under the auspices of ons, ammunition and foreign most of what it has sought dur- “deal of the century”. air strikes against sites belong- fi ning our basic draft. I hope that National Accord (GNA) and fi ve the United Nations in Libya. That fi ghters arriving to support both ing decades of confl ict, includ- The Palestinians, who have ing to Gaza’s ruling Hamas. we can have an agreement before appointed by the Libyan National is acceptable to both sides.” sides in the confl ict. Gulf Times 4 Friday, February 7, 2020 AFRICA

JUSTICE MOURNED POLITICS GROUNDED FLIGHT RISK West African court to rule State funeral for Kenya’s Tanzania rejects calls for SA carrier axes more routes Lesotho leader’s wife gets on 2012 Guinea massacre ex-president arap Moi election panel reform as cash crunch continues bail ahead of murder trial

A regional West African court said yesterday Kenya plans to hold a national memorial service for Tanzania’s government yesterday rejected South Africa’s ailing national airline yesterday The wife of Lesotho’s prime minister was freed on it will rule in April on a case accusing Guinea’s former president Daniel arap Moi on Tuesday, one opposition calls for a reform of the election announced plans to close almost all its domestic bail overnight ahead of her trial for the murder authorities and a Brazilian mining company of day before he is to be buried at one of his homes commission, ahead of general elections later this services and some international flights, the latest of his previous wife, her lawyer said yesterday complicity in a 2012 massacre that killed six near the city of Nakuru. “The former president will year. The main opposition party Chadema say bid to save cash after a spree of cancellations. Flag and police said they feared she could flee justice people. The six villagers were killed in August be accorded a state funeral with full civilian and the commission is not independent and serves carrier South African Airways (SAA) has failed to if allowed to travel abroad for medical reasons. 2012 when police opened fire in Zogota in military ceremonial honours,” public service head the interests of the ruling CCM party of President make a profit for more than a decade and gets by on Maesaiah Thabane was detained and charged this Guinea’s N’Zerekore region, during a protest Joseph Kinyua said in a statement. Moi died this John Magufuli. Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa government bailouts. Debt-ridden and strapped for week for the murder of Prime Minister Thomas against mining company Vale’s recruiting week at the age of 95. Moi was in off ice from 1978 to dismissed the concerns. “The commission was cash, it was placed under a state-approved rescue Thabane’s estranged wife Lipolelo, who was practices. The victims group, The Same Rights 2002, a time that was marked by the centralisation set up in accordance with the constitution plan in December following a week-long strike that shot dead near her home in Lesotho’s capital, For All (MDT), in 2018 filed a complaint with the of power, corruption and allegations of human which enshrines its independence,” Majaliwa pushed it to the verge of collapse. The business Maseru, on June 14, 2017, aged 58. Maesaiah, Economic Community of West African States rights abuse. Moi’s body will lie in state in the Kenyan said in a statement yesterday. “The commission administrators have since cancelled more than who is now 42, denies any guilt in the case. The (ECOWAS) Court of Justice against Guinea parliament from tomorrow to Monday, Kinyua said. is independent and does not suff er from any one hundred flights. The latest cull targets mainly prime minister has yet to speak about it publicly. off icials and Vale-BSG, accusations the Brazilian The national memorial service on Tuesday is due to interference in its functioning — neither from the domestic routes, with services to almost all South Thabane, now 80, took off ice two days after the company has rejected. be held in Nairobi’s Nyayo stadium. president, nor from any political party.” African destinations to be cut on February 29. killing, then married Maesaiah two months later. Two die in Zuma fi res back Zimbabwe gold mine in ruckus over collapse court no-show

Reuters AFP Zuma’s supporters reacted an- Harare Johannesburg grily. “Hands off ,” one of his sons, Supporters of former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo watch his trial on a screen in Abidjan. The banner reads: “Gbagbo Edward Zuma, said in a state- wo illegal Zimbabwean is coming ... reconciliation and peace too”. outh Africa’s former presi- ment. miners have died after dent, Jacob Zuma, has re- “They’ve tried nailing him, Tthe gold mine they were Ssponded in combative style they can’t fi nd anything. Can they working in collapsed, while 20 after he was slapped with an ar- just leave the man alone to enjoy others remained trapped under- rest warrant for failing to appear his pension.” ground, the state-owned Herald for a pre-trial hearing on corrup- Interviewed by the news newspaper reported yesterday. tion charges. channel eNCA about his father’s The newspaper quoted a Civil A day after his lawyers said he tweet, he denied that the gun Protection Unit (CPU) offi cial in was unable to attend the pro- was a symbol of defiance about Kwekwe district, 200km south- ceedings because he was ill, Zuma the arrest warrant — “it is purely west of the capital Harare, say- Gbagbo seeks posted a tweet showing himself for birds,” he said, adding that ing a rescue team had found two with a rifl e, aiming through a tel- the picture was taken two years bodies but was yet to start rescu- escopic sight and with his fi nger ago. ing the trapped miners. on the trigger. The picture was But commentators said the Head of the CPU Nathan Nko- tweeted on Wednesday without choice and timing of the im- mo said he could not immedi- accompanying text. It was taken age was hardly coincidence, and ately comment. two years ago, according to his seemed aimed at his grassroots The accident comes a year af- son, but the location was not supporters in the ANC, which is ter at least 22 miners died near release at ICC given. deeply divided into pro- and anti- Kwekwe, which highlighted the By midday yesterday, it had Zuma factions. risks run by illegal gold miners in Reuters Coast and has to stay in Belgium, whose resetting Gbagbo’s legal process. drawn 20,000 “likes.” “The image depicts him as a Zimbabwe. The Hague government has agreed to send him back Prosecution lawyer Reinhold Gall- Zuma, who was in power from warrior,” political analyst Dan- In the latest accident, the to the ICC if needed. metzer told judges that if a mistrial were 2009 to 2018, faces 16 charges of iel Silke told AFP. “The picture miners were illegally mining at “The defence is of the view that in prin- granted, the prosecution would seek a fraud, graft and racketeering re- seems to be an act of what I would Globe and Phoenix gold mine. awyers for Ivory Coast’s former ciple no restriction should be placed on a new trial for Gbagbo and his co-accused, lated to the purchase of fi ghter call bravado.” They entered the shaft on president Laurent Gbagbo yesterday person who has been acquitted,” Gbagbo’s Charles Ble Goude. jets, patrol boats and military The tweet was Zuma’s fi rst Wednesday night but did not Largued that he should be released lawyer Dov Jacobs told the court. He said the prosecution wants the re- equipment from the time when he since December 29, when he post- emerge as expected yesterday without conditions while awaiting the The defence has indicated that Gbagbo strictions on Gbagbo to stay in place be- was deputy president. ed a video clip of himself dancing morning, the Herald said. prosecution’s appeal against his acquittal would like to return to Ivory Coast and cause of the fl ight risk he continues to On Tuesday, the High Court in with a local gospel choir. Kwekwe and the areas are rich at the International Criminal Court. possibly participate in some form in Octo- pose. the southeastern city of Pieter- Zuma retains much backing in gold deposits and popular The ICC, the world’s fi rst permanent ber’s presidential election. In fact, Gallmetzer said the risk may maritzburg issued an arrest war- among the party’s radicals, who with artisanal miners, known war crimes court, acquitted Gbagbo on Gbagbo has not said whether he intends have increased since last year as Gbagbo rant after it questioned the au- fondly recall his role in the anti- locally as “Makorokoza” or hus- crimes against humanity charges in Janu- to run again for the presidency. and Ble Goude have both been convicted thenticity of the sick note said to apartheid struggle and say he is tlers, who use picks and shovels ary last year, saying prosecutors had failed Ivory Coast’s government has submit- in the interim to lengthy prison sentences have been signed by a doctor from the victim of a plot. and generator-powered water to prove any case against him. ted arguments to the ICC saying Gbagbo’s in Ivory Coast. a military hospital. Zuma was forced to step down pumps. He was then conditionally released possible return to the country could cause “If they were released unconditionally “The court accepts that Mr in 2018 by the ANC as mounting In the past month police have from detention after more than seven unrest. (the convictions) could be an incentive for Zuma may be unwell,” said judge corruption allegations and dwin- arrested hundreds of illegal min- years in custody while prosecutors ap- In October last year the ICC prosecu- them to go to a country other than Ivory Dhaya Pillay. “But this court dling popularity swamped his ers involved in violent turf wars pealed against his acquittal. tor asked the appeals judges to reverse Coast where they would not be extradited needs reliable evidence that Mr presidency. for mining claims. He was not allowed to return to Ivory the acquittal and to declare a mistrial, to Ivory Coast or the ICC,” he warned. Zuma is indeed ill.” The secretary general of the “It is not clear that (the doctor) ruling African National Con- is indeed a regular practitioner,” gress (ANC), Ace Magashule, she said. retweeted the rifl e photo along The court said that execution of with the lyrics of an apartheid- the warrant will be deferred un- era struggle song which translate Botswana prepares to auction elephant hunting licences til May 6 when the case is due to as “The fi ght of soldiers, the fi ght resume. of guerrillas.” The sick note does not give any “This warrant of arrest is a clear AFP confi ned to “controlled hunting areas”, a end the hunting ban saying Botswana deeply concerning and questionable”. details about any health prob- indication that former president Gabrone wildlife spokeswoman Alice Mmolawa has an overpopulation of elephants, and “Hunting is not an eff ective long-term lems. Zuma will not get a fair trial,” the told AFP yesterday. pledged to regulate the practice. human-elephant mitigation tool or pop- In the box earmarked for diag- party’s Youth League in KwaZulu- In a text message, she said hunt- His predecessor Khama was bitter. ulation control method,” she said. nosis it says simply “medical con- Natal province said. otswana will today hold its fi rst ing would help areas most impacted by “I have been against hunting because Neil Fitt, who heads Kalahari Conser- dition.” The warrant is “a travesty of major auction for trophy elephant “human wildlife confl ict,” a reference to it represents a mentality (of) those who vation Society in Botswana, views hunt- Its date also seems to have been justice,” added Zuma supporter Bhunting quotas since controver- elephants roaming off game parks into support it, to exploit nature for self in- ing as a new source of revenue for the modifi ed. Bathabile Dlamini, who heads sially scrapping a hunting ban last year, a communities. terest that has brought about the extinc- country, but cautioned it has to be prac- Those who have hailed the war- the ANC’s infl uential Women’s wildlife offi cial said. The 2020 hunting season is expect- tion of many species worldwide,” he told tised “ethically and properly”. rant decision include the main League. President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s gov- ed to open in April. Bidding is open to AFP in a phone interview. With unfenced parks and wide-open opposition Democratic Alliance, The sick note which triggered ernment in May revoked a moratorium, “companies that are either owned by He said allowing commercial hunting spaces, Botswana has the world’s larg- among the many critics of a man the arrest warrant “would have just a year after he succeeded Ian Khama, Botswana citizens or are registered in could “demotivate those who are en- est elephant population with more than nicknamed the “Tefl on President” been eff ortless to verify.” an avid environmentalist, who intro- Botswana,” she added. gaged in anti-poaching (eff orts), who are 135,000 animals — about a third of the for his perceived ability to evade The doctor whose name is on duced a blanket ban in 2014 to reverse a Bidders must deposit a refundable of being told to save elephants from poach- African continent’s total. justice. the note, Z K Motene, is a reg- decline in the population of wild animals. 200,000 pula ($18,300) to participate. ers but the regime is poaching the same Most of the animals are in the Chobe The court “has put its foot istered South African doctor, Masisi fended off criticism of his gov- The lifting of the hunting ban was elephant and calling it hunting”. National Park, an important tourist draw. down and shown Mr Zuma that according to the physicians’ of- ernment’s decision, saying the move would praised by local communities but derid- Audrey Delsink, Africa’s wildlife direc- But the marauding elephants invade he can no longer continue wast- fi cial website, and according to not threaten the elephant population. ed by conservationists and ignited ten- tor for the global conservation lobby char- villages located near wildlife reserves, ing the court’s time and public re- a source in the president’s offi ce The government will issue seven sion between the Khama and Masisi. ity Humane Society International said “the knocking down fences, destroying crops, sources because he is too afraid to “has been Zuma’s doctor for a hunting “packages” of 10 elephants each, Masisi has defended his decision to Botswanan elephant hunting auctions are and at times killing people. face the music,” it said. long time.” Vegans see green shoots in meat-loving Nigeria

By Libby George, Reuters Burger King and McDonald’s are In the leafy garden of the Veg- “People are really curious Lagos off ering or testing meat replace- gie Victory restaurant in Lagos, about a healthy lifestyle, and ments. two dozen people gathered on a people are curious about climate In Nigeria, none of the major steamy Saturday evening to eat change,” she said. hen Nigerian chef Ola- restaurant chains off er meat sub- vegan food and exchange reci- With a population of 200mn, sore Osidele became stitutes and meat consumption pes. Nigeria is attracting attention. Wa vegan six years ago, is growing, according to the UN Restaurant owner Bola Adey- Nestle SA said last month it is people warned him that cutting Food and Agriculture Organiza- anju, 40, said she had gone from testing aff ordable meat replace- out meat was questioning God’s tion. giving away food in 2013 to scep- ments for developing markets, plan. A survey by market research tical passers-by to delivering where the global food company “I don’t want to harm any company Street Bees said just dozens of meals daily to paying generates 42% of sales. animal,” he said, but some Chris- 14% of Nigerians were confi dent customers. Nigeria’s Chi Farms Limited tians fi nd not eating meat “al- they could give up meat. Adeyanju and her husband recently began marketing its own most religiously off ensive”. But there are green shoots. created an aff ordable soy-based veggie burger, which it aims to Osidele, 32, said that while Activists say Nigerians are be- meat substitute called Vegetarian sell for less than chicken or beef. many Nigerians still view eating coming more health conscious. Chunks, designed to mimic local The factory is ready to produce meat as a status symbol, and in- Clashes between cattle herders favourites such as suya — a spicy, up to 50,000 patties per month. deed part of God’s plan, some are and farmers in central Nigeria’s chewy barbecue — and nkwobi, a “We’re using locally available reconsidering. “Middle Belt” are drawing atten- dish usually made with cow leg. raw materials,” said Dr Johannes In the United States and Eu- tion to the impact of beef pro- They are now selling thou- Flosbach, general manager at Chi rope, meat replacement proteins duction. sands of packs a month for 600 Farms. “It’s not only the idea of are now big business. Beyond And companies are creating naira ($2) each across the coun- having a trend, but it’s contrib- Meat is worth nearly $7bn and aff ordable meat replacements. try. uting to food security.” A customer serves herself a plate of vegan food at a gathering for vegans in a restaurant in Lagos. Gulf Times Friday, February 7, 2020 5 AMERICAS

Democrats issue call for Iowa Triumphant Trump hails caucus recanvass acquittal, blasts his foes Reuters Reuters Ousted envoy warns US against ‘blind obedience’ Washington Washington The US ambassador whose ouster was cited as evidence in President Donald Trump’s impeachment has warned her country against the “blind emocratic National Com- S President Donald obedience” to leaders she has witnessed overseas. mittee Chairman Tom Trump celebrated his Marie Yovanovitch, who last year was removed early as US ambassador DPerez called yesterday Uacquittal on impeach- to Ukraine, confirmed in an op-ed piece yesterday in the Washington Post for a recanvass of the Iowa cau- ment charges in a caustic, free- that she is retiring from the Foreign Service. cuses after an array of problems wheeling speech yesterday that Without directly mentioning Trump, who was acquitted on Wednesday by delayed results from the party’s drew on White House pomp to the Senate, Yovanovitch said it was “the American way to speak up about fi rst 2020 presidential nominat- underscore the fact that he re- wrongdoing”. ing contest and created uncer- mained in offi ce. “I have seen dictatorships around the world, where blind obedience is tainty about their accuracy. After walking down a red car- the norm and truth-tellers are threatened with punishment or death,” she “Enough is enough. In light of pet to a standing ovation from wrote. the problems that have emerged scores of Republican lawmak- “We must not allow the United States to become a country where stand- in the implementation of the ers, administration offi cials and ing up to our government is a dangerous act,” she wrote. delegate selection plan and in conservative media fi gures in the The Canadian-born Yovanovitch, who has also served as US ambassador order to assure public confi dence East Room of the White House, to Armenia and Kyrgyzstan, said she acted in good conscience when she in the results, I am calling on the Trump re-aired old grievances testified in November to a House of Representatives committee that was Iowa Democratic Party to imme- and accused Democrats of stag- probing Trump. diately begin a recanvass,” Perez ing a “corrupt” eff ort to under- “It has been shocking to experience the storm of criticism, lies and mali- said in a Twitter post. mine his presidency in a speech cious conspiracies that have preceded and followed my public testimony, No winner has been declared lasting more than an hour. but I have no regrets,” she wrote. four days after the caucuses “I’ve done things wrong in Trump disparaged Yovanovitch in a telephone call with Ukrainian Presi- took place in 1,600 locations my life, I will admit ... but this dent Volodymyr Zelenskiy, and Trump allies discussed how they were throughout Iowa on Monday is what the end result is,” Trump watching her movements in Kyiv. night. said, holding up a copy of the With 97% of precincts count- Washington Post with the head- Pelosi prays hard for Trump as he is so ‘off the track’ ed, Pete Buttigieg, the 38-year- line “Trump acquitted”. old former mayor of South Bend, The Republican president US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said yesterday that Indiana, has 26.2% of state dele- then handed the newspaper to she prays hard for President Donald Trump because he is “off the track” in gate equivalents and US Senator his wife, Melania, and said that terms of the US Constitution and American values. Bernie Sanders has 26.1%, ac- maybe they would frame it. Pelosi once again said she prays for Trump, just hours after Trump told an cording to the Iowa Democratic Speaking without a tel- annual prayer breakfast that he does not “like people who say, ‘I pray for Party. eprompter, he referred to the you,’ when they know that that’s not so”. It was not clear when the rest 22-month investigation by Trump holds up a newspaper as he arrives to speak at the 68th annual National Prayer Breakfast. of the results would be released, former US Special Counsel Rob- and the troubled process has ert Mueller into his 2016 election a Catholic who launched the im- Pelosi had said that Trump’s The partisan tenor of the mation from Trump, and Pelosi the advantages of a powerful clouded the Democrats’ eff orts campaign’s possible contacts peachment inquiry in Septem- comments at the historically speech, which was interrupted issued a statement saying that fundraising machine and near to fi nd a challenger to Republi- with Russia, using a profanity. ber, said in December that she bipartisan breakfast, which she several times by thunderous ap- the House would protect the universal support from Repub- can President Donald Trump in “It was all b*******,” he said. does not hate Trump and that also attended, were inappropri- plause and laughter from the au- Constitution “both in the courts licans. November. The Republican-controlled she prays for him. ate. dience, did not bode well for the of law and in the court of public Trump’s job approval ratings The delay was initially attrib- Senate on Wednesday voted Republican Senator Mitt “He’s talking about things he already sharply divided mood opinion”. have remained fairly consistent uted to a technical problem with to acquit Trump on charges Romney, a Mormon, cited his knows little about – faith and in Washington, especially in an Democrats have suggested throughout his presidency and a new mobile app, but other con- brought by the Democratic-led religious faith when he voted to prayer,” she told a news confer- election year. they might subpoena John Bol- the impeachment process, as cerns have emerged. House of Representatives, only convict Trump on a charge of ence. Trump is running for re-elec- ton, Trump’s former national his core conservative support- The Iowa Democratic Party the third time in US history that abuse of power on Wednesday. In addition to multiple refer- tion in November. security adviser, to testify to ers – especially white men, rural received an “unusually high a president has been impeached. Romney was the only Repub- ences to Pelosi, Trump called Senate Republicans voted to House committees. Americans, evangelical Chris- volume of inbound calls” to its The acquittal was Trump’s lican to vote for conviction. former Federal Bureau of In- acquit Trump of abuse of power Senate Republicans rejected tians and conservative Catholics caucus hotline on Monday night biggest victory yet over his foes No Democrat voted to acquit vestigation (FBI) director James for pressing Ukraine to investi- Democratic eff orts to subpoena – stuck with him. from “callers who would hang in Congress, who had attacked the president. Comey a “sleazebag” and Rep- gate political rival Joe Biden, a Bolton to testify during the trial. The latest Reuters/Ipsos up immediately after being con- Senate Republicans for refus- “I don’t like people who use resentative Adam Schiff , the contender to be the Democratic Democrats have expressed poll, conducted on Monday nected, supporters of President ing to call witnesses or seek new their faith as justifi cation for House Democrat who spear- nominee in the November 3 concern an acquittal would en- and Tuesday, showed 42% of Trump who called to express evidence at the trial. doing what they know is wrong. headed the impeachment drive, election, and of obstructing a courage a president who already American adults approved of his their displeasure with the Dem- Earlier yesterday, Trump, who Nor do I like people who say ‘I a “vicious, horrible person”, congressional investigation of challenges political norms, performance, while 54% disap- ocratic Party, and Iowans look- has strong support from evan- pray for you’, when they know while thanking dozens of Re- the matter. painting him as a threat to US proved. ing to confi rm details,” a party gelical Christians and conserva- that that’s not so,” Trump said publican lawmakers by name, Democrats were unclear about democracy and a demagogue That was nearly the same as offi cial said yesterday. tive Catholics, faulted some of at the annual National Prayer working alphabetically from a their next steps in investigating who has acted lawlessly. when the House launched its Party staff worked to fl ag and his opponents for invoking their Breakfast. list. Trump. Eleven Democrats are vying impeachment inquiry in Sep- block repeat callers who ap- religious faith during the im- He referred to the issue again He also reprised his attacks There are several pending for the right to challenge Trump tember, when the president’s peared to be attempting to jam peachment battle. in the East Room: “I doubt she on 2016 Democratic rival Hillary court cases related to Demo- in November, but the incumbent approval stood at 43% and dis- the lines and interfere with the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, (Pelosi) prays at all.” Clinton. cratic eff orts to get more infor- heads into the campaign with approval at 53%. reporting of caucus results, and the call volume was “highly ir- regular” compared to previous caucuses, the offi cial said. Earlier, the New York Times reported that more than 100 Nasa’s Koch back precincts reported results that were internally inconsistent, that were missing data or that were not possible under the cau- on Earth after cus rules, casting doubt on the count. The Party representative de- clined to comment on the Times record mission report. The Iowa Party has previously said photos of results and a paper Reuters restore her balance in gravity. trail would be used to ensure an Washington Koch also achieved a gender accurate count. milestone in a spacewalk with After Iowa’s reporting issues fellow Nasa astronaut Jessica and delays, the Nevada Demo- merican astronaut Meir last October that marked cratic Party, which hosts its cau- Christina Koch, who the fi rst time two women cus on February 22, is “scrapping Aled the fi rst all-female stepped out of the space sta- both the app and ties to Shadow”, spacewalk in 2019, landed in tion at the same time. the company that developed Kazakhstan yesterday after They completed two more caucus-reporting apps for both a record stay on the Interna- all-female spacewalks in Janu- Iowa and Nevada, party spokes- tional Space Station, ending a ary. woman Molly Forgey said. 328-day mission expected to Nasa’s fi rst attempt at an “Luckily for us we had a series yield new insights into deep- all-female spacewalk in March of back-up plans in place and, space travel. 2019 was called off due to a lack given the situation or any par- Koch, a North Carolina- of a spacesuit in the right size, ticular scenario, we had a back- born engineer who joined which ignited a gender-equity up plan,” Forgey added. “We’re Nasa’s astronaut corps in 2013, debate. certainly looking at what the set the record for the longest Koch’s 328 days in space best path forward is at this point, stay in space by a woman. eclipsed Peggy Whitson’s which back-up plan would be Her mission will provide re- record for an American woman most reliable, most secure and searchers valuable data on how on a single spacefl ight at 289 that our Democrats can feel con- weightlessness and space ra- days. fi dent in.” A search and rescue team works near the Soyuz MS-13 space capsule carrying Christina Koch, Luca Parmitano, and Alexander Skvortsov. diation aff ect the female body Scott Kelly holds the overall on long spacefl ights. American record at 340 days, “Women acclimate well to and Russia’s Valeri Polyakov Kirk Douglas dead space, so I think this is a mile- holds the global record of 437 stone that will be overtaken by days aboard the defunct Mir Kirk Douglas, the cleft-chinned women in the future and it’s space station. Airbnb Canada to limit bookings by under-25s movie star who fought gladiators, what we aspire to,” said Lori Astronauts on the space sta- cowboys and boxers on the Garver, the National Aeronau- tion, whose 20th anniversary screen and the Hollywood tics and Space Administration in low-Earth orbit comes later AFP within a host’s primary resi- comes to issues involving prop- Two others were injured. establishment, died on (Nasa)’s former deputy admin- this year, have made 227 main- Ottawa dence, and could be exempted erty damage and a 0.6% inci- On January 8, an 18-year-old Wednesday at the age of 103, his istrator. tenance spacewalks, nearly from the prohibition if they re- dent rate when it involves per- was also killed at an Airbnb- son Michael Douglas said. The Soyuz MS-13 capsule two dozen of which included ceive positive evaluations in at sonal security issues. rented house in downtown Ot- “It is with tremendous sadness touched down on the Kazakh women astronauts, according eople under 25 will no least three recent stays. “Those numbers,” he said, tawa. that my brothers and I announce Steppe at 4.12am ET (0912 to Nasa. longer be able to rent local The aim is to curb unauthor- “get higher when you’re looking And last October, a gunman that Kirk Douglas left us today at GMT) carrying Koch, 41, Eu- Studying the impact of Plistings for entire homes ised use of Airbnb properties, at ... reservations made by peo- opened fi re at a house party in the age of 103,” Michael Douglas ropean astronaut Luca Parmi- lengthy spacefl ights could on Airbnb in Canada, the com- including for “unauthorised ple under 25 ... within the com- Orinda, California that was an said in a statement to People tano of Italy, and Russian cos- prove useful for Nasa’s aim of pany announced after a fatal parties”, Airbnb senior vice- munity they live in.” Airbnb rental. magazine and on his Facebook monaut Alexander Skvortsov. building a permanent space shooting at a Toronto apartment president Chris Lehane told a The pilot, if it succeeds in re- Four men and a woman were page. They will be fl own by search station on the moon within the booked through the website. press conference. ducing violence and damage to killed. The veteran actor made more and recovery teams to the Ka- next decade. The restriction will apply “We know from our research properties, may be applied in Lehane also announced a 24- than 90 movies in a career that raganda region to begin their Kelly’s 340 days demon- only to homes young Airbnb us- that 99.9 percent of the people other jurisdictions, he said. hour hotline for neighbours who stretched across more than seven journey home. strated that long-term space- ers attempt to rent within the on Airbnb are good people ... It comes just days after three suspect mischief at an Airbnb decades. “I’m just so overwhelmed fl ight causes thickening of communities where they al- and treat homes like their own men aged 19, 20 and 21 were property, as well as a partner- Films such as Spartacus and The and happy right now,” Koch the carotid artery and retina, ready live. homes,” he said. shot dead at a Toronto down- ship with a group of Canadian Vikings made him one of the said, sitting in a chair wrapped changes in gene expression, Guests under 25 years will still “We have a 0.3% incident town waterfront neighbourhood doctors lobbying for stricter gun biggest box-off ice stars of the in blankets as she waited to be and slight cognitive impair- be able to book a private room rate across our platform when it apartment. control laws. 1950s and ’60s. carried into a medical tent to ment for men. Gulf Times 6 Friday, February 7, 2020 ASIA WHO investigates Singapore meet linked to spread of coronavirus

Reuters through human-to-human con- zThree infections in Malaysia and South Korea linked to meet Of 109 meeting participants, cases of the coronavirus, some Singapore tact outside China, which the 94 were from overseas and have involving domestic transmis- WHO has said is deeply con- zSister of Malaysian who attended has since been infected since left Singapore, its health sions. Several fi rms in Singapore cerning and could signal a much zFour local staff of as-yet-unidentified firm show symptoms ministry said, adding that four have suspended business and he World Health Organi- larger outbreak. local staff were referred to the media events, including a big sation (WHO) has begun “WHO is co-ordinating with in Malaysia and South Korea, gapore said virus symptoms had tended the meeting at the plush National Centre for Infectious travel fair and hotel trade show, Tan investigation into three relevant ministries of health in have been linked to a 100-strong surfaced in four of the fi rm’s lo- Grand Hyatt hotel near the city- Diseases. but the Singapore Airshow will virus infections linked to an in- relation to it,” spokeswoman meeting in Singapore of staff cal staff . state’s Orchard Road shopping The hotel will carry out “thor- go ahead next week, although on ternational business meeting in Olivia Lawe-Davies said in re- from an as-yet-unnamed mul- Authorities have not revealed district. South Korea then con- ough sanitisation and deep a smaller scale. Singapore last month, heighten- sponse to questions from Reu- tinational sales fi rm, while one the name of the company, al- fi rmed two cases involving its cleaning” of guest rooms that Yesterday, China reported ing concerns about the spread of ters. Chinese delegate was from the though Korea has said it was an citizens who had also attended. were potentially aff ected and its biggest daily jump in deaths the disease outside China. “As countries are stepping up central city of Wuhan, where international sales fi rm. Malay- The Koreans and the Malaysian will monitor staff and guests for from the virus, an increase of 73 The cases linked to the meet- surveillance, the detection of the virus originated. The sister sia off ered the first revelation shared a buff et meal during the symptoms, its general manager, to 563, although only two deaths ing provide more evidence that more cases of local transmis- of a Malaysian who attended has when it confi rmed the case of a conference, South Korean media Willi Martin, said. have been reported outside the coronavirus is spreading sion can be expected.” The cases, since been infected, while Sin- 41-year-old citizen who had at- said. Singapore has reported 28 mainland China. Anwar says can Lanka temperature checks wait a bit more to become PM

Reuters Azizah Wan Ismail has served as Kuala Lumpur deputy prime minister to Ma- hathir. Anwar said he was ready to alaysia’s Anwar Ibra- move on from the bitter past, and him said yesterday he that he would be willing to carve Mwas ready to wait for out space for Mahathir to con- six more months beyond the ini- tinue to contribute after he takes tially agreed May deadline to take over as prime minister. over as prime minister from Ma- “His presence in a way ... hathir Mohamed, and that he had would certainly help boost the enough support in parliament to general confi dence and give some do so. sort of semblance of stability and Mahathir led the Pakatan Har- order,” Anwar said, using Ma- apan (PH) coalition, or Alliance hathir’s honorifi c. of Hope, to a stunning victory in “There will be no real drastic a general election in May 2018, policy diff erence. There would be joining hands with former en- diff erent emphasis, of course, but emies including Anwar to bring on a personal basis, I certainly down Najib Razak, who is facing welcome very much his presence multiple charges of corruption Malaysia’s politician Anwar Ibrahim reacts during an interview with and contribution in any way.” mostly linked to the looting of Reuters in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia yesterday. He would, however, look to sovereign fund 1MDB. mend soured ties with India af- Mahathir had promised to they will continue to support me jailed, once again on sexual mis- ter Mahathir’s criticism of New hand over the premiership to when I assume the premiership.” conduct charges that he denied. Delhi’s two recent policies led to Anwar within two years of the Anwar had served as depu- He was released on a royal par- a massive fall in palm oil trade general election result, but later ty prime minister and fi nance don soon after Najib lost power between the countries. One thing said he would stay on until at minister during Mahathir’s fi rst in the 2018 election. In total, An- that will not change is Malaysia’s least November to host the Asia- 22-year stint in offi ce, but was war had spent close to 10 years in demand for reparations from Pacifi c Economic Co-operation sacked in 1998 after falling out prison as a result of the two con- Goldman Sachs over its role in (Apec) summit in November. with Malaysia’s “Old Man” over victions. the multibillion-dollar scandal The 94-year-old also said Anwar how to defend the economy The solicitor-general last at state fund 1Malaysia Devel- would have to secure parliamen- against the Asian Financial Cri- month ruled out pressing charg- opment Berhad (1MDB), Anwar tary majority to become prime sis. es against Anwar over the allega- said. minister. Going into opposition, An- tions, which the politician de- He repeated Mahathir’s posi- “You’ve waited 20 years, ex- war quickly drew support from a scribed as “politics at its worst”. tion that the US bank’s initial tending six months doesn’t actu- large section of Malay Muslims, “Of course I have many po- settlement off er of over $1bn was ally matter,” Anwar told Reuters the multi-cultural country’s litical foes. The corrupt few will too small, but declined to say at his private offi ce, expressing dominant ethnic group, to form do whatever it takes to ensure how much he felt was suffi cient confi dence that the coalition al- the Reformasi movement, before that I do not assume offi ce,” compensation. lies would stand behind him, as being jailed a year later on cor- said Anwar, dressed in a casual “Certainly the amount has to they did for Mahathir. ruption and sexual misconduct blue chequered-shirt. The pro- be substantial, because we’re “If there’s a request to go back charges that he said were politi- tracted feud between Mahathir looking not only at the loss of to parliament, of course it can cally motivated. and Anwar, the country’s two dollars, but the loss of reputa- be done, but PH has the major- In the years following his re- most charismatic politicians, has tion, investments, and the per- ity right now. Even those who lease, Anwar rebuilt his follow- dominated Malaysian politics for ception about Malaysia,” Anwar Passengers undergo temperature checks before they re-embark their cruise ship at Colombo are not in PH, some would sup- ing and came close to defeating decades. said. Goldman has said it is dis- Port yesterday. Sri Lanka’s ports have stepped up checks on all passengers to prevent the spread port the PM of the day. I also have Najib, another Mahathir pro- Since his release, Anwar has cussions with authorities on a of the Sars-like virus that originated in China at the end of last year and that has killed more than been given that assurance. They tege, in the disputed 2013 general stayed out of government, bid- possible resolution of investiga- 563 people. support Mahathir as the PM, and election. Two years later, he was ing his time while his wife Wan tions relating to 1MDB.

Thailand encourages homemade Bangkok court halts river sanitisers, masks amid shortage promenade project that

Reuters strated how to make sanitising overpriced masks and sanitisers but it’s good to have just in case,” Bangkok liquids during a televised news faces punishment of up to seven said Chalida Potpanitpong, 65. would worsen fl ooding conference. “If you can’t fi nd years in jail or up to 140,000 baht To ease the shortages, the Thai hand sanitisers in stores, make ($4,507.41) in fi nes. government started handing hailand’s health authori- it yourself. Mix clean water with People are allowed to buy up out 45,000 surgical masks for Thomson Reuters “We all agree the riverside needs busy waterway, with ferries and ties yesterday encour- alcohol and carry it wherever to 10 masks with each purchase, free from Thursday to Saturday Bangkok redevelopment, but that does not river taxis carrying thousands of Taged people to make hand you go,” said Public Health Min- and anyone exporting more than at diff erent “risky” locations, mean we can build into the river passengers every day. Hundreds sanitisers and masks at home to ister Anutin Charnvirakul at the 500 masks per shipment must mostly tourist areas, in Bangkok. and damage its fl ow. We hope have lived in traditional wooden guard against the spread of the conference. “We have to protect also obtain permission from It will also start selling millions court in Bangkok has asked that the BMA will listen to us stilt homes by its banks for dec- new coronavirus. ourselves against the virus. Eat trade authorities fi rst. of masks from Saturday onwards the city’s authorities to now,” he told the Thomson Reu- ades. Thailand, which has reported hot food, use serving spoons, Early yesterday, Thais lined through government-sponsored Astop work on a riverside ters Foundation yesterday. With a record 39mn tourists a total of 25 cases, put surgical wear masks, wash your hands.” up outside a government phar- stores across the country. promenade that urban planners Across booming Asian cities, last year, Bangkok is the world’s masks and sanitisers under its Yesterday, Thailand started macy to stock up before sales The 25 cases of the new coro- and environmentalists said would open spaces and older buildings most visited city, and developers list of controlled goods earlier enforcing price control meas- started in the afternoon. Many navirus reported in Thailand in- worsen fl ooding and uproot hun- are making way for expressways have turned to the riverside to lure this week, as the spread of the ures on surgical masks and hand said they wanted to buy as much clude 16 Chinese and nine Thais. dreds of families dependent on and modern apartment towers more visitors, building malls and fl u-like virus led to shortages sanitisers, amid scarce supplies as they could due to fears of the Nine have recovered enough to the river to make a living. that critics say rob them of their converting old warehouses into in stores. Due to lack of sup- in drug stores. virus outbreak, but could only go home, while the rest remain The administrative court on character, widen inequalities and trendy cafes and art galleries. ply, health authorities demon- As a result, anyone selling buy 10. “This isn’t really enough, in the hospital. Wednesday told the Bangkok magnify the harmful eff ects of The BMA has said the prom- Metropolitan Administration urban sprawl. enade will clear the riverbank of (BMA) that the 7-km-long el- In Bangkok, authorities are illegal encroachments, and open Nobel laureate Yunus facing over 100 Bangladesh lawsuits evated promenade on either side clearing vendors and food stalls up the river and its historic land- of the Chao Phraya river would from the pavements, and have marks to the public with parks, Bangladeshi Nobel laureate Yunus has faced mounting legal operates a service called “Village comment. Last month the aff ect river transport, and dam- evicted a community of more bike paths and walkways. But Mohamed Yunus is facing problems in recent years. In Phone” dedicated to getting economist was granted bail by age the ecology. than 300 people living next to an urban planners and architects more than 100 lawsuits from 2011 he was sacked as head of cellphones to the rural poor in a labour court after an arrest The court gave the BMA 30 old fort for a public park that crit- say authorities have not assessed disgruntled employees at the Grameen Bank in a move his the South Asian nation of 165mn warrant was issued when he days to submit a blueprint for the ics say is meant only to impress the full impact of the project on telecoms unit of his poverty- supporters said was orchestrated people. The company also owns failed to appear at a hearing in 8.3-bn baht ($266mn) project, tourists. Dozens of riverfront the city, where fl ooding is al- busting microfinance Grameen by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. a 34.2% stake in GrameenPhone, a separate case. He has been at which has drawn criticism since communities have already been ready common during the annual Bank, lawyers said yesterday. “According to Bangladesh’s Bangladesh’s largest mobile odds with Premier Hasina since it was proposed several years ago. evicted for the promenade, ac- monsoon. The cases filed against him Worker’s Profit Participation phone operator with some a brief and unsuccessful foray “The court’s decision is a very cording to human rights groups. “This is more than just a walk- and other senior managers in law, Yunus’s Grameen Telecom 75mn subscribers. Yunus, 79, into Bangladesh’s fiery, high-risk good one, and shows the court Known as “River of Kings”, way – it’s a massive construction a Dhaka court relate to claims was bound to share 5% of who founded Grameen Bank in political scene in 2007. Hasina listened to our concerns about the Chao Phraya – which fl ows in the river, which will narrow from Grameen Telecom (GT) the company’s profit with the the 1980s and was awarded the has accused him of “sucking the project,” said Ajaphol Dusit- 372km from central Thailand to the river and aff ect its fl ow, and employees for a share of profits, workers,” lawyer Hasan told AFP. Nobel Peace Prize in 2006, could blood” from the poor amid nanond, president of the Asso- the Gulf of Thailand – was once increase the risk of fl ooding,” their lawyer Jafrul Hasan Sharif “But for the last 10 years, the GT not be reached yesterday. allegations his bank charges ciation of Siamese Architects, an the commercial and logistical said Yossapon Boonsom, a land- said. didn’t do so.” Grameen Telecom A spokesperson declined to interest rates of around 20%. industry lobby group in Bangkok. lifeline of the capital. It is still a scape architect. Gulf Times Friday, February 7, 2020 7 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

Dozens of trade fairs, conferences postponed amid China virus fears

Reuters and companies curb travel, and garments and household goods, zhen in southern China decided Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook, TAS Travel 2020 have been post- off across the country,” said Mei Shanghai thousand of factories and shops announced $2.3bn in deals last to put that off until June, McNeil will be delayed, its organis- poned. At least three employees Xin, an analyst with Huatai Se- remain shut. year. said. He expects it to take at least ers said. It is usually held in late of a multinational company that curities in Beijing, adding that The venue of China’s oldest The Chinese government has six-nine months before people March. held a meeting of more than 100 these were key revenue sources ore than two dozen large and biggest trade fair, the Canton also asked local authorities and regain full confi dence to travel to The outbreak casts doubt on international staff in Singapore for high-end hotels. Hotel occu- trade fairs and industry Fair, has suspended exhibitions business associations to hold off China again for business. attendance at high-profi le events in January contracted the virus, pancy in China — at 70% on Jan Mconferences in Asia have until further notice. The Canton hosting events and conferences, Other postponed events, due outside China as well, industry sparking a World Health Organi- 14 — dropped by three quarters been postponed because of the Fair was due to hold its spring as concerns rise about the dis- to be held in the last two weeks of executives said, as companies re- zation investigation of the case. within the next two weeks, a re- spread of the China coronavirus, exhibition at the complex from ease that has killed more than 560 March, include the annual trade strict mainland Chinese visitors Some hotels are bracing for the port by hospitality industry con- shuttering events where billions April 15. Last year, $29.7bn worth people and infected over 28,000. conference for the global chip from travelling to other countries. impact to be at least as bad as the sultancy STR published on Tues- of dollars worth of deals have of deals were signed at the event. “Clients are asking me, is it industry in China, SEMICON, Korea’s LG Electronics has 2003 outbreak of Severe Acute day showed. been signed in the past. Organisers of the East China safe to go to China and that’s a and the International Building withdrawn from the Mobile Respiratory Syndrome (Sars), A report by data consultancy The pushed back events, in- Import and Export Commodity very hard question to answer,” and Construction Trade Fair in World Congress event in Barce- based on booking cancellations Tourism Economics published cluding some scheduled as late as Fair – due to be held in Shanghai said Malcolm McNeil, a partner at Shanghai. lona scheduled for Feb 24-27. In so far, industry sources said. last week forecasted that visits to the end of March, show the rip- between March 1-4 – said they global law fi rm Arent Fox, whose The annual China Develop- Singapore, Food & Hotel Asia’s “Multinational companies who the US from China could drop by ple eff ect the virus is having on would postpone the event, with- clients include US-based fi rms ment Forum, a high-level gath- biennial trade show, which at- are the main customers of luxury 28% in 2020, equivalent to 4.6mn businesses globally, with airlines out giving later dates. The fair with business interests in China. ering of international leaders, tracted more than 80,000 people hotels have halted trips to China hotel room nights and $5.8bn in cancelling fl ights as governments that usually attracts traders of A client scheduled to go to Shen- whose past attendees included in 2018, as well as travel fair NA- ... all big events have been called visitor spending. China virus cases found on cruise ship spark fears

AFP „ Death toll in mainland China rises Beijing by 73 to 563; Thousands stranded on A general view shows the World Dream cruise ship, docked at the Kai Tak cruise terminal yesterday in Hong Kong as health off icials conduct cruise ships in Japan and Hong Kong; inspections in the wake of the Sars-like virus outbreak across China. hina’s coronavirus crisis deepened yesterday with Outbreak hits major business far and wide as millions of peo- Cthe death toll soaring ple criss-crossed the country to 563, as thousands of people during the Lunar New Year holi- trapped on quarantined cruise day in late January. ships added to the global panic But deaths and new infections about the epidemic. continue to rise, especially at More than 28,000 people have the epicentre of the epidemic in now been infected across China Hubei province, where 18 cities as authorities struggle to con- housing 56mn people have been tain the outbreak despite com- under virtual lockdown since pelling millions to stay indoors late last month. in a growing number of cities. A newborn was among the Two dozen countries have new cases in Wuhan, suggest- confi rmed cases of the respi- ing the baby was infected by the ratory disease which emerged mother during pregnancy or im- from a market selling exotic ani- mediately after. mals in the central Chinese city With medical facilities in of Wuhan late last year. Hubei’s capital Wuhan over- Thousands of people on cruise whelmed with patients, author- ships in Hong Kong and Japan ities were due to open a second now face an agonising wait to People wearing protective face masks take photographs near a ferry fi eld hospital, off ering 1,600 fi nd out if more among them pier in Hong Kong yesterday. beds. have been infected. The fi rst hospital, with 1,000 At least 20 people on board contact them. Hong Kong has perts have stressed that at two beds, opened earlier this week, the Diamond Princess have been particularly nervous as the percent, 2019-nCoV is far less and authorities said they were tested positive so far, while some disease has revived memories deadly than the Sars pathogen, converting public buildings into A man wearing a face mask walks past an installation outside a shopping mall yesterday, as the country is 3,700 passengers and crew from of another coronavirus, the one which killed around 10 percent temporary medical facilities to hit by an outbreak of the novel coronavirus, in Beijing, China. over 50 countries have been that causes Severe Acute Respi- of the people it infected 17 years deal with the infl ux of sick peo- confi ned to quarters aboard the ratory Syndrome (Sars), which ago. ple. epidemic. “We must make all- indoors. They include residents And in Nanchang, the capital cruise ship off Yokohama since killed nearly 300 people in the But the outbreak has been de- The city of 11mn is facing a out eff orts across the country of Hangzhou, a city just 175km of Jiangxi province which bor- Monday night. city and another 349 in the Chi- clared a global health emergen- “severe” lack of beds, said Hu to meet the need for essential from Shanghai, where fences ders Hubei, pharmacists must In Hong Kong, 3,600 people nese mainland in 2002-2003. cy, prompting several govern- Lishan, a senior offi cial in Wu- medical supplies and medical block streets and loudspeakers send reports to the authorities were preparing to spend a sec- Panic buyers in the semi- ments to warn against travel to han, noting that there were 8,182 professionals in Hubei Prov- tell people: “Don’t go out!” on anyone buying fever or cough ond night confi ned aboard the autonomous city left shelves China and ban new arrivals from patients admitted to 28 hospitals ince,” Premier Li Keqiang said, In some cities, even in the far medicine. The city has also lim- World Dream as authorities con- of toilet paper empty at super- the country, while airlines have that have a total of 8,254 beds. according to the offi cial Xinhua north of the country, inhabitants ited the number of outings per ducted health checks after eight markets following false online halted fl ights. There is also a shortage of news agency. are being off ered cash rewards family. former passengers tested posi- claims of shortages, prompting In the latest international ac- equipment and materials, Hu BGI Group, a genome se- to inform on people who come The outbreak has also hit ma- tive for the virus. authorities to appeal for calm. tions, Air France-KLM decided said. The central government quencing company based in from Hubei. jor businesses. Workers making Yesterday, health offi cials in One person has died after to extend its fl ight suspension by has announced measures in- southern China, said it opened In Beijing — where streets re- iPhones at tech giant Foxconn’s the fi nancial hub said they were contracting the virus in Hong another month until March 15. tended to ensure the supply of on Wednesday a lab in Wuhan main eerily quiet and businesses plant in Henan province, which also asking some 5,000 Hong Kong so far. China has enacted unprecedent- vital medical resources, with able to test up to 10,000 people are shuttered — restaurants have borders Hubei, will be quaran- Kongers who had taken trips on While the death toll contin- ed measures in a desperate bid to tax breaks for manufacturers of per day for the virus. More cit- been barred from accepting res- tined for up to two weeks, the the ship since mid-January to ues to rise in China, health ex- contain the virus, which spread equipment needed to fi ght the ies are ordering people to stay ervations for parties. company said.

Australia receives bushfire reprieve Chinese tourists stuck in Bali over with floods, Australian PM reshuffl es cabinet battens down virus fears off ered fl ights home for cyclone after coalition partner ructions Many Australians were AFP The Southeast A day earlier it said at least 5,000 experiencing a bittersweet break Reuters Denpasar, Indonesia Chinese tourists were in Bali, the from the threat of bushfires Sydney Asian archipelago centrepiece of Indonesia’s tour- yesterday, with flooding rains country attracts ism industry. deluging some parts of the housands of Chinese tour- The Southeast Asian archi- eastern states and miners ustralia’s Prime Minister ists stranded in Bali af- about 2.1mn pelago country attracts about preparing for a tropical cyclone to Scott Morrison reshuf- Tter Indonesia suspended Chinese visitors 2.1mn Chinese visitors annually hit the country’s iron ore heartland Afl ed his cabinet yesterday, fl ights over coronavirus fears will but the number has fallen from over the weekend. The Bureau of replacing two senior ministers be off ered charter fl ights home, annually but the about 6,000 arrivals per day to Meteorology (BOM) issued severe from junior coalition partner the China’s consulate on the holiday number has fallen just 1,000 since the outbreak thunderstorm warnings for the National Party following their island said yesterday. began in mid-December. Also southeast of Queensland state recent resignations. A diplomatic notice said Bei- from about 6,000 yesterday, Bali offi cials said they and a flood alert for more than 20 Morrison said Keith Pitt – a jing was arranging fl ights back arrivals per day had refused entry to 17 foreign areas in New South Wales (NSW) well-known supporter of nuclear to Wuhan – the epicentre of tourists who had recently been after the start of heavy rainfall power and the coal industry – the deadly outbreak which has to just 1,000 since in China, including visitors from that is expected to continue for will become Australia’s minister killed over 500 people and spread the outbreak Russia, Brazil, New Zealand, Mo- several days. Warm, moist air for mining and resources. David around the world. rocco and Britain. feeding in from the east was Littleproud, Australia’s minister Many of the marooned tour- began in Indonesia has yet to report bringing the rain, BOM forecaster for drought, will combine that Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces the new ists are from the stricken city and mid-December a confi rmed case of the virus, Mike Funnell told the Australian role with the responsibility of ministerial reshuff le at a news conference at Parliament House in surrounding Hubei province, the which emerged in a Chinese Broadcasting Corp. “We are overseeing the country’s A$60bn Canberra, yesterday. consulate said, but it added their market at the end of last year. expecting those larger totals and ($40bn) agricultural sector. return would be voluntary. “Pas- their tickets. “The Chinese con- Tourism minister Wishnutama heavier rainfall to come into the Matt Canavan resigned earlier pendent audit found money from for straight-talking and as a re- sengers’ temperatures will be sulate general has off ered repa- Kusubandio warned his coun- northeast coast of NSW and then this week as minister for mining a A$100mn sports development gional Queenslander he knows measured before boarding,” the triation to the mainland, but no try stood to lose up to $4bn this sort of track slowly southwards,” and resources amid an unsuc- fund was used to target votes fi rst-hand about the importance notice said. “Those with novel one has agreed to fl y back home,” year if travel from China and he said. Cricket Australia said a cessful attempt to replace the ahead of last year’s federal elec- of the resources sector to create coronavirus symptoms will not Bali’s vice-governor, Tjokorda elsewhere is disrupted. Jakarta bushfire fundraising match which leader of the National Party. tion. jobs and investment in regional be allowed to board the plane.” It Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati, told is also expected to unveil details was set to be played in Sydney on Fellow National Party minister The appointment of Pitt was communities,” said Ian Mac- was not immediately clear how Indonesia’s MetroTV. The con- of a plan to temporarily ban some Saturday had to be rescheduled Bridget McKenzie resigned from welcomed by Australia’s resource farlane, chief executive of the many holidaymakers would take sulate did not respond to requests livestock imports from China due for Melbourne on Sunday because her post as minister of agricul- sector. Queensland Resources Council up the off er or who would pay for for further comment yesterday. to the coronavirus. of the rain. ture on Sunday after an inde- “Keith Pitt has a reputation in an e-mailed statement. Gulf Times 8 Friday, February 7, 2020 BRITAIN/IRELAND

ECONOMY DATA LEGAL ANGER OFFBEAT 500,000 EU citizens yet Grenfell inquiry on hold House of Commons Police use DNA test to apply for UK residency over witness wrangle criticises Bercow book to solve cow theft The House of Commons has severely An estimated 500,000 European Union The Grenfell Tower inquiry has been delayed criticised John Bercow after he named Police in Wales have used DNA profiling to solve nationals in Britain have yet to apply for a again so that the government can decide whether staff members without their prior the mystery of a missing cow. Dyfed-Powys new immigration status, which most will need evidence given by professionals and company knowledge in his autobiography. A police say they are the first force in the UK to to remain in the country. The government is executives could also be used to mount criminal spokesman for the house said it was employ a technique. The case centres on a introducing the biggest shake-up of Britain’s prosecutions against them. Hearings were first “unacceptable” for the former speaker £3,000 animal that went missing from a field in border controls in decades. Government postponed last week and now will not restart until to identify current and former members St Clears on the River Taf in Carmarthenshire. statistics show that 3mn EU citizens and their at least February 24 after the inquiry asked the of staff for “the purpose of financial Suspicion fell on farmer, David Aeron Owens. family members have applied for “settled attorney general to promise those involved in the gain or commercial success”. Bercow’s The complainant pointed out to off icers the cow status,” a form of permission from the refurbishment that what they say under cross- book entitled Unspeakable was officially he believed was his. But Owens claimed the cow government to remain in Britain. The figures examination will not be used to try to send them launched on Wednesday night. The as his. Unsatisfied, police took blood samples Scotland’s First Minister, and leader of the underline the large number applications for to jail. The undertaking was requested by lawyers criticisms come as Bercow waits to from the animal, which were compared against Scottish National Party (SNP), Nicola Sturgeon the scheme, which was launched nationally in for corporate witnesses in the public inquiry who discover whether he will be given a samples from cows on the complainant’s farm. makes her way to deliver the Scottish Budget March last year, but also the challenge ahead were involved in the refurbishment of the west peerage. Labour has nominated him, but The cow in question was later returned home statement at Holyrood, the seat of the Scot- for the government to ensure all EU citizens London council block where a blaze claimed 72 senior Conservative sources have made and Owens, 51, pleaded guilty to theft at Swansea tish Parliament, in Edinburgh yesterday. correctly apply. lives. clear they would like to block it. crown court.

Royal accession anniversary Ministers jostle as PM plans long-awaited cabinet recast

Guardian News and Media Sunak has been repeatedly London talked up by allies of No 10 as a favourite of the prime minister. He was trusted to do television oris Johnson is expected to debates in the election in John- conduct his long-awaited son’s place. Breshuffl e next week, with His name was subsequently No 10 now considering keeping briefed as a possible business or loyalist minister Rishi Sunak in fi nance secretary in charge of a the Treasury to keep an eye on new economic super-ministry the Chancellor, Sajid Javid. to rival the Treasury. However, Sunak had been tipped to head this change may be at least post- up a new economic super-min- poned for now, following lob- istry but those plans are in doubt bying from the Treasury against and Johnson is thought to want this and a recent move to grab to keep him in his current job as control over the government’s chief secretary to the Treasury, skills programme. Members of the Honourable Artillery Company fire a 62 round royal gun salute from the Gun Wharf outside the Tower of London yesterday to mark the 68th anniversary of overseeing the spending review One Tory source said: “He’s Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the throne. coming up later this year. trusted in the Treasury and No The reshuffl e, expected next 10 thinks he’s good at his job.” Thursday or Friday, comes as Another Whitehall change under diff erent ministers and advisers consideration is the possibility jostle to get close to the prime of a merger between No 10 and minister, whose circle of confi - the Cabinet Offi ce, centralising dants has become clearer in re- power and downgrading the im- cent weeks. portance of the Treasury. This has also highlighted the According to a paper drawn tensions between Javid and No up by a quartet in No 10, includ- 10 advisers including Johnson’s ing Cummings and policy chief China fl ays govt advice as senior aide Dominic Cummings. Munira Mirza, this was mapped Although Javid is expected to out as a longer-term option keep his job as chancellor and has for reforming the way power in good personal relations with the Whitehall works. prime minister, bad feeling has In the shorter term, the re- been simmering at adviser level shuffl e could bring a merging of coronavirus case detected since as long ago as the summer. the Foreign Offi ce and the de- Tensions erupted once again last partment for international de- Reuters hospital in Newcastle, northeast cool-headed view of what is a reasonable response, do not He added: “We have been in week after allies of Javid briefed velopment, with Dominic Raab London England, the health ministry going on in China,” Liu said at a overreact. It seems to me the close contact with the Chinese that he had swung behind HS2, put in charge of both. said last week. press conference at the Chinese facts are not entirely squared, authorities from the beginning meaning it was likely to go ahead A string of female ministers Earlier yesterday Beijing’s embassy in London. the words do not match with the of the outbreak and the foreign – stealing the thunder of the an- have been rumoured for the axe, third person in the UK has ambassador to London said “We did tell them overreac- deeds,” he added. secretary and the national se- nouncement from No 10. including Theresa Villiers, the tested positive for coro- Britain’s advice for its nation- tion is not helpful. We don’t Meanwhile it emerged Boris curity adviser have both spoken Another briefi ng against environment secretary, Andrea Anavirus, England’s chief als to leave China because of the think there should be such a Johnson’s father relayed that to their counterparts in the last Cummings and in favour of Javid Leadsom, the business secretary, medical offi cer said yesterday. novel coronavirus outbreak was panic,” he added of the diplo- Chinese offi cials were concerned week.” Liu insisted communica- emerged on Wednesday after it and Therese Coff ey, the work and “A further patient has tested an unhelpful “overreaction” and matic measures. that the prime minister had not tions with Johnson were “good” was reported that the chancellor pensions secretary. Liz Truss, positive for coronavirus bringing urged the policy to be reversed. “We should support each sent a personal message of sup- and that he had recently met him won the battle over appointing the trade secretary, had also been the total number of cases in the Liu Xiaoming said Beijing had other, rather than to weaken the port to the country’s leaders. at a Chinese new year reception Andrew Bailey as governor of the thought to be under threat but UK to three,” chief medical offi c- told the UK the move was not “a other’s eff orts.” The comments came to light af- at Downing Street. Bank of England against the ad- she was repeatedly praised by er Chris Whitty said. “The indi- good idea” and instead called for Liu mounted a defence of Chi- ter Stanley Johnson met Liu to dis- “He told me he’s still commit- viser’s choice, Andy Haldane. Johnson in a speech about Brexit vidual did not acquire this in the a more measured approach. na’s response to the epidemic, cuss environmental matters and e- ted to the golden years of China- Furthermore, Buzzfeed report- on Monday. UK. We are now working quickly On Tuesday the British For- insisting it was “controllable, mailed feedback to British offi cials UK relations,” the ambassador ed on Monday that a new “Pizza Caroline Nokes, a former Tory to identify any contacts the pa- eign Offi ce advised UK nationals preventable and curable”. He said but accidentally included someone added. However, Liu accused Club” of ministers had been set up minister, warned at an event in tient has had,” Whitty said. to leave China “if they can” to London had vowed to follow the at the BBC in the message. some US politicians of trying to to plot against the huge infl uence parliament on Wednesday that The patient is being trans- minimise their risk of exposure advice of the World Health Or- A spokesman for the prime “take advantage” of the situa- of Cummings, who has made clear the reshuffl e would end up with ferred to a specialist health serv- to the coronavirus, following ganization (WHO) in its warning minister said Stanley Johnson tion “for political gains”, while he is watching their performance a “cabinet full of men” as there ice centre. The fi rst two people similar advice by the US. to British citizens there. attended the meeting as a pri- arguing the common fl u virus in and wants them to engage less was “no pipeline” of female jun- in Britain to be diagnosed with “I hope the British govern- “We asked them to take (the) vate citizen and was not acting the US was “more serious” than with the media. ior ministers ready to step up. the virus are being treated at a ment...will take an objective, advice of (the) WHO to make for the government. the coronavirus.

Poll campaign Nurse jailed for Northern Irish police fatal car crash

fi nd bomb on truck Guardian News and Media over the steering wheel. The car London drifted off the road, through the central reservation.” AFP erately and recklessly attached A solution had to be found that When police searched Price’s London an explosive device to a heavy would keep the UK’s only land nurse who had taken a pick-up, they found a tub of tra- goods vehicle,” said detective su- border free-fl owing between large dose of a strong pain- madol – with just 26 of the 100 perintendent Sean Wright, from Northern Ireland and the Re- Akiller that she had bought tablets left. orthern Irish police yes- the police’s terrorism investiga- public of Ireland, an EU member in Mexico has been jailed for fi ve The court heard the drug is terday said they had tion unit. state. years and four months after caus- prescription-only in the UK and Nfound a bomb attached “Had this vehicle travelled and An open border was a provi- ing the death of a man in a head- Price had picked up the pills while to a truck following a tip-off on the device had exploded at any sion of the 1998 Good Friday on car crash in south Wales. on holiday in Mexico. Brexit day about a device bound point... the risks posed do not Agreement that largely ended Cerys Price, 28, had taken Timothy Evans, prosecut- for a ferry to mainland Britain. bear thinking about. more than three decades of vio- enough tramadol to cause herself ing, said: “Price had consumed Dissident republicans were “Once again, dissident repub- lence over British rule. to have a seizure before her pick- an amount of tramadol signifi - blamed as police said they re- licans have shown a total disre- In a transition period, Britain up truck veered on to the wrong cantly higher than any therapeu- ceived a report on January 31 — gard for the community, for busi- will adhere to EU rules until the side of the road and into the path tic range. She was in no way fi t to the day the UK left the European nesses and for wider society.” end of the year, when a contro- of vehicle driven by Robert Dean, drive a car. She was in a drugged- Union — of the device on a truck Dissident republicans seek versial dual customs system is 65. up state. in Belfast docks, due to take a Northern Ireland’s integra- introduced. Judge Michael Fitton told her: “Price was a graduate level ferry to Scotland. tion into the Republic of Ireland The Republic of Ireland has a “This was a seizure induced by nurse – she is an intelligent wom- Searches were conducted, through violent means. general election tomorrow. tramadol. You have destroyed an – and should have known how nothing was found and the ferry The UK deems the Northern Mainstream republicans Sinn your good name, you have de- dangerous it was for her to drive arrived safely in Scotland. Ireland-related terror threat Fein topped the last opinion poll. stroyed your current career.” in that state. But on Monday, a further re- level to be severe — the second- Northern Ireland’s police chief Cardiff crown court was told “A completely innocent man, port said the device had been at- highest of fi ve levels — meaning Simon Byrne gave the force’s that Price and her then boy- simply minding his own business tached to a truck belonging to a an attack is considered “highly oversight body a briefi ng on the friend, Jack Tinklin, set off for driving along the opposite side of particular haulage company. likely”. incident at their monthly meet- a camping trip but had argued, the road, lost his life.” It was found inland at an in- The United Kingdom left the ing yesterday. and Price had turned the car Price, from Nantyglo, south dustrial estate in Lurgan, south- EU on January 31, with Northern “The fact is this could have around to go home. Wales, denied causing death by west of Belfast, and was made Ireland a major sticking point in ended up on a ferry,” Sinn Fein Giving evidence Tinklin said: dangerous driving and caus- safe by British army bomb dis- three years of Brexit withdrawal board member Gerry Kelly told Micheal Martin of the Fianna Fail campaigns for the general “Just after the roundabout, she ing serious injury by dangerous posal experts. agreement negotiations between the Press Association news elections in Youghal, Ireland, yesterday. just had a seizure. Cerys made driving to Tinklin but was found “Dissident republicans delib- London and Brussels. agency. a funny noise and was slumped guilty. Gulf Times Friday, February 7, 2020 9 EUROPE

Talks with Catalan separatists German state PM quits to start this month over far-right backing AFP AFP Barcelona Frank am Main

panish Prime Minister he premier of Germany’s Pedro Sanchez said yester- Thuringia state stepped Sday that talks with Catalo- Tdown and called yester- nia’s pro-independence regional day for snap elections, barely 24 government on the region’s sep- hours after he was elected with aratist crisis would begin later the help of far-right AfD law- this month. makers in a vote Angela Merkel “We have decided to hold the called “unforgivable”. fi rst meeting of this bilateral Thomas Kemmerich, from the commission” between Spain’s liberal Free Democrats (FDP), central government and the re- said that he would apply for the Kemmerich: We want new elections to remove the stain of the AfD’s gional government of Catalonia regional parliament to be dis- support from the off ice of the premiership. “within this month, that is to say solved in response to the outrage in February”, he said after meet- over his appointment, which told Spiegel weekly that he was screamed best-selling daily Bild, ing with Catalan president Quim drew comparisons with the rise “ready to throw his hat in the slamming Kemmerich for “let- Torra. of the Nazis in the 1930s. ring again”. ting himself be elected by a neo- “We must resume our dia- “We want new elections to According to the latest sur- Nazi”. logue ... the results of the past remove the stain of the AfD’s veys, Ramelow has a 71% ap- On social media, the picture decade are dismal. No one has support from the offi ce of the proval rating in Thuringia. was quickly twinned with one won. Everyone has lost,” he add- premiership,” he told reporters, His Linke party is tipped to of Adolf Hitler shaking hands ed. adding that his resignation was come fi rst in fresh polls but fall with German president Paul von Sanchez agreed to open talks “unavoidable”. short of an overall majority. Hindenburg in 1933, the year between his central government Kemmerich’s election on People protest against the far-right AfD party in Erfurt. The main banner reads ‘Prevent’. In states across Germany’s Hitler became chancellor. and Catalonia’s regional gov- Wednesday marked the fi rst former communist east, the Since its creation in 2013, the ernment as part of a deal to win time in German post-war his- with the anti-Islam, anti-immi- ers from Merkel’s own CDU crisis talks in Berlin tomorrow. AfD is a major political force AfD has gone from strength to the support of lawmakers from tory that a state premier was grant AfD, on a regional or na- lined up with the FDP and far- Addressing the controversy and mainstream parties are in- strength in Germany, capitalis- Catalan separatist party ERC in helped into offi ce by accepting tional level. right in voting for Kemmerich during a visit to South Africa, creasingly scrambling to keep ing on anger over Merkel’s 2015 the Spanish parliament that he far-right votes, crossing a red Thousands took to the streets over popular incumbent Bodo Merkel called Wednesday’s vote it locked out of the corridors of decision to allow in more than needed to form a government line in a nation haunted by its in cities across Germany late on Ramelow from the far-left Die “a bad day for democracy” and power. 1mn asylum-seekers. last month following a Novem- Nazi past. Wednesday to vent their dismay Linke. said the role played by her local In Thuringia, the AfD is led At the last general election, ber 2019 general election. He became the surprise win- at the vote outcome, including Merkel’s federal coalition allies “broke with the values and by Bjoern Hoecke, one of the the party scored almost 13% na- Catalonia has been a domi- ner of a run-off vote after AfD in Berlin, Frankfurt and Thur- partners, the centre-left Social convictions of the CDU”. party’s most radical fi gures who tionwide. nant theme in Spanish politics (Alternative for Germany) law- ingia’s capital Erfurt. Democrats (SDP), reacted furi- Christian Lindner, national has called for a “180° turn” in The SPD’s Walter-Borjans since the region unilaterally makers ditched their own candi- Some carried signs that read ously to the debacle, calling for leader of the FDP, one of Germa- Germany’s atonement for Nazi warned that the world was declared independence in Oc- date to back him. “Never again”, while others re- her conservative party to clearly ny’s smaller parties, announced crimes. watching how Germany dealt tober 2017 following a referen- Merkel called the vote “un- called that it was in Thuringia distance itself from the AfD. a vote of confi dence on his own A picture of Hoecke shaking with the rise of the far right dum deemed illegal by courts, forgivable” and said the result in 1930 that a Nazi minister was “There can be no carrying on leadership today. hands with Kemmerich after and the “breach in the dam” in prompting Spain’s biggest po- “must be reversed”. fi rst allowed into government. as usual without resolving this If Kemmerich gets the nec- the election win was splashed Thuringia. litical crisis in decades. She reiterated that her cen- The aftershocks of the cri- problem,” fumed SPD co-leader essary two-thirds majority to across the front pages of German “What has happened here is a This was the fi rst formal tre-right Christian Democratic sis were being felt in Berlin too, Norbert Walter-Borjans. dissolve Thuringia’s parlia- newspapers. signal that we can’t allow to go meeting with Torra since nine Union (CDU) would never work since Thuringian state lawmak- The SPD and CDU are to hold ment, ousted premier Ramelow “The handshake of shame”, unanswered,” he said. Catalan separatist were sen- tenced to lengthy jail terms for their role in the failed 2017 in- dependence bid, triggering mass protests in Barcelona and other Catalan cities which sometimes Two train drivers die turned violent. Spain’s central government and Catalonia’s regional gov- in Italy rail crash ernment have sharply opposing views over the independence is- sue. AFP near a railroad switch that was Separatists want to discuss Lodi, Italy supposed to be in a position but the possibility of holding a le- was not”. gally binding referendum in “I thought I was dead,” a sur- Catalonia, as well as an amnesty wo rail workers were vivor told local newspaper Lib- for their leaders who were sen- killed and about 30 people erta from hospital in Piacenza tenced in October to lengthy jail Tinjured yesterday when a where he was being treated for terms over their failed 2017 in- high-speed train derailed before minor injuries. “I closed my eyes dependence bid. dawn near Milan in northern and prayed.” But the Socialists have already Italy, authorities said. “The train was going very said that such a referendum The crash occurred just after fast, perhaps 300kph (around would be impossible. 5.30am (0430 GMT) near the 200mph),” said the unnamed The start of the talks comes as town of Lodi, about 50km (30 man in his 20s. Catalonia’s separatist movement miles) south of Milan. “Suddenly, I felt a violent is wracked by divisions. “It was a serious accident that blow. A really loud roar,” said the Torra last month called a snap had a tragic end with the death man who was travelling with a election this year citing tensions of two rail workers” aboard the friend in the second carriage. within his coalition separatist train, Lodi Prefect Marcello Car- “We held hands tightly to government made up of the ERC dona told reporters, who added avoid falling. The wagon over- and his more hardline Together that an investigation was under- turned and while waiting for for Catalonia (JxC) party. way. help we went out through a hole He did not say when the re- Cardona said none of the in- to save ourselves,” he said, add- gional vote would be held but juries suff ered were life-threat- ing that they were stuck on the pledged to announce a date after ening and all casualties had been crashed train for 15 minutes. the budget is passed, in the next taken to hospital. Two helicopters, hundreds of few months. The Lombardy region’s health fi remen, police and other au- Polls show Catalonia’s 7.5mn department put the number of thorities descended on the open residents are almost evenly di- injured at 31. farmland area outside of Lodi. Members of the rescue team gather in front of a damaged carriage on the site of a derailed train, outside the city of Lodi, near Milan. vided over the issue of inde- “It could have been a lot The Milan-Salerno train was pendence for the wealthy north- worse,” Cardona said, adding en route to Bologna when it side of a nearby railway building dona said it was premature to ment, while other trains were when three women died and eastern region, which has its own that there were only 33 people came off the tracks before dawn. several dozen metres away. jump to conclusions on a link rerouted, adding an hour to the about 100 passengers were in- distinct language and culture. on board the train. Video images showed ripped According to initial fi ndings between that work and the ac- journey, operator Trenitalia said. jured when a packed train de- Only one person was in the metal at the front of the fi rst car, reported by the media, the en- cident. Railworker unions said they railed near Milan due to poor fi rst car and two people in the where the engine separated from gine went off the rails and struck “Line maintenance is done would stage a strike throughout track maintenance. French union second when the accident oc- the train. a freight wagon on a parallel continually and it’s much too Italy today from 1100 GMT to Managers and employees of curred, he said. The fi rst car was fl ipped on its track before fi nally hitting the early to associate the accident to 1300 GMT in protest at the “very Italy’s state railway, RFI, as well calls for new Paris While noting that all possible side and appeared to be still at- building. maintenance,” he said. serious and unacceptable” ac- as two former members of the transport strike causes were being investigated, tached to the rest of the train. Italian media reported that Dozens of high-speed trains cident. national railway safety agency Lodi prosecutor Domenico Chi- The engine car could be seen work had been done on the track on the north-south route were Italy’s last serious train acci- were charged with negligent The leading union at Paris public aro said that “the train derailed resting on its side on the other on Wednesday night, but Car- cancelled following the derail- dent occurred in January 2018, homicide and other crimes. transport firm RATP has called for a new strike on February 17, the first day of debate in parliament on the French government’s pension reform plan. The Paris public transport system Brawl breaks out in Ukraine’s parliament over land reform was brought to a virtual standstill for a six-week period from early December 2019 to mid- AFP speaker of the chamber, called on his Once known as the “bread basket January as unions protested the Kyiv fellow lawmakers to maintain order. of Europe”, the former Soviet Union government’s pension reform. “Parliament is a place for discus- country has around 32.5mn hectares After the transport strike fizzled sions, to prove your point in a discus- of arable land, almost twice as much out, leading union Unsa-RATP brawl broke out yesterday in sion, and not through monkey jumps,” as France. formally called off the action Ukraine’s parliament and hun- he said. While the reform is expected to on January 18, but unions have Adreds of people protested out- After the lawmakers calmed down, foster economic growth, some crit- continued their protest over side the legislature as passions heated the parliament began debating the ics fear it will allow rich Ukrainians to pension reform with marches and up over a controversial land reform legislation. create giant holdings of land that they cutting electricity supplies. bill. However, the reading might take are currently renting, while small- “Unsa-RATP restates its unfailing Around 15 lawmakers from Presi- several days. holders will be shut out. opposition to this reform project dent Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s party A bill that could open up the sale Others fear the plan will allow for- and calls on all workers to make and their opponents from the party of of the country’s fertile farmland eigners to buy farmland at a later February 17, a black Monday for ex-prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko from October 2020 won initial back- stage. public transport,” the union’s pushed each other near the rostrum as ing from the parliament dominated The government initially planned to secretary-general Laurent Djebali the legislature struggled to conduct a by Zelenskiy’s Servant of the People allow foreigners to buy farmland from said in a statement. second and fi nal reading of the bill. party. 2024, but Zelenskiy, under pressure The government hopes to get the “Selling Ukrainian land is a crime!” But its progress has stalled as oppo- from opponents, has promised a ref- reform approved by summer. pro-Russian lawmaker Vadym Rab- sition MPs have submitted thousands erendum on the issue. Meanwhile, the Eiff el Tower inovych, who did not take part in of amendments. In further concessions, he off ered to announced yesterday that it was the altercation, shouted during the Outside the parliament building reduce the maximum amount of land closing to visitors due to strike stormy parliament session. and the president’s offi ce, activists that one person can buy to 10,000 action. Lawmakers scuff le during a session of parliament on land reform. Ruslan Stefanchuk, the deputy and farmers also staged a protest. hectares from 200,000. Gulf Times 10 Friday, February 7, 2020 INDIA

TRAGEDY DATA COMMENT CRIME LAW AND ORDER Seven people killed in Kerala economy grows Yesudas’s brother death Rs3bn illegal cash found Bengaluru woman who Uttar Pradesh gas leak 7.5%, jobless numbers rise a case of suicide: police in raids on film industry ‘killed’ mother held

Seven labourers were killed yesterday due The Kerala economy registered a growth of Police probing the death of legendary singer The income-tax department in Chennai yesterday A 34-year-old woman, who escaped from to a gas leak in a pipeline situated between 7.5% in 2018-19 compared to 6.8% in 2017-18, K J Yesudas’s brother K J Justin has termed it claimed to have unearthed Rs3bn hidden income Bengaluru after allegedly killing her mother a carpet making unit and an acid factory in State Finance Minister Thomas Isaac yesterday a case of suicide. Justin’s body was found in during searches at a Tamil movie financier’s and stabbing her brother on February 2, Sitapur district, Uttar Pradesh, police said. after presenting the economic review in the the Kochi backwaters on Wednesday. Justin, off ice and residence, and others. Though the was arrested at Port Blair in the Andaman Five of the dead belong to one family. The Kerala Assembly. However, the unemployment 64, is survived by wife and a son. A police department didn’t mention the financier’s and Nicobar islands, police said yesterday. dead include three men, one woman and rate in the state has also increased for the official attached to the probe team said they name, he has been identified by people as Anbu “The accused (Amrutha) and her male friend three children. All of them were sleeping in corresponding period, the economic review had concluded that it was a case of suicide. Chezhiyan who also owns a movie production (Shridhar Rao) were arrested at Port Blair after the carpet factory and belong to Kanpur. They has revealed. Isaac said that the growth “For a while, he had been speaking a lot about house. About 38 premises were searched in they were traced by our team,” police said. have been identified as Atif, 45, his wife Saira, trajectory as shown in the economic review suicide. Also, since his son’s death, Justin Chennai and Madurai. The highlight was seizure According to the police report filed on the basis 42, daughter Ayesha, 12, sons Afroz, eight, and has given him the confidence to present the was not very stable,” said the official. He had of Rs770mn unaccounted cash, purportedly of the information given by Amrutha’s brother Faizal, two. The two other deceased are Motu, state budget today. “This growth has taken financial issues too and Yesudas was taking belonging to the financier, from hideouts, the IT Harish, the accused stabbed her mother 75, and Pahalwan, 70. The chief minister has place during a general slowdown in economic care of younger brother and his family, added department said in a statement. Large number of Nirmala (54) to death while she was asleep and announced a compensation of Rs400,000 growth at the national as well at the global the official. Justin’s last rites will be held in property documents, promissory notes and post- stabbed the brother too before fleeing from the each for the kin of the deceased. level,” said Isaac. Kochi today. dated cheques were seized during the search. house with Shridhar on a two-wheeler.

Man held for rape of Opposition’s girl at US embassy NPR protests premises

AFP only for political New Delhi

man has been charged after a fi ve-year-old girl Awas allegedly raped on the gains, says Modi premises of the American em- bassy in New Delhi, police said yesterday. IANS lieve in consensus building, that tier-II and III towns were The 25-year-old was arrested New Delhi Modi said the citizenship law contributing to the growth and at the high-security mission or abrogation of Article 370 had their issues must be addressed, on Sunday after the girl’s fam- been debated and discussed in and mentioned about the UDAN ily complained of the sexual as- emaining fi rm on the Citi- the House before being passed. scheme that provided air-con- sault, which allegedly took place zenship Amendment Act He also reminded the op- nectivity to these towns. on Saturday at the living quar- R(CAA), Prime Minister position how the Bill to create Targeting Ghulam Nabi Azad, ters for local housekeeping staff . Narendra Modi yesterday said Telangana was rushed through leader of the opposition in the “The accused was arrested on the National Population Register Parliament during the United Rajya Sabha, he said in the past 18 Sunday immediately after the (NPR) was a general administra- Progressive Alliance rule. “The months several schemes, many of parents complained about the tive exercise and would help in whole country saw how doors them fi rst for the state, had been sexual attack,” investigating of- delivery of government services. were closed and the TV cameras implemented in Kashmir. fi cer Yogesh Kumar said. Replying to a debate on the Mo- were shut,” he said. Under the PM Awas Yojana, Kumar said preliminary tion of Thanks to the president’s In his almost 75-minute ad- against 3,500 houses built earlier, medical tests confi rmed the girl address, Modi said in the Rajya dress, the prime minister dis- in less than two years over 24,000 had been raped. The man was Sabha the opposition was pro- missed the opposition charges houses were built in Kashmir, he charged under child rape laws testing against the NPR for their on a range of issues. As many as said. Modi also mentioned other that carry the death penalty. narrow political gains. All state 45 MPs had taken part in the dis- steps, like reservation to the poor, The sprawling diplomatic com- governments had given their ap- cussion on the motion. providing electricity and building pound is one of the most secure provals through gazette notifi ca- Recounting his government’s roads in the past 18 months. in Delhi, with multiple layers of tions, but some of them were now achievements, he said India’s Speaking on the Motion on manned and electronic security. making U-turns, he said. economic fundamentals were Wednesday, Azad had compared The US embassy clarifi ed that After the prime minister’s strong and the roadblocks in the several social indices of Kash- the driver was not an employee. speech and before the House way of the Goods and Services mir and questioned the govern- “We were deeply disturbed by adopted the Motion, the opposi- Tax were removed and the GST ment’s decision to split the state the alleged misconduct. We tion parties staged a walkout. was implemented. into two Union Territories (UTs). promptly took action when we Quoting former prime minister He said as the Gujarat chief Making light of the Congress were informed of the allega- Lal Bahadur Shastri and Sama- minister he had fl agged several leader’s remark that the northeast tion, and brought this matter to jwadi leader Ram Manohar Lohia, issues related to the GST and re- was burning, Modi said had the the attention of the police. Of the prime minister attacked the solved them when he became the situation been that bad, the oppo- course, we are co-operating fully opposition, especially the Con- prime minister. sition would have sent delegations with them,” a spokesperson said. gress. He also read out part of a The prime minister stated and held press conferences. India is struggling to combat 1947 Congress resolution to re- a growing number of sexual as- mind that it was opposing some- PM distracting people from real issues: Rahul sault cases in the country. thing that it supported then. Violence against women in the He asked the opposition to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi the Union Budget does not nation has been under the inter- not “misguide and misinform” yesterday hit out at Prime off er anything concrete. The national spotlight following the on the citizenship law and ex- Minister Narendra Modi, prime minister, while replying brutal gang-rape and murder of pressed reservations over reso- alleging that he is distracting on the motion of thanks to a Delhi student on a bus in 2012. lutions passed by some states. the people and is silent on the the president’s speech, had In the wake of a brutal 2012 Mentioning Kerala, he said the real issue of unemployment. attacked Rahul Gandhi without Delhi gang rape — which brought chief minister was on one hand Rahul alleged the prime naming him. Slamming the worldwide condemnation and talking about extremist elements minister spoke about Pakistan, BJP government at the Centre still haunts the collective memo- infi ltrating anti-CAA stirs, on Nehru and “everything else and the Aam Aadmi Party ry of women in the capital — law- the other his party was extend- which does not concern government in Delhi, Rahul makers passed a series of amend- ing support to them in Delhi. anybody.” He is not speaking Gandhi said, “The youth are ments to the existing rape laws. He said the wrong path taken about the youth, he said. The roaming around on the streets The amended law lengthened by many opposition parties on government, he said, is not and getting angry due to prison terms and introduced the the CAA was unfortunate. concerned about economic unemployment. And their death penalty in cases where the On the opposition charge that issues impacting the country. anger is being misused by Modi victim is younger than 12 years they were not being consulted The Congress leader said and Kejriwal.” of age. Demonstrators shout slogans during a protest against the new citizenship law in Mumbai yesterday. and the government didn’t be- Mukerjea gets bail in Brand promotion Yediyurappa expands Karnataka Cabinet

Sheena murder case IANS “I will go to Delhi next week Bengaluru after the Delhi Assembly elec- tion results (February 11) to fi - IANS not in India at that point. The CBI said that Peter nalise the names of party leg- Mumbai The judge also observed Mukerjea, along with his ex- he portfolios of 10 Karna- islators to fi ll the remaining six that the trial in the case is wife Indrani, her former hus- taka ministers inducted Cabinet vacancies ahead of the already on, the applicant has band Sanjeev Khanna entered Tinto the Cabinet earlier Assembly Budget session from he Bombay High Court spent more than four years in into a criminal conspiracy to in the day would be allocated by March 2,” he added. yesterday granted bail jail and recently underwent a kill Sheena Bora. tomorrow, Chief Minister B S Among the 10 new minis- Tto former media tycoon bypass surgery. Accordingly, Sheena, 24, an Yediyurappa said yesterday. ters, eight are former Congress Peter Mukerjea, an accused In the conditional bail, the executive working with Mum- “The portfolios will be fi nal- leaders and two Janata Dal- arrested in the sensational court ordered Mukerjea not bai Metro One, was allegedly ised by tomorrow in consulta- Secular (JD-S) rebels whose Sheena Bora murder case, on to contact his daughter Vidhi, drugged and killed on April tion with the BJP central and resignations in mid-July along the grounds that there was no son Rahul or any other wit- 24, 2012. state leadership and forwarded with seven other dissident prima facie evidence of his in- nesses in the case, nor travel They took the body in a to the governor for approval,” legislators led to the fall of the volvement in the crime. abroad without its permis- suitcase in the dense forests Yediyurappa told reporters here. 14-month-old coalition gov- Following a request by the sion. near Gagode village in adjoin- Governor Vajubhai Vala earlier ernment on July 23. It facili- Central Bureau of Investiga- Mukerjea, 64, was arrested ing Raigad district, burnt and administered the oath of offi ce tated the return of the BJP to tion, the high court stayed the on November 19, 2015, from then disposed it off. to 10 ruling party MLAs at the power in the state again. implementation of its order his residence in Mumbai. The gruesome murder came Raj Bhavan, a month after they Though 13 MLAs were to be for six weeks to enable the CBI His arrest came hours to light after nearly three- re-contested the December 5 inducted in the second Cabinet to file an appeal in the matter. after the CBI had filed its and-a-half years when Rai by-elections and were declared expansion, only 10 took oath. Earlier, justice Nitin W chargesheet against his (then) was arrested on August 21, elected on December 9. The inclusion of three more was Sambre granted bail on a wife, Indrani Mukerjea alias 2015 in an illegal arms posses- “Many of the 17 ministers in- deferred over fears of a revolt by surety of Rs200,000 to Muk- Bora, her first husband San- sion case. ducted during the fi rst Cabinet dissidents lobbying for ministe- erjea who was arrested over jeev Khanna and her driver During his interrogation, expansion on August 20 were rial berths. four years ago and was in jail Shyamvar P Rai. he spilled the beans on the old holding more than one portfo- Eight-time party legislator since, barring release briefly The three were arrested murder, but later turned an lio as 16 slots in the 34-member Umesh Katti, lawmaker Arvind on medical grounds. by the Mumbai Police which approver and secured a par- ministry remained vacant till Limbavalli and former legislative In his order, justice Sambre also probed the case, but later don from the court. Wednesday. The allocation will council member C P Yogeshwar, said there was no prima facie the Maharashtra government Indrani and her former hus- Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan poses next to the newly ease the burden on them as well who were eyeing Cabinet posts, evidence to infer that Muk- handed over the probe to the band Khanna continue to re- launched Hyundai Creta SUV at the Auto Expo 2020 at as me since I am also holding skipped yesterday’s oath-taking erjea was involved in commit- CBI as other ramifications main in jail since their arrest Greater Noida on the outskirts of New Delhi yesterday. some portfolios,” Yediyurappa ceremony after their names were ting the crime since he was came to light. in 2015. said. dropped from the list. Gulf Times Friday, February 7, 2020 11 LATIN AMERICA

GREEN DRIVE STOMACH CANCER FINANCE JUSTICE Bogota goes traff ic-free as Hitman for dreaded drug Argentina Senate passes Uber wins appeal as court private cars banned for day lord Escobar dies in jail debt restructuring bill says drivers not employees

Residents of Colombia’s capital Bogota Pablo Escobar’s most notorious hitman, known Argentina’s Senate voted in favour of a bill A Brazilian higher court for labour ruled on yesterday took to bicycles, scooters, buses and by the nickname Popeye, died yesterday at age on Wednesday that grants power to the Wednesday that there was no employment taxis for their commutes, as the city banned 57 after a life of crime he celebrated on YouTube, government of President Alberto Fernandez to relationship between Uber and its drivers, siding private cars in a bid to boost greener transport. Colombia’s prison authorities said. Jhon Jairo handle a massive debt restructuring of bonds with the ride-hailing company against a Sao Paulo The city’s car and motorcycle-free day is a Velasquez had boasted of killing hundreds of issued in foreign currency. The bill, which was driver. The federal judge in Brasilia ruled against long-running regular initiative by the mayor’s people for his “boss” Escobar, the infamous drug approved by the lower house on January 29, was recognising an employer-employee link, arguing off ice meant to encourage residents to choose lord killed by Colombian police in 1993. Velasquez passed unanimously by the Senate. The crisis- that Uber drivers can disconnect at any time from more sustainable and environmentally-friendly died at the National Cancer Institute in Bogota, stricken South American nation is grappling with the app and have a flexible work schedule. The ways of getting around. Peddling alongside where he’d been receiving treatment for stomach about $100bn in sovereign debt it is seeking ruling was welcomed by Uber, which said in a commuters were mayor Claudia Lopez and cancer since December 31. He spent 23 years in to restructure with its creditors, including the statement it supported dozens of previous decisions Energy Minister Maria Fernanda Suarez. Some prison after giving himself up to law enforcement International Monetary Fund, which has a $57bn in Brazilian courts establishing that its drivers are 1.8mn private vehicles and 460,000 motorbikes authorities in 1992 but was arrested again in May financing package with the country. An IMF not employees. Uber had argued that its platform Commuters ride bikes and scooters during the were left at home, according to figures from the 2018 on accusations of “conspiracy to commit mission will come to Argentina to continue talks is a digital intermediary, not an employer, and that morning rush hour in Bogota yesterday. mayor’s off ice. crime and extortion,” prison authorities said. on February 12. drivers accept that condition when they sign on. Morales rivals seek vote disqualifi cation

AFP “We’re going to contest his reg- versial re-election in a poll the Or- the presidency, a run-off will be held La Paz istration because it’s clear that Evo ganization of American States said on June 14. Morales doesn’t live in the country,” was rigged. Morales is barred from stand- said conservative senator Oscar Or- But even before leaving the coun- ing for president and faces an arrest pponents of former Bolivia tiz, a presidential candidate in Oc- try, Morales lived in La Paz for his warrant should he return to Bolivia. president Evo Morales said on tober. nearly 14 years as president, and The government of interim Presi- OWednesday they will appeal He said the constitution obliges not in the Cochabamba department dent Jeanine Anez has accused him the socialist leader’s bid to run for a legislature candidates to be living where he made his name as the lead- of sedition and terrorism over an senate seat in May’s general election. for at least two years in the region er of a coca growers’ union. audio recording in which he alleg- Morales, 60, was registered as a they stand for. “According to the law, he is not, edly urges his supporters to lay siege senate candidate by his Movement MAS registered Morales as a can- nor can be a candidate, he’s disqual- to La Paz and other major cities. An assistant from Amazonian aquatic mammals project holds a baby dolphin at the for Socialism (MAS) party ahead of didate in the central Cochabamba ifi ed because the constitution pro- Bolivia’s constitution limits a Mamiraua reserve in Uarini, Amazonas state. Monday’s deadline. department — a hotbed of support hibits it,” said Juan Flores, a com- president to two successive terms The electoral court is due to an- for the party led by the country’s munity leader in Cochabamba and but in October’s election, Morales nounce next Monday which election fi rst ever indigenous president. Morales opponent. stood for a fourth consecutive man- candidates have qualifi ed. Morales fl ed Bolivia on Novem- In addition to a new president, date. But Morales’s opponents say that ber 10 after resigning as president Bolivians will elect 36 senators and His opponents accused him of his current exile in Argentina should following three weeks of at times 120 deputies on May 3. using his position to trample on de- Amazon pink dolphins disqualify him from standing. violent protests against his contro- If there is no outright winner for mocracy. under threat as fi shing Winter treat Brazil puts robbed ban comes to an end

tourist’s rant on By Bruno Kelly, Reuters They can turn as bright pink as a fl a- Reserva Mamiraua, Brazil mingo. Their active courting and mating gave offi cial Instagram rise to a legend in the Amazon that the pink he Amazon river dolphin is an intel- dolphin morphs into a handsome man at ligent and friendly mammal that ap- night to seduce village women. AFP Tpears to grin and fl ush like a human The Mamiraua reserve, run by the Ama- Rio de Janeiro blushing when it gets excited. zon research institute INPA, spans 11,000sq But some are concerned about the km of fl ooded rainforest and wetlands and world’s largest freshwater dolphin coming is located three days up the Amazon by tourist who was robbed while vacationing in Rio under threat again in Brazil, where fi sher- boat from Manaus, the capital of Amazonas de Janeiro posted a disgusted message online... men hunt and kill it illegally to make bait for state. Aonly to have Brazil’s national tourism board post a catfi sh called piracatinga. With their elongated beaks tied care- it to its offi cial Instagram account by mistake. A legal moratorium on fi shing the pira- fully, the dolphins are brought to a fl oating “Rio is such a beautiful city,” begins the message catinga ended last month, prompting calls research centre in the Mamiraua reserve, posted by Instagram user @withlai — and that is per- for its renewal from environmentalists and where members of Silva’s team take blood haps as far as the Brazilian Tourist Board’s social media researchers such as biologist Vera da Silva, samples and use a syringe to suction milk department read before clicking “share.” who has worked to preserve the so-called from dolphin mothers for testing. But the message continues: “Beautiful is not enough.” pink river dolphins for 25 years. A dolphin’s pregnancy typically lasts 13 During a three-day stay in Rio, @withlai wrote, “my “I never stop being amazed by them. months and then it feeds a calf underwater family and I were robbed and my nine-year-old sister They are fascinating animals,” Silva said as for two years. witnessed a violent robbery. I can’t recommend a visit to her team used a net to bring in dolphins to Due to the long nursing period, females a city where I felt afraid of even leaving the apartment.” be examined, measured, marked and re- only reproduce every three to fi ve years, Embratur, as the tourism board is known, shared leased again in the Mamiraua Sustainable Silva said. the message on its own Instagram account on Tuesday Development Reserve. That makes them more vulnerable to ex- evening, leaving it up long enough for the gaff e to go vi- “We captured a dolphin mother and her tinction if their population is depleted. ral before deleting the post. calf today and saw them calling out to each Prosecutors in Amazonas state, who “This message was shared by mistake,” Embratur other. They have a very strong relation un- asked for the catfi sh ban in 2015, warned said in a red-faced statement, adding that it was in fact til the calf becomes independent after three then that as many as 2,500 dolphins were working to “publicise the drop in violent crime (in Bra- years,” she said. being killed each year for bait. zil) in 2019.” Like others dolphins, they make whis- Though they are relatively abundant, and Rio, the port of entry for many of the millions of tour- tling sounds through blowholes to commu- found across South America’s vast Amazon ists who visit Brazil each year, is known for the breath- nicate underwater. and Orinoco river basins, Silva fears the taking beauty of its sun-soaked beaches and emerald What sets them apart is a slow transfor- Amazon dolphins could disappear like the mountains, but also its violent crime. mation from gray to pink as they age. Yangtze river dolphin did in China in 2006, Rio de Janeiro state, of which the city is the capital, Behaviour and exposure to sunlight also following years of overfi shing and pollu- registered nearly 4,000 murders and 120,500 muggings infl uence colour changes in the “boto ver- tion. A man builds a snowman after a storm lashed Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on Wednesday. last year — though that was a drop of 19% and 8%, re- melho” or “red dolphin,” as the creatures “We don’t want the dolphins to become spectively. are known in Brazil. just a legend of Amazonia,” Silva said. Dirty tap water has Rio residents on a thirsty edge

By Perrine Juan and Joshua ment earlier this week: high when some 2mn tourists will Bolsonaro moves to free mining, hydro dams on indigenous lands for an extension to complete the Howat Berger, AFP levels of detergent from an un- fl ock to Rio. tests. Rio de Janeiro known source had been found in “If we don’t solve this problem Brazilian far-right President mentalists,” Bolsonaro said in a best guardians of Brazil’s tropical “The water supplied by Cedae the same water treatment plant, fast, we could be holding carnival Jair Bolsonaro on Wednesday speech. forests warn that mining will meets health ministry standards forcing authorities to shut it with a shortage of bottled water, unveiled a controversial bill that Bolsonaro has long railed speed up deforestation. and is therefore safe to drink,” it irst the water was dirty, then down. forcing people to drink (tap) wa- would allow commercial mining against Brazil’s indigenous people The proposal includes provi- said in an e-mail. it was full of detergent: Rio The plant, known as Guandu, ter that might not be safe,” said on protected indigenous lands, for occupying too much land, sions to consult indigenous The utility’s problems are not Fde Janeiro residents have serves 9mn people. Leonardo Do Santos, a 38-year- delivering on a campaign promise 13% of the country, and hinder- communities and would require new, said ecologist Mario Mosc- had some disturbing stuff coming The 13-hour shut-down left old banker, as he stocked up on that has shocked tribal leaders ing economic development of Congressional approval for any atelli, who has been urging au- out of their taps, the latest envi- large swathes of the city with water in the central business dis- and environmentalists. untold mineral resources hidden mining or hydroelectric power thorities since the 1990s to deal ronmental bungle for Brazil. no tap water, in the middle of a trict. The bill to regulate mining there, from gold and diamonds to generation project. with massive amounts of raw The problem started a little sweltering southern-hemisphere Bottled water is already be- including oil and gas projects, as niobium and rare earths. Government off icials have said, sewage dumped just upstream over a month ago, with wide- summer. coming hard to fi nd. well as hydroelectric dams, on But leaders of most of Brazil’s however, that indigenous com- from the Guandu plant. spread complaints of stinky, As panic buying has set in, bot- Many supermarkets have run indigenous reservations for the 300 tribes oppose mining on munities would not have the right “That situation is inconceiv- brown tap water in the “Marve- tled water suppliers have strug- out or are limiting customers’ first time, will be sent to Congress their reservations and say that to veto projects once authorised able and unacceptable, anywhere lous City,” which is known for the gled to keep up with demand. purchases. this week. allowing commercial mining by Congress. in the universe,” he told AFP. breathtaking beauty of its beach- “Deliveries have quadru- On the street, vendors have Brazil’s constitution cur- would undermine their communi- Bolsonaro also separately plans Cedae did score a victory of es, but also a history of polluting pled. And everyone wants water as much as tripled the price of a rently does not rule out mining ties and wipe out their cultures to allow large-scale commercial sorts on Wednesday, when envi- and mismanaging its water. right this minute,” said Lucia- 1.5-litre bottle, to six reals (nearly on reservations, but does not already threatened by increasing agriculture on indigenous reser- ronmental authorities ruled the The public water utility, a na de Barbosa de Jesus, owner $1.50). allow it because it has not been invasions by illegal loggers and vations, some of which already mystery detergent found in the much-maligned company called of a wholesale supplier in the Residents are even turning to regulated. wildcat miners. have soy plantations even though treatment plant did not exceed Cedae, said the issue was a harm- city centre, as her delivery staff bottled water in the city’s poor- “This is a big step forward, but Environmentalists who see the they are not allowed under cur- acceptable limits. less organic compound called ge- rushed to fi ll trucks and bicycle est neighbourhoods, the favelas, it will face pressure from environ- indigenous communities as the rent environmental laws. But the news did little to calm osmin. carts with huge orders of bottles despite the economic sacrifi ce. worried residents — or stop a It fi red the head of the city’s and jugs. “A lot of people are buying fl ood of jokes about the situation. main water treatment plant, used The water shut-off forced au- bottled water here. They’re al- ply and 60% of the vital Amazon Rio de Janeiro state Governor pave the way for privatization. “Witzel found a ‘smart’ way carbon particles to reduce the thorities to push the start of the ready running out of 20-litre rainforest, where deforestation Wilson Witzel, a fellow far-right The state’s environmental reg- to clean the water: add deter- geosmin and assured the greater school year back from Wednes- jugs in some places,” said Helio, nearly doubled last year. politician, now faces similar ulator announced on Wednesday gent,” quipped one Twitter metropolitan area’s 12mn in- day to yesterday for more than a resident of the sprawling Mare Environmentalists accuse far- criticism for his management of it had fi ned Cedae 100,000 reals user. habitants their water was safe to 1,500 public schools. favela. right President Jair Bolsonaro, a Cedae, which he wants to priva- for failing to disclose test results “Now it comes out of the tap drink. It has also raised concerns It is the latest bad environ- climate-change sceptic, of at- tize. on geosmin levels at the Guandu foaming, and we save on dish But then it had to make an- about the city’s world-famous mental PR for Brazil, home to the tacking the Amazon with his pro- Critics accuse the governor plant. soap what we spend on bottled other embarrassing announce- carnival in two weeks’ time, world’s largest freshwater sup- business, pro-farming policies. of dismantling the utility to Cedae told AFP it had asked water.” Gulf Times 12 Friday, February 7, 2020 PAKISTAN

French military PM rejects proposal for honours Pakistani ‘national reconciliation’ pilots There will be consequences regional president of the Paki- bearing on the Kashmir issue. corruption,” he said. Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI),” he said. Internews if prime minister fails to stan Muslim League – Nawaz However, as Haider did not Khan made it clear at least Agha added that the top con- Karachi fulfil promises, warns ruling (PML-N), said that he could not explain the reason behind his twice that he had no personal cerns for the PML-Q at the mo- coalition ally help calling “a spade a spade”, plea, it was assumed that he was enmity with anyone. ment is infl ation and bad gov- which was why “sometimes my seeking some sort of forgiveness “But my issue is that if some- ernance. our Pakistan Army pi- Internews own people would get cross with for the beleaguered opposition one commits theft in my house “No doubt, we are allies of lots were conferred with a Islamabad/Lahore me”. in Pakistan. and burdens me with debt, the government, but we are Fprestigious French military “We all are with you. Being the In response, Prime Minister should I make friends with not ready to pay the price for award for their daring 2018 mis- prime minister of the country, Khan did not mince his words them?” he asked. “Please don’t its wrong decisions,” he main- sion to rescue a French moun- rime Minister Imran Khan you are respectable for us and and expressed his opposition to ask me to reconcile with the tained. taineer stuck on the world’s has turned down a sugges- we have some expectations from the idea at the very outset of his corrupt people who stashed the Another leader of the PML-Q, ninth highest peak in northern Ption by Azad Jammu and you. Please end these fi ghts on speech. wealth of this country in foreign Tariq Cheema, who is also the Pakistan. Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister TV talk shows, which have really “As far as consensus build- countries.” minister for housing and works, The France National Defence Raja Farooq Haider for national divided the country,” Haider be- ing is concerned, I stand by you. Meanwhile, ruling coalition told the media that the agree- Bronze Medal was conferred on reconciliation in the country, seeched Khan. But, there is a problem,” he said. ally, Pakistan Muslim League – ment between the PML-Q and the Army Aviation pilots by Rear saying that he could not recon- “Now it’s time to stand on our The prime minister then asked Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q) leader the PTI was based on providing Admiral Didier Malterre, com- cile with those who had looted feet. The West has put Pakistan the legislators to draw parallels Kamil Agha has warned that relief to the common man. mander of French Joint Force in national wealth. in shackles which we need to between the prosperous and the there will be consequences if “The price hike genie has be- the Indian Ocean, at a ceremony “As a Kashmiri, I want to make remove. This can only happen poorest countries. Prime Minister Khan does not come uncontrollable. Our ad- Prime Minister Khan: Please held at the Army Museum in a request to you. Begin national when there is national unity “You will realise that the pros- fulfi l promises made to the party. vice to the government is that it don’t ask me to reconcile with Rawalpindi, according to the reconciliation in Pakistan. Raise and consensus of opinion in the perous countries are not so be- He issued the warning while should set the matters right. We the corrupt people who stashed military’s media wing, the Inter- yourself above everyone else, country,” he added. cause they are gifted by the Al- speaking to a private television have been part of the parliament the wealth of this country in Services Public Relations (ISPR). and take everyone along,” said The AJK premier’s plea was mighty with [natural] resources channel aired yesterday. all our lives and keep meeting foreign countries. Lieutenant-General Sahir Haider in his address at the spe- believed to be in the context of and the poorest countries are “If the government fails to each other,” he said. Shamshad Mirza, the Pakistan cial session of AJK Legislative a widely prevailing perception not so for want of resources. control infl ation and corruption, “Our position is clear, other the boat sinks, it would sink due Army Chief of General Staff Assembly, held to mark Kashmir among the Kashmiri circles that “The main reason of the pros- it will be diffi cult for the PML- allies should clear their position. to wrong decisions, we will not (CGS), senior military offi cers, Solidarity Day. political instability and polari- perity is a clean government, Q to stand by [Prime Minister Being allies of the government, be included in it,” he said. and offi cers from the Army Avia- The AJK premier, who is also sation in Pakistan has a direct transparency and nonexistent Imran Khan’s ruling] Pakistan we are riding in the same boat, if tion attended the ceremony. The Medaille de la Defense Nationale, or National Defence Medal, was created by Charles Hernu, the French minister for defence, and established by de- Minister defends Comprehensive planning made to cope cree on April 21, 1982. It rewards particularly hon- ourable service rendered by mil- remarks on use of itary personnel for their partici- with coronavirus issue: health offi cial pation in operational activities. The medal has three levels: drugs to make meds Gold, Silver and Bronze. Internews The brave Army Aviation pi- Islamabad lots rescued French mountaineer Internews ing medicines made by drug Elisabeth Revol, who was stuck Islamabad seeds”, adding that the prime on Nanga Parbat, on the request minister’s vision is to take pecial Assistant on Na- of French embassy in Islamabad proactive initiatives and use tional Health Services in January 2018. inister of State for every resource – even the ones SDr Zafar Mirza says that The pilots had fl own four Narcotics Control that were an affl iction – which comprehensive planning has Polish climbers, who were en- MShehryar Afridi has had a positive utility. been made to cope with coro- gaged in an expedition at the stood by his remarks about He said that although poppy navirus. base camp of K2, in an Army Avi- use of cocaine and other drugs seeds had not been grown in Chairing a meeting of Coro- ation helicopter to Nanga Parbat to manufacture medicines, Pakistan since 2001, these were navirus Emergency Core Group in order to rescue Revol and her claiming that this practice is still found in Afghanistan and in Islamabad yesterday, he said fellow Polish climber Tomasz widespread in all the developed tribal areas of the country. that he is personally monitoring Mackiewicz in a dramatic res- countries. “I talked about it in Tirah be- the screening system at airports. cue mission, winning accolades “Nothing is good or bad; it is cause such substances [drugs] He said all possible steps are from both Paris and Warsaw. the thinking that makes it so. are still available there. These being ensured to deal with coro- Nanga Parbat, the world’s People whose minds are full substances should be used in navirus and that the authorities ninth-highest mountain at of negativity always present a positive manner,” he added. are ready to tackle any emergen- 26,660 feet, has earned the even good things as negative,” “But [in areas] where all re- cy situation in this regard. moniker of “Killer Mountain” he said while speaking with sources are available, they can Mirza said an emergency op- after more than 30 climbers died reporters after a function at be utilised [in a] positive way to eration cell established at the trying to scale it before the fi rst the Punjab Council of Arts in make medicines.” health ministry is monitoring successful summit in 1953. Rawalpindi. “Maybe the [point] was lost the situation. The minister was respond- in translation from Pashto. The He said that separate wards ing to criticism over a video world has taken benefi ts by us- have been arranged at hospitals Islamabad to clip of a public gathering in the ing drugs in medicines manu- to handle possible cases of coro- Tirah valley, in which he could facturing and earned a lot but navirus, adding that the federal validate foreign be heard saying that the state we are still in same state,” he government has taken eff ective driving licences burned tonnes of drugs seized maintained. measures in collaboration with every year when the contra- Recently as well, Afridi the provinces. Prime Minister Imran Khan has band could be used to make found himself in hot water This photo taken on February 4, shows a staff member carrying a box of medical supplies from Mirza said no case of corona- directed the relevant authorities medicine. when he claimed that they Pakistan at a warehouse of an exhibition centre in Wuhan – the epicentre of the new coronavirus virus has yet been reported in to accept driving licences issued The minister’s statement is [the government] had video outbreak, in China’s central Hubei province – which has been converted into a makeshift hospital. Pakistan. by other countries. being criticised widely on so- proof against Rana Sanaullah, The directives were issued by cial media. a leader of the opposition Pa- the prime minister in response According to a media report, kistan Muslim League – Nawaz to hundreds of requests made Afridi said it was the vision of (PML-N) who was arrested by expatriates on the Prime Prime Minister Imran Khan by the Anti-Narcotics Force Minister’s Portal. that “there should be a positive (ANF) for allegedly carrying Lahore High Court grants bail to Shehbaz’s son In response to the directive, use of everything, even if it is a drugs a couple of months ago. Islamabad Traff ic Police menace”. His statement was subse- (ITP) issued an order, asking He had also announced that quently denied by the ANF. Internews N) leader Hamza Shehbaz in the Punjab chief minister and cur- Hamza alleged that the National all staff , including deputy a factory is being built on the The minister had also faced Lahore Ramzan Sugar Mills case. rent Opposition Leader in the Accountability Bureau (NAB) superintendents of traff ic police, directives of the prime minis- serious allegations that he A two-member bench of the National Assembly Shehbaz initiated the inquiry into the to accept driving licences issued ter where drug seeds would be spent “lavishly” on the reno- LHC, headed by Justice Mazhar Sharif, was indicted in the sugar Ramzan Sugar Mills with mali- by other countries. used to manufacture medicine. vation of his offi cial residence he Lahore High Court Naqvi, conducted a hearing yes- mills case along with his father, cious intentions. The order further stated that the Justifying the remarks, the at state expense. (LHC) has accepted the terday into the Ramzan Sugar on April 9 last year. The petition further stated ITP staff should not fine drivers minister told reporters that He has denied such allega- Tbail plea of Pakistan Mills case. In his petition, fi led though that the bureau had failed to fi nd holding valid foreign driving “India earned $22bn by export- tions. Muslim League – Nawaz (PML- Hamza, the son of former his counsel Amjad Pervaiz, any irregularity. licences. Mass wedding Information ministry asked to launch fresh ad campaign to support media

Internews The committee noted that the fi cer claimed that the issue of This led to a brief exchange of Islamabad Pakistan Electronic Media Regu- non-payment of wages was only words between him and the com- latory Authority (PEMRA) was a a pretext by media houses. mittee chairman. weak authority to ensure stand- He accused the media houses Acknowledging the demand of he Pakistan Senate Stand- ard working conditions in elec- of not following the labour laws. PBA chairman Shakeel Masood, ing Committee on Infor- tronic media, and agreed to work Offi cials of the Securities and Javed directed the information Tmation and Broadcasting for the upgrade of its rules and Exchange Commission of Pa- ministry to streamline its mech- has asked the information min- regulations. kistan said that out of 134 reg- anism to clear the outstanding istry to launch a fresh adver- The committee witnessed a istered media companies, only dues. tisement campaign to promote debate between the senators, 32% were fi ling their annual Masood said advertisement business of print and electronic government offi cials, employers documentation, and that not bills had to be cleared within 60 media. and employees of print and elec- submitting their audited reports days as per the law, but the aver- After hearing the stakeholders, tronic media, which not only led is a violation of law. age time was one year, and some committee chairman Faisal Javed to several disclosures but also ex- Mehtab Abbassi, represent- payments had been pending for said that there has to be a link posed offi cial slackness causing ing the All Pakistan Newspapers fi ve to seven years. between the release of salaries of distortions in the system. Society, said that it was unfair in The case of media workers was employees and payment of gov- Offi ce-bearers of the Pakistan several respects and even includ- presented by the Parliamentary ernment advertisements. Broadcasters Association (PBA) ed a clause that the publication Reporters Association and the “We need to streamline the said that they suspected some would always consider “national Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of whole system; the informa- conspiracy-like situation against interest”. Journalists. tion ministry will devise an up- the media in the country, claim- Senator Pervaiz Rasheed Senators Sajjad Hussain Turi dated advertisement policy and ing that curtailment of adver- asked: “Was it in the national and Rukhsana Zubairi asked the In this picture taken late last month, Hindu brides in traditional outfits wait during a mass marriage present a briefi ng to the commit- tisements by the government is a interest when you media peo- PBA to submit a list of employ- ceremony in Karachi, for some 80 couples, organised by Pakistan Hindu Council. tee to grant media the status of tool to curb free speech. ple aired that sit-in at D-chowk ees who have not received their industry,” Javed said. The principal information of- round the clock?” salaries. Gulf Times Friday, February 7, 2020 13 THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH Contemplation and consideration

eliberation most certainly On another occasion, Huthayfah, sentries at the fortifi ed borders of Islam leads to knowledge, which, may Allah be pleased with him, and we must be careful that we are not in turn, results in action. narrates: “Once, I prayed with the the weakest links. We should supplicate Hence, if people ponder Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam; to Allah The Almighty at night to bring D the hearts of Muslims together, unite the magnifi cence of Allah The he started reciting the chapter of Al- Almighty, they will surely refrain Baqarah (The Cow). I thought that he their word and grant them victory over from His disobedience. Moreover, would bow after one hundred verses, their enemy. We cannot renounce our contemplation is a mirror that refl ects but he went on. Then, I assumed he responsibility, for we will indeed be held one’s good and evil deeds. It is one of would recite the whole chapter in one accountable, as Allah The Almighty the best acts of worship, for not only standing, but he then read the chapter Says (what means): does it bring about wisdom, it endows An-Nisaa’ (The Women), fi nished it {Then We will surely question those the heart with life and instills the fear and continued reciting the chapter to whom [a message] was sent, and We of Allah The Almighty in it. Aal-‘Imraan (The Family of ‘Imraan). will surely question the messengers.} That is why Abu Sulaymaan Ad- Whenever he would come across a [Qur’an 7:6] Daaraani, may Allah have mercy upon verse of Allah’s praise, he used to {That He may question the truthful him, would say, “When I go out and glorify Him; and if he would happen about their truth.} [Qur’an 33:8] see anything, I notice the blessing upon a verse mentioning good things, Furthermore, we should refl ect of Allah in it and take a lesson from he would pray to Allah for them. Also, on our own selves and the blessings it.” Similarly, when the wife of Abu if he would read a verse that mentions bestowed on us by Allah The Almighty, Ad-Dardaa’, may Allah be pleased with bad things [like Hell], he would seek Who Says (what means): {And in them, was asked about her husband’s refuge from them in Him. When he yourselves. Then will you not see?} best act of worship, she replied, fi nally bowed and uttered, ‘Subhaana [Qur’an 51:21] We must also know “Contemplation and consideration.” Rabbi Al-‘Atheem (Glory be to my that Islam is the greatest favour of all, It was also reported that Muhammad Lord, The Great)’ and his bowing was so have we expressed our gratitude ibn Ka‘b al-Qarathi, may Allah have almost equivalent in length to his towards Him for it? mercy upon him, said, “I would rather standing. After that, he said, ‘Sami’ Contemplating the realm of the read [only] the chapters Az-Zalzalah Allahu liman hamidah (Allah hears the heavens and the earth also guides (The Earthquake) and Al-Qaari’ah one who praises Him)’. Then, he stood Slovenia’s first mosque opened its doors in the capital Ljubljana on February 3, more than 50 years after the initial request those who feel at a loss, because (The Sudden Calamity) all night long for a lengthy period and prostrated to build it was made. Muslims in the predominantly Catholic Alpine country first filed a request to build a mosque in the late everything is a sign that indicates and ponder on their meaning, than for a similar amount of time, saying: 1960s while Slovenia was still part of the former Communist Yugoslavia. The community received permission 15 years ago, the oneness of Allah The Almighty. recite the Qur’an quickly without ‘Subhaana Rabbi Al-A‘la (Glory be to but ran into opposition from right-wing politicians and groups, as well as financial troubles. Below: A general view of prayer Let us ponder how He has raised the refl ection.” my Lord, The Most High).’” [Muslim] room inside the mosque, designed by the Bevk Perovic Arhitekti architecture firm. heavens and proportioned it, gave Taawoos, may Allah have mercy Likewise, ‘Abdullaah ibn Mas‘ood, the night its darkness and removed upon him, narrates, “The disciples may Allah be pleased with him, relates: its brightness; then, He spread out said to ‘Eesa (Jesus), may Allah exalt “The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa the earth, extracted water from it and his mention, ‘O soul of Allah! Is there sallam, said to me, ‘Recite the Qur’an made pastures. Let us think of the anyone on earth like you today?’ He for me.’ I replied, ‘O Messenger of omnipotence of Allah The Almighty in replied, ‘Yes; he whose utterances Allah, how could I read it to you when His creation and the accurate system comprise the remembrance of Allah, it was revealed to you?’ He said, ‘I like of the universe that is in motion, as He silence is meditation and gazes are to listen to it being recited by others.’ I Says (what means): {It is not allowable introspective, is like me.” Therefore, read out the chapter An-Nisaa’; when for the sun to reach the moon, nor does one should contemplate the blessings I reached the verse (which means): {So the night overtake the day, but each, in of Allah The Almighty and all things, how [will it be] when We bring from an orbit, is swimming.} [Qur’an 36:40] and must only avoid questioning His every nation a witness and we bring Let us also consider the numerous entity, for, as He Says (what means): you, [O Muhammad] against these miracles of the Prophet, sallallaahu {There is nothing like unto Him, and [people] as a witness?} [Qur’an 4:41], ‘alaihi wa sallam, related to astrology, He is the Hearing, the Seeing.} [Qur’an I lifted my head, or a man beside me medicine, wisdom and eloquence and, 42:11] nudged me so I looked up, and saw the of course, the greatest miracle of all is There are many verses that refer to Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, the Noble Qur’an. There is much that deliberation, refl ection, meditation in tears.”[Al-Bukhari and Muslim] proves the prophethood of Muhammad, and consideration in the Noble Qur’an; Many other reports from the Sunnah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, in his Allah The Almighty Says (what means): confi rm this quality and all of them morals, knowledge of the matters of the {Thus Allah makes clear to you the prove the Prophet’s, sallallaahu ‘alaihi unseen, acceptance of his supplications verses [of revelation] that you might wa sallam, constant contemplation and the fact that he was mentioned in give thought.} [Qur’an 2:219] and consideration. the scriptures of the People of the Book. {“Say, ‘Is the blind equivalent to He, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, Allah The Almighty Says (what means): the seeing? Then will you not give would also remind us that a person {Then do they not give thought? There thought?’”} [Qur’an 6:50] who refl ects and “remembers Allah in is in their companion [Muhammad] no {Do they not contemplate within seclusion and his eyes fl ood with tears” madness. He is not but a clear warner.} themselves? Allah has not created is among the seven types of people, [Qur’an 7:184] the heavens and the earth and what whom Allah The Almighty will shelter If we contemplate all this, our faith is between them except in truth and in His shade on the Day of Judgment, On the other hand, thinking of only whether we are to live forever or die, pupils dissolved and turned into pus and conviction in our religion will for a specifi ed term. And indeed, when there will be no other shade. [Al- this world and other nonsense is the and if we are to pass away, then where that ran on their faces. Then shortly, certainly increase, and we will fi nd many of the people, in [the matter Bukhari and Muslim] door to all kinds of evil. That would would we go: Hell or Paradise? Verily, their bones became disintegrated.” ourselves supplicating to Allah The of] the meeting with their Lord, are Others from our righteous include concerning oneself with life without Allah The Almighty is like Then, he said, “I wish I knew how I Almighty, saying, “O Lord, make me disbelievers.} [Qur’an 30:8] predecessors would similarly advise notions about what we have not been a mirage that appears as water to a would bear the harshness of the earth die a Muslim and join me with the It is related that ‘Ataa’, may Allah be us; Al-Hasan, may Allah have mercy ordered to ruminate over, such as the thirsty person, who comes to it only to and which one of my cheeks would righteous.” O Allah, let our silence pleased with him, said: “Once, I went upon him, said, “Deliberation for one essence of Allah The Almighty and fi nd it to be nothing; but then, he fi nds decompose fi rst.” be contemplation, our speech Your with ‘Ubayd ibn ‘Umayr to ‘Aa’ishah, hour is better than praying all night matters that surpass human intellect. Allah The Almighty before Him, Who Let us also refl ect on the conditions remembrance and our gaze a means of may Allah be pleased with them, long.” It is also told that the wise man As for one who is mean in his or her will pay him his due, in full, for indeed, of Muslims, for one who does not do learning lessons. who said to him: ‘It is about time you Luqmaan, may Allah have mercy upon thoughts, he or she will display the He is swift in account. so, is not one of them; and our only We should also equip ourselves with visited us.’ He, may Allah be pleased him, would habitually sit in solitude; same narrow-mindedness in all aff airs. Hence, think of death, graves and worry must be our Hereafter. It is really benefi cial knowledge and act on it, with him, replied, ‘I repeat the wise his slave would ask him about that, Therefore, Mugheeth Al-Aswad, the Hereafter; and, as Imam Ahmad, odd to fi nd people preoccupied with alongside performing righteous deeds. saying that goes – visit people once telling him that it would be better may Allah have mercy upon him, would may Allah have mercy upon him, used sport, cinema, Arabic or foreign songs, Let us be keen on strengthening the in a while, so that they would love for him to remain in the company of instruct: “Visit the graves every day to say, if one is not deterred by that, or fashion, at a time when Muslims principles of creed inside ourselves, you more.’ She said, ‘Let go of this people. But he, may Allah have mercy so they would remind you [of death]. “he or she will not be dissuaded if even are being subjected to massacres and because our war with the enemies nonsense.’ Ibn ‘Umayr, may Allah be upon him, used to tell him that staying Imagine the situation with your hearts two mountains smash into one another annihilation everywhere. of Islam is ideological. Additionally, pleased with him, then asked, ‘Please alone for long periods of time is better [and minds], looking at both groups right in front of him or her.” Moreover, many among us do we must be aware that the only path tell us about the most remarkable thing for contemplation and that deep when they are led either to Paradise Contemplate, for life is short and not even have a safe sidewalk to call toward the company of the victorious that you saw the Prophet, sallallaahu refl ection leads to Paradise. or Hell. Let your souls and bodies not your breaths are numbered; your their home; so, contemplate this, and the saved, is to adhere to the ‘alaihi wa sallam, do.’ She paused It was also narrated that ‘Umar ibn forget [the latter] and its maces of shrouds are being made and your burial for you may fi nd this to enable you course of the Prophet, sallallaahu for a moment, then responded, ‘One ‘Abdul-‘Aziz, may Allah have mercy iron.” Another factor that stimulates place is waiting for you. Those who are to praise Allah The Almighty for ‘alaihi wa sallam, and his Companions, night, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi upon him, once wept when he was contemplation is fasting, which is alive will follow those who preceded the blessings that you have and to may Allah be pleased with them. So, wa sallam, said to me, ‘O ‘Aa’ishah! among his friends; when questioned why it was said: “When the stomach them in death, for that is the end of cease being ungrateful. You may feel let us ask ourselves if we have truly Let me worship my Lord tonight.’ I about his behavior, he replied, “I is full, thinking becomes dormant, all; indeed, there is nothing other than ashamed when you consider your own adopted this methodology in our told him, “By Allah, I love being close thought of life and its pleasures and wisdom shuts down and the organs stop that, but false hope, for one’s demise negligence, for modesty and faith are knowledge, acts and beliefs. to you and I love what pleases you.” desires; I learnt from it that all its performing acts of worship.” has already been destined. Allah The linked; a lack in one denotes a failing in Also, if we consider the state of our He, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, desires are eventually followed by A person should think of his fi rst Almighty Says (what means): {Every the other as well. righteous predecessors, all of us will, then performed ablution and started what is bitter. Verily, these realities priority and primary motive of a deed; soul will taste death, and you will only You may then save yourself before undoubtedly, fi nd ourselves negligent. praying. He started weeping until should be warnings for those who are if it is for Allah The Almighty, he or she be given your [full] compensation on it is too late, because the enemies of However, this should not discourage us his lap was soaked. Then, he started heedful.” should proceed, but if it is for someone the Day of Resurrection. So he who is the past are no diff erent from those from striving against our vain desires, weeping until his beard became wet; Moreover, the most benefi cial or something else, he or she should drawn away from the Fire and admitted of today and they do not diff erentiate for Allah The Almighty Says (what and [he continued so] until the ground thoughts are those that pertain to the stop. Indeed, deliberation is good in to Paradise has attained [his desire]. between one Muslim and the other, means): {And those who strive for Us - became damp. Bilaal, may Allah Hereafter and the favors of Allah The all matters, except what aff ects one’s And what is the life of this world and, as Allah The Almighty Says (what We will surely guide them to Our ways. be pleased with him, then came to Almighty, His blessings, ordinances, Hereafter. Ash-Shaafi ‘i, may Allah except the enjoyment of delusion} means): {Hatred has already appeared And indeed, Allah is with the doers of perform the Athaan (call to prayer) and prohibitions and means of true have mercy upon him, said, “Think [Qur’an 3:185] from their mouths, and what their good.} [Qur’an 29:69] found the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi knowledge of Him, His names and before you decide and contemplate Once, ‘Umar ibn ‘Abdul-‘Aziz, breasts conceal is greater.} [Qur’an It is said that a journey of a thousand wa sallam, weeping, so he asked, ‘O attributes. Indeed, such thoughts before you take a step forward.” Ibn may Allah have mercy upon him, sat 3:118] We have become an easy prey for miles begins with a single step. Our Messenger of Allah, why are you in instill in an individual love of Allah Mas‘ood, may Allah be pleased with pondering and said: “The graves have the wicked, because of our love for life Lord reproaches us for being weak, tears when Allah has forgiven what The Almighty and knowledge of Him him, would also advise his friends: “In penetrated the burial cloths, ravaged and our hatred of death. That is because so it is His help we must seek in has preceded of your sins and what and His religion. That is because when your time, the best among you is the the bodies, sucked the blood and one who makes life his major concern, abandoning vices, which must be done will follow?’ He, sallallaahu ‘alaihi one ponders the next life, its honor one who hastens toward good deeds; devoured the fl esh. I wonder what the Allah The Almighty will deprive him before looking to acquire virtues. We wa sallam, answered,‘Should I not be and perpetuity, and this life and its however, there will be a time when worms have done with the corpses; or her and he or she will have no share must beware of committing sins as a grateful slave? Indeed, a verse was meanness and transience, he or she the best among people will be those they probably defaced them, broke the in life, except what is predestined. On that would be equivalent to one who revealed to me tonight; woe to the one would aspire to the Hereafter and who refl ect on and verify everything, bones, bared the fragmented limbs and the other hand, he who prioritises the makes a hole in a ship, making it sink. who recites it and does not ponder its forsake this world. Moreover, when one because of the rampant false talk.” tore the organs. I wonder if [the dead] Hereafter, Allah The Almighty will Further, as it is said, the disobedience meaning. [The verse is:]{Indeed, in contemplates this ephemeral existence After knowing the value of feel any diff erence between the day and enrich him in his heart and the world of an army is more dangerous to itself the creation of the heavens and the and the impossibility of a longer contemplation and the verses, many night, for are they not in pitch-black will be at his service. than the swords of its enemy. earth and the alternation of the night lifespan, he or she would become more Hadith and sayings regarding it, it is darkness? How many of them whose We must also think about how we can and the day are signs for those of serious and endeavor to make the worthy of us to pause and ponder our faces were soft have rotten and their achieve Islamic unity and brotherhood Article source: http://www.islamweb. understanding.} [Qur’an 3:190].’” optimum use of his or her time. identity, creation and destiny; and, necks severed from their bodies? Their in faith. This is our task, for we are all net/emainpage/ Bribery is unlawful and a major grave sin n Islam, bribery represents rights of others, while knowing of its off ers bribes and the one who accepts still been presented to him or not? I someone’s right or wrong him or her. 1- It angers Allah The Almighty and anything that is off ered in order impermissibility. them.” [At-Tirmithi and Abu Dawood, swear by Him in Whose Hand the life However, if a person is compelled to subjects those involved to His torment to obtain the invalidation of what Those who accept bribes are, Albani classifi ed at as Sahih] of Muhammad is, any one of you will off er up any incentive as a last resort, and curse. Iis correct or an endorsement undoubtedly, consuming an ill-gotten On another occasion, a person who not take anything from [such kinds of in order to obtain a right of his or hers, 2- It corrupts the society, from the of a wrong action. Not only is this gain, and are extremely dispraised the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa gifts] but will then bring it on the Day or to ward off injustice, then that act top level, all the way down, including unlawful, it is a major grave sin, as and defamed by Allah The Almighty, sallam, appointed to collect Zakah of Judgment, carrying on his neck [its becomes permitted. the rulers and their subjects. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): who Says (what means), {And you see (obligatory alms tax) came, and said, like, whether it is] a grunting camel, Even if they seem similar, the 3- It undermines the rights of the {And do not consume one another’s many of them hastening into sin and “This is for you and this was given a mooing camel or a bleating ewe.” crucial diff erence between a bribe and weak and the wronged people. wealth unjustly or send it [in bribery] aggression and the devouring of [what to me as a present.” So, to clarify the Therefore, whoever indulges in bribery a present, is the intention. Bribery is 4- It exposes the one who bribes to to the rulers in order that [they might is] unlawful. How wretched is what punishment of a person who takes will bear a great load of sin on his or usually given to block other’s rights punishment on the Day of Judgment, aid] you [to] consume a portion of the they have been doing.} [Qur’an 5:62] bribes, he, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa her neck and will be questioned about or to obtain something that a person when his or her hands will be tied together wealth of the people in sin, while you When bribery becomes rampant sallam, ascended the pulpit and said, it on the Day of Resurrection. does not deserve. On the other hand, and he or she will be thrown into Hell. know [it is unlawful].} [Qur’an 2:188]. in societies, it leads to a loss of rights “What about a collector whom I give It should be known that the the intention behind giving a present Ath-Thahabi, may Allah have mercy and prevalence of injustice and an assignment but [he later] says: ‘This prohibition of receiving bribery is is to gain aff ability, acquaintances and Article source: http://www.islamweb. upon him, commented that, “or send corruption. That is why, as ‘Abdullaah is for you and this has been given to categorical. As for one who off ers benevolence. net/emainpage/ it [in bribery] to the rulers”, means: ibn ‘Amr, may Allah be pleased with me as a gift’? Why did he not remain it, there are some details involved. Finally, among the main harms and do not buy them off with this wealth him, narrates, the Prophet, sallallaahu in the house of his father or mother, Obviously, it is unlawful for a person to corruptions caused by bribery are the or induce them to confer to you the ‘alaihi wa sallam, “cursed the one who and observe whether gifts would have pay someone off in order to withhold following: Gulf Times 14 Friday, February 7, 2020 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES State of the Union: ‘American comeback’ story is incomplete Amid an impeachment eff ort meant to remove him from offi ce and a re-election campaign meant to return him, President Donald Trump gave his third State of the Union Address on Tuesday night. The extraordinary circumstances were apparent in the setting. Over his left shoulder sat Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, who resisted impeachment until allegations demanded Congress do its constitutional duty. In front of him was his right fl ank: Republican lawmakers defending the president, including a House minority that voted unanimously not to impeach him, and a Senate majority expected to quickly acquit the president on Wednesday. Is US democracy in danger? It was a night that laid bare the nation’s deep partisan divide, with Trump not shaking Pelosi’s hand and the speaker ending the evening by ripping up her copy of the address. By Elizabeth Drew And it was hardly the combination of ingredients for the Washington, DC compromise, or even comity, that’s needed for bipartisan action on key issues that are too pressing to await a he fateful collision over wheth- presidential campaign, including work on lowering healthcare er US President Donald Trump costs. should be removed from offi ce Like presidents preceding him, Trump appropriately Trevealed the alarming fragility declared the state of the union “stronger than ever before” – at of the Constitution that Americans least economically, if not politically. In particular, the record- have relied on for more than 200 years to maintain their democratic system. low unemployment rate, especially for communities of colour, Nothing since the Civil War had so is an accomplishment all should laud and look to build upon. tested its viability. And the frightening But in a speech lesson is that a determined president touted by the White with a tight grip on his party and The record-low House as “the great contempt for the rule of law can free American comeback,” himself of its constraints. unemployment The US Constitution’s framers were the president overstated brilliant, but they could see only so far rate, especially the strength of the into the future. They anticipated that ongoing recovery and a scoundrel or worse might occupy for communities ignored the cost of the the presidency, but, though they country’s relatively anticipated “factions,” they neither of colour, is an tepid economic growth. wanted nor believed there would be Just last week, the political parties, much less that parties accomplishment would be instruments of a president’s Congressional Budget power. In fact, until Trump, the United all should laud and Offi ce reported that States had never had a president who 2019 GDP growth was maintained such a tight stranglehold look to build upon 2.3%, its slowest since on his party. Now that it does, the 2016 in an era Trump Constitution’s provisions for removing the president – through impeachment described in his inaugural address as “American carnage.” by the House of Representatives and More troubling, the CBO reported that the annual budget conviction by a two-thirds majority of defi cit soared past $1tn, a fi gure that will increase to an average the Senate – have been neutered. $1.3tn per year from 2021 to 2030. The Republican tax cut was Two factors explain Trump’s hold a major contributor, and Trump is campaigning on a promise over Republican members of Congress, of even more cuts with no clear strategy for covering the lost many of whom are smarter than he revenue. is, don’t like or even despise him, or consider him unfi t for the offi ce: his Alacrity over the defi cit and other threats to America’s feral cleverness and his capacity for security, like climate change, should create bipartisan striking fear into potential opponents, consensus, not the gridlock gripping Washington. But the either by turning loose his bewitched president, who has called global warming a “hoax,” ignored it base on a dissident Republican or in his address just as he has in his administration. And while backing a primary challenger in the Trump is correct that the country must not take a “socialist” dissident’s next election. Every elected Republican is aware of former members US President Donald Trump speaks about his Senate impeachment trial in the East Room of the White House in Washington, turn, capitalism’s enduring scourge of increasing inequality of Congress who turned against Trump DC, yesterday. threatens the nation’s social fabric. and are now out of politics. Rather than off ering a vision for immigration reform that The fi rst of two articles of it was Ukraine, not Russia, that had interest, what he does to advance that Romney, the sole Republican to vote could fuel future economic growth, Trump continued to paint impeachment adopted by the interfered in the 2016 presidential goal isn’t impeachable. Dershowitz later to convict, split the baby by voting not those not born in this country as a threat. Instead of searching Democratic-controlled House in election.) claimed that he was being “theoretical.” guilty on the obstruction-of-Congress for common ground on the Second Amendment, the president December was for abuse of power. The Court challenges to Trump’s refusal But this opinion is consistent with charge. Romney – one of two Senate House accused Trump of withholding to co-operate with House impeachment Trump’s publicly stated view that under Republicans to vote in favour of calling ignored the scourge of gun violence. nearly $400mn in congressionally- investigators might well have taken the Constitution’s Article II, which witnesses (the other was Susan Collins Security threats from nation-states and stateless actors approved military assistance to the process up to or past November’s establishes the presidency and its of Maine) – anticipated in his dramatic alike are omnipresent, too, and while the commander in chief Ukraine until that country’s president, election. This put House investigators in powers (note that Congress comes fi rst), Senate speech explaining his vote to correctly credited the unrivalled US armed forces, the soft Volodymyr Zelensky, announced an an awkward position: the team of House “I have the right to do whatever I want convict that it would subject him to power of diplomacy and alliances are more important than investigation into Joe Biden, who prosecutors in the Senate trial insisted as president.” attacks by a vengeful president and his ever – something the president should prioritise even if he then appeared to be a formidable there was suffi cient evidence, even in In binding themselves to Trump, spiteful allies. Romney was correct; one challenger to Trump in November’s the White House’s altered transcript of Senate Republicans took the risk that of the fi rst attacks came from Donald gave the issue short shrift in his speech. presidential election, and into Biden’s Trump’s call to Zelensky last July, that embarrassing new information would Trump, Jr.; the president was soon to Even beyond the military and economic might and rich son, Hunter, for an alleged confl ict the president had demanded a quid pro emerge after they had voted to acquit follow. alliances, America’s greatest advantage is its system of of interest. Trump’s unprecedented quo. So, the president’s defence team him. They climbed out on a limb with Still, Trump is impeached and his governance, which when done right is still an idea and ideal blanket resistance to co-operating with insisted, why were House prosecutors him, knowing that the limb might break. presidency permanently scarred. The for the world – a truth Trump and Congress must ensure. the House Democrats’ impeachment calling for more witnesses and That risk persists. House’s lead prosecutor, Adam Schiff , Otherwise, the great American comeback is just a slogan, not a inquiry by refusing to provide witnesses documents? My own view, inevitably was probably correct that Trump, once or documents led to a second article Trump’s legal defenders neglected controversial among those who acquitted, would likely go further in reality. – Tribune News Service of impeachment, for obstruction of the fact that damning information believe that Trump is guilty of undermining the integrity of the coming Congress. had come to light following the House the charges for which the House presidential election. Shortly before The confl ict-of-interest accusation impeachment votes. They overlooked impeached him – and of others for the fi nal vote in the Senate, Trump against Hunter Biden stemmed from credible newspaper reports that which it didn’t – is that the resolution was reported by aides to be feeling To Advertise the fact that he had served on the Bolton’s forthcoming book contains of the president’s violation of his “invincible” – and drawing up a list board of a corrupt Ukrainian natural revelations that buttressed the House constitutional duties ended the right of people who should be prosecuted. [email protected] gas company at the same time that his Democrats’ case, or that the reason the way: in the Senate’s refusal to convict There’s now a real question as to Display father was responsible for the Obama House hadn’t heard certain witnesses the president. The Constitution’s whether the impeachment clause, administration’s Eastern Europe policy. was because Trump had blocked them. framers were correct that something the Constitution’s failsafe against a 44466621 44418811 In fact, Trump didn’t demand an actual Other defence arguments – for example, as drastic and traumatic as removing commander in chief who abuses his investigation; he simply insisted that that Trump’s pressure on Ukraine a president from office shouldn’t power, can work under a strong and Classified one be announced. In holding up aid to stemmed from the president’s sudden be done without a strong national belligerent president. More than at any 44466609 44418811 an ally under military attack by Russia, passion for rooting out corruption in consensus – inferentially, a bipartisan time in modern history, US democracy in exchange for a chance to smear his that country – were risible. agreement – behind it. The existence is in danger. – Project Syndicate Subscription possible re-election opponent, Trump The most terrifying claim by the of such a consensus is why Richard defi ed the advice of his most senior president’s defenders, made by former Nixon understood that he would be z Elizabeth Drew is a Washington- [email protected] policy aides, including his hawkish Harvard Law School professor and convicted and removed from office if based journalist and the author, most national security adviser, John Bolton. prominent appellate defence lawyer he didn’t resign the presidency. recently, of Washington Journal: (Trump also wanted an investigation Alan Dershowitz, was that if a president The Senate’s narrow vote (52-48) to Reporting Watergate and Richard © 2020 Gulf Times. All rights reserved into a Kremlin-originated fantasy that believes his re-election is in the public acquit Trump was no surprise. Mitt Nixon’s Downfall. Gulf Times Friday, February 7, 2020 15 COMMENT Young climate activists demand to be heard

By Annie Banerji over race and representation in the been a source of inspiration for them New Delhi media. and has ignited much-needed public To help, Thunberg last week took protest over climate change among part in a press conference where she younger generations. oung campaigners say they herself said little, aiming to instead In August 2018, Thunberg started have had enough of be- focus attention on climate threats skipping school every Friday to ing dubbed their country’s facing Africa, after young Africans who highlight the issue, standing with a Y“Greta”, as the world’s media tried to spread that message at Davos handwritten sign outside Sweden’s track every move by Swedish activist were largely overlooked. parliament. Greta Thunberg, 17, known for starting “This is the time for the world to She shot to global fame for inspiring the school strike movement and berat- listen to the activists from Africa and worldwide student strikes calling for ing leaders over climate change. to pay attention to their stories and an urgent political response to climate Last week, 8-year-old Licypriya take action where it’s needed,” Nakate change and for giving speeches that Kangujam from India’s remote told journalists in Stockholm and highlight the scientifi c evidence northeast hit out at journalists on online. supporting the need to cut greenhouse Twitter for calling her the “Greta of Back in 2014, Green 2.0, a US gas emissions faster. India”, saying she was not trying to advocacy campaign to increase Thunberg also famously scowled imitate Thunberg. diversity in environmental groups, at US President Donald Trump, a Award-winning Kangujam told found that people of colour made up climate change sceptic, during a UN the Thomson Reuters Foundation the no more than 16% of staff in close to summit. comparison was unfair and hurtful, 300 US environmental organisations “She has managed to bring so many and undermined her work with “The studied. people, some already dedicated to the Child Movement” which she founded A follow-up report in 2019 revealed initiative, while motivating others to in July 2018, before Thunberg started that the top 40 environmental contribute as much as they could,” her weekly demonstrations outside foundations had become even “more said Sakshi, 19, a Pakistani activist parliament. white”. who goes by one name and leads a “If you call me Greta of India, you The ongoing lack of minority zero waste campaign at her school in are not covering my story. You are representation risks silencing young Karachi. deleting a story,” Kangujam said in voices in marginalised communities British telecoms regulator Ofcom on emailed comments. that are already disproportionately hit Tuesday credited the “Greta eff ect” for This week, she clambered on an by climate change, environmentalists a rise in online social activism among excavator in Bengaluru city, where said. children, fi nding that almost a fi fth she is now based, to stop the felling Jennifer Morgan, head of of 12 to 15-year-olds now use social of more than 8,500 trees to widen Greenpeace International, media to show support for causes and roads and was due to launch a new warned there was a big danger organisations. electric car line with Indian business of policymakers bringing in laws Thunberg has more than 4mn tycoon Anand Mahindra at an auto to deal with climate change that followers on Twitter and nearly 10mn show. did not protect vulnerable groups on Instagram. Over the past year, the trend from climate effects nor from the Despite her unwanted “Greta” of young climate activists being negative consequences of response sobriquet, Kangujam said Thunberg portrayed as their national version Activist Licypriya Kangujam speaks during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP25) in Madrid, Spain, December 10, 2019. measures. inspired her to drop out of school of “Greta” has become common, a PICTURE: Reuters / Susana Vera “The climate emergency is a global for a year in 2019 to focus on her description Kangujam said erases crisis, but it is impacting low and campaigning and to protest outside “unique stories, identities, names and developing countries and small tank Germanwatch last year. Kangujam’s comments came in middle-income countries the worst,” the Indian parliament every week movements”. island states are on the frontline of In 2018, the South Asian nation the wake of Ugandan climate activist she said. to demand legislation on climate “Developing nations are the most climate change damage, from frequent suff ered one of its longest-ever Vanessa Nakate, 23, being cropped “The media must step up and stop change. vulnerable to climate change. The droughts and heatwaves to fl oods and heatwaves, bringing water shortages, out of a news agency photo taken focusing on just one activist,” she “When they pass a climate change law, world and the media need to focus rising seas. crop failures and riots, on top of with white campaigners, including added in emailed comments. it will benefi t millions of people in the equally (on) all climate activists of the India was ranked as the fi fth most monsoon fl oods and two strong Thunberg, at January’s World While they push for more attention country, especially poor and marginalised world,” she emphasised. weather-aff ected country in a climate cyclones, Germanwatch said in its Economic Forum in Davos. to their own work, many young communities,” Kangujam explained. – Scientists say communities in risk index by environmental think- report. The incident sparked a fi erce debate activists acknowledge Thunberg has Thomson Reuters Foundation

Three-day forecast

What does Europe have to off er? ODAY T Maximum Temperature : 250c Minimum Temperature : 170c By Dambisa Moyo soft-power off ensive, which includes EU residents unprecedented control elections and grants the political SATURDAY New York ambitious transnational infrastructure over their personal data, setting a new class considerable control over the projects like the Belt and Road standard for data-privacy rules. At economy – as an alternative route Maximum Temperature : 270c Initiative, has won China many the national level, France has strict to development. It is up to Europe Minimum Temperature : 190c t last month’s annual World friends, though it has also raised fears defamation and privacy laws. to highlight the shortcomings of SUNDAY Economic Forum meeting in of an inevitable military confrontation To be sure, there are questions about this approach and make the case for Maximum Temperature : 250c Davos, Switzerland, Euro- with the incumbent hegemon – a whether robust regulation constrains liberal-democratic values. Minimum Temperature : 170c Apean Commission President dynamic known as the Thucydides innovation and economic dynamism. There is reason to hope that the EU Fisherman's forecast Ursula von der Leyen proclaimed that Trap. The GDPR, for example, can be will, as von der Leyen urges, “step Europe needed to be more assertive Yet today’s Europe seems unsure of viewed as excessively burdensome, up.” In fact, her Davos proclamation WARNING in the world. That means “stepping its global role. The United Kingdom and thus as undermining investment refl ects a consensus that has been Inshore : Nil up” in some areas. But exactly which has offi cially exited the EU. Rising and growth, particularly among emerging among European political Offshore : Nil areas? To answer that question, the populism is producing polarisation, small and medium-size companies. leaders – most notably German WEATHER European Union needs to identify – paralysis, and internal pressures But, as public suspicion of Big Tech Chancellor Angela Merkel and French Inshore : Misty at some places at and convincingly articulate – what it so severe that the Union’s very intensifi es, European leadership in this President Emmanuel Macron – for a first becomes moder- has to off er the rest of the world. survival no longer seems certain. And area is both critical and warranted. few years now. For example, Macron ate temperature daytime with scattered This is easier said than done, investors have noticed: the region’s The third area where Europe pledged to “rejuvenate” the EU in his clouds & chance of particularly at a time of rapidly stock markets have consistently can play a vital global role is in the 2017 inauguration speech, and has light rain at northern shifting global power dynamics. The underperformed for two decades, competition between the US and been emphasising the need to recover areas Offshore : Misty& p cloudy at first night of von der Leyen’s speech, I put implying a lack of faith in the bloc’s China. The Thucydides Trap – already the spirit of progress ever since. becomes fine later the question to a European business long-term prospects. manifest in the US-China trade and It is time to transform this rhetoric leader and to a former senior public But it is far too soon to write off technology war – need not lead to into action. The world is facing WIND Europe. In my view, there are four key military confl ict, particularly if the EU powerful economic headwinds, Inshore : Southeasterly 05-15 KT offi cial. Neither had a ready answer. Offshore : Southeasterly 03-12 KT Representatives of the world’s other areas where the EU could establish could act as a kind of referee, helping including the Sino-American rivalry, major powers would not face the itself as a global player. to determine whether and how the rapid technological change, population Visibility : 4-8/3 KM same struggle. The United States is a The fi rst and most obvious is trade. two heavyweights engage. To succeed, ageing in the advanced economies, Offshore : 1-3 FT leader in innovation and technology, According to the World Bank, the Europe would need to navigate not worsening income inequality and and boasts deep and broad fi nancial post-Brexit EU remains home to only economic matters, such as the deteriorating social mobility, and Around the region markets. It also possesses the nearly 450 million people, and boasts ongoing trade war, but also the more environmental degradation. Europe Weather Weather world’s strongest military, virtually an average per capita GDP of roughly fundamental ideological clash between can help the world to overcome them. today Max/min tomorrow Max/min guaranteeing America’s global primacy $36,000. It thus remains a highly America’s democratic capitalism and But fi rst, it must clarify which ones, Baghdad Sunny 24/12 P Cloudy 19/08 for the foreseeable future. desirable trading partner. China’s state-led model. and how. – Project Syndicate Kuwait City Sunny 24/11 Sunny 25/11 China, for its part, has established The second area where Europe In doing so, Europe would have to Manama P Cloudy 24/17 P Cloudy 27/18 O Dambisa Moyo, an international itself as a formidable economic can lead is in regulation, particularly bring to bear its unique capacity in a Muscat Sunny 26/18 Sunny 27/19 economist, is the author of four New and political counterweight to the of Big Tech. In many ways, Europe fourth area: the defence of Western Tehran Sunny 15/08 S Showers 14/03 US, largely by capturing a critical has already established itself as a values, especially individual economic York Times bestselling books, including position in global value chains and, regulatory pioneer. For example, the and political freedoms. Already, Edge of Chaos: Why Democracy Is increasingly, as a major source of General Data Protection Regulation many countries view the Chinese Failing to Deliver Economic Growth – foreign direct investment. This (GDPR), implemented in 2018, gave model – which eschews competitive and How to Fix It. Live issues Dutch ‘walking-bike’ helps disabled people gain mobility

Around the world Reuters “I think movement actually is the and move their legs to push it forward. Weather Weather Weymouth best medicine. It’s like that saying: It has brakes and the high saddle ‘If you don’t use it, you lose it’,” Main means users can sit almost at standing today Max/min tomorrow Max/min said. height and speak to others at their eye Athens Sunny 10/03 M Cloudy 08/01 indsey Main from Massachu- The bike was created by Dutch level. Beirut Rain 14/11 Rain 13/08 setts was an active woman designer and humanitarian Barbara It is used by people with Bangkok M Sunny 34/24 Sunny 35/24 who enjoyed yoga, running Alink, who made it initially as a Parkinson’s, arthritis, cerebral Berlin Cloudy 07/01 Sunny 08/04 and walking her dog, until she mobility device for her ageing mother palsy, spinal cord injuries, muscular Cairo P Cloudy 18/09 P Cloudy 17/09 L Cape Town P Cloudy 25/17 Sunny 26/18 suff ered a stroke in January 2018 and to use without the stigma attached to dystrophy and peripheral neuropathy lost mobility. mobility walkers and scooters. along with those recovering from Colombo P Cloudy 31/23 P Cloudy 31/23 While starting the long, slow A successful crowdfunding strokes and surgery. Dhaka P Cloudy 26/17 Cloudy 24/17 process of exercise and rehabilitation campaign in 2014 brought about a “Isolation is a bigger disease or Hong Kong P Cloudy 19/14 P Cloudy 18/13 she spotted actress Selma Blair launch in the Dutch market and a a bigger burden on people than the Istanbul S Showers 06/-1 P Cloudy 02/-2 announcing on Instagram she had the North America launch followed in actual symptoms of the disease itself,” Jakarta T Storm 29/24 T Storm 29/24 nervous system-damaging disease 2016. said Alink. Karachi Sunny 27/14 Sunny 27/13 multiple sclerosis. Now the bike, which costs $1,977.00 “So with the Alinker, being engaged London M Sunny 10/07 P Cloudy 11/08 The 47-year-old star of fi lms ships worldwide. in life again because you can go out Manila S T Storms 32/25 S Showers 31/25 including Cruel Intentions and The “The Alinker is for everybody who your radius expands again,” she added. Moscow Cloudy -8/-17 P Cloudy -8/-13 Sweetest Thing posted images of identifi es as an active person and Alinker is not classed as a medical New Delhi Sunny 19/08 Sunny 21/07 herself using an Alinker mobility bike happens to have a diagnosis,” said device, so many insurance companies New York S Showers 16/-2 M Sunny 04/-1 https://www.thealinker.com. Alink. do not fund its purchase, leaving Paris M Sunny 12/06 Showers 10/07 The two began private messaging Actress Selma Blair, who has battled “The feedback that I’m getting from people to rely on crowdfunding or Sao Paulo S T Storms 26/19 S T Storms 29/20 and Blair bought Main one of the multiple sclerosis (MS), poses with people is that their life has changed, using the company’s rent-to-own Seoul M Sunny 03/-9 Sunny 05/-7 bikes. an Alinker ‘walking bike’, a mobility they can go out again, they have scheme. Singapore M Cloudy 32/25 P Cloudy 32/25 Main says it has changed her life. device for people with disabilities, in agency back,” she added. At its factory in Taipei in Taiwan, Sydney Rain 21/20 Rain 22/20 Now she can walk her dog again, go an unknown location in this undated The Alinker has three wheels and the company is working on prototypes Tokyo Clear 08/-1 Clear 13/02 to the shops and dance on it. handout photo. riders support themselves on a saddle for smaller Alinkers for children. Gulf Times 16 Friday, February 7, 2020 QATAR Generation Amazing and UCFB to monitor impact of Qatar 2022 legacy programme

eneration Amazing and The collaboration continued “We look forward to embark- velopment initiatives to address the University Campus of when UCFB’s Dr Leo Watkins vis- ing on a dynamic partnership social issues in countries around GFootball Business (UCFB) ited Qatar to prepare a research and that will see an exchange of the world. have joined hands in an eff ort to impact report during the Genera- knowledge and expertise around In addition, both sides will ex- measure the impact of the FIFA tion Amazing Festival 2019. the topics of legacy, football plore ways to develop education- World Cup Qatar 2022 legacy Once completed, the report for development and education al pathways and opportunities programme. will be distributed to all partici- in the build-up to and beyond for Generation Amazing partici- The partnership will help Gen- pants of the festival’s inaugural 2022,” he added. pants and benefi ciaries. eration Amazing further enhance edition and highlight key learn- Brendan Flood, UCFB chair- The four-year partnership will its projects while off ering re- ing outcomes for the youth who man, noted: “We’re delighted go beyond the FIFA World Cup search and learning opportuni- took part from Qatar and 24 to join forces with the Supreme Qatar 2022. ties to faculty and students from countries across the world. Committee for Delivery & Lega- The Generation Amazing pro- the London- and Manchester- “Partnering with a respected cy and help with the delivery of gramme includes the building of based higher education institu- football education institution the Generation Amazing project. football infrastructure, the de- tion, according to a report on the like UCFB allows us to further By sharing knowledge and ideas, livery of comprehensive football Supreme Committee for Delivery enhance our impact and ben- our students will be able to see for development programmes & Legacy website. efi ciary analysis, and continue to fi rst-hand just one aspect of and the empowerment of young The value-in-kind collabo- develop innovative and exciting the World Cup planning proc- people to become leaders in their ration kicked off last year when educational pathways for those ess and what goes into planning communities. Generation Amazing executive who are learning vital life skills events and projects away from With 500,000 benefi ciaries director Mushtaq al-Waeli vis- through our football for develop- the pitch.” reach to date, Generation Amaz- ited London’s Wembley Stadium ment programmes,” said Nasser The partnership will see ing aims to reach 1mn youngsters The partnership will help Generation Amazing further enhance its projects while off ering research and to take part in a guest lecture to al-Khori, Generation Amazing UCFB and its students monitor by the time the tournament kicks learning opportunities to faculty and students from the London- and Manchester-based higher education UCFB students. Programmes director. the impact of football for de- off in November 2022. institution. MME participates in infrastructure meet

he Ministry of Munici- kind in Qatar and the region, the pality and Environment conference had researchers and T(MME), represented by lecturers from 16 countries and the Urban Planning and Infra- 130 research papers were pre- structure Planning departments, sented in various sectors. took part in organising the In- These papers threw light on ternational Conference on Civil the latest developments and suc- Infrastructure and Construc- cess stories in the infrastructure tion (CIC 2020), held during the sector in various countries. World Congress of Engineering Represented by the two de- and Technology (WCET) in Doha partments, MME also participat- from February 2-5. ed in presenting papers during The WCET was held under the conference. the patronage of HE the Prime The ministry also took part in Minister and Interior Minister the exhibition held as part of the Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin conference and put on show its Abdulaziz al-Thani and in the projects and plans for infrastruc- presence of HE the Minister of ture and urban development in Municipality and Environment the country. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin HE al-Subaie attended the Turki al-Subaie. opening ceremony and visited Described as the fi rst of its the exhibition.

A group of school children at Halal Qatar Festival. Children can take part in educational and recreational activities. Halal Qatar Festival continues to evoke a good response

eaturing traditional competitions said his company is working to provide and educational and recreational integrated services for breeders, provides Factivities focusing on the Qatari the latest laboratory equipment and vet- and Arab heritage, the ongoing ninth edi- erinary and food products. tion of Halal Qatar Festival at Katara — The festival also features several ac- The Cultural Village continues to attract tivities for children, including the Little a good turnout of visitors. Shepherd competition in order to revive The festival witnessed strong competi- the heritage and teach the new generation tion between breeders in various catego- about the skills, experiences, knowledge, ries of Al Mazayin competition for sheep ethics and values in the fi eld of livestock and goats, according to a statement. and sheep farming. The festival, concluding on February Various government and private 10, is aimed at highlighting the rich re- schools are bringing groups of students sources of the Qatari and Gulf heritage in to visit the festival. an enjoyable atmosphere. Children can ride camel and horses too. Apart from Al Mazayin competition, “The students also enjoyed the rec- the festival features Al Mazad – livestock reational activities and competitions that sales through the auction that contrib- caused their enthusiasm,” the statement utes to the development of livestock pro- said. duction and Al Izab barns that put varie- Visitors at the festival can interact with ties of farm animals on display. traditional artisans who will explain how The festival is a unique platform to There are barns at the festival, displaying goats and sheep. various items are made and how they showcase and acquire the best breeds of were important in the old days. sheep and goats and showcases specifi c The event has also turned out to be a lal breeding and veterinary products. The festival also has stalls for tradi- Visitors at the MME’s stall at the exhibition during the International methods that help in breeding and raising. platform for prominent companies in ha- Dr Adel Mohamed Hajjar, an exhibitor, tional and popular food products. Conference on Civil Infrastructure and Construction. GU-Q student drives the change she imagined

eorgetown University in Qatar quisitive, principled, caring, and pre- then returned to Mombasa to start a Aleesha applied to UCL Qatar to pur- (GU-Q) student Aleesha Sule- pared for a life of service,” she says. local avenue for artists to network and sue an MA in Museum and Gallery Gman used to get upset, as a kid As a Culture and Politics (CULP) showcase their work. Practice. growing up in Kenya, watching televi- major at GU-Q, she studied the com- Aleesha had been working on simi- Dr Phoebe Musandu, associate pro- sion and the terrible events unfolding plex relationship between culture and lar projects even while she was at GU- fessor of history at GU-Q, also threw on the news. human development, gained analyti- Q, but felt that she needed to start in her support, along with a glowing Over time, and through a focus on cal tools to practice problem-solving something within her community letter of recommendation for applica- global responsibility as a student at and critical analysis, and took part in since “everyone thinks you have to go tion to the programme. the Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa, she activities and community engagement to the capital to have access to life- Aleesha returned to Doha, and to- learned the term for what she cared trips that put her in touch with some of changing opportunities, especially in day, is fi nishing her graduate degree, about: social justice. the communities and global issues she the creative fi eld”. with plans to work in the museum and A Bachelor of Science in Foreign studied in the classroom. Aleesha, herself a dedicated musi- cultural heritage fi eld in Doha before Service degree would soon lead Alee- “What really resonated with me,” cian and writer, was now equipped returning to Mombasa to continue sha to a career path that combines a she said, “was learning how culture with the hands-on skills of working in the work she started, supporting local passion for music and the arts, and a can empower ordinary people to be the fi eld of communications in diff er- creatives. dedication to making the world a bet- agents of change.” ent sectors. “Because of CULP, I don’t just think ter place. Back home in Kenya after graduat- She took on the challenges of run- of art as passive, but as diplomacy, as It all began when a high school ing in 2016, a two-year fellowship at ning the social media channels for the soft power. I found myself wondering: friend returned to Kenya for the sum- her high school alma mater put her socially-conscious Norwegian urban How can art be used in communities mer with stories of studying interior newfound skills to good use and al- dancing group, Quick Style, as well as to move away from confl ict? How can design at Qatar Foundation. lowed her to gain new ones, like pho- planning out future projects related cultural production become a path to With an interest in a top-notch tography, videography, branding, and to community engagement through political empowerment? How can we international affairs programme, graphic design. dance. make art spaces accessible to all of so- Aleesha applied and was accepted at Inspired by the energy of young “I started thinking, I want to work ciety?” GU-Q. students and in trying to fi nd her own more closely with these types of art- The path forward, she says, is now The trek across continents brought path, she began working with activ- ists — they are trying to impact their clear.“I can see all those connections her to a place that felt a lot like home. ists and creative people in Nairobi’s communities and the world, bringing and I’m working to relate it back to “Both Aga Khan Academy and vibrant art space through a commu- people together through art”. what I want to contribute to the world Georgetown share many of the same nications internship with PAWA254, With the suggestion of Anne Nebel, and to the communities I belong to. universal values, like pluralism and a non-profi t initiative that fosters the associate dean for Teaching, And that process to me is really excit- From artist to ‘Artivist’ ... Aleesha Suleman justice. Both challenged me to be in- creative projects for social change, Learning and Assessment at GU-Q, ing.”